Drug interactions between phenytoin and rosuvastatin on lipid profile, liver functions and oxidative stress biomarkers in irradiated rats

Phenytoin is one of the most commonly used anticonvulsants for treating generalized tonic-clonic seizures and status epileptics. Rosuvastatin is a new generation HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. This enzyme converts HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway which is the rate limiting step in cholesterol synthesis. This study was aimed to investigate the possible interactions between phenytoin and rosuvastatin when used together in irradiated rats. The experiments were carried out to investigate the acute effect of each drug individually and in combination with radiation on lipid profile [Total cholesterol, Triacylglycerols, High density lipoproteins, Low density lipoproteins and Very low density lipoproteins, Risk factor, Atherogenic Index], liver function tests [AST and ALT] and oxidative stress biomarkers [MDA, NO and SOD]. Data revealed that, phenytoin in irradiated rats significantly increased serum total cholesterol compared to normal control. Rosuvastatin significantly decreased serum total cholesterol compared to irradiated control. Combination of two drugs significantly increased serum total cholesterol; triacylglycerols and serum VLDL-c levels compared to normal and irradiated rats and significantly increased Atherogenic Index and Risk factor compared to normal control. Phenytoin significantly increased serum ALT level compared to normal and irradiated rats and significantly increased serum MDA and serum NO levels compared to normal rats. But phenytoin significantly decreased MDA and NO levels and significantly increased SOD activity compared to irradiated rats. Rosuvastatin significantly increased serum ALT level compared to normal control but it significantly decreased MDA and significantly increased SOD activity compared to irradiated rats. Combination phenytoin and rosuvastatin in irradiated rats significantly increased serum ALT level compared to normal and irradiated rats and it significantly increased MDA, NO levels but it significantly decreased SOD activity compared to normal control. It could be concluded that administration of phenytoin concurrently with rosuvastatin not recommended in patients receiving radiotherapy as dangerous side effects may be occurred

Epidemiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in primary school children in Egypt

To assess prevalence and identify subtypes and risk factors of ADHD among primary school children. A total of 635 school children [320 boys and 315 girls] within the primary school in Imbaba [Giza governorate] and 710 children [366 boys and 344] within the two primary schools of Abasia and Shobra in Cairo were interviewed. To identify risk factors for developing ADHD, a control group of school children [who are free of ADHD] of a sample size equal to the number of diagnosed cases were selected according to a simple random sample technique from the list of students at the corresponding study settings. The Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher and Parents Rating Scales; the clinical sheet of psychiatric interview, history and mental state examination for clinical diagnosis of patients; and the ADHD Risk Factors Questionnaire were-used for diagnosis and data collection. Prevalence rates of ADHD among schoolchildren in Giza and Cairo were 6.3% and 8%, respectively. The most prevalent subtype in both study settings was the "combined subtype". ADHD cases comprised significantly more boys than girls. Other significant risk factors for ADHD included a positive family history of mental disorder [p=0.023] and the occurrence of perinatal complications to the mother of the ADHD child [p=0.014]. ADHD is a common mental disorder in Egyptian primary school children in Giza and Cairo. It affects more boys than girls. The combined subtype is the most common subtype. Positive family history of mental disorder and perinatal complications constitute significant risk factors for ADHD. School health programs should include screening of primary school children for ADHD. Diagnosed cases should be referred for psychiatric and educational management. Teachers, especially in primary schools should be aware that children with ADHD are not stupid or nasty, who should be helped not punished. Further research is needed to explore the prevalence and epidemiology of ADHD among children and adolescents in different geographical areas of Egypt

Development and evaluation of an egg hatching technique for diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni

The modified quantitative Kato-Katz fecal smears are considered by the WHO as the golden technique for diagnosing intestinal schistosomiasis. The sensitivity of the Kato-Katz smears decreases when tile intensity of infection is low. Some modified hatching techniques when compared with the Kato-Katz thick smears revealed a higher sensitivity. The present work aims at developing and evaluating an egg hatching test to be used for diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni under field conditions. Stool samples were collected from 284 human cases from five different Egyptian governorates. Only samples confirmed positive for S. mansoni infection in our laboratory by the Kato-Katz fecal thick smears or the modified hatching technique were considered positive and used in the present work. A portion of each stool sample was examined by three Kato-Katz thick smears. Another portion [3 gm] was examined by the developed hatching technique. Diagnosis based on three Kato-Katz thick smears revealed a sensitivity of 94.7%. The hatching technique detected 85.2% of the cases during the first day examination, but after two days examination it detected all tile cases, i.e. 100% sensitivity. Results showed that the highest daily sensitivity of the hatching technique was during the first day [85.2%], followed by a gradual decrease of the daily sensitivity to 65.8% in the second, 14.4% in the third, and zero in the fourth and fifth days. Diagnosis based on the hatching technique used in the present study is significantly more sensitive than three Kato-Katz thick smears. The modified hatching technique is simple and can be easily used under field conditions

Depression among elderly in Beni Suef city [Upper Egypt]

Depression is a common mental health problem among elderly persons, about 10-15% of elderly suffers depressive symptoms. to find out the prevalence of depression among geriatrics living in geriatric homes versus those in clubs [living in home with their families], to detect the underlying risk factors of depression. In Beni Suef city there are three geriatric homes where the elderly are completely living away from their families, besides one geriatric club where the elderly people enjoy their daytime [there are two other clubs were inactive and under establishment], all the elderly above 60 years: males and females in geriatric homes and those attending the geriatric club were included [145] during the period [December 2008 - October 2009]. Those who can not communicate and answer the questionnaire were excluded. Data collection tools were a pretested questionnaire besides, Geriatric Depression Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale and Facing Daily Stressful Live Events Scale- Arabic version-. Appropriate statistical analysis was applied. Depression among elderly living in geriatric homes was higher [89.7%] in comparison to those in geriatric clubs [56.7%] i.e. living with their families [the difference was significant]. Chronic medical conditions are not considered as a risk of depression among elderly, also there was no significant difference between males and females while depression is common with those who suffer from loneliness as single, widowed or divorced elderly. Other factors as educational level, sex difference or family history of depression has no effect on presence of depression [difference was insignificant]. So it is recommended to strengthen social relationships and activities besides encouraging visiting geriatric homes either by related families or the civil societies and this is an important key in preventing depression. There must be a social and health programs about the importance of family support for the elderly in our community that will save a lot of medical and hospital care cost

study on a cercarial assay for detection of praziquantel-resistance in Alexandria [Egypt]

Praziquantel [PZQ] has been used extensively and successfully in national schistosomiasis control programs in Egypt and there are reports of emerging PZQ resistance. The aim of this work was to use an in vitro assay for detection of PZQ resistance in Egyptian field and laboratory strains of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. The assay was performed on ordinary glass slides. Cercariae were exposed to a final concentration of 0.5x10[-7] M or 5x10[-6] M PZQ. They were examined and counted at 0, 20, 40 and 60 minutes. In some samples the assay was coupled with scanning electron microscopy to detect any PZQ-induced tegumental changes in cercariae. After exposure to 5x 10[-7] M or 5x 10[-6] M of PZQ, there was a gradual decrease in the proportion of unaffected cercariae. The effect of the exposure time on the percentage of unaffected cercariae of the laboratory and field strains was significant in the two concentrations of PZQ. The low concentration of the drug did not succeed to cause significant differences between the two isolates of cercariae throughout a 60-minute exposure time. Surprisingly, the high concentration of PZQ showed a significant difference in the response of the two isolates where the field strain was more affected after exposure to PZQ for 60 minutes. The results of the SEM showed that all cercariae exposed to PZQ for 30 or 60 minutes were influenced, as blebs appeared in the body tegument, unlike the unexposed cercariae. The in vitro assay results indicated that PZQ resistance may not constitute a real problem in the field isolates of S. mansoni cercariae in Alexandria. However, why the field isolates showed significantly higher susceptibility to PZQ needs further investigations

Selective HPLC-quantification of promethazine hydrochloride and its degradation products in presence of sodium benzoate

A selective and stability-indicating RP-HPLC method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous precise determination of promethazine [PROM] and sodium benzoate [SBENZ], even in the presence of the main oxidative degradation products of PROM. Good separation could be achieved on a C8-column by using a mobile phase composed of 0.008M ammonium acetate [pH 4.7] + methanol = 52 48, v/v by adopting isocratic programmed elution with UV-detection at 253 nm. The method was linear over the concentration ranges of 4- 60 micro g ml[-1] and 0.2-3 mg ml[-1], with accuracy of 100.68 +/- 1.49% and 101.82 +/- 0.91% and limits of quantitation [LOQ] of 0.8 micro g ml[-1] and 20 micro g ml[-1], for PROM and SBENZ, in orders. The method was successfully adopted for the stability-screening and -improvement of PROM in presence of SBENZ in their syrups

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: presentation and neuroradiological detection

To study the presentation and the results of the different radiological tools; computed tomography [CT] brain scan, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], magnetic resonance angiography [MRA] and cerebral angiography [CA] in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH] resulting from ruptured cerebral aneurysms. Consecutive patients with CT proved diagnosis of SAH were subjected to thorough history taking, general, neurological examination and laboratory investigation. After exclusion and deaths, 13 patients underwent MRA and CA beside CT and MRI. CA detected 11 aneurysms in 11 patients, arterio-venous malformation in one patient and in one patient there was no apparent cause. Among our 11 patients with aneurysmal SAH, females and age group of 31-50 years predominated. Smoking was present in 45.5%, hypertension in 27.3% and history of recurrent headache in 63.6%. With the onset of SAH, headache with neck stiffness was the most common presentation [63.6%]. Disturbed consciousness was found in 45.5%, seizures in 18.2% and focal signs in 9.1%. 36.4% of the patients had grade II and 27.3% had grade III in Hunt and Hess scale. Radiological assessment revealed that 7 patients had pure SAH, 3 patients had intracerebral hemorrhage [ICH] and one patient had intraventricular hemorrhage [IVH] in association with SAH. 63.6% of the aneurysms in our patients were small and no giant aneurysms were found. The most common site of aneurysms was middle cerebral artery [MCA] accounted for 36.4%. Anterior cerebral artery [ACA] and anterior communicating artery [ACoA] accounted for 18.2% each. Internal carotid artery [ICA] and posterior communicating artery [PCoA] accounted for 27.3%. In comparison to the CA, as the golden standard method, MRA detected 10 aneurysms out of 11, and missed one small aneurysm, with a sensitivity of 90.9% in detection of aneurysms. Ruptured intracranial aneurysms accounted for about 85% of causes of SAH. History of recurrent headache, smoking, hypertension and female gender may be predictors of aneurysmal rupture in the 4[th] and 5[th] decades. 36.4% of SAH may be associated with ICH or IVH. Headache is the most common presentation of rupture aneurysm while less than half of the patients presented with altered consciousness. About tow thirds of aneurysms are small sized. Intracranial aneurysms located in the anterior cerebral circulation mostly in MCA. MRA is a rapid, non invasive technique and can be used to detect intracranial aneurysms with high sensitivity of 90.9%, with excellent correlation with the gold standard, invasive, CA

Cerebral infarction in diabetics: patterns and predictors of hospital mortality

Ischemic cerebrovascular disease accounts for substantial proportion of all strokes. Diabetes mellitus is a well established known risk factor for ischemic stroke and this due to the pathophysiological changes affecting blood vessels during the course of the disease. However it's unclear whether stroke features, severity and prognosis differ in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. This work is aiming to study and compare prospectively the characters and patterns of ischemic stroke in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients, with evaluation and predication of causes of hospital mortality. This study included 380 patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke, 120 were diabetic and 260 were non-diabetic. All were subjected to the following: Detailed history taking, complete general and neurological examination, assessment of stroke severity using Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] and Canadian Stroke Scale [CANS] and Modified Rankin Scale [MRS] was done on the first and tenth day of admission to evaluate functional outcome, laboratory investigations including glycosylated haemoglobin [HbA1C], fasting and postprandial blood sugar, lipid profile, complete blood count and computed tomography of the brain. Our results showed that: The age of our diabetic patients was younger than non diabetic. We found that, hypertension, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, obesity and hyperlipidemia were common in our diabetic patients, while atrial fibrillation and smoking were common in non diabetic patients. There was positive correlation between admission glucose level and HbA1c level and clinical presentation by CANS and MRS. Dysarthria, pure motor, pure sensory and sphincteric disturbance were higher in diabetic group. The size of infarctions were more medium and small size [lacunar] in our diabetic patients. Occipital lobe and thalamic infarctions were significantly higher in our diabetic group, while frontal infarction were higher in non-diabetic group. Outcome using CANS and MRS was more worse in diabetics indicating increasing disability and mortality. Causes of deterioration were hemorrhagic transformation, infarct expansion and stroke recurrence. In our diabetic group infarct expansion and stroke recurrence were higher than non-diabetic one. Mortality was higher in non diabetic group. Causes of mortality varies between infection and cardiac diseases. Diabetes mellitus has a negative effect on cerebral ischemia regarding occurrence and recovery. Furthermore uncontrolled diabetic patients were highly susceptible for stroke recurrence indicating the toxic role of hyperglycemia in cerebral tissues and also affection on blood brain barrier promoting hemorrhagic transformation of cerebral infarction

Silent cerebral infarcts in children with sickle cell anemia

Children with sickle cell anemia [SCA] are at high risk for neurologically overt cerebral infarcts associated with stroke and neurologically silent cerebral infarcts [SCI] correlated with neuropsychometric deficit. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of SCI among patients with SCA and to detect the risk factors for its occurrence and to evaluate the effect of SCI on neurocognitive functions. We studied 20 patients with SCA clinically and laboratory, then MR1 brain to detect cerebral infarctions was performed to all patients and neuropsychological evaluation using Wechseler Intelligence Scale-far children, 3[rd]. [WISC-III] was done to all patients. We found that the incidence of SCI was 15% among our patients with SCA and the most common clinical event predicting SCI was seizures as it occured in 2 out of 3 patients with SCI, also decreased hemoglobin concentration and increased leucocytic count were a risk factors for developing SCI. We also found that patients with SCA and SCI had significantly lower full scale intelligence quotient [IQ] than patients with normal MRI although the latter patients also have lower IQ than the normative data supplied by the test. So we concluded that all patients with SCA must undergo careful clinical, radiological and neuropsychological evaluation for early detection of SCI and congnitive impairment in these patients

Determination of methomyl insecticide residues in tomato and cucumber fruits by high performance liquid chromatography: kinetic study

A sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method using ultraviolet detector has been developed for the determination of methomyl insecticide residues on tomato and cucumber fruits. The developed method consisted of extraction with ethyl acetate, adsorption clean up [by adsorbing mixture consisting of charcoal/celite in ratio 2: 1], followed by high performance liquid chromatographic determination using methanol: water [1: 1] as a mobile phase and UV detection at 233 nm. The range of percentage recovery was between 88.2% and 90.4% for both plant samples. [These recoveries are good for those types of extraction of pesticides traces from plant materials, refer to [1] to compare recoveries]. The method was applied to determine residues and rate of decline of methomyl from fruits of tomatoes and cucumber [open field and greenhouse treatment, with methomyl formulation [Lannate 90% SP] for 100 liter water]. The insecticide incorporated into the plants decreased rapidly with a half-life around 1 day in winter and 0.5 day in summer

Simultaneous determination of bisoprolol Fumarate and hydrochlorothiazide in tablets by derivative spectrophotometry and densitometry

Derivative spectrophotometry [second and fourth] and densitometry were used to determine bisoprolol fumarate [I] and hydrochlorothiazide [II] simultaneously in combined pharmaceutical dosage form. Using second derivative spectrophotometry, the amplitudes in the second derivative spectra at 272.6nm and 284.8nm were selected for simultaneous determination of [I] and [II], respectively, in the mixture. Where, the HZ concentration was calculated from the amplitude at 284.8 nm [where BSF showed no absorbance] and BSF concentration was calculated from the amplitude at 272.6 nm after subtraction of the amplitude due to HZ. While, applying fourth-derivative spectrophotometry technique, the peak amplitudes at 289.8 nm and 272.8 nm were selected to determine [I] and [II], respectively. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 30-280 microg/ml for [I] and 3-24 microg/ml for [II] in both methods. Furthermore, a densitometric procedure with ultraviolet detection at 223nm was applied using chloroform: ethanol: Glacial acetic acid [7:3:2 by volume] as a developing system. The plot of peak area of [I] and [II] to the respective concentrations of each drug was found to be linear in the range of 2.5-30micro g/spot and 1-7 micro g/spot, respectively. The suggested methods were used to determine both compounds in synthetic mixtures and in commerical tablets. The validity of the proposed methods was further assessed by applying standard addition technique. The obtained results were statistically compared with compandial HPLC method, showing no significant difference with respect to accuracy and precision

Peripheral arterial disease and risk of cardiac death in type 2-diabetes

The purpose of this study was to determine the natural history of peripheral arterial disease [PAD] complicating type2-diabetics, in particular the influence of PAD on the risk of cardiac death and the adequacy of PAD risk factor management. The study was a prospective study of diabetic patients. The study was performed at Al-Azhar University Hospitals on 15o patients with type 2-diabetes between March 2004 and May 2005, with follow-up period at least 2-years. All patients had a valid data at baseline and three or more subsequent consecutive annual reviews. Assessment consisted of a range of clinical and biochemical variables including the ankle/brachial index [ABI]. PAD was defined as an ABI

Multislice CT angiography in schistosomal cor pulmonale: relation to cardiovascular, ventilatory and respiratory muscle functions

This study was conducted to evaluate the role of Multislice CT angiography as imaging modality in predicting and assessing severity of pulmonary hypertension [PH], extent of cardiac affection and visualizing pulmonary - systemic collaterals in patients with shistosomal corpulmonale. Also to find out possible relationship between CT signs of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular affection to: pulmonary hemodynamics. echocardiographic parameters, ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary and respiratory muscle functions derangement This prospective study included 14 patients with schitosomal cor pulmonale [5 females and 9 males], their ages ranged between 23 and 45 years with a mean of 35.75 +/- 9.6 years. All patients underwent routine laboratory investigations, plain x-ray chest and electrocardiogram, abdominal sonography; pulmonary function tests [PETs], respiratory muscle strength assessment by measuring maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures [PI[max] and PE[max]]. The echocardiographic study was carried out to assess pulmonary artery pressures PAP [mean and systolic PAP], size of pulmonary arteries, right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions, right ventricular dimensions. Multislice CT angiography of the pulmonary and systemic circulations with a sixteen detector row scanner was also performed to assess the presence of CT features of pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular dysfunction and abnormal bronchial and non-bronchial systemic arteries. Data presented as mean values and standard deviation. The studied patients demonstrated restrictive-obstructive pattern of PETs and decreased respiratory muscles strength evidenced by reduced mean values of PI[max] and PE[max] [71.57% +/- 7.12 and 69.14% +/- 8.6 of predicted]. The echocardiography illustrated significant shortening of pulmonary acceleration time [57.28 +/- 16.75 mm/sec], high systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressures [80.93 +/- 13.07 and 54.42 +/- 10.55 mmHg]. There was significant dilatation of the main pulmonary artery, right and left pulmonary arteries. Evidences of right ventricular diastolic and systolic dysfunction as well as dilatation and hypertrophy of RV. dilatation of the right atrium in all studied patients. Left ventricular [LV] diastolic and systolic dysfunctions were evident in 28.5% and 21.4% of the studied patients respectively. Multislice CT angiography demonstrated dilatation of the main PA [55.08 +13.24mm], central pulmonary arteries [RPAD 40.35 +/- 11. 9 and LPAD 37.7 +/- 11.7mm] as well as peripheral pulmonary arteries in all studied patients. Aneurysmal dilatation of pulmonary artery was detected in 42.8% of patients. There was insignificant difference between pulmonary arteries diameters measured by MSCT and echocardiography. [P>0.05] Right ventricular dilatation [RV width 47.1 +/- 5.8mm], increased RV wall thickness [8.03 +/- 1.4mm] and dilatation of right atrium and inferior vena cava were evident in all studied patients. Displacement of the interventricular septum to the left with compression of the left ventricle was found in 50% of patients .There was inferior vena cava and hepatic vein reflux in 57.14% of patients who showed concomitant evidence of tricuspid regurge on Echo Doppler. Exclusive dilatation of bronchial arteries was detected in 35.7% of patients, while simultaneous enlargement of bronchial and non-bronchial systemic arteries in 7.14%. Only one patient showed mural thrombi within the right and left PA as well as amputated subsegmental PA branch due to embolization. Uniyariant correlation study and multivariant stepwise regression analysis demonstrated significant inter- relationship between extent of PH, R V systolic dysfunction [VREF%], CT RV wall thickness, pulmonary function derangement and respiratory muscle weakness. There was lack of significant correlation of the size of pulmonary artery to mPAP, haemodynamic impairment, dilatation and hypertrophy of RV pulmonary and respiratory muscles dysfunctions. [P>0.05] Accordingly, on CT angiography dilatation of pulmonary arteries predict presence of pulmonary hypertension, but does not reflect extent of PH, whereas, increased RV wall thickness can be a valuable indicator for existence and severity of PH. Patients with schistosomal cor pulmonale present with various aspects of impairment at the levels of PFTs, respiratory muscle strength and both right and left ventricular hemodynamic performance with intimate inter-relationship between these derangements. this work provided support to that MSCT is a highly efficient non-invasive imaging modality in evaluating patients with schistosomal cor pulmonale through helping to: detect its presence, grade its severity, evaluate the functional state of the right ventricle., visualize collaterals and various shunts. as well as detect local thrombi within the pulmonary vessels

Spectrofluorimetric determination of bisoprolol fumarate and valsartan in tablets and spiked plasma

Simple, sensitive and rapid spectrofluorimetric procedure is described for the determination of two antihypertensive drugs namely, Bisoprolol fumarate [BSF] and Valsartan [VT]. The effect of solvents was investigated. The fluorescence properties of the two cited drugs showed maximum emission intensity in 0.1N H[2]SO[4] at lambda [em] 298 and 415nm for BSF and VT, respectively, when excited at lambda[ex] 227nm. The calibration graphs were rectilinear from 0.08-1.28 and 0.12-1.6 micro g/ml for BSF and VT respectively. The method, was applied to the determination of the two cited drugs in tablets either single or when co-formulated with hydrochlorothiazide [HZ] with % recoveries of 100.03 +/- 0.57 and 99.70 +/- 0.90 for BSF and VT, respectively. Furthermore, the high sensitivity of the proposed method it allowed its application in spiked human plasma with good % recoveries of 99.73 +/- 2.06 for BSF and 99.94 +/- 1.71 for VT

Tachycardia induced dilated cardiomyopathy in pediatric patients

To study the diagnosis and treatment of tachycardia induced dilated cardiomyopathy in infants and children with unexplained systolic dysfunction. The present study was conducted on 22 patients were regularly attending the arrhythmology clinic section of pediatric cardiology unit at Cairo University Hospital suffering from significant arrhythmias induced heart failure that determined clinically and by investigations. All cases were subjected to the following; full medical history taken, thorough clinical examination, chest and heart x-ray, 12 leads ECG, 24 hours electrocardiographic recording [Holter monitoring] and standard echocardiographic evaluation included real time two-dimensional echocardiogram, M-mode and Doppler measurement. All studied cases with tachycardia induced DCM underwent medical treatment of arrhythmia with remission of the DCM. Studied cases showed good response to medical treatment in the form of anti-arrhythmic drugs [amiodarone alone [12] or in combination with sotalol [8] / lanoxin [1] or verapamil [1]] where sinus rhythm with normalization of ventricular function was achieved in treated cases. The manifestations of heart failure were eliminated clinically [via return of heart rate and respiratory rate to normal values for age] and radiologicaly. Holter monitoring was done only for 19 cases and showed return to sinus rhythm with normal heart rate for age [<0.001 highly significant] and improvement of echocardiographic variables [LVEDD, LVESD, EF and Fractional shortening for age]. One child continued to have frequent episodes of tachycardia and underwent successful AV nodal ablation with permanent pacemaker implantation. Two out of the 22 patients on amiodarone could be managed with only digoxin and verapamil after their ventricular function had returned to normal. Tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy is a reversible form of dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure, where its diagnosis requires high index of suspicion. Medical treatment with amiodarone and/or B-blockers is a safe and effective treatment strategy for infants and children with tachicardiomyopathy. This approach may avoid unnecessary ablations in children or at least postpone it till the procedure would be safer

Canine spirosercosis in Giza governorate: With a reference to esophageal and aortic pathology

A survey was done on 78 dogs of different ages and both sexes in Giza Governate to detect the incidence of the infestation with Spirocerca lupi in dogs. Fifty-eight cases were positively infected; only twenty-seven cases had the clinical disease with the master sign of vomiting. The characteristic Spirocerca lesions were encountered mostly in aorta, esophagus and in few cases stomach involvement was also noticed. The most pronounced P.M lesions were the tumor-like nodules in the last mentioned organs, those nodules contained cross-section of large number of the bright red worm in a yellow pus. Deformative degenerative spondylitis with associated aortic adhesive lesions was observed in 5 cases. Neoplastic reactions mainly fibrosarcoma was noticed in 11 cases which had the tendency to metastasise to the lung in two cases

Localization of leucine aminopeptidase in the schistosoma mansoni Eggs and in liver tissue from infected mice

Infection with Schistosoma mansoni causes hepatic granuloma formation and fibrosis in response to parasite eggs. The present work localized the leucine aminopeptidase [LAP] in S. mansoni eggs and in liver tissue sections from infected mice. Fresh eggs and livers obtained from infected hamsters were processed and stained with the L-leucine-7-amino-trifluoro-methylcoumarin specific substrate. The L-argnine-7-amino-trifluoro-methylcoumarin and bestatin [leucine aminopeptidase inhibitor] were used to test the LAP substrate specificity and reactivity. The staining pattern for that enzyme in the egg and liver tissue reflects that the leucine aminopeptidase is a major egg constituent distributed in nearly all the egg except the spine. The control substrates confirmed the substrate broad specificity of LAP. It was concluded that the LAP enzyme is a major egg antigen and the target antigen for the antipathology vaccine development studies

Pattern on blood levels of erythropoietin patients and proinflammatory cytokines in anemic on regular hemodialysis

The objective of this study was to assess the blood levels of cytokines as interleukin-1 B [IL-1 B], interleukin-6 [IL-6] and Epo in anemic patients on regular hemodialysis [HD] and evaluate their relation to the anemic status of those patients. Sera levels of IL-1 B, IL-6 and Epo were measured by ELISA technique in 40 patients on regular HD. The patients were compared with 20 healthy controls. A statistically significant decrease of serum Epo level and a statistically significant elevation for the sera levels of IL-1 B and IL-6 were detected in the patients compared with the controls. A Positive correlation between IL-1 B and IL-6 was detected. Statistically significant negative correlations between IL-1 B and hemoglobin [Hb] level were observed. Also, statistically significant negative correlations between IL-6 and Hb were observed. Hence, these cytokines would be involved in the pathophysiology of end stage renal disease [ESRD] anemic patients

Effect of storage on the infectivity of vampirolepis nana var. nana eggs to swiss albino mice

Vampirolepis nana is the most common cestode in humans especially children. Domestic mice and rats can serve as definitive hosts for V. nana. Confusion exists over the species status and host-specificity of this tapeworm. In a previous study done by the same authors it was found that the Egyptian human isolates of V. nana could be used to infect mice for experimental work. Eggs in human feces and in the fecal pellets excreted by mice probably lose their infectivity sooner or later. Such information is very important from the epidemiologic and epizootic points of view. The aim of this work was to study the infectivity of V. nana var. nana eggs isolated from human feces, murine fecal pellets and worm gravid proglottids after storage for different periods of time. According to the results, the transmission potential capacity of the human strain of V. nana by mice can not be ignored. The relative infectivity of the eggs isolated from the murine rectal fecal pellets is higher than that isolated from the worm because some immature eggs are found in the gravid segments. It was clear that storage of eggs had a deteriorating effect and that the egg infectivity was dependent upon storage time. After 2 wk of storage in dechlorinated water some eggs were still viable and infective. Such a group of eggs present a health risk for people living in the wastewater-exposed areas like Egyptian rural areas, or when wastewater is reused for agricultural purposes as in countries with water scarcity