Molecular studies on salmonella species isolated from chicken

Although many pathogens have recently received considerable attention. Salmonella remains among the leading sources of food-borne illness throughout much of the world. A poultry producer suffers losses due to Salmonella infection of the flock including loss of birds and production time. The present study was carried out to compare between the conventional bacteriological method and pre-enriched PCR assay for detection of Salmonella in chicken swabs samples The culture method can detect Salmonella in 6 samples out of 105 of examined samples under investigation with an incidence of 5.7%, where by using PCR can detect 7 Salmonella positive samples out of 105 examined samples with an incidence of 6.7%. Dendrogram or phylogentic tree of 5 isolated salmonella serotypes on RAPD-PCR analysis - PCR pattern similarity. The phylogentic tree was constructed applying UPCMA to matrix of similarity established from the combined data obtained by using three RAPD-PCR primers [1,2, and primer 5] which give the best discrimination out of the six Primers used in the study. The numbers indicate the percentage of similarity among RAPD-PCR profiles based on pair wise band sharing as compared with the molecular weight of the marker [DNA ladder]. It was found that Salmonella serotypes isolated chickens and environmental samples have different degrees of genetic similarity as follow; S. anatum with S. typhimurium [52%], S. anatum with S. derby [57%], S. anatum with 5. keniucky [62%], 5. anatum with S. enieritidis [48%]. S. typhimurium with S. d

Effect of sodium chloride and milk preacidification on serum phase and chemical composition of soft white pickled cheese

The objective of the present work was to study the effect of milk salting and preacidification with citric or acetic acid on residual coagulant activity, expressible serum and chemical composition of soft white cheese. Also, to produce soft white cheese from unsalted milk with characteristics comparable to those of cheese made from salted milk. The results showed that cheese made from salted milk contained the lowest activity of residual coagulant, while cheese made from milk preacidified with citric acid contained the highest activity. Cheese moisture and soluble proteins in expressible serum were lower in cheese made from unsalted milk than in that made from salted milk. The expressible serum decreased during pickling in all treatments. Preacidification with citric acid to pH6 increased the moisture content in cheese and reduced the amount of expressible serum. Reverse-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography [RP-HPLC] analysis showed that the peptides in the expressible serum from salted milk-cheese were present at higher relative concentrations than in that from the unsalted milk-cheese. The late-eluting peptides of 90 days old cheese were higher in preacidified milk-cheese compared to that innonepreacidified milk-cheese

Electrophsiologic study of regular narrow QRS complex tachycardia due to A-V nodal reentry and orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia

Regular narrow QRS complex tachycardia is considered one of the common presentations of supraventricular tachycardias. The aim of this work was to study the electrophysiologic mechanisms of the most frequent types of regular narrow QRS complex tachycardia: AV nodal reentrant tachycardia [AVNRT] and orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycaridia [AVRT]. Twenty nine patients with regular narrow QRS complex tachycardia were included in this electrophysiologic study. At sinus rhythm, measurement of the atrial-His bandle [AH], His bundle ventricular [HV] intervals and sinus node recovery time were done. The effective refractory periods of the atria, the AV node and the ventricles were measured at basic drive. After induction of arrhythmis, measurement of the AH jump in AVNRT and ventriculoatrial [VA] conduction time were done. AVNRT patients represented 58.6% orthodromic AVRT 41.4% of the studied patients. AVNRT was induced by atrial pacing only while orthodromic AVRT was induced by mechanical irritation of the atria in 16.7% of patients, programmed stimulation of the atria in 16.7% of patients and by both atrial and ventricular pacing in 66.7% of patients. Occurrence of AVNRT was accompanied with an AH jump of 61.76%, +/- 6.35 msec. The VA conduction time was statically longer in orthodromic AVRT [78.33 +/- 6.51 msec] than AVNRT [62.64 +/- 5.33 msec]. Prolongation of AH interval [AH jump] on His bundle electrogram >/= 50 msec is diagnostic of AVNRT. The V-A conduction time during tachycardia in AVRT is longer than the VA conduction time in AVNRT due to the presence of accessory pathway

Nosocomial bacterial infection in Menoufyia University Hospital

This study was performed to assess the bacterial nosocomial infection in the Menoufyia University Hospital as a step in evaluating the strategies carried by the infection control committee. The study was conducted on 31 patients from medical and surgical departments. For patients [12.9%] developed fever. The result of blood culture showed gram negative bacilli in 2 out of the 4 patients who got nosocomial infection, Staphylococcus aureus in 2 patients and Pseudomonas in one patient mixed with Staphylococcus aureus. The patients, who developed nosocomial infection were free from specific symptoms or localised signs of any infectious disease, denoting that it is a bacterial blood stream nosocomial infection. Older patients were more susceptible to bacterial nosocomial infection. The study declares that bacterial nosocomial infection is present in the hospital [12.9%] and this necessitates more accurate strategies for controlling such infection

Heterogeneity of vascular response to acetylcholine along the human coronary artery

This study included 25 patients with mild CAD. A single coronary artery was selectively studied in each patient. From the biplane image, the images that optimized the projection were chosen for analysis. An automatic edge detection routine was utilized to determine vessel diameters which was divided into segments. Results showed that the mean change in vessel diameter was -0.036 + 0.011 mm upon infusion of Ach 10 - 6 M, -0.74 + 0.013 mm upon infusion of Ach 10 - 5 M and -5.86 + 0.91%, respectively, [all means SEM]. These mean value are comprised of individual segments which have disparate response to Ach. A heterogeneous pattern of response was seen in 20 patients at the Ach 10 - 4M, in 16 patients at the 10-5 M and in 18 patients at the 10-6 dose

Coronary endothelial dysfunction following a cholesterol lowering regimen in patients with coronary artery disease

This study included 25 patients with mild CAD, mild positive exercise treadmill test and hypercholesterolemia. All patients were subjected to lipid lowering regimen and modification of other risk factors. Baseline and follow-up study of coronary reactivity using QCA were done to study patient outcome. From the results obtained, it was concluded that aggressive lipid-lowering of elevated cholesterol levels in patients with mild CAD is definitely beneficial. Lipid-lowering therapy was only predictor of partial improvement in endothelial dysfunction

Evaluation of immunologic tests in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis

Inhalant allergens are most frequently involved in allergic rhinitis. IgE antibodies bind to mast cells. Degranulation of those sensitized mast cells release mediators which are responsible for allergic rhinitis. In this work, serum samples of 45 patients, as well as serum samples of 15 control, were studied for total IgE concentration. Antibodies specific to a group of allergens are tested by Phadia Top procedure as well as Phadezyme RAST procedure which utilizes single specific allergen in each disc to specify accurately the causative allergen. Total IgE concentration ranged from 2-110 UK/L in controls [15 cases] and ranged from 18-900 UK/L in patients [45 cases]. 29 patients had IgE concentration> 110 UK/L, 15% of them were positive by Phadia Top test while 24% were positive by Phadezyme RAST test

Atrial fibrillation in rheumatic mitral stenosis: a clinicopathological study

The relation between atrial fibrillation [AF] and some clinicopathological parameters has been studied by comparing two groups of patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Group I included 10 patients with sinus rhythm and group II included 10 patients with AF. Clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic, radiologic and echocardiographic examinations were done for all patients. A biopsy from the left atrial appendage was taken from each patient during closed mitral commissurotomy to study the pathological changes in the left atrial wall using Masson Trichrome stain. The results of this study revealed a positive relation between AF and the age of the patient, the duration of the mitral valve disease, the left atrial size, the presence of tricuspid regurgitation, the amount of fibrosis, muscle atrophy and loss of muscle architecture in the left atrial wall. Meanwhile, AF has no relation to sex, severity of mitral stenosis, degree of pulmonary hypertension and presence of gradient across the mitral valve

Sinus node function: comparative study between directly measured and indirectly estimated sinoatrial conduction time in man

Assessment of sinus node dysfunction is important in many disease states as syncope, sick sinus syndrome and arrhythmia. Sinoatrial conduction time [SACT] is one of the important measurements of sinus node function. There are three methods for measurement of SACT: Direct method and two indirect methods by premature atrial stimulation [Strauss] and by continuous atrial pacing [Narula]. The aim of this study was to compare between these three methods. 24 patients with various forms of acquired heart diseases were studied during cardiac catheterization that was performed for evaluation of their heart disease. Quadripolar electrode catheters and programmable stimulator were used. Results indicated that SACT by direct method ranged from 20 to 70 msec. [mean 41 +/- 12 msec.], SACT by Strauss method ranged from 10 to 170 msec. [range 70 +/- 44 msec.]. By Narula method range was 20 to 165 msec. [mean 59 +/- 40 msec.]. There was no significant correlation between the three methods. It was concluded that two indirect methods of estimating sinoatrial conduction time by Strauss and Narula methods are not sensitive; sinus nodal electrogram is more precise for accurate estimation of sinoatrial conduction time in man; spontaneous cycle length bears no relation to values of SACT measured by any of these methods

Alterations of hearing after myringoplasty

Pre and postoperative hearing functions of 30 patients with successful myringoplasties were compared. A preoperative screening examination as well as an audiological evaluation were done. The tympanic cavities were thoroughly explored during the operation. A postoperative clinical and audiological follow-up for 3 months was carried out for ears with successful myringoplasties. Pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, and stapedial reflex were encompassed. A comparison was held between the clinical data and the different audiological measurements. The size and site of the perforation as well as the technique of tympanoplasty affect postoperative compliance but does not affect postoperative air-bone gap and hearing gain. Compliance should not be taken as an absolute criteria to a corresponding wide air-bone gap unless it is associated with an intratympanic pathology. Absence of stapedial reflex can be associated with normal middle ear function and normal sensory neural function

Thalassaemia major and hearing in Zagazig

Thirty cases of thalassemia major [16 males and 14 females] ranging from four to eighteen years old were audiologically evaluated by pure tone audiomotry and tympanometry after a thorough otorhinolaryngologic and padiatric examination. Pallor was reported in all cases, while hypertophy of the tonsils and adenoids, mongoloid facies and hepatosplenonegaly were detected in 90% of cases. Of the thirty cases [60 ears], only one had a unilateral 40dB loss at 6 KHZ, there was no cause-and-effect relation between regular or irregular receival of iron chelating agents [desferroxamine] and or blood transfusion and the detected auditory abnormality

Humoral immunity vs oropharyngeal flora alterations in children prior to and after adenotonsillectomy

Levels of serum immunoglobulins [IgG, IgA and IgM] were determined in 30 patients with chronic adenotonsillitis by the single radial immunodiffusion technique, prior to and one month after adenotonsillectomy. Twelve normal individuals were included as a control group. Swabs of the posterior oropharyngeal wall, before and a month after the operation, were fully identified bacteriologically by the use of the VITEK systems. The organisms obtained preoperatively were of resident as well as pathogenic flora. One month after adenotonsillectomy, there was a marked drop in the number of patients from whom Streptococcus pyogenes were recovered with the return of the incidence of Streptococcus viridans near the normal level. Streptococcus pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus and Diphtheroid bacilli, on the other hand, showed no marked change. A significant preoperative high level of serum IgG and IgA was recorded, which postoperatively significantly decreased to near its level in the control group. The postoperative level of IgM showed slight drop, but neither significantly differ from the normal nor from the preoperative level. Thus, preoperative estimation of serum immunoglobulins or simply IgA level as well as a swab from the posterior oropharyngeal wall may be of diagnostic as well as of prognostic value

Study of sinus node function in schistosomal cor pulmonale

Sinus node function [SNF] was studied in 20 patients with schistosomiasis. Ten patients had cor pulmonale [BCP] and 10 without cor pulmonale. Another group of five patients was studied with no evidence of schistosomal infestation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the SNF in patients with bilharzial cor pulmonale. Statistical analysis of the results and recordings was done. No significant difference was found in these measurements between patients with BCP and others, while patients with active schistosomal infestation showed higher levels of corrected sinus node recovery time and sinoatrial conduction time, the difference was statistically significant

Prevalence of hepatitis B markers in medical and paramedical staff in fever hospitals

The study comprised 82 medical and paramedical staff from those who are in close contact with patients suffering from virus hepatitis in three different fever hospitals. They consisted of 16 doctors, 9 laboratory staff, 18 nurses and 39 assistants. The personnel with different ages and sexes were screened for the viral markers [HBsAg and anti-HBc] using the ELISA technique. The study revealed that 6.1% of the examined persons were HBsAg positive and 50% were HBcAb positive. This prevalence rate of sero marker of hepatitis B virus [HBV] among the personnel in fever hospitals [considered high risk group] was found to be almost similar to that previously rerported by other workers in the population at large. Thus, although hospital staff are of the high risk group health education minimise such risk. The proper strategy to overcome infection with HBV appears to be mainly performed by health education for the general population