Macro and micromorphology studies of the leaf, stem and stem bark of Ficus pandurata hance. cultivated in Egypt

Ficus pandurata [Hance] Fiddle leaf fig [Family, Moraceae] is a tree indigenous to South Africa and cultivated in Egypt for its shade in public and private gardens. Previous investigations of Ficus species showed many medicinal uses; externally they have been used for treatment of leprosy, ulcers, itching, leucoderma and warts. Internally used as anti-inflammatory, to reduce fever, cure tuberculosis and against intestinal parasites. In the present work, the detailed macro-and micromorphological characters of the leaf, stem and stem bark of Ficus pandurata Hance were studied with the aim to find out the diagnostic elements of these organs, which facilitate their identification in both entire and powdered forms

Chronic desquamative gingivitis as part of mucocutaneos manifestations

Desquamative gingivitis is a clinical feature of a variety of diseases. In this paper, the clinical features of dermatoses or mucocutaneous disorders where desquamative gingivitis is presenting manifestations have been reviewed [lichen planus, mucous membranes pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris]. Other less common mucocutaneous disorders affecting the oral mucosa [lupus erythromatosus, linear IgA, plasma cell gingivitis, chronic ulcerative stomatitis and psoriasis] are also described. Correct identification of these conditions entails taking a careful history and performing a thorough intra-oral examination. Presence of cutaneous, nasal, ocular and genital lesions should be carefully elicited from the patient. The clinical manifestations, investigations and modalities of treatment are reviewed. Desquamative gingivitis [DG] is a clinical feature of a variety of diseases. It is characterised by epithelial desquamation, erythema, ulceration, and/or the presence of vesiculobullous lesions of the gingiva and other oral tissues. This phenomenon can be a manifestation of a number of dermatoses, most commonly lichen planus, mucous membrane pemphigoid [cicatricial pemphigoid], and pemphigus vulgaris [1-3]. Other causes include allergic reactions to toothpastes/mouth rinses [plasma cell gingivitis] [4-6], Crohn's disease [7], psoriasis [8], linear IgA disease [9] and chronic ulcerative stomatitis [10]. Desquamative gingivitis can be mistaken for plaque induced gingivitis and this can lead to delayed diagnosis and inappropriate treatment of serious dermatological diseases such as pemphigoid or pemphigus [11-14]. Desquamative gingivitis as a presenting feature is most commonly noticed in oral lichen planus [OLP] [15-17]

Electrophysiological study of peripheral nerves and nerve roots of upper limbs in patients presenting with Bell's palsy

The present study was designed to evaluate electrophysiologically the possible involvement of the ipsilateral peripheral nerves and nerve roots of the upper limb in Bell's palsy patients in comparison to their contralateral side. The study included 30 patients presented with Bell's palsy associated with subjective unilateral brachialgia. The patients were evaluated clinically and electrophysiologically. Although the peripheral nerves showed normal conduction compared to the standard parameters, however there was statistical significant difference between the affected and unaffected upper limbs. Needle EMG showed positive sharp waves, fibrillation potentials and polyphasic motor unit action potentials in the deltoid and biceps brachii muscles of the affected side of 8 patients [26.7%]. The changes observed at the peripheral nerves and nerve roots of the upper limbs may support the theory that Bell's palsy is a part of generalized polyneuropathy

assessment of frontal and temporal lobe functions in some idiopathic generalized epileptic syndromes and seizures

This study was conducted to evaluate some psychometric parameters in patients with idiopathic epilepsy. It was carried out on 2 groups: group 1 was subdivided into a: 40 patients with idiopathic generalized epileptic syndromes, b: 10 patients with idiopathic epilepsies not fulfilling the criteria of syndromic classification. Group 2 [control group] 20 healthy persons. The 2 groups were subjected to full clinical examination, EEG examination, neuroimaging and certain psychometric tests concerned in the assessment of frontal and temporal lobe functions. There was significant decline in language and normal performance in trail making test. While the temporal functions showed significant decline in general and visual memory and delay recall. This study may suggest that idiopathic generalized epilepsy is not uniformly benign condition

cost of outpatient care of diabetics in kaser El-Aini hospital [Egypt]

Six hundred adult diabetic [510 of type II, 90 of type I, both sexes] were included in this study. Each patient was interrogated about the history including classical data of diabetes, types of treatment and other medications, daily doses and cost prices of each medication, methods of home self monitoring and monthly cost of such methods and cost of management of specific complications. Each patient was also examined for complication of diabetes mellitus, Investigations were done to assess the metabolic adjustment. It is concluded that the overall direct cost of the outpatient diabetic care per patient per year was 349.27 L.E. [105.39$] including 48.6 L.E. [14.67$] for oral hyopoglycemic drugs, 72.1 L.E. [23.57$] for insulin, 48.9 L.E. [14.76$] for syringes, 58.68 L.E. [17.71$] for test strips, 34.68 [10.46$] for Benedict's solution, 43.86 L.E. [13.23$] for physician visits [occasionally] and 36.54 L.E. [11$] for laboratory services. These figures should be taken into consideration during studying the health economics in Egypt especially if we know that the per capita income per month is low, about 130 L.E. [39.23#] in our study. A diabetic patient may have to spend 25% of his monthly income in outpatient care

Evidence of valve regurgitation by Doppler echocardiography in patients with rheumatic fever without clinical carditis

Because of the observation that patients with acute rheumatic fever without clinical carditis develop later rheumatic heart disease, and the postulation that such patients may have a subclinical [silent] carditis in the initial attack, we studied the heart in a group of such patients using Doppler echocardiography. Twenty five patients with recent isolated rheumatic arthritis and 25 patients with recent isolated rheumatic chorea in their initial attack were the subject of the study. They all had no past history of rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease. Doppler studies were done one to 28 days from the onset of symptoms. It was found that 50% of the patients had Doppler evidence of valve regurgitation, most commonly of the mitral and aortic valves. The severity of regurgitation was mild in most cases [75%] and moderate in the rest. 28% of the sample had two valves affected simultaneously. The results explain the finding of rheumatic heart disease in patients initially free of carditis several years after the first attack. They demonstrate that the use of Doppler echocardiography in the diagnosis of carditis in initial rheumatic fever attacks is essential They also demonstrate the importance of more prolonged bed rest, treatment with corticosteroids, and possibly life time prophylaxis in rheumatic fever patients who have Doppler evidence of valve regurgitation in the absence of acardiac murmur

Factors affecting biodegradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol in soil

A comparative study for biodegradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol in clay and sandy soil was performed. The extent of microbial degradation of such chemical was higher in clay soil than in sandy soil samples. Degradation rate in both sandy and clay soils was mainly dependent on the moisture content of soil, incubation temperature, and on the concentration of the added 2,4-dinitrophenol. Moreover, addition of glucose as an organic nutrient to either clay or sandy soil samples did affect the extent of microbial degradation, the size of population degrades in clay soils was 4 times compared to that of sandy soil samples, where the degrading bacteria were counted by the MPN method. The degrading bacteria were mainly Bacillus species and gram negative rods