Evaluation of the OSOM Trichomonas rapid test for detection of Trichomoniasis vaginalis

Trichomoniasis is estimated to be the most widely prevalent non viral sexually transmitted infection in the world. Wet mount [WM] microscopy is the most common diagnostic method although its sensitivity is not satisfactory. The aim of the present study is to compare the diagnostic value of OSOM Trichomonas rapid test [OSOM Trich] with conventional diagnostic techniques and PCR for T. vaginalis infection. 128 samples were collected from symptomatic females. Samples were subjected to WM examination, culture, PCR and OSOM Trich test [an immunochromatography based test] for the detection of T. vaginalis. Of the 128 examined samples, PCR detected 14 positive samples, culture detected 13 samples, WM detected 9 samples, while OSOM Trich detected 12 of the PCR positive samples plus one false positive case. Sensitivity of culture, WM and OSOM Trich were 92.9%, 64.3% and 85.7% respectively, while specificity was 100%, 100% and 99.1%, respectively. OSOM Trich showed slightly lower sensitivity and specificity than culture, yet proved simple, rapid with no need for an equipped laboratory or a trained technician. The test is also economically acceptable, it can be used as a spot routine testing method for improving detection of T. vaginalis cases

Characteristics of Anthocyanin pigments extracted from rosella [Hibiscus sabdariffa, L.] and its potential uses as antioxidant and natural food colorants

Extraction of anthocyanin from rosella [Hibiscus sabdariffa, L.] was optimized for identification of the major constituents of the extract by HPLC to be used as alternative natural red colorants in some processed foods, i.e. hard candy, as well as to find out its effect as natural antioxidant on corn oil. Rosella anthocyanin contained 620 mg anthocyanin/100g rosella The major constituents were cyaniding 3, 5 diglucoside delphinidin 3 glocoside and cyaniding 3 arabinoside by analyzing with HPLC. The best carrier for rosella anthocyanin was dextrin followed by soluble starch, lactose and glucose, respectively, On the other hand, color and higher pigment stability of anthocyanin extracted from rosella were in acidic conditions at pH value ranging between 1.0 to 3.0 and temperature between 40.0 to 60.0°C. Meanwhile, the degradation of anthocyanin was 58.0% of the total pigments after 180 mm at 100°C. Antioxidant activity of rosella extracts was assessed by measuring the peroxide value in corn oil during 7 days at 60°C, where, corn oil containing 200, 500, 1000 ppm lowered the peroxide value compared using 200 ppm synthetic antioxidant [200 ppm]. Analysis of variance for sensory evaluation of prepared hard candy indicated that, hard candy containing 0.20% rosella anthocyanin pigments had the highest score of color, taste and overall acceptability similar to the synthetic color carmine

Detection of metastatic potential capacity in colorectal carcinoma using flow cytometry and imunocytochemistry

Improved staging in all forms of gastro intestinal cancers is a desirable task because many of these cancers are understaged even after curative surgical resection. Indeed, early dissemination of isolated tumour cells is a frequent characteristic of epithelial tumours. The present work at detection of these micrometastatic cells in BM of colorectal cancer [CRC] patients using flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry on mononuclear cells [MNC] and on bone marrow [BM] smears, and comparing the results of the 3 techniques. Presence of micrometastasis was assessed using monoclonal antibody [MoAb] against intracellular cytokeratin 18. the material of the study consisted of 40 cases of CRC constituting the subjects of the study, 28 of them with no overt metastasis while the remaining 12 patients expressed overt metastasis. The results of the cases revealed the following: 1. Using flow cytometry the mean number of micrometastatic cells detected was much higher than those detectd by immunocytochemistry on BM and MNC. 2. The presence of positive micrometastasis was 70% with flow cytometry and 69.2% with immunocytochemistry on BM smear and 50% on MNC. 3. All cases having macrometastasis were positive for micrometastasis using the 3 techniques. In cases showing no overt metastasis, more than half of the patients [57%] were positive for micrometastasis using flow cytometry and a nearly similar% age [55%] with immunocytocemistry on BM smear, while only 37% of these cases had micrometastasis with immunocytochemistry on MNC. As regards the comparison between the 3 techniques, we found that nearly all positive cases by flow cytometry were positive by immunocytochemistry on BM smear except for 2 cases, while only 17 cases were positive by immunocytochemistry on MNC out of 22 cases positive by flow cytometry. Thus flow cytometry can be considered a more sensitive technique, followed by immunocytochemistry on BM smear. Immunocytochemistry on MNC revealed no positive cells at all when applied on negative control cases, while 30% of the cases showd moderately staining cells when using immunocytochemistry on BM smear. Also 20% of negative control cases showed low positivity with flow cytometry. Thus immunocytochemistry on MNC can be considered less sensitive but more specific than the 2 other methods

evaluation of an arabic version of Rose questionnaire

An Arabic version of Rose questionnaire was tested to establish its credibility as an epidemiological tool for screening purposes. The study showed that the criteria used in defining CHD determinants were still applicable today and in Arabic. The Arabic version maintained similar, if not better, sensitivity and specificity results than its original counterpart. The study pointed out, however, to several limitations that should be kept in mind during the interpretation of the questionnaire results

role of manual dilation of the anus in the management of anal fissures

This work was done on 50 cases of anal fissure to study the role of manual dilatation of the anus [5 fingers] under general anesthesia as an office procedure in the outpatient clinic in the management of this disease. They were divided into three groups: Group I, 20 cases of acute anal fissure, group II, 20 cases of chronic anal fissure and group III, 10 cases of chronic anal fissure associated with hemorrhoids. The success rate was 95% in group I, 75% in group II and 70% in group III. Persistence of skin tag was found in 50% of group II and 40% of group III. Prolapse of internal hemorrhoids occurred in two cases of group III one of them underwent thrombosis [10%]. Dysfunction of the anal sphincter was temporary and disappeared in 6 months. Manual dilatation of the anus [MDA] is recommended as the method of choice in the management of acute anal fissure and as a good first method for the management of chronic fissures to be followed by a formal operation in cases of non response and in should be used cautiously in chronic fissures associated with hemorrhoids