ABSTRACT
Background/aim: cataract is one of the major causes of visual impairment globally and the first cause of blindness. The present study analyzed the impact of caffeine and/or nifedipine in a model of cataract caused by selenite
Materials and methods: a total of 75 albino Wistar rats were alienated into five groups [15 each]: group I served as control and group II was subcutaneously injected with 30 nmol/g body weight of sodium selenite. Group III received an intraperitoneal injection of 5.15 micro mol of caffeine; group IV received 0.1 mg/kg of nifedipine; and group V received the two treatments in the same dose after selenite injection. Groups were decapitated after 5, 15, and 25 days of selenite injection. Comet assay to lens epithelium, refractive index, and ultraviolet absorption spectra for lens proteins were studied
Results: the results indicated very high significant increase [P<0.001] in comet assay parameters and refractive index. Also variation of ultraviolet spectra for all groups injected with selenite was observed. Partial recovery was observed after treatment with caffeine or nifedipine but there were no significant differences in groups treated with a combination of caffeine and nifedipine
Conclusion: the study stated that to achieve attenuation or delay of lens cataract formation, a calcium channel blocker must be used in addition to antioxidants
ABSTRACT
Background/aim: corneal burn wound healing includes a sequence of difficult processes that are focused on improving the outcomes, in particular, the healing time and the feature of the scar. Bodily fluids such as natural tears and autologus serum were used in the treatment of corneal burn. The aim of the study was to investigate the cure of corneal burn alkali injury by autologous serum [AS] and/or sodium hyaluronate
Materials and methods: a total of 50 Wister rats [200-250 g] were distributed into five groups: group I acted as the control, group II had alkali burn [AB] withsodiumhydroxide, group III had AB treated with AS, group IV was AB treated with sodium hyaluronate, and group V had AB with sodiumhydroxide treated with autologus serum and sodiumhyaluronate. Comet assay analysis was applied for cornea to determine DNA damage. Malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase were measured to estimate the balance between oxidants and antioxidants in the cornea
Results: the data indicated a significant increase [P<0.05] in all comet assay parameters and malondialdehyde level in addition to a significant decrease [P<0.05] in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activity owing to AB. Enhancements of measured parameters were observed in all other treated Groups
Conclusion: AS accelerates the AB healing process, but the process was faster when diluted by sodium hyaluronate
ABSTRACT
Background: staphylococcus Aureus [S.aureus] skin infections are a global problem affecting all age groups from infancy to elderly, mainly because of emerging resistance against widely used antibiotics and presence of specific virulence determinants Panton-Valentine Leukocidin [PVL]. Nasal colonization with methicillin-resistant S, aureus [MRSA] is believed to precede skin diseases, therefore it is reasonable to expect that testing for 'nasal MRSA colonization could provide guidance in the choice of empirical therapy for skin infections. Better control of MRSA within the community setting is necessary to prevent dissemination of epidemic and or multi resistant MRSA clones among outpatients. Combined phenotypic and molecular tests for rapid identification and discrimination of the Staphylococcus genus from others, with simultaneous discrimination of methicillin-resistant from susceptible staphylococcal strains and concomitant detection of PVL genes are of great values
Aim of the study: this study was designed to assess the role of nasal colonization of MRSA and identify the link between PVL toxin gene expression in recurrent skin infections as treatable risk factors to reduce infection-related morbidity and mortality. This may help in prevention, optimal treatment and even to control spread of resistance
Patients and methods: this study was carried out on 30 patients attending dermatology outpatient clinics [OPDs] with a history of repeated skin infections. Twenty apparently healthy participants were taken as a control group. All patients and control were subjected to full history and complete clinical examination as well as laboratory investigations including complete blood count [CBC], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and C-reactive proteins [CRP]. All skin and nasal S. aureus bacteriological swabs were selected and detection of MRSA isolates were done by oxacillin [OX] and cefoxitin [FOX] disc diffusion tests. Confirmation of resistance was carried out by detection of mecA gene by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of MRSA isolates recovered from the skin lesions were compared with that of the nasal isolates .Screening for PVL toxin genes in skin MRSA isolates was done using PCR technique
Results: out of 30 patients with recurrent skin infection, 26 [86.6%] had S. aureus positive skin culture; 42.3% of these isolates were MSSA while the remaining [57.7%] isolates were MRSA. Concerning the S.aureus nasal frequency in the two studied groups, a statistically significant difference was revealed [P < 0.05] where the S. aureus frequency in nasal isolates of recurrent skin infection group was [63.3%]; [42.1 %] were MSSA and [57.9%] were MRSA .Meanwhile its ,frequency in healthy controls was [25%]; [40%] were MSSA and [60%] were MRSA . The MRSA antimicrobial susceptibility pattern did not express a statistically significant difference in skin and nasal isolates in patients group [P>O.OS] for antimicrobial tested except for fusidic acid [Pc0.05]. There was 100% concordance of susceptibilities for nasal and skin isolates of patients for vancomycin and rifampicin. It was found that PVL was detected only in 5 MRSA skin isolates [38.4 %]; 4 isolates were from patients with furuncles while the remaining isolate was from patient with cellulitis. The 5 detected PVL producers were, found to be among patients with more frequent episodes of skin infections
Conclusion: among patients with skin infections, nasal carriers of MRSA are at higher risk for recurrent skin infection than non-carriers; thus, screening these susceptible patients should be served as a health priority. PVL producing MRSA was found to be among isolates from patients with more frequent episodes of skin infections, including furuncles and abscesses, so importance of surveillance for detection of PVL producers arises from the urgent need for specific antibiotic therapy
ABSTRACT
Long bone fracture is a common problem in non-ambulatory CP children and many of those who sustain a fracture will sustain repeated fractures. To evaluate BMD values in a sample of patients who had CP as an indirect indicator of bone fracture and analyze critically the clinical predictors for the fracture of a long bone in those patients. The study population consisted of 30 children and adolescents with CP and 20 age and sex matched control group. Full history taking with special stress on feeding practice, antiepileptic drug, history of fracture and the physiotherapy programs. The patients were evaluated according to Gross Motor Functional Classification [GMFC] scale, and those with only scale 3, 4 and 5 were included. Anthropometric evaluation and musculoskeletal assessments were performed. Blood samples were obtained from the patients and control groups for measurements of calcium [Ca], phosphorus [Ph], and alkaline phosphatase. Bone mineral density [BMD] was measured in all patients with CP with dual X-ray absorbiometry [DEXA] at lumber and femur sites. The mean age of the patients was 9.5 +/- 5 years [range 3.25-16 years], 14 [46.7%] patients were male and 16 [53.3%] were female. Eighteen [60%] patients were ambulatory and 12 were non ambulatory. History of fracture was reported by 11 patients with a percentage of [36.7%]. Although weight, height, skin fold thickness and body-mass index measurements of the study group were lower than those of the control group, yet there were non significant difference [p>0.05]. The mean serum levels of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase did not differ significantly between the study and the control groups. Regarding the differences between independent and non independent CP patients, we found that independent children had significantly better anthropometric parameters than non independent children. We have demonstrated a significant association between history of bone fracture and non ambulation of CP children. Children with CP had significant lower bone-mineral density [BMD] Z scores values for both, vertebrae and proximal femur than sex- and age-matched children without CP. BMD Z scores of lumber spine and femur were none significantly lower in GMFC level 5 children than in level 4 children, yet both groups are non-ambulatory. Furthermore, BMD Z scores were none significantly higher in GMFC level 3 children than in levels 4 and 5 children. As regards the pattern of involvement, there was a significant reduction in BMD in tetraplegic patients than hemiplegia or diplegia. BMD Z scores were significantly reduced in patients with history of fracture as well as with unsatisfactory feeding practice. Ambulation as well as regular physiotherapy correlated with BMD Z scores of femur but not of the lumber spine. Neither lumber nor femur bone-density Z scores correlate with the use of anticonvulsants. Using multiple stepwise regression analysis, low BMD of femur; increase triceps skin fold thickness; immobilization, and non regular physiotherapy were significant independent risk factors predictive of bone fracture in CP children. The implication of finding from the present study is that regular exercise and nutritional rehabilitation program should be considered as an additional preventive measure to increase bone-mineral density, thus decreasing the risk of fracture in this already vulnerable group of young people with CP