Chlamydia trachomatis antigen detection in female infertility

Chlamydia trachomatis is a well recognized sexually transmitted pathogen. Besides its potential to produce genital tract infection, C. trachomatis is increasingly being associated with long-term complications like infertility. The present study was undertaken to assess the role of C. trachomatis in female infertility. Women of primary and secondary infertility [n= 150] and 20 healthy term pregnant women as control group were enrolled in the study. Detailed clinical history of each patient was recorded. Hysterosalpingography was performed in all patients. Endocervical swabs were collected for culture on cycloheximide treated McCoy cell line and for antigen detection by Blocking assay antibody technique. C. trachomatis was detected in 48 [32%] of the 150 infertile women while 3 [15%] in control group was positive for C. trachomatis. Among the total 48 [32%] infertile Chlamydia positive cases, C, trachomatis was detected by both cell culture and EIA, in 22 [45.8%], 14 cases [29.5%] were positive for C. trachomatis by cell culture alone and in 12 [25%] only antigen could be detected. Chlamydial positivity was seen in 22 [24.2%] women- with primary infertility and in 26 [44.l%] with secondary infertility. A significantly high rate of C. trachomatis infection was found in infertile women and more so in asymptomatic females and in secondary infertility cases. Lack of symptoms make clinical diagnosis of chlamydial infection difficult. Screening of infertile women for C. trachomatis is therefore recommended so far early therapeutic interventions

Interleukin-6 and nerve growth factor levels in cerebrospinal fluid of infants and children with meningitis

This study included 22 patients for evaluation and treatment of meningitis during the period from June 1999 to December 1999. Eight children had septic meningitis and 14 children had aseptic meningitis. Twenty children had normal CSF during evaluation for meningitis of matched age and sex served as a control group. All cases and control were subjected to through history taking, full clinical examination and CSF analysis for glucose, protein levels, white blood cells [WBCs] count and culture. CSF concentrations of IL-6 were determined using enzyme linked immune assay kit [No.1120] manufactured by IMM Unnotech; counter company. However, NGF was detected by two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. The results revealed that septic meningitis group had significantly higher CSF WBCs and protein levels than in aseptic meningitis and control groups. IL-6 was detected in 100% of children with septic meningitis and only in the CSF of 41% of aseptic meningitis group. No control subject had detectable levels of IL-6 in the CSF. NGF was detected in 37% of children with septic meningitis and in 50% of aseptic meningitis group. NGF was not detected in any CSF of control subjects. CSF concentrations of both IL-6 and NGF were significantly higher in children with septic and aseptic meningitis compared with control children. IL-6 and NGF were significantly higher in the CSF of children with septic than in those with aseptic meningitis. No significant correlation was found between IL-6 and NGF levels in the CSF and the total leukocyte count or absolute neutrophils count in the CSF of children with meningitis