ABSTRACT
Helicobacter pylori [H .pylori] has been considered as a most important risk factor for gastric cancer by inducing chronic inflammation. CagA positive H.pylori strain is associated with higher levels of gastric inflammation, however there is no universal agreement on the link between H. pylori harboring CagA and the reportedly risk of precancerous lesions. To ascertain whether CagA positive H. pylori infection correlates with higher gastric epithelial cells oxidative DNA damage and precancerous changes. Sixty two dyspeptic patients attending for diagnostic GIT endoscopy were enrolled in this study .10 patients had normal endoscopic findings [group I], 10 cases had non ulcerative gastritis with H. pylori negative [group II], while 25 patients presented with non ulcerative gastritis were positive for H. pylori [group III], and 17 cases had ulcerative gastritis with H. pylori positive [group IV]. All involved individuals were subjected to clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonographic examination, histopathological examination of gastric mucosa and culturing of mucosal biopsies for H. pylori detection. Seroprevalence of H. pylori strains bearing the cytotoxin associated gene A [CagA] in the serum were assessed by ELISA. DNA damage in gastric epithelial cells was investigated by comet assay. H. pylori CagA was detected in 10 cases of group III and 13 cases of group IV. Gastric epithelial cells DNA damage was significantly increased in H. pylori positive groups [III, IV than H. pylori negative group II] [P< 0.001] with the highest values in group IV [P<0.001], also in CagA positive cases either in group III [P< 0.001] and group IV [P<0.001] compared to CagA negative cases with a significant correlation with more severe grade of gastric atrophy [P< 0.001] and intestinal metaplasia [P< 0.001] as precancerous lesions. CagA H. pylori strains sero-positivity was related to more advanced gastric pathology and precancerous changes with increased oxidative DNA damage in the epithelial cells which could represent as cancer prone biological context
ABSTRACT
N. meningitidis, Str. Pneumoniae and H. influenzae are responsible for over 90% of cases of acute bacterial meningitis. Meningococci are the commonest cause of septic meningitis in Egypt, and in many parts of the world, meningococcal disease is considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonization in humans provides the only known natural reservoir of meningococci. Three hundred and twenty three nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from medical and paramedical staff in Tanta University Hospital and Tanta Fever Hospital, and 144 swabs were collected from Tanta University students as a control non-exposed group. Cultures and serogrouping were performed, sensitivity to antibiotics was estimated. The percentage of positive meningococcal carriers of the exposed medical and paramedical personnel was 22.6%,while in non-exposed group was 11.1%. There was no relation between history of vaccine intake and carrier rate. Workers and nurses had the highest carrier rates among the medical and paramedical personnel [27.1% and 25.8% respectively]. Serogroup A was the most prevalent [48.3%],followed by serogroup C [43.8%] and finally serogroup B [7.9%]. The isolates were sensitive more to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin and spiramycin