Studies on Shiga-toxins [STX1 and STX2] produced by escherichia coli isolated from diarrheal cases in Assiut university children hospital

Shiga toxin producing E. coli. [STEC] are emerging pathogens capable of producing sporadic and epidemic diarrhea that may be complicated by haemorrhagic colitis and life threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome [HUS]. The goals of the present study is testing stool specimens for Shiga toxins [Stx1 and Stx2] and detection of the prevalence of the Shiga toxin producing E. coli [STEC] among the diarrheal cases collected in Assiut University Children Hospital. For these purposes, stool specimens from 150 inpatients and 150 outpatients with diarrhea, watery diarrhea or bloody diarrhea and from 40 infants and children with no gastrointestinal illness as control were collected from Assiut University Children Hospital. Escherichia coli was detected in 30 [20%], 64 [42.67%] and 12 [30%] of the inpatients, outpatients and control group respectively. The detection of the Shiga toxins [verotoxins] was done by phenotypic method [Vero cell cytotoxicity assay], immunological method [EIA using RIDA screen kit] and finally by genotypic method [multiplex PCR]. During our study, multiplex PCR [as gold standerd] showed that 4 [13.33%] and 17[26.56%] of E. coli isolated from the inpatients and outpatients respectively were STEC. Non of the E. coli isolateded from control group were STEC. Seven [33.3%] of STEC isolates carried Shiga toxin 1 [Stx1] genes and 14 [66.7%] of STEC isolates carried Shiga toxin 2 [Stx2] genes

PCR detection of minimal residual disease in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Over the last four decades acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] of childhood has turned from a fatal to curable disease. Nevertheless, about 30% of children relapse after initial remission. Achievement of complete remission is an essential step in maintaining prolonged remission. Minimal residual disease [MRD] is usually present in most patients after completion of therapy, and multitude of techniques for its detection have been developed over the last decade. In the present study we optimized a PCR amplification of immunoglobulin heavy chain [IgH] gene rearrangements to investigate MRD in children with ALL at diagnosis and after remission. This technique seemed to be simple, reliable and more sensitive than other techniques. One year follow up of the patients after induction of remission, PCR showed a higher percentage of maintained remission among patients with negative PCR amplification of IgH gene rearrangements also provide reliable marker for relapse detection in B lineage ALL. These results will help to adopt more effective therapeutic protocols to achieve molecular remission rather than the morphological one used now a day

Isolation of respiratory syncytial virus from infants with Pneumonia and Bronchiolitis

The present study aimed at detecting the incidence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus [RSV] as an etiologic agent in infants, suffering from pneumonia or bronchiolitis. Fifty infants, ranging in age from 4 weeks to 12 months, with clinical symptoms of pneumonia and bronchiolitis admitted to Tanta Fevers Hospital during winter months of 1981, 1982 were studied for RSV isolation. RSV was isolated from 20 [40%] of the 50 infants, indicating that RSV may be involved in the etiology of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants studied. RSV was recovered more often from infants less than 6 months of age and with bronchiolitis symptoms, and was more common in boys than girls

Bacteriuria in pregnancy

Bacteriuria is defined as the presence of organisms on culture in specimen of urine .This study aimed at detecting the prevalence of bacteriuria in pregnancy showing the most common causative organisms with their effective treatment. The study included 100 pregnant patients attending the antenatal care centre at Mehalla from whom the specimens of urine were taken by suprapubic aspiration. The specimen of urine were subjected to fully bacteriological study for isolation of the causative bacteria and for antibiotic sensitivity test to show the most effective drug used in the treatment of every case Each patient was given the suitable antimicrobial drug in 10 days courses and elimination of bacteriuria was checked after every.course. Bacteriuria was prevalent in 64% of the pregnant women. The predominant infecting organisms was E. Coli [62.5%], Staph Albus [9.4%], Proteus [7.8%], Strept Fecalis [6.3%] and Beta Haemolotic Streptococci group B [4,6%]; Klebsiella, Staph. Aureus, Heamophilus Vaginalis and Citrobacter were also isolated from some cases. Most of the patients aged from 20-24 years were pregnant for their first time. Frequency of micturition, nocturia and dysuria were the most common symptoms given by the Infected women. Furadoine [Nitrofuratoin] was recorded as the most effective drug in patients subjected to treatment. Gentamycin, Rifampicine and Cephalexine were the next common. Sixty two percent of women needed only one course of drug to eliminate their bacteriuria, in 22% two courses were required and only 16% were subjected to three or more courses of treatment