possible role of mycobacterium bovis in extra pulmonary tuberculosis: an oxyR allel-specific PCR based mycobacterial species differentiation

To evaluate the possible role of bovine tubercle bacillus in extrapulmonary tuberculosis, 100 patients with extrapulmonary disease using a new method for bacilli differentiation [the oxyR allele- specific PCR] were studied. Sixty-eight of them were from rural and sub-rural areas and 32 were from urban areas. Also, 21% of them were workers, 14% were farmers, 22% have no job, 14% housewives, 6% children, 3% engineers, 9% students and 8% butchers. Patients who gave positive culture for mycobacteria [46 patients] were subjected to oxyR allele-specific PCR assay to differentiate the type of bacilli. The study concluded that the absence of bovine bacilli in all patients is an evidence of a control of bovine tuberculosis in Egypt. OxyR allele-specific PCR is an invaluable, rapid and accurate test for bacilli differentiation

Study of the role of autoimmunity in alopecia areata

The aetiology of alopecia is still unknown. The immunologic theory is most popular. Our study supported this theory depending upon the detection of some auto - antibodies [antismooth muscle antibodies, anti - nuclear antibodies, antimitochondrial antibodies] in the sera of fifty patients with localized lesions of alopecia and the high incidence of one of the auto - immune diseases [thyroid diseases and Diabetes Mellitus] in relatives of the patients than the relatives of the controls. Also the familial predisposition to develop alopecia areata was another supporting evidence