Modulating effect of peppermint and eucalyptus oils in infectious bursal disease immunocompromised chickens

The immunomodulatory effect of peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils in broiler chickens immunoconmpromised by either infection or vaccination with infectious bursal disease virus [IBDV] was investigated. No significant difference in HI titers was observed in volatile oils treated group over their untreated one at any interval. However, the protection percentage reached 35% in treated group and was 25% in untreated one as Compared with 0% in unvaccinated control group when challenged with velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus [vvNDV]. Significant increase in Bursa / body weight ratios was observed between IBDV vaccinated treated group as compared with untreated one at 3 and 10 days post-vaccination [PV]. In addition, significant increase was observed between IBDV infected treated birds versus infected untreated group at 3 days Post-infection [PI]. These findings indicate that treatment with volatile oil ameliorated the immunocompromised effects of IBDV vaccine or infection on immune system of treated birds. The positive effect of volatile oils on cell mediated immunity of treated birds revealed significant increase in phagocytic%, lysozyme and nitric oxide activities at 14 and 28 days of age in IBDV vaccinated and treated birds as compared with IBDV vaccinated and untreated birds. Moreover; the phagocytic index was higher in IBDV infected and treated birds over non treated ones at 42 days of age. Histomorphological examination of the major immune organs clarified lymphocytic necrosis and depletion, hyperplasia of reticuloendothelial cells, vacuolations of lymphoid follicles, interfollicular lyinphocytic cells infiltration and interfollicular connective tissue proliferation of bursa of Fabricius [B,F]. Lymphocytic depletion and hyperplasia of reticular cells of spleen. Lymphocytic necrosis, depletion, focal hemorrhage of thymus glands. Necrosis and depletion of caecal tonsils. The sum lesion scores were 0, 0, 2 and 1, 1, 5 in volatile oils treated and untreated chickens at 3, 7 and 10 days PV respectively. While the sum lesion scores reached 21, 23, 14 and 21, 23, 20 in volatile oils treated and untreated chickens at 3, 7 and 10 days PI respectively. On the other hand there was lymphoblast activation reached 1 score in BF in volatile oils treated group only at 3 and 7 days PV. No histopathological changes all over the experimental period could be detected in blank control group. In conclusion our study reveals that eucalyptus and peppermint oils have a potent immunomodulatory effects and are able to evoke the immune response in IBDV vaccinated or infected chickens

Relation of angiotensin converting enzyme activity and gene polymorphism to restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Early restenosis in up to 30% of cases limits the benefits of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty [PTCA]. The mechanisms that underlie restenosis are uncertain, although experimental evidence suggests that the renin-angiotensin system is involved in the vascular response to angioplasty. The ACE gene is one of the major genes of the renin-angiotensin and kallikrein-kinin systems and is a candidate gene for several cardiovascular diseases for which a genetic predisposition has been established. The ACE gene contains a common insertion deletion polymorphism termed I and D, respectively. The three possible genotypes are DD, ID and II, and the plasma level of ACE is highest with the DD genotype. This work aimed to investigate whether ACE gene polymorphism influences the risk of restenosis after PTCA to explore a relation between the total ACE level and restenosis and to compare the ACE genotypes of the patients of the study with those of a control group of healthy subjects. This study included 53 patients with CAD, 48 males and 5 females, their age ranged from 36 to 63 years. All patients were compared to 46 control subjects with age and sex matched. The patients were divided into two groups: group [A][40 patients with no restenosis] and group [B][13 patients with restenosis]. All patients were subjected to: full history and clinical examination, laboratory investigations which include estimation of serum angiotensin converting enzyme levels and detection of genotypes of the ACE gene I/D polymorphism, 12-lead electrocardiogram, treadmill exercise stress testing, coronary angiography and PTCA. The distribution of ACE genotype [DD] was not significantly different in-group B patients with restenosis compared with group A patients with no restenosis [8 out of 13, versus 15 out of 40 respectively, P> 0.05]. Plasma ACE levels did not differ between patients and control subjects [P value > 0.05]. Although plasma ACE levels were significantly higher in relation to ACE genotypes [P value < 0.05], plasma ACE levels were insignificant in relation to restenosis [P value > 0.05]. Since there was no evidence that variation at the ACE gene defined by the I/D polymorphism influences the extent of restenosis, it could be concluded that determination of ACE I/D genotypes is unlikely to be useful in identifying patients at higher risk of restenosis after PTCA and continued studies with clinically different subsets of patients is warranted

Colonic valve end-to-side in rectum preliminary report on animal model

This study was carried out to evaluate a new simple technique for the construction of a stable colorectal valve that can avoid regurgitation of rectal contents to the colon without temporary faecal diversion. This new technique was applied in four mongrel dogs. The sigmoid is separated from the rectum. The terminal end of the sigmoid is everted to form a nipple valve that is anastomosed obliquely end-to-side in the distal part of the opened rectum. Therefore, the distal half of the nipple valve is projecting inside the rectal lumen. The proximal part of the rectum is closed after leaving a stent reaching from the anus up to the area above the valve. Postoperative descending and ascending proctographic studies revealed a non-obstructed unidirectional flow of rectal contents to the exterior. We therefore conclude that this technique is relatively simple and safe and successfully allows easy unidirectional flow of rectal contents to the exterior without impediment to the faecal stream and without the need for temporary proximal colostomy

Cyanobacteria of hammam faroun hot spring [Sinai-Egypt]

In this study, twenty-eight cyanobacterial taxa were identified. On the basis of temperature tolerance, it was found that the species had different thermal ranges of growth; some had a wide thermal range of growth [30 - 72C], while others were characterized by a narrow range [30 - 40C]. Some species grew only at temperature [30 or 72C] such as Merismopedia punctata and Phormidium tenue, respectively. The biocecological analysis indicated that the spring had a clean oligosaprobic character with tendency to the presence of alpha- mezosaprbic indicators such as Oscillatoria tenuis

Efficacy of transrectal microwave hyperthermia [TRMH] in treatment of abacterial prostatitis

Thirty patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis were randomly divided into two groups [15 cases each]. Group I was given medical treatment in the form of oral minocycline [100 mg] twice daily for three weeks, whereas group II was given the same medical treatment course combined with eight sessions [1-hour each thrice weekly] of TRMH [43 C] to the prostate. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by the effect on symptoms, clinical signs, white blood cells [WBCs] in expressed prostatic fluid [EPF], pre- and post-prostatic massage urinalysis and urodynamic measurements [flowmetry]. The results showed marked improvement of the symptoms and signs among group II patients [excellent results in six, good in three, fair in two and poor in four] and less improvement among group I patients [excellent in three, good in three and poor in nine] as assessed clinically. When a comparison was made between the mean difference of pre- and post-treatment values of groups I and II, superior results were detected with the latter. The mean difference of WBCs in EPF among group II was 19 +/- 9.32 compared with 9.2 +/- 8.2 among group I. Post-prostatic massage urinalysis mean difference in group II was 7.2 +/- 1.99, whereas in group I it was 3.1 +/- 3.93. The uroflowmetric studies showed mean difference Q max to be 4.3 +/- 2.63 in group II, whereas in group I it was 2.0 +/- 1.33. From the above data, it was concluded that transrectal microwave hyperthermia improved the outcome of therapy of chronic abacterial prostatitis and provided a potentially effective therapeutic modality for this condition

Diagnostic and prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid free amino acid concentrations in meningitis

Thirty two Egyptian children; 20 males and 12 females, were admitted to Abbasia Fever Hospital in Cairo on the clinical diagnosis of meningitis. Their ages ranged between 2 and 15 year with a median of 7 years. Diagnostic Lumber Puncture was done on emission. CSF was examined biochemically, cytologically and bacteriologically, in addition to determination of CSF free ammo acid concentrations [FAAS] by liquid chromatography. Patients were categorised into two equal study groups; bacterial and aseptic meningitis groups. The study revealed that CSF glutamic acid and other FAAS were significantly increased in meningitis whether bacrerial or aseptic. also, there was a higher significant differnce in the level of CSF glutamic acid in bacterial meningitis of poor prognosis versus those with study groups and bacteriological confirmation of CSF glutamic acid and other FAAS concentrations is an easy, rapid and accurate methods in diagnosing the type of meningitis, as well as in the initial assessment of the severity of the disease and prediction of its outcome