Current status of nosocomial infections in the Lebanese Hospital Center, Beirut

Nosocomial infections are a significant problem and hospitals need to be aware of their nosocomial infection status. This retrospective study aimed to identify nosocomial bacterial infections in patients admitted to the Lebanese Hospital Center from January 2006 to January 2008 and determine the causative micro-organisms, the antibiotic sensitivity of the micro-organisms and evaluate the hospital treatment. In total 96 patients with nosocomial infection were included. Urinary infections were the commonest nosocomial infections [42%] followed by pulmonary infections [28%]. Gram-negative bacteria were responsible for 89% of nosocomial infections and staphylococci for 7%, with Esherichia coli and Pseudomonos alrogenosa being the most common [46% and 26% respectively] The organisms were resistant to multiples antibiotics and 18% of the patients were treated with imipenem, 7% with vancomycin, 42% with third-generation cephalosporins and 24% with amikacin. Hospital hygiene measures and antibiotic prescription policies are required to fight nosocomial infections and reduce antibiotic resistance among organisms

On the electrodeposition of reactive metals from ionic liquids

In this paper we show that ionic liquids can be used for the electrodeposition of highly reactive elements, which can not be obtained from aqueous solutions, such as aluminium, magnesium and lithium as well as of refractory metals such as tantalum and titanium. The development of ionic liquids, especially air and water stable ones, has opened the door for the electrodeposition of reactive elements which in the past were only accessible using high temperature molten salts or, in part, organic solvents. Due to their high stability, ionic liquids can be regarded as the missing link to high temperature molten salts. Currently, ionic liquids can not yet replace molten salts in the electrowinning of reactive and refractory metals. Nevertheless, they can be employed efficiently for the coating of other metals with thin layers of tantalum, aluminum and presumably many other ones at reasonable temperatures. From a practical point of view, molten salts are hardly suited for the coating of sensitive materials like NiTi shape memory alloy with other metals since the electrolysis process is performed usually at temperatures above 400 C. With ionic liquids a technical electroplating process might be performed at moderate or even at room temperature

Evaluation of some cucumber inbred lines and their hybrids for cucumber mosaic virus [CMV] resistance

The major objective of our cucumber breeding program involves breeding for CMV disease resistance to reduce losses in quality and yield. Seven half diallel cross hybrids resistant to CMV were developed at the Vegetables Breeding Dept., Hort. Res. Inst., Egypt during March, 2006. Sixteen genetically different pure inbred lines of Cucumis sativus were used to develop the hybrids obtained from different sources and selected for their CMV disease-resistance trait. The inbred lines and one commercial [Beit alpha] cultivar as a susceptible control were examined to CMV resistance using biological, serological and molecular methods. The CMV isolate identified by Plant Path. Res. Inst. Virus and Phytoplasma Res. Dept. [ARC] was used in mechanical inoculation of all cucumber genotypes used during this study. The seeds of the genotypes were incubated and the seedlings were cultivated in foam trays with peat soil and kept under greenhouse conditions. At the cotyledon stage, i.e. before the development of the first true leaf, the seedlings were mechanically inoculated by rubbing with virus inoculum. Disease severity was assessed visually 7- 10 days [on cotyledons] and 14-25 days [on true leaves] after inoculation with CMV. The results revealed that six out of sixteen cucumber inbred lines [Cus 260/1980, 6-5-23-2 Kaha, 1-180-309- 18-105 Dokky, 5-57-22-17 Kaha, Cus 38/1991, and 25-2-1-90 Kaha] were found to be without systemic symptoms of CMV infection and proved to be resistant to CMV when tested by DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR. The promising accessions as sources of resistance have been intercrossed with leading commercial type [Beit-alpha] in half diallel system. In order to determine the genetic polymorphism and discriminate between cucumber inbred lines, RAPD-PCR analyses were conducted on the DNA isolated from each line. Dendrograms representing genetic distances were performed on the studied genotypes using the UPGMA [Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Average]. Twenty one cucumber hybrids obtained from the half diallel crossing between the six resistant genotypes and the local commercial cultivar [Beit-alpha] were subjected to CMV artificial inoculation in a separate greenhouse and symptoms were visually monitored for two months. Only seven cucumber hybrids showed high a level of resistance to CMV were screened in the greenhouse and evaluated for CMV resistance. The resistant hybrids obtained did not develop visual symptoms of CMV infection on cotyledons and true leaves. These resistant lines could serve as potential sources of resistance in breeding programs

utilization of monoclonal antibodies in immunocapture RT-PCR and dot blotting immunobinding assays for the detection of Cucumber mosaic virus

Reliable plant diagnostic techniques are necessary for good crop management. Occasionally, ELISA may not give a definitive result, requiring confirmation using different diagnostic methods. Immunocapture reverse transcription PCR [IC-RT-PCR] requires the direct confirmation of an ELISA result in a simple, cost-effective manner. We found that the use of captured antigens as a template in IC-RT-PCR can eliminate the need for traditional extraction methods and reduce the number of steps involved, costs incurred, and sampling variations. Experiments showed that a reliability of pathogens can be detected using ELISA in the IC-RT-PCR process. To date, a rapid assay for diagnosis of CMV has not been developed, and there is a critical need for a method that can be employed in both laboratory and field. Dot immunobinding assays [DIBA] are useful alternatives to microtitre plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. It has the additional advantages of simplicity, and is completed quickly in the field or the laboratory on large numbers of samples, in a short time. The method proposed provides a sensitive quantitative technique for dot-immunobinding assay

Eosinophilic cationic protein [ECP] in fascioliasis and hydatidosis

Eosinophils and their granules were shown to be significant participants in the inflammatory processes of various helminthic infections. So far, only few reports have dealt with ECP level in parasitic diseases. So, this study aimed at evaluating the serum ECP in fascioliasis and hydatid disease and to compare the ECP level with the blood eosinophil count and serum IgE antibody levels in both diseases. This work included 90 individuals [30 patients with fascioliasis [group I], 30 patients with hydatid disease [group II], and 30 normal persons as control group]. All patients were free from concomitant parasitic infections, viral hepatitis B or C, allergic and autoimmune disorders. ECP was estimated in all patients and controls by radioimmuno assay. Moreover, peripheral blood eosinophil count and serum IgE were also estimated. The mean serum level of ECP was significantly higher in patients with fascioliasis and hydatid disease [31.1 +/- 21.4, 20.3 +/- 11.6 micro g/L, respectively] than the control group [7.1 +/- 4.0 micro g/L], P=0.001 in each case. Moreover, ECP was significantly higher in fascioliasis group than in hydatid group [P=0.001]. The mean eosinophil count was 3.1x10[9]/L +/- 2.2 in patients with fasciola infection, 1.4x10[9]/L +/- 1.0 in patients with hydatid disease, and 0.2x10[9]/L +/- 0.1 in the control group. Serum level of IgE antibody was found to have a mean value of 178.9 +/- 66.7 IU/ml in patients with fascioliasis, 157.9 +/- 54.1 IU/ml in patients with hydatid disease, and 90.9 +/- 35.5 IU/ml in the control group. ECP was shown to have significant positive correlations with the peripheral blood eosinophil count in both groups of patients. However, it was more significant with fascioliasis, a disease with more degree of eosinophilia. In contrast, no significant correlations existed between ECP and IgE antibody in either the groups. The data indicate a generally greater activity of the eosinophil cell system in fascioliasis and hydatid disease. So, ECP appears to be a useful clinical parameter in parasitic infections with eosinophilia to assess disease activity, inflammatory process, or may serve as a new tool for monitoring therapy

Immune receptors on liver macrophages in patients with hepatic schistosomiasis: relationship to plasma fibronectin and circulating immunne complexes

Liver macrophages carry receptor sites for immunoglobulin [Fc], complement [C] and fibronectin receptors, which can mediate the immnune-phagocytic function.As the function of hepatic macrophages could be impaired in many liver diseases, this work aimed at studying Fc and C receptors on isolated liver macrophages in cases of hepatic schistosomiasis and to correlate these with plasma fibronectin [FN] and circulating immune compIexes [CIC]. The study included 55 schistosaomal patients divided into 4 groups, group1: 15 patients with early hepatic schistosomiasis, group2: 15 patients with late hepatic schistosomiasis, group3: 15 schistosomal patients with HCV infection and group4: 10 schistosomal patients with HBV infection. In addition, 10 normal controls were included, liver biopsies were taken from all patients either during an elective surgery or by Tru-cut needle to isolate liver macrophages by Dabes method. Total nucleated cells and liver macrophages were counted for each patient. Fc and C receptors were studied by using sheep erythrocytes coated with immunoglobulin and complement respectively. Moreover, plasma FN and CIC were estimated in all patients and controls. Our results concluded that liver biopsies obtained from cases with early hepatic schistosomiasis yielded higher macrophage numbers and more Fc and C receptors than those obtained from late hepatic affection. When schistosomiasis was associated with viral hepatitis C or B, the cell counts and their receptors decreased further. There was a significant positive correlation between immune receptors and PFN level,while a significant negative correlation was found between these receptors and CIC. Thus, immune receptors could be an indirect index for the immunophagocytic function of liver macrophages

Immunopathological changes in schistosomiasis and pulmonary tuberculosis: an approach towards an effective immunotherapy

Schistosomiasis and pulmonary tuberculosis [T.B.] are diseases that have a special importance in the developing world. Information derived from experimental models suggested that a number of cytokines released from Th-I and Th-2 cells play a role in granuloma formation in such diseases. Yet, it had not revealed a common underlying mechanism in order to compare the immunopathological events in a systematic manner. Although both schistosomiasis and T.B. can be acquired due to living under unhygienic conditions, we seldom meet cases of active or patent mixed schistosomiasis and T.B. in our clinical work. This motivated us to study the immunopathogenesis of inflammatory responses in these two diseases. 45 patients and 15 healthy controls constituted the material of this study. Patients were divided into 3 groups, each one included 15 patients: group I:pure schistosomal cases, group II:pure T.B. patients and group III: mixed T.B. and schistosomiasis. Beside routine laboratory investigations for diagnosis of schistosomiasis and T.B.,the following cytokines were estimated: IL-2, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10. Our results revealed that in pure schistosomal patients, Th-2 cytokines were significantly dominated which reflect a major role of these cytokines in humoral immunity. In the near future, this finding may allow the use of anti-idiotype antibodies as a therapeutic option in schistosomiasis. On the other hand, in pure T.B. patients Th-1 cytokines were statistically increased which may indicate the major role of hyperactive state of cellular immunity. Hence, this approach may allow therapeutic interventions to target critical cytokines to be used as a tool in the concerned disease process

Prevalence of HCV among leprosy patients

Family contacts of hepatitis C virus infected patients have a higher incidence of HCV infection than that expected in the general population. The same applies to leprosy which is acquired through prolonged contact [community acquired]. It was reported that HCV serologic prevalence was 5% in leprosy patients living in Senegal. So, the aim of this study was to find the prevalence of HCV among leprosy patients in Alexandria. Fifty leprotic patients constituted the material of this study. Blood samples were collected aseptically and subjected to routine laboratory investigations, as well as liver function test. Diagnosis of HCV was done by both second generation ELISA. Also, detection of hepatitis B markers were made. Our results showed a high prevalence of anti HCV among our leprotic patients [24 patients out of 50 had reactive anti-HCV = 48%]. On the other hand, HBsAg was significantly lower than anti-HCV in the same group [8 out of 50 had HBsAg = 16%], while co-infection was detected in only two cases [4%]

Maintenance of resistance to challenge infection, reduction in tissue egg load and hepatic granuloma modulation in treated schistosoma mansoni infection

In this work 100 Swiss albino mice were infected with Schistosoma mansoni. A combined regimen of Praziquantal and Colchicine was used three weeks post infection. After the second dose of Praziquantel a challenge infection was given to a number of mice in each group. Parasitological, pathological and immunological studies were carried out on mice sacrificed eight weeks post infection. Egg excretion was earlier in the group of mice which received Colchicine only. It was significantly higher in mice treated with combined therapy than in Praziquantel treated mice. Egg load in the livers and intestines was reduced after Praziquantel treatment and with combined treatment. These were more apparent in the intestine. As regards resistance to challenge infection, mice treated with Colchicine and Praziquantal still maintained their resistance to challenge infection than mice treated with Praziquantel only. Pathological changes in the liver showed reduction in the size of the granulomas in mice treated with Colchicine and in group that received combined therapy. Immunological changes were monitored by the level of nitrogen and oxygen metabolites from the peritoneal macrophages