ABSTRACT
Background: Tuberculosis [TB] is a major cause of pleural effusion, which in TB usually has lymphocytic and exudative characteristics. The final diagnosis of TB pleurisy was based on combining clinical judgment with radiological findings, and microbiologic tests, In cases of suspected pleural tuberculosis, a rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis through ADA activity and PCR detection is of prime importance, since traditional techniques of detecting acid- fast bacilli have limitations
Aim of the work: To examine the diagnostic efficiency of Ziehl-Neelsen [Z.N] staining, tuberculin test, ADA activity, and PCR in patients with pleural effusions and related the results to clinical signs and symptoms in a population with a high prevalence of TB
Patients: The study included 92 patients with pleural effusion of different etiologies taken from Chest Department, Minia University Hospital and Minia Chest Hospital between July and 2007 and March 2008. The diagnosis of pleural [p] TB was confirmed in any patient presenting with positive findings of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, either on the sputum or pleural fluid and also, in the absence of negative laboratory results, those patients with clinical improvement after empirical treatment
Methods: A single specimen of pleural fluid [50 to 100 ml] was submitted for appearance, and protein content, Ziehl-Neelsen staining, pleural ADA activity determination and PCR. Also 10 ml blood for estimation of hemoglobin, ESR and serum ADA activity. The sputum was examined for acid fast bacilli by Z.N. staining
Results: Out of 92 cases studied there were 40 cases [43%] of highly suspicious of tuberculous pleural effusion .Examination of pleural effusion by Z and N stain in all cases was negative. On the other hand, +ve PCR was found only in 16 cases [40%] of TB pleural effusion and 3 cases of empyema. All 40 cases of tubercular pleural effusion showed greatly significant elevated ADA levels in pleural fluid, with a mean value of 57.4+/-7.7 U/L in comparison with other nonTB pleural effusion ADA levels including 25 cases of Para pneumonic effusions with a mean value of 27.5 +/- 9 U/L., 7 cases of empyema with a mean value of 24.8 +/- 3 U/L, and, of 18.5 +/- 6.5 U/L was the mean value of pleural fluid ADA among cases of liver cell failure. A significant +ve. correlation was observed between sputum examination by ZN and tuberculin test, and PCR in TB pleural effusion group [p <0.05]
Conclusion: Tuberculin test ,adenosine deaminase [ADA] activity and the detection of mycobacterial DNA by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] in clinical samples are very useful diagnostic approaches to achieve a more rapid and precise diagnosis in cases of pleural TB
ABSTRACT
In order to evaluate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] in the pathology of CHF, this study was conducted on 96 subjects [57 males and 39 females]. Sixty-eight of them had congestive heart failure of various etiologies [40 males and 28 females with an age ranged from 18 to 76 years with a mean +/- SD of 47.83 +/- 16.2] together with 28 apparently healthy individuals [17 males and 11 females with ages ranged from 18 to 65 years with a mean +/- SD of 33.2 +/- 11] as the control group. The patients were classified into five groups according to the etiology of congestive heart failure. All groups were subjected to history taking and clinical examination with a special emphasis on the symptoms and signs suggestive of CHF and manifestations of underlying, cause laboratory investigations [CBC, lipid profile, fasting and two-hour postprandial blood sugar, renal function tests, serum transaminases, ESR, antistreptolysin O titer, C-reactive protein and thyroid function tests], ECG, chest X-ray, echocardiography and abdominal sonography. Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] serum level was determined by a commercially available ELISA test
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Endothelial Growth Factors/blood , Endothelium, Vascular , Echocardiography , Myocardial IschemiaABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to investigate the role of dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate [DDB], a Chinese drug, in the prophylaxis against liver toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride [CCl4]. 120 male albino rats were included in this study and classified into 3 groups: Group 1 [40 rats] is a control group while groups two and three [80 rats] were chronically intoxicated with CCL4 [100 mu L/100g body weight] orally every day for four weeks. Out of these two groups, group three [40 rats] was treated with DDB [20 mg / 100 gm body weight] orally every day. Liver function tests were done at the end of the study to estimate the degree of hepatotoxicity and the protective role of DDB. The liver function tests included are serum ALT, serum AST, serum ALP, bilirubin [direct, indirect and total], total proteins, serum albumin and albumen globulin ratio. The results of the study revealed that chronic administration of CCL4 greatly affected the liver as indicated by severely liver functions, while DDB seems to have a protective effect against CCL4 induced hepatotoxicity reflected by greatly improved liver function tests