Monitor of water quality using the grey mullet [mugil cephalus] as bioindicator in two egyptian lakes

Background-Burullus Lake has brackish water and agricultural, industrial and sewage drainage water represent the major inflows and it represents one of the most subjected lakes to serious pollutants at the delta's coastline. Mugil cephalus is one of the most important food fish species for the Egyptian people. This study was conducted to explain the effect of water pollution of both Qarun and Burullus Lakes on some biochemical and histological characteristics of mullet collected from both Lakes. Our results showed that water collected from Burullus Lake has higher levels of lead and cadmium than Qarun Lake. The liver function analysis showed that there were no significant differences between levels of GGT in M. cephalus livers collected from both Lakes. ALT and AST were significantly increased in livers of fishes collected from Qarun Lake than Burullus Lake, cholesterol, triglycerides, RF1, RF2, high density lipoproteins [HDL], low density lipoproteins [LDL] and very low density lipoproteins [VLDL] in muscles of the mullet collected from Burullus Lake were highly significant increase, while total proteins were significantly decreased in comparison with mullet of Qarun Lake. Histopathological investigations revealed that livers of mullet cached from both Lakes were suffered from marked area of hemorrhage, aggregates of hemosiderin granules and vacuolated hepatocytes. Ultrastructural observation showed degenerated and swelled cylindrical mitochondria in liver obtained from Burullus Lake with accumulation of lipid droplets and degenerated cytoplasmic organoids. Hepatocyte from Qarun Lake showed apoptotic nuclei, degenerated, swelled and cylindrical mitochondria, lipid droplets and dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum. Von Kupffer cells in liver of both lakes contained abundant lysosomes with corrugated walls and numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles. The kidney sections of mullet of both Lakes showed necrosis in the tubular epithelial lining with scattered apoptotic cells and interstitial inflammatory infiltrate

Harmful effects of water pollution on some physiological responses of the nile tilapia [oreochromis niloticus] in both Qarun and Burullus lakes

Background: Qarun and Burullus Lakes suffer from serious pollution problems owing to the enormous input of untreated agricultural, domestic and industrial effluents. This study was conducted to explain the effect of water pollution of these lakes on some physiological parameters of O. niloticus

Results: Showed clearly that water collected from both Qarun and Burullus Lakes were contaminated with high levels of lead and cadmium. The concentration of Pb and Cd in Lake Qarun [0.074 and 0.006 ppm respectively] were much lower than that of Burullus Lake [0.112 and 0.011ppm respectively]. The study showed that the rates of Pb bioaccumulations were increased significantly in the muscles of O. niloticus collected from Brurllues Lake than that of Qarun Lake. It can be seen also that there are insignificant differences of Cd concentrations in muscles of tilapians collected from both Lakes. Analysis of liver functions shwoed a highly significant increase in the level of ALT in O. niloticus liver collected from Brurllues Lake than tilapia'sb liver from Qarun Lake. Both AST and GGT levels were insignificantly changed in fishes collected from both Lakes [no change in the table]. Investigation of kidney functions of tilapias collected from Qarun and Burullus Lakes showed that urea concentration was significantly increased in kidney of Tilapia gathered from Burullus Lake [32.40 +/- 0.93 mg/dl] than those collected from Qarun Lake [28.80 +/- 0.73 mg/dl]. Creatinine concentrations were significantly increased in kidney of tilapias gathered from Burullus Lake than Qarun Lake. Cholesterol, Triglycerides, high density lipoproteins [HDL], low density lipoproteins [LDL], and very low density lipoproteins [VLDL] in the muscles of tilapians collected from Burllues Lake were highly significant increase while total proteins were significantly decreased in comparison with tilapians of Qaron Lake

utility of the interferon gamma-inducible protein-10 [IP-10] level in bronchoalveolar lavage and blood in the diagnosis of tuberculosis

Introduction: Control of TB depends on early detection and treatment of active cases

Aim of the work: Investigating the utility, sensitivity and specificity of interferon gamma inducible protein IP-10 in both blood and bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] in the diagnosis of TB infection in clinically suspected patients

Methods: Thirty patients with clinical and/or radiological suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis and negative sputum smear for AFB with Z-N stain were included in the study. BAL and blood samples were sent for the estimation of the level of interferon gamma inducible protein IP-10

Results: IP-10 levels in both blood and BAL were significantly higher in TB patients [P = 0.005 and 0.007 respectively]. Sensitivity of IP-10 in blood was 100% and specificity was 60%. Positive predictive value was 56%, negative predictive value was 100% and accuracy was 73%. Sensitivity of IP-10 in BAL was 100% and specificity was 35%. Positive predictive value was 44%, negative predictive value was 100% and accuracy was 57%. Sensitivity of IP-10 in blood and BAL were similar [100%] and both were more sensitive than tuberculin skin test [TST] [sensitivity 67%]. Detection of IP-10 in blood [specificity = 60%] was more specific than its detection in BAL [specificity = 35%]. On the other hand, specificity of detection of IP-10 in blood [60%] was comparable to the tuberculin test [specificity = 62%]

Conclusion: Interferon gamma inducible protein IP-10 may help in detecting M. tuberculosis infection and monitoring disease activity and efficacy of therapy

Epithelial-mesenchymal interaction in rhino-bronchial remodeling

The clinical phase and outcome of allergic diseases is related to the degree of bronchial and nasal remodeling. The present study aimed at assessing some features of both upper and lower airway remodeling in allergic patients as well as the role of epidermal growth factor and its receptor [EGFR] and transforming growth factor fi [TGF-fi] in this process.Twenty patients with mild persistent asthma according to G1NA guidelines and mild persistent allergic rhinitis [ARIA] were included in the present study. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy was done during stable disease. Forceps biopsy was taken from a segmental bronchus and from the nasal turbinates. The biopsies taken were stained by haematoxylin and eosin [H and E] for histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical detection of EGFR and TGF-ft was done.Abnormalities in nasal epithelium [ulceration, atypia, and basement membrane thickening] were detected in 50% of asthmatic patients and abnormalities in bronchial epithelium were detected in 40% of them. EGFR was expressed in all abnormal nasal and bronchial epithelium specimens. TGF-f$ was expressed in 90% of abnormal nasal epithelium and all abnormal bronchial epithelium. Both factors were expressed only in hypertrophied nasal and bronchial mucus glands and some inflammatory cells. They were positively correlated with both nasal and bronchial basement membrane thickness.Remodeling occurs even in mild allergic patients. Epithelial-mesenchymal interaction through EGFR and TGF-/3 release plays a major role in this process

Spontaneous bacterial empyema in cirrhotic patients: complements 3 and 4, opsonic power and C-reactive protein as pathogenic mechanisms and diagnostic tools

Hepatic hydrothorax occurs in approximately 5-12% of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension and may be complicated by spontaneous bacterial empyema [SBE]. Pathogenic mechanisms of SBE still need to be investigated. The present work assesses the role of complement components [C3, C4], opsonizing power and C-reactive protein in the pathogenesis of SBE in cirrhotic patients. Twenty five cirrhotic patients with hepatic hydrothorax were randomly selected and 10 patients with hydrothorax secondary to heart failure were included as controls in the study. Pleural fluid [PF] and serum samples were analyzed for: total protein [TP], albumin, lactic dehydrogenase [LDH], glucose, polymorph nuclear leukocytic count [PMNL], complement components [C3, C4], opsonic activity [on the basis of log-kill] and high sensitive C-reactive protein [CRP]. SBE was diagnosed when pleural fluid PMNL was > 250 cells/mm[3] with a positive culture or >500 cells/ mm[3] with a negative culture after exclusion of pulmonary infections. Thirteen patients [52%] [Group I] were diagnosed as SBE and 12 patients [48%] had no SBE [Group II]. There was no significant difference between patients and controls [GIII] as regards age, gender, serum proteins, serum C3, serum WBC and effusion CRP. Levels of serum albumin, total pleural effusion proteins, PT% and opsonic activity of groups I and II were significantly lower than in GIII with no significant difference between groups I and II. Levels of serum bilirubin and C4 of groups I and II were significantly higher than group III with no significant difference between groups I and II. Level of pleural effusion C3 in group I was significantly lower than in groups II and III and level of C3 in group II was significantly lower than in group III. Level of pleural effusion C4 in group I was significantly lower than group III, but there was no significant difference between groups I and II. In hepatic patients, 7 patients [28%] belonged to Child's class B and 18 [72%] to class C. Spontaneous bacterial empyema was detected in 56% of hepatic patients with Child's class C and in 43% of Child's class B. There was no significant difference between hepatic patients with and without SBE with regard to Child-Pugh's score. In patients with SBE, levels of C3 and C4 were significantly less in pleural fluid than in serum but there was no significant difference with regard to opsonic activity. Local complement defects [especially C3] and opsonic activity in cirrhotic patients predispose to SBE. Serum CRP increases, but effusion CRP level should be reassessed as a cheap diagnostic tool

Role of soluble transferrin receptor in differentiating anemia of chronic disease from iron deficiency anemia

The aim of this study was to determine the ability of serum transferrin receptor [sTfR] to distinguish iron deficiency anemia [IDA] from anemia of chronic disease [ACD]. The study was conducted on 30 anemic children [16 males and 14 females] classified into 2 groups. Group I included 15 children with IDA with an age ranged from 4 to 12 years with a mean value of 8.067 +/- 2.34 and group II included 15 children with ACD with an age ranged from 4 to 12 years with a mean value of 8.8 +/- 2.51. In addition, ten age matched healthy children was included as a control group [group III]. All subjects were subjected to proper history taking and clinical examination. Complete blood count [CBC] using automated cell counter providing the measurement of hemoglobin [Hb], mean corpuscular volume [MCV] and mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH]; serum iron and total iron binding capacity [TIBC] using Hitachi autoanalyzer; serum ferritin and sTfR using nephelometry were performed for all patients. The study concluded that sTfR is a good marker of iron deficiency and the measurement of sTfR provides a good differentiation between IDA and ACD

Evaluation of cerebral blood flow during laparoscopic cholecystectomy using transcranial doppler ultrasonography

Laparoscopic procedures are common nowadays. They have many advantages, however, they carry special risks in certain cases due to the associated cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction as well as CO2 retention. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of one of these procedures; namely laparoscopic cholecystectomy; on cerebral blood flow [CBP] using transcranial Doppler [TCD] ultrasonography to determine the right middle cerebral artery velocity [MCAV] which is proved to correlate well with CBF. Sixteen patients classified as American Society of Anaesthesiologists [ASA] physical status I, and II were included in the study. Their heart rate [HR], mean arterial pressure [MAP], end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration [PETCO2], arterial carbon dioxide tension [PaCO2], and MCAV were recorded before CO2 insufflation, then 10, 20, 30 and 40 minutes after insufflation, and again 10 minutes after peritoneal deflation. Significant increase [P<0.01] in MCAV in all the recorded values was found. This increase was attributed mainly to the accompanying rise in PaCO2. The present study concluded that CBF was increased significantly in laparoscopic procedures utilizing C02 as the insufflation gas. ft is recommended to avoid pneumoperitonium or to use it with extreme caution in patients with suspected or documented intracranial injuries due to the potential for significant increase in intracranial pressure [ICP] and alterations in cerebral perfusion pressure [CPP]

Comparison between percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizolysis and percutaneous radiofrequency trigeminal gangliolysis for management of trigeminal neuralgia

Approximately 70% of trigeminal neuralgia [TN] patients are well controlled by medical management. Although they are well controlled initially, many of them will become non-responders and the majority of patients will eventually fail medical management. The aim of this work is to study the difference between 2 of the minor surgical procedures used for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, namely, percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizolysis [PRGR] and percutaneous radiofrequency trigeminal gangliolysis [PRTG]. Thirty two patients with intractable trigeminal neuralgia, had failed medical treatment were included in the study. The patients were divided into 2 equal groups according to the procedure used, PRGR group and PRTG group under fluoroscopic guidance. It was found that PRTG had faster onset of action, higher success and lesser failure rates than PRGR. Recurrence rates after 6 months and one year were 6.25% and 18.75% for PRTG and 12.5% and 25% for PRGR. The incidence of keratitis was higher with PRTG than PRGR while no case of anaesthesia dolorosa was reported in both techniques. In conclusion, both techniques are effective with relative advantages and disadvantages to each. PRTG disadvantages include requirements for a cooperative patient and access to radiofrequency equipment. Its great merits include high initial success rates and modest rate of recurrence. PRGR has a lesser initial success rate and a higher rate of recurrence than with the thermal therapy. It requires less patient cooperation and minimal equipment and appears to be associated with lower incidences of corneal anaesthsia and keratitis