Antigen detection from urine of Kala-azar cases by latex agglutination tes.

A recently developed Latex agglutination method known as "KATEX" for detecting leishmanial antigen in urine of Kala-azar patients was evaluated on 97 Kala-azar cases and 35 controls in the department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College during the period from March' 2004 to February' 2005. The method yielded sensitivity as 100% and 82.8% in 33 confirmed and 64 ICT positive cases respectively. Since 8.6% controls showed antigen positive results, so specificity of KATEX was calculated as 91.4%. KATEX methods for antigen detection in urine should be used as an early immuno-diagnostic test as it has yielded high sensitivity. But interpretation of a positive test must be made cautiously having correlation with clinical findings as because it becomes false positive in Kala-azar free person. Further elucidation of KATEX method including larger population from community giving particular emphasis on its prognostic use was strongly recommended.

Involvement of paraoxonase [PON] in oxidative stress induced by chlorpyrifos in albino rats

Organophosphorus insecticides [OPs] exert their toxic effect through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase [AchE]. In addition, accumulated evidences indicated that oxidative stress involved in OPs neurotoxicity and cytotoxicity. However, the mechanism underlay OPs induces oxidative stress still so far unclear. Recent reports were focused on the role of paraoxonase [PON], the HDL-associated A-esterase, in the degradation of the oxon form of the organophosphate. This enzyme, which known to play a critical role in Ops metabolism has a vital role in preventing both LDL and HDL from Peroxidation. Based on the previous observation we propose that the interaction of OPs with PON is the key step in initiating lipid Peroxidation and oxidative stress. To test this suggestion, chlorpyrifos [CPF] was orally gavaged at dose levels of 3, 6, and 12 mg/Kg/day to adult male albino rats for 28 consecutive days. Animals were weighed weekly and blood samples were withdrawn after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days from the start of treatment. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and organs were weighed. The brain and the liver were frozen and kept till the biochemical analysis. Malondialdehyde [MDA], reduced glutathione [GSH], triglyceride [TG], total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and total protein level were determined. Also, PON, carboxyl esterase [CE], acetylcholinesterase [AchE], and glutathione-S-transferase [GST] activity were determined. In addition, PON and CE isozymes were separated on Native-PAGE electrophoresis. Results indicated that CPF produced constant and dose dependent inhibition in both plasma ChE and liver ChE whereas brain AchE was weakly affected. A pattern of adaptation was observed in plasma CE. Brain CE was the most affected, whereas, plasma PON did not affected by [CPF] treatment. Brain PON seemed to be highly susceptible and the effect was dose dependent. The same pattern was observed with AE. The native PAGE confirmed the biochemical determinations. Treatment also increased plasma MDA. GSH levels in blood, liver and brain were increased whereas, GST activity increased only in plasma. The cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased, whereas, HDL level didn't affect by treatment. The analysis of correlation also showed significant correlation between PON and MDA in brain and liver. These results support the suggestion that OPs interfere with the antioxidant system. In addition, it was clear that animals were developed an adaptation mechanism as a result of repetition chlorpyrifos treatment and more work should be offer to clear the role of PON in oxidative stress induced by OPs. Keywords: Organophosphorus insecticides, chlorpyrifos, oxidative stress, Paraoxonase, carboxyl esterase, acetyl cholinesterase, glutathione-s-transferase, reduced glutathione, Malondialdehyde, lipid profile male rats

HLA Profile in Iraqi rheumatic valvulitis patients

Human leukocyte antigen [LILA] is the most polymorphic genetic system in man. The genes of this region influence susceptibility to certain disease. This study was established to shed light on the possible association of HLA class I and II antigens with RV patients. Lymphocvtotoxicity assay for HLA for class I and II typing had been done for [100] iraqi patients suffering from rheumatic valvulitis [RV] the control groups consisting of [75 healthy individuals and 35 non rheumatic heart disease [NRHD] patients]. The results showed a significant association of A33-Ag with these patients as compared with healthy and cardiac controls [P=0.005][P=0.033] respectively. Another interesting finding was the low frequency of AI in RI patients when compared with heal/he control [p=0.002], suggesting that Al allele may confer protective effect against this disease. In addition significant association between blood group B and RV was evident [p=0.04] An interesting observation was a strong association of blood group B and A33 among those patients [P < 0.001]. The present results are consistent with hypothesis that susceptibility to RV is genetically linked and in turn may be associated mainly with A33 in Iraqi patients

Semifield trials to control biomphalaria Alexandrina by different modes of exposure to certain plant and chemical molluscicides

Semi-field trials were carried out in Snail Research Station under simulated natural conditions to evaluate different modes of exposure to Anagallis arvensis and Calendula micrantha as plant molluscicides and bayluscide and copper sulphate as chemical molluscicides. Firstly, B. alexandrina were exposed to the tested molluscicides alone and in addition to two densities of aquatic plants. No apparent effect of aquatic plants on the activity of both plant and chemical molluscicides, this may be due that the two densities of the aquatic plants used were insufficient to interfere with the molluscicides action. Secondly, snails were pre-exposed to three sub-lethal concentrations of the plant molluscicides for 24h then to three concentrations of the chemical molluscicides and vice versa. The results indicate that the pre-exposure increases the snail mortality significantly in all treatments of bayluscide and A. arvensis [except in the highest concentration when the snails firstly exposed to bayluscide then to A. arvensis, where the two compared treatment showed 100%] and in all treatments of bayluscide and C. micrantha. Also, in one treatment of copper sulphate and A. arvensis [in the highest concentration when the snails firstly exposed to A. arvensis then to copper sulphate] and in three treatments of copper sulphate and C. micrantha, [in least and moderate concentrations when snails firstly exposed to C. micrantha then to copper sulphate and in the highest concentration when snails firstly exposed to copper sulphate then to C. micrantha]. Thirdly, snails were exposed to mixtures of six different ratios of hayluscide and each of A. arvensiS and C. micrantha. The results indicated that the snail mortality increased significantly only in the first treatient of bayluscide and A. arvensis mixtures and in treatment number 6 of bayluscide and C. micrantha

Laparoscopic diagnosis of contralateral patent processus vaginalis through the surgically opened sac in children with unilateral inguinal hernia

For more than two decades, the controversy has persisted as to what is to be done to the opposite side of an infant or child who has evidence of a unilateral inguinal hernia. Various methods have been advised for identifying the contralateral patent processus. Discussions on the subject intensified in recent years because of the use of laparoscopy to show the presence of a clinically undetectable contralateral hernia. Chu et al in 1993 and Groner et al in 1995 used a modified procedure in which the Laparoscope was introduced into the peritoneal cavity via the hernial sac to avoid a puncture wound. A random group of 53 patients with unilateral inguinal hernia in infants and children were studied to detect the presence of a patent processus vaginalis on the opposite side. The hernial sac was opened, and diagnostic laparoscopy was performed through the known hernia sac with C02 insufflation to 10 mm Hg. A 5 mm 30° telescope was used to inspect the contralateral inguinal region. A patent processus was diagnosed when an obvious opening through the internal ring was identified or if bubbles were seen on external manipulation of the scrotum and internal ring. Contralateral conventional exploration was then done in all cases of this series to confirm or disprove the findings of the laparoscope. Positive CPPV was diagnosed by laparoscopic exploration in 16 cases constituting 30.2%. On surgical exploration, 17 cases of CPPV were detected with an incidence of 32.1% CPPV. One patient with positive test proved to be negative on surgical exploration. Also two patients with negative tests proved to have CPPV on surgical exploration. It is worth mentioning that these three cases were early in the series. This constitutes a good degree of agreement between the two procedures with reasonable sensitivity [88.2%] and high specificity [97.2%] and total accuracy of laparoscopic diagnosis 94.3%. Laparoscopic evaluation of a contralateral patent processus vaginalis through the surgically opened sac in children with unilateral inguinal hernia is a safe and accurate procedure. This method helps avoid any unnecessary contralateral inguinal exploration. It can be performed without any complications

Hypobaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia for cystoscopic intervention: the impact of adding fentanyl

Addition of fentanyl to hyperbaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia prolonged the duration of sensory block. This study seeks to test the hypothesis that adding fentanyl to small dose hypobaric spinal anesthesia will improve intraoperative patients and surgeon satisfaction without delay in recovery. Patients [n = 80] subjected to minor cystoscopic surgery were randomly assigned to have spinal anesthesia with either 5mg bupivacaine 0.1% or 5mg bupivacaine 0.1% mixed with 20microg fentanyl. The main outcome measures included intraoperative patient and endoscopist satisfaction, sedative/analgesic supplementation, postoperative side effects and time to ambulation. Patients in the bupivacaine group needed more analgesic supplementation. Analgesia was more adequate in the bupivacaine-fentaynl group. Pruritus was the main side effect in the bupivacaine fentanyl group. Ambulation and discharge of patients were nearly the same in both groups. Conclusions: Spinal anesthesia with small dose [5mg] hypobaric [0.1%] bupivacaine mixed with fentanyl [20micro g] produced adequate anesthesia for short cystoscopic procedures with minimal side effects and without delay in ambulation

Neural maturation of breast and formula fed infants

Human milk provides infants with a full complement of all polyunsaturated fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] and arachidonic acid [AA]. Formula milks contain only the precursors of DHA and AA, and linoleic acid and hence formula fed infants must synthesize their own DHA and AA. This work aimed at evaluating the hypothesis that the method of feeding; whether breast feeding or formula feeding in early infancy affects subsequent neurodevelopment and achievement of optimum brain function [Visual system, auditory and Sensory system]. The present study includes 53 infants [at the age of one year +/- I month], 30 infants were exclusively breast fed and 23 infants were exclusively formula fed. Each infant was subjected to a full neurological examination and neurophysiological studies including, flash Visual Evoked Potentials [FVEPs], Auditory Brainstem Evoked Potentials [ABEPs], and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials [SSEPs]. There was significant prolongation in the P100 wave latency of FVEP in formula fed infants [96.4 +/- 9.0] compared with breast-fed infants [90.2 +/- 8.5]. There was a significant prolongation of absolute latency of wave I with subsequent prolongation of wave Ill and wave V in formula-fed infants group compared with breast fed infants group. Meanwhile, there was no significant differences between the two groups as regards to interpeak latencies. There was significant prolongation in interpeak latencies between cortical and Erb's components in formula fed infants compared with breast fed infants. There was no significant correlation between sex, consanguinity, sibbling number, order of birth, parental educational level, age of supplementation of foods, social level, head circumference, anterior fontanel and different variables of evoked potentials. VEP, BAEP and SSEP are more mature in breast fed infants relative to formula fed infants at one year of age. Consequently we can speculate that breast milk helps earlier development and maturation of some aspects of the nervous system than milk formulas

Maternal characteristics of deliveries before arrival to hospital in Bisha, Saudi Arabia

This is a case control retrospective study [unpaired design] carried out at Prince Abdulla Hospital in Bisha, Saudi Arabia on all 1800 newborn deliveries between January to December 1992. During this period 43 [2.4%] babies were born before arrival to hospital. This is 5 times the figures quoted for some western countries. Most of the deliveries occurred at night. There was no age or parity difference between the women who delivered before arrival and the control group. The conditions associated with high mortality among these women include retained placenta, shock, postpartum haemorrhage and acute inversion of the uterus. In conclusion, birth before arrival at hospital remains a significant problem in Bisha region of Saudi Arabia

Fibronectin pleural effusion

Twenty-nine patients with different types of pleural effusion and 10 apparently healthy persons constituted the material of this study. Plasma and pleural fluid fibronectins were estimated by radial immunodiffusion method in an attempt to evaluate the possible diagnostic role of fibronectin in pleural effusion cases. The results showed that plasma fibronectin of patients was 218 +/- 72 ug/mI compared with 288 +/- 48 ug/ml in the control group. The lowest value was observed among empyema cases [108 +/- 17 ug/ml]. The highest concentrations of pleural fluid fibronectin were found in both tuberculous [325.28 +/- 21.3 ug/ml] and malignant cases [292.55 +/- 38.5 ug/ml]. Pleural fluid/plasma fibronectin ratio was equal to one in empyema cases, more than one in both tuberculous and malignant cases and less than one in transudative group

impact of removing outliers in principal component analysis: a Monte Carlo study

Based on Bahnassys work [1989] to detect outliers in Principal Component Analysis; a simulation study has been conducted to explore the effect of removing outliers in Principal Component Model. Bahnassy's method mentions that if variables are standardized, the Pearson product moment correlation equals the average of the cross products. For each observation, the average over the [p[p-l]/2] correlations of the deviation squared of its cross products from the elements of the correlation matrix was computed. Observations with large deviations [D[k]] are defined as outliers. This method was applied to simulated data sets from normal distributions and from distributions with binary variables added. In some instances removing outliers causes the number of eigenvalues greater than one to change and changes the importance of some variables in each factor. Besides, the number of components were changed. These changes depend on number and type of variables sampe size, type of correlation matrix, and number of outliers in the data