ABSTRACT
Background: Macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin type B [MLSB] antibiotics have great importance in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections and existence of isolates that have the ability to resist against MLSB antibiotics is troublesome. Routine testing of staphylococcal isolates for inducible clindamycin resistance [ICR] is supported by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI]. Automated system Vitek 2 offers a schedule that reveals inducible clindamycin resistance directly. it is simple and more cost-efficacious than the more terrible CLSI reference methods
Objectives: Evaluation the utility of automated vitek-2 system in detection of inducible clindamycin resistance S. aureus compared to D zone test and detection the predominance of erm A and erm C genes among isolated strains
Methodology: 25 clinical staphylococcus aureus isolates [Erythromycin intermediate and resistant, Clindamycin susceptible] were examined for ICR both by D- test and Vitek-2 system. multiplex PCR was carried out for the isolates to reveal ermA and ermC genes
Results: Out of the 25 isolates, ICR was detected by Vitek-2 in 11 isolates [44%]. Two of the isolates were not detected by Vitek-2 but confirmed by D-test. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated as 85.7%, 100%, 100% and 84.6% respectively. erm C and A genes were detected in [40%] and [24%] of the studied isolates respectively. Both C and A genes were detected in [12%]
Conclusion: Vitek-2 is considered a potentially reliable test for detection of ICR, further studies are advised on considerable number of isolates
ABSTRACT
Pulmonary arterial hypertension [PAH] may be suspected based on the clinical history, physical examination and electrocardiogram findings but imaging is usually central to confirming the diagnosis, establishing a cause and guiding therapy. The diagnostic pathway of PAH involves a variety of complimentary investigations of which computed tomography pulmonary angiography [CTPA] has established a central role both in helping identify an underlying cause for PAH and assessing resulting functional compromise. In particular, CTPA is considered as the gold standard technique for the diagnosis of thromboembolic disease. This article reviews the CTPA evaluation in PAH, describing CTPA techniques, a systematic approach to interpretation and spectrum of key imaging findings
ABSTRACT
Background: Bronchogenic carcinoma is the single most important cause of cancer-related deaths with approximately 1.5 million cases worldwide every year. Computed tomography [CT] scanning can only estimate the proximal extent "with difficulty in visualization the real borders" of a tumor. The role of MRI in local staging of bronchogenic carcinoma is limited by the signal loss secondary to respiratory motion and heterogeneity of the magnetic field caused by the tissue/air interfaces. Positron Emission tomography combined with CT [PET/CT can accurately delineate the viable tumor from surrounding atelectasis and collapse/consolidation, This information cannot only demarcate the size and extent of the tumor for accurate T staging, but also provide guidance for biopsies if histological confirmation is required Purpose: It was to emphasize the role of PET/CT in differentiation the bronchogenic carcinoma from its inseparable pseudo-neoplastic lesions for better staging and increase the accuracy of follow up by ruling out the pseudo progression as well as pseudo regression
Patients and Methods: The study involved 32 patients proved histo-pathologically to have bronchogenic carcinoma and referred for PET/CT scanning. Each patient included in the study was subjected to full history taking, reviewing medical sheet and PET/CT examination. The study was done in private center [Techno-scan holding center, Heliopolis branch using PET-CT machine [GE Discovery VCT 64 PET/CT, USA]; in which PETCT examination was followed by diagnostic contrast enhanced CT examination and processed at Ain Shams University, Radiology department
Results: In this study we found presence of inseparable pseudo neoplastic lesions among 20 patients out of 32 patients and the mean diameter of the bronchogenic mass lesion was 6.89 +/- 3.65 SD as measured by CT, while it was 5.77 +/-3.38 SD as measured by PET/CT in centimeters
Conclusion: The combined PET/CT using 18F-FDG is the best oncologic imaging modality with valuable role in local staging and follows up in patients of bronchogenic carcinoma
ABSTRACT
Aim of the work: The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between pulmonary embolism severity and scoring obtained using multi slice CT [MSCT] and the clinical presentations and echocardiography in patients with pulmonary embolism [PE]
Patients and method: this study was carried out in the Radiology Department of Ain Shams University Hospitals. 21 patients with PE. The CT obstruction index [OI] using Qanadli score and the RV/LV diameter Right ventricle dysfunction ratio [RVD-ratio] using the four-chamber view of the heart were calculated for all patients. The cut-off for the OI to detect RVD was constructed using ROC curve. They were 13 [61.9%] females and 8 [38.1%] males. Their age was ranged from 22 -83 years old
Results: Dyspnea and RVD [RVD-ratio >1] were significantly more common in patients with severe pulmonary embolism. Regarding the echo findings with PE high Right ventricular systolic pressure [RVSP] was the commonest echo finding among our studied patients. The cutoff point of obstruction index [OI] >15 [Qanadli score >37.5 %] has the highest prediction value of right ventricular dysfunction, indicating that most of the patients with a score of more than 37.5% had RVD that was agreed with echo findings
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Multidetector Computed Tomography , EchocardiographyABSTRACT
Aim of the work: a descriptive study including analysis of HRCT chest done for patients known to have collagen diseases for diagnosis and classification of interstitial lung diseases
Patients and methods: forty five patients were included in our study [23 rheumatoid arthritis, 14 systemic lupus erythematosis and 8 scleroderma]. This was a retrospective study that included patients with collagen diseases either outpatients or referred from the Rheumatology Departement at Ain Shams University Hospitals to the Radiodiagnosis Department for HRCT chest examination. HRCT chest images were interpreted for identification of lung interstitium architectural abnormalities associated with collagen diseases and they were statistically analyzed
Results: the mean age of the selected patients was about 42 years old. Parenchymal involvement was noted in 30 cases that represented 66.6% of included cases in the study, 15 cases had normal HRCT of the chest representing 33.4% of the cases
Conclusion: HRCT of the chest has a reasonable role in the diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases and has the ability to be classifying according to the pattern of involvement, distribution and extent of the disease as well as to estimate the severity and help in prognosis of the disease process
ABSTRACT
Background: pulmonary embolism patients with contraindication to radiation exposure and contrast injection
Objective: comparative study between the non -contrast Magnetic Resonance Pulmonary Angiography [MR PA] and the Computed Tomography Angiography [CTA] in diagnosis of pulmonary embolism [PE]
Patients and methods: twenty-one patients were included in our study. All patients were admitted and/or referred to Ain Shams University Hospital Departments, Kasr El Ainy Hospital and private centers confirmed to have pulmonary embolism [PE] by CTA. All patients underwent CTA and non-contrast MR-PA in the same day or within three consecutive days. The radiological examinations were interpreted by two different radiologists. The results were compared and statistically analyzed
Results: the mean age of the selected patients was about 49.43years old. 16 cases showed positive PE in both MR-PA and CTA. The 5 cases showed negative results in both
Conclusion: the non-contrast MR-PA has a reasonable sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of PE especially in major branches. So, it can be used as an alternative to the CTA especially when the CTA and the use of gadolinium are contraindicated
ABSTRACT
Objective To present the molecular characterization of Cysticercus tenuicollis (C. tenuicollis) of Taenia hydatigena (T. hydatigena) from livestock isolates in Egypt, and to introduce a detailed image of C. tenuicollis infection in ruminant animals in Upper Egypt. Methods The prevalence rates of C. tenuicollis infections among the slaughtered animals from different organs were determined using the amplification of sequencing of the MT-CO1 gene. Results In the present study the infection rates of C. tenuicollis were found to be 16% and 19% in sheep and goat samples respectively. Firstly we report one larval stage of T. hydatigena detected in the camel liver in Egypt. C. tenuicollis infection manifested a higher prevalence in females than in males. Those above two years of age manifested a higher infection rate than younger animals. The preferred site for the infection was the omentum: a 70% preference in sheep and a 68% preference in goats. The molecular characterization using the MT-CO1 gene of isolates from sheep, goats and camels corresponded to T. hydatigena. For this study, molecular characterizations of T. hydatigena were done for the first time in Egypt. Molecular tools are of great assistance in characterizing the C. tenuicollis parasite especially when the morphological character cannot be detected, because the metacestodes are frequently confused with infection by the hydatid cyst, especially when these occur in the visceral organs. In the present study, C. tenuicollis manifested high identity in the goat and sheep samples, while differences were found more frequently in the camel samples (10 base pair). Conclusions Clearly molecular diagnosis for C. tenuicollis infection significantly helps to differentiate it from such other metacestodes as hydatidosis, which manifests a completely different pathogenicity and requires different control programs.
ABSTRACT
Background and study aims: In chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV], viral and host factors are known to be predictors for anti-viral therapy. IL-28B genotype strongly influences treatment outcome, while Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] co-infection could accelerate the course of chronic HCV infection. This study was conducted to assess whether EBV co-infection adds to the predictive value of IL-28B
Patients and methods: A total of 105 patients with chronic HCV were classified according to their response to treatment into two groups: 38 sustained virological responders [SVRs] and 67 nonresponders [NRs]. Collected sera at baseline and follow-up [FUP] were used for assessing EBV antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and the expression of EBV genes [BNLF-1, BZLF-1, and EBER-2] by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. Collected peripheral blood was used for detecting IL-28B rs.12979860 single-nucleotide polymorphism
Results: Regarding IL-28B genotype frequencies, a significant difference [p = 0.003] was observed between SVRs [C/C = 51.4%, C/T = 48.6%, T/T = 0%] and NRs [C/C = 25%, C/T = 55%, T/T = 20%]. On assessing EBV infection at baseline and FUP, it was found that 61% and 55% were positive, respectively, with no significant difference between SVRs and NRs. As for anti-viral capsid antigen [VCA] antibodies, the NRs had significantly higher baseline anti-VCA immunoglobulin M [IgM] levels than SVRs [p = 0.01]. While FUP anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 [EBNA-1] IgG reported a significant decline within SVR patients [p = 0.02], neither baseline nor FUP anti-VCA IgG levels showed a statistically significant viral response. Finally, on comparing EBV markers with CC versus CT and TT genotypes, it was found that FUP anti-VCA IgG levels were significantly increased in CC genotype [p = 0.003]
Conclusion: Interleukin-28B polymorphism could be a possible predictor of response to pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy [PEG-IFN/RBV]. Furthermore, co-infection with EBV did not affect the response to IFN-based therapy in HCV-infected patients
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Female , Male , Middle Aged , Herpesvirus 4, Human , Epstein-Barr Virus Infections , Interleukins , Polymorphism, Genetic , InterferonsABSTRACT
Investigations for anti-inflammatory potential and categorization of Sudanese medicinal plants according to their potency. Anti-inflammatory effect of plants' extracts of 17 genera were studied using the carrageenan induced inflammation in rats' paws. The plant extracts were obtained using methanol and dichloromethane as solvent and administered intra peritoneally at the concentration of 2g/kg body weight. The results obtained in this experiment strongly support and validate the traditional uses of these Sudanese medicinal plants to treat various inflammatory diseases. 63.9% of plants extracts showed marked inhibition of inflammation induced by carrageenan [78.3% out of this percentage represented by methanolic extract], 27.8% showed no activity and 8.3% enhanced the carrageenan induced inflammation. The anti-inflammatory effect of many of these plants has not been reported previously, yet they have been extensively used in Sudanese folkloric medicine. The result of this study justify the traditional medicinal use of the evaluated plants species in treating inflammatory disorders and helped in categorizing the investigated plants into most useful, moderately useful and least useful category for inflammatory diseases. Out of the 17 investigated plant species 05 belongs to most useful and 06 belongs to moderately useful category. However, toxicity studies are required to prove the safety of these plant materials
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Plants, Medicinal , Plant Extracts , Rats, Wistar , InflammationABSTRACT
The parotoid gland secretion of Bufo spp., obtained by manual compression, was found to contain 23.1-41.2% [w/w] of total protein. Gel filtration chromatography showed the existence of four fractions of peptides and proteins responsible for antibacterial activity. Thin layer chromatography showed seven Ninhydrin-positive spots in addition to the origin, in the parotoid gland secretion of Bufo spp. Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis revealed the existence, in the crude secretion, of 2 bands of proteins [P[1] and P[2]] and 2 bands of peptides [P[3] and P[4]] with various molecular weights
Subject(s)
Animals , Amphibians , Amphibian Proteins , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Peptides , Proteins , Chromatography, Gel , Chromatography, Thin Layer , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide GelABSTRACT
In a previous in vitro study, we have shown that the kernel oil of fruits of the tree Balanites aegyptiaca referred to as Balanites kernel oil [BKO] is active against dermatophytes [i.e. superficial mycosis, ringworms, tineas [T. captitis, T. cercinata and T. pedis]. We report here our clinical trials with BKO. Trials were performed on patients presenting at Wad Medani Dermatology Teaching Hospital as well as primary school children in Elsoreeba Town [5 km south of Wad Medani]. Not all patients followed treatment till completely cured. Patients treated with BKO [half of the total] achieved complete cure in 3-5 weeks, on average, while those treated with the standard antifungal drug Miconazole [half of the total patients] did the same in the longer period of 3-8 weeks. Photographs showing progress of response to BKO treatments are included. BKO has great potential for development as a commercial drug for the treatment of dertmatophytes
Subject(s)
Humans , Plant Oils , Arthrodermataceae/drug effects , Dermatomycoses/drug therapy , Tinea Capitis/drug therapy , Tinea Pedis/drug therapy , Tinea/drug therapy , MiconazoleABSTRACT
Fruits of Balanites aegyptiaca are traditionally used in paste form for curing some skin diseases in few areas in Western Sudan. Our initial results pointed to the fruit kernel containing the active ingredient. Further studies were meant to test, in vitro, the effect of Balanites fruit kernel oil on three isolates which are known to cause superficial mycoses namely: Microsporum audouinii, Trichophyton soudanense and T. mentagrophytes. The three test organisms were subcultured on sabouraud's medium to which different concentrations of Balanites kernel oil were added. In addition to appropriate controls a normal vegetable oil viz. peanut oil, was tested. BKO, at 5% concentration, showed marked [>70%] growth inhibition against the three fungal isolates tested. No antifungal activity was observed in controls, including peanut oil. Two fractions of Balanites kernel oil were prepared namely: the free fatty acids [FFA] and the unsaponifiable matter [UM], and when tested for antifungal activity with the three test organisms, the activity resided exclusively in the free fatty acid fraction. Initial clinical studies on Balanites kernel oil, currently underway, largely confirmed our in vitro work described here
Subject(s)
Plant Oils , Mycoses/drug therapy , Microsporum/drug effects , Trichophyton/drug effectsABSTRACT
In the present work, the total leucocytes count of infested mice with ticks Hyalomma dromedarii infected with nematodes showed significant increase than infested group with ticks only. The infested group of mice with ticks and infested mice with ticks and nematodes showed a markedly significant drop in the eryhrocytes count. The results showed a highly significant decrease in Hb concentration, and HCT percentage for mice infessted with ticks and a marked increase with ticks infested with nematodes. The results showed a significant decrease in level of IgG of mice infested with ticks, while in infected mice with ticks and nematodes, the IgG level increased to control level which might indicated that nematodes penetrate ticks that were feeding on mice through the thinner cuticle of engorging females. Differences in cytokines responses were observed between tick-infested and non-infested mice. Proinflammatory Th1 T lym-phocyte cytokines were suppressed and TH2 cytokines were enhanced for infestation with H. dromedarii. The date indicated a polarization of immune response towards Th2 lymphocytes.
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Tick Infestations , Mice , Leukocyte Count , Immunoglobulin G , Cytokines , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , CD4 Antigens , CD8 Antigens , Interleukin-2 , Interleukin-4 , Interleukin-10ABSTRACT
Apolymerase chain reaction [PCR], based on insertion sequence IS6110,was developed to detect mycobacterium tuberculosis complex organisms in the blood samples of 56 tuberculosis patients and 34 healthy controls.the erly secreted antigenic target 6-KDa[ESAT-6] are used to stimulate T lymphocyte subsets from tuberculosis infected patients and the correltion of these immune responses to the genetic factoes[HLATYPE] which determined the host immune response is evaluated.ESAT-6 derived peptides:P1[1.05 +/- 0.084],P2[1.08 +/- 0.094],P3[1.02 +/- 0.086],P5[0.98 +/- 0.117] and P7[1.26 +/- 0.152] were significantly higer in the infected group than in non-infected one. Besides, 33ptients and 12 controls were tested for HL-DRB HLA DQB and HLA-DPB Only type HLA-DEB 15was significan tly associated with tuberculosis infection using the Chi-square test[X[2]=0.04311]. By using the relative risk some HL types were relatively more susceptible to be associated with tuberculosis infection. HLA-DR typing of patients showed that they covered a large spectrum of HLA-DR molecules encoded by HLA-DEB1,-DRB3,-DRB4,and DRB5genes.however,HLA-DQ typing showed that they HLA-DQB1 molecules, HLA-DP typing of patients showed that covered a large spectrum of HLA-DP molecules encoded by HLA-DPB1.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , HLA Antigens/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction/bloodABSTRACT
The impact of the extremely low frequency [ELF], electromagnetic field [EMF] on muscles RNA and DNA contents in the muscles of the tilapia, Oreochromis spilurus were investigated. A significant variations in the muscles RNA and DNA contents in response to 5kV/m2 and 10kV/m2 EMF field strength were reported. Both field strengths resulted in a significant decline in the DNA and RNA contents of the fish muscles