Prognostic impact of TEL-AML-1 fusion gene on acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The TEL-AML-1 fusion gene resulting from 12:21 chromosomal translocation is believed to be the most common molecular genetic abnormality in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]. This study was conducted to investigate the frequency of this fusion gene in children suffering from ALL attending the oncology unit in the Basrah Hospital for Pediatric and Gynecology during the period May 2009 to April 2010, and point out the different laboratory features associated with this anomaly. A total of 120 blood samples were collected [60 early-diagnosed ALL children and 60 healthy children as control group]. The controls were matched with cases by age and sex. Ribonucleic acid [RNA] was successfully extracted from the fresh blood of 40 ALL cases used for the detection of TEL-AML-1 fusion gene by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]. Of the newly diagnosed ALL cases, 27.5% were positive for TEL-AML-1 fusion gene as well as 5% among the control group. All TEL-AML-1 positive cases showed an age peak between 3 and 6 years and tend to occur more frequently among females than males. The TEL-AML-1 positive cases were classified as the standard-risk group and accounted for 72.3%, while 27.3% were the high-risk group [P < 0.05]. According to the French-American-British classification criteria, 72.3% of the high-risk and 68% of the standard-risk groups belong to the L2 stage. The TEL-AML-1 fusion gene identifies a subset of pediatric ALL associated with a number of laboratory markers of good prognosis and should thus be considered in routine molecular work of ALL to confirm its impact on clinical outcome and to design a suitable therapy

Human parvovirus B 19 antibody among arthropathic patients with special emphasis on sickle cell diseases in Basrah

This is a case-controlled study conducted during the period from October 2006 till September 2007 in Basrah, with its aim being to estimate the overall prevalence of Human parvovirus B19 [HPV-B19] antibodies and their association to rheumatoid factor seropositivity among sickler/non-sickler arthropathic patients. A total of 182 blood samples were collected from arthropathic patients attending the clinics of orthopaedic/rheumatology, clinic of internal medicine, Basrah General Hospital, Hemoglobinopathies Center at the Maternity and Children Hospital. The patients include 90 arthropathic patients with or without Sickle Cell Diseases [SCD] and 92 samples from control group. HPV-B19 IgG antibodies were serologically detected by an Enzyme-Linked Imrnuno-Sorbent Assay [ELISA] and rheumatoid factor was detected by Latex agglutination test. The overall prevalence of HPV-B19 antibody in Basrah general population was 68.7%. The prevalence rate of antibodies among arthropathic patients in general was 76.9% but it was lower in arthropathic patients with SCD; 65.8%. These differences were statistically not significant [p>0.05] compared to control group. Eighty percent of individuals who had rheumatoid factor positive results were positive for HPV-B19 antibodies which indicate a significant association [P<0.05]. The seropositivity to HPV-B19 was increased with age. Small joints were the commonest site of manifestation which represents 78.1%, whether in a symmetrical [69.8%] or an asymmetrical pattern [74.5%]. HPV-B19 antibodies were significantly more [79.7%] among persons with history of blood transfusion compared to those with no such history [P<0.05]. However, the types of SCD had no significant effect on the prevalence of HPV-B19 antibodies [P>0.05]. There was a positive relation between HPV-B19 seropositivity and the duration of illness [p<0.05]. In conclusions, HPV-B19 is common with high prevalence in our region; there is a clear association between HPV-B19 infection and rheumatoid factor positivity. Individuals with sickle cell diseases, regardless of its type, and those with a history of blood transfusion were considered risk groups for acquiring HPV-B19 infections

Isolation of gardnerella vaginalis from pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis in Basrah, Iraq

To determine the prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis among pregnant women and to examine the efficiency of clinical diagnosis compared to laboratory methods. Clinical and laboratory study was designed using at least three out of four clinical signs [Homogeneous vaginal discharge, vaginal pH more than 4.5, positive amine test and the presence of clue cells] in the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. This was then compared to Gardnerella vaginalis isolation. Basrah University Maternity Hospital. Pregnant women attending the maternity hospital for their periodic visits during the period from April 1995 to September 1997. Out of 413 vaginal swabs examined, Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated from 32 [7.7 percent] and by the use of clinical criteria as diagnostic procedure, the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was found to be 7 percent. In cases where Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated, 93.1 percent of women had vaginal pH greater than 4.5 as compared to those with no Gardnerella vaginalis where only 10.2 percent had greater than 4.5. All women with positive cultures had positive amine test [100 percent]. Clue cells were a constant finding in the discharge of pregnant women with positive Gardnerella vaginalis cultures. Amine test alone or together with estimation of vaginal pH are the most suitable tests for prediction of bacterial vaginosis as it has an excellent sensitivity [100 percent] and specificity [97.9 percent]. The clinical signs are simple to assess and highly related to the isolation of Gardnerella vaginalis [87.5 percent]. This is in contrast to clinical symptoms which do not correlate well as more than half of Gardnerella vaginalis colonized pregnant women were asymptomatic

Prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] antibodies among infants and young children with acute respiratory tract infections

A consecutive study was performed during the period from November 1988 to December 1990 on 117 infants and young children with acute respiratory tract infections. Respiratory Syncytial Virus [RSV] antibodies were detected in 56.4% by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] with varying amounts of antibodies in the positive sera. The highest rates of RSV antibody were detected among age groups 13-18 and 19-24 months. There were no marked differences in RSV antibody between male and female. There was also no difference between rural or urban patients. The rates of RSV antibodies were almost the same in children with or without previous history of respiratory tract infections. The majority of patients with high titers of RSV antibodies were provisionally diagnosed as bronchopneumonia. Patients with radiological findings suggestive of respiratory infections had higher titres than those with negative X-ray findings. The majority of cases with RSV antibody were mainly detected during the cold season. There was on evidence of protection among breast-fed children

Rotavirus infection among childhood diarrhea in Basrah

During a prospective two years study, 747 faecal samples of infants and young children with acute gastroenteritis and 160 non-diarrhoeal control were collected. Rotavirus was detected significantly more often in those with gastroenteritis 278/746 [37.3%] than those with other illnesses 6/160 [3.8%]. Rotavirus as the only pathogen was detected in 66% of the positives, while it was found to be mixed with one or more pathogens in 36%. The infection was more common among children from rural areas [43%] than from urban areas [28.3%]. The prevalence rate of rotavirus infection was lower in infants who were breast-fed [15.4%] than in bottle-fed [58.8%] or those who were combined-fed [41.4%]. The prevalence of rotavirus recovery was lower among children of families who practiced boiling of water [18.2%], compared to other groups using river or marches water which were occasionally boiled [24.3%] or unboiled [66.4%]. The seasonal pattern of rotavirus shedding was found to be maximum during the winter season

Fecal excretion of salmonella typhi during the bacteraemic phase of thphoid fever: an epdemiological perspective

We report here the results of an epidemiologically based study carried out to elucidate the frequency of faecal shedding of Salmonella typhi among blood culture positive cases. The study was based on the results of blood and stool cultures of specimens obtained from various areas of Basrah and processed at the public Health Laboratory over a two years period [1984, 1985]. It was shown that around 47% of positive blood culture cases were positive by stool culture for Salmonella typhi. Young children who were positive by blood culture tend to excretes S. typhi at a higher rate than adult cases. The study also showed a significant area variation in the frequency of faecal shedding of S. typhi which was inversely correlated with the level f endemicity as reflected by the percentage of positive blood culture of all blood specimens tested. There was no significant seasonal variation in the rates of faecal excretion of S. typhi among bacteraemic cases