Role of quantiferon TB gold assays in monitoring the efficacy of antituberculosis therapy

The impact of antituberculous treatment on [IFN]-gamma response to mycobacterial tuberculosis antigens have been widely investigated but the results have been controversial. To evaluate the role of Quantiferon TB gold assays as one of the interferon-gamma release assays [IGRAs] for monitoring the efficacy of antituberculosis therapy in patients with active disease. Thirty patients with active pulmonary TB were enrolled in this cross-sectional study where they were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, chest X-ray, direct smear examination of sputum samples for AFB using Ziehl-Neelson stain performed on three visits; up on enrollment, 2 and 6 months later. Lowenstein Jensen medium cultures of sputum samples were done for isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosison first visit. All patients in the study group were subjected to QuantiFERON-TB Gold estimation on the three visits. The mean sensitivity and specificity of QFT-G test was 85.9% and 62.6% respectively. Using [2] analysis, there was a statistically significant association between QFT-G results and culture results upon enrollment and Acid fast bacilli positivity on second and third visits. Studying the changes in QFT-G results throughout the whole study period revealed a statistically significant decrease in number of QFT-G positive cases from 24/29 patients [82.8%] at first visit to 4/25 patients [16%] at the third visit. All 21/25 patients [84%] who became QFT-G negative at the end of the study had a complete clinical and microbiological recovery of the TB disease. The analysis of QFT-G assay results showed that in the majority of our TB patients there was a correlation between clinical treatment outcome and changes of IFN-gamma response to M. tuberculosis-specific antigens

role of insulin and insulin like growth factor I [IGF-1] in Egyptian Neonates

Many growth factors have been shown to be included during fetal life. Insulin and insulin-like Growth factor-I [IGF-I] are important factors, that have major influence on fetal weighl gain and post-natal growth. In this study, we detennined the levels of cord blood insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I, in 40 healthy full term neonates, with its effect on their anthropometric measurements [head circumference, length, body weight] and gestational age. The studied neonates were delivered in Bab EI-Sharia Hospital, AI-Azhar university either by NVD [n=22] or by C.S [n= 18]. They were 24 males and 16 females. They delivered to healthy mothers [without D.M or any medical problems]. The neonates were classified according to their birth weight, maturity, and appropriance for gestational age into: 15 large for gestational age [LGA], 15 small for gestational age [SGA] and 10 appropriate for gestational age [AGA] as control group. Data concerning all neonates were recorded including: Mode of delivery and APGAR score. Meticulous clinical examinations to all body systems to exclude any abnormality if present Birth measurements were taken and recorded [birth weight, head circumference length and ponderal index] nsulin was measured by immunoradiometric assay and IGF-1 by radioimmuno-assay [R1A] techniques. Also, cord blood glucose was measured in all studied cases and controls. There were highly significant differences between LGA, SGA groups and AGA control group as regard birth weight, length, H, C and gestational age [p<0.01]. Also, there was significant increase in cord bl. IGF-I in LGA group as compared to AGA group [p<0.01], but no significant difference between cord bl. glucose, and cord. bl. insulin in either LGA group or SGA group compared to AGA group [p>0.05]. There were positive correlations between IGF-I and body weight, H.C and length. p<0.001 There was a positive correlation between cord bl. IGF.I and cord. bl. insulin [p<0.01]. But a negative correlation was found between cord bl. IGF-I and cord. bl. glucose [r=-0.416] [p<0.01]. There were no significant difference between LGA, SGA and control group [AGA] as regard APGAR .score, cord bl. glucose or cord bl. insulin [p>0.05]. As. regard gender discrimenation and mode of delivery, there were no correlations or significant difference in either cord blood IGF-I nor cord bl. insulin

Role of high-resolution ultrasonography in the diagnosis of meniscal and cruciate ligaments injuries of the Knee Joint

High resolution ultrasound shows a high degree of accuracy in the assessment of menisci and cruciates of the knee joint, but magnetic resonance imaging has a higher degree of accuracy compared to US in detection of meniscal and cruciates injury. A total of 35 patients were the subject of our study. They were divided into two groups: Group I, asymptomatic volunteers [control group] Group II, included 30 patients suffered from unilateral or bilateral joint disorders. a] Anterior horn, out of 30 cases, 22 cases were negative by U/S and also proved to be -ve by MRI, with the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity 80%, 25% and 100% respectively, b] Posterior horn out of 30 cases, 18 cases were normal by U/S. Only 12 of them proved to be normal by MRI, with the accuracy and specificity 70%, 75% and 66.69% respectively.The ACL, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity 83.3%, 75% and 88.8% respectively.The PCL, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity 96%, 66.6% and 100% respectively. The use of high resolution ultrasound as a preliminary tool for assessment and evaluation whether there is meniscal and cruciates affection or not

Role of computed tomography in diagnosis and clarifying the classification of patello-femoral malalignment

The role of the conventiomal axial radiographs of the patellofemoral joint in assessing patients suffering from peripatellar pain is limited. Therefore Computed Tomography [CT] was used to evaluate 40 patients with persistent patello-femoral pain, and ten asymptomatic volunteers as a control group. Mid patellar transaxial cuts were taken for all of them at 0, 15, 30 and 45 dgress of knee flexion. The congruence angle, the patellar tilt angle and the femoral trochlear angle were obtained from each image. According to the values of these three angles, patients were classified using Merchant's classification of patello-femoral malalignment into: Type I malalignment [patellar subluxation only - 12 cases]. Type II malalignment [patellar subluxation and tilt - 10 cases]. Type III malalignment [patellar tilt only - 13 cases]. The CT has a significant advantage in diagnosing and identifying the different patterns of patello-femoral malalignment particularly when surgical realignment is planned

Radiologic assessment and histopathologic confirmation of osteolytic lesions of the mandible

This study was performed on 32 of different sex and with an age ranging from 18 - 60 years having an osteolytic lesion in the mandible. They were selected from Oral Surgery Department, Faculty of Oral and Dental medicine, Cairo University, according to the clinical features and panoramic radiographic findings. The lesions varied from ill defined destructive radiolucent area to a well defined multilocular in appearance displaying the roots of the teeth adjacent to the lesion. Computed tomography was done in all cases. This study throw a light on the value of CT in defining the origin, site and extension of the mass and its relation to the normal vital structures and also helps in the surgical approach and follow up of the patients. In addition histopathological confirmation was done to verify the final accurate diagnosis, and to show the efficacy of CT in diagnosing osteolytic lesions of the mandible

hypocholesterolaemic effect of B-pyridyl carbinol [ronicol]

The daily administration of beta-pyridyl carbinol to normal Buscat male rabbits at a dose of 30 mg/Kg body weight for 8 weeks, gave marked decreases on serum total lipids, triglycerides and phospholipids Slightly decreases noticed in serum total cholesterol levels of these animals. The action of Ronicol administration on the induced-hypercholesterolaemic rabbits was highly significant in reduction of the elevated serum lipid constituents. Marked decreases on serum lipoprotein fractions were also found after Ronicol administration and the lowest levels obtained at the end of the experimental period

action of inositol hexanicotinate as antilipaemic on normal and hypercholesterolaemic rabbits

The effect of Inositol hexanicotinate [IHN] on serum lipid fractions and body weight was examined in both normal and induced-hypercholesterolaemic rabbits. Generally, Inositol hexanicotinate [IHN] slightly reduced the serum levels of lipid constituents: total triglycerides, phospholipids and total cholesterol. However, these fractions were significantly decreased in serum of the induced hypercholesterolaemic rabbits. The body weights as well as the alpha, Beta and non-mobilized-lipoproteins were also reduced in serum of the hypercholesterolaemic animals. The role of the examined drug as anticholesterolaemic and antilipaemic agent was discussed