Helicobacter pylori and Egyptian infantile colic

Excessive infant crying is a common and often stress-inducing condition for parents that can ultimately result in infant abuse. Although the infantile colic is reported commonly and causes appreciable distress for both parents and pediatricians, its pathogenesis remains unclear, despite 40 years of research. This work studied the role of H. pylori in infantile colic. This study was conducted in a primary health care office in Sharkia Governorate. The study included 50 infants with infantile colic according to Wessel's criteria, along with age and sex matched 50 healthy controls. All- infants without apparent cause for their colic underwent full history taking, clinical examination and H. pylori antigen in their stools. This study supports the new evidence for the role of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of infantile colic. H. pylori stool antigen was present in 31 [62%] of cases in contrast to 10 [20%] of controls [P<0.0001]. Normal vaginal delivery, male, vomiting and breast feeding may be risk factors for H. pylori infection in this age period

Leishmania mexicana Gp63 cDNA using gene gun induced higher immunity to L. mexicana infection compared to soluble leishmania antigen in BALB/C

Leishmaniasis is a worldwide disease prevalent in tropical and sub tropical countries. Many attempts have been made and different strategies have been approached to develop a potent vaccine against Leishmania. DNA immunisation is a method, which is shown to be effective in Leishmania vaccination. Leishmania Soluble Antigen [SLA] has also recently been used Leishmania vaccination. The immunity generated by SLA and L. mexicana gp63 cDNA was compared in groups of 6 mice, which were statistically analysed by student t- test with the P-value of 0.05. SLA was administered by two different methods; intramuscular injection and injection of dendritic cells [DCs] loaded with SLA. L. mexicana gp63 cDNA was administered by the gene gun. Immunisation of BALB/c mice with L. mexicana gp63 resulted in high levels of Th1- type immune response and cytotoxic T lymphocytes [CTL] activity, which were accompanied with protection induced by the immunisation against L. mexicana infection. In contrast, administration of SLA, produced a mixed Th1/Th2-type immune responses as well as a high level of CTL activity but did not protect mice from the infection. The results indicate higher protection by DNA immunisation using L. mexicana gp63 cDNA compared to SLA, which is accompanied by a high level of Th1 immune response. However, the CTL activity does not necessarily correlate with the protection induced by the vaccine. Also, gene gun immunisation is a potential approach in Leishmania vaccination. These findings would be helpful in opening new windows in Leishmania vaccine research

Epidermoid inclusion cyst of the perineum- a rare case report in a 50 years old male

A 50 year old male presented with a history of mid line painless swelling in the perineum for last 4 years. The patient's only concern was a perineal swelling which was gradually increasing in size. Clinical examination mimics subcutaneous lipoma with soft lobulated surface with positive slip sign. The base line investigations were within normal limits. Complete surgical excision of the cyst performed. Histopathology confirmed epidermal inclusion cyst with no evidence of malignancy. Patient discharged on next day. The follow-up visits were un-remarkable. Perineal epidermal inclusion cyst is a rare entity and only few cases have been reported

Influence of some neonicotinoid insecticides on the predator [Coccinellidae: Coleoptera] Stethorus gilvifron

Laboratory and field studies were undertaken to investigate the influence of three insecticides belong to Neonicotinoids group [Actara 25WG [Thiamethoxam],Conquest 20SP [Acetamprid],Confidor20 SC, 5G [Imidacloprid]] and one organophosphorus insecticide Hostathion 40EC on the predator S. gilvifron. Results have indicated that the Neonicotinoids insecticide were less harmful against all stages of the predator compared with hostathion which gave high percent of mortality on all stages following direct foliar application. Actara was the most promising insecticide material particulary when applied to the soil, indicating the feasibility of integrating with the coccinellid predator in the control program

Impact of gemcitabine and cisplatin with radiotherapy in locally advanced or metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder

The primary object of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin along with radiotherapy in transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder. Patients and Twenty patients with locally advanced or metastatic TCC of urinary bladder were enrolled during the 22-months period from January, 1999 to October, 2000 and followed up till March 2002.Three patients received 4 cycles, five patients received 5 cycles and twelve patients received 6 cycles of Gemcitabine 1250mg / m2 on day 1 and day 8 and Cisplatin 80mg / m2 on day 1; administered every 3 weeks. No patient received prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. However, four patients received prior intravesical chemotherapy. All patients received radiotherapy after completion of chemotherapy regimen. Nineteen patients achieved complete response at the end of the treatment. The complete response rate was 95%. The confidence interval was at 95%, level of confidence ranged from 85% to 100%. Median duration of clinical benefit was 21 months. Six patients [30%] were documented neutropenia, three patients [15%] documented thrombocytopenia. No life threatening toxicity was observed. Gemcitabine and Cisplatin along with radiotherapy in locally or metastatic Transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder, exhibited pronounced response rate among all the patients. The toxicity profile remained extremely low and disease free survival enhanced. The above investigation may further be continued at a larger scale encompassing a wide band of subjects

preliminary study on the inhibitory action of mystatin on the promastigote forms of leishmania tropica and leishmania infantum isolates of Pakistan

Leishmania is the etiological agent of a group of parasitic disease Leishmaniases. Recent reports show that the disease is on the rise in Pakistan. As no vaccine is yet available for any type of leishmaniasis, chemotherapy is the only means of controlling the disease. As a part of our project to find out new antileishmanial compounds, we have studied the antileishmanial activity of nystatin [mycostatin], a polyene compound, on the promastigote forms of L. tropica and L. infantum isolates of Pakistan. In in vitro cultivation, the EC50 values [the concentration of drug necessary to inhibit the growth rate of cells to 50% of the control value] obtained for Nystatin against the promastigote of L. tropica and L. infantum were 19.5-19.8 iu/ml. The mode of action proposed for this drug is same as for famous leishmanicidal drug Amphotericin B as both of these polyene drugs strongly and selectively binds to the sterols present on the surface of the parasite result in the formation of unusual pores / gaps on the surface that result in the leakage of the ions. This leakage finally leads to the destruction of the cell

Leishmanicidal activity of nystatin [mycostatin]: a potent polyene compound

The susceptibility of promastigote of Leishmania major to Nystatin in vitro was examined. L. major [MHOM/PK/88/DESTO] promastigote were cultured in medium 199 supplemented with 10% heat inactivated foetal bovine serum and 2% urine. The growth of the promastigote was monitored in the absence and presence of the experimental compound [Nystatin] for upto 5 days post-inoculation. The EC50 value [the concentration of drug necessary to inhibit the growth rate of cells to 50% of the control value] obtained for Nystatin against the promastigote of L. major was less than 9.76 iu ml. Certain polyene compounds like Amphotericin-B and Nystatin [mycostatin] are familiar for their fungicidal activity. Amphotericin-B is used since long as antileishmanial drug as well. Results obtained suggest that Nystatin has a very good anti leishmanial activity in vitro. The mode of action proposed for this drug is same as for Amphotericin-B as both of these polyene compounds interact with the various sterols present on the surface of the parasite, thus unusual gaps and pores are formed on the surface that results in the leakage of the ions. This leakage finally leads to the destruction of the parasite

Effect of protein-energy malnutrition on the intellectual development in Egyptian children

This study was conducted on 37 children of both sexes, aging from 1-3 years, and suffering from protein-energy malnutrition. Six months after restoration of normal nutritional requirements, the study group showed less weight, less head circumference and less S.Q. than a group of age and sex matched normal children of the same social standard. The results were discussed in the light of previous reports on the subject. The study pointed to the importance of proper nutrition in infancy and childhood in order to prevent mental subnormality

Management of inguinal hernia experience of 334 cases at Hyderabad

A prospective study of 334 patients of Inguinal hernia was carried out at Liaquat Medical College Hospital, Jamshoro, Hyderabad in surgical Unit-II from January, 1987, to December, 1990. 329 [98.5%] were males and 5 [1.5%] were females. Peak age incidence was in the 1st and 3rd decade, 75 patients [22.4%] and 72 patients [21.5%] respectively. 211 patients [63.2%] had right sided hernia, 109 [32.6%] had left sided while 14 [4.2%] had bilateral hernia. 32 patients presented in emergency as complicated hernia while 302 were admitted as elective cases. No mortality occurred in the elective cases, while 2 patients died amongst those who presented with complicated hernia

Pneumonectomy for bronchiectasis following betel-nut

Three cases of total lung destruction, because of bron-chiectasis secondary to betel-nut [supari] inhalation, are presented. All three cases had a definite history of supari inhalation, and endoscopic removal was not carried out. All three required pneumonectomy, and recovered completely after surgery

Ultrasonographically guided abscess and fluid drainage

This paper deals with the role than that ultrsonography plays in drainage of abnormal fluid collections. The technique has been discussed and illustrated by report of two representative cases