Biofilm Formation and Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida Isolates from Various Clinical Specimens.

Background: Candida species are now recognized as major causative agents of hospitalacquired infection. Aims: To evaluate the species distribution, biofilm formation,and antifungal susceptibility (amphotericin B, ketoconazole, and fluconazole) of Candida isolates. Place and Duration of Study: This is a Six-months Cross sectional study conducted in Alansar hospital, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: One hundred and three isolates of Candida spp. were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Candida spp. were identified by four standard methods, CHROMagar candida, cornmeal agar, germ tube test and API 20C. Detection of Biofilm formation was done by microtitre plate and antifungal susceptibility testing was done by disc diffusion. Results: C. albicans was the most common species 61%, followed by C. tropicalis 25%, C. lusitanaie 5%, C. parapsilosis 4%, C. glabrata 4% and C. famata 1%. Biofilm formation was found to occur most frequently among non-albicans spp.(70%) than C. albicans (46%). All isolates were sensitive to amphotericin B and ketoconazole. Resistance to fluconazole was found in 22.5% of non-albicans spp. and 5% of C. albicans isolates. Conclusion: The present study proved that C. albicans is still the major isolate from urinary, vaginal and respiratory samples but non-albicans spp. predominate in the blood samples and from plastic devices. The non-albicans spp. were more biofilm - producers compared to C. albicans and C. tropicalis showed the highest score of biofilm intensity (grade 4+). The species isolated are less susceptible to fluconazole.

Study of some factors associated with high-risk asthma in children

Background: Bronchial asthma is characterized by lower respiratory tract inflammation associated with bronchial hyper responsiveness with variable and reversible airflow obstruction. The majority of asthmatics are sensitized to at least one common allergen

Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to determine the association of high-risk asthma with allergy-related parameters [total serum IgE levels, serum levels of allergen- specific IgE, eosinophil count, eosinophil percentage ] and pulmonary functions in children

Subjects and methods: 50 Children aged 8-15 years diagnosed with atopic asthma were enrolled in the study. Pulmonary function tests, total leukocyte count [TLC], eosinophil count, and eosinophil percentage were estimated. Total serum immunoglobulin E [IgE] levels and serum IgE levels specific to antigens from 1 to 9 allergens with class 1 or higher, namely, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [D. pteronyssinus] , Dermatophagoides farina [D. farina ], cat dander , dog dander, cockroach, egg white, milk, Aspergillus fumigatus, and fish, were measured using UniCAP fluoroenzyme immunoassay [FEIA]

Results: This study includes 50 participants, 20 [40%] belonged to the high-risk and 30 [60%] to the low-risk groups. This study revealed no significant association in peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR, %] values between high-risk and low-risk asthma groups [p ? 0.05]. There was no significant association in forced expiratory volume in first second [ FEV1 [L]] values between high-risk and low-risk asthma groups [ p ? 0.05], whereas there was significant association in FEF 25-75% [forced expiratory flow 25-75%] values between high-risk and low-risk asthma groups [ p ? 0.05]. There was a significant association between total serum IgE level and high-risk asthma, but TLC, eosinophil count, and eosinophil percentage showed non significant association with high-risk asthma. Serum levels of IgE specific to D. pteronyssinus, D. farina, cat dander, and dog dander were significantly associated with high-risk asthma. The high-risk group had higher serum levels of IgE specific to D. pteronyssinus [ p < 0.0001], D. farina [ p < 0.0001], cat dander [ p < 0.0001], and dog dander antigens [ p < 0.0001] compared with those in the low-risk group. There was no significant association between high-risk asthma and the serum levels of IgE specific to antigens from other allergens [including cockroach, egg white, and milk]. Serum levels of IgE specific to Aspergillus fumigatus and fish were both negative [class level < 1] in both the high-risk group and the low-risk group

Conclusion: Children with higher serum levels of IgE specific to D.pteronyssinus, D. farina, cat dander and dog dander antigens, and total serum IgE levels, and lower FEF25-75% values belong to the high-risk asthma group. The characterization of risk factors has enabled us to identify high-risk asthma in children , leading to better treatment options

Extended spectrum beta-lactamases in escherichia coli and klebsiella pneumoniae, their molecular characterization and associated risk factors

Background and objectives: extended spectrum beta-lactamase [ESBL] production is increasing all over the world with limited treatment options. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of ESBLs in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, their molecular types and associated risk factors

Methods: total 86 clinical isolates of E. coli [n=46] and K. pneuinoniae [n=40] collected between January and June 2010, were screened for production of ESBL using combined disk method and Microscan . ESBL strains were further typed for the bla TEM/SHV/CTX-M genes by PCR using specific primers. Resistance to other antimicrobial agents was also studied. Various risk factors associated with ESBL infictions were analyzed by logistic regressions

Results: ESBLs were found in 52.2% E. coli and 60 % K. pneumoniae isolates. Majority of the typeable isolates harboured two or more ESBL genes [55.3%]. Overall blaCTX- M was the commonest genotype [78.9%] followed by blaTEM [57.9%] and blaSHV [34.2%] either alone or in combination. Sensitivity of ESBL isolates to other antibiotics was impemun and meropenum [100%], tygacillin 95% , Amikacin 79% , pipracillin /tazocin 58% and ciprofloxacin 31.6% while only 5% of strains were susceptible to gentamycin. Prior antibiotic exposure, use of intravenous device and urinary catheter, renal insufficiency and ICU admission were associated with ESBL infection on univariate analysis

Interpretation and conclusions: our study showed high ESBL occurrence with CTX- M as the emerging type. High co-resistance to other non B-lactam antibiotics is a major challenge for management of ESBL infections

Histological study of the effect of methamphethamine on the cardiac muscle of albino rats

Abuse of methamphetamine has become a major world-wide health problem. Because of the limited work that had been done looking at the cellular toxicity of methamphetamine and because its cardiotoxicity is not experimentally well documented. The present work was conducted to study the effects of chronic administration of methamphetamine, as well as the effect of withdrawal on the cardiac muscle of albino rats using histological and ultrastructural examination. This study was conducted on 60 adult male albino rats. They were divided into three equal groups. Group I was used as control. Group II received daily subcutaneous injection of 1mg/kg body weight of methamphetamine hydrochloride for 8 weeks. The third group received the same daily dose of methamphetamine hydrochloride for the same duration then, the treatment was discontinued for the next 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment rats were sacrificed and specimens from the heart were taken and were subjected to light and electron microscopic study. Two degrees of myocardial lesions were revealed on examination of the chronic toxicity group ranging from wavy muscle fibers with deeply stained nuclei up to sarcolemmal rupture and extrusion of the organelles. Mitochondrial swelling with focal cristal loss was also revealed. After drug withdrawal, there was reversal of most of myocardial lesions depicted in the chronic toxicity group except for excessive fibrous tissue deposition. Chronic methamphetamine administration brings about various myocardial lesions. However, most of these lesions are reversible after drug withdrawal

Memantine hydrochloride versus pralidoxime in the treatment of chlorpyrifos - induced pulmonary toxicity in albino rats

Chlorpyrifos [CP] is a broad-spectrum organophosphorus insecticide that is widely employed for control of many agricultural and household pests. It is extremely toxic to humans and animals. The antidotal therapy of acute organophosphorus poisoning hasn't been satisfactorily solved till now in spite of the knowledge of the basic mechanism of action of these toxic substances. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of acute CP intoxication on the alveolar structure of albino rats and to compare the therapeutic efficacy of memantine hydrochloride [MEM]k, and amantadine derivative, and the currently used oxime [pralidoxime chloride [2-PAM] Six groups of rats were used in this study, each of ten animals. The control groups [group I, II, III], The intoxicated group [group IV that received CP in a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight orally for two consecutive days and the treated groups which, included group V [rats treated with PAM and atropine sulfate [ATS] for 2 days]. Blood samples were collected from all animals one hour after drug administration for estimation of plasma acetylcholinesterase [AchE] enzyme level. The animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last injection and the lungs of each animal were examined histologically by the light and the transmission electron microscopes. The present study demonstrated significant reduction in the level of plasma AchE in CP group. On he other hand, the enzyme levels increased in both groups of CP and MEM and CP and 2-PAM [but still less than normal control levels]. The enzyme reactivation was much more evident with MEM treatment. Histologically, CP treatment resulted in severe pulmonary congestion with extravasation of blood cells, thickening of pulmonary interstitial and evident ultratructural aerations of the alveolar structures. Treatment with MEM after CP resulted in greater alternations of CP-induced alveolar lesions than 2-PAM treatment. In conclusion, he results of this study suggested that CP is a potent pulmonary toxicant, and MEM is more effective reactivator of CP-inhibited AchE than 2-PAM. It also offered greater alveolar protection than 2 PAM

Histological study of the effect of haloperidol on the corpus striatum of Albino rats and the possible neuro-protective role of vitamin E

Halperidol [HP] is a high potency antipsychotic drug used in treatment of schizophrenia. One of its major side effects is Tardive Dyskinesia [TDD] which is a syndrome of irreversible involuntary movements in tongue, face, arms and legs. Different mechanisms were proposed to explain the pathphysiology of TD and to suggest the proper treatment of this iatrogenic effect caused by HP. The most accepted theory could be histological alterations in the striatum caused by an oxidative stress mechanism and hence the trial of vitamin E [being an antioxidant] as a protective agent against HP-induced TD. The study was performed to investigate the effect of HP on the corpus striatum of rat and the possible neuroprotective role of vitamin E. The present study was carried out on forty adult male albino rats which were divided into four groups; the control group, vitamin E group received only vitamin E orally in a dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 4 consecutive weeks, the HP group received HP in a dose of 40 mg/kg/day for 4 consecutive weeks and the HP and vitamin E group received 100 mg/kg vitamin E in conjunction with HP for the same period. Clinical observation for VCMs [analogue of TD] was made during the period of experiment. At the end of four weeks, animals were sacrificed and brain specimens were prepare for histological study of the basal ganglia by light microscopy using H and E. and DOPA reaction. There were different histological alternations in neurons of the striatum in the HP-treated group, which were in the form of distortion, cellular infiltration,, shrinkage and hypereosinophilia of the cytoplasm. Other neurons showed cytoplasmic vacuolations, Co-administrations of vitamin E, reduced the HP-induced striatal neuronal changes, thus, vitamin E could be of value as a neuroprotective agent against HP-induced striatal changes in humans