ABSTRACT
This study was done to know more about the effect of the commonest intravenous anesthetics namely, thiopentone, propofol, midazolam on neutrophil polarization, one of the immune system functions. 120 samples of polarized neutrophil rich pellet were tested by adding different concentrations of these drugs to them. They used the same concentrations present in plasma during surgical anesthesia and multiplies [x 10] and fractions [x 1/10] of these concentrations were also used. The results show that, as anesthetics, thiopentone and propofol produced 45% inhibition for neutrophil polarization at plasma concentrations required for surgery. At 10 times, more than their normal plasma concentrations both drugs resulted in almost complete inhibition of polarization. The difference between the effects of intralipid and those of propofol were significant [P <0.002] by equivalent volumes of intralipid at concentration [of propofol] likely to be required for surgery during general anesthesia. It have been found that, 10% intralipid stimulate and augment polarization of neutrophil. As sedatives, it was found that midazolam has minimal inhibitory effect, 2% on neutrophil polarization at plasma concentration up to 6 ug ml-1 which is not reached clinically can produce about 10% inhibition compared with more than 45% with equivalent concentration of propofol. Propofol produced significant inhibition more than midazolam [P <0.02] at concentrations usually present in plasma optimum for sedation
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out in AI JAZIRA POLYCLINIC, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia between April and October 1991. Food handlers were included in this study from whome throat and nasal swabs were cultured of toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains of C. diphtheriae. Results showed that 11 food handlers were throat carriers of toxigenic strains [1.2%] while 6 food handlers were nasal carriers of toxigenic strains [0.66%]. Of those food handler, two harbouring the toxigenic C. diphtheriae both in their noses and throats. So, the total number of carriers of toxigenic strains was 15 [1.6%]. On the other hand, 13 food handlers harbourd non-toxigenic C. diptheriae in their throats[1.4%] compared to 9 nasal earners of non-toxigenic strains [0.99%] Total number of carriers of non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae was 22 [2.4%]