Effectiveness of a 20% Miswak extract against a mixture of Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis

To examine the in vitro antimicrobial effect of a 20% Miswak extract against a mixture of Candida albicans [C. albicans] and Enterococcus faecalis [E. faecalis] using the dilution tube susceptibility test, which allows direct contact between the tested material and the microorganisms. The study samples were collected and processed between August 2009 and January 2010 in the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Each microorganism was obtained in a suspension and exposed to a 20% Miswak extract in plastic tissue culture clusters containing 24 wells. Six wells were used per group. The Miswak extract was incubated with the microorganisms for one, 6, and 24 hours. This in vitro study showed that Miswak extract was an effective antifungal and antibacterial agent at all tested experimental time periods, except one hour exposure of a 20% Miswak extract to E. faecalis and a mixture of E. faecalis and C. albicans, which was ineffective in inhibiting their growth. Twenty percent Miswak extract is an effective antifungal and antibacterial agent against C. albicans and E. faecalis

Application of real time - PCR for identification of sheep poxvirus, camel poxvirus and contagious ecthyma virus isolates

Recently, attention has been directed toward the application of Real time - PCR assays as a rapid and accurate tools for identification of Capripox, Parapox and Orthopox viruses that cause devastating diseases in farm animals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. SYBR Green [Real time n PCR assays with primer pairs; Capri - Ks.1 of Capripoxviruses, 045 Orf of Parapoxviruses and Q Orf of Pan-parapoxviruses were adopted on a panel of Saudi field isolates and reference strains of sheep and goat poxviruses, camel poxvirus, reference strains of Lumpy skin disease and vaccinia viruses, and Saudi field isolates of contagious ecthyma [Orf] virus. Capri n KS.1 primer set succeeded to amplify all test DNAs of sheep and goat pox, Camel pox, Lumpy skin disease and vaccinia viruses. With melting curve analysis, temperature of melting [Tm] scored by sheep and goat poxvirus, camel pox virus isolates and their reference strains were relatively identical [between 81.1 and 81.8OC], while Tm scored by Lumpy skin disease virus and vaccinia virus were 82.1 and 83.2OC respectively. No amplification was detected from DNAs of Orf virus isolates tested by Capri - KS.1 primers. However, the Orf virus isolates were fairly equivalent amplified with both of 045 Orf primer set [mean Tm score 92.5°C] and Q Orf primer set [mean Tm score 84°C], as well as with TaqMan Real time - PCR in the presence of TaqMan probe and Q Orf primer set. Otherwise, occasional nonspecific amplification of some isolates and strains of Capripox and Orthopox viruses were detected by too late cycle of amplification [> 35 cycle] with 045 Orf and Q Orf primer sets

Detection and characterization of foot and mouth disease virus, serotype a in Saudi Arabia in 2005

After elapsing of 10 years on the last recorded cases of Foot and Mouth disease [FMD] caused by the virus of serotype A in Saudi Arabia in 1995, new cases of FMD virus, serotype A were diagnosed in two traditional cattle herds in Al-Hota province, 150 Km south of Riyadh. Clinical signs of fever, vesicular stomatitis and coronitis, with morbidity rate of approximately 90% were reported. FMDV, serotype [A] isolates were identified by indirect sandwich ELISA. Vaccine matching tests [virus neutralization and ELISA], amplification and sequencing of the VP1 of the isolates revealed that the isolates were antigenically closely related with A Saudi 95, A 4164 and A22 Iraq 24/64 strains, and genetically identical with isolates of A Iran 2005. Fortunately one of these strains [A22 Iraq 24/64] is already incorporated in polyvalent FMD-vaccine formula in Saudi Arabia

X-Linked adrenoleukodystrophy the Saudi Experience

To evaluate the clinical, biochemical, neuroradiological, and neurophysiological findings of patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. Retrospective study evaluating the data of 10 X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy patients diagnosed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The common presenting symptoms were deterioration in school performance, vision and hearing, behavioral changes, and seizures. Eight patients survived 1-4 years and one patient 12 years after the initial presentation, while one patient expired. Six patients had the childhood form, 3 had the adolescent form and one had the adrenomyeloneuropathy form. Six are in an advanced stage of the disease and 3 have mild to moderate spasticity. All except 2 manifested moderate to severe dementia with variable degrees of visual loss. Decreased hearing and features of adrenal insufficiency were seen in 7 patients. Very long chain fatty acids were significantly increased in seven and mildly elevated in 2 patients, however the C26 to C22 ratio was increased in all. The characteristic high-signal intensity of parieto-occipital white matter on brain magnetic resonance imaging T2-weighted images was observed in all patients. Two patients had functional study of the brain, which showed hypometabolic activity in gray and white matter of the occipital lobes. Various neurophysiological abnormalities were detected. The response to different treatment modalities was not promising. The disease is more common than had been previously recognized due to phenotypic variability and a wide spectrum of presentations. This report describes various aspects of this disorder and emphasizes the importance of early identification and treatment of asymptomatic but biochemically affected individuals, since all current therapeutic approaches are disappointing if overt neurological abnormalities have been already developed

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy the Saudi experience

To evaluate the clinical, biochemical, neuroradiological, and neurophysiological findings of patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. Retrospective study evaluating the data of 10 X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy patients diagnosed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The common presenting symptoms were deterioration in school performance, vision and hearing, behavioral changes, and seizures. Eight patients survived 1-4 years and one patient 12 years after the initial presentation, while one patient expired. Six patients had the childhood form, 3 had the adolescent form and one had the adrenomyeloneuropathy form. Six are in an advanced stage of the disease and 3 have mild to moderate spasticity. All except 2 manifested moderate to severe dementia with variable degrees of visual loss. Decreased hearing and features of adrenal insufficiency were seen in 7 patients. Very long chain fatty acids were significantly increased in seven and mildly elevated in 2 patients, however the C26 to C22 ratio was increased in all. The characteristic high-signal intensity of parieto-occipital white matter on brain magnetic resonance imaging T2-weighted images was observed in all patients. Two patients had functional study of the brain, which showed hypometabolic activity in gray and white matter of the occipital lobes. Various neurophysiological abnormalities were detected. The response to different treatment modalities was not promising. The disease is more common than had been previously recognized due to phenotypic variability and a wide spectrum of presentations. This report describes various aspects of this disorder and emphasizes the importance of early identification and treatment of asymptomatic but biochemically affected individuals, since all current therapeutic approaches are disappointing if overt neurological abnormalities have been already developed

Classic homocystinuria: clinical, biochemical and radiological observations, and therapeutic outcome of 24 Saudi patients

We considered the clinical, biochemical and radiological findings, and response to pyridoxine [vitamin B6] of 24 classic homocystinuric patients [15 females, 9 males] diagnosed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. Common clinical findings included ectopia lentis [20 patients], skeletal system involvement [18 patients], vascular system involvement [9 patients] and mental retardation [all patients to varying degrees]. A number of unusual findings were reported. The parents of 21 patients were first-degree relatives and 19 patients had at least one other family member affected by the same disease. Only 4 patients responded to pyridoxine; their methionine level decreased to almost normal range

Tyrosinaemia type II: an easily diagnosed metabolic disorder with a rewarding therapeutic response

We retrospectively reviewed clinical and biochemical data of four patients diagnosed with tyrosinaemia type II. Diagnosis was established by high plasma tyrosine and normal plasma phenylalanine levels using plasma high-pressure liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. All patients were mildly mentally retarded and had painful non-pruritic and hyperkeratotic plaques on the soles and palms. There were no ophthalmic symptoms. The patients dramatically responded clinically and biochemically to a diet restricted in tyrosine and phenylalanine

Biotinidase deficiency: a treatable genetic disorder in the Saudi population

Biotinidase deficiency is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder which is not uncommon in the Saudi population. Biotinidase is responsible for biotin recycling and biotin is an essential cofactor for activation of the carboxylase enzymes. Absence of biotinidase leads to infantile or early childhood encephalopathy, seizure disorder, dermatitis, alopecia, neural deafness and optic atrophy. The disease can be diagnosed by simple fluorometric enzyme assay. Treatment with biotin is both cheap and simple, resulting in rewarding clinical recovery and normalization of the biochemical, neuroradiological and neurophysiological parameters. If neglected, however, a patient may die of acute metabolic acidosis or may suffer from permanent neural deafness and optic atrophy, with mental and motor handicap. We describe the detection and treatment of 20 cases of biotinidase deficiency in our hospital and recommend the introduction of a neonatal screening programme for this disorder

Ultrasound-guided core biopsy kidneys in infants and children: Kuwait experience

Ultrasound-guided core renal biopsies were performed in children to describe the accuracy of this technique and compare it with the other techniques. Forty-six children, aged 9 months to 13 years, were biopsied with 14 G and 18 G Tru-cut needles, using a real-time ultrasound sector scanner. Adequate biopsy samples were obtained from 88.2 and 86.9% of the biopsy procedures with 14 G and 18 G Tru-cut needles, respectively. No major complications were encountered. Minor complications were also minimal and seen in only 3 of our patients who were managed conservatively. Ultrasound-guided Tru-cut renal biopsy is a safe and efficient method for performing renal biopsies in pediatric patients. The use of small needles [18 G] would reduce the complication rate while allowing retrieval of sufficient tissue for histological diagnosis

effect of some social and biological factors on the values of serum glucose, cholesterol and uric acid

The effect of some social and biological factors namely: marital status, alcohol consumption, genetic factors, the effect of body weight and Quetelet index on the values of serum glucose, cholesterol and uric acid were studied. The striking finding is that the genetic factors of family history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension myocardial infarction and sudden death do not operate before the 5th decade in females. In males there was a strong effect of genetic factors