Monitorización de la capacidad de degradación de las nuevas bacterias haloalcalifílicas resistentes a cloruro de tributiltina (TBTCl) en una ubicación contaminada por butiltina / Monitoring the degradation capability of novel haloalkaliphilic tributyltin chloride (TBTCl) resistant bacteria from butyltin-polluted site

Tributyltin (TBT) is recognized as a major environmental problem at a global scale. Haloalkaliphilic tributyltin (TBT)-degrading bacteria may be a key factor in the remediation of TBT polluted sites. In this work, three haloalkaliphilic bacteria strains were isolated from a TBT-contaminated site in the Mediterranean Sea. After analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences the isolates were identified as Sphingobium sp. HS1, Stenotrophomonas chelatiphaga HS2 and Rhizobium borbori HS5. The optimal growth conditions for biodegradation of TBT by the three strains were pH 9 and 7% (w/v) salt concentration. S. chelatiphaga HS2 was the most effective TBT degrader and has the ability to transform most TBT into dibutyltin and monobutyltin (DBT and MBT). A gene was amplified from strain HS2 and identified as TBTB-permease-like, that encodes an ArsB-permease. A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis in the HS2 strain confirmed that the TBTB-permease-like gene contributes to TBT resistance. The three novel haloalkaliphilic TBT degraders have never been reported previously.

Se considera a la tributiltina (TBT) como un problema medioambiental serio a escala global. Las bacterias haloalcalifílicas degradadoras de TBT pueden constituir un factor clave para remediar áreas contaminadas con dicho xenobiótico. En este estudio se aislaron 3 cepas de bacterias haloalcalifílicas procedentes de un sitio contaminado con TBT en el mar Mediterráneo. Tras analizar las secuencias del gen de 16S del ARNr, se identificaron los aislados como Sphingo-bium sp. HS1, Stenotrophomonas chelatiphaga HS2 y Rhizobium borbori HS5. Las condiciones de crecimiento óptimas para la biodegradación de TBT por parte de las 3 cepas fueron pH 9 y 7% (p/v) de concentración de sal. S. chelatiphaga HS2 fue el degradador de TBT más efectivo, con capacidad de transformar la mayor parte de ese compuesto en dibutiltina y monobutiltina (DBT y MBT). Se amplificó un gen de la cepa HS2, que fue identificado como tipo TBTB-permeasa, que codifica para una ArsB permeasa. Un análisis de la cepa HS2 por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcriptasa inversa (RT PCR) confirmó que el gen TBTB-permeasa contribuye a la resistencia al TBT. Estos 3 nuevos degradadores haloalcalifílicos de TBT no habían sido reportados previamente.

Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir in treatment of hcv infected egyptian patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis child pugh class [B]

Background: The main goal of anti-HCV therapy in patients with decompensated [Child-Pugh B] cirrhosis, not on a transplant waiting list is to achieve improvement in liver function and survival. Several studies have demonstrated acceptably high sustained virological response [SVR] rates, equivalent in Child-Pugh B patients, in individuals with decompensated cirrhosis, together with an effect of therapeutic viral clearance on liver function, with significant improvements in bilirubin, albumin and international normalized ratio values and, as a result, in model for end stage liver disease [MELD] and Child-Pugh scores in one-third to half of patients. Similar results were reported in real-world studies

Aim of the work: Assessment of the safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir/ ledipasvir in infected naïve and experienced HCV Egyptian patients with decompensated liver disease

Patients and Method: This study was conducted on 100 patients with HCV related decompensated liver disease who presented to the hepatology outpatient clinic in El Agouza Police hospital and were evaluated according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria

Results: Among the 100 enrolled patients; there was male predominance being 72 males [72%] and 28 females [28%]. Their age ranged between 34 and 65 years [mean 52.7 ±8.2 years]. Age was significantly higher in patients who did not achieve SVR. Among the 100 studied cases 6 patients stopped treatment; 3 of them developed HCC, 1 developed precoma, 1 died and 1 lost follow up. SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total and direct bilirubin, serum urea and creatinine and AFP showed significant improvement at the end of treatment and 3 months after end of treatment. As regards Child and MELD scores among the studied cases, Child and MELD significantly decreased in the whole sample

Conclusion: Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir is effective and safe in the treatment of HCV decompensated patients Child Pugh B. MELD and Child scores significantly improved with HCV treatment in decompensated patients

Recommendations: Longer follow up with assessment of the need for liver transplantation or HCC development is important. Larger number of patients is required

Impact of hepatocellular carcinoma on health related quality of life in Egyptian patients: a single centre study

Among patients with chronic liver disease, impairment in HRQOL has been reported. Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is one of the major squeal of chronic liver diseases. So, relationship between subjective HRQOL and HCC must be analysed. This study assessed the effect of HCC on HRQOL, and its loco-regional treatment on HRQOL. Forty patients with HCV related chronic liver disease as a control group was enrolled in the study. Eighty HCC patients on top of chronic HCV liver disease categorized according to the modality of loco-regional treatment [BCLC staging system] into Gl; 40 HCC patients treated with radiofrequency ablation [RFA] and GIl; 40 HCC patients treated with trans-arterial chemoembolization [TACE]. The SF-36 questionnaire was performed before and one month after the intervention. Comparing the parameters of HRQOL in GI before and after RFA, and in Gil before and after TACE; there was a statistically significant improvement in group I. However, the improvement in group II [TACE] was non-significant [P>0.05]

Comparative study between different pharmaco-therapeutic agents used for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

A total of 126 patients were included in this study. The mean age of patients was 59.7 +/- 9.6 years [range 48-89 years]. All patients had symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH]. All patients were treated medically for six months with different pharmacological agents: Doxazosin [41], finasteride [33], combined doxazosin with finastride [22] and Seronea repens extract [30]. A control group, given placebo, included 20 patients who were age- matched and had obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms proved to be caused by BPH. All patients in both study and control groups were followed up for a period at least six months. Symptomatic evaluation, sonography and uroflowmetry were done to measure the efficacy of these agents. From the results obtained, it was concluded that, doxazosin is the most rapid single agent to improve the symptoms of BPH. Finasteride relieves both symptoms and prostate size after six months. Combined therapy is more effective and rapid than treatment with either doxazosin or finasteride alone. Seronea repens extract has a clinical efficacy similar to that of finasteride on both symptoms of BPH and reduction in the prostate size

Ureteroscopic manipulation in the re-implanted bilharzial ureter

Our purpose in this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ureteroscopy in-patients with a re-implanted bilharzial ureter. The study included twenty-one patients with prior ureterovesical reimplantation because of bilharzial ureteral strictures. Seventeen patients had distal ureteral stones [2 multiple]. Four patients had retained foreign body in a re-implanted ureter; proximally migrated double-J stents in 3 and postoperative retained plastic catheter in one patient. Ureteroscopic manipulation was done for all patients using a small diameter ureteroscope 7.5 F. Preliminary cystoscopy revealed different locations for neo-ureteral orifices. Posteromedial in 13 patients, posterolateral in 2 patients and anterolateral in 6 patients. Stones were extracted in 15 patients [13 with single distal ureteral stones and 2 with multiple stones]. Stones were retrieved more easily in cases with posteromedially located orifices. Failure to negotiate the guide wire up the ureters was encountered in the 2 cases with posterolateral location of the orifices with termination of the procedure. Extraction of the proximally migrated stents and foreign body was successful in all the patients using a 3 pronged grasper. The location of the ureteral orifice influenced the success of the procedure. Reimplantation in the posteromedial location was the easiest to manipulate. Ureteroscopy has its role in patients with re-implanted bilharzial ureter. It can save the patient from a recurrent surgery with minimal or no complications. The site of the neo-ureteral orifices influence the success of the procedure

Comparative study of different diagnostic methods of Helicobacter pylori

The present study was designed to evaluate the performance of the different methods in diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori [H.pylori] to calrify the most efficient technique [s].We studied fifty patients suffering from dyspepsia, having positive endoscopic findings with unknown H. pylori status. Endoscopic biopsies taken from the antral gastric mucosa of each patient were examined histologically and bacteriologically. Blood samples were taken for serological studies [IgG antibodies]. Saliva was collected for isolation of H. pylori and detection of sIgA. H. pylori was detected by histological examination [histology] in 38 out of 50 patients [76%]. The organism was isolated from culture of gastric biopsies in 30 cases [60%]. Direct Gram stained smear of biopsies detected H. pylori in 29 cases [58%]. Rapid urease test [RUT] was positive in 23 patients [46%]. Seropositive five patients were 24 [48%] .culture of saliva detected 8 cases [16%] and sIgA was positive in 15 patients [30%]. Using histology as a gold standard, the calculated senifivity and specificity were as follows: 74% and 83% respectively for culture of gastric biopsies, 74% and 92% for direct Gram film, 58% and 92% for direct Gram film, 58% and 92% for RUT, 58%and 83% for IgG detection by ELISA. We concluded that non of H. pylori diagnostic methods has absolute sensitivity or specificity and each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Combination of more than one test seems to be more reliable in diagnosis of H .pylori

effect of atrial distension on urine flow, heart rate and arterial blood pressure

These experiments were carried out on anesthetized dogs to demonstrate the effects of atrial distension on urine flow, heart rate and arterial blood pressure. Distension of the left atrium produced a significant increase in urine volume and heart rate that was abolished by vagotomy. This was accompanied by a significant drop in ABP which was not affected by vagotomy. On the hand, distension of the right atrium produced no significant changes in urine volume or ABP. However, a significant increase in heart rate was noticed which was abolished by vagotomy. It was concluded that the major role of right atrial receptors is to accelerate the heart.On the other hand, the role of the left atrial receptors is more for the adjustment of blood volume

Comparison between the role played by carotid sinuses and aortic arch in regulation of arterial blood pressure

The effects of inactivation of the baroreceptor reflexes arising from the aortic arch [by vagotomy] and/or the carotid sinuses [by carotid occlusion] on arterial blood pressure [ABP] in dogs were compared. The effects of inactivation on the drop in pressure consequent to a standard blood loss were also compared. The carotid basoreceptor reflex was found to be atrue buffer system. Its inactivation resulted in a higher increase in ABP and a more drop in blood pressure after bleeding than inactivation of the aortic one. The aortic reflex seemed to be important only as an antihypertensive mechanism, mainly activated when blood pressure raised above the normal level

Gastric response to steroids and modulation by endogenous sex hormones

The effects of prednisolone on gastric secretion and ulcer A formation were studied in male, non-pregnant, early pregnant, full term pregnant and pseudopregnant female albino rats. Prednisolone significantly increased the volume, acidity and peptic activity of the basal gastric secretion, indicating a role of hypersecretion in the aetiology of steroids-induced ulcers. The effect was more marked in females than in males. The ulcerogenic effect of prednisolone was however greater in males than in females, indicating that hypersecretion is not the only factor in the ulcerogenic process. True pregnancy resulted in a gradual progressive decrease of the ulcerogenic effect of prednisolone but pseudopregnancy was of no effect in females. The possible roles of sex hormones and prostaglandins were discussed

Effects of exogenous ovarian hormones on gastric secretion and ulceration under steroid therapy

The effect of exogenous ovarian hormones on basal gastric secretion and ulceration under prednisolone therapy was studied in female albino rats. Prednisolone was administered for 4 days. Administration of oestrogen markedly reduced the volume, free and total acidities and peptic activity in the gastric secretion. The incidence and severity of ulceration and the ulcer index were markedly reduced. Progesterone administration also reduced both gastric secretion and ulceration, but the reduction was markedly less than that with oestrogen. Combined administration of both hormones, on the other hand, led to reduction of secretion and ulceration by a degree greater than that attained by either alone. It was concluded that oestrogen and to a lesser extent progesterone, have a protective effect on the gastric mucosa through a decrease in gastric secretion, and that each of the 2 hormones potentiates the protective effect of the other

Chemoreceptors in the region supplied by the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery

The effect of serotonin, hypertension and histamine on arterial blood pressure and heart rate were investigated in dogs by topical application, or injection in the femoral vein, or the anterior descending branch of left coronary artery [L.A.D.], before and after vagotomy. Topical application of any of the drugs on the anterior wall of the heart did not produce any effect. Serotonin injection produced rise in A.B.P. which was higher with L.A.D. injection than femoral vein injection [38.6 +/- 10.32 and 34.8 +/- 8.05 mmHg respectively]. The time that elapses between the onset of injection and the maximal response was significantly shorter in L.A.D. artery injection than in femoral vein injection [10.8 +/- 2.53 and 17 +/- 2.71 sec respectively]. Vagotomy delayed and attenuated the response in both cases. There was also a significant increase in heart rate with L.A.D. injection from 150.8 +/- 21.96 to 172.1 +/- 21.9 which was abolished after vagotomy. Hypertension injection caused an insignificant difference in the rise of A.B.P. and H.R., and the effect as regard the difference in time, and the effect of vagotomy was as that observed with serotonin. On the other hand histamine injection produced hypotensive response with significant shorting of the time that elapse from the time of injection and the drop of blood pressure when it was injected in L.A.D. than in femoral vein injection. Also injection of histamine in the L.A.D. produced a significant decrease in H.R., that was abolished after vagotomy