Herpes simplex 1,2 viruses as a risk factor in benign and malignant laryngeal tumors

The aim of this work was to study HSV1,2 as a risk factor in laryngeal tumors through the detection of the virus DNA using polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. The study group consisted of 40 patients presented by laryngeal masses. Biopsy was taken by direct laryngoscopy and each specimen was divided into two portions; one for histopathological study and according to its results the patients were divided into two groups: Group A, 20 patients, with mean age 58.7 years, having malignant laryngeal tumors and group B, 20 patients with mean age 34.4 years, having benign laryngeal tumors. The other portion of the specimen was examined using PCR for detection of herpes simplex 1,2 viruses DNA. The study showed that 55% of patients in group A [11 out of 20 patients with malignant laryngeal tumors] were positive for HSV1,2 DNA by PCR, while in group B [patients with benign laryngeal masses], all patients were negative for HSV1,2 DNA by PCR. The histopathological study showed that all malignant tumors in group A were invasive squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] with the highest percentage in grade I [40%]

Microscopic observation of broth cultures: a rapid and efficient method for detection and drug susceptibility testing of mycobacterium in sputum of children

We tried to develop a new, efficient, rapid, reliable and inexpensive method that permits mycobacteria detection and drug susceptibility for children and adolescents with pulmonary tuberculosis. Sputum samples were cultured by using [1]. the microscopic observation broth-drug susceptibility [MODS] method; [2]. radiometric culture technique by using BACTEC system; and [3]. culture on Lowenstein Jensen medium [LJ], in addition to Ziehl-Neelsen staining of sputum. Patients underwent tuberculin skin test. The results proved that the sensitivity of the different diagnostic tests was: MODS 79.3%, BACTEC 96.5%, and culture on LJ medium 55%. Specificity was high for BACTEC, MODS, and LJ medium as none of the 18 control sputum samples were positive by any method. The mean time of detection of mycobacteria was: MODS 10.4 +/- 3.79 days, BACTEC 9.1 +/- 3.1 days, and LJ medium 38.5 +/- 10.3 days. The mean time for doing susceptibility testing was: MODS 10.7 +/- 3.86 days, BACTEC 9.6 +/- 3.1 days, and LJ medium 38.9 +/- 10.6 days. Cost per sample for detection and susceptibility respectively was: MODS 2.7 and 17.5 L.E., BACTEC 25 and 77.5 L.E. and LJ 1.7 and 12.5 L.E. For diagnosis of tuberculosis, MODS method is a rapid, cheap, easy and efficient method for detection and performing susceptibility tests in Egypt

Detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis by polymerasechain reaction from fine needle aspirate for the diagnosis of tuberculous cervical-lymphadenopathy

Despite its well established usefulness in the diagnosis of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis, fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] has several limitations in its clinical applications, especially when the presence of acid-fast bacilli is not proven. Furthermore, fine needle aspirate is sometimes inadequate for diagnosis, and the sensitivity and specificity of this technique for cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis has not been firmly established. The Roche Aniplicor Mycobacterium tuberculosis [M. tuberculosis] polymerase chain reaction [PCR] test kit was used for the detection of M. tuberculosis sequences from the remainder of fine needle aspirate after cytological examination and evaluated its diagnostic efficacy in clinical situation. The FNAC and M. tuberculosis PCR were performed in 29 cases that had bean suspected to have cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis. Among the 17 cases of clinically diagnosed cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis, M. tuberculosis DNA was found by PCR in 13 cases. Negative PCR results were found in 12 cases, which revealed non-tuberculous lymphadenopathy. So, it was concluded that PCR using remainder of aspirate for cytological examination is a very useful tool for the diagnosis of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis and its combination with FNAC could reduce the necessity for open biopsy

Role of aerobes and anaerobes in chronic sinusitis

Biopsy specimens of 52 chronically inflamed sinuses [20 maxillary and 32 ethmoid] were processed for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria during endoscopy. Bacterial growth was present in all specimens. In the 20 maxillary specimens, anaerobes were isolated in 16 and 36 were anaerobes in a total of 56 bacterial isolates. The predominant anaerobic organisms were bacteroids and peptostreptococci. The results indicated the major role of anaerobes in chronic maxillary sinusitis. On the other h and, the results showed the minor role of anaerobes in chronic ethmoid sinusitis. In ethmoid sinus, aerobic bacteria were isolated in all the specimens. Aerobes were the only isolates in 28 specimens, while only four specimens were mixed with anaerobes. There were 96 isolates, 80 were aerobic or facultative anaerobic. The predominant aerobic organisms in chronic ethmoid sinusitis were staphylococci and a- and b-hemolytic streptococci. It can be concluded that anaerobes play a minor role in chronic ethmoid sinusitis compared with their major role in chronic maxillary sinusitis