Hexadecyl- phosphorylcholine ointment for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: an animal trial

A placebo- controlled trial compared 6% hexadecyl- phosphorylcholine [HePC] and 12% benzethonium chloride ointment with placebo ointment for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Cutaneous lesions were experimentally induced by inoculation with leishmania promastigotes in 60 golden hamsters. Forty [40] animals were treated with drug and 20 with placebo ointment applied twice daily for 15 days. After treatment, all lesions were significantly reduced in size in the treatment group compared with the placebo ointment. No parasites were detected in smears from 35/ 40 of the drug- treated lesions and no relapses occurred over 120 days of observation

Carriage of staphylococcus aureus among Hajj pilgrims

To evaluate the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] carriage among a cohort of pilgrims during 2004 Hajj season. Pilgrims attending the 2004 Hajj season were recruited and screened for carriage of MRSA. Standard microbiological techniques were used to screen for the presence of MRSA. Out of 411 individuals screened, 85 [20.6%] were positive for Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus] of which only 6 [1.46%] were MRSA. Four individuals [4.6%] had the S. aureus organism in both nasal and axillary swabs, while 7 individuals [8%] had the organism in their axillae only. The other 74 individuals [87.1%] had the organism in their nares only. The 6 MRSA isolates were positive for the mecA gene by polymerase chain reaction method. None of the pilgrims examined had any risk factors for community-acquired methicillin resistant S. aureus [CAMRSA]. Overall, the prevalence of MRSA in the population of pilgrims examined was found to be low [1.46%] in comparison with most community based studies. A low rate of MRSA carriage was noticed among the screened cohort. Physicians treating patients suspected of S. aureus infection during the Hajj pilgrimage should bear in mind the possibility of community acquired - MRSA and should obtain appropriate samples for bacterial cultures and susceptibility testing so that antimicrobial agents could be introduced when necessary at a later stage

positive correlation between so called glycosylated hemoglobin [Hb Ic] and fasting plasma glucose, serum immunoreactive insulin, total cholesterol and triacylgycerols in diabetics

Estimation of glycated hemoglobin, the so called glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA Ic] in the blood is a better index of elevation of blood sugar level as well as duration of hyperglycemic state in diabetics. Vascular complications in diabetics are attributed to an elevated levels of HbA Ic so the study was planned to correlate HbA Ic's concentrations with other biochemical indices indicated in the subject. Eighty adult diabetics and twenty normal subjects were included in our study. The diabetics divided into four groups according to the treatment they received, were measured for HbA Ic serum immunoreactive insulin [SIRI], total cholesterol, triacylglycerols [TAG] and fasting plasma glucose [FPG]. The values found were significantly higher to those found in normal subjects. The HbA Ic levels well correlate with FPG and SIRI. Similarly total cholesterol and TAG levels are increased significantly in all the groups