Perineural spread in Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: detection by CT and MRI

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is mainly arising from the fossa of Rosenmuller frequently extends to the paranasopharyngeal space, which contains fibrofatty tissue and portions of the third division [V3] of the trigeminal nerve. The aims of this work are to describe the radiological findings of perineural spread in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to compare the accuracy of MRI and CT in diagnosing perineural metastasis along the cranial nerves. A total of 52 patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were included in this study. Both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the head and neck, including the nasopharynx, were performed for all patients. The extent of the trigeminal perineural tumor invasion was evaluated and correlated with neurologic symptoms. All 52 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma showed radiologic evidence of perineurai spread. However, clinical signs and symptoms of cranial nerve palsy were only seen in 36.5% [19 of 52] of the patients, leaving 63.5% [33 of 52] of the patients with no signs of nerve paralysis. The most common nerve to be infiltrated is the mandibular nerve in 30.7%. Maxillary nerve [V2], Ophthalmic division [VI] and vidian nerve were involved in 15.4%, 7.7%, 13.5% respectively. Maxillary and mandibular nerves were involved together in 32.7% of the patients. Perineural spread of the cranial nerves especially, trigeminal nerve is one of the most common and important routes in the intracranial extension of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Clinical and radiologic findings reveal that nasopharyngeal carcinoma has a significant liability for perineural invasion. Neurologic symptoms usually present when the intracranial perineural spread has occurred. MR is the preferred imaging method for the evaluation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma perineural spread

Biochemical markers and lipoprotein profile levels in childhood type I diabetes mellitus: early prediction of vascular complications

Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine and metabolic disorder in childhood and adolescents, with no cure. In this work, we studied the serum levels of the soluble leucocyte adhesion molecules, vascular adhesion molecules -1 [sVCAM-1], intercellular adhesion molecules -1 [Svcam-1], intercellular adhesion molecules [sICAM-1, sICAM-2], and sE-selectin. Also, we studied the lipoprotein phenotype including: serum triglyceride, serum cholesterol, HDL. VLDL, LDL, apoA, and apoB in the serum of 27 children [13 male 14 female] with type 1 diabetes mellitus with and without vascular complications. Their ages ranged from [2.25-20 years] with a mean 15.6 +/- 5.2 years. They were divided into two groups, group [Ia]comprised 14 patients without vascular complications and group [Ib], 13 patients with vascular complications [microalbuminuria, neuropathy, hypertension and retinopahy] presenting with vaying degrees of metabolic control and disease duration and were compared with age, sex matched healthy subjects [n=22, 10 male, 12 female] mean age 14.9 +/- 4.8 yeas. There were significantly higher concentration of soluble sVCAM-1 [mean 1866.7 +/- 631.6ng/mL], sICAM-1 [mean 581.6 +/- 387.1ng/mL], sICAM-2 [mean 425.1 +/- 215.6ng/mL] in type 1 diabetic patients versus age, sex matched control [mean 947.3 +/- 469.6. 184.8 +/- 62.3, and 193.1 +/- 66.6 ng/mL] respectively, p<0.001. As regards sE-selectin there was no significant differences in the concentration in both diabetic and control groups. Significant positive correlations were found between [sICAM-1, sICAM-2] and HbAlc [r=0.44, r=0.37] respectively p<0.05, but no correlations were found between sVCAM-1 or sE selectin and glycosylated hemoglobin. There was a significant increase in sVCAM-1 serum of diabetic children with vascular complications as compared to diabetic children without vascular complications [mean 2183.6 +/- 600.3 versus 1590.4 +/- 584.2ng/mL] [p<0.05]. In diabetic children with positive microalbuminuria there were significant higher levels of sVCAM-1 concentration when compared with the normoalbuminuric diabetic patients [mean 2343.2 +/- 572.7 versus 1709.4 +/- 576.7 ng/mL] p<0.05. While no significant difference were found in the levels of sICAM-1, sICAM-2 and sE-selectin between both groups of diabetic children with and without vasacular complications. As regard lipid profile there were significant increase in serum triglycerides [mean 140.6 +/- 40.9, p<0.01], serum cholesterol [mean 190.6 +/- 25.7, p<0.001], VLDL [mean 26.2 +/- 7.9, p<0.05], LDL [mean 121.8 +/- 29.6 p<0.001], apoA [mean 208.1 +/- 47.4, p<0.001 and apoB [mean 175.9 +/- 54.8, p<0.001] in diabetic patients as compared with control group [mean 100.7 +/- 32.5, 152.5 +/- 26.7, 20.1 +/- 6.5, 78.7 +/- 29.9, 148.5 +/- 42.9 and 84.53 +/- 33.2] respectively. There was a decrease in HDL in diabetic patients as compared to control group but it was not statistically significant. Correlations between circulating adhesion molecules and lipid profile revealed that there was a significant correlations between sVCAM-1 and serum triglyceride, serum cholesterol, HDL. LDL in diabetic children with vascular complications [r=0.56, r=0.53 p<0.01, r=0.43, r=0.46 p<0.05] respectively. In diabetic children without complication there was a significant correlation between sVCAM-1 and cholesterol. VLDL [r=0.37, r=0.39 respectively p<0.05]. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between sICAM-1 and VLDL [r=0.46, p<0.05], and there was a significant correlation between sICAM-2 and LDL [r=0.37, p<0.05] in diabetic children with vascular complications. But there was no significant correlation between sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1, sICAM-2 and sE-sellectin levels in both groups of diabetic patients and their age, disease duration, mean blood glucose, insulin dose, or frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic attack which reflect extreme variation in the glycemic control. In patient with microalbujminuria, there was a significant positive correlation between sVCAM-1 and serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol, LDL [r=0.45, p<0.05, r=0.48 p<0.01, r=0.37 p<0.05] respectively. Also a significant positive correlation was found between intercellular adhesion molecules sICAM-2 and LDL [r=0.39, p<0.05]. sICAM-1 has a positive correlation with triglyceride [r=0.39, p<0.05] and a significant negative correlation with HDL [r=0.4, p<0.05], was identified as well. We concluded that in respective of actual metabolic control, serum concentration of sVCAM-1 sICAM-1 and sICAM-2 but not sE-selection are elevated in patients with type I diabetes mellitus, reflecting ongoing endothelial cell stimulation and leucocyte activation even in the absence of clinically detectable angiopathy. Our results suggest an important role of sVCAM-1 in micro and macrovascular complications which may serve as the basic for further evaluation of circulating sVCAM-1 as a potential serum marker for vascular complications. Also sICAM-1, sICAM-2, seem to be good and reliable indicators of glycemic control. Our finding proved an important relationship between adhesion molecules and dyslipidemia exists in type 1 diabetic patients with vascular complications. It is recommended to screen diabetic children regularly for sole adhesion molecules, lipid profile and microalbuminurea levels for early detection of diabetic vascular complications

Sex hormones and oxidant- antioxidant status in post-menopausal women with coronary artery disease

The strikingly lower prevalence of acute coronary syndromes in pre-menopausal women than in men of similar age, then the progressive narrowing of that difference with age after menopause, suggests an important role for sex hormones and probably oxidative stress in the development of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sex hormones and oxidant stress [malondialdehyde, which is a metabolite of lipid peroxidation] and anti-oxidants [vitamin C and E] status in postmenopausal women with stable coronary artery disease and in those with acute coronary syndromes. This study was conducted on 40 non-hormone user postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease. They were divided into 3 groups: the 1[st] group [17 patients] who had an acute myocardial infarction, the 2[nd] group [10 patients] had unstable angina and the 3[rd] one [13 patients] had stable angina. This is an addition to 20 apparently healthy postmenopausal women of similar age. All cases and control subjects were subjected to thorough history taking, full clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, resting echocardiography and special laboratory investigations including detection of serum level of; total and free testosterone, total estradiol, morning and nocturnal serum cortisol, malondialdehyde and plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol and vitamin-C. We found a higher serum level of total and free testosterone in cases than control subjects [P-value 0.016 and 0.031 respectively] and the serum free testosterone was significantly higher in the group of acute myocardial infarction than the group of stable angina [P-value 0.008]. The serum level of total estradiol was significantly lower in cases than in control group [P value 0.0001]. Serum malondialdehyde was significantly higher in cases than control subjects [P<0.0001], and it was significantly higher in cases of acute myocardial infarction in comparison to stable angina cases [P-value 0.005]. Vitamin E [[alpha]-tocopherol] and vitamin C were significantly lower in cases than control group [P 0.0001 and 0.048 respectively]. The serum levels of free testosterone as well as malondi-aldehyde were higher in postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease. However, serum level of estradiol, vitamin E and C were lower in them in comparison to control subjects

Comparative study of the cellular immune response of chickens and turkeys vaccinated with fowl cholera vaccine

differences were noted in the serologic and immunologic responses of chicken and turkeys to vaccination by living avirulent CU fowl cholera vaccine administrated by wing web or drinking water routes. Turkeys responded to vaccination by the two routes as they developed good humoral serologic response as revealed by IHA and ELISA tests. Local IgA antibodies were detected in tissue sections of lung and intestine of turkeys vaccinated via drinking water route and the protection was 87.5%, IgA was detected only in lung tissue sections of turkeys vaccinated by wing web route. In case of chicken vaccinated by drinking water route, a weak local and humoral response was noted and the protection was 50%. Meanwhile in chicken vavccinated by the wing web route a good humoral and local response was observed and 87.5% protection was noted in conclusion turkeys responded to vaccination with avirulent. P. multocida CU strain either via drinking water or wing web routes, while chicken respond to vaccination by the wing web route only but not the oral route

Immunosuppressive effect of Babesia bovis immunogens on immunization against foot and mouth disease

The impact of natural infection with Babesia bovis on the immune response to FMD vaccine in calves was studied. Three groups of calves, group [1] were Babesia bovis free and vaccinated with inactivated FMD vaccine, group [2] naturally Babesia bovis infected and vaccinated with inactivated FMD vaccine, while group [3] was kept as non infection non vaccinated control. The humoral immune response of each group was measured by serum neutralization test [SNT] for a period of 16 weeks. Babesia [B.] bovis naturally infected group of calves [gp. 2] showed tendency of lower antibody responses in comparison with uninfected [gp. 1] post vaccination with Foot and Mouth Disease [FMD] vaccine. Parasitaemia of B.bovis infected calves were ranged from 1.5% to 2.5% at time of vaccination accompanied with reduction in packed cell volumes [PCV] up to 23% less than control group. The parasite persisted in the blood of infected calves as carriers with low parasitaernia. Three isolates of B.bovis have been identified. Protein characterization of the three isolates of B.bovis immunogens resulting in immunosuppressive effect was investigated. The isolates identified and propagated in cell culture using microaerophilus stationary phase and characterized by sodium dedocyle sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE] and Western immunoblot. The molecular weights of antigens were varied froml2 to 165 Kilo Daltons [KDa]. The isolates showed totally 30 polypeptide antigens. Nineteen antigens were detected as homologous and common between the isolates, their molecular weights were 160, 152, 132, 110, 85, 77, 70, 67, 60, 49, 45, 40, 39, 35, 33, 30, 23, 18 and 12 KDa. While the other 11 antigenic bands were detected as heterologous and differ between the isolates, their molecular weights were 165, 155, 153, 144, 140, 120, 115, 112, 62, 37 and 20 KDa. Isolates no. I, 2 and 3 contained 24, 28 and 24 out of the 30 immunogens respectively. The immune suppressive effect by reduction in serum neutralizing antibody titers of B.bovis infected calves might be due to one or more of B.bovis common antigens

ELISA as a rapid method for detecting the correlation between the field isolates of foot and mouth disease virus and the current used vaccine strain in Egypt

Antigenic relationships between recent six serotype O field isolates of foot and mouth disease virus and the current used vaccine strain O1/3/93 can be rapidly determined using one-way liquidphase blocking sandwich ELISA. The most reliable vaccine strain to control outbreaks caused by field isolates can be rapidly identified using the described relationship "r". All virus isolates shared a closer antigenic relationship to the current used vaccine strain with "r" values ranging between 0.8 and 1. A potent vaccine containing the current used strain O1/3/93 could be the suitable vaccine to protect animals against the existing serotype O field isolates

Western blot in comparison with ELISA for detecting antibodies against foot and mouth disease virus

Western blot technique is described for visual detection of foot and mouth disease virus [FMDV] antibodies in sera of infected, vaccinated and field cattle using FMDV fragments separated by SDS-PAGE and blotting onto nitrocellulose membrane. The interaction between FMDV antibodies and blotting virus fragments revealed dark blue bands, which is considered a positive result by Western blot. All sera of infected, vaccinated bulls and 10 out of 38 field animals had antibody titers ranged from 1.7 to 3.1 by ELISA. All ELISA positive sera demonstrated dark blue bands against the different FMDV fragment by Western blot. The use of Western blot as a rapid specific and sensitive technique for detecting FMDV antibodies was discussed

Comparative investigation of the immune response in swiss mice and guinea pigs to brucella vaccine strain 19

Evaluation of Brucella vaccine strain 19 in Swiss mice as an available and economic model in comparison with guinea pigs was done. The results revealed that a good protective antibodies in the sera of vaccinated guinea pigs and Swiss mice, and the level of antibodies still persisted for prolonged period in both animals

effect of different stabilizers on maintainig viability of lyophilized pasteurella multocida strains

In the present study, different stabilizers were used. Results indicated that the best viability percentage [70.60 and 68.00], mean death time in mice, microscopical examination and colonial morphology were shown in lyophilized strains stabilized by skimmed milk lactalbumin sucrose peptone medium and Angus medium respectively, followed by 59% and 58% viability in strains stabilized by skimmed milk, lactalbumin, sucrose medium and skimmed milk peptone sucrose medium respectively

Trials for preparation of inactivated sheep pox vaccine using binary ethyleneimine

Binary ethyleneimine [BEI] was used to inactivate the local Egyptian strain of sheep pox virus. The inactivation process was applied using final concentrations of BEI at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3% for different incubation periods at 37 dgree C. The virus was completely inactivated after 7 hours incubation with by 2% BEI final concentration; the inactivated virus was adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide gel when incubated for 6 hours in a concentration 1:1. The antibody levels were estimated by virus neutralization test and ELISA. Specific antibodies appeared from the 1[st] week post vaccination and remained until the 4[th] week post challenge. The prepared vaccine was evaluated for safety, sterility and potency. The vaccine proved to be safe, sterile and inducing protection for the vaccinated lambs when challenged by the virulent sheep pox virus up to 6 months post vaccination

Molecular detection of Babesia equi in infected and carrier horses by polymerase chain reaction

Twenty-three blood samples were used in this study; five were from five naturally infected horses with Babesia equi [B. equi], while eighteen were from asymptomatic horses with equine babesiasis from different localities in Egypt. All samples were subjected to microscopic examination, indirect fluorescent antibody test [IFA] and polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. The carrier animals were microscopically detected in 7 out of 18 samples [38.8%] and in 9 of 18 by using IFA [50%], whereas PCR revealed that 14 samples were positive [78%]. Two synthetic oligonucleotide primers, based on the B. equi merozoite antigen gene [EMA-1] were used. A 819 bps DMA fragment is specifically amplified from the gene encoding EMA-1 of B. equi. Our results demonstrate that PCR is a valuable technique for routine detection of B. equi in chronically infected horses, even at low parasitaemia levels

Evaluation of protective immunity induced by a recombinant baculovirus expressing two structural proteins of bovine viral diarrhea virus in calves

Two groups of calves were vaccinated with a double recombinant baculovirus expression product of a previously developed construct [rec-NE0], expressing the nucleoprotein [N] and the envelope glycoprotein [E0] of the NADL strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus [BVDV]. The baculovirus expression product, in rec-NE0 vaccine, were immunogenic in calves as viral neutralizing antibody [VN-Ab] titers of 2 to 8 were detectable following booster vaccination. Vaccinated and non-vaccinated calves were challenge exposed with either the homologous BVDVI-NADL or the local heterologous BVDV2-Iman strains. Vaccine-induced immunity conferred partial protection against homologous viral challenge exposure, focused in reducing severity and duration of clinical signs of disease, compared to non-vaccinated calves. However, neither systemic spread nor shedding of the challenge virus could be prevented by vaccination. The rec-NE0 vaccine could not cross-protect calves against heterologous virus challenge exposure. Findings of this study suggest that N and E0 regions of the BVDV genome comprise important antigenic epitopes. Furthermore, they share a role in protective immunity against BVDV infection. Immunogenicity of N and E0 along with the existing antigenic diversity among viruses should be considered in future development of recombinant vaccines for pestivirus control

Effect of heat on the microbial content and electrophoretic pattern of water soluble protein in fresh water fish

Fresh bolti [Tilapia nilotica] and fresh grey mullet [Mugil cephalus] were exposed to heat treatments [grilling] over a period of 10, 20 and 30 minutes using an electric grill. Microbial content and electrophoretic pattern of water soluble protein of fresh and heated fish were determined. Results indicated that after grilling bolti fish for 30 minutes at 130C, total aerobic counts, coliform counts, E. coli counts and Staph. aureus were reduced by 50.5%, 36.6%, 46.2% and 17.1%, respectively. However, total aerobic counts and Staph. aureus counts were not affected by grilling at 130C for 30 minutes in mullet fish. Both of Salmonella spp and Clostridium spores were not detected in raw bolti and raw mullet fish. In addition, the results indicated that the ability of Staph. aureus strains which are isolated from both bolti and mullet fish to produce thermonuclease was affected by grilling for 30 minutes. Electrophoresis method was used to demonstrate the electrophoretic picture of fish proteins. The results showed that there are many differences in protein pattern of bolti and grey mullet fish after exposure to heat treatment [130C] for 30 minutes compared with the other 2 periods [10 and 20 minutes]

Comparison between two different procedures used for the extraction of staphylococcal enterotoxins A and C

Different two procedures commonly used for extraction, purification, and concentration of staphylococcal enterotoxins from foods were investigated. It is found that the extraction procedure recommended by Notermans et al., [1983] and the other one recommended by the ICMSF [1978] and Bennett and McClure [1980] are efficient for separating staphylococcal enterotoxins A and C from heated chicken, heated beef and heated liver of chicken. But the extraction procedure of Notermans et al., [l983] is recommended as it is more sensitive, not time consuming and easily to use routinely in the laboratory