Detection of fluoroquinolone resistance in mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates as determined by gyrA / B gene mutation by using PCR technique

Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents that have been used with increasing frequency over the past decade. Fluoroquinolones have in vitro and in vivo activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, resistance to fluoroquinolones in cases of tuberculosis is not routinely assessed. Mutations in a small region of gyrA, called quinolone resistance-determining region [QRDR] and, less frequently, in gyrB are the primary mechanism of FQ resistance in M. tuberculosis. PCR-based techniques provide new possibilities for the rapid diagnosis of first- and second-line drug resistance. There were 40 consecutive adults, who had culture confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis during the study period. Mutations were observed in the QRDRs of both gyrA and gyrB in 22 isolates [55%]. Only gyrA +ve in 7[17.5%] isolates. Only gyrB +ve in 5[12.5%] isolates. Total gyrA +ve in 29[72.5%] and total gyrB +ve in 28[70%] isolates. Both gyrA and gyrB -ve in 6 [15%]. The incidence of FO-resistant M. tuberculosis is gradually increasing to alarming levels this may be due to wide spread use of this vital groups of drugs in community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections

Determination of clorazepate dipotassium via its acid induced degradation products

Two sensitive colorimetric methods are suggested for the determination of clorazepate dipotassium via its degradation products. The procedure is based on acid hydrolysis of clorazepate dipotassium yielding two degradation products namely, 2-amino, 5-chlorobenzophenone and glycine. The hydrolysis is carried out by heating clorazepate dipotassium in 6 N HCL at 100°C for 1 hr. The first procedure depend upon determination of the correspondding produced benzophenone degradation product [after extraction byorganic solvent] diazometrically by reacting quantitatively with nitrous acid forming a diazonium salt that subsequently react with a coupling agent as alpha naphthol to give a colored azodye having a maximum absorbance at 502 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over a concentration range of 10-70 mcg / ml of clorazepate dipotassium. The second procedure depend on determination of glycine [the second degradation product] left in the aqueous layer after extraction of the corresponding benzophenone by reacting with p. benzoquinone at pH5.6 where a pink colour is obtained which absorbs maximally at 490 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over a concentration range of 32-160 mcg/ml of clorazepate dipotassium. The proposed procedure is successfully applied for the determination of clorazepate dipotassium in Tranxene capsules with mean percentage recoveries of 99.93 +/- 0.195 and 100.08 +/- 0.29 via the corresponding benzophenone and glycine degradation products respectively. The validity of the method was ascertained by the standard addition technique. The suggested procedure is suitable for stability testing of clorazepate dipotassium in bulk powder and in pharmaceutical preparation

Uninary aibumin excretion rate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and retinopathy

To determine whether a relationship between retinopathy and nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; 47 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and retinopathy, and a control group formed of 65 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus but without retinopathy were examined for urinary albumin excretion per 24 hour, fasting blood glucose, 2 hour post prandial blood glucose, glycosylated HbA1c, fasting serum cholesterol, fasting serum triglycerides, blood urea, serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate The two groups of patients were matched for age and sex. They were above 5 years diabetes duration and had a within normal renal function. Results of this study showed that subjects with diabetic retinopathy had mostly nonprolifertive type [41 [87.23%]] and there was an increase in their urinary albumin excretion per 24 hour [19 [40, 43%]] which was mainly in the form of microalbuminuria. Comparing the frequency and mean values of micro albuminuria and macro albuminuria in the two groups of patients, there was a significant increase in the diabetic subjects with retinopathy. Also, these patients had a significant increase in the mean values of fasting blood glucose, post prandial blood glucose, fasting serum cholesterol, fasting serum triglycerides, glycosylated HbAlc, diabetes duration and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. For the other studied parameters, there was a non significant increase in the mean values of fasting serum insulin, blood urea, serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, body mass index and age of the patients in the diabetics with retinopathy in comparison to those without retinopathy. These results suggest that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and retinopathy have an increase in the rate of urinary albumin excretion and there is a strong association between background retinopathy and microalbuminuria. Consequently microalbuminuria can be considered as a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy as well as fundus examination can be a useful and rapid bed side diagnostic tool for diabetic nephropathy

Suspended particulates and sulphur compounds in Cairo urban atmosphere

This work presents the outcome of a research project conducted to investigate suspended particulates and sulphur compounds in Cairo atmosphere. It has been found that Cairo urban air is heavily polluted with suspended particulates reaching more than the 24 h air quality standard during 100% of measured days with annual mean concentration of approximately 9 times USA air quality standard recorded in Cairo central district. This TSP concentration was found to be associated with sulphur dioxide concentrations of about double the WHO annual recommended limit of 53 micro g/m[3]. Moreover the rate of total sulphation reached a maximum value of 39.8 mg/100 cm[2] 30 d during Sept 1989. A good correlation of more than 0.85 was found between total sulphation and sulphur dioxide in Cairo atmosphere with a straight line relationship of : SO2 [micro g/m[3]] = 2.96 [T. sulphation] + 0.39. Furthermore, a good correlation of more than 0.6 was found between the concentrations of paniculate sulphates and ammonium. This confirms that atmospheric reactions are a principal source of paniculate sulphates in Cairo atmosphere. Several other conclusions and recommendations are included