Application of polymerase chain reaction to the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasma and herpes simplex virus infection

Because Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] is a sensitive, rapid and specific method, we applied it on the sera and CSF of 42 patients in whom congenital toxoplasmosis or herpes simplex virus infection were suspected clinically seeking for a rapid and better diagnostic approach for these treatable congenital infections in order to minimize their morbidity and mortality by early therapeutic intervention . PCR was also applied on the sera of 12 mothers, the CSF and sera of 10 controls. HSV1 IGM antibody was performed by enzyme linked immunoassay [EIA] on all samples. HSVDNA was detected successfully by PCR in serum and CSF samples of 32/42 patients [16/21 neonates, 76.2% ; 16/21 infants 76.2%] and in the sera of 9/12 mothers, while HSV[1] IGM antibodies were positive in 21/42 cases, 50% [9/21 neonates, 42.8% ; 11/21 infants 52.3%] with a sensitivity of 70.8% and 41.2% for serum and CSF respectively while specificity was 100% for both samples [PCR isa golden standard method 100%]. PCR proved to be superior to serology detecting 11 additional cases with congenital HSV infection. SO, PCR. could be usefull for the confirmative diagnosis of congenital HSV infection especially in serologically negative cases. Concerning toxoplasmosis, the system adopted in this study using the P30 gene failed to detect toxoplasma DNA in the serum and CSF samples of ail studied cases. Therefore, for adequate laboratory diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, combination of several different test systems including immunoblot technique in addition to PCR and usage of at least 2 different toxoplasma gondii strains as antigens is mandatory

Study of changes in lipids pattern in some types of anaemia

Our study included 39 subjects into 3 groups: group I: normal healthy individuals as control group with mean age of 17 years. Group II: thalassaemic patients with mean age of 17 years. Group III: 12 patients suffered from iron deficiency anaemia with mean age of 18 years. Thalassemia is a condition in which there is a reduced rate of synthesis of one or more of the globin chains leading to imbalanced globin chain synthesis, defective haemoglobin production, and damage to red cells or their precursors from the effects of the globin subunits that are produced in excess. The present study is performed to evaluate he levels, structure and compoistion of lipoproteins for patients with beta thalassemia major in comparison with patients with iron deficiency anaemia and healthy individuals. Patients and controls were subjected to: haemoglobin percentage, red blood corpuscles count, Hb electrophoresis, serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol, serum VLDL, serum LDL, Serum HDL-C, serum apolipoprotein A[1], serum apolipoprotin b. The results showed increased serum triglycerides and VLDL, decreased serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL and apo-A[1]. Hypocholesterolaemia, decreased LDL, HDL and apo-A[1], in anaemic patients [thalassaemia and iron deficiency] may be due to: diluting effect of the increased plasma volume accompanying anaemia. Abnormality in the biopsynthesis and excretion. Increased lipid consumption by red cell formation. Decreased lipoprotein sunthesis. Abnormalitis in distribution of lipids in plasma lipoproteins. Disturbance in the formation of lipoprotein lipase enzyme. and/or liver dysfunction associated with anaemia