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@#Toxoplasma gondii, the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, infects about 30 – 50% of the world population. The currently available anti-Toxoplasma agents have serious limitations. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of two antimalarials; buparvaquone (BPQ) and chloroquine (CQ), on immunocompromised mice with chronic cerebral toxoplasmosis, using spiramycin as a reference drug. The assessed parameters included the estimation of mortality rates (MR) among mice of the different study groups, in addition to the examination of the ultrastructural changes in the brain tissues by transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that only CQ treatment could decrease the MR significantly with zero deaths, while both spiramycin and BPQ caused an insignificant reduction of MR compared to the infected non-treated group. All the used drugs decreased the number of mature ruptured cysts significantly compared to the infected non-treated group, while only CQ increased the number of atrophic and necrotic cysts significantly. Furthermore, both spiramycin and BPQ improved the microvasculopathy and neurodegeneration accompanying the infection with different degrees of reactive astrocytosis and neuronal damage with the best results regarding the repair of the microvascular damage with less active glial cells, and normal neurons in the CQ-treated group. In conclusion, this study sheds light on CQ and its excellent impact on treating chronic cerebral toxoplasmosis in an immunocompromised mouse model.
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Objective This study was carried out to evaluate the safety and efficacy of holmium:YAG laser in the treatment of ureteral calculi in adults. Patients and Methods Between April 1999 and November 2000; one hundred and seven patients presented to the urology department of Assiut university with symptomatic ureteral stone disease in different locations. The patients were divided into three groups according to the stone location which was determined radiologically. Group I included 38 patients with stones located in the upper third of the ureter; Group II included 19 patients with stones located in the middle third of the ureter and Group III included 50 patients with stones located in the lower third of the ureter. Lithotripsy was done in all patients using the Holmium:YAG laser machine. The stone-free status was checked three months after the procedure. Patients with residual stones were scheduled for another session. Results In Group I; 38 patients with 38 stones underwent 39 procedures for intracorporeal lithotripsy. Eight patients presented with obstructive anuria and elevated blood urea and serum creatinine. Complete stone fragmentation was achieved in 37 cases; while in one case the stone migrated to the kidney and was treated by ESWL. In Group II; 19 patients underwent 20 procedures. Re-treatment after three weeks was necessary in one case due to ureteral wall injury and minimal extravasation. Four patients presented with obstructive anuria; while in 6 patients the stones were impacted. Complete fragmentation could be achieved in all cases. In Group III; 50 patients underwent 51 procedures. A re-treatment session was required in one patient after three months due to a residual stone (5 mm) detected during follow up. In eleven cases the stones were impacted; and one patient had bilateral lower ureteral stones treated in the same session. Out of 50 patients with 55 stones; 54 stones (98.1) were completely fragmented and cleared in a single session. Conclusion Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy is a safe and effective modality for the treatment of ureteral stones.Key Words Holmium:YAG laser; ureter; lithotripsy