RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE@#To establish a suitable method of diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) using peripheral blood, spleen or bone marrow aspirates.@*METHODS@#Peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen aspirate samples were collected from clinically suspected VL patients (n = 26). A new PCR primer pair (MK1F/R) was designed targeting kinetoplast mini circle DNA sequences of Leishmania donovani, and Leishmania infantum, and was used to diagnose VL along with some other established primers for VL in polymerase chain reactions. Test was validated by comparing with several other diagnostic methods.@*RESULTS@#The designed primer set showed 100% specificity and 98% sensitivity in detecting VL using blood samples, when compared with more invasive samples: bone marrow or spleen aspirates.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The newly designed primer MK1F/R could be a better alternative for PCR based diagnosis of VL using less invasive sample, peripheral blood instead of bone marrow or spleen aspirates.
RESUMEN
Objective To establish a suitable method of diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) using peripheral blood, spleen or bone marrow aspirates. Methods Peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen aspirate samples were collected from clinically suspected VL patients (n = 26). A new PCR primer pair (MK1F/R) was designed targeting kinetoplast mini circle DNA sequences of Leishmania donovani, and Leishmania infantum, and was used to diagnose VL along with some other established primers for VL in polymerase chain reactions. Test was validated by comparing with several other diagnostic methods. Results The designed primer set showed 100% specificity and 98% sensitivity in detecting VL using blood samples, when compared with more invasive samples: bone marrow or spleen aspirates. Conclusions The newly designed primer MK1F/R could be a better alternative for PCR based diagnosis of VL using less invasive sample, peripheral blood instead of bone marrow or spleen aspirates.
RESUMEN
To perform a comparative study of Medical tourism in the Arab world with special reference to Saudi Arabia and find ways to upgrade medical tourism in Saudi Arabia. A comprehensive literature review and analysis of statistical data from Saudi Ministry of Health is performed. With more than 37 million health-related trips and the generation of more than £ 33 billion each year, medical tourism has become an important element in the global economy. Travelling abroad to seek medical care is increasing steadily in both developing and developed countries: people in developing countries seek new technology and skills in developed countries, while people in rich developed countries seek medical care elsewhere because of high costs and long waiting lists in their home countries. India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand dominate the Asian market, and the United Arab Emirates, with the construction of the Dubai Health Care City, attracts clients from western, Gulf Cooperation Council, Middle Eastern and North African countries. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not one of the most popular countries, even though it has all the basic attributes for a successful medical tourism industry, including modern, well-equipped hospitals, a well-established private health care sector, foreign-trained doctors and specialists and a stable, peaceful environment. It is also home to the main holy places of Islam and an important religious center. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could take the lead in this market by combining medical tourism with religious tourism, not only for the 1.6 billion [23% of the world's population] Muslims but also for the rest of the world. Recent accreditation of many Saudi hospitals by the Joint Commission International in the United States shows their commitment to promoting medical tourism. If properly managed, medical tourism could open the door for an income generation revolution in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia