Characterization of invasive Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated at the Children's Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia

Neisseria meningitidis, a leading cause of bacterial meningitis and other serious infections, is responsible for approximately one-third of cases of bacterial meningitis in the Children's Hospital of Tunis. The serogroup distribution, antibiotic susceptibility and antigenic and molecular characteristics of N. meningitidis isolates were determined in patients aged 3 days-13 years between February 1998 and June 2013. In all 107 invasive strains of N. meningitidis were isolated. Reduced susceptibility to penicillin G was seen in 55.7% of isolates, with a low level of resistance in all cases; 28.4% showed a low level of resistance to amoxicillin. Serogroup B isolates were the most frequent [80.4%], followed by serogroups C [12.2%] and A [5.6%]. Isolates of serogroup A had the same antigenic formula [A:4:P1.9], the same variable regions VR1, VR2 and VR3, and belonged to the same clonal complex [CC5]. Isolates of serogroups B and C were more heterogeneous with several antigenic formulae. The most frequent clonal complex in these isolates was CC35. Serogroup B accounted for a large percentage of our isolates with marked diversity

Evaluation of osseous response to bioglass/dextran composite in induced mandibular defects: an experimental study

This experimental study was made to evaluate the osteogenic potential of Bioglass/Dextran composite clinically, radiographically and histologically in induced mandibular bone defects in 12 mongrel dogs and suitability of this material to the ridge augmentation procedures. In the right mandibular side, first molar was removed followed by localized alveolectomy then the site was compressed with the composite graft while in the left side, a rectangular defect was surgically induced with dimensions 20 x l0x 5 mm just below the inferior alveolar canal then compressed with the graft material. Both grafted defects were compared with the control animals along intervals 3, 6 and 12 weeks postoperative periods clinically, radiographically, histologically and histomorphometrically. the current study proved that this composite is bioactive, has high osteogenic potential and could be used effectively in large osseous defects without any adverse inflammatory, allergic or cytotoxic reactions. In addition, this composite could be used in alveolar ridge augmentation procedures as it caused a statistically significant increase in rate and density of bone formation in these defects compared to the control animals. Bioglass/Dextran composite is an effective osteoconductive and osteostimulatory graft material that could be used in large osseous defects and in ridge augmentation procedures especially with the use of barrier membrane

Evaluation of some cytokine responses in ascitic fluid; their relation to circulating immune complexes

There is no clear consensus about the pattern of cytokine production and regulation that causes patients with chronic schistosomiasis to develop severe hepatosplenic disease, which is characterized by peri-portal fibrosis and portal hypertension. Circulating immune complexes [CICs], play an important role in the pathogenesis of many clinical syndromes during the course of hepatic schistosomiasis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate interleukin-6 [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor- alpha [TNF-alpha] levels in serum and ascitic fluid [AF] of schistosomal patients and to evaluate these cytokines response in relation to circulating immune complexes. The study enrolled 40 patients with hepatic schistosomiasis forming two groups; 20 patients with ascites [group I] and the other 20 patients without ascites [group II]. Apart from complete history taking, clinical examination, and routine laboratory work, blood and ascitic fluid [AF] samples were collected from the patients after hospital admission. Estimation of IL-6 and TNF- alpha in serum and AF according to the manufacturer instructions. Moreover, serum circulating immune complexes [CICs] were assayed as well. The mean serum level of IL-6 was 156.9 +/- 150.82 pg/ml in schistosomal ascitic patients and 121.63 +/- 68.47 pg/ml in non-ascitic cases. The mean serum concentration of TNF- alpha was 88.5 +/- 70.59 pg/ml in group I and 66 +/- 46.76 pg/ml in group II patients. IL-6 concentration in the ascitic fluid of schistosomal patients had a mean of 284.4 +/- 280.08 pg/ml while ascitic fluid TNF- alpha had a mean of 113.25 +/- 58.97 pg/ml. Schistosomal patients with ascites were shown to have significantly higher levels of IL-6 and TNF- alpha in their ascitic fluid than in serum. A significant positive correlation was detected between the serum and AF concentrations of IL-6 [r-=0.559*], and TNF- alpha [r-=0.556*], P<0.05 in each case. Ascitic patients had a significantly higher mean CIC [21.33 +/- 5.4 micro g Eq/ml] than the non-ascitic cases [15.51 +/- 5.27 micro g Eq/ml]. There was a significant positive correlation between serum level of IL-6 and CICs in schistosomal patients with ascites [r-=0.446*, P<0.05], and another significant positive correlation was demonstrated between ascitic fluid TNF- alpha and CICs in the same patients [r-=0.448*, P<0.05]. The study concluded that schistosomal patients with ascites had significantly higher levels of IL-6 and TNF- alpha in their ascitic fluid than in serum, while there was no significant differences between their serum levels in the ascitic and non-ascitic groups. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was detected between CICs and serum IL-6 in patients with ascites

Eosinophilic cationic protein [ECP] in fascioliasis and hydatidosis

Eosinophils and their granules were shown to be significant participants in the inflammatory processes of various helminthic infections. So far, only few reports have dealt with ECP level in parasitic diseases. So, this study aimed at evaluating the serum ECP in fascioliasis and hydatid disease and to compare the ECP level with the blood eosinophil count and serum IgE antibody levels in both diseases. This work included 90 individuals [30 patients with fascioliasis [group I], 30 patients with hydatid disease [group II], and 30 normal persons as control group]. All patients were free from concomitant parasitic infections, viral hepatitis B or C, allergic and autoimmune disorders. ECP was estimated in all patients and controls by radioimmuno assay. Moreover, peripheral blood eosinophil count and serum IgE were also estimated. The mean serum level of ECP was significantly higher in patients with fascioliasis and hydatid disease [31.1 +/- 21.4, 20.3 +/- 11.6 micro g/L, respectively] than the control group [7.1 +/- 4.0 micro g/L], P=0.001 in each case. Moreover, ECP was significantly higher in fascioliasis group than in hydatid group [P=0.001]. The mean eosinophil count was 3.1x10[9]/L +/- 2.2 in patients with fasciola infection, 1.4x10[9]/L +/- 1.0 in patients with hydatid disease, and 0.2x10[9]/L +/- 0.1 in the control group. Serum level of IgE antibody was found to have a mean value of 178.9 +/- 66.7 IU/ml in patients with fascioliasis, 157.9 +/- 54.1 IU/ml in patients with hydatid disease, and 90.9 +/- 35.5 IU/ml in the control group. ECP was shown to have significant positive correlations with the peripheral blood eosinophil count in both groups of patients. However, it was more significant with fascioliasis, a disease with more degree of eosinophilia. In contrast, no significant correlations existed between ECP and IgE antibody in either the groups. The data indicate a generally greater activity of the eosinophil cell system in fascioliasis and hydatid disease. So, ECP appears to be a useful clinical parameter in parasitic infections with eosinophilia to assess disease activity, inflammatory process, or may serve as a new tool for monitoring therapy

Bioremediation of some aromatic compounds by Corynebacterium sp.

Phenol [Ph], bromobezene[BrB], salicylate [Sal],benzoate [Ben] and gallic Acid [GaA] were tested as sole carbon sources for the growth of the isolated soil strain Corynebacterium sp.. It was found that the isolated strain degraded phenol, gallic acid, benzoate, salicalate and bromobenzene. The optimum carbon concentrations were [0.5-1 g/l] of the aromatic compounds enhanced the growth. On the other hand, the concentration of carbon sources at 5-10 g/l inhibited the growth. The concentration of yeast extract [2 g/l] was effective for the degradation of aromatic compounds. Catechol 1-2 dioxygenase was found in the cells grown on media containing phenol or bromobenzene while protocatechouic 3-4dioxygenase was found in cells grown on media containing salicylate [Sal],benzoate [Ben] and gallic acid as sole carbon sources which means that ortho cleavage pathway may be present in C orynebacterium sp.

Depression in patients with Parkinson's disease

A high rate of depression has been observed in patients with Parkinson's disease [PD]. PD involves a loss of central monoamines, and a decrease of monoamines has been implicated in depression; therefore, it is possible that depression in PD results from the loss of endogenous neurotransmitters. however, it is equally possible that depression represents a reaction to the chronic disabling course of PD. Fifty-four patients with definite PD [according to Calne research criteria for diagnosing PD] were selected from attendants of out-patient clinics of Baghdad Teaching Hospital and Hammad Shehab Hospital during the period from lst November 1999 till 30th June 2000. The presence of depression was diagnosed by using a semi-structured interview based on ICD-lO" criteria and its severity was rated by Beck Depression Inventory [Concise Arabic Version] while the motor disability of PD was determined according to Hoehn and Yahr scale. The patients group was matched for age and sex with [52] healthy control to achieve the comparability The results showed that the rate of depression in patients with PD was [42.59%] which is highly significant compared with [7.69%] among their matched control [i.e. P< 0.001] and there is a positive correlation between the severity of depression and severity of motor disability [i.e., P <0.05]. 47% of depressed parkinsonian patients were in the age group [50-59], and the rate of depression was nearly equal between males and females [i.e., statistically not significant, P <0.05]. We concluded that, depression is common in parkinsonian patients and its relation to the motor disability is supported by this study

Lactate and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] response to muscular exercise in male and female athletes

40 physical education students [20 males and 20 females] were participated in the present work in order to study lactate and LDH response to muscular exercise in male and female athletes. Blood was sampled in the morning following an overnight fast just before and after a physical exercise effort consisted of a progressive exercise test to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer. Blood samples were analyzed for lactate level and LDH activity. This study showed that exhaustive muscular exercise induced significant increase of level and LDH activity in both male and female with significant increase of blood lactate level in male than female. It was concluded, that the sex difference is one of the factors which affects the post exercise lactate level in athletes

Post-operative pain control using a local anesthetic

30 patients subjected to operations for open cholecystectomy [15 patients] and inguinal hernia repair [15 patients] received postoperative pain analgesia through perfusing their wounds with bupivacaine via a catheter inserted in the wound. 83% of them experienced no pain all through the 72 hours of the trial. and one patient only had severe pain on the same day of operation and needed one dose a narcotic. It can be concluded that, this method is safe, easy and less expensive and could be applied for most cases

Study of electrocardiographic changes in Egyptian top athletes

Sixty well-trained Egyptian top athletes participated in this study. Electrocardiographic [ECG] tracings at rest showed a resting heart rate that ranged from 48 to 65 beats/minute with a mean value of 56 + 2.8 and 28.33% incidence of respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]. The results showed 53.33% right axis deviation and 40% left axis deviation with 6.67% normal axis. In addition, 38.33% of the athletes showed horizontal position of the heart; while 61.67% showed a vertical position. Data also revealed normal, prolonged P-R and prolonged Q-T intervals in 5%, 95%, and 80% of athletes, respectively. Elevated S-T segment was present in 20% of the cases; while depressed S-T occurred in 13.33% with an isoelectric S-T segment in 66.67%. Hypertrophic right ventricle was seen in 46.67% of the cases, while hypertrophic left ventricle occurred in 33.33%. Bundle branch block [BBB] was detected in 19 subjects [31.67%]. Inverted T was found in 12 subjects [20%]. These changes were considered normal in athletes because they occur as a sort of adaptation of the hearts of athletic subjects to the physical training programs

place of intravenous digital subtraction angiography in cerebral stroke

Intravenous digital subtraction angiography [IVDSA] was performed in 50 patients with cerebral stroke. Optimal visualization of the extra-cranial vessels was found in [84.8%] while that of the intracranial vessels was [56.2%]. The cause of suboptimal visualization of the vascular tree were discussed. Complication of IVDSA was [12%] in our study. Positive angiographic findings was found in 23 [48%]. The indications of IVDSA in ischemic stroke patients were discussed