Removing hepatitis C virus from polytetrafluoroethylene-coated orthodontic archwires and other dental instruments

The efficacy of removing, rather than destroying, hepatitis C virus [HCV] from polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]-coated orthodontic archwires was tested. PTFE-coated archwires, pieces of PTFE and endodontic files [20 each] were immersed in HCV-infected blood for 24 hours. Half were washed under running water for 10 seconds while the remainder were thoroughly scrubbed with a toothbrush under running water for 10 seconds. Items were kept in separate dishes of distilled water for 24 hours. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used for viral replication. Viruses were detected by the gel method using a transilluminator. Only scrubbed PTFE pieces and coated archwires were negative for HCV. This suggests that PTFE coating of dental instruments inhibited HCV adhesion when thoroughly scrubbed

Effect of buffalo [Bubalus bubalus] cervical mucus during the estrus phase on survival of Brucella melitensis in vitro

The role of cervical mucus of buffalos during the estrus phase in defending against pathogenic infection and protecting the genital tract was studied. In the first experiment, pooled fresh cervical mucus from 5 buffalos in the estrous phase was collected aseptically, incubated for 30 minutes with five concentrations of colony forming units [CFU] of a known pathogenic strain of Brucella melitensis, Rev 1, [1x105, 1x106, 1x107, 1x108 and 1x109] and seeded onto 10 plates of brucella agar plates [two plates for each bacterial concentration]. No brucella growth at any CFU concentration was detected in all plates. The second experiment aimed to assaying concentrations of nitric oxide, proteins and carbohydrates in cervical mucus, throughout 9 hours of normal estrous phase in 5 buffalos, to find out if there are changes in their secretory pattern and to find out if there are possible correlations between them. Also, the electrophoretic pattern of cervical mucus proteins was assayed. Concentrations of nitric oxide, proteins and carbohydrates fluctuated throughout the sampling period. Nitric oxide showed significant positive correlation with concentrations of proteins and carbohydrates in cervical mucus. Electronic pattern of cervical mucus collected at all samples and showed 6 protein bands at 212.5, 130, 91, 70, 52 and 30 kD. Nitric oxide, secreted in the cervical mucus of estrus-phase buffalos, has powerful bactericidal activity and constitutes a firm defense mechanism in the genital tract against infection, even in case of intracellular pathogens. Also, the fluctuating pattern of the three constituents measured is attributed, in general, to the amount and nature of cellular components of the mucus, which are mainly leukocytes and their associated secretory molecules

Modulatory effects of buffalo basic and acidic uterine luminal proteins phagocytic and bactericidal activities of polymorphonuclear-and mononuclear leukocytes in vitro

Potential immunological effects of basic and acidic uterine luminal proteins [ULP] collected from estrus-and luteal-phase buffalos were studied in vitro. The phagocytic and microbicidal activities of PMN macrophages and superoxide anion production by PMN were elucidated. Estrus-phase basic and acidic ULP collected from buffalos enhanced phagocytic activity of PMN at all concentrations tested; whereas, basic and acidic ULP of luteal-phase buffalos suppressed phagocytic activity in a dose-dependent manner. The bactericidal activity of buffalo PMN increased in response to basic ULP of estrus-phase buffalos in comparison with basic luteal-phase proteins. Meanwhile, acidic ULP proteins of estrus-phase buffalos showed significant increase in bactericidal activity only at 40, 80 and 150 mug/ml protein concentrations, in contrast to acidic ULP of luteal-phase buffalos. Nitric oxide production by macrophages increased in response to basic ULP of estrus-phase buffalos, whereas this activity decreased when macrophages were treated with different concentrations of basic ULP of luteal-phase buffalos. Only at high concentrations, the acidic protein of estrus-phase buffalos increased nitric production by macrophages as compared with acidic protein from luteal-phase buffalos. Superoxide anion production by neutrophils increased in response to basic and acidic ULP of estrus-phase buffalos and decreased in response to acidic proteins from luteal-phase buffalos

Ovarian dermoid cyst variable sonographic color doppler and computed tomographic appearance

Dermoid cyst is one of the germ cell tumor of the ovaries ultrasonography is the method of choice in patients with suspected ovarian tumors. Benign ovarian teratomos have distinctive ultrasonographic and CT features that differentiate it from other adnexal masses. The current study was concerned with evaluation of the variable ultrasonographic color Doppler, and computed tomography appearances of ovarian dermoid cysts. This study was carried upon 61 patients having 72 adnexal masses All patients were examined by abdominal sonography, transvaginal sonography was performed for 52 patients non-contrast pelvic computed tomography was done for 52 patients. In the current study 95% of the patients included were it the reproductive age The lesions were unilateral in 82% of cases and bilateral in 18% of cases ultrasonography was able to diagnose cystic teratoma in about 96% of lesions with false positive diagnosis only in 4% of lesions. A dermoid tubercle was detected by ultrasonograpy in 68 out of 69 proved dermoid cysts, while it was reported in 52 out of 54 proved dermoid cyst by CT. CT was more sensitive in detection of bony and calcified areas within the dermoid cys. It shows areas with calcified structures or teeth in 27 lesions among which ultrasound failed visualize such a finding in 9 cases. Analysis of the obtained doppler wave revealed a resistivity index ranging from 0.4 to 0.75. Ultrasonography is a very good tool in the diagnosis of dermoid cyst because of their heterogeneous internal structures, ovarian teratomas have variable ultrasonographic and CT appearances. The presence of an immiscible content with fluid-fluid level by ultrasonogrsphy [+ve compass] is a diagnostic feature of dermoid cyst. The sebaceous component of ovarian dermoid has variable sonographic appearances either anaerobic, mixed echogenicity or hyperechoic according to the degree of associated hair CT is more sensitive in detection of bony and calcified areas within the dermoid cyst. The color doppler signals are only obtained from the periphery of cystic teratoma

Foreign bodies of the esophagus, analysis of 100 cases and review of the literature

This study included 100 patients admitted to the Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit, Alexandria Main University Hospital with foreign bodies [FB] impacted in the esophagus. The male to female ratio was 1.1: 1, and the majority of patients were children [86%]. Coins were the most common esophageal FB [65%], meat and other types of food came next [22%]. Diagnosis was based on plain X-ray chest and neck and /or esophagoscopy. Laryngoscope and Magill forceps were successfully used to extract coins impacted at the level of cricopharyngeal muscle in 6 cases. Rigid esophagoscopy was used in 65 patients with success rate 88.2%. The Foley catheter technique was used in 30 patients with success rate 93.3%. The complications reported were either due to the FB impaction itself or due to the technique used to extract the FB. All complications were managed conservatively and on mortalities were reported

Transtracheal mediastinal lymphography in the study of mediastinal lymphadenopathy

Transtracheal mediastinal lymphography was carried out upon 40 patients with different malignant diseases [17 esophageal carcinoma, 11 bronchial carcinoma, 12 lymphoma]. Twenty-seven patients [67.5%] showed positive radiological findings. The nodal signs were more specific in diagnosing malignancy than the lymphangiographic signs. No mortalities or significant morbidities were encountered as a direct result of the procedure. This technique is safe, simple, informative and helpful in staging the disease and planning the modality of therapy