Assessment of anticardiolipin antibodies, circulating lupus anticoagulant, protein C, protein S, antithrombin III and activated protein C resistance and their relation to thomboembolic and other clinical manifestations in Behcet's disease

Venous and arterial thrombosis occurs in patients with Behcet's disease and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Studies on a possible association between the occurrence of thrombosis and thrombophilia in patients with this disease have been controversial. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency and clinical relevance of anticardiolipin antibodies [aCL] and other thrombophilic factors and their relationship to thromboembolic and clinical manifestations in Behcet's disease [BD]. IgG, IgM and IgA anticardiolipin antibodies [aCL] isotypes, presence of circulating lupus anticoagulant [LAC], protein C, protein S, antithrombin III and activated protein C resistance were investigated in 25 patients with BD and 25 patients with various rheumatic diseases not known to be associated with venous or arterial thromboembolic phenomena served as controls. Twelve of the patients with BD [48%] had either deep vein thrombosis [8 patients], arterial thromboembolic phenomena [4 patients], or both [2 patients]. The IgA aCL elevated in14 [56%] patients with BD compared with one [4%] patient in the control group [P<0.01]. IgG aCL levels were elevated in 13 [52%] patients with Behcet's disease [BD] compared with one [4%] patient in the control group [P<0.01].Also patients with BD do not have decreased protein S, or antithrombin III activity, activated protein C resistance, circulating lupus anticoagulant [LAC], or elevated LgM aCL. No significant differences were found between any variable in both groups. No association between elevated IgMaCL levels and venous or arterial thrombosis and no statistical correlation was found between any factor and clinical manifestations of the disease. A significant number of patients have elevated levels of IgA and IgG aCL but they are not associated with venous or arterial thrombosis. These results do not suggest a primary role for aCL in BD and do not support the role of coagulation abnormalities in the pathogenesis of thromboembolic complications of Behcet's disease but suggest vascular inflammation as the main pathogenetic event in the vascular lesions in Behcet's disease

effect of the most common intravenous anaesthetic on some functions of human neutrophils

Anaesthetics may compromise host defence mechanisms by adversely affecting the specific or non specific components of the normal immune response. Adverse effects of general anaesthetic agents on neutrophil functions in vitro are important as theoretically they could imply compromised function in vivo. The inhibitory effects of some anaesthetic, including intravenous [I.V.] anaesthetics, on neutrophil functions have been well documented, the use of these anaesthetics may result not only in peri -operative immunosuppression, but if used to sedate critically ill patients in the intensive care unit [ICU], may potentially further compromise an already depressed host defense mechanism. We study the effects of the most commonly used intravenous anaesthetic agents [thiopentone, ketamine, propofol and midazolam] on some functions of human neutrophils [PMNLS] [Phagocytosis, phagocytic index [P.I.], phagocytic percentage P% and respiratory burst activity] in vitro at clinical plasma concentration and 100 times. Sample of 3mL peripheral venous blood was drawn from forty healthy volunteers free from diseases not taking medication, incubated with the corresponding I.V. anaesthetic agents, using different concentrations of I.V. anaesthetic agents. The results showed that at 100 times the clinical plasma concentration, thiopentone, ketamine produced highly significant depression of neutrophil phagocytosis and non significant depression of neutrophil phagocytosis was seen with propofol and midazolam. At clinical concentration thiopentone ketamine propofol and midazolam had minimal effects on neutrophil phagocytosis. As regard to respiratory burst activity of neutrophil, there were no significant depression at both concentrations for all durgs used

Influence of neostigmine and atropine on postoperative nausea and vomiting in day case surgery

Sixty healthy patients undergoing elective short surgery under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups: Group A: receive a mixture of neostigmine 1.5 mg and atropine 1 mg to anatagonize the residual muscle relaxant. Group B: spontaneous recovery was allowed. The incidence of past-operative vomiting was assessed. There were no significant difference in frequency of nausea and vomiting between the two groups. The incidence of postoperative nausea was 22 in group A and 28 in group B, while vomiting was 14 in group A and 18 in group B.These results ensuring a decreased incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after antagonizing residual neuromuscular block by neostigmine and atropine, enable smooth recovery and early discharge from the hospital especially in day-case surgery

Dose response relationship for recuronium and succinylcholine on different muscles preparation

Twenty male rabbits weighing 1-1.5 kg were anaesthesized and gastrocnemius, orbicularis oris, and orbicularis oculi muscles were prepared. They were divided into two equal groups according to relaxant received. First group were injected intravenously [I.V.] by serial doses of rocuronium, starting by small effective doses till a complete blocking dose to all muscles prepared [100% muscle twitch depression]. The second group received succinylcholine by serial doses, to complete blocking dose to all muscles prepared. The% twitch depression, onset time of the effective dose that lead to 90% twitch depression and its duration of action from injection to 90% recovery of the twitch height, and the effective dose 50 for each muscle was determined.It was found that gastrocnemius muscle was the first to be affected by both rocuronium and succinylcholine with short onset time and prolonged duration of action than other two muscles which showed earlier recovery. The effective dose with 50% twitch highest depression [ED50] in both groups of muscles due to recuronium and succinylcholine were compared. We concluded that gastrocnemius muscle was the first muscle to be affected by depolarizing and non depolarizing muscle relaxants and fascial muscles were lately affected with earlier recovery. The complication of these findings were discussed

Cholesterol degradation by some microorganisms isolated from different Egyptian cultivated soils

Twenty fungal isolates belonging to four genera and eleven species and eleven bacterial isolates were isolated from different cultivated soils. These isolates were capable of utilizing cholesterol as a sole source of carbon. The bacterial isolates more active in cholesterol decomposition than fungal isolates. The highest cholesterol degradative activity and bacterial biomass was recoreded by Mycobacterium fortuitum being on [g/l] cholesterol 1.5, CaCO3 2.5, and yeast extract 5.0. The favorable incubation period was three days at 30C and pH 7.0

Late brain necrosis in correlation with CT picture, dose distribution and radiobiological considerations

Out of 850 cases previously exposed to cranial irradiation, between January 1984 and January 1988, 300 cases were further reviewed and 15 patients were detected with clinical and CT findings suggestive of brain radiation necrosis that coincided with areas of high dose within the brain substance. The mean planned dose was 5667 cGy and the mean number of fractions was 28. The threshold dose at areas of necrosis ranged between 5100 cGy/23 fractions and 7000 cGy/30 fractions or 1043 and 1280 neuret. The biologically equivalent dose for brain necrosis ranged between 89 and 124 Gy. The lower doses were associated with larger brain volumes included. The total dose, dose per fraction and volume of tissue included were found of importance in determining the risk of brain necrosis. The median time between radiotherapy and necrosis was 31 months [21-47 months]

Evaluation of split course and continuous radiation therapy in inoperable non small cell bronchial carcinoma

This study included 192 patients with inoperable non small cell bronchial carcinoma treated radically by irradiation at Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria between 1980 to 1989. Two treatment protocols were used in group A, a split- course in 71 patients and 121 patients in group B, continuous course radiation therapy. NSD and BED values were calculated for both treatment groups and were correlated with response and treatment morbidities. The overall [CR+PR] were 34/55 [34/55 [62%] in group A versus 50.75 [67%] in group B. The difference was not statistically significant [P > 0.05]. The two years survival rate was 13/31 [42%] relatively higher in group A compared to 17/47 [36%] in group B, but the difference was not statistically significant. The morbidities were nearly equal in both treatment groups

Some factors affecting biosynthesis of fibrinase by oidiodendron flavum

It was shown that the activity of fibrinolytic exoprotease in culture of the thermophilic fungus Oidiodendron flavum depended on the nutritional composition of the medium. A potent extracellular fibrinolytic enzyme was obtained when fibrin [2/g/l] used as a carbon source, sugar addition decreased the enzyme production. Further increase in fibrinase yield was recorded when 0.05 g/1 NH[4]NO[3] was added to the medium. Among the tested phosphate sources, KH[2]PO[4] at 1.0 g/1 was optimum for enzyme production. [NH[4][2]]SO[4] at 0.5 g/1 led to significant activation of fibrinolysis either in growth medium or in reaction mixture

Continuous perfusion of the surgical wound with xylocaine 02 for pain relief following thoracotomy and cholecystectomy / for pain relief following thoracotomy and cholecystectomy

48 patients were scheduled either for thoracotomy or cholecystectomy, their ages ranged from [17 - 60 years] of both sexes, they received at the end of surgery continuous perfusion of xylocaine 0.2% at rate of 15 ml/h [4 drops/min] via a 6 gauge urinary catheter placed along side skin incision. Assessment of pain score and measurement of vital function as pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate was showed non significant changes during the first 24 hours postoperatively, observation of wound healing for one week and any complications showed the effectiveness of this technique for the postoperative pain relief without undesirable side effects

Evaluation of wheat pies supplemented with different plant protein sources

Ground full-fat sesame, peanut and sunflower seeds were used as high sources of plant proteins to supplement pies for child-feeding programs. The plant protein sources were added at levels of 15,30 or 45% either alone or in combination of two complements [15% for each] or in combination of the three complements [each at 10%]. Pies content of proteins, essential amino acids and fats increased in fortified pies with increasing the replacement percentage specially in pies supplemented with peanut, while total carbohydrates were decreased. Minerals were much higher in fortified pies than control. Pies supplemented with sesame were characterized by their higher contents of calcium, iron, copper and zinc. Biological evaluation of different types of pies revealed higher biological value [BV] and protein efficiency ratio [PER] in fortified pies than in control. The highest biological values were recorded in pies supplement with 10% of each of sesame, peanut and sunflower than pies supplemented with 30% peanut alone. However, pies fortified with 30% peanut had higher scores of texture taste, odour and colour than other treatments