effectiveness of fractional CO[2] LASER in treatment of striae rubra and striae alba: a comparative study

Background: Striae distensae are a well-recognized, common skin condition that rarely causes any significant medical problems but are often a significant source of distress to those affected. The natural evolution of striae is from red or purple, raised wavy lesions [striae rubra] to white atrophic lesions with wrinkly surface [striae alba]

Aim of the Work: was to compare the efficacy of the fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of striae rubra versus striae alba

Patients and Methods: The present study included 20 patients above the age of 18 of both sexes; 10 patients had striae rubra and 10 patients had striae alba. They were recruited from Dermatology outpatient clinic in Ain Shams University Hospital from June 2017 to January 2018. 4 sessions of Fractional CO2 Laser for each patient were performed one month apart. The treated striae were randomly selected from each patient [Striae rubra and alba] and were assessed before starting treatment, at the beginning of every session and one month after the last session as regards length, width, texture, color of striae and any complications encountered

Results: No significant difference was found on comparing the clinical response [improvement of color P= 0.653], [improvement of atrophy P= 0.606], side effects [Hyperpigmentation P= 0.531], [Pain P=0.606], [Hypopigmentation P=0.305], [Erythema P= 0.060], of both striae alba and rubra to the laser treatment

Conclusion: The present study showed significant clinical improvement in both types of striae distensae treated by Fractional CO2 Laser with non-significant difference between the 2 groups except the development of erythema in striae rubra group. Furthermore, the histological improvement was significant for both groups with low incidence of the side effects

Recommendations: Larger scale studies with longer follow up period are recommended to further clarify the role of fractional CO2 laser in treatment of striae distensae

Prophylactic role of B vitamins against bulk and zinc oxide nanoparticles toxicity induced oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis in rat livers

The aim of this work is to explore the protective of B vitamins [B[3], B[6] and B[12]] against the hepatotoxic potency of either bulk zinc oxide [ZnO-bulk] or its nanoparticles [ZnO-NPs]-induced liver damage in rats. ZnO- bulk or its NPs were administered orally [500 mg/kg b.w.] for 10 successive days. The results revealed that oral coadministration of combination of B vitamins [250 mg B[3], 60 mg B[6] and 0.6 mg B[12] /Kg body weight] daily for 3 weeks to rats intoxicated by either ZnO- bulk or its NPs markedly ameliorated increases in serum of alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and lactate dehdrogenase [LDH]. The B vitamins also down-regulated increases in serum glucose level as well as increases in immuno-inflammatory biomarkers, including tumor necrosis factor- alpha [TNF- alpha] and C-reactive protein compared with intoxicated, untreated rats. Beside, the used agent successfully modulated the alterations in serum vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], attenuated liver oxidative DNA damage compared with ZnO intoxicated groups. We showed that the used B complex mitigated increased malondialdehyde [MDA], decrease in glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and increase in the apoptosis marker caspase 3 of liver tissue in response to either ZnO-bulk or its NP toxicity. In conclusion, early treatment with vitamin B complex may protect liver tissue from deleterious damage induced by the toxic effects of ZnO- bulk or its NPs

Efficacy of 4-hydroxy quinoline against Schistosoma haenzatobiun infection in hamsters

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of 1-Butyl-3-[2E-3-[dimethylamino] prop-2 enoyl] 4-hydroxyquinoline-2 [IH]-one [BDHQ] when given to hamsters after infection with Schistosoma haematobium [350 +/- 50 cercariae/hamster]. The drug was prepared as an aqueous suspension by suspending 100, 150, 200 mg in 10 mI of vehicle for each hamster [mg/kg body weight]. Praziquantel was prepared as an aqueous suspension by dissolving 150 mg of the vehicle to estimate the schistosomal worms and ova/tissues were counted in the hepatic and intestinal tissues. The data of the present work revealed that the percentage reduction in number of worms recovered after oral administration of [BDHQ] ranged between 40% and 98% when compared with the control. As regards the worm burden and distribution, the percent of worms recovered from the liver was ranged between 21% and 50%. While those recovered from portomesentric veins reached 70% to 98%. Beside during in vivo study, the effect of oral administrate of hydroxy quinoline [BDHQ] on ova tissue count of Schistosoina hac'matobiu, n. The number of ova per gram tissue is also an important criterion for the evolution of both magnitude of infection and efficacy of antischistosomal agents. In this study when the infected hamster treated with [BDHQ] at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight. Tissue egg count significantly decline by 40.2% in intestine, six weeks after treatment, moreover the tissue egg count significantly declined by 43.9% in liver and 40.2% intestine, when the infected hamster were treated with BDHQ at a dose 150mg/kg b.w. beside at dose 200mg/kg b.w, the percentage reduction in ova count unchanged significantly when compared with PZQ treated hamsters which represented by 60% in number of ova count

Parasitological versus renal and hepatic stigmata after using a new chemotherapeutic agent in experimental schistosomiasis haematobium

This study aims to clarify the parasitological effect of a new antischistosomal drug: Ro 15-9268 [9-acridanone hydrazone derivative, synthesized by Hoffman La-Roche Co. Basel, Switzerland] in experimental schistosomiasis haematobium infection. It also aims to study the repercussion of using this compound on some of the major liver [ASAT and ALAT] and kidney [Serum urea, uric acid and creatinine concentrations] function tests. Forty Golden Syrian hamsters have been used in the experiment. Animals were divided into two major groups. Group I: Included infected [300 +/- 50 cercariae/ hamster] untreated control animals sacrificed at 13, 15, 17 and 19 weeks post infection respectively. Group II: infected hamsters further subdivided into three orally treated small subgroups: subgroup IIa: received Ro15-9268 [5mg/Kgb.wt.], subgroup lIb: treated with the same drug [10mg/Kgb.wt] and subgroup IIc: given oral praziquantel 150mg/kgb.wt. Sacrifice was done two days, two, four and six weeks post treatment respectively. It was found that the effect of Ro 15-9268 at the dose of 10mg/kg b.weight was superior to that of 5 mg/kg and praziquantel, with minimal worm and tissue egg load recovery especially two days and two weeks post treatment. A marked drop in the infection-induced risen liver enzymes [serum Aspartate Amino Transferase ASAT and Serum Alanine Amino transferase ALAT], was noted in the group given the 10mg/Kg drug regimen [P<0.001 from respective untreated control mice]. This drop was less salient in the other two treated groups. As regards the serum urea, it reached the lowest level with the high dose regimen at the second and six weeks post treatment respectively [P<0.05 and P<0.01 from respective infected untreated control animals]. Again, a significant drop in serum uric acid and creatinine was recorded in the group given the two dose regimens, as well as praziquantel at all the time intervalls post treatment for serum uric acid and at the 2[nd], 4[th] and sixth week post treatment for serum creatinine [P<0.001 from infected untreated control hamsters]. This drug could be used in endemic areas where resistance to praziquantel starts to be an emerging public health problem

study of some genetic ameliorating factors in beta thalassemia

There are over 150 mutations affecting the beta globin gene that can lead to an altered expression of the gene and a decrease [beta [0]] or an absence [beta [+]] of beta globin production. The genes can be inherited in a homozygous or a heterozygous fashion. The result of inheritance of these genes can be diverse, ranging from beta thalassemia trait with no hematological disease to thalassemia major requiring repeated blood transfusions. There are co-inherited variables that can also influence the expression of this inheritance. Alpha gene deletion or the inheritance of the G gamma Xmn-1 gene sequence [C-T variation] at position -158 upstream of the G [gamma]-globin gene which is detectable by the restriction enzyme XmnI, are among these variables. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of the above two variables as ameliorating factors in homozy-gous/double heterozygous beta thalassemia among a group of Egyptian thalassemic children. Thirty two cases of beta thalassemia were screened for common Mediterranean mutations [IVS1-110, 1-6,1-1, 11-745, codon 39, -87] alpha-gene deletions, and presence of G gamma Xmn-1 polymorphic site. As regards allele frequency, IVSI-6 showed the highest incidence [40.6%] followed by IVSI-110 [18.75%], IVSII-745 [12.5%], -87[9.37%], IVSI-1[3.12%] and codon 39 [0%]. 7 cases [21.87%] were uncharacterized as regards to the 6 screened mutations. The co-inheritance of a-thalassemia was found in 5 cases out of 32 cases [15.63%] and DNA polymorphism at -158 [C-T] of the gamma globin gene was demonstrated in 2/32 cases [6.25%]. Both variables ameliorated the severity of the disease either in the form of decreased frequency of blood transfusion or delay in age of presentation or an amelioration of clinical severity of a known severe allele

Nurses' perception and management of post operative abdominal pain among school age children

Pain defines as unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Many factors may distort the nurses' perception of children's pain which creates an intense need for assessing nurses' perception and management of children during post operative pain. This study aims to identify nurses' perception and management practices of children's pain after abdominal surgery. The study was conducted at the Pediatric Surgery Department at Tanta University Hospitals and Surgery Department at Damanhour National Medical Institution. Convenient sample of 90 nurses working with school age children with post abdominal surgery pain. Two tools were used to collect the necessary data. The first tool was a questionnaire sheet, which included demographic data In addition questions for assessment of nurses' perception of children's postoperative, methods used for assessment and management of children's pain. The second tool was observation checklists to assess nurses' identification of behavioral clauses of pain, nurses' performances during assessment of pain intensity and during management of post operative pain in children by pharmacological and non pharmacological measures. The present study revealed that the nurses' perception of children's postoperative pain is lacking and inadequate for providing effective nursing care for children during pain experience and children were poorly managed for postoperative pain in the studied hospitals. It can be concluded that nurses did not play any role in the decision regarding pain management just they were carrying out the physician's prescriptions. The study recommended in service training and continuing education should be provided for all nursing personnel working in the pediatric surgical department

Correction of Aberrant pre mRNA splicing using antisense oligonucleotides in B thalassemia patients with known IVS-I,nt 110 mutation

1VS In l 110 mutation is the most common mutation in Egyptian thalassemics. The mutation causes aberrant splicing ofpre-mRNA resulting in labile RNA causing deficient B-globin chain synthesis. Antisense oligonucleotide strategy is one of the more simple technique in gene therapy. Using oligonucleotides covering the aberrant splice site gives chance for normal splicing and correction of the anomaly at the RNA level. Blocking of aberrant splicing at IVS 1nt 110 site of B-globin pre-mRNA using antisense oligonucleotides results in subsequent restoration of normal mRNA production in B-thalasseamia patients with IVS 1nt 110 mutation This study involved 10 patients with known IVS IntllO mutation; 6 homozygous and 4 heterozygous patients peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated and duplicate liquid culture systems were set using erythropoietin and stem cell factor with and without antisense oligonucleotides [20 micro. mol/ml]. Correction of aberrant splicing was evaluated by estimation of total hemoglobin, hemoglobin F, and a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction followed by agar gel electrophoresis was used to amplify and detect both aberrant mRNA and normal mRNA in duplicate samples. Five cases [50%] showed correction after antisense oligonucleotide treatment, two cases showed the appearance of normal mRNA band with absence of aberrant band and in 3 cases an increased ratio of normal mRNA band to aberrant band was found [from 2:1 to 3:1 in two cases and from 2:1 to 4:1 in the third case]. The 5 corrected cases showed significant increase in total Hb which varied between 4 to 6 folds increase. Antisense oligonucleotide treatment corrects splicing ofpre-mRNA leading to appropriate expression of B-globin mRNA which may pave the way for treatment of thalassaemia.

Rapid flow cytometric test for the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis and its relevance to clinical severity

The causes of non-immunehereditary hemolyticanaemia include enzymopathy, hemoglobinopathy, abnormal cation transport and membranopathy. Hereditary spherocytoris [HS] is the most common membranopathy. In this study a new flow cytometic test measures the fluorescence in tensity of intact red cells labeled with eosin -5- maliernide. The dye reacts covalentily with lys-430 on the first extracellular loop of band 3 protein. In this study, red cells from patients with HS produced a greater degree of reduction of mean channel fluorescence [MCF] readings than those for other patients groups with other causes of anaemia and normal controls. The MCF for spherocytic patients was 20.4 +/- 5.2 as compared to the control group whose MCF was 35.9 +/- 2.6. The MCF readings of other patients groups included in the study were for thalassaemia patient [39.8 +/- 2.2], glucose -6- phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency patients [34.8 +/- 1.9] iron deficiency anaemia patient [30.25 +/- 1.2], autoimmune hemolytic anaemia patients [32.5 +/- 1.7] and chronic renal failure patients [34.6 +/- 1.7]. All these groups of patients gave MCF readings that were higher than those of HS. Thus the dye method proved to be a reliable and speedy diagnostic test [2 hours from sample collection to result] for the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis in routine hematology

Plasma fibronectin in malnourished children

Malnutrition is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Egyptian children. In this study, plasma fibronectin was estimated for 20 patients diagnosed clinically as protein energy malnutrition and 10 healthy age matched controls. Fibronectin levels were significantly lower in the marasmic and KWO cases as compared to controls and the levels in KWO group were low than in the marasmic group. This decrease could be explained by reduced synthesis rate in starvation. Plasma fibronectin could therefore be used as an early indicator for nutritional deficiency and for prognosis of the severity of the case