Development of calcium phosphate ceramics of controlled Ca/P ratio as a bone substitute

In this paper, an attempt was carried out to produce calcium phosphate ceramics whose composition comes close to that of natural dry bone. Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate [CaHPO4.2H20] and calcium carbonate [CaCO3] were mixed at different proportions so that three batches of ceramics whose Ca/P ratio are 1.5, 1.7 and 1.9 are obtained. These ratios lie in close vicinity to the reported data for dry cortical bone [Ca/P =1.67]. Sintering was carried out at temperatures ranging from 1100 to 1350°C. The variation in batch composition as well as in sintering temperature has proved to play a decisive role in determining the end product characteristics. Parameters such as bulk density, porosity, firing shrinkage, modulus of mechanical rupture, mineralogical and textural features and thermal expansion behavior, were studied to assess their matching with those of dry cortical bone

Study of some immune aspects in patients with fascioliasis before and after commiphora molmol [mirazid] treatment

This study was planned to evaluate the in vitro production of IL-1 beta and IL-4 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs] and total IgE in patients with fascioliasis before and three months after treatment with purified extract of myrrh from Commiphora molmol tree [mirazid], to determine the role of these variables in the immunopathogenesis of the disease in relation to this new drug. The study was carried out on a total of 35 patients with chronic fascioliasis with an age range from 9 to 45 years, in addition to 10 healthy subjects with matched age and sex serving as controls. Serum IgE and in vitro IL-1 and IL-4 were estimated by enzyme immunoassay [ELISA] before and three months after therapy. The study concluded that mirazid is an effective fasciolicidal drug. IL-1 may be involved in the disease immuno-pathogenesis and the depressed IL-4 may be a phenomenon of the parasite immune suppression. A complete decline of total IgE is not an early criterion of cure

Diabetes mellitus following renal transplantation

The incidence of post-transplant diabetes mellitus [PTDM] was retrospectively evaluated in 187 consecutive non-diabetic recipients of live renal allografts. Twenty-four patients developed diabetes mellitus. The majority [90%] became hyperglycemic within the first six months from transplantation. 12.5% of the patients were controlled by diet alone, 75% could be managed successfully with oral hypoglycemic drugs and 12.5% required insulin therapy. To identify the predisposing factors and outcome for PTDM, the patients were compared with a control group of 24 non-diabetic renal transplant recipients transplanted during the same period, matched for age, sex and the immune suppressive regimen [triple immune suppression] and all were recipients of first kidney transplantation. Family history of diabetes and steroid shots [anti-rejection] were found to be significant predictors for the development of PTDM as 41.6% of the patients developed PTDM following steroid shots, the majority [70%] occurring within one week from the shots. PTDM did not affect the allograft survival

Investigating different health implications due to occupational exposure to vinyl chloride in an Egyptian PVC production facility

The present study aims at investigating possible health hazards due to occupational exposure to vinyl chloride monomer [VCM] and polyvinyl chloride [PVC]. Relevant haematological, liver and renal functions, tumour markers, roentegenograms of the chest and peripheral [distal] ends of the short- long bones [of hands and wrists], ultrasonographic parameters of the liver and abdominal organs as well as chromosomal aberrations are evaluated for 182 workers, chosen on simple random basis, from different sections at an Egyptian facility manufacturing VCM and PVC. Air measurements were taken at the breathing level at different sections. The highest VC levels were detected at the liquid waste treatment, VCM emergency scrubber tower, direct chlorination sections, the reactors' areas. Clinically, more than 80% of the studied workers have one or more symptoms and / or signs affecting their respiratory, digestive, circulatory, liver, renal, or musculoskeletal system. The onset of the majority of the elicited manifestations proved to be after the start of their work at the VCM / PVC manufacturing plant. About 44% of the studied workers had one or more abnormal ultrasonographic findings; 39.3% had abnormal liver [as regard the size or pattern], 20% had abnormal spleen, 5.8% had abnormal renal pattern. Eight workers had positive chest x- rays for interstitial pulmonary fibrosis or emphysema, and eight workers had osteolytic bony lesions affecting the peripheral areas of their distal phalanges in both hands. Positive antinuclear antibodies [ANA] was elicited in sera of 28 workers [15.4%]. All, except four workers have chromosomal aberrations in various forms: gaps, breaks, deletins. isogaps, isobreaks, dicentrics, centromere separation, as well as polyploidy. The study pointed out the presence of serious exposure to vinyl chloride, higher than the recommended TLV, in different locations. The clinical study revealed many adverse health effects which strongly suggest the relation with either acute, chronic, and / or delayed consequences of the occupational VCM/PVC exposure. Adopting preplacement and periodic medical examinations as well as provision of suitable protective clothing and equipment for workers at VCM / PVC manufacturing sections. Addition of "VCM / PVC Exposure and Consequent Effects" to the Egyptian List of Occupational Diseases. Good training is important for improving the working behaviour. Continuous monitoring of VC and related compounds should be a routine procedure

Amniotic fluid interleukin - 6 [il-6] determination: a possible guide for management and prognosis of preterm labour

Amniotic fluid samples were collected from four carefully selected groups of pregnant women, respectively, presented as followed [but none with any evidence of intrauterine infection]: Group I, term pregnancy not in labor; group II, normal term labor; group III, preterm labor and undelivered within one week of sampling and group IV, preterm labor and delivered within one week of sampling. Amniotic fluid was obtained by amniocentesis [in undelivered women] or at the time of amniotomy [in delivered women]. The samples were cultured to detect any intrauterine infection. Interleukin-6 [IL-6] was determined by a specific enzyme-linked immunoassay. The mean [ +/- SD] amniotic fluid IL-6 levels [pg/ml] were 25.5 +/- 6.2 in group I, 504 +/- 60.6 in group II, 45 +/- 15.1 in group III and 406 +/- 100.7 in group IV. However, insignificant difference in the IL-6 levels was found between the women of group II and group IV, a significant difference was noticed in the IL-6 levels between the undelivered [groups I and III] and delivered [groups II and IV] women whether in term or preterm labor. Therefore, it was concluded that the determination of IL-6 level in amniotic fluid may help in the prognosis and management of preterm labor

Comparative study of serum gastrin levels in mothers and neonates at birth after vaginal delivery, cesarean section and fetal compromise

This study included forty-one pregnant women with various perinatal conditions divided into five groups: Group I included cases with normal pregnancy and normal vaginal delivery without induction or augmentation [n=10], group II, elective repeat cesarean section [n=10], group III, suspected fetal compromise [n =8], group IV, post-date pregnancy [n =7] and group V, preeclampsia [n =6]. For each case immediately after delivery, gastrin levels were measured by RIA in maternal sera and cord sera of the neonates. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney U test. The study showed that gastrin levels in the cord sera of the neonates in group I were significantly higher than those in neonates in group II. Serum gastrin concentrations in women in group IV were significantly higher than women in group II. Gastrin levels in cord sera of neonates in group III and group TV were significantly higher than those observed in group II. The study concluded that vaginal delivery and perinatal pathology might induce hypergastrinemia in both mother and neonate at birth

Helicobacter pylori infection as a risk factor for coronary heart disease

The work included 17 coronary diseased patients and 10 controls, their mean ages were 56.4 +/- 12 years vs 46.3 +/- 15.2 years, respectively. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, cardiac enzymes levels in blood, lipid profile together with IgG and IgA to detect Helicobacter pylori infections were done to both coronary heart disease and control groups. The results showed that H. pylori infections were detected in 41% of CHD patients and control group, respectively, while recent infections was detected in 47% of CHD patients, it was doubtful in 24% with no recent infection in 29% of them as showed by IgA. For the control group, none had recent infections and 20% of them were doubtful. H. pylori seropositivity was inversely related to the level of HDL in both the CHD and the control patients

use of mivacurium in patients with liver dysfunction

Ten healthy patients and 20 patients with liver dysfunction [9 Child's A, 7 Child's B and 4 Child's C] received a bolus dose of mivacurium chloride 150 mug/kg each. The electromyographic response was monitored throughout anesthesia until recovery of the first twitch of the train-of-four [TOF] [T1/T0] to at least 85% and the TOF ratio [T4:T1] to at least 80%. There was rapid onset of neuromuscular block in Child's A and B patients compared to healthy patients, but this difference was insignificant. While Child's C patients showed significant longer onset time [time to 95% depression] [= 3.2 min.] compared to healthy patients [= 2.4 min.]. There was no correlation between onset variables and plasma cholinesterase activity. Recovery was prolonged in liver dysfunction patients. The times for recovery of T1/T0 to 5% in Child's A, B and C patients were 14.3, 18.7 and 27.3 min., respectively, compared to 10.5 min. in healthy patients. Time to recovery of T4:T1 to 70% were 44.7, 48.3 and 71.3 min. vs 29.1 min. for healthy patients. There was significant negative correlation between plasma cholinesterase activity and all recovery. It was concluded that in patients with mild or moderate liver dysfunction, mivacurium can be used safely, while in patients with severe liver dysfunction mivacurium can be used cautiously and better with monitoring of neuromuscular function