Cylokines balance and leukocytic changes in the early post-operative period after open cardiac surgery

Cardiopulmonary bypass [CPB] exposes blood to large areas of synthetic materials that trigger the production and release of numerous ehemotactic and vasoactive substances. This ensuing abnormal whole-body inflammatory response that can complicate the postoperative period. This prospective randomized controlled study aimed to assess the concept of cytokine balance in the early period after CPB. Twenty adult patients subjected for open heart surgery for valve replacement or repair were included, surgical approach, anesthetic regimen, CPB protocol, monitoring and ICU care were standardized for all the patients. Laboratory investigations included differential leukocytic count changes, pro-inflammatory mediators; TNF-alpha IL-6, and IL-8, and anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10. The values were determined prebypass, at end of CPB, twelve and twenty four hours after end of bypass. There were significant changes in total and differential leukocytic counts after bypass. The total leukocytic count and absolute neutrophilic count increased significantly after bypass and steadily increasing parallel to each other after twelve and twenty four hours after bypass accompanied by significant decrease in the relative count of lymphocytes and monocytes. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 significantly increased at the end of bypass and after twelve hours compared with the prebypass levels, this increase was small but statistically significant compared to the prebypass levels with TNF-alpha and IL-8, at twelve and twenty four hours, the increase in IL-6 was more prominent and lasted for the 24 hours study period compared to that of IL-10 which showed a peak value immediately after CPB. Twenty four hours after the end of bypass the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and IL-10 decreased but still significantly higher than the prebypass levels. Serum level of IL-6 remained significantly high. CPB is followed by both pro- and anti-inflammatory changes in the early 24 hours post-operatively. Marked leukocytic changes and increased serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 were observed

Serosurvey of hepatitis B surface antigen in pregnant Saudi women

In 1990, Saudi Arabia began vaccinating all children at school entry against hepatitis B. We evaluated hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] prevalence rate among pregnant Saudi women 12 years later in 5 regions of the country. Using multistage sampling, 2664 pregnant Saudi women were recruited. Blood samples were tested for HBsAg; positive samples were also tested for hepatitis Be antigen [HBeAg]. In all 2.44% were positive for HBsAg and 4 [0.15%] were also positive for HBeAg. HBsAg prevalence was highest in Gizan [4.2%] and lowest in Tabuk [1.4%]. Positivity for women < or = 20 years of age was 0.5% compared with 2.6% for older women [P = 0.049]. The overall HBsAg prevalence rate was lower than previously reported

Further studies an antoclaved cercarial vaccine against Schistosomasis: Safety, longevity and stability

This study was performed to adjust the dose and to assess vaccine safety, longevity and stability as well as the possibility of transplacental transmission of immune response from pregnant mice to their offspring. The results showed that two doses of the lowest most effective concentration of autoclaved cercarial vaccine [ACV] that achieved the high percentage reduction of worm burden were safe as demonstrated by the absence of any local or systemic side effects, normal blood picture and normal liver and kidney function tests. ACV is stable when kept either at 4C for 6 months or at-35C for up to 12 months and it offers a considerable duration of longevity. The offspring of vaccinated mothers did not show any signs of protection against challenge infection

Coagglutination [Co- A]: a rapid test for the diagnosis of expenimental Trichinellosis

This work aimed to evaluate Co-A test as a new diagnostic tool in the detection of T. Spiralis antigens in both sera and urine of experimentally infected mice as compared with ELISA for the diagnosis of trichinellosis. The results obtained by Co-A test were closely correlated with those of ELISA. The results showed that both tests were capable to detect T. spiralis antigen in the urine of lightly-and heavily-infected mice only at the 30th day post infection. So, Co-A is an accurate, easy and rapid test that can be used on large scales for the diagnosis of trichinellosis

Eccrine sweat glands secretion in infancy with electron microscopic study in some cases

Fifty neonates and infants were collected from Dermatology, Pediatric and Emergency departments of the Alexandria Main University and Children's Hospitals. They were classified into five groups according to their age. Eccrine sweat glands function was studied using a starch iodine test [Wada's test] for all the cases. Histologic [H and E] and ultrastructural studies were done for some cases representing the studied groups. Starch iodine test [Wada's] was found significantly low in the first age group [less than one week age] compared to all the other older age groups [F=8.5128 and P=<0.01] with linear relationship among all the group in relation to their age. Histological results of studied cases showed primitive and immature eccrine sweat gland acini with non canalized ducts in younger age groups [less than 7 days of age], starting maturation of acini and ducts in slightly older age group [one to 4 weeks age] and fully mature acini and ducts among all the older groups [older than one month age]. Electron microscopic studies showed similar findings with immaturity of cells, nuclei and cell organoids in younger age groups [less than 7 days], starting maturation of cells and early appearance of cell organoids in slightly older age [one to four weeks age], and complete maturation of cell structure, nuclei and full appearance of cell organoids in all the older age groups [one month and more]. Clinical, histological and ultrastructural results of this study can support the suggestion that during new born and early infancy periods, sweat glands are immature and poorly functioning and with progress of age they attain full maturation and complete function

Synthesis of pyrido [3,2-d] pyrimidines and pyrido [3,2-d] -1,2,4-triazolo [4,5-a or 5,4-b] pyrimidines

Reaction of 6-[1-piperidino or 1-pyrrolidino-carbony1-2, 8-dichloro-4-[1-piperidino or 1-pyrrolidino]-pyrido[3,2-d] pyrimidines [1a and b] with hydrazine hydrate afforded the corresponding 2-hydrazino derivatives [2a and b]. Treatment of 2a and b with nitrous acid or aromatic aldehydes furnished the corresponding azides [3 a and b] and arylidene derivatives [4 a-d], respectively. Pyrido[3,2-d]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,5-a or 5,4-b] pyrimidines [5a-d, E or A] were obtained either by oxidative cyclization of 4a-d with bromine in acetic acid or by acylative cyclization of 2a and b