Neopterin in pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer patients

Neopterin is produced and released by human macrophages in response to stimulation with interferon-gamma, and changes in neopterin concentrations indicate cellular immune activation. To assess the usefulness of serum, urine and pleural fluid neopterin levels as an index of disease activity in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer. Serum, urine and pleural fluid neopterin levels were evaluated in 30 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 30 patients with lung cancer while serum and urine neopterin levels were evaluated in 20 healthy controls by enzyme linked imunosorbent assay [ELISA] technique. The neopterin levels [mean +/- SD] in the serum and urine of 30 tuberculous patients [54 +/- 13.9 n mol/L, 675 +/- 230.7 n mol/mol criatinine respectively] were significantly higher when compared with those in lung cancer patients [29 +/- 5 n moUL, 312 +/- 74.5 n mol/ mol criatnine respectively, P < 0.001] and when compared with those in control subjects [6 +/- 2 n mol/L, 128 +/- 39.8 u mol/mol criatinine respectively]. In tuberculosis patients with faradvanced disease pleural fluid, serum and urine neopterin levels were significantly higher when compared with those in patients with moderately and minimally advanced disease [p < 0.001]. In lung cancer group serum and urine neopterin levels were significantly higher [p < 0.001] in adenocarcinoma, squanous cell carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma than that in the control group. But there was no significant difference between the serum, urine and pleural fluid neopterin from one cell type to another. Serum urine and pleural fluid neopterin levels may reflect the degree of activity in pulmonary tuberculosis before exact diagnosis of the disease by culture results. In addition serum, urine and pleural fluid neopterin levels are elevated in patients with lung cancer whatever the cell type

Antibacterial properties of propolis and synergistic effect with some antmicrobial drugs

Propolis is a natural resinous substance collected by bees from tree exudates and secretions. It has a wide spectrum of biological activities [antimicrobial, anti inflammatory, antioxidant properties. To investigate antibacterial properties of ethanolic extract of propolis [EEP] against Gram positive and Gram negative organisms and to determine in vitro synergistic activity between EEP and sonic antimicrobials drugs on Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus], Mecithillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA], and Staphylococcus epidermids [S. epidermidis] by Kirby and Bauer method [disk diffusion]. The antimicrobial activity and the minimal bactericidal concentration [MBC] of [EEP] against a group of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria was evaluated. Also the in vitro synergism between EEP and 16 antimicrobial drug by Kirby and Bauer method [disk diffusion] on S. aureus, MRSA and S. epidermidis reference strain was evaluated. EEP showed high antibacterial activity against Gram positive cocci [S. aureus and MRSA] may be due to its high flavonoids content but had a week activity against Grain negative bacteria [Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus spp.]. The in vitro synergism between EEP and antimicrobials on Staphylococcus aureus reference strain revealed synergism between EEP and nine drugs [chloramphenicol, meropenem, cephradine, ceftaxime, levofloxacin, azithromycin, erythromycin, amoxyclav and maxipime]. Synergism between EEP and four antibiotics on MRSA [azithromycin, levofloxacin, imipenem, meropenem]. While amoxyclav in MRSA turns to sensitive with a zone diameter of 21 mm when EEP was added to the media and synergism between EEP and five antibiotics on S. epidermidis [gatifloxacin, chloramphenicol, levofloxacin, azithromycin, vancomycin and meropenem]. While amoxyclav and meropenem turn sensitive with a zone diameter of 25mm and 17mm. respectively when EEP was added. The results demonstrated the synergism between EEP amid antimicrobial drugs, especially those interfere on bacterial protein synthesis, cell wall synthesis and nucleic acid replication EEP had high antibacterial activity against S. aureus and MRSA and a synergistic effect with some antibiotics especially those agents that interfere on bacteria] protein synthesis, cell wall synthesis and nucleic acid replication of S. aureus, MRSA and S. epidermidis. This study could determine the potential medical use of EEP in combination with certain antimicrobial drugs on staphylococcal diseases

Directigen Flu A + B test versus viral culture and reverse transcription-PCR for diagnosis of influenza virus type A and type B

In our study, 60 sputum specimens were collected from patients suffering from upper and lower respiratory tract manifestations with a mean age of 44.5 years. Out of the 60 patients, 49 patients had developed pneumonia as a complication. In addition to 20 specimens were collected from apparently healthy subjects matching in age with the patient group. All specimens were subjected to Directigen Flu A+B assay, viral culture on Madin Darby canine kidney cell and reverse transcription-PCR [RT-PCR] for demonstration of influenza type A and B. Directigen Flu test had a detection rate of 18.3% for influenza type A and 26.6% for influenza B. Viral culture had a detection rate of 20% and 26.6% for influenza type A and influenza type B respectively. While RT-PCR had a detection rate of 16.6% and 25% for influenza virus type A and B respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value was[66%, 0%, 72.7%, 0% for influenza A virus and 75%, 0%, 75%, 0% for influenza type B by Directigen Flu A + B test. While the resolved sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value of RT-PCR was 100%, 83.3%, 100%, 60% for influenza A virus and 100%, 93.7%, 100%, 80% for influenza type B. Directigen Flu test is rapid, easy, reliable test that can be used for diagnosis and discrimination between influenza type A and type B infections. But it lacks specificity in some patients, thus, it requires confirmation by tissue culture and RT-PCR to rule out false-positive results