Molecular phylogeny of some avian species using cytochrome b gene sequence analysis

Veritable identification and differentiation of avian species is a vital step in conservative, taxonomic, forensic, legal and other ornithological interventions. Therefore, this study involved the application of molecular approach to identify some avian species i.e. Chicken [Gallus gallus], Muskovy duck [Cairina moschata], Japanese quail [Coturnix japonica], Laughing dove [Streptopelia senegalensis], and Rock pigeon [Columba livia]. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples and partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene [358 bp] was amplified and sequenced using universal primers. Sequences alignment and phylogenetic analyses were performed by CLC main workbench program. The obtained five sequences were deposited in GenBank and compared with those previously registered in GenBank. The similarity percentage was 88.60% between Gallus gallus and Coturnix japonica and 80.46% between Gallus gallus and Columba livia. The percentage of identity between the studied species and GenBank species ranged from 77.20% [Columba oenas and Anas platyrhynchos] to 100% [Gallus gallus and Gallus sonneratii, Coturnix coturnix and Coturnix japonica, Meleagris gallopavo and Columba livia]. Amplification of the partial sequence of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene proved to be practical for identification of an avian species unambiguously

Injection practices among practitioners in private medical clinics of Karachi, Pakistan

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and determinants of sharps injuries among private health practitioners in slum areas of Karachi, Pakistan. All practitioners with at least 1 year of experience in a private medical clinic were asked to complete a self-administered, structured questionnaire [317/397 responded]. Only 7.9% of practitioners were qualified from medical school, 12.3% were registered nurses and 8.8% lacked any professional qualifications. At least 1 sharps injury in the previous 12 months was reported by 26.7%, mostly due to needle recapping. Only 25.2% reported using a new syringe for each patient. In multivariate regression analysis shorter work experience, < 14 years of schooling, > 20 patients per day, administering ? 30 injections per day, reuse of syringes and needle recapping after use were significantly associated with sharps injury in the past year. Better awareness and training on standard precautions is needed for private practitioners in slum areas of Karachi

Zinc content in human hair of healthy and sick subjects

The content of zinc in the hair of healthy and sick subjects were determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy [AAS]. A total of eighty hair samples from healthy males and females together with sixty five samples from sick males and females were collected. The mean values of zinc concentrations were determined in the hair of healthy and sick subjects. These values are in accordance with the world wide healthy range of zinc in human hair which is established between 150-250 micro g/g. The correlation of the revealed values with the factors affecting trace metal content such as age, sex and health status were discussed. Results showed that what is considered to be sick with respect to certain diseases viz rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and diabetes mellitus were nearly healthy in the content of zinc in hair. Our studies showed that healthy and sick females had higher mean concentration of zinc in their hair as compared to the males

Studies on flavobacterium columnare isolated from fresh water fish

Flavobacterium columnre is one of the most important bacterial pathogens of wild, farmed and ornamental fish in warm, and also in fresh and sea water causing columnaris disease. In the present study one hundred and forty Nile tilapia were collected from different localities of farms from El-Behera governorate and Kafr El-sheikh provinces. The clinical signs of the disease were detected and the pathological lesions were recorded. Bacteriological examination of samples of naturally infected fish with Flavobacterium columnare revealed that the characteristics colonies on cytophaga agar media. Sixty seven suspected isolates were isolated and biochemically identified by API-20 E system. The distribution of the gained isolates among organs denoted 33 isolates from gills [49.25%], 20 isolates from kidneys [29-85%], 12 isolates from deep layer of dorsal musculature [17.91%], one isolate from both spleen and intestine [1.49%], but it was not isolated from the liver. The pathogencity experiment indicated wide variation among Flavobacterium columnare isolates. Isolate number 10 was the most virulent isolate as it caused 100% mortality two weeks post injection followed by isolate number 7, 3 caused 45, 25% mortality. The clinical signs and the post mortem examination revealed the same signs and lesions of natural infection with Flavobacterium columnare beside severe oedematous swelling at site of injection. The median lethal dose [LD50] of the highly virulent isolate was 10[5] viable bacterial cells /ml. Stress factors, temperature, PH, unionized ammonia and dissolved oxygen affects on the pathogencity of the organism. In vitro antibiotic sensitivity test of 5 isolates revealed that the most effective drug Cefotaxime [60%]. While the less effective one, were Neomycin, Norfloxacin and Rifampcin [100%] then Doxycyclin, Cephalexin, Florfenicel, Gentamycin and Marbocyl [80%] then Cefalor, Tetracycline and Ciprofloxacin [60%]. On the other hand, Erthromycin, Ampicillin [80%] had no effect

Comparative study between the concentration of interleukin-6 in peritoneal fluid and in serum of patients with endometriosis

Our purpose was to compare the level of interleukin- 6 in peritoneal fluid with that in serum in patients with and without endometriosis undergoing laparoscopic procedures and to set a value for Interleukin 6 as a marker for endometriosis in the serum and peritoneal fluid of patients diagnosed laparoscopically to have endometriosis and correlate it with the stage of the disease. The present study was conducted at the period starting from March 2002 to October 2003 in the laparoscopy unit, Ain Shams University Maternity hospital. Fifty patients underwent laparoscopy were recruited in this case control cross-sectional study. These patients were divided into two groups. Group I included thirty patients diagnosed to have endometriotic lesions by means of laparoscopy and histopathologic confirmation. Group II included twenty patients diagnosed laparoscopically to have no visible gynecological lesions [e.g. women undergoing laparoscopic tubal ligation]. These patients were subjected to full history taking with special regard to symptoms suggestive of endometriosis, full general, abdominal and local examination for signs of endometriosis, laparoscopic visualization and staging of endometriosis according to the criteria of the revised American Fertility Society classification system, testing for serum and peritoneal fluid Interleukin-6 using the BioSource International ELISA. [Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay], and histopathologic confirmation of peritoneal endometriotic lesions. Interleukin- 6 was significantly higher among female patients diagnosed to have endometriosis than in control patients both in serum and peritoneal fluid. Also, our study revealed a highly significant direct correlation between the level of serum and peritoneal fluid IL-6 among women with endometriosis. A significant direct correlation between the level of IL-6 with the grade of endometriosis among cases was found both in serum and peritoneal fluid IL-6. However, no significant correlation was found between the grade of endometriosis and pain among the cases group. Increased peritoneal fluid levels of interleukin-6 in patients with active red endometriosis may relate to endometriosis-associated infertility and to the pathogenesis of endometriosis

Inclusion complexes of folic acid with beta-cyclo-dextrin and hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin

The potentiality of interaction of folic acid with Beta-cyclo-dextrin [Beta-Cy D] and hydroxypropyl Beta-cyclodextrin [HP-Beta-Cy D] was investigated by spectmphotometric and solubility methods. Both methods revealed the formation of 1:1 inclusion complexes between folic acid and the investigated cyclodextrins. The effect of temperature on the stability of folic acid-Cy D complexes was investigated. The complexes were found to undergo partial dissociation with increasing temperature above 25 degree, however, they were still present at body temperature. Calculating the amount of drug solubilized in free as well as complexed form at different temperatures, revealed that solubilization of the drug by Cy Ds is entirely due to complex fonnation. The enthalpy and entropy of interaction were also computed from the values of the stability constant at different temperatures. The negative enthalpy and entropy values indicate that complexation of folic acid with Cy Ds is an exothermic reaction, increasing the orderliness of the system. The inclusion complexation of folic acid with Cy BS in the solid phase was also confirmed by I.R. The dissolution rate was determined according to the USP method, apparatus 1, at pH 1.2, 4.6 and 6.8. In all cases, the dissoiution profiles of the complexes reveal enhanced dissolution properties compared to the drug

Anti-inflammatory effect of natural steroid sapogenins on oral aphthous ulcers

The search in plants for sapogenins has been stimulated by the need for readily accessible sources of sapogenins, which can be converted in the laboratory to animal sterols of therapeutic importance. The present study represented a clinical trial for the investigation of the anti-inflammatory effect of natural steroidal sapogenins on oral aphthus ulcers

Complexation of paracetamol with xanthine derivatives

The interaction of paracetamol with certain xanthine derivatives, viz., caffeine, theophylline, acepifylline and dyphelline was investigated. Differential ultraviolet spectorphotometry revealed a marked effect of xanthines on the extinction coefficient of paracetamol. Applying the continuous variation method on spectrophotometric measurements revealed the formation of 1:1 complexes of paracetamol with caffeine and acepifylline. For the interaction between paracetamol and theophylline, two complexes of stoichiometric ratios of 1:1 and 2:1 are formed. On the other hand, two paracetamol dyphylline complexes of stoichiometric ratios 1:2 and 2:1 appear to be formed. Determination of the stability constant of the complexes by spectrophotometric method as well as the solubility methods revealed that acepifylline exhibits the highest tendency to complex with paracetamol. The dissolution rate of paracetamol as well as its xanthine complexes was determined and found to follow first order kinetics during the first 12 min. of the run. The results revealed that there is a correlation between the stability constant of the xanthine complexes determined by the solubility method and the solubilizing power of the xanthine

Physical training ameliotates insulin resistance caused by high fat diet

Thirty male-albino rats were segregated equally into three groups according to their dietary fat content and physical training. The first group fed low fat diet [LF] and led sedentary life, the second group fed high fat [HF] diet and led sedentary life, the second group fed [HF] diet but were physically trained. After 6 weeks of dieting and physical training program animals were killed by decapitation, soleus muscle and epididymal pads of fat were taken from all rats and incubated in suitable media. Basal and maximally insulin stimulated glucose uptake by these tissues were estimated. The results of this work demonstrated that both soleus muscle and epididymal pads of fat showed lowered basal and maximally insulin stimulated glucose uptake in the group fed HF diet without physical training compared to the group fed LF diet. By physical training, there is significant enhancement of glucose uptake in the group fed HF diet with physical training. Therefore, insulin resistance induced by high fat diet can be ameliorated by physical training

Immunohistochemical study of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma presenting in head and neck region

Thirty-four patients with NHL presenting in the head and neck region were studied clinically, histologically and by immunohistochemistry using the B-cell markers, T-cell markers, histocytic markers and transferrin markers. The peroxidase antiperoxidase technique was adopted. According to the immunologic phenotypes, 19 cases were B- cell, 7 cases were T-cell, while 7 cases were null. The immunohistochemistry was very helpful in diagnosing high grade lymphomas, especially the undifferentiated and histocytic types

Reconstruction of mandibular defects using hydroxyapatite veterinary bone graft

A 1 cm piece of m and ible was resected in 6 rabbits and replaced by an equal graft of a newly developed material [veterinary porous hydroxyapatite [VHAP]]. X-ray studies were done preoperatively, immediate postoperatively as well as at 1, 2 and 3 months later. It was evident radiologically that the material was completely united to the host bone after 3 months. The rabbits were sacrificed at 6 weeks and 3 months [3 rabbits each] and the m and ible was examined by scanning electron-microscopy which showed complete integration of the graft in the host bone. Also, the chemical structure of the graft was studied by infrared spectrographs. Clinically, the graft was completely incorporated in the m and ible without any complications. One can suggest using material in human to reconstruct post-surgical m and ibular defects

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in postoperative common bile duct injury: value before corrective surgery

27 patients with common bile duct injury were studied by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. The type and site of injuries were identified in most cases; full length of injury was outlined. In 17 patients the duct was ligated and in 10 there was stricture mostly at the level of cystic duct stump. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is a safe and reliable diagnostic tool, whenever postoperative common bile duct injury is suspected. It gives the surgeon as well as the physician a real picture of the problem and helps them in deciding the type of corrective surgery

Choledochal obstruction by a stone impacted at the mouth of cystic duct: a variant of Mirizzi Syndrome

Three patients with high grade common bile duct obstruction from an impacted stone at the cystic duct juncture are described. All cases were diagnosed preoperatively by direct endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. A low lying cystic-choledochal duct junction with contiguity of a large cystic duct with the common hepatic duct were present in one patient only. However, in the other two, a radiolucent stone [medium sized], just about to be prolapsed from cystic duct mouth was documented with much dilated cystic duct as well as common hepatic and intrahepatic ducts. The findings indicated that even in the absence of low lying cystic-choledochal duct juncture, a variant of Mirizzi syndrome can occur

Circulating immune complexes in patients with complete molar pregnancy

Circulating immune complexes [CICs] were measured in 14 patients with complete molar pregnancy to investigate CICs and trophoblastic tumor burden, when 11 of the 14 patients were first seen, CICs were in the normal range. All the 3 patients with elevated levels of CICs had concurrent bilharziasis and 2 of them had preeclampsia. Patients with normal CICs, when followed up, developed increased levels when entered remission. Circulating immune complexes remained elevated during gonadotropin remission from 6 to 17 weeks and then declined to initial levels. The decreasing antigen load, when the patient approaches gonadotropin remission, may provide a more favorable antigen: antibody ratio for the formation and detection of CICs using the polyethylene glycol [PEG] turbidity assay

Assessment of cell-mediated immunity in patients with cancer larynx and/or hypopharynx and the effects of surgery on this state

Twenty-two patients with cancer larynx and/ or hypopharynx were studied to assess the cell mediated immunity and the effects of surgery on this state. Conservation and radical surgeries were performed on these patients. Blast transformation assay was used to reflect the state of the immune system using non-specific stimulant phytohaemo-agglitinin [PHA], and tumour antigen [T.A.] as a specific stimulant. There was significant depression of cell mediated immunity in the patients when compared to control individuals. Also, significant difference in the postoperative results compared to the preoperative results using PHA and TA. The cell mediated immunity is suggested to improve after one and half months postoperatively

Study of hydroxyproline content in cases of sliding hiatal hernia

The hydroxyproline content, which is an accurate measure of collagen content, was measured in 12 cases of proved sliding hiatal hernia and 6 control cases. These samples were taken from the phreno- esophageal ligament and the diaphragmatic crus. It was significantly lower in the phreno-esophageal ligament of patients compared to controls [38.9 +/- 6.1 Ug/mg dry tissue and 45.3 +/- 6.2 Ug/mg dry tissue, respectively] and significantly lower in diaphragmatic crus in studied patients as compared to controls [50.6 +/- 10.5 Ug/mg dry tissue and 66.3 +/- 2.4 Ug/mg dry tissue respectively]. This abnormal lower hydroxyproline content in both phreno-esophageal ligament and diaphragmatic crus may clarify their anatomical role in the pathogenesis of sliding hiatal hernia. The weakness of these structures is due to defective collagen, which should be considered during hiatal hernia repair

Caeruloplasmin and transferrin as tumour markers in epidermoid carcinoma of head and neck

Estimation of ceruloplasmin and transferrin were performed on 26 subjects, 16 cases of epidermoid carcinoma of head and neck and 10 healthy controls of matched age and sex. Significant rise of ceruloplasmin was noted in patients; however, there is no relation between the duration of the neoplasm and the ceruloplasmin level. While, transferrin was insignificantly lower in cancer patients than in control