Varicella induced thrombocytopenia in adults

To describe the frequency and severity of thrombocytopenia associated with adult chickenpox patients admitted in the hospital. This was a hospital based descriptive study conducted from January 2005 to March 2008 at the Infectious Diseases Unit, Rashid Hospital Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The study was designed to record demographics, clinical information, hematological and biochemical changes observed in each patient. The data was entered into a structured proforma separately. Patients with history of chronic liver disease, immunocompromized status [HIV/Drugs], history of blood disorder, recent intake of drugs/conditions which can cause thrombocytopenia and active alcohol consumers were excluded from the study. Full blood count including platelet count was performed by an automated Beckman Coulter machine. To verify the hematological finding, the cases with low platelet count [thrombocytopenia] were subjected to peripheral smear examination. A total of 110 patients were recruited into the study. The mean age +/- SD of the patients under the study was 32.9 +/- 9.7 years and males outnumbred the females, 83.6%vs 16.3%. Forty six [41.8%] patients developed thrombocytopenia and their mean platelet count was 111.8 +/ -30.59x10[3] /ul [24-149x10[3] /ul]. High frequency of thrombocytopenia was observed in patients who also had associated varicella pneumonia, hepatic dysfunction and renal impairment. None of the patients with thrombocytopenia developed bleeding manifestations during the course of the disease. Platelet count returned to the reference range within 1-2 weeks of the treatment of varicella without platelet transfusion. Thrombocytopenia is frequently associated with chickenpox. The incidence of thrombocytopenia was observed higher in patients with the evidence of disseminated disease. Furthermore, low platelet count usually does not cause bleeding tendency and count improves with the treatment of varicelta

Hematological and biochemical changes in typhoid fever

The hematological and biochemical changes due to multi-organ involvement in typhoid fever are not uncommon. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of the above changes in adult patients admitted to the hospital because of typhoid fever. This was a hospital based descriptive study conducted at the Infectious Diseases unit and medical wards at Rashid Hospital Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from March 2005 to February 2008. The study was designed to include demographics, clinical information, hematotogical and biochemical changes observed in each patient. Only patients whose blood culture yielded Salmonella typhi were included in the study. Full blood count, liver function tests, blood culture, urea, electrolytes, malaria parasite and coagulation profile were performed for all the patients, whereas viral hepatitis serology and ultrasound abdomen were limited to those with disturbed liver function tests. The patients with ALT> 3 times of normal were screened for viral hepatitis [A, B, and C] serology, whereas the patients' with significant hematologicat changes were subjected to bone marrow examination. A total of 75 patients were enrolled into the study. The mean age +/- SD of the patients under the study were 28.4 +/- 8.7 years and males outnumbered the females, 81.3% vs. 18.6%. The most common hematological changes observed were; anemia [61.3%], thrombocytopenia [40%], leucocytosis [10.6%] and leucopenia [4%]. Whereas, the biochemical changes included; raised alanine aminotransferase [73.3%], aspartate aminotransferase [62.7%], bilirubin [30.6%], alkaline phosphatase [44%], prothrombin time [57.3] and blood urea [12%], but the serum albumin was found to be low in 40%. The patients with raised ALT had high frequency of thrombocytopenia [p <0.04], raised serum bilirubin [p <0.02], alkaline phosphatase [p <0.01] and prothrombin time [p 10-fold of normal levels in 8%, serum bilirubin was >3mg/dI in 10.3% and prothrombin time was 3 sec above the control in 8% patients. All the patients were discharged in good health once hematotogical and biochemical changes returned to reference range. Typhoid fever causes significant hematological changes as well as hepatic dysfunction. The involvement of liver was associated with high frequency of extrahepatic complications. Despite the high incidence and serious nature of the hematological changes and liver involvement, these changes are transient and respond favorably to the appropriate antimicrobial therapy

Evaluating the impact of health promoting school initiative on dietary habits and BMI of students in Oman

This study aimed at evaluating health promoting schools [HPS] initiative carried out on a sample of schools from all regions in Oman. The evaluation sought to assess the impact of the initiative on students' dietary behavior and body mass index [BMI]. The static group comparison design was employed. The study was conducted in 15 health promoting schools comprising grades eight and nine and 15 matching conventional schools [CS]. A total sample of 1535 students [752 intervention group-HPS, 783 comparison group-CS] participated in the study. The self administered questionnaire directed to students was used to collect data. Weight and height of each student were measured and BMI was calculated. Male students in HPS showed significant favorable behavior than those in CS regarding eating fruits, consuming fast food and soft drinks. On the other hand, female students in HPS showed significant favorable behavior than those in CS regarding eating breakfast and vegetables. Male and female students in HPS showed significantly higher mean total dietary behavior score than male and female students in CS. Lower percentage of HPS male students were underweight and obese compared to students from CS with significant difference. Positive changes in students' dietary behaviors were achieved by adopting the health promoting school initiatives with obvious difference between male and female students. Expansion of HPS initiative to other schools in Oman is recommended. Innovative nutrition program need to be developed and implemented by HPS to further impact eating behaviors and nutritional status of school chi1dren Given the differences in the effectiveness of HPS initiative between male and female students, there is a need to develop and evaluate separate interventions for each of them

Collimator selection for high quality brain SPECT imaging

Different Types of collimators have been introduced in the practical usage of the gamma camera. The choice of the collimator depends firstly on the energy of the isotope, the required resolution sensitivity of the applied scan, and finally the size of the organ to be imaged. In the present study the fan-beam collimator was studied versus the parallel-hole collimator to clarify the importance of their properties in imaging of particular organs with the gamma camera. The study was done on a [Axis] dual head SPECT gamma camera provided with both parallel-hole and fan-beam collimators. The important part of this study was the clinical part at which the selected patients were coming for evaluation of the treatment response for brain tumors and detection of residual lesions or recurrence following surgical or radiotherapy treatment. Thirty patients with brain tumors of various histopathologic types including medalloblastoma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiformis and oligodenderoma were subjected to brain SPECT imaging. Three tests were done on each patient's reconstructed image: The ratio between the lesion average counts [total count I number of pixels] to the background average counts, the contrast of the lesion in each clinical case and the area of the lesion is also compared between the two collimators for the same patient's lesion. In conclusion fan beam is an accurate and good tool for imaging and assessment of the treatment response as well as planning in the radiotherapy unit

Loa loa infection in non-endemic area: a case study and disease review

Loiasis is a cutaneous filarial parasite of humans caused by the filarial nematode Loa loa, which is transmitted to humans by day-biting Chrysops flies. Human loiasis is confined to the rain forest and swamp forest areas of Western and Central Africa; however; sporadic cases hove been reported from other parts of the world including India. United Arab Emirates is relatively free from arthropod-borne parasitic diseases, but the region remains vulnerable to the introduction of such infections from areas where they are endemic due to a high traffic of a large expatriate population. We report a suspected case of loaiasis in a patient from India who lived and worked in Dubai, UAE, for several years and who had never visited Africa in the past. We assume that this is the first case of loaiasis reported from the gulf region where transmission of the infection has occurred outside the endemic areas

Circulating levels of adhesion molecules and oxidative stress markers in smokers

Objective: To examine whether oxidative stress markers were correlated with adhesion molecules [sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sP-selectin] derived from endothelial/platelet activation in a group of smokers as well as to study the influence of smoking index on the above mentioned markers

Subjects and Methods: Plasma levels of sICAM-1 , sVCAM-l , sP-selectin, 8-isoprostane [8-IP] and protein carbonyl content were assessed by ELISA technique and colorimetric method. Antioxidant status, assessed by measuring the glutathione [GSH], and vitamin C levels in 38 smokers and 20 nonsmokers serving as control. Smokers were divided into three groups: mild, moderate and heavy smokers according to smoking index

Results: Smokers showed significant higher levels of sICAM-1 , sVCAM-1 , sP-sclectin, 8-IP and protein cathonyl content and this increase was directly proportional to the degree of smoking. Smokers showed also significantly lower levels of GSH and vitamin C than nonsmokers. In comparing groups of smokers to each other, significant decreased levels were observed in GSH, vitamin C in the following order heavy > moderate > mild smokers. A positive correlation was detected between the circulating adhesion molecules [sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 , sP-sclectm.] and oxidative stress markers; 8-IP [r[2] =0.927, 0.919 and 0.969 respectively] and protein carbonyl [r[2] = 0.924, 0.923 and 0.845 respectively] in plasma of smokers

Conclusion: Adhesion molecules [sICAM-1 , sVCAM-1 , sP-selectin ] increase in smokers may be a secondary response to inflammation and oxidative stress. Smoking: stimulate the release of adhesion molecules by creating oxidative stress through decrease of the antioxidant status including both vascuiar and systemic complications in smokers

Cytokines [interferon gamma and interleukin-10] in oocyte and embryo culture media during in-vitro fertilization

The interleukin [IL] system has been shown to be intimately involved in embryonic implantation. The aim of this study is to elucidate whether human oocyte/embryo secrete cytokines like IFN- gamma and IL- 10 and effect of the balance between this cytokines on the fertilization process. A total of 207 oocyte/embryo culture media from 22 patients were collected and the cytokines level were tested by ELISA. The present study showed that IFN- gamma and IL- 10 were detected in 40.1% and 30.4% of oocyte/embryo culture media respectivity. There is significant difference between IFN- gamma and IL-10 levels in the media from fertilized oocytes between day 1 and day 2 [0.48 vs 1.49 and 34.2 vs 13.8] respectively. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the IFN- gamma level of the media from fertilized and non fertilized oocytes 0.48 vs 0.85 at day 1 and 1.49 vs 1.49% at day 2 as well as IL-10 level 34.2 vs 30.9 at day 1 and 13.8 vs 9.48 at day 2 respectivily with conclusion that human oocytes and embryos secrete cytokines INF- gamma and IL-10 with variable concentration with no effect of these cytokines on fertilization process

Sensitivity of fusarium moniliforme, F. oxysporum and F. salani to superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in vitro

The sensitivity of three Fusarium species [i.eFusarium moniliforme Sheldon, F. oxysporum Schlecht. and FSolani [Mort.] Sacc.] to a superoxide anion [O2-] producing system and to hydrogen peroxide [H2Op] differed with species and stage of growth Conidial germination, sporulation and mycelial growth were more sensitive to the O2-producing system or H202, respectively, in FOxysporum, F moniliforme and FSolaniThe least sensitive to O2-or H2O2 were conidial germination in F. moniliforme, sporulation in FSolani and mycelial growth in F Oxysporum The inhibitory effects of O2-increased with increasing riboflavin concentration and H202 increased with increasing H2O2 concentrationAlso, the viability of conidiospores, particularly F. moniliforme and F. oxysporum from 7-day old illuminated cultures, was decreased by O2-treatment However, possible application of O2-producing system[s] or H2O2 as antifungal for use in soil-borne plant diseases control was discussed

Microleakage around cemented full crowns and its relationship to the dental pulp

Fifteen sound or with small restoration recently extracted mandibular first molar were collected and kept in 0.9% physiologic saline solution changed every 12 hours. All teeth were prepared with shoulder finishing line to receive full cast metal crowns. Direct wax pattern, investing, casting of these crowns with non precious alloy were prepared after investment, crowns sand blasted and cemented with glass ionomers cement according to the manufacturer's direction. The metal crown cemented on extracted tooth and put under static load of 5 kg for 20 minutes

Circulating immune complexes and anti-insulin antibodies as parameters in insulin dependent diabetic patients at different stages of development of nephropathy

Thirty-two patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus were classified according to the stage of renal involvement into 3 groups: Group I included 11 patients without microalbuminuria group II, 11 patients with microalbuminuria and group III, 10 patients with established diabetic nephropathy. Estimation of circulating immune complexes [CICs] and detection of insulin antibodies [Abs] were performed for all patients. Group I showed the highest mean level of CICs, group II showed an intermediate level and group III had the lowest one. Progressive deposition of CICs in the glomeruli of the nephropathic patients [groups II and III] was suggested to be a factor in the development and progress of nephropathy. Abnormally high levels of insulin Abs were simultaneously present in most of the patients with raised levels of CICs in the different groups suggesting that the CICs contain a lot of insulin Abs. However the results indicated that simple elevation of insulin Abs cannot be the precipitating cause for nephropathy