Influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses: efficacy of different diagnostic assays

To determine the efficacy of cell culture, immunoflourescence Assay [IFA] and real time polymerase chain reaction [rRT-PCR] in relation to diagnosis of influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus [RSV]. Total 2781 specimens of throat swabs and nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from patients suspected of respiratory viruses' infections from January 2009 to December 2011 at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre [UKMMC].The specimens were processed by cell culture and immunoflurescence assay [IFA] and [rRT-PCR]. Thirty three [1.19%] specimens were positive for influenza virus A and 42 [1.51%] were positive for RSV by cell culture and IFA. On the other hand, rRT-PCR was able to identify 189 of 505 [37.43%] specimens in which 65 were influenza A virus and 124 were RSV. Sensitivity of rRT-PCR was 100% for both influenza A virus and RSV and specificity was 88% and 77% for influenza A virus and RSV, respectively. rRT-PCR diagnosed respiratory viruses in shorter time with a high level of sensitivity in comparison to conventional assays - cell culture and IFA. These advantages help in managing patients by saving cost and hospitalization stay

case of mycotic aneurysm due to Burkholderia pseudomallei

Burkholderia pseudomallei is an free-living gram-negative bacterium causing melioidosis and is endemic in Southeast Asia. A 56-year-old diabetic construction worker with a 1-month history of abdominal pain and 1-day history of high-grade fever was found to have a left non-dissecting infrarenal mycotic aortic aneurysm by abdominal computerized tomography scan. Bacteriological examination of his blood yielded Burkholderia pseudomallei. The patient was treated with right axillo-bifemoral bypass with excision of aneurysm and high-dose intravenous ceftazidime for two weeks, followed by oral trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and oral doxycycline for a minimum of five months

Drug resistance and susceptibility of mycobacterium tuberculosis identified at university Kebangsaan Malaysia medical centre

The prime objective of the study was to evaluate drug resistance and susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated at University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. A total number of 726 specimens in the form of sputum and bronchial lavage obtained from patients suspected to tuberculosis were analysed for confirmatory identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The bacteria was identified initially by culture and staining and finally by BDProbeTecTM ET Mycobacteria kits [2008]. All Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility against streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol using BACTECTM MGITTM 960 system. Out of 726 specimens 16 [32.65%] were identified as mono drug resistance 7 [14.29%] as poly drug resistance, 4 [8.16%] as multi-drug resistance [MDR-TB]. Identified TB bacteria were analysed in the light of sources of samples where brief history of the patients' age, gender and community noted. Bacteriologic testing with antibiotic sensitivity, standardized treatment with supervision and patient support, provision and management of the drugs used in treatment are necessary for effective treatment of tuberculosis

Additional sesquiterpenes from carthamus mareoticus

Several species belonging to the genus Carthamus [family Asteraceae, Tribe Cynareae] have been chemically examined. The most widespread compounds are 6-deoxyhexose derivatives of sesquiterpene alcohols, which seem to be taxonomically significant. C. turkistanikus afforded alpha-bisabolol 6-deoxy-beta-d- fucopyranoside and C. lanatus gave alpha-bisabolol beta-D-fucopyranoside. C. oxyacantha produced hinesol beta-fucopyranoside. C. oxyacantha produced in hinesol beta- fucopyranoside and, recently, two sesquiterpene fucopyranosides were reported from C. mareoticus. Reinvestigation of the latter species gave two more sesquiterpenes I and II