effect of ochratoxin on antimicrobial polypeptide expression in channel catfish [Ictalurus punctatus]

Mycotoxins contamination of agricultural commodities poses a serious risk to animal health, including aquaculture species. While chronic effects of mycotoxins, including immunosupression, are much more important than acute toxicities, they are much less evident. Ochratoxin A [OA] is the most immunotoxic ochratoxin, yet little is known about its effect on immune function in fish. Antimicrobial polypeptides [AMPPs] are one of the most potent, innate, host defense factors, yet very little is known about what types of chronic stressors affect their expression. Among the most prevalent and potent AMPPs in fish are histone-like proteins [HLP]. In this study, fish were fed 2, 4, or 8 ppm OA. Skin antibacterial activity was measured on Days 0, 28 and 56. Feeding 2, 4 or 8 ppm OA resulted in no changes in AMPP expression in any treatment group. Our data suggests that the immunosuppression of OA is probably due to impaired cell-mediated immune mechanisms other than a direct effect on antimicrobial polypeptide expression

Resistance to imipenem in clinical isolates of kiebsiella pneumoniae and proteus mirabilis

Six Klebsiella pneumoniae and seven Proteus mirabilis clinical isolates were multiple drug resistant producing beta-lactamases. Out of the thirteen isolates, eight were resistant to third generation cephalosporin, cefotaxime and one was of intermediate resistance. Similarly, five isolates were resistant to fourth generation cephalosporin, cefepime with another five of intermediate resistance. However, isolates showed high alarming resistance pattern against imipenem and meropenem antibiotics. A representative imipenem resistant isolate from both strains were picked out for the detection of 40 kDa outer membrane protein and plasmid profile

Association of transforming growth factor-beta 1 [TGF-beta1] and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1] with type II diabetic nephropathy

To estimate the levels of serum transforming growth factor-beta 1 [TGF-beta1], and urinary moncyte chemoattractant protin-1 [MCP-1] throughout the course of diabetic nephropathy [DN], and to find their possible relationship. Also, to assess the relationship between their levels and parameters of renal injury such as albumin/creatinine ratio [ACR] and estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]. Serum TGF-beta1, urinary MCP-1, estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] [as a parameter of renal injury] and glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1C] [as an index of glycemic control] were measured in 60 patients with type II diabetes mellitus with different degrees of nephropathy [20 with normoalbuminuria, 20 with microalbuminuria and 20 with macroalbuminuria] and compared with 20 matched healthy control subjects. Both levels of serum TGF-beta1 and urinary MCP-1 were significantly higher in patients with micro- and macroalbuminuria [137.8 +/- 69.5 and 329.25 +/- 41.46 ng/dl, respectively for TGF-beta1] [167.41 +/- 50.23 and 630.87 +/- 318.10] ng/g creatinine, respectively for MCP-1] as compared with normoalbuminuric patients and healthy controls [33.25 +/- 17.5 and 29.64 +/- 10.57 ng/dl. respectively for TGF-beta1] [63.85 +/- 21.15 and 61.50 +/- 24.81] ng/g creatinine, respectively for MCP-1] p<0.001. There was a positive significant correlation between levels of serum TGF-beta1 and those of urinary MCP-1 [r=0.73, p<0.001]. Serum TGF-beta1 and urinary MCP-1 correlated positively with HbA 1C [r= 0.49 and 0.55, respectively, p<0.05 for both] and inversely with eGFR [r= -0.69 and -0.60, respectively, p<0.001 for both]. The progression of diabetic nephropathy may he associated with increased levels of serum TGF-beta1 and urinary MCP-1 that are closely- inked to renal damage and the degree of glycemic control. Thus, it seems possible that adequate glvcemic control and TGF-beta1 and MCP-1 antagonists might be helpful in attenuating the progression of nephropathy in diabetic patients

surgical benefits of cervical block anesthesia for carotid endartrectomy

This randomized study was performed to evaluate the benefits of cervical block anesthesia on the surgical technique and outcome of carotid endarterectomy [CEA] aiming to develop a safe and reliable anesthetic and surgical approach for patients undergoing CEA. From May 1997 to May 2001, 36 patients indicated for CEA due to the presence of internal carotid stenosis were randomized into two groups: In group I [18 patients], CEA was done under cervical block anesthesia; while in group II [18 patients], CEA was done under general anesthesia. Hemodynamic measurements and stump pressure were estimated for all cases. The need for shunt, operative time, early postoperative complications and hospital stay was evaluated in both groups. In group I, there was more stable systolic and diastolic blood pressure during the operation. 89% of group I patients tolerated carotid cross clamping without the need for carotid shunt and this method was more accurate than the measurement of stump pressure. Shunt was used in 38.8% of group II patients and this resulted in an intimal dissection in two cases. The operative time was significantly less in group I than group II and discharge from the ICU was earlier

study of interleukin-10 in serum and CSF in meningococcal meningitis

Interleukin 10 is known to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines in vitro and murine models of endotoxemia. It has been suggested as a candidate for the treatment of bacterial septicemia.The aim of this work was to study the role of IL-10 in meningococal meningitis and correlates its levels in serum and CSF with the disease outcome. CSF and serum samples were collected at time of admission from thirty patients [19 males and 11 females] with verified meningococal meningitis. The ages of patients ranged between 10-58 years with a mean of 3l.8 years. Patients were later classified according to disease outcome into two groups: survivors [1 4 males and 8 females] and fatalities [5 males and 3 females]. CSF and serum samples were also collected from 10 subjects who served as controls. The control group included both positive and negative controls with disease conditions of comparable gravity to meningococcal meningitis [3 with non infectious neurological diseases i.e, subarachnoid haemorrhage, trauma and cerebrovascular accident,4 with meningitis not due to menirtgococci and 3 with septicemia i.e, post operative, diabetes mellitus with sepsis and puerperal sepsis]. The difference between patients group and controls group is statistically sign as regards IL-10 levels in serum and CSF. IL-10 has a role in defining the outcome of meningococcal meningitis,however the protective effect of IL-10 is statistically conceivable only if it is preferentially compartmentalized in the subarachnoid space

Some investigations on aflatoxicosis in cultured common carp [Cyprinus carpio L]

The effect of crude aflatoxins on the common carp [Cyprinus carpio] was investigated. The results indicated that common carp exposed to aflatoxin doses intraperitoneally or orally showed non-specific clinical signs. The most common gross post mortem findings were detected in liver and spleen of exposed fish. Different hematological changes were also recorded in common carp in correlation with the aflatoxin doses. Aflatoxin residues, particularly AFB1, and AFG1, could be detected in flesh of exposed fish which could be regarded as human hazards

Changes in the integument of nymphal and adult hyalomma [hyalomma] dromedarii koch[Acari: Ixodoidea: Ixodidae] I the effects of feeding and moulting

The integument of the dorsal alloscutum in nymphal and female H. dromedarii consists of the cuticle underlined by epidermis. The cuticle contains two layers, a thin external epicuticle and a thick internal procuticle. The procuticle is distinguished into an outer endocuticle and an inner endocuticle. Changes occuring in the cuticle and epidermis in symphal and adult H. dromedarii are correlated with moulting and feeding

Changes in the integument of nymphal and adult hyalomma [hyalomma] dromedarii koch[Acari: Ixodoidea: Ixodidae] II the effect of 20-hydroxy ecdysone

The exogenous doze of 20-Hydroxy Ecdysone [20-HE] used in the present study did not accelerate moulting in nymphal Hyalomma dromedarii. However, histological observations exhibit an increase in epidermal cell activity and in the deposition of the endocuticular lamellae

Changes in the salivary glands of female hyalomma [hyalomma] dromedarii during and after feeding

The salivary glands in female H. dromedarii consists of three alveolar types: One agranular [type I] and two granular [types II and III]. Five granule secreting cell types are identified according to their granular submicroscopic appearance. The structure and changes observed in type I alveoli before, during and after feeding suggest its role in ion and water transport from the hemolymph to the lumen during initial feeding. Secretory cells in salivary alveoli types II and III undergo substantial growth, differentiation and accumulation of secretory material during feeding and various rates of depletion directly after feeding. Attachment and limited feeding seems to provide a stimulus for synthesis of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates, whereas detachment from the host decreases the secretory competence of these alveoli causing its degeneration

Immune complexes and lipid contents in synovial fluids from patients with osteoarthrosis effusion

The levels of immune complexes [ICs], cholesterol and triglycerides were estimated in the synovial fluids [SF] obtained from 10 obese female patients with osteoarthrosis [OA] showing the clinical and radiological evidences of chronic synovial effusion of the knee joint. ICs, cholesterol and triglycerides were demonstrated in the SF of all cases, and positive significant correlations were found between the level of SF-ICs and each of the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the SF. The significance of these data in relation to the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms in OA was discussed

Peripheral neurological changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases: Clinical and electrophysiological studies

Twenty five patients with COPD with mean age of 55.4 +/- 8.7 years have been investigated with pulmonary function tests [PFT], arterial blood gases [ABG], serum electrolytes [Na, K, Ca++], neurological examination and electrophysiological studies. Symptoms of neuropathy were present in 36% of the patients, while clinical signs were found only in 20%. Orthodromic distal sensory latency was prolonged in 44% of cases with lowering of amplitude of the evoked sensory action potential. Abnormalities of the sensory nerve conduction were the most common and affecting mainly the sural nerve. Motor conduction velocity was abnormal in 16% of cases. Sixteen percent of COPD patients exhibited impairment of both sensory and motor functions. Abnormal electromyographic [EMG] findings were detected in 11 cases [44%]. The EMG changes were abnormal resting potential, incomplete interference pattern and polyphase motor unit. These denoted the existence of both myelinopathic and axonopathic changes. Comparative study of COPD patients with neurological impairment [group I] versus COPD patients without such defect [group II] regarding PFT, ABG and serum electrolytes revealed insignificant difference in PFT and serum electrolytes between both groups. However, patients of group I were more hypoxemic and hypercapnic than group II patients and the difference in PaO2 and PaCO2 were statistically significant [P <0.01]. It was concluded that peripheral neuropathy is not uncommon finding in COPD and it seems possible that severe derangement in ABG in form of hypoxemia and hypercapnia are responsible for the encountered neurological abnormalities

Study of extracranial blood flow and haemorhelogic factors in patients with cerebral vascular disease

This study was carried out to evaluate the role of extra- cranial blood vessels and hemorheological parameters in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia. So, a 50 patients with cerebrovascular disease and 20 healthy controls were subjected to assessment of vascular changes in the carotid arteries by ultrasonic Doppler flowmeter and some blood factors such as blood viscosity, red cell deformability and plasma fibrinogen. Blood vessel studies revealed vascular lesions in the carotid arteries in the form of atherosclerotic lesions with and without stenosis, while blood factors showed a significant increased level in patients with cerebral ischemia. There was a positive correlation between the vascular changes and the hemorheologic variables in patients suffering from cerebral ischemia. Also, extracranial blood vessels [Carotids] were demonstrated to have a role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia

Some hormonal and electrolyte diurnal changes in patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Diurnal variation in plasma renin and aldosterone, serum sodium and potassium were studied in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis with and without ascites. The study revealed a significant decrease in the level of renin and aldosterone in patients without ascites as compared to the control group with preservation of the diurnal changes, and a statistically significant rise in the level of both hormones in patients with ascites, with loss of diurnal variation. The level of serum sodium has shown a significant decrease in all groups of patients as compared to the control, while serum potassium did not show significant change. No significant diurnal changes in the level of the electrolytes could be detected in the studied groups. Positive correlation between renin and aldosterone could be detected only in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis with ascites. The loss of diurnal change in the level of aldosterone in patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis can be considered an important warning for a clinical deterioration