Prevalence of Clostridium perfringens type A isolates in commercial broiler chickens and parent broiler breeder hens in Egypt.

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of genes coding for alpha (cpalpha), beta (cpbeta), epsilon (epsilontx), iota (iotaA), enterotoxin (cpepsilon) and beta2 (cpbeta2) toxins in Clostridium perfringens isolates from broiler chickens and parent broiler breeder hens, using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The prevalence of C. perfringens in the intestinal segments and the effects of age were also investigated. The highest isolation rate was from the duodenum, at 41.7% in broiler chickens and 58.4% in parent broiler breeder hens; the lowest isolation rates came from the ileum, at 15.6% and 27.1%, respectively. Chickens harboured C. perfringens in the intestine and this increased with age. Clostridium perfringens was detected in 35.4% (17/48) of asymptomatic broiler chickens and 22.1% (17/77) of asymptomatic parent broiler breeder hens. The bacterium was detected in 100% of the broiler chickens and parent broiler breeder hens with clinical signs (31/31 and 60/60, respectively). The multiplex PCR assay indicated that in 99 (79.2%) of the 125 samples that tested positive for C. perfringens the strains isolated were type A and were shown to carry the cpalpha gene (99/99, or 100%). The gene encoding cpbeta2-toxin was present in 62.6% (62/99) of the isolates. A significant association was found between C. perfringens possessing the beta2-toxin gene and necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens and parent broiler breeder hens, suggesting that this gene might play a key role in the pathogenesis of the disease in Egypt. The authors suggest that the presence of the cpbeta2-toxin gene in C. perfringens isolates found in broiler chickens and parent broiler breeder hens during this study poses a risk of transmission to humans through the food chain.

Genotypic characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from human and animal sources in Egypt.

Two different techniques for the molecular typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used to study the epidemiology of P. aeruginosa strains. Colonization with P. aeruginosa was studied by taking samples of human origin collected from urine, sputum samples of patients suffering from lung manifestations and patients exposed to third-degree burns. In addition, samples of animal origin were collected from mastitic milk and lung tissues of slaughtered calves and from the internal organs of diseased chickens. Typing of 18 isolates was performed by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. Computer-aided cluster analysis indicated that similar groups of related isolates were obtained by each method.

Biomonitoring study of heavy metals in biota and sediments in the South Eastern coast of Mediterranean sea, Egypt.

Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Co, Zn, Mn and Fe were determined in biota and sediment samples collected from the Eastern Harbour and El-Mex Bay in the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt. The levels of Cu, Co, Zn, Mn and Fe in the macroalgae, Ulva lactuca, Enteromorpha compressa (green algae) and Jania rubens (red algae), recorded high concentrations except for Cd. Moreover, Fe was the most predominant metal in the seaweed. The two species of bivalves, Donax trunculus and Paphia textile, showed different amounts of metals in their tissue. The abundance of heavy metal concentrations in the mussel samples was found in the order Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu> Co> Cd and Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu> Cd> Co, respectively for the two species. The metals concentrations were generally higher compared with the previous studies in mussels from the same area. The levels of metals accumulated in the investigated fish samples, Saurida undosquamis, Siganus rivulatus, Lithognathus mormyrus and Sphyraena sphyraena, were higher than those of Marmara Sea (Turkey), for Co and Cd and lower for Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe. El-Mex Bay having the highest metals concentration in sediments as their order of abundance were Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu> Cd> Co. Nevertheless, a high variability in the metal levels occurs among the studied algae and biota and also between the investigated Harbour. A significant correlations (p < 0.05) were found for each of Zn and Fe in P. textile and of Co in D. trunculus relative to their concentrations in surficial sediments.

New mutations in C1 esterase inhibitor (SERPING1) in a German family with hereditary angioedema.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a genetically dominant clinical disorder characterized by recurrent, acute oedema of the skin or mucosa, usually involving the extremities, face, larynx and gastrointestinal tract. C1 inhibitor (C1inh) deficiency is linked to the development of HAE, either by decrease of its plasma level or presence of a dysfunctional protein. The purpose of this study was to identify the genetic abnormality of C1inh in three patients with HAE (mother and her two children). Analysis was carried out using PCR, and direct sequencing of genomic DNA obtained from whole peripheral blood. DNA sequencing of the eight exons of the C1 esterase inhibitor gene (SERPING1) revealed one mutation and one polymorphism in the mother and the two children. The polymorphism was a heterozygous GTG 458 ATG (Val 458 Met) in exon 8 and the mutation was a one-nucleotide deletion in codon 456 in Exon 8. This frameshift mutation (CTC456(power)TC) leads to a 45 amino acid larger protein with altered protein sequence and should be regarded as the causative defect in the patients. It is concluded, that heterozygous frameshift mutation at exon 8 alters the protein sequence of the C1 esterase inhibitor, leading to inactive protein in all three patients analyzed.

Physiological response of Epipremnum aureum for cobalt-60 and cesium-137 translocation and rhizofiltration.

In this study, three separate experiments were carried out to explore the potential of Epipremnum plants for Co-60 and Cs-137 uptake and rhizofiltration from solutions. Experiment I was carried out to screen the effects of different concentration (0-10 mM) of stable Co and Cs salts on some physiological components of the Epipremnum over 20 d. Data from the experiment showed that 1 mM of either Co or Cs had no adverse effects on the chlorophyll, soluble sugar, and protein of Epipremnum. Over 20 d at a high concentration (10 mM), some effects of Co or Cs were detectable but were not inhibitory. Experiment H showed an increase in the concentration ratios (CRs) of carrier-free Co-60 and Cs-137 relative to their concentration in the solution. Transport indexes (TIs) of Co-60 only increased with increasing its concentration in the solution. CRs increased with time and more than 50% of Co-60 and Cs-137 was detected at 5 d. Based on the data obtained from experiments I and II, both stable Co and Cs were used as carriers for Co-60 and Cs-137 to study their uptake and translocation in Experiment III. It was found that the Epipremnum plant had bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of 10.69 and 2.26 for Co and Cs, respectively. However, TI was 13.8 for Co and 35.6 for Cs. The accumulation of Co-60 and Cs-137 in the roots of Epipremnum might offer a method for Co-60 and Cs-137 rhizofiltration.

The distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast.

Coastal marine sediment samples were collected from 31 sampling stations along the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast. All sediment samples were analyzed to determine aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as total organic carbon (TOC) contents and grain size analysis. Total concentrations of 16 EPA-PAHs in the sediments were varied from 88 to 6338 ng g(-1) with an average value of 154 ng g(-1) (dry weight). However, the concentrations of total aliphatic were varied from 1.3 to 69.9 ng g(-1) with an average value of 15.6 ng g(-1) (dry weight). The highest contents of PAHs were found in the Eastern harbor (6338 ng g(-1)), Manzala (5206 ng g(-1)) and El-Jamil East (4895 ng g(-1)) locations. Good correlations observed between a certain numbers of PAH concentrations allowed to identify its origin. The average total organic carbon (TOC) percent was varied from 0.91 to 4.54%. Higher concentration of total pyrolytic hydrocarbons ( summation operatorCOMB) than total fossil hydrocarbons ( summation operatorPHE) declared that atmospheric fall-out is the significant source of PAHs to marine sediments of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. The selected marked compounds, a principal component analysis (PCA) and special PAHs compound ratios (phenanthrene/anthracene vs fluoranthene/pyrene; summation operatorCOMB/ summation operatorEPA-PAHs) suggest the pyrogenic origins, especially traffic exhausts, are the dominant sources of PAHs in most locations. Interferences of rather petrogenic and pyrolytic PAH contaminations were noticed in the harbors due to petroleum products deliveries and fuel combustion emissions from the ships staying alongside the quays.

Determination of hydrocarbons in mussels from the Egyptian Red Sea coast.

Mussels (Brachidontes Sp.) collected in April 2000 from the Red Sea coastal of Egypt in order to determine the contamination by hydrocarbons. The study included 11 sampling stations covering about 450 Km of the Egyptian Red Sea coast for the first time. Total concentrations of 20 aliphatics (average 0.105 ng g(-1) of wet weight) and sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (average 5452 ng g(-1) of wet weight) were generally lower in comparison with those reported for some of the published surveillance and monitoring studies of coastal areas from various regions. These results suggest that the coastal area in the Red Sea of Egypt might be considered as a relatively unpolluted.

Organochlorine contamination in some marketable fish in Egypt.

Ten organochlorine compounds were analyzed in four species of fish (Bouri Mugil spp., Denis Sparus auratus, Moza Boops boops and Mousa Pegusa lascaris), from four Egyptian governorates (South Sinai, Suez, Port-Said and Demietta). Although all fish studied are bottom or near-bottom feeders, remarkable variations between studied species were noticed. The grand total values recorded at the studied governorates were in descending order: Bouri>Denis>Moza>Mousa. The highest concentration of pesticides was recorded in Demietta governorate fish (20-211 ng/g of wet weight) and the p,p'-DDE dominated over the other p,p'-isomers in all studied fish, while dieldrin was the dominated in the studied cyclodiene compounds. However, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) occurred at all studied governorate fish except Mousa fish from South Sinai. Toxaphene was detected only in fish (Bouri, Denis, and Mousa) from Demietta governorate. Chlordane was not detected in any studied fish. The level of organochlorine pesticides contamination in fish from the studied governorates is relatively low and should not pose a health risk to consumers.

Polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides in mussels from the Egyptian Red Sea coast.

The residues of 17 organochlorine pollutants were analyzed in bivalve Brachiodontes sp. collected from 11 different locations in April 2000 along the Egyptian Red Sea coast. The pollutants studied were 10 individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, alpha,alpha,alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs), cyclodienes (heptachlor, heptachlorepoxide, aldrin, dieldrin) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) (p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDT). The concentration of total DDTs ranged between 125 and 772 ng/g of wet weight whereas the concentration of the PCBs, HCHs and cyclodienes ranged from 6.7 to 66.4 ng/g; 16.2 to 183.4 ng/g and 8.8 to 221.6 ng/g of wet weight, respectively. The levels are low to moderate in relation to the published data from other coastal areas. The present results indicate low to moderate PCBs and pesticides contamination in the investigated mussels except DDTs.

Chemical and thermodynamic characteristics of the isotopic exchange reaction between radioiodine and iodohippuric acid isomers.

The parameters affecting the absolute radiochemical yield of the isotopic exchange reaction between radioiodine (125I-) and iodohippuric acid isomers on molten ammonium acetate as a medium exchange at 120 degrees C without any carrier added (radioiodine, 125I-) was determined. The isotopic exchange reactions of radioiodine as 125I- for iodine-127 of o- and p-iodohippuric acid isomers occur more rapidly than m-iodohippuric acid isomer. These reactions proceed by nucleophilic second order substitution reaction. The kinetics and thermodynamic parameters of these isotopic exchange reactions were determined. The absolute radiochemical yield and radio pharmaceutical purity were determined by HPLC and TLC techniques.

Contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in microlayer and subsurface waters along Alexandria coast, Egypt.

The residues of seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollutants in microlayer and subsurface seawater samples collected from Alexandria coast, Egypt, were analyzed by gas chromatography-electron-impact mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring mode (GC-MS-SIM). The pollutants studied were, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene. Total PAH levels in microlayer ranged from 103 to 523 ng/l, while it ranged in subsurface samples from 13 to 120 ng/l. The Western Harbor location recorded the highest level of PAHs pollutant over all the other location for both subsurface and microlayer waters. The two major PAHs in microlayer water at the Western Harbor were fluorene and phenanthrene, making up 27% and 20% of the total PAHs, while the two major PAHs in subsurface water at the Eastern Harbor were phenanthrene and fluoranthene recording up 21% each of the total PAHs. The total PAH levels were generally in the nano-gram per liter for microlayer and subsurface seawater samples. The dominant PAHs in both subsurface and microlayer samples were fluoranthene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene. The microlayer enrichment factor at Alexandria's Mediterranean coast was ranged from 29 for fluorene to 3 for phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene which showed PAHs concentration in the microlayer with an average of five times more than the total PAH in the subsurface samples.

Bioavailability to rats of 14C-lindane residues in stored potato tubers.

Potato tubers were applied with radiolabelled lindane (U-14C gamma- 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane) at three dose levels 30, 150, and 300 ppm and stored for 30, 60 and 90 days at room temperature. The data revealed that lindane penetrated into the pulp tissues through the epidermal layer. The amounts recovered in the peel were found to increase with a greater storage period up to 60 days followed by a drop at 90 days. On the other hand, there was a slight increase in radioactivity in the pulp tissue from 30 to 60 days followed by significant increase after 90 days. The incorporation of the compound in the tubers was dose independent. Methanol extraction showed binding of about 8.1% and 5.8% of the applied dose in peel and pulp tissues, respectively. The insecticide was found to be bioavailable when rats health hazard. It is therefore, desirable to demonstrate that the quantity of the terminal residues may be safe for the consumer. In the present investigation an attempt was made to determine the fate and bioavailability of lindane when applied to stored potato tubers.

Ten years of experience with patients with chronic active liver disease variceal bleeding: ablative versus selective decompressive therapy.

BACKGROUND: Variceal hemorrhage is an added major threat to survival in patients with chronic active liver disease (CALD). The hemodynamic consequences of surgical therapy and the continued activity of the underlying liver disease both contribute to the hepatic dysfunction and determine patient survival. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy two consecutive cases of (Child A or B) variceal bleeding with chronic hepatitis were surgically treated during a 10-year period. Histologic chronic active hepatitis (CAH) was documented in 160 (59%) patients, whereas chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) was evident in 112 (41%). The applied surgical procedure was distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) in 99 (36%) patients, splenectomy and gastroesophageal devascularization (SGD) in 108 (40%), and splenectomy with left gastric ligation (SLGL) in 65 (24%) patients. The preoperative data base obtained on these patients was matched comparing the three surgical modalities within each pathologic group (p > 0.05). RESULTS: The operative mortality was low among the patients with CAH (DSRS, 5.1%; SGD, 4.2%) with no deaths occurring in the CPH group. Among the individuals with CAH, recurrent variceal hemorrhage occurred significantly (p < 0.05) more often after SLGL (26%) and SGD (17%) than after DSRS (5%). Sclerotherapy rescued 93% (SGD) and 70% (SLGL) of the patients with rebleeding. DSRS significantly (p < 0.05) increased the risk of encephalopathy (28%) compared with SGD (4.2%) and SLGL (8%). The morbidity rates were quite low among the patients with CPH with no significant (p > 0.05) differences noted when the three surgical modalities were compared. Both groups experienced a significant (p < 0.05) increase in aspartate aminotransferase levels after the three procedures with a significant (p < 0.05) increase in bilirubin level occurring only after DSRS. The 5-year survival rate for the patients with variceal bleeding with CAH was 76% (DSRS), 73% (SGD), and 88% (SLGL). The leading causes of death were liver failure after DSRS (70%), variceal hemorrhage after SLGL (60%), and equally divided between septicemia (43%) and liver failure (43%) after SGD. The patients with CPH had a better 5-year survival of 89% (DSRS) and 100% (nonshunt operation). CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that (1) CALD is common among cases of variceal bleeding; (2) elective surgical treatment of variceal hemorrhage in patients with Child A or B CALD has a low operative mortality; (3) SLGL backed up by sclerotherapy is a better surgical alternative to either selective shunt or SGD in patients with active hepatitis, and (4) both DSRS and nonshunt operation are equally good surgical options for patients with CPH.

Transseptal approach for mitral valve surgery. A safe alternative when the need calls.

Within a 40-month period ending in June 1992, we used the transseptal approach in performing mitral valve surgery on 18 patients. The patients selected had 1 or more of the following indications: small left atrium; adhesions from previous cardiac surgery or rheumatic activity; large, organized left atrial thrombus: the need for concomitant tricuspid valve surgery; or any combination of these factors. We made the septal incision in the long axis of the fossa ovalis and extended it anteriorly and posteriorly, taking care not to injure either the aortic root or the coronary sinus. In 15 patients, we easily obtained good mitral exposure; in 3, exposure was still difficult. One patient died, but the cause of death was not related to the surgical approach. Although none of our patients had early postoperative cardiac arrhythmias, the small number in our series and the short follow-up time prevent us from predicting the effect of this incision on late postoperative cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, we recommend limiting the transseptal approach to complex reoperations and to operations necessitating right atriotomy for concomitant procedures. It is also very useful in patients with a large, organized left atrial thrombus. Under these conditions, we conclude that using the transseptal approach for mitral valve surgery is a simple, safe, and time-saving technique.

Lymphatic leishmaniasis. An adult case without visceral involvement from Sharkia Governorate, Egypt.

Lymphatic leishmaniasis was reported as an indigenous infection in a 30 year old male from Abo Hamad, Sharkia, Egypt. Cervical lymphadenopathy was the only clinical sign and no visceral involvement. Diagnosis was based on histopathological examination of needle biopsied material. The patient was successfully treated with sodium stibogluconate as shown clinically and parasitologically. It was concluded that lymphatic leishmaniasis should be in mind when dealing with lymphanopathy of unknown aetiology.

Bioavailability, biological activity and characterization of bound residues of diflubenzuron in wheat.

Wheat grain was treated with radiolabeled diflubenzuron at 100 ppm and stored for various periods; up to 6 months. The grain was surface washed, Soxhlet-extracted with methanol, and the residues determined. A relative constant amount of bound residues (4%), i.e., non-extractable radioactivity, was found 4 months after application and remained constant. More than 97% of the extractable radioactivity in the grain after 6 months was identified as diflubenzuron. When the bound residues were fed to rats, 47% of the administered dose was eliminated via the urine and the remainder via feces within 96 h. Diflubenzuron was the major component in the urine. Adding bound residues to housefly media resulted in a dose-dependent mortality of housefly pupae. Bound residues were biologically active, preventing the emergence of adult houseflies. Supercritical fluid extraction of the bound residues extracted 92% and 96% of the radioactivity associated with grain and feces, respectively. Only diflubenzuron was present in these extracts. The bioavailability and biological activity of bound residues of diflubenzuron have been demonstrated and the identity of the radioactivity was shown to be parent compound. Based on these findings, bound pesticide residues can no longer be ignored or overlooked in the evaluation of pesticide residues and their possible toxicological implications.

Histopathological study of the bilharzial affection on the bladder and ureter.

This study was carried out on 68 cases (50 bilharzial stricture lower ureter, eight vesico-ureteral reflux cases and ten control). In cases of reflux associated with bilharziasis heavy ova-deposition was obvious all through the ureteral wall especially per-ureteral sheath. Also heavy deposition in the bladder wall involved the detrusor and trigonal muscle with fibrosis and obliteration of Waldeyer's space and atrophy and fasciculation of detrusor and trigonal muscle. This implies ureteral rigidity, impaired mobility and compression against a firm detrusor buttress.

Detrusor morphology and pathology in relation to bladder outflow obstruction in bilharzial patients.

The light and electron microscopic structure of detrusor muscle of trabeculated urinary bladder from patients with urodynamically proved bilharzial outflow obstruction had been compared with normal detrusor muscle. In bilharzial outflow obstruction, the detrusor muscle bundles were formed of relatively smaller smooth muscle cells widely separated by dense connective tissue, fatty infiltration, bilharzial ova, inflammatory cells and hyalinosis. No evidence of smooth muscle hyperplasia, mitosis, or fibroblastic proliferation. At the level of electron microscopy. The connective tissue infiltration was proved to be microfibriles apparently in continuity of the basal lamina of the smooth muscle. These pathological changes can explain both the morphological and urodynamic changes in bilharzial urinary bladder outflow obstruction.

Should both schistosomal and nonschistosomal variceal bleeders be disconnected?

Splenopancreatic disconnection (SPD) was conceived and implemented as a technical addition to distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) to maintain its selectivity and preserve portal perfusion. The proposed hemodynamic and metabolic stability of hepatocytes after DSRS-SPD should improve survival. In this nonrandomized study, 145 consecutive (Child A/B) variceal bleeders were electively subjected to selective shunt with DSRS in 93 and DSRS-SPD in 52 patients. The 2 groups were similar before surgery with a mean follow up of 24 +/- 12 (DSRS) and 27 +/- 14 (DSRS-SPD) months. DSRS-SPD had an operative mortality of 3.8%. Postoperative pancreatitis occurred in 7.7% after DSRS-SPD and 3.2% after DSRS alone, with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis representing 86% of morbid cases. Shunt patency was high and recurrent variceal hemorrhage was low in both groups. Clinical encephalopathy was significantly reduced after DSRS-SPD (p less than 0.05). The addition of SPD significantly reduced both the incidence of chronic hyperbilirubinemia in the schistosomal patients (p less than 0.05) and the difference between the changes in total serum bilirubin in all patients (p = 0.001). Portal perfusion was preserved after DSRS-SPD in all of the angiographically-studied patients. The overall survival was 84% after DSRS and 88% after DSRS-SPD. The schistosomal patients showed an incidence of 95% and 96% survival after DSRS and DSRS-SPD, respectively. DSRS-SPD was able to improve survival (92%) better than DSRS (77%) among well-matched nonschistosomal patients. These data show: (1) DSRS-SPD still has low operative mortality and a high patency rate with a low incidence of recurrent variceal hemorrhage, (2) DSRS-SPD maintains portal perfusion, achieves better survival, and reduces the incidence of encephalopathy, especially in patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis and mixed liver disease, (3) in the schistosomal population, DSRS-SPD reduces the incidence of chronic hyperbilirubinemia but increases the risk of postoperative pancreatitis.

Extruded and protruded lumbar discs: combined clinical, histopathological, histochemical, immunopathological, histochemical, immunopathological and ultrastructural studies.

A total number of selected 252 patients with prolapsed lumbar intervertebral discs (92 extruded and 160 protruded) were operated upon in Neurosurgery Department Zagazig University Hospital during the period extended from January, 1988, to October 1990. In this study we reviewed their clinical and operative data. Surgical biopsies were taken from randomly selected 120 patients of them (50 extruded and 70 protruded discs) and were subjected to histopathological, histochemical and immunopathological studies. Ultrastructural study was performed for randomly selected 14 cases (7 extruded and 7 protruded discs). The results were compared with 7 normal intervertebral discs obtained from these studies showed that there were no differences between extruded and protruded discs at the histochemical level. Cell mediated immunity could be added as a factor in the pathogenesis of the degenerative process that lead to disc prolapse (in 20% of cases with extruded discs and 57.1% of cases with protruded discs). At the ultrastructural level 85.3% of extruded discs were prolapsed nucleus pulposus while 14.7% were prolapsed annulus fibrosus alone or with nucleus pulposus. All protruded discs were prolapsed annulus fibrosus with nucleus pulposus. These findings may have an impact on the management of this common problem.