Detection of the Level of Interleukin-8 in the Serum of Burn Patients by ELISA Technique.

Burn injuries are the most frequent injuries in the world, with a death rate of 2.3-3.6%. Children and people of working age constitute 85-90% of the burn cases. Burn injury results in metabolic problems, a generalized inflammatory response, inefficient energy use, and other physiological alternations that may cause organ and system dysfunction and sepsis. Sepsis is mostly caused by multiple organ failures and has unique characteristics in burn injuries, which make it the most dangerous complication of burn injuries. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between sepsis in burn patients and the level of interleukin 8 (IL-8) in their serum. In total, 60 patients with burn injuries were included in this study. Blood samples were obtained from 60 burn patients and 30 healthy individuals as controls. The BacT/Alert and Vitek2 systems were used to identify the bacteria and determine their susceptibility to these bacteria. Moreover, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine IL-8 serum levels. Based on the results, elevated levels of IL-8 were observed in the serum of burn patients, compared to healthy individuals. Concentration of IL-8 was significantly higher in patients with sepsis, compared to healthy individuals without sepsis.

Fluoride content of commercial drinking water and carbonated soft drinks available in Southeastern Nigeria: dental and public health implications.

OBJECTIVE AND AIM: The importance of fluoride in preventing dental diseases cannot be overemphasized. The aim of this study was to determine the fluoride content of commercial bottled water, sachet water and carbonated soft drinks available in Southeastern-Nigeria at the same time, eliciting their dental and public health implications. METHOD: Determination of fluoride level in water and carbonated drinks was carried out using Colorimetric-SPADNS (Trisodium 2-(4-sulfophenylazo)-1, 8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3, 6-disulfonate) method. This is a simple and rapid technique with high accuracy. 10 brands of bottled water, 10 brands of carbonated soft drinks and 20 brands of sachet water were studied. The experiment for each brand was carried out in duplicates and mean fluoride concentrations generated. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17. RESULTS: Fluoride contents in mg/L of bottled water brands ranged from 0.0173 ± 0.0019 mg/L to 0.1607 ± 0.0630 mg/L [mean: 0.0442 ± 0.0184 mg/L] and that of sachet water brands was from 0.0131 ± 0.0019 mg/L to 0.1754 ± 0.1344 mg/L. Mean fluoride content of carbonated soft drinks was 0.0228 ± 0.0064 mg/L with one of the brands having as low as 0.0066 ± 0.0028 mg/L fluoride. CONCLUSION: None of the drinks investigated contained level of fluoride up to standard admissible values suggesting sub-optimal intake. As the suitability of advice on fluoride use in preventing dental abnormalities depends on the individual's total fluoride intake from drinks and other sources, a further study is warranted to relate this total with the baseline decayed missing and filled teeth of the population.

A retrospective analysis of eclampsia as a major cause of maternal and perinatal mortality in Sagamu

Background: While eclampsia remains a leading cause of maternal death in the developing world, the prevalence and case fatality of the condition in the developed world has reduced due to early detection and prompt treatment. The understanding of the factors associated with eclampsia may reduce the burden and enhance the quality of foeto-maternal outcome.Objective: To determine the prevalence of eclampsia and the associated foeto-maternal outcome. Methods: A retrospective study of patients who presented with eclampsia at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) between January 2008 and December 2012 was carried out. The hospital records were retrieved and the data extracted included the age, parity, gestational age at presentation, booking status, mode of delivery, outcome of baby and mother, and the total delivery in the hospital over the period.Results: The prevalence of eclampsia over the period was 1.1%. Eclampsia was common among women aged 25years and below (64.3%), nulliparous women (78.6%) and unbooked (100.0%). Caesarean section was carried out on 63.0% of the patients on account of unfavourable cervix, while 22.2% of patients had spontaneous vagina delivery. Most (96.4%) received magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) therapy but 22.2% convulsed while receiving it. Maternal mortality was 7.1% while perinatal mortality rate was 250/1000 live birth.Conclusion: Eclampsia remains a cause of maternal morbidity and preventable death in the understudied community. Early antenatal booking and the use of MgSO4 are effective in reducing the burden

Application of urea based SNCR system in the combustion effluent containing low level of baseline nitric oxide.

Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) of nitric oxide has been studied experimentally by injecting aqueous urea solution with and without additive in a pilot-scale diesel fired tunnel furnace at 3.4% excess oxygen level and with low ppm of baseline NO(x) ranging from 65 to 75 ppm within the investigated temperature range. The tests have been carried out using commercial grade urea as NO(x) reducing agent and commercial grade sodium carbonate as additive. The furnace simulated the small-scale combustion systems, where the operating temperatures are usually in the range of about 973 to 1323 K and NO(x) emission level remains below 100 ppm. With 5% plain urea solution, at Normalized Stoichiometric Ratio (NSR) of 4 as much as 54% reduction was achieved at 1128 K, whilst in the additive case the NO(x) reduction was improved to as much as 69% at 1093 K. Apart from this improvement, in the additive case, the effective temperature window as well as peak temperature of NO(x) reduction shifted towards lower temperatures. The result is quite significant, especially for this investigated level of baseline NO(x). The ammonia slip measurements showed that in both cases the slip was below 16 ppm at NSR of 4 and optimum temperature of NO(x) reduction. Finally, the investigations demonstrated that urea based SNCR is quite applicable to small-scale combustion applications and commercial grade sodium carbonate is a potential additive.

Human and animal brucellosis in Jordan between 1996 and 1998: a study.

Between 1996 and 1998, a total of 2,494 samples of blood from humans and animals were collected and tested for brucellosis. This total included 1,594 samples of animal blood, collected from 1,050 sheep from 20 flocks, and 544 goats from eight herds. The serum samples were tested using the Rose Bengal test, the tube agglutination test, the complement fixation test and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, a complete history was compiled from each flock/herd. The rate of abortions in sheep due to brucellosis ranged from 0.5% to 56%, with a mean of 33.2%. The goats had a higher abortion rate. Thirty-four aborted sheep foetuses collected from these 20 flocks were bacteriologically and pathologically examined. A pure culture of Brucella melitensis biotype 3 was isolated from 21 of the aborted foetuses. The human blood samples were collected from two groups: first, from 800 apparently healthy people who were reporting to community hospitals for routine health checks and secondly, from 100 people from groups with a high-risk of contracting brucellosis, such as veterinarians, sheep-herders and laboratory technicians. The Brucella antibody titres for the 900 human serum samples were obtained using the microtitre agglutination test. The cumulative percentage of the serum samples showing a titre reading greater than 1:80 was higher in the at-risk group than among the normal population (7% compared to 4.1%). Although these results were not statistically significant, the higher percentage of positive reactors among the high-risk group may indicate an increased risk factor among professional agricultural and veterinary personnel in Jordan. It was concluded that brucellosis is common in sheep and goats in Jordan, subjecting the human population to high risks. Brucella melitensis Rev. 1 vaccination has been internationally recognised as the key to successfully controlling the disease. All animals in Jordan were repeatedly vaccinated between 1996 and 1998 on a trial basis, using a reduced dose of 1 x 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU). Cumulative data on the annual rate of human cases of brucellosis indicate that fewer people are affected each year. The same is true for the rate of abortions in animals. Such evidence strongly suggests that the vaccination programme has been successful. However, as wild strains of Brucella have also been isolated from vaccinated animals, the authors recommend increasing the amount of vaccine to a full dose of 1 to 2 x 10(9) CFU and vaccinating young female animals between the ages of three and eight months. To avoid brucellosis in humans, people should be educated about the dangers of contact with infected animals and the consumption of raw milk and milk products.

In situ measurements of muscle fiber conduction velocity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the muscle fiber conduction velocity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients. METHODS: The muscle fiber conduction velocity of the biceps brachii and tibialis anterior was measured with the needle electrode. Eighteen controls and 32 Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients were studied. Clinical neurological examination, serum cretin kinase level estimation, conventional electromyogram were carried out for every individual and 17 of the Duchene muscular dystrophy patients were biopsied for further histological and histochemical examination. RESULTS: The muscle fiber conduction velocity of the control group showed good reproducibility. The frequent distribution of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy data characterized by multi-peaks curve as compared to the control group. This is demonstrated as significant slowing (P < 0.005) of the muscle fiber conduction velocity in the two muscle examined of the patients group. CONCLUSION: The slowing of the muscle fiber conduction velocity is proposed to be due to the small size of the regenerating and splitting fibers. The multi-peaks frequency distribution curve indicates a great variability in the muscle fiber diameter. The muscle fiber conduction velocity is a useful tool for diagnosing myopathies.

A survey of camel (Camelus dromedarius) diseases in Jordan.

Information on incidences of camel (Camelus dromedarius) diseases in Jordan is scarce. In this survey, 369 live and 156 slaughtered camels were examined in four Jordanian geographic regions and the proportion of diseased camels was calculated. Intestinal parasite ova were detected in 98% of camels; one or more species of external parasites were found on the skin of all camels; 33% had nasal myiasis; and hydatid cysts were identified in 44% of the slaughtered animals. Sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei var. cameli) and trypanasomiasis, two diseases of economic importance, were also diagnosed in 83% and 33% of the 32 and 257 examined camels, respectively. Rabies virus was detected in eight camels by use of fluorescent antibody examination of brain tissues. Foreign-body accumulation within the first and second stomach compartments was the predominant gastrointestinal disease of slaughtered adult camels (22%). Ten percent of slaughtered camels had bacterial pneumonia, with Pasteurella hemolytica most often isolated (56% of pneumonic lungs). Further investigation into the relationship between parasite burden and health in camels is required to assess the significance of the high prevalence of parasites.

Power spectrum analysis and conventional electromyogram in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

OBJECTIVE: A comparative study of automatic electromyogram analysis (power spectral analysis) and manual measurements of the individual motor units potentials parameters in normal and Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients was performed to assess the diagnostic yield of both methods. METHODS: The analysis of 20 motor unit potentials elicited at weak effort manually by visual assessment and by power spectrum analysis at 1400 Hz Haning window were performed with concentric needle electrode in the biceps brachii and tibialis anterior. The study includes 18 healthy controls and 32 Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients. The primary diagnosis of the patients was based on the clinical criteria, family history and serum creatin kinase activity estimation. Seventeen patients were biopsied for further histological and histochemical examination. RESULTS: The conventional electromyogram of the patient group characterized by condensed, low mean amplitude of the recruited pattern and an increase in the percentage of polyphasic potentials of short duration and low amplitude in comparison to the normal subjects. About 74% of the patients were identified as myopathic patients with this method. Power spectrum analysis showed significant increase (P<0.0005) in the mean power frequently and the relative power at 1400 Hz and a significant decrease (P<0.0005) in accumulated power. About 95% of the patients were identified as being myopathic patients by this method. Statistical correlation analysis revealed no relationship between the power spectrum analysis and motor unit potentials parameters. CONCLUSION: The electromyogram power spectra was shifted to the higher frequencies in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients as compared to the control. The diagnostic yield of the electromyogram power spectrum analysis was higher than the measurement of the motor unit potential parameters. The best parameter of the electromyogram power spectrum is the relative power at 1400 Hz than the other two parameters. The net result of this study is that the electromyogram power spectrum has diagnostic possibilities in the muscles, which showed normal, or few motor unit potential changes.

Epizootic lymphangitis in horses: a review of the literature.

Epizootic lymphangitis is a relatively common infectious disease of horses and other liquids in certain parts of the world. The infection rate varies according to the geographic area and the age of the animal. The disease is most commonly characterised by a cord-like appearance of the subcutaneous lymphatic and cutaneous pyogranulomas, the discharge from which contains spherical or pear-shaped bodies of the causal agent, Histoplasma farciminosum. Diagnosis can be made by the demonstration of typical organisms in stained smears, culture and tissue sections. Serological tests and a skin hypersensitivity test have been described. Amphotericin B is the drug of choice for the treatment of clinical cases. An attenuated vaccine and a killed formalized vaccine are available and can be used in endemic areas to control the disease.

Efficacy of closantel plus albendazole liquid suspension against natural infection of gastrointestinal parasites in camels.

Oral administration of closantel in a dose of 10 mg/kg plus albendazole in a dose of 5 mg/kg liquid suspension was studied in 75 camels naturally infected with various types of gastrointestinal parasites. The camels involved were 15 pregnant she-camels, 20 non-pregnant she-camels and 40 male camels of various ages. Each camel received a single oral dose of closantel (10 mg/kg) plus albendazole (5 mg/kg) orally. Two weeks later, 20 camels of this group were re-dosed again with the same dose of the anthelmintic. Fecal samples were collected per rectum from all camels at the time of treatment and again 14 and 42 days post treatment. Fecal egg counts and generic determination of third stage larvae was performed. Results indicated that six different species of gastrointestinal tract parasites were identified in camels. Single treatment of closantel plus albendazole mixture reduced egg counts in camels by 100%, 100%, 98% and 77% for Haemonchus longistipes, Ascaris spp., Monezia expansa and Fasciola hepatica, respectively. However, administration of the drug twice on the base of 2 weeks apart significantly raised the efficacy of the drug for clearance of the parasites from 92.5% to 100% in camels infected with various parasites. Camels were not adversely affected by treatment.

Equine babesiosis associated with strenuous exercise: clinical and pathological studies in Jordan.

Clinical, haematological and pathological studies were undertaken in Jordan in a stud of 103 racing horses clinically suffering from babesiosis and apparently healthy animals. Out of 47 horses which participated in strenuous exercise, three mares showed sudden onset of immobility and reluctance to move and two mares died. Clinical examination revealed that these five horses (group 1) had fever, anorexia, weakness and severe icterus and, in two mares, haemoglobinuria. Haematological examination revealed that all five horses were heavily parasitized with Babesia equi. This was also found in four horses (group 2) with no evidence of clinical babesiosis. In group 3 (94 horses), neither clinical signs nor B. equi were observed in the blood. The horses in group 1 and 2 recovered after treatment with imidocarb. When the mean values of white blood cell count, red blood cell count, haemoglobin and packed cell volume in group 1 were compared with those for groups 2 and 3, a significant difference was found (P < 0.05). A significant difference was also found when the mean values were compared before and after treatment. Examination of serum total protein, bilirubin and serum enzymes revealed a significant decrease in the mean value of total serum protein (P < 0.05), and a significant increase in the mean values of bilirubin (P < 0.05) in group 1 compared to groups 2 and 3. A significant elevation in the mean value of aspartate aminotransaminase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and creatine phosphokinase and a substantial elevation in the mean value of alkaline phosphatase was also observed in group 1 compared to groups 2 and 3. Postmortem examination of the dead horses showed that the animals had icterus, hepatomegaly and full urinary bladder with deep-red urine. Histopathological examination of the liver showed massive centrilobular degeneration and necrosis. The bile canaliculi and bile ducts were prominent and plugged with dark-brown to canary-coloured bile pigments. The lungs had congestion, oedema, and thrombosis of pulmonary veins. Our results suggest that the horses suffered from B. equal with clinical manifestation following exercise. The clinical, haematological and pathological findings indicate that the animals suffered from haemolytic anaemia which responded to imidocarb therapy.

Foetal anasarca in Awassi sheep.

Two anasarcous foetuses of Awassi sheep are described. The foetuses were removed from the dams by caesarean section because of dystocia due to failure of cervical dilation. Uterine incision was made in situ because uteri were so distended they could not be brought out from the site of incision. Large quantities of uterine fluids and abnormal thick placentas were found. One foetus weighed about 7 kg and the other 13 kg. The foetal heads were deformed: the upper jaw was prognathic and the left ear of the small foetus was cystic. Necropsy revealed subcutaneous musculature was soft and flabby and abdominal and thoracic cavities contained serosanguinous fluid. Histopathological examination revealed that only the larger foetus had focal aggregates of basophilic nucleated red blood cells and scattered megakaryocytes in the liver. We conclude that anasarca can occur in Awassi sheep, with and without associated extramedullary haematopoiesis.

Epidemiologic aspects of pre-eclampsia in Saudi Arabia.

Pre-eclampsia is pregnancy induced hypertension of unknown aetiology. There is a paucity of maternal data on the disease from this region and this study was undertaken to identify maternal and possible aetiologic factors associated with the disease in the north western region of Saudi Arabia. Seven hundred and five consecutive maternities which delivered from October 1990 till January 1991 at the Armed Forces Hospital were analysed. 2.8% of women in this community study developed pre-eclampsia. Women at extremes of maternal age, the nulliparous and high parity women; women with high body mass index, blood group O and those with no antenatal care or late booking in this study were at greater risk of developing pre-eclampsia when compared with controls who delivered in the same period. Of the babies born to mothers with pre-eclampsia, 46.7% were of low birthweight (< 2500g) while only 10.4% of controls were low birthweight. It is concluded that mothers with pre-eclampsia have to be identified early. Potential modifiable factors include reducing pregnancies at extremes of maternal age, among high parity women and encouraging early booking as well as regular attendance at the antenatal clinic.

Drug information centers as bases for continuing education programs in Kuwait.

Over the past few years, there has been a modernization of pharmaceutical services in Kuwait. In 1983 a drug information center was opened. A one-year postgraduate, long-distance program leading to a diploma in clinical pharmacy was started in October 1987 in cooperation with Queen's University of Belfast, Ireland. Pharmacist and physician tutors were assigned to supervise students in the major hospitals in Kuwait. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 50 practicing pharmacists to assess the feasibility of using the Drug Information Center at Adan Hospital (DICAH) as a base for continuing education programs. Although certain difficulties were identified, it was concluded that the DICAH has the potential to be used as a base for future continuing education for pharmacists in Kuwait, especially as there is no school of pharmacy in the country.

Udder edema in cattle: effects of diuretics (furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, acetazolamide, and 50% dextrose) on serum and urine electrolytes.

Blood and urine chemical values at parturition in clinically normal Holstein cows (n = 12) were compared with the same values in Holstein cows developing udder edema (n = 12). There was no statistically significant mean difference between the 2 groups for the serum and urine chemical data. Furosemide (500 mg) given IV caused a significant increase in serum calcium and sodium, urine chloride, potassium, and sodium, and fractional excretional ratio of chloride, potassium, and sodium. There was a significant mean decrease in the serum potassium, urine creatinine, osmolality, pH, and specific gravity. Hydrochlorothiazide (250 mg) given IV caused a significant mean increase in serum chloride, urine chloride, potassium, and sodium, and fractional excretion ratio of chloride, potassium, and sodium. There was a significant mean decrease in serum potassium and sodium, urine osmolality, pH, and specific gravity. Acetazolamide (500 mg) given IV caused a significant mean increase in blood urea nitrogen, serum chloride and glucose, urine sodium, and fractional excretion ratio of sodium, while causing a significant mean decrease in serum potassium, sodium, and phosphorus, and urine creatinine. Dextrose (500 g) given IV as a 50% solution caused a statistical mean increase in serum glucose, urine chloride, potassium, and sodium, and fractional excretion ratio of chloride and potassium. A statistical mean decrease occurred in the packed cell volume, blood urea nitrogen, serum calcium, potassium, sodium, and phosphorus, urine creatinine, osmolality, and pH.

Absence of mutagenic activity of acidity regulators in the Ames Salmonella/microsome test.

The activities of various concentrations of 4 acidity regulators (anhydrous citric acid, phosphoric acid, malic acid and lactic acid) used in food industries in Iraq was assayed using the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assay. None of the samples was mutagenic in the absence or in the presence of S9 to any of the tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium.

Purification and characterization of pyocins R from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Five types of pyocins were found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 112. Production of these types was induced by UV irradiation. The pyocin activity was found to be resistant to trypsin treatment. Their molar mass was found to be 282, 251, 112, 89.1 and 54.9 kg/mol, respectively. The pyocins obtained were different from any known type (such as R, S, F) in their chemical and physical properties.

Udder edema in cattle: effect of furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, acetazolamide, or 50% dextrose on venous blood pressure.

Before injection of diuretic drugs, blood pressures were determined in the cranial superficial epigastric veins (milk vein) and jugular veins of 15 Holstein cows with udder edema at parturition and of 15 healthy (control) cows at parturition. Cows with udder edema had a significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) mean increase in cranial superficial epigastric venous pressure at parturition, compared with that of control cows. After IV administration of 500 mg of furosemide in cows with udder edema, the mean cranial superficial epigastric venous blood pressure significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) decreased within 5 minutes, remained at the decreased pressure for 90 minutes, and then returned to near pretreatment pressures by 210 minutes after furosemide injection; however, furosemide did not significantly affect the jugular venous blood pressure of these cows. Furosemide injection did not significantly affect the cranial superficial epigastric or jugular venous blood pressure in the control cows. After IV administration of hydrochlorothiazide (250 mg), acetazolamide (500 mg), or 50% dextrose (500 g), the cranial superficial epigastric and jugular venous blood pressures in cows with udder edema at parturition were not significantly different from those in cows without udder edema at parturition during the 210-minute evaluation period after injection of the drugs.

Pyocyanin preparation from Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from heterogeneous clinical materials.

Pure pyocyanin was prepared from 120 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from different clinical specimens. The modified method used increased the purification 425-fold. The spectra of pyocyanin of all strains were found to be identical with a single major peak at 363 nm. The only difference between these spectra appeared to be the level value absorbance. Strains recovered from different clinical specimens differ in their ability for pigment production. The strains isolated from urine produced higher amounts of pyocyanin than other isolates.