Study of trichomoniasis among Egyptian male patients.

In the present study, Trichomonas vaginalis was diagnosed in 28.8% male patients with urethral discharge and in 8.2% suffering from impotence and infertility. Diagnosis was based on examination of urethral discharge, urine, semen and prostatic massage fluid by wet mount, stained films and culture inoculation. Diamond's culture proved to be the method of choice.

Effect of anti-schistosomal treatment on schistosomal hepatic pathology: an experimental study in Syrian golden hamsters.

Thirty Syrian golden hamsters were infected with Schistosoma mansoni and 10 were used as negative controls. Hamsters were infected by 100 cercariae; 15 were treated by praziquantel in doses of 100 mg/kg at 12, 13, 14 and 15 weeks postinfection, and 15 hamsters were left as positive control. Five from each subgroup were sacrificed at 24, 28 and 32 weeks after infection. Animals were subjected to weekly analysis for total plasma protein, serum albumin and urinary total protein excretion. At the end point, animals were sacrificed and the mesenteric venous plexus was explored for adult worms. Liver and splenic specimens were examined by light microscopy, and immunofluorescence microscopy. Complete parasite eradication was achieved in the treated animals. Although, there were significantly higher plasma total protein and albumin in the treated group, there was no significant differences in proteinuria. Histopathological examination of liver specimens showed highly significant reduction of granulomas, CAA and CCA, while amyeloid deposition showed minimal reduction in treated animals. Histopathological examination of splenic specimens showed highly significant reduction of fibrosis, granulomas, CAA and CCA, while follicular hyperplasia and amyeloid deposition showed non significant reduction.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (cachectin) in human visceral leishmaniasis.

Generally speaking, the cell mediated immunity plays a pivotal role in the host resistance against the protozoal parasite of the genus Leishmania. The polypeptide hormone cachectin (Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha) which is produced mainly by macrophages, is a primary mediator in the pathogenesis of infection, injury and inflammation. Depending on its concentration, duration of cell exposure and presence of other mediators in the cellular environment, the net biological effect of this peptide regulatory factor may ultimately be benefit or injury to the host. This work aimed to study the tumour necrosis factor-alpha as measured by Quantikine human immunoassay Kits using ELISA technique in Egyptian visceral leishmaniasis patients (VL). The severity of VL. was measured by IHAT Cellognost Kits. The results showed a certain type of correlation between elevated serum TNF-alpha and human visceral leishmaniasis. It was concluded that TNF-a is an important factor in the pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis and may be a marker or an indicator of the VL. activity.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) in zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Generally speaking, the cell mediated immunity plays a pivotal role in the host resistance against the protozoal parasite Leishmania species. On the other hand, TNF-a (Cachectin) is a protein produced mainly by macrophages, with wide range of biological activities and may be important in inflammatory processes. Also, it plays the important role in some infectious diseases. In the present study, TNF-alpha was measured in the sera of 30 parasitologically proved zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). Serum TNF-alpha was elevated in 4/30 (13.3%) of the patients. However, it was not elevated in 26/30 of the patients as well as in 15 normal control. It was concluded that the TNF-alpha did not correlate with the number, site and/or duration of the lesion (s), but with high serum level of indirect haemagglutination tests associated with the severity of ZCL.

Evaluation of two cultural media (CPLM & TYM) for isolation and maintenance of Trichomonas vaginalis stocks in the laboratory.

Five hundreds vaginal discharge specimens were inoculated simultaneously in 2 axenic culture media (CPLM & TYM), in order to compare their ability to isolate and to maintain the growth of T. vaginalis in the laboratory. While both media were found to be equally good in detecting the organisms in vaginal discharges, yet, T. vaginalis stocks were maintained for a longer time in TYM medium (one year), than in the CPLM medium (2 weeks). The yields of the parasites with different inocula subcultured and after different incubation periods were counted in the TYM medium.

Characterization of Egyptian isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis I. Isoenzyme patterns.

Three T. vaginalis isolates from Egypt were compared for their isoenzyme electrophoretic patterns on cellulose acetate. The enzymes studied were: glucose-6-dehydrogenase (G6PD); malate dehydrogenase (MDH); phosphoglucomutase (PGM); glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI); malic enzyme (ME); hexokinase (HK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The three isolates shared the same isoenzyme banding patterns of MDH; GPI; HK and LDH. Two of these isolates were similar in their banding patterns of G6PD, PGM and different from those of the third isolate. The latter was similar to one of the two isolates and different from the other in the ME isoenzyme patterns.

Characterization of Egyptian isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis: I. Serotyping.

Antitrichomonal hyperimmune sera against T. vaginalis stocks isolated from Egyptian female patients were employed for serological differentiation of somatic and soluble antigens in the Ouchterlony gel double immunodiffusion technique. It was concluded that soluble trichomonal antigens present in association with living flagellates are stock--specific reacting with some, but not all the antitrichomonal hyperimmune sera, while those present in association with dead parasites are common antigens reacting with all the sera. Three stocks, E1, E2 and E3 could be differentiated into two strains using their stock--specific antigens. The somatic antigens of six trichomonal stocks reacted with all the hyperimmune sera denoting common antigenic make up.

In-vitro study of physostigmine salicylate and pilocarpine hydrochloride release from different gel formulations.

Effect of methylcellulose and polyethylene glycol (PEG1 and PEG2) gel formulations on in-vitro release of combination of 0.25% w/w physostigmine salicylate and 1% w/w pilocarpine hydrochloride was investigated in comparison with a fatty base containing the same drugs by using a stationary dialysis technique. The results showed that the release of both drugs was very slow from the fatty base while a maximum release was attained from methylcellulose gel formulation followed by PEG1 and then PEG2 gel formulations as indicated by the calculated area under curves (AUC) for the amounts of drugs released from different formulations.

In Vivo performance of ophthalmic preparations of betamethasone and phenylephrine hydrochloride in the rabbit eye: Effect of polyvinyl alcohol.

The effect of different concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol 14000 and 72000 (PVA 14 and 72) on the activity of betamethasone and phenylephrine hydrochloride in the rabbit eye was investigated. The polymer of higher molecular weight exerts a more pronounced effect at relatively lower viscosities. Effects on the intraocular pressure are more responsive to changes in viscosity than those on pupillary response.

Availability studies on acetylsalicylic acid, salicylamide and phenacetin at different pH values.

The optimum partitioning rate of acetylsalicylic acid has been attained at pH = 4 and minimum partitioning rate was found to be at pH = 8. The maximum partitioning rate of salicylamide was observed at pH = 5 and the smallest one was found at pH = 6 or 8. At pH = 3 a maximum amount of phenacetin was found in the aqueous phase, while at pH = 6 a maximum amount was found in the octanolic layer. The maximum partitioning rate was found at pH = 6 and lowest one was observed at pH = 3. The gastrointestinal absorption of acetylsalicylic acid, salicylamide and phenacetin was significantly increased, as reflected by the urinary excretion data in presence of solid buffer components at pH values of 4,5 and 6 respectively.

Effect of certain additives on the diffusion characteristics through a cellophane membrane of acetylsalicylic acid, salicylamide and phenacetin. Part 1: Effect of certain surface active agents.

The diffusion rate (D. R.) of certain ionic and non-ionic surfactant concentrations through a standard cellophane membrane was studied. D. R. of acetylsalicylic acid significantly increased in the presence of 0.1% w/v Brij 35, Tween 20 or 40 respectively. The other tested surfactants slightly increased D. R. of acetylsalicylic acid, while that of salicylamide increased in presence of 0.1% w/v of either Tween 20, 40, 60 or 80; Myrj 52 or 59; Brij 58; benzalkonium chloride, cetrimide or sodium lauryl sulphate. The highest D. R. of phenacetin was observed in presence of either 0.01% w/v Tween 20 or 0.001% w/v Brij 35.

Effect of various disintegrants on the availability of directly compressed sulphadimidine tablets.

Sulphadimidine tablets were prepared using 50% w/w of the following vehicles, Celutab, anhydrous lactose and Avicel. Various disintegrants 5% w/w were also incorporated e.g. Primojel, Veegum F, Amberlite, STA-Rx, Meprogat and Alginate YZ. It was found that the disintegration time of the various tablets containing different disintegrants was considerably decreased. The disintegrants increased also the dissolution rate of the various tablet formulations containing sulphadimidine by different extent. The variations in the dissolution rate among the various tablet formulations may be due to the difference in the nature of the disintegrants and their mechanism of action and possibly their interactions with the drug or the vehicle.

A study on the release of prednisone from new ointment bases containing various additives.

The effect of various additives on the release of prednisone from new ointment bases, was investigated. It was found that the rate of release of prednisone was greater from the oil in water emulsion ointment base that both the water in oil or oleagenous bases. The incorporation of water in the water in oil emulsion base decreased the rate of diffusion of prednisone than any of the other additives used. It was also concluded that the best release of prednisone was obtained from the bases which were of similar nature to the diffusion medium. Other factors such as the characteristics of bases and the additives as well as their effect upon the solubility of the drug in the mixture may play a part.