Topical 5-fluorouracil for granular myringitis: a double-blinded study.

BACKGROUND: Granular myringitis is a poorly understood disease which causes considerable discomfort and concern to affected individuals. Some cases may progress to inflammatory obliteration of the deep ear canal. Treatment options are diverse, and no single accepted treatment modality exists. Local application of 5-fluorouracil has recently been trialled in the treatment of chronic otitis media, with promising results. AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of topical 5-fluorouracil in cases of granular myringitis. METHODS: Sixty patients with granular myringitis were enrolled in this controlled, double-blinded study. Patients were divided randomly into two equal groups. Patients in the study group (n = 30) received three successive applications of topical 5-fluorouracil 5 per cent cream, with two-week intervals between treatments. Patients in the control group (n = 30) received only local petroleum jelly cream packing at the same intervals. Follow-up appointments were scheduled every two weeks for the first three months; patients were then seen again after two years for evaluation of any persistent disease. Outcome measures were: (1) after three months, symptomatic response to treatment (i.e. quantity of aural discharge as reported by patient) and change in the amount of granulation tissue (as assessed by the physician via endoscopic examination); and (2) persistent disease after two years. RESULTS: There was a highly statistically significant difference in the studied outcomes, comparing the study and control groups. CONCLUSION: Local application of 5-fluorouracil is a new treatment method for granular myringitis. In this study, it proved safe and efficacious, with no serious local reactions or complications.

Schistosoma mansoni hepatic fibrosis in Syrian golden hamsters: effect of dose and duration of infection as shown by immunohistopathological studies.

In this work, 180 Syrian golden hamsters were infected with Schistosoma mansoni and 30 cross matched for age and sex served as control. Infected hamsters were divided into six main groups according to the number of infected cercariae (20, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 cercariae). Each group was sub-divided into 5 subgroups, according to the duration of infection after which animals were sacrificed (4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 weeks). Control and infected hamsters were subjected to laboratory evaluation of serum albumin, S. globulin and A/G ratio and histopathological examination of the liver and splenic tissues. A significant reduction of albumin was observed in Schistosma infected hamster (50 cercariae or more) but not in the control ones and those infected with 20 cercariae. There was a significant correlation between these changes and the duration of infection and the number of adult worms recovered from the mesenteric circulation at the end of the experiments. Histopathologic evaluation showed appearance of the circulating schistosome antigens, circulating anodic antigen (CAA), and circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) deposits in the liver by the 14th week after infection; liver granuloma, amyloid deposits, fibrosis, Schistosma pigments as well as inflammatory infiltration was observed at 8-12th week and amyloid deposits, CAA & CCA in the spleen was observed nearly at the same time.

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.

Histopathological picture of two cases of ectopic fascioliasis in Mansoura, Dakhalia.

Two cases of ectopic fascioliasis were reported. The first case was detected in a haematoma in the anterior abdominal wall in a diabetic patient, the second was in an abscess in the upper part of the thigh. The clinical and laboratory findings were discussed.

Malabsorption syndrome in patients with cryptosporidiosis.

Out of 130 patients presenting with gastroenteritis, oocysts of Cryptosporidium species were detected in the faecal samples of 10 persons (7.69%). The prevalence of the parasite was higher among rural inhabitants (11.47%) than city dwellers (4.35%), particularly in the young age. The parasite lead to impairment of the intestinal absorptive function as indicated by the significant change in the fat in stools and the decreased excretion of D-xylose.

Human fascioliasis: a parasitic health problem in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

Fascioliasis has a cosmopolitan distribution and is prevalent in sheep-raising countries. Now, it is an increasingly important parasite of man in the Mediterranean countries. In Dakahlia G., human fascioliasis has imposed itself as a parasitic health problem. In this paper, 23 human cases were selected to throw some light on the signs, symptoms and diagnosis of the disease. It was concluded that painful hepatomegaly, fever, anaemia and marked eosinophilia are tetrad suggesting fascioliasis in patient who has consumed watercress as green salade. Data concerning treatment and follow up will be published later.