IMPACT OF METFORMIN ON OSTEOPROTEGERIN LEVELS IN POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN WOMEN.

Metformin is an important agent in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treatment. Osteoblast express osteoprotegerin (OPG) which has integral effects on bone metabolism nexus. This cross-sectional research sought to identify the impact of metformin therapy on serum level osteoblast express osteoprotegerin and prolactin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: 30 patients with PCOS and 30 controls. The current study revealed that prolactin levels were increased in PCOS group compared to control group which is highly significant. While after treatment with metformin prolactin level was reduced significantly in than before treatment. Osteoprotegerin concentrations were considerably dropped in the PCOS group contrasted with the control group. Conversely, serum osteoprotegerin in metformin-treated group were higher compared to PCOS group. Osteoblast express osteoprotegerin level increased after 3 months of treatment with metformin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Immune Response and Histological Changes in Broilers Chickens Vaccinated with Mycoplasma gallisepticum Vaccines.

Mycoplasma is unique among prokaryotes because of its small size, small genomes, and complete lack of cell walls, which makes them cell wall-less prokaryotes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vaccinating one-day-old chicks with inactivated and live vaccines (CRDF) of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) on their humoral immune response and immune organs. The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay was used to measure Ab titers and investigate histopathological changes. A total of 130 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups of 30. The groups were treated as follows: G1 included the chicks vaccinated with live F-strain MG vaccine (on eye drop of 0.03ml/dose), G2 included the chicks vaccinated with inactivated MG (0.3 ml s.c) vaccine, G3 included the chicks vaccinated with inactivated and live MG vaccines, and G4 was considered the control group, in which the chicks were not vaccinated. Blood samples were collected on days 21 and 35 of the chick's life to measure the titers of specific antibodies. On day 35, the chicks were dissected, and the bursa of Fabricius, as well as the spleen, were removed for histological evaluations. On day 21, the results showed a significant difference (P≤0.05) between all vaccinated groups in Ab titers, compared to G4, with the highest mean in G3, followed by G2 and G1, in descending order. On day 35, there was a significant difference (P≤0.05) between G3 and other vaccinated groups (G2 and G1), as well as G4. In addition, there was a significant increase in all vaccinated groups on day 35, compared to day 21. In G1, histopathological examination results showed a moderate lymphocytic hyperplasia bursal follicle. In G2, varying degrees of lymphoproliferative were observed in the major bursal follicle, and in G3, a marked lymphocytic hyperplasia bursal follicle was observed. In G4, on the other hand, no obvious histopathological findings were recorded. The results of the spleen histopathological evaluation showed various degrees of lymphoproliferative and moderate neutrophilic infiltrate in the red pulp in G1, and mild sinus congestion with scattered lymphocytes was recorded in the lumen in G2. In the spleen of the chicks in G3, reactive lymphoid hyperplasia was observed. In contrast to the groups mentioned above, in G4, the spleen structure showed a typical structure. It was concluded that the chicks vaccinated with inactivated and live MG vaccines experienced increased production of Ab titers and the immune stimulation of immune organs.

Modeling of daily confirmed Saudi COVID-19 cases using inverted exponential regression.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the coronavirus strain has had massive global impact, and has interrupted economic and social activity. The daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia are shown to be affected by some explanatory variables that are recorded daily: recovered COVID-19 cases, critical cases, daily active cases, tests per million, curfew hours, maximal temperatures, maximal relative humidity, maximal wind speed, and maximal pressure. Restrictions applied by the Saudi Arabia government due to the COVID-19 outbreak, from the suspension of Umrah and flights, and the lockdown of some cities with a curfew are based on information about COVID-15. The aim of the paper is to propose some predictive regression models similar to generalized linear models (GLMs) for fitting COVID-19 data in Saudi Arabia to analyze, forecast, and extract meaningful information that helps decision makers. In this direction, we propose some regression models on the basis of inverted exponential distribution (IE-Reg), Bayesian (BReg) and empirical Bayesian regression (EBReg) models for use in conjunction with inverted exponential distribution (IE-BReg and IE-EBReg). In all approaches, we use the logarithm (log) link function, gamma prior and two loss functions in the Bayesian approach, namely, the zero-one and LINEX loss functions. To deal with the outliers in the proposed models, we apply Huber and Tukey's bisquare (biweight) functions. In addition, we use the iteratively reweighted least squares (IRLS) algorithm to estimate Bayesian regression coefficients. Further, we compare IE-Reg, IE-BReg, and IE-EBReg using some criteria, such as Akaike's information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), deviance (D), and mean squared error (MSE). Finally, we apply the collected data of the daily confirmed from March 23 - June 21, 2020 with the corresponding explanatory variables to the theoretical findings. IE-EBReg shows good model for the COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia compared with the other models.

Prevalence of diabetes, management and outcomes among Covid-19 adult patients admitted in a specialized tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This retrospective study aimed to characterize comorbidities and associated with mortality among hospitalized adults with Covid-19 managed as perthe Saudi Ministry of Health protocol in a specialized tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Medical records of 300 adult patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV2 infection and admitted in King Salman Hospital (KSH) from May 1 to July 31, 2020 were included. Medical history, management and outcomes were noted. Males significantly outnumber females (259 versus 41). South Asians comprise 41% of all admitted patients. Mortality rate was 10% and highest among Saudi males (28.9%). Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was the most common comorbidity (45.7%). Almost all patients (99%) had pneumonia. Patients > 50 years were three times more likely to die (confidence interval, CI 1.3-6.9; p = 0.01) from Covid-19. Congestive heart failure (odds ratio OR 19.4, CI-1.5-260.0; p = 0.02) and acute kidney injury (OR 11.7, CI-4.7-28.6; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with higher mortality. Dexamethasone use significantly improved the final outcome based on net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) (p < 0.05). In this single-center study, T2DM was very common among hospitalized Covid-19 patients. Patients > 50 years, those with congestive heart failure and acute kidney injury are at higher risk for worse Covid-19 outcome.

The role of Caesarean section in childhood asthma.

OBJECTIVE: As indicated by previous studies, children born via Caesarean section may have an increased risk of developing asthma compared with those born via vaginal delivery. The aim of this study is to assess the association between a Caesarean section and the risk of childhood asthma. Methods: This was a case-control study carried out in Basrah, Iraq including 952 children aged 3-12 years. Four hundred and seven asthmatic cases and a control group of 545 age-matched non-asthmatic children were enrolled. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between asthma and birth via Caesarean section. RESULTS: The mean age of the children was 6.7±2.5 years. Two-hundred eighty-three children (29.7%) were delivered via Caesarean section. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that delivery via Caesarean section was found to be an independent significant risk factor for asthma (OR=3.37; 95% CI=1.76-6.46; p<0.001). In addition, many other risk factors were found to be significant predictors of asthma, including bottlefeeding (OR=27.29; 95% CI=13.54-54.99; p<0.001) and low birth weight (OR=16.7; 95% CI=6.97-37.49; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Caesarean section is significantly associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma.

Phytochemical evaluation of roots of Plumbago zeylanica L. and assessment of its potential as a nephroprotective agent.

Search for medicinal plants to treat kidney disorders is an important topic on phytotherapeutical research. Plumbago zeylanica L. is an important medicinal plant with hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. In the present study, the protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of P. zeylanica (HAPZ) in cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity was analyzed in Swiss albino mice. Treatment with higher dose (400 mg/kg) of HAPZ significantly reversed the adverse effect of cisplatin on kidney weight, serum urea and creatinine, indicating their renoprotective effect. The antioxidant effect of the drug is evident from its significant effect on Catalase, Glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation activities.

Chemical composition, quality and histochemical characteristics of individual dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) muscles.

This study characterized the chemical composition, quality and histological traits of six muscles from 10 dromedary carcasses. There were significant differences in moisture, fat, protein, mineral, saturated and unsaturated fatty acid contents between muscles. The longissimus thoracis (LT) had the highest cooking loss (33.5%) and triceps brachii (TB) the lowest (29.2%). The shear force value of semitendinosus (ST), semimembranosus (SM) and biceps femoris (BF) were significantly higher than infraspinatus (IS), TB and LT. The LT had significantly higher values for L*, a*, b* than ST. The SM had the lowest MFI (65.3), while IS had the highest value (75.8). The ST significantly had the highest and lowest proportions of Type I and Type IIA muscle fibers, respectively than other muscles. This study indicated that composition, quality, and histochemical parameters varied among camel muscles and the knowledge of this variation allows for better marketing and processing of camel meat.

Microbial content of Yarmuk River and King Abdulla Canal waterways in Jordan.

AIM: The aim of this study was to monitor the microbiological contamination of the water of Yarmuk River (YR) and King Abdulla Canal (KAC) in Jordan for 6 months (June-November 2000) for their aerobic plate count, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, fecal Streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, fungi, algae, and protozoa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Water samples were collected monthly for 6 months (June-November 2000) from three generally representable locations of each of YR and KAC. The procedures of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water were, in general, used. RESULTS: The average counts in log colony forming units/ml water were 5.4, 4.9 aerobic plate counts; 3.4, 3.5 total coliforms; 2.0, 1.9 fecal coliforms; 1.7, 1.6 S.aureus; and 1.7, 1.7 fungi (molds and yeasts), respectively. The presumptive tests for Salmonellae were positive in all samples of the two waterways. Average algae and protozoa counts during 4 months (July-October) in 5-l water samples as log/liter were 6.7, 6.9 in Yarmuk River and 3.2, 3.4 in King Abdulla Canal, respectively. The microbial contents of the sediments of the two waterways and temperature, pH, electric conductivity, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen were also recorded. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: From the public point of view, the microbial water quality of the two waterways is not suitable for drinking before treatment; it is, however, suitable for agricultural restricted irrigation.

Management of stab wounds of the heart: analysis of 73 cases in 10 years.

BACKGROUND: Stab wounds of the heart still cause a significant number of traumatic deaths every year. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of patients with cardiac stab wounds requiring emergency thoracotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Preoperative and operative variables were reviewed for all patients treated at the Mansoura Emergency Hospital between August 1998 and July 2008. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients were treated for stab wounds of the heart. Of these 69 were male (94.5 %) and only 4 were female (5.5 %). Mean patient age was 28.5 +/- 5.8 years. The clinical status was stable in 22 patients (30.1 %) and unstable in 26 patients (35.6 %), while 10 patients were in shock (13.7 %), and 15 patients had suffered cardiac arrest prior to thoracotomy (20.6 %). Emergency room (ER) thoracotomy was performed in 18 patients (24.7 %) and operative room (OR) thoracotomy was carried out in 55 patients (75.3 %). The commonest location of stab wounds to the heart was the right ventricle in 28 patients (38.4 %) followed by the left ventricle in 25 patients (34.2 %). Mortality was 23.3 % (17 patients), and morbidity was 21.4 % (12 patients out of 56 surviving patients). Prognostic factors included clinical status (patients in shock or cardiac arrest had a mortality rate of 50 % and 60 %, respectively), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR; mortality rate: 68.2 %) and ER thoracotomy (mortality rate: 66.7 %). CONCLUSION: Clinical status as shock, CPR and ER thoracotomy were prognostic of a poor outcome and associated with high mortality rates.

The expression and function of IGFBP-3 in normal and malignant breast tissue.

The mitogenic and anti-apoptotic effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are regulated by a family of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs), particularly IGFBP-3. Little is known about the IGF-independent role of IGFBP-3 in breast cancer and the mechanisms regulating its production. The expression of IGFBP-3 in paired malignant and adjacent normal (n=53), and healthy normal (n=17) breast tissue samples was investigated using RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and ELISA. We compared IGFBP-3 expression with other members of the IGF-I axis, other known tumorigenic genes and clinicopathological parameters. We also developed a novel tissue explant system using fresh normal and malignant breast tissue, with which we examined the in vitro effects of IGFBP-3 alone and in combination with known apoptotic agent, doxorubicin (n=6), on tissue viability and apoptosis. We demonstrated a high level of expression of IGFBP-3 mRNA in all samples. 96% of samples also expressed IGFBP-3 protein. No significant correlation was seen between IGFBP-3 expression and other clinicopathological parameters. The in vitro tissue explant system demonstrated that IGFBP-3 had little effect by itself on apoptosis. However, when used in combination with doxorubicin, increased apoptosis was seen in tumours. In contrast, less apoptosis was seen in normal tissue suggesting a protective effect. These divergent effects suggest a potential novel chemotherapeutic approach in the treatment of breast cancer. These findings suggest that IGFBP-3 may play a role in tumorigenesis, and that IGFBP-3 levels could be used in the future in cancer risk assessment/prevention or as markers of response to cancer treatments.

Effects of electrical stimulation on histochemical muscle fiber staining, quality, and composition of camel and cattle Longissimus thoracis muscles.

The effects of electrical stimulation on muscle fiber type, meat quality, and composition of Longissimus thoracis muscles from one-humped camels and Dofari Omani cattle of a comparable age range were investigated. A low-voltage electrical stimulation with 90 V, 14 Hz (pulse of 7.5-millisecond duration every 70 milliseconds) 20 min postmortem was applied. Samples from the left muscle were collected from 20 (2 to 3 y) camels and 24 cattle (1 to 3 y). For chemical composition, muscle samples were dried in a freeze dryer, and then ground to determine moisture, protein, fat, and ash. Macro- and micro-minerals were determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometer. Quality characteristics of the meat were evaluated using shear force value, pH, sarcomere, myofibrillar fragmentation index, expressed juice, cooking loss percent, and CIE L*, a*, b* color values. Electrical stimulation resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) more rapid pH fall in the muscle during the first 24 h after slaughter in both species. Muscles from electrically stimulated carcasses had significantly (P < 0.05) lower ultimate pH, longer sarcomere, and lower shear force values than those from nonstimulated carcasses. Lightness (L*), myofibrillar fragmentation, and expressed juice were significantly (P < 0.05) higher for stimulated than for nonstimulated muscles. Muscles of camels had significantly (P < 0.05) higher expressed juice, cooking loss percent, redness color (a*), and lower fat, Mg, K, and P than those from cattle. Electrical stimulation improved quality characteristics of meat from both species. This indicates that meat quality of local camel and cattle can be improved by electrical stimulation and consequently improves their acceptability to consumers and better marketability.

Effect of low voltage electrical stimulation on biochemical and quality characteristics of Longissimus thoracis muscle from one-humped Camel (Camelus dromedaries).

The effects of electrical stimulation (90V) 20min post mortem on meat quality and muscle fibre types of four age group camels (1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 years) camels were assessed. Quality of the Longissimus thoracis at 1 and 7 days post mortem ageing was evaluated using shear force, pH, sarcomere length, myofibrillar fragmentation index, expressed juice, cooking loss and L(∗), a(∗), b(∗) colour values. Age of camel and electrical stimulation had a significant effect on meat quality of L. thoracis. Electrical stimulation resulted in a significantly (P<0.05) more rapid pH fall in muscle during the first 24h after slaughter. Muscles from electrically-stimulated carcasses had significantly (P<0.05) lower pH values, longer sarcomeres, lower shear force value, higher expressed juice and myofibrillar fragmentation index than those from non-stimulated ones. Electrically-stimulated meat was significantly (P<0.05) lighter in colour than non-stimulated based on L(∗) value. Muscles of 1-3 year camels had a significantly (P<0.05) lower shear force value, and pH, but longer sarcomere, and higher myofibrillar fragmentation index, expressed juice, and lightness colour (L(∗)) than those of the 10-12 years camels. The proportions of Type I, Type IIA and Type IIB were 25.0, 41.1 and 33.6%, respectively were found in camel meat. Muscle samples from 1-3 year camels had significantly (P<0.05) higher Type I and lower Type IIB fibres compared to those from 10-12 year camel samples. These results indicated that age and ES had a significant effect on camel meat quality.

Clinical biomicroscopy versus fluorescein angiography: effectiveness and sensitivity in detecting diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To compare diagnostic effectiveness and sensitivity of the two methods of screening for diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Prospective analytic study comparing diabetic retinopathy grading obtained from clinical slit lamp biomicroscopy and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA). A total of 189 consecutive patients were examined in the ophthalmology department at Jordan University Hospital. RESULTS: A total of 376 eyes were reviewed by consultant ophthalmologist for diabetic retinopathy grading on FFA. The sensitivity of ophthalmoscopy in diagnosing diabetic retinopathy grading was 91.2%, with a specificity of 97.9%. The degree of agreement kappa was 0.87. CONCLUSIONS: Slit-lamp biomicroscopy is highly sensitive for screening diabetic retinopathy grading in diabetic patients and ophthalmologists do not need to confirm a suspected clinical diagnosis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy using FFA as ophthalmoscopy proved to be comparable to angiography.

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression and hormone receptor status in breast cancer.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate COX-2 mRNA expression with known clinical prognostic features of breast cancer, oestrogen/progesterone receptor status, tumour size and grade. METHODS: Total RNA was extracted from 45 frozen breast tumour (invasive) and 22 normal breast tissue samples. COX-2 mRNA transcription was quantified using a real time RT-PCR assay and expressed as copy number/microg total RNA. All specimens were assessed for tumour grade, size, nodal status and presence of vascular invasion and oestrogen and progesterone receptor status. RESULTS: COX-2 mRNA was detected in all samples with a median copy number of 1.15 x 10(7) for tumours and 6.5 x 10(6) for normal samples. Expression was significantly higher in oestrogen receptor negative tumours compared to the receptor positive group. There was no correlation between COX-2 mRNA levels and tumour size, grade, nodal status and presence of vascular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: COX-2 mRNA expression is increased in oestrogen and progesterone receptor negative breast cancers.

Differential expression of IGF-binding protein-3 in normal and malignant colon and its influence on apoptosis.

IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) has been reported to exert a protective influence on the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. This may reflect its modulation of IGF-I bioactivity as well as IGF-I-independent effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Although local expression of IGF-I in the colon is increasingly recognised as having important regulatory consequences, the role of locally expressed IGFBP-3 remains unknown. The aims of the present study were: (i) to quantify and localise the expression of IGFBP-3 in human normal and malignant colon; (ii) to relate this expression to that of other components of the IGF-I axis; and (iii) to investigate the effects of IGFBP-3 on colonic epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis. RNA was extracted from 46 paired samples of normal and malignant colonic tissue. IGFBP-3, IGF-I, IGF-I receptor and GH receptor mRNA levels were quantified using real-time RT-PCR. Laser-capture microdissection of the same samples was used to isolate mRNA from epithelium and stromal components and localise mRNA expression. Expression was confirmed at a protein level by immunohistochemistry. Human colorectal cancer HT-29 and CaCo-2 cells were cultured with IGFBP-3 (200 ng/ml), +/- IGF-I (20 ng/ml), +/- sodium butyrate (5 mM). Cell number was assessed by an MTS assay (a modification of the MTT assay), and apoptosis assessed by cell morphology and FACS analysis using both annexin and propidium iodide staining. UO146, a MAP kinase inhibitor, and wortmannin, an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) pathway, were used to determine the contribution of these signalling pathways on the effects of IGFBP-3. IGFBP-3 mRNA was detected in all samples (mean copy number/mug total RNA in normal colon, 2.6 x 10(6) compared with 1.3 x 10(7) in the cancers; P < 0.0001). Immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression and showed it to be equally distributed between epithelial and stromal components in normal tissue, but to be mainly restricted to the stromal component of malignant tissue. This differential expression was confirmed by RT-PCR of RNA from laser-capture microdissected samples. IGF-I mRNA was detected in 31 samples of normal colon; mean IGFBP-3 copy number was higher in the IGF-I-positive samples compared with IGF-I-negative samples. IGFBP-3 on its own induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells (P < 0.001). Co-incubation of 200 ng/ml IGFBP-3 with butyrate (5 mM) resulted in the potentiation of its apoptosis (P < 0.0001), which was not rescued by co-incubation with IGF-I (P < 0.0001). The addition of UO126 caused a decrease in cell number and increased the effects of IGFBP-3. IGFBP-3 is differentially expressed between stromal and epithelial components of normal and malignant colon, which may reflect its pro-apoptotic, IGF-I-independent effect on colonic epithelial cells. These effects are mediated in part by the PI-3K pathway in contrast to the MAP kinase pathway used by IGF-I.

Excretory/secretory products of Haemonchus contortus inhibit aminopyrine accumulation by rabbit gastric glands in vitro.

Abomasal parasites inhibit gastric acid secretion and reduce the number of acid secreting parietal cells either through physical contact with gastric tissue, the release of inhibitory excretory/secretory (ES) products or by initiating the host inflammatory response. To examine the role of parasite ES products, adult Haemonchus contortus were incubated in a medium based on Hank's balanced salt solution and three incubates were tested for the presence of inhibitors of acid secretion by dispersed rabbit gastric glands in vitro, using the intracellular accumulation of 14C-aminopyrine (AP) as an indirect measure of acid secretion. Acceptably sensitive rabbit preparations (80%) for testing ES products showed increased 14C-AP accumulation with either 10(-5) or 10(-4)M histamine. Sheep glands proved unsuitable as a test system as only two of six preparations responded weakly to histamine. Inhibitory activity was demonstrated in all the three parasite incubates, although responses varied quantitatively between tests, even with the same batch of incubate. In single tests, 16% ES products significantly reduced the 14C-AP ratio (P<0.05) of 10(-4)M histamine-stimulated glands (15 of 19 tests with Batch 1 and two of six with Batch 3). Even at 1 and 5%, ES products (Batch 2) were inhibitory for 10(-5)M histamine-stimulated glands: at 1% the mean reduction was 26.0% (range 7.8-54.8%, n=10), four of which were statistically significant and at 5% was 17.6% (range -15.3-53.8%, n=17), four of which were statistically significant. ES products were overall inhibitory (-12%, P<0.05), when tested on glands exposed to increasing histamine concentrations from 10(-6)M to 10(-3)M (which increased the 14C-AP ratio (P<0.001)). Responses by individual gland preparations differed (P<0.001). The active component(s) of the parasite ES products were less than 5000 molecular weight. Ammonium chloride, tested over the range of concentrations of ammonia present in worm incubates (0.2-1 mM, final concentrations in the gland incubations of 0.005-0.1 mM), had variable, but overall inhibitory effects on 10(-5)M histamine-stimulated glands (n=3). When tested with a range of histamine concentrations, 0.01 mM NH4Cl overall reduced the response by 8.6% (P<0.05)(n=4). The similarity of responses of rabbit glands to parasite ES products and to NH4Cl suggests that ammonia may be the small molecular weight ES product of adult H. contortus, which inhibited acid secretion in vitro.

The prevalence of lice infesting students of primary, preparatory and secondary schools in Cairo, Egypt.

Human lice (head and body) are among the arthropod-ectoparasites of worldwide distribution. Examining students in primary, preparatory and secondary schools recorded prevalence rates of 21.86%, 30.38% and 12.94% respectively. The overall rate of the lice infestation in the three schools was 384 out of 1772 or 21.67%. The prevalence rate of lice infestation among males and females were 17.02% & 37.8% (primary school), 27.8% & 33.1% (preparatory school), and 12.0% & 13.9% (secondary school). These totaled 17.7% (males) and 30.26% (females). The overall ratio of head to body lice was 18.2:1. Consequently, lice mainly the head louse, are still a public health problem particularly among female students in the primary and preparatory schools. In the secondary school prevalence rate of the lice infestation was low. So human lice is still a community health problem.

Evaluation of four pediculicides against the head lice Pediculus h. capitis.

Four pediculicides were tested against head lice in-vitro. The LT50 for Licid ranged between 10.75 (at conc. 50%) to 25.08 (at conc. 1%). All lice died with conc. 100% within 5 minutes. With Malathion, the LT50 ranged between 4.23 to 9.3 at conc. 50% to 1% respectively. All lice died with conc. 57% within 3 minutes. With Benzanil, the LT50 ranged between 20.85 to 44.34 at conc. 50% to 1% respectively. All lice died at conc. 2.5% within 10 minutes. With Para plus, the LT50 ranged between 18.46 to 29.5 at conc. 100% to 50% respectively. All lice died with conc. 100% within 30 minutes. So, the least time needed to kill all lice was given with Malathion (3 minutes). The least dose of pediculicide needed to kill all lice was those of Benzanil (1% = 0.025) and Malathion (1% = 0.57). The whole results were discussed regarding the advantages and disadvantages of these pediculicides.

A sequential study of the pathology associated with the infection of sheep with adult and larval Ostertagia circumcincta.

Disturbances in the physiology of the abomasa of sheep infected with either adult Ostertagia circumcincta given via abomasal cannulae, or larvae (L3) given intraruminally were matched by pathological changes in tissues collected by repeated mucosal biopsy. Within 2-3 days of the transplant of adult worms, abomasal pH had increased markedly in five out of six animals, and there also had been rapid increases in serum gastrin and pepsinogen concentrations in all animals. Reductions in parietal cell number were recorded as early as 1 day after the transplant of adults and were associated with the rapid accumulation of many neutrophils and eosinophils. Mucosal hyperplasia, with increased numbers of cells closer in appearance to mucous/mucous neck cells, was a relatively late development, being most pronounced in the latter part of the infection. In sheep given larvae, changes in secretory physiology were again matched by a concurrent fall in parietal cell number and by the accumulation of inflammatory cells. Changes became maximal when most worms could be expected to be present as adults, confirming the role of adults in the natural disease. Some abnormalities were detected in biopsies collected from animals maintained free of parasites and, although milder in degree, there were similarities to those observed in parasitised tissues, there being fewer parietal cells, a modest degree of mucous cell hyperplasia and inflammatory infiltrates of predominantly neutrophils. These changes were the likely result of trauma to the tissues in the immediate vicinity of the cannula, due either to the presence of the cannula itself or to the frequent collection of biopsy material from areas close to it.

Human elastase 1: evidence for expression in the skin and the identification of a frequent frameshift polymorphism.

Human pancreatic elastase 1 is a serine protease which maps to the chromosomal region 12q13 close to a locus for an autosomal dominant skin disease, diffuse nonepidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma, and was investigated as a possible candidate gene for this disorder. Expression of two elastase inhibitors, elafin and SLPI, has been related to several hyperproliferative skin conditions. elastase 1 is functionally silent in the human pancreas but elastase 1 expression at the mRNA level was detected in human cultured primary keratinocytes. Antibody staining localized the protein to the basal cell layer of the human epidermis at a number of sites including the palmoplanta. Sequencing of genomic DNA from individuals with/without the keratoderma revealed a sequence variant, which would result in a premature truncation of the protein. This sequence variant, however, did not segregate with the skin disease and, indeed, was found to occur at a relatively high frequency in the population. Individuals homozygous for the variant do not have any obvious skin abnormalities. Based on the analysis of the secondary structure of the translated putative protein, the truncation is unlikely to result in knock-out of the elastase, but may cause destabilization of the enzyme-inhibitor complex.