Biodegradable polymeric microcapsules for sustained release of riboflavin.

In the current study, a series of polylactic acid and polylactic-co-glycolic acid were prepared in an easy, simple, safe and economically feasible way with yield% greater than 90%. Studying the effect of a catalyst on polymerization process was performed. Riboflavin (RF) was chosen as a model drug and microencapsulated in different (drug: polymer) ratios to modify its performance via o/w emulsion solvent evaporation technique and characterized in terms of the morphology and entrapment efficiency (E.E.) and evaluated via in vitro RF release studies. It has been found that, the release rate consists a burst release at the first 12h, followed by a gradual release over 3days. The cumulative riboflavin release from these microcapsules formulations at the end of 3days was 70% and 80% for PDLA and PDLAGA respectively. The kinetics of release profiles were zero order. The highest (E.E.) of RF obtained among all formulations was 85%.

Integrated cluster- and case-based surveillance for detecting stage III zoonotic pathogens: an example of Nipah virus surveillance in Bangladesh.

This paper explores the utility of cluster- and case-based surveillance established in government hospitals in Bangladesh to detect Nipah virus, a stage III zoonotic pathogen. Physicians listed meningo-encephalitis cases in the 10 surveillance hospitals and identified a cluster when ⩾2 cases who lived within 30 min walking distance of one another developed symptoms within 3 weeks of each other. Physicians collected blood samples from the clustered cases. As part of case-based surveillance, blood was collected from all listed meningo-encephalitis cases in three hospitals during the Nipah season (January-March). An investigation team visited clustered cases' communities to collect epidemiological information and blood from the living cases. We tested serum using Nipah-specific IgM ELISA. Up to September 2011, in 5887 listed cases, we identified 62 clusters comprising 176 encephalitis cases. We collected blood from 127 of these cases. In 10 clusters, we identified a total of 62 Nipah cases: 18 laboratory-confirmed and 34 probable. We identified person-to-person transmission of Nipah virus in four clusters. From case-based surveillance, we identified 23 (4%) Nipah cases. Faced with thousands of encephalitis cases, integrated cluster surveillance allows targeted deployment of investigative resources to detect outbreaks by stage III zoonotic pathogens in resource-limited settings.

Leiomyoma of the urinary bladder: case report.

A case of leiomyoma of urinary bladder, a rare benign tumour, is presented. The patient was a 42 year old female who presented with dysuria and frequency of micturition. The radiological features, diagnosis and management are discussed and the literature on this subject is briefly reviewed.

Evaluation of risk factors for intrafamilial transmission of HCV infection in Egypt.

The objectives of this study were to define the prevalence of intrafamilial transmission of HCV and evaluate the risk factors in this setting. A cross-sectional, family-based seroepidemiological study was performed in Cairo Liver Center and Oncology Diagnostic Unit, Ain Shams University. A total of 102 index patients (72 males and 30 females) with type C chronic liver disease and their 305 family contacts were studied. Only 265 family contacts were eligible for the study as they showed no previous history of exposure to risk factors. Overall, 15 family contacts (5.7%) were positive for anti-HCV, indicating a lower anti-HCV prevalence among family contacts than the general population in Egypt. Spouses were at higher risk of infection (16.7%) than family members (2.6%). Among the repeatedly positive samples for anti-HCV, only 3 samples were HCV-RNA positive (1.1%), all were spouses. Logistic regression analysis revealed that spouses reporting promiscuous sexual relations were at higher risk than those with normal sexual relations. Contacts sharing personal objects were also at higher risk to develop HCV infection. Index cases reporting previous blood transfusion (18.6%), i.v. antibilharzial therapy (33.3%), multiple sex partners (1.0%) or advanced liver diseases were more infective to their family contacts. The contacts of index cases had increasing risk of HCV infection with increase in age and duration of contact. The prevalence rate of intrafamilial spread of HCV infection is low compared to the rate among general population, emphasizing its limited role in transmitting HCV infection. Long duration of sexual contact and promiscuous sexual activities were major risk factors in this setting.

Studies on zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis among a group of temporary workers in North Sinai Governorate, Egypt.

Leishmaniasis (cutaneous, CL. and visceral, VL.) is an increasing public health problem in the Mediterranean Region. From a practical point of view, ZCL is the most important and distributed form in Egypt. Consequently, it was aimed to study the status of ZCL among a group of temporary workers in North Sinai Governorate. The results showed that (i) rodent populations are more or less common in Al Arish City (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus), Bir Lehfan (Gerbillus pyramidum) and Abo Oegela (G. pyramidum. Meriones crassus and Jaculus jaculus). (ii) Phlebotomus papatasi the main vector of ZCL is common in nearly all areas in North Sinai. (iii) ZCL. was identified (smear and/or culture as well as IHAT) among five workers out of 30 (16.7%). (iv) isolates recovered from P. papatasi trapped in Sad Al Rawafei and G. pyramidum trapped in Abo Oegela proved biochemically (isoenzyme cellulose acetate electrophoresis) to be Leishmania major indistinguish from each other. Discussion and recommendations were given.