Cyclosporin A in experimental trichinosis: histopathological study.

Cyclosporin A (CsA), a relatively new drug, was previously used in a series of studies on experimental trichinosis. This work was conducted to study the histopathological changes of CsA treatment at different time intervals from T. spiralis infection in mice. The work included study of the effect of the drug on the larvae treated either in vivo or in vitro. The drug was most effective when it was administered on the same day of infection, then when given one week before. The effect was evidenced by diminution both in the number of larvae and in the cellular reactions.

An ultrastructural study of S. mansoni adult worms after administration of Trichinella spiralis antigen in vivo.

The ultrastructure of S. mansoni adult worms recovered from mice that received T. spiralis antigen prior to s. mansoni infection is described. Recorded changes in the tegument of the adult male S. mansoni; complex reticular network of surface pits, complete disruption in some parts, reduction in size of muscle blocks below the tegument, appearance of abundant electron dense lysosomes in the muscle layer. Recorded changes in the reproductive organs of the adult female S. mansoni; severe disorganization of the vitelline cells with coalescence of vitelline droplets, frequent glycogen deposition and appearance of large vacuoles, the oocytes showed an increase in electron density of the cytoplasm with peripheral cortical granules. Some oocytes exhibited degenerative features.

Verapamil increases the nephrotoxic potential of gentamicin in rats.

The effect of verapamil on the nephrotoxic potential of gentamicin was examined in rats. Rats were injected with one of the two or both drugs for 6 days and sacrificed 48 h after the last injection. In verapamil-treated rats (5 mg/kg/day), no histological or biochemical evidence of renal injury was detected. In all gentamicin-treated rats (100 mg/kg/day), a significant increase in kidney weight was observed (p less than 0.001). The renal histopathologic lesions were more extensive in rats treated simultaneously with both gentamicin and verapamil. These rats exhibited a decline in body weight earlier (from day 4) than rats injected with gentamicin alone (from day 6). Serum urea nitrogen and creatinine in the latter group of rats were 24.9 +/- 3.7 and 1.1 +/- 0.1 versus 47.4 +/- 8.6 and 1.6 +/- 0.2 mg/dl, respectively, in rats treated with the combined therapy (p less than 0.05). These results indicate that verapamil increases the severity of gentamicin nephrotoxicity. This interaction should be considered as a factor that can potentially increase the nephrotoxic risk associated with gentamicin administration.

Immunohistochemical characterization of T-lymphocytes subsets in Egyptian hepatic schistosomiasis.

Liver biopsies from 20 schistosomal patients in the compensated stage were studied by immunoalkaline phosphatase technique for the relative distribution of T-cell subpopulations. T-cell subsets were defined for OKT3 (+) (pan T-lymphocytes), OKT4 (+) (helper-inducer), and OKT8 (+) (suppressor-cytotoxic) cell by using mouse hybridoma monoclonal antibodies. Sections showed marked pan T-lymphocytic infiltration predominantly in the portal tract within liver lobules and in the granulomatous lesions. Marked relative increment of suppressor/cytotoxic OKT8 (+) lymphocytes over the helper/inducer OKT4 (+) were observed. Alkaline phosphatase activity showed inverse significant correlation with OKT3 (+) and OKT8 (+) % and a direct significant correlation with OKT4 (+) % lymphocytes. This may suggest that suppressor cytotoxic OKT8 lymphocytes may be responsible for the modulation of the granulomata and stabilization of the morbidity state.

Human fascioliasis: T cell subsets in liver before and after bithionol treatment.

Liver biopsies from 5 patients with established fascioliasis, before and after bithionol treatment were studied by immunoalkaline phosphatase technique for relative distribution of T cells and their subpopulations. T cell and its subsets are defined for OKT3+ (pan T), OKT4+ (helper/inducer) and OKT8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) cells by using mouse monoclonal antibodies. Before bithionol treatment, lymphocytic infiltration in all hepatic lesions were predominantly of OKT3+ (pan T) lymphocytes. The distribution of OKT8+ cells was moderate to severe in comparison to the few OKT4+ cells presentation. After bithionol a noticeable regression of the OKT3 lymphocytic in all liver sections. The majority of the lymphocytic infiltration was of the OKT8+ cells, in comparison to the absence of the OKT4+ ones. This may indicate that suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes may have a role in the immune regulation of the disease and the mode of action of bithionol is by the accentuation of this immunoregulatory effect.

Human fascioliasis: ultrastructural study on the liver before and after bithionol treatment.

The pathology of human fascioliasis was studied before and after bithionol treatment using light and transmission electron microscopy. Fine needle biopsies were taken from five patients, with established fascioliasis, before and after drug administration. By light microscope the pathology of human fascioliasis was similar to that reported in experimental fascioliasis. The ultrastructural picture revealed bile ductular hyperplasia, fibrosis of portal tracts, widening of the interhepatic spaces by many microvilli and dilated Disse space with collagen fibres. Bile ductular hyperplasia may be the initial factor to fibrinogenesis, which subsequently enhance the development of the microvilli on the surface of the hepatocytes. Both light and electron microscopic studies revealed regression of the picture of fascioliasis to normal after bithionol treatment with no sign of toxicity on the liver.

Uncommon complications of human fascioliasis in Alexandria.

Fascioliasis is becoming more frequently discovered among citizens of Alexandria. The main presenting clinical manifestations including hepatic pain, colics, fever, anorexia, discomfort with meals and hepatomegaly. We select here 4 cases with unusual presentation from patient's record of the last year: one case developed liver abscess due to F. hepatica infection. Two cases were encountered during cholecystectomy in patients suffering from cholecystitis with cholelithiasis; in one of them the gall bladder had ruptured and the patient developed an abscess in the liver related to the gall bladder bed. In both cases F. hepatica worms were found in the bile duct. The fourth case presented with acalcular cholecystitis with empyema of the gall bladder.

A trial to produce an anti-schistosomal vaccine using heterophyid antigens.

Heterophyid metacercariae, crude and partially purified heterophyid antigens were given prior to S. mansoni infections in an attempt to produce a potent antischistosomal vaccine. Three main groups of albino mice were used. Each group after receiving the appropriate heterophyid antigen prior to S. mansoni infection was studied parasitologically as regards worm load and tissue egg count and histopathologically as regards granulomata number, size and cellular constituents as well as immunologically by the indirect immunofluorescent test. The results showed a reduction in worm burden recoveries and egg load resulting in lesser number of granulomata and diminution in size of granulomata as well as acceleration in their reaction together with inhibition of fluorescence. These results were more obvious in the group infected one month post heterophyid infection, as well as in mice immunized with the highest dose of crude heterophyid antigen (200 micrograms protein). However, a low dose of 50 micrograms of partially purified fractionated antigen gave the most evident results.