Molecular identification of Fasciola spp. (Digenea: Platyhelminthes) in cattle from Vietnam

Fasciola spp. were collected from naturally infected cattle at a local abattoir of Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam, for morphological and genetic investigations. Microscopic examination detected no sperm cells in the seminal vesicles, suggesting a parthenogenetic reproduction of the flukes. Analyses of sequences from the first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of the ribosomal RNA revealed that 13 out of 16 isolates were of Fasciola gigantica type, whereas three isolates presented a hybrid sequence from F. gigantica and Fasciola hepatica. Interestingly, all the mitochondrial sequences (partial COI and NDI) were of F. gigantica type, suggesting that the maternal lineage of the hybrid form is from F. gigantica. No intra-sequence variation was detected.

The relationship of ethnicity, maternal height and shoe size, and method of delivery

In a bid to determine the relationship of ethnicity, maternal height and shoe size as predictors of cephalopelvic disproportion, we conducted a prospective comparative study of primigravidas at term with singleton pregnancies, who had undergone spontaneous labour. A total of 208 primigravidas were studied; 151 (62.9%) achieved vaginal delivery and 57 (37.1%) had emergency caesarean section for failure-to-progress. We found a statistically significant positive correlation between maternal height and vaginal delivery (p = 0.04), but no correlation with maternal shoe size was found (p = 0.24). This study also showed that Caucasian women were significantly more than twice as likely to achieve vaginal delivery compared with Africans (p = 0.02). Maternal height of at least 162.5 cm, has a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 43% for predicting vaginal delivery. We concluded that the most predictive anthropometric measurement for vaginal delivery is maternal height.

Drug resistance evaluation of some commonly used anti-coccidial drugs in broiler chickens

The study investigated some anticoccidial resistance for Amprol, Toltrazuril and sulfaclozine in experimental infected broiler. Eimeria identification depended on necropsy and coproscopic examination. 140 day-old chicks allotted into 7 groups and infected with Eimeria in 2nd day of age. G1: neither infected nor treated (negative control), G2: infected but not treated (positive control), Infected and treated with toltrazuril (G3), or with Amprol+Allicin (G4), or with Amprol+ethobabate (G5), or with Amprol (G6) or with Sulfaclozine (G7). Eimeria infection caused decrease in body gain, total protein, albumin but increase in FCR, ALT, AST, Uric acid, Creatinine. Treatment decreased the harmful effect of infection but some significant differences were between infected treated groups and non infected non-treated one.

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.

An RCT of metformin versus orlistat for the management of obese anovulatory women

BACKGROUND

Treatment of obesity-related anovulation poses a significant clinical challenge. Occasionally, the use of antiobesity medications such as orlistat or insulin sensitizing agents such as metformin is sometimes indicated in these patients. This study aimed to compare the effects of metformin and orlistat for improving ovulation in obese anovulatory women.

METHODS

This was an open-label RCT. A total of 40 women were randomized to receive either metformin (n = 20) or orlistat (n = 20). BMI as well as the androgen profile and the ovulatory status were assessed at baseline and at four weekly intervals for 3 months. Different anthropometric and endocrine parameters were also assessed as possible predictors of ovulation.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the two study arms regarding the ovulation rate for metformin and orlistat [40% (n = 8/20) and 25% (n = 5/20), respectively, P = 0.31]. Both arms showed a significant drop in the BMI, testosterone and androstendione concentrations (P < 0.05), but there was no difference between the two arms. Patients who ovulated had significantly lower concentrations of baseline LH, androstendione, dehydroepiandrosterone and free androgen index (P < 0.05). Among these factors, a low baseline LH was found to be the only independent predictor of ovulation (area under curve, 0.85).

CONCLUSIONS

Both metformin and orlistat show a similar effect on weight loss, ovulation rates and androgen concentrations. However, the effects on ovulation rates need to be confirmed in larger studies. The presence of a low baseline serum LH was found to be the most important predictor of ovulation. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov. NCT00292799.

An integrated platform for bio-analysis and drug delivery

The advances in the microelectronics fabrication allow the strong appearance of micro-electro-mechanical systems known as MEMS. MEMS enable the fabrication of smaller devices that are manufactured using standard micro-fabrication techniques similar to the ones that are used to create computer silicon chips. Several MEMS devices including micro-reservoirs, micro-pumps, cantilevers, rotors, channels, valves, sensors, and other structures have been designed, fabricated and tested from using materials that have been demonstrated to be biocompatible. This paper reviews the status of Micro-electronic and MEMS systems that can be used for adaptive drug administration. It presents different components and describes a possible implementation. Finally it presents a prototype that is termed ipill which stands intelligent pill.

Salivary glucose concentrations in patients with diabetes mellitus--a minimally invasive technique for monitoring blood glucose levels

Salivary and blood glucose concentrations were determined in non-diabetic healthy individuals and patients with diabetes mellitus (type II). Glycosylated haemoglobin A1c was also determined in some of the patients (n = 25) and a significant correlation (r = 0.82) was found between HbAlc and serum glucose concentrations in these patients, indicating that these patients had average elevated blood glucose concentration over an extended time period. Glucose was only found in the saliva of patients with diabetes mellitus (n = 135), while the salivary samples of age matched non-diabetic subjects (n = 25) did not show the presence of glucose. A significant correlation (r = 0.78) was found between salivary and blood concentrations in the diabetics. This finding suggests that saliva can be used reliably for reflecting and monitoring the blood glucose concentration in the patients of diabetes mellitus.

Evidence for an intrarenal renin-angiotensin system in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Physiological and molecular approaches were used to investigate the existence of an intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in rainbow trout. Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme by captopril (5 x 10(-4 )M) rapidly decreased vascular resistance of the trunk of the trout, perfused at 19 mmHg, resulting in an increased perfusate flow rate and a decreased intrarenal dorsal aortic pressure. A profound diuresis occurred in the in situ perfused kidney and reflected both increased glomerular filtration rates and decreased water reabsorption (osmolyte reabsorption was unchanged). Renal and vascular parameters recovered once captopril treatment was stopped. Diuretic and vascular effects of captopril on the in situ trout kidney concur with an inhibition of known vasoconstrictor and antidiuretic actions of angiotensin II. However, at a higher perfusion pressure (28 mmHg), captopril had no effect on intrarenal aortic pressure or perfusate and urine flow rates, suggesting that the trout intrarenal RAS is activated by low perfusion pressures/flows. Existence of the renal RAS in trout was further supported by evidence for angiotensinogen gene expression in kidney as well as liver.

The hypolipidaemic effect of gum tragacanth in diet induced hyperlipidaemia in rats

Previous research indicated that fiber in the diet of men lowers plasma lipid and LDL cholesterol concentration. To further study the lipid lowering effect of fibre, we conducted an animal study using rats with diet induced hyperlipidaemia. Rats were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental diets. Two of the diets contained cholesterol and choice acid to induce hyperlipidaemia, the fiber source in the hyperlipidaemic diet was gum tragacanth (5%). The rats consumed one of the three diets ad libitum for 4 weeks before they were killed. Plasma LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in the hyperlipidaemic group than in the non hyperlipidaemic control group. A marked improvement in the plasma LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol concentration was observed in the rats that were fed hyperlipidaemic diet containing grum tragacanth. No significant difference in the plasma triglyceride concentration was detected in the three groups. Plasma HDL concentration was significantly higher in the non-hyperlipidaemic group than in the hyperlipidaemic group than. Addition of gum tragacanth to the hyperlipidaemic diet significantly improved the plasma HDL concentration in the hyperlipidaemic rats. These results suggest that fiber from gum tragacanth lowers plasma cholesterol and LDL in hyperlipidaemia. Gum tragacanth could be useful adjunct to the dietary management of hyperlipidaemia.

Glomerular actions of arginine vasotocin in the in situ perfused trout kidney

Recent measurements of plasma arginine vasotocin (AVT) in teleost fish suggest circulating concentrations of 10(-10)-10(-12)M. Previous studies of the renal actions of AVT in vivo suggest both diuretic and antidiuretic effects, but at unknown circulating concentrations. We have investigated the renal actions of 10(-9) and 10(-11) M AVT in vitro using an in situ perfused kidney preparation of rainbow trout (oncorhynchus mykiss). AVT increased vascular resistance (56%), reduced perfusate flow (P < 0.001), and increased interrenal aortic pressure (P < 0.001). AVT resulted in dose-dependent decreases in urine flow rates, glomerular filtration rates, and tubular transport maxima for glucose. AVT at 10(-11) M reduced relative free water clearances (P < 0.01), but urine/plasma inulin ratios were unchanged, whereas 10(-9)M AVT reduced urine/plasma inulin ratios (P < 0.01) and increased relative free water clearances (P < 0.05). The filtering population of glomeruli was reduced by both 10(-11) and 10(-9)M AVT to approximately one-third of the glomeruli, and a similar population of arterially perfused but nonfiltering glomeruli emerged. These results demonstrate that physiological concentrations of AVT have potent glomerular antidiuretic action in the trout, reducing the number of functional glomeruli, and imply reduced individual nephron filtration rates.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of acute sporadic hepatitis E in Egyptian children

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is thought to be a cause of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B (ET-NANB) hepatitis. Waterborne epidemics have been recorded in many developing countries, mainly affecting young-to-middle-aged adults; sporadic infection and overt illness in children are rare. However, a convenient and sensitive diagnostic test for HEV infection is not yet available. We now report the use of a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) that detects IgM and IgG antibody to HEV. In a prospective study of endemic acute hepatitis during 1986 in rural Benha, Egypt, 15 (42%) of 36 children with NANB hepatitis (from whom convalescent-phase sera were available every 3 months to 9 or 12 months) were positive for anti-HEV-IgG by ELISA. Of 20 sera from healthy Benha children (controls), 5 (25%) were also positive for anti-HEV-IgG. When evaluated for anti-HEV-IgM, 6 of the 15 IgG-positive children, but none of the controls, were IgM positive and were thus regarded as having confirmed acute HEV infections. These 6 cases together with 2 presumptive cases (IgM negative, IgG seroconversion from positive to negative) presented sporadically over 9 months. This ELISA is a convenient method for the diagnosis of HEV infection; we have shown that the disease is present in Egypt, that it can occur endemically as sporadic cases, and that children do have overt infection.

The molluscicidal properties of Ambrosia maritima L. (Compositae). 4. Temporal and spatial distribution of Biomphalaria alexandrina in Egyptian village irrigation systems with reference to schistosomiasis transmission control

Data on the temporal and spatial distribution of Biomphalaria alexandrina were collected throughout one year in two village irrigation systems near Alexandria, Egypt. Snails bearing Schistosoma mansoni cercariae were found from May to December but about 80% of annual transmission potential was confined from June to August. Although snail infection rates were generally 0-2%, higher rates were recorded and tended to be associated with smaller number snail collections. Infected snails were found in most canal and drain types and were judged to be present across most of the irrigated area of each village. In view of the dispersed nature of both infected snails and human-water contact in the area, it is suggested that schistosomiasis transmission is more widespread than focal. Effective transmission control using molluscicides should therefore require application to all village irrigation water-courses. The difficulties these various findings might impose on the use of commercial molluscicides are discussed and some possible advantages of the alternative plant molluscicide, Ambrosia maritima are noted.

Effect of subdermal levonorgestrel contraceptive implants on vaginal candidiasis

A total of 150 women in 3 equal groups, each using a different contraceptive method (group I used Norplant, group II used the IUD and group III used combined OC pills) were investigated for the presence of vaginal candidiasis before and at various time intervals (3, 6 and 12 months) after starting to use the particular contraceptive method. The incidence of vaginal Candida albicans infection increased significantly among pill and IUD users, but with a much lower intensity among the latter cases. In Norplant users the increase was slight and insignificant. The explanation of these findings within the context of changes in local vaginal milieu is discussed.