Individual and interactive role of Trichoderma viride and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and pigment content of onion plants

The study of interactions between beneficial micro-organisms associated with plant roots is important, because such interactions might either enhance or inhibit the beneficial effects of individual species. The effect of the combined inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and a biocontrol fungus (Trichoderma viride) on different growth parameters and chlorophyll a,b, carotenoids, total chlorophyll and total pigments of onion (Allium cepa) plants was studied under glasshouse conditions. The results proved that AM fungi and T. viride are compatible with each other and their combined use was effective not only in improving onion growth parameters such as fresh and dry weights, root and shoot lengths and leaf area but also increasing total chlorophyll, carotenoids and total pigments content in onion leaves. Where, inoculation of onion plants by AM fungi and T. viride alone or in combination significantly increased bulb diameters of onion plants 20, 12·5 and 17·5% increase; respectively, when compared with control ones. Also percentage of AM fungal colonization increased greatly with T. viride inoculation. Therefore, AM fungi and T. viride could be a good alternate of chemical fertilizer for improving the growth of onion. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Significance and Impact of the Study: The need for increasing agricultural productivity and quality has led to an excessive use of chemical fertilizers; creating serious threats to human health and the environment. The use of biofertilizers is an alternative for sustaining high production with low ecological impact. Thus the goal of this study was to propose a biological technique using arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and Trichoderma viride (plant-microbe interaction) for increasing plant growth that represent a great opportunities for recent agricultural practices. This may be an indication displaying the AM and Trichoderma significance for plant progress and growth.

Biochemical and radiological predictors of malignant biliary strictures

AIM: Differentiation of benign biliary strictures (BBS) from malignant biliary strictures (MBS) remains difficult despite improvement in imaging and endoscopic techniques. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical, biochemical and or radiological predictors of malignant biliary strictures.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all charts of patients who had biliary strictures (BS) on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or percutaneous cholangiography (PTC) in case of unsuccessful ERCP from March 1998 to August 2002. Patient characteristics, clinical features, biochemical, radiological and biopsy results were all recorded. Stricture etiology was determined based on cytology, biopsy or clinical follow-up. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to determine the optimal laboratory diagnostic criterion threshold in predicting MBS.

RESULTS: One hundred twenty six patients with biliary strictures were enrolled, of which 72 were malignant. The mean age for BBS was 53 years compared to 62.4 years for MBS (P = 0.0006). Distal bile duct stricture was mainly due to a malignant process 48.6% vs 9% (P = 0.001). Alkaline phosphates and AST levels were more significantly elevated in MBS (P = 0.0002). ROC curve showed that a bilirubin level of 84 μmol/L or more was the most predictive of MBS with a sensitivity of 98.6%, specificity of 59.3% and a positive likelihood ratio of 2.42 (95%CI: 0.649-0.810). Proximal biliary dilatation was more frequently encountered in MBS compared to BBS, 73.8% vs 39.5% (P = 0.0001). Majority of BBS (87%) and MBS (78%) were managed endoscopically.

CONCLUSION: A serum bilirubin level of 84 μmol/L or greater is the best predictor of MBS. Older age, proximal biliary dilatation, higher levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, ALT and AST are all associated with MBS. ERCP is necessary to diagnose and treat benign and malignant biliary strictures.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

Malignant peritoneal mesotheliomas are rare tumors arising from the peritoneal surface. We report a 53 year old, non-asbestos exposed Saudi male who presented with exudative ascites. The diagnosis was obtained from laparoscopic biopsy. To the best of our knowledge this entity has not been described in the Saudi community. The aim is to increase the awareness among the medical community about this rare entity.

Decortication for empyema thoracis

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Mirizzi syndrome and management

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Pneumatic dilation of cardiac achalasia using low compliance balloon: University-Hospital experience

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Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the rescue of post-endoscopic or surgically retained biliary duct stones: does saline irrigation affect the outcome?

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has been found valuable in situations where obstructing stones in the common bile or intrahepatic ducts are retained following surgery or attempted endoscopic removal. However, success rates are dependent on the type of ESWL system employed and upon a high frequency rate of repeated treatment sessions. We outline our experience with 23 cases of retained, obstructing bile duct stones, ranging in size from 10 to 40 mm diameter, treated with Dornier HM3 ESWL. In the initial 12 patients in the series, successful stone fragmentation occurred in 83% of cases with a median 1.6 treatment sessions. In the latter 11 cases in the series, patients were treated prone and the stone-bearing biliary duct was irrigated with saline solution during ESWL delivery. With this technique, successful stone break up was achieved in all patients (100%) with a single treatment session. Endoscopic sphincterotomy is, however, a prerequisite for extracorporeal lithotripsy and, despite the high success rates now available with new techniques, we believe the ESWL should continue to be employed in support of primary endoscopic methods of management for obstructing bile duct stones.

The prevalence of endoscopic esophagitis in duodenal ulcer patients and symptomatic controls

BACKGROUND

A large series of duodenal ulcer patients was examined in order to determine the prevalence rate of reflux esophagitis and compare it to that of a series of symptomatic controls, as well as to find out if complicated duodenal ulcer patients are at a higher risk of developing reflux esophagitis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All consecutive patients attending the Endoscopy unit between January and December 1996 who were found to have duodenal ulcers were prospectively recruited for this study. Consecutive patients with upper abdominal symptoms but negative gastroscopy for duodenal ulcers were used as a control. Patients known to have reflux esophagitis, those on peptic ulcer treatment for more than a week, those with dysphagia as a presenting symptom or underlying upper gastrointestinal malignancy, and patients who had undergone previous ulcer surgery were excluded from the study. A hundred and forty-one patients were found to have duodenal ulcer (Group I), and one hundred and seventy-two served as a control (Group II). The two groups were matched for age, NSAID ingestion and smoking habit. However, Group I included significantly more patients with underlying co-morbid conditions and fewer females.

RESULTS

The prevalence of reflux esophagitis was similar between both groups, 30.5% vs. 38.4%, P=0.18. Furthermore, bleeding duodenal ulcer patients (sub-group III) were compared to non-bleeding duodenal ulcer patients (sub-group IV). Although Group III included significantly more smokers, NSAID ingestion and comorbid conditions, there was no significant difference in the prevalence rate of reflux esophagitis, P=0.13. Moreover, 92.7% of afflicted patients suffer mild or moderate esophagitis.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic esophagitis is a frequent finding in both duodenal ulcer and control subjects.