Cyanobacteria and their toxins in treated-water storage reservoirs in Abha city, Saudi Arabia.

Occurrence of toxic cyanobacteria in drinking and recreational waters poses human health at risk as they can release potent toxins into the water. In the present study, open and covered treated-water storage reservoirs as well as their relevant tap waters in Abha city, Saudi Arabia, were surveyed for the presence of cyanobacteria and their toxins. The results revealed the contamination of most open reservoir and tap waters by algae and cyanobacteria, with an abundance of toxigenic species of cyanobacteria. Depending on the results of the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), endotoxins and microcystins (MCYSTs) were found in most open reservoir and tap waters at concentrations up to 32EUml(-1) and 0.3mugml(-1), respectively. The extracts of axenic cultures of most cyanobacterial species isolated from these reservoirs showed activity to LAL assay, with large endotoxin amounts obtained in Calothrix parietina (490EUg(-1)) and Phormidium tenue (210EUg(-1)). Based on ELISA and HPLC analysis for these extracts, only C. parietina can produce MCYSTs (202mugg(-1)) with a profile consisting of MCYST-RR and -LR. This study suggests that open treated-water storage reservoirs should be covered to prevent the presence of cyanobacteria and their toxins in such drinking and recreational waters.     

Specific detection of fungal pathogens by 18S rRNA gene PCR in microbial keratitis

Background  

The sensitivity and specificity of 18S rRNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the detection of fungal aetiology of microbial keratitis was determined in thirty patients with clinical diagnosis of microbial keratitis.     

Bilateral malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the testis in young patient are rare. Bilateral involvement varies from 5 to 20% of cases and has a negative prognosis. The authors report a case of bilateral non Hodgkin's lymphoma of the testis in a 35 year old man. The patient died six months after the diagnosis.     

Microcystin production in benthic mats of cyanobacteria in the Nile River and irrigation canals, Egypt.

The present study describes for the first time the species composition and toxicity of benthic cyanobacteria forming mats on the Nile River and irrigation canal sediments in Egypt. A total of 19 species of cyanobacteria were isolated from these mats during this study. The toxicity of the extracts of these species was investigated using Artemia salina assay, mouse bioassay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that all the 19 benthic species isolated from cyanobacterial mats, were toxic to A. salina. Two of these species, namely Calothrix parietina and Phormidium tenue, caused toxicity to mice with neurotoxic signs appeared within 12 h after injection. Whereas, five species showed hepatotoxic effects to mice within 6 h after injection. The results of ELISA showed that all the extracts which had hepatotoxic effects to mice, contained high levels of microcystins with concentrations ranging from 1.6 to 4.1 mg g(-1) dry weight. HPLC analysis for heptotoxic extracts revealed that these extracts contained two peaks corresponding to microcystin-YR and -LR with different proportions. This study suggests that benthic species should be considered along with planktonic species during monitoring of toxic cyanobacteria in water sources, particularly the Nile river which is the main source of drinking water in Egypt.     

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Portulaca oleracea L. subsp. Sativa (Haw.) Celak

Many ethnic groups have used different species of Portulaca oleracea L., a member of the Family Portulacaceae, as vegetable and also herbal medicine against several diseases for many centuries. A review of the records in both folkloric and scientific literature indicates that Portulaca has many medicinal uses. After our previous preliminary screening of three species of the family for analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, Portulaca oleracea L. subsp. sativa (Haw.) Celak. (a cultivar) was chosen for further work due to its abundant availability from reliable sources. The 10% ethanolic extract of the aerial parts (dried leaves and stem) showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic after intraperitoneal and topical but not oral administration when compared with the synthetic drug, diclofenac sodium as the active control. Results indicate this cultivar species of Portulaca also possesses some of the claimed traditional uses of the wild species in the relief of pain and inflammation.     

Synovial sarcoma of the abdominal wall: a case report and study of its fine structure

A case of synovial sarcoma in the abdominal wall of a 50-year-old Iraq female is reported. The ultrastructure of the tumor has been studied. Eight other cases of synovial sarcoma in the abdominal wall which reported in the English literature up to 1978 have been reviewed. Synovial sarcomas in the abdominal wall tend to occur with a much greater frequency in females in contrast to such tumors in the extremities or the neck which tend to occur with a much greater frequency in males. No ultrastructure studies of abdominal wall synovial sarcomas could be found in the English literature. Ultrastructure characteristics of this tumor were similar to those arising in the usual sites and in the neck. However, the present study has indicated that the light and dark cells reported by earlier workers are not solely limited to the epitheloid areas but are also present in the spindle cell zones.     

Microvascular responses to adenosine help explain functional and pathologic differences between intestinal segments

BACKGROUND: Many physiologic (post-prandial hyperemia), pathologic (inflammatory bowel disease), and clinical (enteral feeding) phenomena involve changes in microvascular blood flow to the intestine. Adenosine (Ado) derived from energy metabolism causes vasodilation and appears to be involved in some of these events. The Ado-mediated control mechanisms appear to vary with the diameter of the microvessels and the function of the tissue. This suggests the possibility that Ado-based microvascular control varies between anatomic intestinal segments and microvascular levels in those intestinal segments. METHODS: In vivo digital intravital microscopy was used to measure the responses of larger distributing (A1) and smaller premucosal (A3) vessels to Ado in intact neurovascular loops of jejunum and terminal ileum of the rat. Dose-response curves to Ado were determined. RESULTS: Microvascular dilation and augmented blood flow to Ado were significantly greater in the jejunum than in the terminal ileum. Ado-induced dilation was greater in the smaller A3 than in the larger A1 microvessels. DISCUSSION: These data indicate (1) different vasodilator mechanisms for the jejunum and the terminal ileum, (2) a greater role for Ado-related microvascular control in the jejunum compared with the ileum, and (3) a greater Ado-related control in the premucosal (A3) vessels. These findings suggest that Ado-mediated microvascular effects could explain why some clinical phenomena vary in intensity in selective intestinal segments, and are likely to involve different microvascular control mechanisms in the different segments. Knowledge of these Ado mechanisms could be beneficial in certain clinical scenarios to control blood flow during pathologic conditions.     

A closer look at food allergy and intolerance

Food allergy is a condition prevalent in over 2 percent of the world's population. The topic has been subject to research from ancient Greek times and continues to attract modern scientific and medical communities. In susceptible individuals certain foods produce a wide spectrum of unwanted effects like eczema, asthma, and urticaria. The management of food allergy and intolerance chiefly involves elimination diets, accurate diagnosis and detecting the causative mechanism providing us with ample food for thought. In this article, we have attempted to summarize and simplify the research on the various aspects of food allergy and intolerance, and discuss the natural history, manifestations, mechanisms, diagnosis, and management of this condition affecting countless worldwide.