Pharmacists' knowledge,attitudes, and practices towards herbal remedies in the West Bank: a cross-sectional study

Background

The consumption of complementary and herbal products is increasing in many parts of the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes among pharmacists in West Bank towards the use of herbal products.

Leishmania infantum DNA detection in Phlebotomus tobbi in a new northern focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

Objective

To identify the vector(s), the parasite and the species composition of sand flies in the district during May-October 2012.

Methods

For reaching our objectives we used polymerase chain reaction of kDNA, ITS1-rDNA, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Results

Two species of Phlebotomus sergenti and Phlebotomus tobbi were the most prevalent among 8 species identified comprising 51.1% and 32.9% respectively. Among the 160 specimens of female sand flies tested by polymerase chain reaction of kDNA, ITS1-rDNA, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphisms, only 1 out of 80 Phlebotomus tobbi (1.25%) were positive to Leishmania infantum parasites.

Conclusions

Our finding showed that Phlebotomus tobbi may play as a vector to circulate the parasite of Leishmania infantum among reservoir(s) and human.     

High-dose therapy and peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation: effects of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on the autograft

Between June 1989 and June 1992, 144 patients participated in sequential clinical trials using peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBC) as their sole source of hematopoietic rescue following high-dose chemotherapy. All patients had received prior extensive combination chemotherapy and had marrow defects that precluded autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). PBC were collected according to a single apheresis protocol. The initial 86 patients (group 1) had PBC collected without mobilization. Beginning in April 1991, PBC were mobilized solely with recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rHuGM-CSF). Thirty-four patients (group 2) received rHuGM-CSF at a dose of 125 micrograms/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion, and 24 patients (group 3) received rHuGM-CSF at a dose of 250 micrograms/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion. Patients underwent at least six aphereses and had a minimum of 6.5 x 10(8) mononuclear cells (MNC)/kg collected. Cytokines were not routinely administered immediately after transplantation. A median of nine aphereses were required to collect PBC in group 1 and seven aphereses for groups 2 and 3 (P = .03). The time required to recover 0.5 x 10(9)/L granulocytes after transplant was significantly shorter (P = .0004) for the mobilized groups; the median time to recovery was 26 days for group 1, 23 days for group 2, and 18 days for group 3. Transplantation of PBC mobilized with rHuGM-CSF resulted in a shorter time to platelet (P = .04) and red blood cell (P = .01) transfusion independence. Mobilization with rHuGM-CSF alone resulted in efficient collection of PBC, that provided rapid and sustained restoration of hematopoietic function following high-dose chemotherapy. Mobilization of PBC with rHuGM-CSF alone is an effective method for patients who have received prior chemotherapy and have bone marrow abnormalities.     

Detection of chimeric BCR-ABL genes on bone marrow samples and blood smears in chronic myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukemia by in situ hybridization

The presence of BCR-ABL fusion genes has important diagnostic and prognostic implications in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The CML-specific chimeric BCR-ABL gene with a break involving the major breakpoint cluster region (M-bcr) of the BCR-gene has been detected by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In this study, we present a FISH protocol that allows the detection of breaks in both the major and the minor breakpoint cluster region (m-bcr). Three hybridization signals of D107F9, a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC)-derived probe spanning the breakpoint regions of the BCR gene, were indicative of the translocation events. To increase the specificity further, this probe was combined with cos-abl 8, a cosmid probe flanking the breakpoint within the ABL gene for dual-color hybridization. Samples of 21 patients with CML, the ALL-derived cell line SUP-B15, and of seven patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive ALL (three of them with breakpoints within m-bcr) were examined. BCR-ABL fusion was detected in all cases with high specificity (false-positive nuclei: mean, 0.1%). On cytogenetic preparations, the percentages of BCR-ABL- positive interphase cells ranged from 53% to 91%. Comparable efficiencies were achieved on blood smears. In conclusion, hybridization with D107F9 and cos-abl 8 allows unambiguous diagnosis of BCR-ABL genes and is likely to become an important tool for the monitoring of therapies in patients with CML and ALL.     

Acquired erythroderma in adults: a clinical and prognostic study

Background Erythroderma is a severe syndrome and prognostic studies are rare in the literature. Objectives Through a retrospective study of erythroderma in adults, we have analysed epidemiological and clinical data and precised the relevant aetiologies and survival in our patients. Methods This study was performed at the Department of Dermatology of Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis (1995–2007) including 82 cases of acquired erythroderma (>16 years). We have recorded epidemio‐clinical, biological and histological data, treatment and outcome. Clinical–histological correlation was analysed [kappa coefficient (κ)]. Follow‐up time and disease‐free survival time were calculated as were Kaplan–Meier estimates of overall survival and relapse‐free survival for some aetiologies. Results Erythroderma represented 0.44‰ of all dermatoses with an age of 55.13 ± 18.16 and no sex predilection. Psoriasis was the predominant aetiology (32.9%) with a median duration of 6.75 years and previous one or more episodes of erythroderma. Psoriasis was significantly associated with pruritus (P = 0.0001), pachyonychia (P = 0.00001), palmoplantar keratoderma (P = 0.0001) and hypereosinophilia (P = 0.008). The latter is then not specific for drug induced erythroderma (P = 0.004). Carbamazepine (27.8%) and penicillin (22.2%) were the most implicated drugs. Positive Clinical–histological correlation was found in 77% of cases (κ = 0.753). Relapse was seen in all aetiologies, but drug reactions and had occurred in the first 3 years in 90% of them. Mortality rate was 11.3 per 1000 patients‐years. Conclusions Our study illustrates the severity of erythroderma. It alters heavily the quality of life of patients which is initially altered by the pre‐existent dermatosis. It may be life threatening as mortality rate is high.     

小儿淋巴管瘤的MRI诊断

目的分析小儿淋巴管瘤的磁共振表现及其病理基础。方法对６例经手术病理证实的、年龄７天至７岁的小儿淋巴管瘤患者的磁共振表现进行回顾性分析。结果淋巴管瘤磁共振表现为Ｔ１ＷＩ上呈与肌肉相似或稍高的信号，Ｔ２ＷＩ上高于脂肪信号。５例瘤内可见低信号分隔，１例瘤内见血管流空影，３例见明显包膜，３例边界不清。２例病理诊断为海绵状淋巴管瘤，４例诊断为囊状淋巴管瘤。结论磁共振成像可较好地显示肿瘤的大小、形态及范围，从而指导手术治疗。