Plasma level of von Willebrand factor: An indicator of severity in sickle cell disease

Background: Sickle cell anaemia is a congenital hemolytic disorder caused by mutation in the â-globin gene at position 6 with replacement of glutamic acid by valine. Patients who arehomozygous for this mutation suffer from hemolytic anaemia and other serious complications. Theunderlying pathology of much of these complications is the occurrence of recurrent vasoocclusion due to microthrombi formation resulting in organs ischaemia. Methods: In this study we investigated the role of vWF as a determinant of sickle cell disease severity through its contribution to the formation of such microthrombi. The clinical disease severity was determined using two different scoring methods, and vWF antigen level in the plasma was estimated by using ELISA technique.Results and discussion: Seventy Sudanese patients were investigated in this study. They were 35 females and 35 males, the mean of their ages± standard deviation was 6.8 ± 4.7 years. Seventeen controls with normal haemoglobin were also included with mean age of 6.5 years. Thirty four patients presented during vasoocclusive crisis and 36 presented in steady state. vWF was high (179.83%) among patients compared to controls (82.4%), p< 0.001. there was positive correlation between severity score and vWF level in the plasma in steady state in the two scoring methods used ( r = 0.79, p = 0.008 for method I and r = 0.78, p = 0.009 for method II). So, Severity of sickle cell disease increases with elevation of vWF level in the plasma in the steady state.Keywords: Keywords: sickle cell, disease severity, vonWillebrand factor

Shouldice Versus Lichtenstein Hernia Repair Techniques: A Prospective Randomized Study

Background: The objectives of this study was to compare the tension-free mesh (Lichtenstein), and the 4-layer tissue repair (Shouldice) techniques of inguinal hernia surgery and to determine to what extent doctors in a general surgical unit were able to reproduce the excellent results reported from specialist hernia centres.Methods: Patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia were over an 18month period randomized to either the Shouldice group (experiment) or to the Lichtenstein group (control). The operating time, convalescence, hospital stay, postoperative analgesic consumption and complications, were assessed and compared.Results: There Lichtenstein group had a shorter operating time but had a higher occurrence of persistent postoperative pain compared to the Shouldice group. There was no significant difference in convalescence  between the two groups and no recurrences have been recorded in eithergroup. Conclusion: Despite Shouldice being more challenging to perform  compared to Lichtenstein, the postoperative results are comparable. Ourexperience shows that both procedures can be taught to medical officers who can perform them with relative safety, efficacy and reproducibility tosurgeons. Shouldice method being the more cost effective procedure should be encouraged in men with primary unilateral inguinal hernias.Key Words: Hernia, Lichtenstein, Shouldice, Clinical Tria

Stability-indicating methods for the determination of sertaconazole nitrate by micelle-enhanced spectrofluorimetry and TLC-densitometry

Two sensitive and selective stability-indicating methods were developed for the determination of sertaconazole nitrate (Ser-NO3), in the presence of its acid, alkaline and oxidative degradation products. The first method was based on measuring the fluorescence intensity of the drug at λex/λem = 231 nm/312 nm. The influence of micelle medium on the fluorescence emission was studied. The nonionic surfactant of Triton® X-100 showedstrong sensitizing effect for the fluorescence. The fluorescence intensity plot was linear over concentrations 0.5–5 μg mL-1 with mean percentage recoveries 100.59 ± 1.49 %. The second method was based on TLC separation of the drug from its degradation products followed by densitometric measurement of the intact drug spot at 302 nm. The developing system used for separation was chloroform-acetone-33 % ammonia (14:2:0.1 v/v/v). The linear range was 1–8 μg/spot with mean percentage recoveries 100.07 ± 1.97 %. The methods were validated according to ICH guidelines. Statistical analysis of the results revealed high accuracy and good precision. The suggested procedures could be used for the determination of sertaconazole nitrate in drug substance and drug products as well as in presence of its degradation products

Anemia in Kassala Area Eastern Sudan

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the types and the ways of diagnosis of anemia at Kassala region, Sudan.MethodsIn this study we examined and investigate 210 patients with anemia.Full blood cell count including peripheral picture, blood film for malaria, urine analysis and stool examination were done for every patient.Bone marrow aspiration was done for patients with splenomegaly with or without pancytopenia and or presence of immature cells in the peripheral blood. Serum iron and serum ferritin, for confirmation of iron deficiency were measured in some patients.ResultsOut of all patients, 45(21%) had chronic illness, 42(20%) had history of repeated attacks of malaria and 3(18%) patients had nutritional anemia.Sixty three (30%) patients presented with severe anemia, 32(15%) with mild anemia and 115(55%) with moderate anemia. Eighty patients presented with enlarge spleen. 26 (33%) out of the latter group had features of hypersplenism.ConclusionCommon causes of anemia in this area were chronic illness, followed by nutritional and repeated malaria infection. Splenomegaly and  hypersplenism are common. We recommended that full blood count, peripheral blood picture and estimation of serum iron andserum ferritin should be performed for every anaemic patient. Blood film for malaria should be done for every anaemic patient and negative films should be repeated by immunochromatography test for plasmodium falciparum and vivax.Keywords: Splenomegaly, hypersplenism, immunochromatography, malaria

Modeling and Simulation of PV Panel Under Different Internal and Environmental Conditions with Non-constant Load

This paper focuses on PV power conversion under different internal and environmental conditions with non-constant load, connected to a smart grid system. Due to environmental conditions, the PV system is a non-linear system and difficult to predict the power conversion. In the aspect of internal variables, it includes the five parameters of the single diode solar cell model identify their sensitivity through error function. It also identifies the relation between environmental conditions, mainly: irradiance, temperature and wind speed. The modeling and computational simulation with laboratory work identify the effects of internal and environmental effect on the system. The model gives details about the sensitivity of each environmental condition using error function. The work includes the decrease of energy conversion by the solar panel as a function of time due to the shadow effect that affects its performance. Besides these, a smart system is introduced as a DAQ system in laboratory environment to get in real time the power conversion value with the P-V and I-V characteristics of the PV panel

Thymoquinone inhibits tumor growth and induces apoptosis in a breast cancer xenograft mouse model: The role of p38 MAPK and ROS

Due to narrow therapeutic window of cancer therapeutic agents and the development of resistance against these agents, there is a need to discover novel agents to treat breast cancer. The antitumor activities of thymoquinone (TQ), a compound isolated from Nigella sativa oil, were investigated in breast carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. Cell responses after TQ treatment were assessed by using different assays including MTT assay, annexin V-propidium iodide staining, Mitosox staining and Western blot. The antitumor effect was studied by breast tumor xenograft mouse model, and the tumor tissues were examined by histology and immunohistochemistry. The level of antioxidant enzymes/molecules in mouse liver tissues was measured by commercial kits. Here, we show that TQ induced p38 phosphorylation and ROS production in breast cancer cells. These inductions were found to be responsible for TQ’s anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. Moreover, TQ-induced ROS production regulated p38 phosphorylation but not vice versa. TQ treatment was found to suppress the tumor growth and this effect was further enhanced by combination with doxorubicin. TQ also inhibited the protein expression of anti-apoptotic genes, such as XIAP, survivin, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2, in breast cancer cells and breast tumor xenograft. Reduced Ki67 and increased TUNEL staining were observed in TQ-treated tumors. TQ was also found to increase the level of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione in mouse liver tissues. Overall, our results demonstrated that the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of TQ in breast cancer are mediated through p38 phosphorylation via ROS generation

Vivax malaria in Mauritania includes infection of a Duffy-negative individual

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Duffy blood group polymorphisms are important in areas where <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>is present because this surface antigen is thought to act as a key receptor for this parasite. In the present study, Duffy blood group genotyping was performed in febrile uninfected and <it>P. vivax</it>-infected patients living in the city of Nouakchott, Mauritania.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>Plasmodium vivax </it>was identified by real-time PCR. The Duffy blood group genotypes were determined by standard PCR followed by sequencing of the promoter region and exon 2 of the Duffy gene in 277 febrile individuals. Fisher's exact test was performed in order to assess the significance of variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the Moorish population, a high frequency of the <it>FYB^ES/FYB^ES</it>genotype was observed in uninfected individuals (27.8%), whereas no <it>P. vivax</it>-infected patient had this genotype. This was followed by a high level of <it>FYA/FYB</it>, <it>FYB/FYB</it>, <it>FYB/FYB^ES</it>and <it>FYA/FYB^ES</it>genotype frequencies, both in the <it>P. vivax</it>-infected and uninfected patients. In other ethnic groups (Poular, Soninke, Wolof), only the <it>FYB^ES/FYB^ES</it>genotype was found in uninfected patients, whereas the <it>FYA/FYB^ES</it>genotype was observed in two <it>P. vivax</it>-infected patients. In addition, one patient belonging to the Wolof ethnic group presented the <it>FYB^ES/FYB^ES</it>genotype and was infected by <it>P. vivax</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study presents the Duffy blood group polymorphisms in Nouakchott City and demonstrates that in Mauritania, <it>P. vivax </it>is able to infect Duffy-negative patients. Further studies are necessary to identify the process that enables this Duffy-independent <it>P. vivax </it>invasion of human red blood cells.</p