69 research outputs found
Moderization and Islam in Saudi Arabia : a sociological study of 'Public Morality Committees'.
SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:D92171 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo
CD4+ T-lymphopenia in HIV negative tuberculous patients at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Tuberculosis (Tb) is a chronic infectious disease in which the cellular immunity (specifically CD4+ and CD8 lymphocytes) provides the most important defense in controlling infection. CD4 lymphopenia is a well-defined risk factor for the development of active tuberculosis in patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In HIV - negative patients, CD4 and CD8 cell count suppression has been associated with Tb infection. Our study was designed to deter mine the baseline and post-treatment values of CD4 and CD8 in HIV negative patients diagnosed with active Tb in Saudi Arabian patients. We recruited twentyeight, non-HIV patients with tuberculosis for the study group comprising 16 males and 12 females with either disseminated or localized active Tb infection. Two control groups were selected - one of twenty one matched healthy controls and the second of fortytwo subjects from pool of controls of an ongoing study in same population for normal CD4 and CD8 counts. The baseline pre-treatment CD4 and CD8 counts in the study group were significantly lower than either control group. Specifically the mean ± SD of CD4 counts were 556.79 ± 298.81 in the study group vs 1,132.38 ± 259.90 in control group 1 and 1,424.38 ± 870.98 in control group 2 (p 0.000). Likewise the CD8 counts in the study group were 1,136.00 ± 512.06 vs. 1,461.90 ± 367.02 in control group 1 and 1,495.90 ± 565.32 in control group 2 (p 0.000) respectively. After treatment of tuberculosis, the study patients experienced a significant increase in their mean ± SD CD4 and CD8 cell counts, from 556.79 ± 297.81 to 954.29 ± 210.90 for CD4 cells (p 0.005) and 1136.00 ± 512.06 to 1,316.54 ± 286.17 for CD8 cells (p 0.002). Analysis of study patients with disseminated disease found significantly lower CD4 cells (but not lower CD8 cells) compared to study patients with localized disease, both at baseline and after treatment. The mean ± SD baseline CD4 cells were 247.60 ± 187.80 with disseminated vs 728.56 ± 186.32 for localized disease (p = 0.000) which rose to 842.30 ± 93.55 vs 1016.50 ± 233.51 (p = 0.033) respectively. We conclude that tuberculosis may be associated with CD4 and CD8 lymphopenia even in patients without human immunodeficiency virus infection, there was the tendency of recovery towards normality especially of the CD4 and CD8 counts after treatment, and that disseminated disease is associated specifically with profound CD4 lymphopenia
Microfungi in Drinking Water: The Role of the Frog Litoria caerulea
Microfungi were recovered from all parts of a municipal water distribution system in sub-tropical Australia even though virtually no colony-forming units were recovered from the treated water as it left the treatment plant. A study was then undertaken to determine the potential sources of the microfungal population in the distribution system. Observation of frogs (Litoria caerulea) using the internal infrastructure of a reservoir as diurnal sleeping places, together with observation of visible microfungal growth on their faecal pellets, led to an investigation of the possible involvement of this animal. Old faecal pellets were collected and sporulating fungal colonies growing on their surfaces were identified. Fresh faecal pellets were collected and analysed for microfungal content, and skin swabs were analysed for yeasts. It was found that the faeces and skin of L. caerulea carried large numbers of yeasts as well as spores of various filamentous fungal genera. While there are many possible sources of microfungal contamination of municipal drinking water supplies, this study has revealed that the Australian green tree frog L. caerulea is one of the important sources of filamentous microfungi and yeasts in water storage reservoirs in sub-tropical Australia where the animal is endemic
Phylogenetic and morphotaxonomic revision of Ramichloridium and allied genera
The phylogeny of the genera Periconiella, Ramichloridium,
Rhinocladiella and Veronaea was explored by means of partial
sequences of the 28S (LSU) rRNA gene and the ITS region (ITS1, 5.8S rDNA and
ITS2). Based on the LSU sequence data, ramichloridium-like species segregate
into eight distinct clusters. These include the Capnodiales
(Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae), the
Chaetothyriales (Herpotrichiellaceae), the Pleosporales, and
five ascomycete clades with uncertain affinities. The type species of
Ramichloridium, R. apiculatum, together with R. musae,
R. biverticillatum, R. cerophilum, R. verrucosum, R. pini, and three new
species isolated from Strelitzia, Musa and forest soil,
respectively, reside in the Capnodiales clade. The human-pathogenic
species R. mackenziei and R. basitonum, together with R.
fasciculatum and R. anceps, cluster with Rhinocladiella
(type species: Rh. atrovirens, Herpotrichiellaceae,
Chaetothyriales), and are allocated to this genus. Veronaea
botryosa, the type species of the genus Veronaea, also resides
in the Chaetothyriales clade, whereas Veronaea simplex
clusters as a sister taxon to the Venturiaceae (Pleosporales), and is
placed in a new genus, Veronaeopsis. Ramichloridium
obovoideum clusters with Carpoligna pleurothecii (anamorph:
Pleurothecium sp., Chaetosphaeriales), and a new combination
is proposed in Pleurothecium. Other ramichloridium-like clades
include R. subulatum and R. epichloës (incertae sedis,
Sordariomycetes), for which a new genus, Radulidium is
erected. Ramichloridium schulzeri and its varieties are placed in a
new genus, Myrmecridium (incertae sedis, Sordariomycetes).
The genus Pseudovirgaria (incertae sedis) is introduced to
accommodate ramichloridium-like isolates occurring on various species of rust
fungi. A veronaea-like isolate from Bertia moriformis with
phylogenetic affinity to the Annulatascaceae (Sordariomycetidae) is
placed in a new genus, Rhodoveronaea. Besides
Ramichloridium, Periconiella is also polyphyletic.
Thysanorea is introduced to accommodate Periconiella papuana
(Herpotrichiellaceae), which is unrelated to the type species, P.
velutina (Mycosphaerellaceae)
Candida dubliniensis: An Appraisal of Its Clinical Significance as a Bloodstream Pathogen
A nine-year prospective study (2002–2010) on the prevalence of Candida dubliniensis among Candida bloodstream isolates is presented. The germ tube positive isolates were provisionally identified as C. dubliniensis by presence of fringed and rough colonies on sunflower seed agar. Subsequently, their identity was confirmed by Vitek2 Yeast identification system and/or by amplification and sequencing of the ITS region of rDNA. In all, 368 isolates were identified as C. dubliniensis; 67.1% came from respiratory specimens, 11.7% from oral swabs, 9.2% from urine, 3.8% from blood, 2.7% from vaginal swabs and 5.4% from other sources. All C. dubliniensis isolates tested by Etest were susceptible to voriconazole and amphotericin B. Resistance to fluconazole (≥8 µg/ml) was observed in 2.5% of C. dubliniensis isolates, 7 of which occurred between 2008–2010. Of note was the diagnosis of C. dubliniensis candidemia in 14 patients, 11 of them occurring between 2008–2010. None of the bloodstream isolate was resistant to fluconazole, while a solitary isolate showed increased MIC to 5-flucytosine (>32 µg/ml) and belonged to genotype 4. A review of literature since 1999 revealed 28 additional cases of C. dubliniensis candidemia, and 167 isolates identified from blood cultures since 1982. In conclusion, this study highlights a greater role of C. dubliniensis in bloodstream infections than hitherto recognized
High School Science Teaching Methods and Practices in Saudi Arabia and the USA
The purpose of this study was to determine the teaching methods. strategies, and techniques that are being practiced by high school science teachers , H.S.S.T., in Saudi Arabia and in the U.S.A.
To achieve this purpose, a questionnaire of 22 items , methods, was developed. After assuring its validity and reliability, it was administered to 79 U.S.A. H.S.S.T. , in its English version, , and to 103 Saudi Arabian H.S.S.T. , in its Arabic version, .
The results revealed that: 1, There are significant differences , at the 0.01 level, between the U.S.A. li.S.S.T. and the Saudi H.S.S.T. in their use of the methods investigated. 2, The predominant methods of teaching were discussion and lecturing in both countries. Televised science instruction and role playing were never used among the two groups in their teaching. 3, There were seven more methods used in the U.S. schools on a daily and/or weekly basis. They are: student homework, inquiry and discovery, problem solving, laboratory and hands-on methods, demonstrations, tests and quizzes, and individual assignments. 4, Four methods were found to be practiced in Saudi Arabian schools on a monthly basis. They are: problem solving. demonstration, tests and quizzes, and inquiry/discovery techniques. However, there were two methods practiced in the U.S. schools on a monthly basis. They are: student reports and projects, and practical lab tests and quizzes. 5, From the 22 science teaching methods investigated, 16 teaching methods were not practiced except ocassionally, in the Saudi high schools, while 11 teaching methods were not practiced in the Ui S. high schools. Finally, the study provided some recommendations to improve science teaching practices
High School Science Teaching Methods and Practices in Saudi Arabia and the USA
The purpose of this study was to determine the teaching methods. strategies, and techniques that are being practiced by high school science teachers (H.S.S.T.) in Saudi Arabia and in the U.S.A.
To achieve this purpose, a questionnaire of 22 items (methods) was developed. After assuring its validity and reliability, it was administered to 79 U.S.A. H.S.S.T. (in its English version), and to 103 Saudi Arabian H.S.S.T. (in its Arabic version).
The results revealed that: 1) There are significant differences (at the 0.01 level) between the U.S.A. H.S.S.T. and the Saudi H.S.S.T. in their use of the methods investigated. 2) The predominant methods of teaching were discussion and lecturing in both countries. Televised science instruction and role playing were never used among the two groups in their teaching. 3) There were seven more methods used in the U.S. schools on a daily and/or weekly basis. They are: student homework, inquiry and discovery, problem solving, laboratory and hands-on methods, demonstrations, tests and quizzes, and individual assignments. 4) Four methods were found to be practiced in Saudi Arabian schools on a monthly basis. They are: problem solving. demonstration, tests and quizzes, and inquiry/discovery techniques. However, there were two methods practiced in the U.S. schools on a monthly basis. They are: student reports and projects, and practical lab tests and quizzes. 5) From the 22 science teaching methods investigated, 16 teaching methods were not practiced except ocassionally, in the Saudi high schools, while 11 teaching methods were not practiced in the U.S. high schools. Finally, the study provided some recommendations to improve science teaching practices
- …