Role of special stains in identification of fungi in eumycetoma among Sudanese patients in Soba University Hospital

Background: Mycetoma is a unique neglected tropical disease caused by a substantial number of microorganisms of fungal or bacterial origins. Identification of the causative organism and the disease extension are the first steps in the management of the affected patients and predicting disease treatment outcome and prognosis. Objectives: To determine the role of special stain in identification of fungi in eumycetoma among Sudanese patients at Soba University Hospital. Method: This descriptive cross- sectional study was conducted of Fifty-nine archival formalin fixed paraffin- embedded tissue blocks, four identical sections from each archival paraffin-embedded tissue block were obtained and stained with routine H&E and special stains {Periodic-Acid-Schiff (PAS) and Grocott-Gomori silver (GMS) and Gridley stain}, then the collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The use of special stains especially periodic acid Schiff’s and Grocott methenamine-silver (GMS) stain are of value (specific and sensitive) in identifying the fungal hyphae and yeast of eumycetoma. Mycetoma is more commonly reported in males than females; also mycetoma is most common in young adults (16–40 years old) and is uncommon in children. No significant relationship was demonstrated between diagnosis and variables (gender, age). Type I and II was the commonest type of the host tissue reaction encountered in this study. Conclusion: Results showed that GMS and PAS had the ability to stain both fungal hyphae and yeast in compare to Gridley’s stain which had some limitations to stain fungal structures

Histopathology status of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) in the conventional system in Bireuen, Aceh Province

 The purpose of this study was to identify the tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) histopatology status in traditional cultured ponds at Bireuen Regency, Aceh Province. The sampling was carried out by purposively random method from seven ponds and two shrimps were sampled from each pond. Several water quality parameters were checked like temperature, pH, salinity and ammonia. Result showed that black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) which were cultivated in traditional ponds in the Bireuen Regency, Aceh Province were histopathologically changes. It was suspected the hepatopancreas changes were associated with viral infection like Hepatopancreatica Parvovirus (HPV) and White Feces Disease (WFD). Ammonia concentrations were found higher in some ponds like Alu Buya Village, Jangka Keutapang Village, Jangka Mesjid Village, Alu Kuta Village and Punjot Village. The management of regular feeding and water quality control is highly recommended to anticipate the viral potential attack in traditional shrimp pond farming at Jangka District, Bireuen Regency, Aceh Province.Keywords:Tiger shrimps Histopathology Water qualit

A Histopathological Exploration of the Madurella mycetomatis Grain

Although the Madurella mycetomatis grains seem to interfere with the host defense mechanisms and impede the antifungal drugs penetration, yet their histological features are not fully known and hence this study was set out to determine that. The study included 80 patients with confirmed M. mycetomatis eumycetoma. After informed written consent, surgical biopsies were obtained from the excised tissues during the patients' surgical treatment. All sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, Grocott's hexamine silver, Periodic Acid-Schiff's, Masson-Fontana, Perl's Prussian Blue, Von-kossa's, Formalin Inducing Fluorescence and Schmorl's stains. Modified bleaching technique was used. The concentrations of Zinc, Copper, Calcium, Iron, Lead, Cobalt and Nickel were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The M. Mycetomatis grai

The Combination of Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid and Ketoconazole in the Treatment of Madurella mycetomatis Eumycetoma and Staphylococcus aureus Co-infection

Eumycetoma is a chronic progressive disabling and destructive inflammatory disease which is commonly caused by the fungus Madurella mycetomatis. It is characterized by the formation of multiple discharging sinuses. It is usually treated by antifungal agents but it is assumed that the therapeutic efficiency of these agents is reduced by the co-existence of Staphylococcus aureus co-infection developing in these sinuses. This prospective study was conducted to investigate the safety, efficacy and clinical outcome of combined antibiotic and antifungal therapy in eumycetoma patients with superimposed Staphylococcus aureus infection. The study enrolled 337 patients with confirmed M. mycetomatis eumycetoma and S. aureus co-infection. Patients were allocated into three groups; 142 patients received amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and ketoconazole, 93 patients received ciprofloxacin and ketoconazole and 102 patients received ketoconazole only. The study showed that, patients who received amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and ketoconazole treatment had an overall better clinical outcome compared to those who had combined ciprofloxacin and ketoconazole or to those who received ketoconazol

The Diversity of Reef Fish in Ulee Kareung waters, Bireuen District Indonesia

Indonesia has abundant underwater natural resources, including coral reefs. Among coral reef ecosystems, reef fish make an important contribution to supporting the sustainability of underwater life. The more diverse reef fish in an ecosystem, it shows the healthier the condition of the coral reef ecosystem. The objective of the study was to investigate the diversity of the reef fish community including abundance, diversity, evenness, and dominance index in Ulee Kareung waters, Simpang Mamplam Sub-district, Bireuen District, Indonesia. We used a visual census technique (VCT)-belt transect by using a 50-meter transect and 3 times repetition at three observation stations. Each station had 2 depth categories such as shallow waters (3-5 m) and deep water (7-10 m). Results of the study found a total of 2094 individuals that consisted of 19 families and 59 species. The abundance value of reef fish ranged from 321 ind/ha - 610 ind/ha. The diversity index (H') ranged from 2.80 to 3.16. The evenness index (E) ranged from 0.79 to 0.88 and the dominance index (C) ranged from 0.06 to 0.10. Hence, it can be concluded that ulee kareung waters have a medium level of fish diversity

Host genetic susceptibility to mycetoma

Mycetoma is one of the badly neglected tropical diseases characterised by subcutaneous painless swelling, multiple sinuses and discharge containing aggregates of the infecting organism known as grains. Risk factors conferring susceptibility to mycetoma include environmental factors, pathogen factors such as virulence and the infecting dose in addition to host factors such as immunological and genetic predisposition. Epidemiological evidence suggests that host genetic factors may regulate susceptibility to mycetoma and other fungal infections but they are likely to be complex genetic traits where multiple genes interact with each other and environmental factors, as well as the pathogen, to cause disease. This paper reviews what is known about genetic predisposition to fungal infections that might be relevant to mycetoma as well as all studies carried out to explore host genetic susceptibility to mycetoma. Most studies were investigating polymorphisms in candidate genes related to the host immune response. A total of 13 genes had allelic variants found to be associated with mycetoma and these genes lie in different pathways and systems such as innate and adaptive immune systems, sex hormones biosynthesis and some genes coding for host enzymes. None of these studies have been replicated. Advances in genomic science and the supporting technology have paved the way for large-scale genome-wide association and next generation sequencing (NGS) studies, underpinning a new strategy to systematically interrogate the genome for variants associated with mycetoma. Dissecting the contribution of host genetic variation to susceptibility to mycetoma will enable the identification of pathways that are potential targets for new treatments for mycetoma and will also enhance the ability to stratify “at-risk” individuals allowing the possibility to develop preventive and personalised clinical care strategies in the future

Protoplast-mediated transformation of Madurella mycetomatis using hygromycin resistance as a selection marker

Madurella mycetomatis is the main cause of mycetoma, a chronic granulomatous infection for which currently no adequate therapy is available. To improve therapy, more knowledge on a molecular level is required to understand how M. mycetomatis is able to cause this disease. However, the genetic toolbox for M. mycetomatis is limited. To date, no method is available to genetically modify M. mycetomatis. In this paper, a protoplast-mediated transformation protocol was successfully developed for this fungal species, using hygromycin as a selection marker. Furthermore, using this method, a cytoplasmic-GFP-expressing M. mycetomatis strain was created. The reported methodology will be invaluable to explore the pathogenicity of M. mycetomatis and to develop reporter strains which can be useful in drug discovery as well as in genetic studies

Assessing information and communication technology in surgical training, Sudan as example

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