2,712 research outputs found
Molecular epidemiology of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea due to Clostridium difficile and clostridium perfringens in Ain Shams University Hospitals
Background: As we are living in the era of antibiotic overuse, antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) is considered now a distinct health problem with a need for more attention.
Aim of the Study: was to perform a highly specific detection and definition of
pathogenic Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile related AAD in children compared to adults and geriatircs.
Patients and Methods: One hundred and fifty patients diagnosed for AAD were included in this study (50 children, 50 adults and 50 geriatric patients). All of them were subjected to full medical history including complete therapeutic history of antibiotics and collection of stool sample during the attack for detection of Clostridium perfringenes enterotoxin (CPEnt) and Clostridium difficile cytotoxin by (EIA) kit. PCR detection of Clostridium perfringenes cpe
gene (Coding gene for CPEnt) was performed as well.
Results: Results showed that prevalence of Clostridium difficile cytotoxin was 24% while Clostridium perfringenes enterotoxin was 12% as detected by EIA in faecal specimens as a whole. Detection of cpe gene by PCR was positive in 16% of all cases. Children (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.3-14.8, P_0.01) and geriatric patients (OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.2-13.5, P_0.02) were significantly more prone to Clostridium difficile AAD compared to adults. Also, childhood was a significant risk for Clostridium perfringens AAD (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 0.54-7.4, P_0.04).
In Conclusion: children and geriatric patients are more vulnerable to develop AAD with antibiotic abuse compared to adults.
Abbreviations: AAD=Antibiotic associated diarrhea, CI=Confidence interval,
ELISA=Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, OR=Odd ratio, PCR=Polymerase
chain reaction. Keywords: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea, children,
Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile. Egypt. J. Hum. Genet Vol. 8 (2) 2007: pp. 121-13
Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS): observational case series findings on MR defecography
Objective:
Radiological findings in solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) are well described for evacuation proctography (EP) but sparse for magnetic resonance defecography (MRD). In order to rectify this, we describe the spectrum of MRD findings in patients with histologically proven SRUS. /
Materials and methods:
MRD from twenty-eight patients (18 female; 10 males) with histologically confirmed SRUS were identified. MRD employed a 1.5-T magnet and a standardized technique with the rectal lumen filled with gel and imaged sagittally in the supine position, before, during, and after attempted rectal evacuation. A single radiologist observer with 5 years’ experience in pelvic floor imaging made the anatomical and functional measurements. /
Results:
Sixteen patients (10 female) demonstrated internal rectal intussusception and 3 patients (11%) demonstrated complete external rectal prolapse. Anterior rectoceles were noted in 12 female patients (43%). Associated anterior and middle compartment weakness (evidenced by excessive descent) was observed in 18 patients (64%). Cystocele was found in 14 patients (50%) and uterine prolapse was noted in 7 patients (25%). Enterocoeles were detected in 5 patients (18%) and peritoneocoele in 5 patients (18%). None had sigmoidocoele. Sixteen patients (57%) demonstrated delayed voiding and 13 patients (46%) incomplete voiding, suggesting defecatory dyssynergia. /
Conclusion:
MRD can identify and grade both rectal intussusception and dyssynergia in SRUS, and also depict associated anterior and/or middle compartment descent. Distinction between structural and functional findings has important therapeutic implications.
Key Points:
MRD can identify and grade both rectal intussusception and dyssynergia in patients with SRUS.
MRD is an acceptable substitute to evacuation proctography in assessing anorectal dysfunctions when attempting to avoid ionizing radiation.
SRUS influences the pelvic floor globally. MRD depicts associated anterior and/or middle compartment prolapse
Bifilm defects and porosity in Al cast alloys
Liquid Al and Mg-base alloys are so reactive that it is reasonable to assume that the surface layer is always oxidised. If liquid aluminium entered a mould cavity with a velocity greater than a critical value, the surface skin of the liquid metal would fold over onto itself and be submerged into the bulk liquid with a volume of air entrapped within it, creating what is called a bifilm defect. This defect not only acts as a crack but also it is recognized to initiate hydrogen porosity in the solidified casting, which has been found to have detrimental effects on the tensile and fatigue properties of the castings produced.
Previous research suggested that during solidification the hydrogen, in excess of the solubility limit, comes out of solution and diffuses into the bifilm gap, expanding it into a pore. Also, placing liquid metal in a vacuum may cause its entrained bifilms to expand, enhancing their buoyancy and therefore their floatation to the surface of the melt.
In this work, a casting from an A356 Al alloy was allowed to solidify under vacuum. The solidified casting was sectioned into two halves, and the internal surfaces of the pores were investigated using an SEM to determine their relationship with double oxide film defects
(E)-N′-(4-Hydroxybenzylidene)-3-nitrobenzohydrazide
The molecule of the title compound, C14H11N3O4, assumes an E conformation about the C=N double bond. The benzene rings form a dihedral angle of 3.9 (2)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by N—H⋯O, O—H⋯N, O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to (101). In addition, intralayer π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.635 (2) Å] are observed
N′-[(2-Methoxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylidene]-4-methylbenzohydrazide
In the title compound, C20H18N2O2, the mean planes of the naphthyl system and the benzene ring form a dihedral angle of 88.48 (10)°. In the crystal, N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into C(4) chains, which propagate along the b-axis direction
Microalgae production in fresh market wastewater and its utilization as a protein substitute in formulated fish feed for oreochromis spp.
Rapid growing of human population has led to increasing demand of aquaculture production. Oreochromis niloticus or known as tilapia is one of the most globally cultured freshwater fish due to its great adaptation towards extreme environment. Besides, farming of tilapia not only involves small scales farming for local consumption but also larger scales for international market which contributes to a foreign currency earning. Extensive use of fishmeal as feed for fish and for other animals indirectly caused an increasing depletion of the natural resource and may consequently cause economic and environmental unstable. Microalgae biomass seems to be a promising feedstock in aquaculture industry. It can be used for many purposes such as live food for fish larvae and dried microalgae to substitute protein material in fish feed. The microalgae replacement in fish feed formulation as protein alternative seem potentially beneficial for long term aqua-business sustainability. The present chapter discussed the potential of microalgae as an alternative nutrition in fish feed formulations, specifically Tilapia
2-Fluoro-N′-[(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylidene]benzohydrazide
In the title molecule, C18H13FN2O2, the hydroxy group is involved in an intramolecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond. The naphthyl ring system and the benzene ring form a dihedral angle of 31.0 (2)°. In the crystal, N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into chains propagating in [101]
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