The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the B-lymphocyte subset (CD-19) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis. Vaginal swabs, washes and blood specimens were collected from 65 women attending outpatient clinic at Al-Kadhimyia Teaching Hospital in Baghdad suffering from vaginal discharge starting from January 2005, to October 2005. Twenty healthy looking age matched women were also included for control studies. Blood was taken to heparinized tubes and serum was separated. Heparinized blood was used for evaluation of the CD marker, CD-19 using the indirect immunostaining technique. The cytokine IL-4 was evaluated in serum and vaginal washes using the ELISA technique.
Trichomonas vaginalis was isolated from 25 women with a prevalence rate of 38.5%. The results of CD marker showed significant differences between the infected women and controls. There was a significant increase in IL-4 in the infected women.
It was found that this parasite has the ability to stimulate the cell-mediated immunity which eventually led to production of specific immunoglobulin against Trichomonas vaginalis.

Abstract | Full Text PDF

Wound healing is the restoration of physical integrity to internal and external structures and involves intricate interactions between the cells and numerous other factors. Appropriate treatment and care are essential for acceleration of the healing process, prevention of infection and chronicity of the wound and different means and approaches have thus far been used to this end. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of magnesium hydroxide that was used for prevention of bed sores erstwhile on the wound healing process.
The effect of magnesium hydroxide on the healing process in two models of skin wound; length wounds of 15 mm full-thickness and round wounds of 5 mm in diameter full thickness incision were created in the paravertebral area, 1.5 mm from midline on the back of rats was evaluated through measuring the length and area of the healed region and process pathological on different days, and conducting tensiometry experiments after complete wound healing.
The percentage of wound healing on days 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 in control group of length wounds changed in the group treated with magnesium hydroxide from 10.13%, 31.88%, 52.46%, 78.75% and 100% to 11.63%, 49.75% (p<0.05), 94% (p<0.01), 100% and 100% respectively; also the percentage of wound healing on days 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 in control group of round wounds changed in the group treated with magnesium hydroxide from 9.88%, 21.25%, 52.13%, 69.63%, 88.21% and 100% to 12.25%, 37.25% (p<0.05), 60.5%, 76%, 93.4% and 100% respectively.
Stress (maximum tensile force causing skin rupture) changed from 13.19 Newton (N) in the control group of length wound to 20.87 N, also from 11.78 N (p<0.05) in the control group of round wound to 16.9 N (p<0.05) in group treated with magnesium hydroxide.
Strain (tissue length under maximum strain) changed from 9.98 mm in the control group of length wound to 15.43 mm (p<0.05), also from 10.53 mm in the control group of round wound to 17 mm (p<0.05) in group treated with magnesium hydroxide.
The result of pathological samples of view histological (wound healing and cell aggregative) accelerated in magnesium groups on length and round wounds partition to control groups.
Our findings suggest that magnesium hydroxide may have accelerated the skin wound healing process in rat and increased tissue strength through stimulating collagen formation.

Abstract | Full Text PDF

The action of purified intracellular toxin (PIT) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was examined in brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The LC50 of the PIT was calculated to be 25 g/ml. The PIT agglutinated both albino rat and rabbit erythrocytes more potently than did extracellular crude toxin (ECT). Galactose and Dmannose, however, inhibited the agglutination property of PIT and ECT respectively. Intradermal injection of PIT caused changes on the tissues of rabbit skin at a lower dose than that of ECT.

Abstract | Full Text PDF

Human milk is the first food human encounter and it serves as the sole source of all nutrients required for the biological functions and growth during the early stages of life. Trace elements contents are therefore of importance from nutritional point of view. Moreover, accurate data on the concentrations of trace elements in human milk throughout early lactation are important for developing milk formula substitutes. Raw milk as it comes from cow is the natural substitute to human milk for infant feeding. It is now recognized that both too little and excessive amounts of minerals pose health hazards for the infants.
This study was directed to measure the concentrations of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb) in human milk and in cow milk samples available in and around Jeddah city. A total of 108 human milk samples and 80 fresh cow milk samples were analyzed after wet digestion for the seven trace elements using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The mean concentrations of Zn, Cu and Fe in human milk are higher than the corresponding values in cow milk while the mean concentrations of Cr, Mn, Pb and Cd in human milk are lower than the corresponding values in cow milk. The concentrations of all elements in human milk collected in the afternoon are higher than those in samples collected in the morning. The experimental results show that there is an apparent decline in the mean elemental concentration levels as the stage of lactation progressed. Our results for human milk are also compared with the corresponding values of different countries available in literature.

Abstract | Full Text PDF

The forces applied by the laryngoscope blade onto the base of the tongue have been measured indirectly by some investigators. The relation between these forces and postoperative sore throat has not been studied previously. The aim of this study was to directly measure the forces applied by the tip of the laryngoscope blade onto the base of the tongue and its relation to incidence and severity of sore throat.
One hundred patients, 18-65 years old, all candidates for abdominal or lower limb operations under general anesthesia were selected. Maximum and mean force, laryngoscopic time and force-time product were measured using a modified macintosh laryngoscope blade during laryngoscopy. The occurrence and severity of postoperative sore throat were determined after operation using visual analogue scale. Data were analyzed statistically using t-test and Spearman's correlation coefficient.
The laryngoscopic time was 10.57 ± 1.66 seconds, the maximum force was 61.56 ± 8.07 N, the mean force and force - time product were 38.29 ± 6.74 N and 404.72 ± 71.24 N.S. respectively. There was a positive correlation between sore throat intensity, its maximum intensity maximum and mean forces.
This study showed that these forces were higher than those of previous reports. Instant forces applied by the laryngoscope blade may be a more important factor than duration of applied forces regarding the severity of postoperative sore throat.

Abstract | Full Text PDF