Preparation, Characterization of New Antimicrobial Antitumor Hybrid Semi-Organic Single Crystals of Proline Amino Acid Doped by Silver Nanoparticles.

Proline is water soluble amino acid extensively used in drug delivery systems. Compounds of cobalt (Co) transition metal have potent antimicrobial and anticancer activities. However, a drug delivery system combining proline cobalt is not reported yet. For the first time, new hybrid semi-organic single crystals of proline cobalt chloride (PCC) are prepared. The novelty of the article is also that single crystal proline cobalt chloride showed potent antimicrobial and antitumor activity. Doping of PCC by Ag0NPs significantly increased these biological activities. The anisotropic magnetic properties of single crystals can mitigate the cytotoxicity of Ag0NPs on normal cells. Silver nanoparticles (Ag0NPs) improved the crystal habits and physicochemical properties. Ag0NPs showed the best performance, paramagnetic materials n-type semiconductors due to delocalized excess electrons of Ag0NPs incorporated in the crystal lattice interstitially. Crystals have high absorptivity for UV-radiation electromagnetic radiation. Ag0NPs enhanced AC electrical conductivity up to 2.3 × 104 Ω cm-1 due to high electron density. Proline doped crystals are obtained in good purity as triclinic unit cell with having anisotropic magnetism. PCCAg0NPs crystal exhibited: high antimicrobial activities to various bacterial and fungal species, inhibition zone (mm): 21, 25, 24, 26, 30, 28, 12, and 46 for S. aureus, E. faecalis, S. typhi, E. coli, P. aerugino, K. pneumoniae, A. braselienses, and C. albicans, respectively, in comparison to ciprofloxacin antibiotic (23, 0, 26, 26, 25, 0, 0, 0) for the same tested species, respectively; higher cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells (IC50 22.1 µM) than the reference drug cisplatin (IC50 11.7 µM); and lower cytotoxicity to normal healthy lung cells MRC-5, (IC50 145.5 µM) than cisplatin (IC50 30.2 µM). Hence, this crystal is a candidate for chemotherapy of breast cancer.

Erythromycin and feeding intolerance in premature infants: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose oral erythromycin to treat feeding intolerance in preterm infants. DESIGN: This study was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on 60 premature infants suffering from feeding intolerance. Thirty infants were given oral erythromycin 1 mg/kg every 8 h and 30 infants were given placebo (normal saline). Randomization was stratified on enrollment according to gestational age whether >32 weeks or 32 weeks, the erythromycin group achieved full enteral feeding earlier than placebo group (10.5+/-4.1 vs 16.3+/-5.7 days, respectively; P=0.01) had fewer episodes of gastric residuals (P<0.05) and shorter duration of parenteral nutrition (PN) (P<0.05). On the other hand, in infants with gestational age 32 weeks gestation. A similar effect on younger preterm infants was not demonstrable.

Presumptive evidence for an immunosuppressor susceptibility gene, linked to HLA, in rheumatic fever.

In a study of rheumatic carditis, 135 members of 21 multiplex families have been investigated, along with 60 normal unrelated control individuals. Circulating T-lymphocytes were reduced (as a percentage of total blood mononuclear cells) in all 'rheumatic' individuals, in 7 of 40 normal parents, and in 8 of 49 normal sibs. An immune response characterized by an increase in the proportion of suppressor T cells occurs in most individuals affected by rheumatic carditis and this change persists for a long time. Genetic analysis revealed three important points: 1. increased HLA haplotype sharing amongst the affected sib-pairs; 2. the possibility of using low circulating T-cell percentage as a marker of susceptibility; 3. presumptive evidence for a recessive susceptibility gene linked to HLA and responsible for the suppressor cell response.

Evidence of HLA-linked susceptibility gene(s) in respiratory distress syndrome.

In a prospective study 101 newborns were enrolled into four groups: Group I included 38 unrelated newborns suffering from RDS and four sets of twin sibs (seven of whom had RDS; Group II included prematures free from RDS and any other disease; Group III included 21 newborns) delivered by C.S. and free from RDS and any other disease; Group IV included 20 infants of diabetic mothers free from RDS. HLA antigens were typed for all the newborns. The analysis of results could be summarized as follows. (1) Strong association between A3 antigen (RR = 19.4, WY2 = 59.8, S = 0.599) and B14 antigen (RR = 14.1, WY2 = 50.7, S = 0.489) and RDS. (2) HLA haplotypes were identical in twins sibs suffering from RDS and nonidentical in twins when one sib had RDS and the other is free. (3) The frequencies of A3 and B14 among the other three groups were insignificantly different from the general population and highly significantly low compared to RDS group. In conclusion, the development of RDS depends probably on the presence of susceptibility gene(s) in linkage disequilibrium with A3 and B14 antigens. Environmental factors, magnified by prematurity, in such susceptible newborns affect the production of surfactant leading to the development of RDS.

Immunogenetic susceptibility for post-schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.

In 19 children with hepatic fibrosis as the result of continued schistosomiasis mansoni and 20 children without hepatic fibrosis, the following studies were carried out: HLA antigen typing for 30 antigens, immune response of T lymphocytes to schistosome antigen by measuring DNA synthesis evidenced by 3H-thymidine uptake, and measurement of total OKT3+, OKT4+, and OKT8+ cells using monoclonal antibodies. Patients with hepatic fibrosis were mostly high responders in contrast with those without fibrosis. High immune response and susceptibility to post-schistosomal hepatic fibrosis were associated with a high frequency of A2 and B12 antigens and a lack of DR2 antigens, while low response was associated with the presence of the DR2 antigen. The T4+:T8+ ratio showed increased suppressor proportions in patients with low immune response and/or with no hepatic fibrosis. We suggest an immunogenetic susceptibility for post-schistosomal hepatic fibrosis, probably controlled by HLA-linked genes via the suppressor T cells.

Impact of the current National Bilharzia Control Programme on the epidemiology of schistosomiasis mansoni in an Egyptian village.

In a population-based study in the Nile Delta of Egypt, the modified Kato thick smear technique was used to study the epidemiology of Schistosoma mansoni. After 2 years of implementation of the National Bilharzia Control Programme by the Ministry of Health, the general prevalence dropped from 47.2% to 21.9%. The peak prevalence rate has shifted downwards in magnitude (40.4% compared to 72.1%) and backwards over the age scale (5-14 in contrast to 15-19 years age group). Redistribution of various infection grades has taken place. More than three-quarters (75.6%) of the infected individuals have light infections in contrast to only one-fifth (20%) 2 years ago. The mean egg count for the entire sample population has dropped significantly (P < 0.05) from 128 to 17 eggs/g stools with no significant difference between males and females. This positive impact can be attributed largely to the case finding and treatment component of the programme. However, the incidence rate remained nearly the same before and 2 years after implementation of the programme (18.7 and 18.1%, respectively). The non-changing high incidence rate indicates that the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the population concerning water contact have not yet changed. Insufficient improvement in environmental sanitation may be a contributing factor. Continuation of serious efforts in case finding and treatment is recommended, with special emphasis on schoolchildren. This should be coupled with an intensive health education programme.

Nosocomial infection surveillance in an Egyptian neonatal intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections (NIs) have become a matter of major concern and an important cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, anatomical sites and causative organisms of NI in an Egyptian NICU, and to assess the impact of NI on length of stay and mortality. METHODS: This was a descriptive hospital-based study carried out for 12 months in the NICU of the Mansoura University Children's Hospital. NI rates were calculated using different denominators (overall nosocomial infection rate, nosocomial infection incidence density, device-specific infection rates and device-days infection rates). FINDINGS: Of the 238 neonates evaluated, 49 developed 51 nosocomial infective episodes, equating to an incidence rate of 21.4% or 13.8 infections per 1000 bed-days. Pneumonia was the most frequently occurring infection (11.3%) followed by bloodstream infection (8.8%). The most frequently isolated organisms were Klebsiella spp. (33.3%) followed by Escherichia coli (21.6%). NIs were associated with prolonged hospital stay. CONCLUSION: NI is a significant problem in the Mansoura University Children's Hospital NICU. Gram-negative bacteria, especially Klebsiella spp., were the predominant causes of neonatal NI, as has been described in other studies from developing countries.

Effect of mode of delivery, parity and umbilical blood gas on first meconium passage in full-term healthy neonates.

The various physiologic factors which might influence the time of first meconium passage were studied in 62 healthy full-term newborn infants. Thirty-two babies were born vaginally and 30 by elective cesarean section. Infants born vaginally were more acidotic and passed first stool earlier compared to those born by cesarean section. The same applies to vaginally delivered babies when comparing babies born to primipara and others. Acidosis is a presumed mechanism, and a role of gastrointestinal hormones is suggested to be the possible mediator of increased motility in these babies.

Randomized controlled trial of discontinuation of nasal-CPAP in stable preterm infants breathing room air.

This trial assessed the consequences of discontinuation of nasal-CPAP in stable preterm infants breathing room air. Eighty-eight infants with a mean gestational age of 29 (24-33) weeks and a mean birthweight of 1264 (665-2060)g, randomized to either discontinuation of CPAP or its continuation, were clinically observed and monitored for 6 h by cardiorespiratory monitor, pulse oximeter and transcutaneous blood gas monitor. The abdominal circumference and gastric air and aspirate volumes were measured prior to meals at trial entry and after 6 h. Discontinuation of CPAP led to a small but significant decrease in oxygenation at 1 and 6 h. During the trial, five infants in the experimental group required supplemental oxygen and one infant was put back on CPAP owing to excessive apnoeas. Discontinuation of CPAP did not influence the TcPCO2 or the number of apnoeas and bradycardias during the trial, but led to significantly increased respiratory rate, retractions, and flaring at 6 h. It also led to a significant decrease in the abdominal circumference and gastric air volume. Thirty-nine percent of infants were put back on CPAP some time after the trial, mainly because of recurrent apnoeas and bradycardias. Taking the infant off CPAP during the trial reduced subsequent use of CPAP.