The impact of moderate-to-late prematurity on ocular structures and visual function in Saudi children.

AIM: To assess and compare ophthalmologic and morphologic outcomes between school-age children born moderate-to-late preterm and those born at term. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty children born moderate-to-late preterm (gestational age 32 weeks + 0 days to 36 + 6 days, age range 5-10 years) at a tertiary university hospital were age- and sex-matched to full-term controls. Visual acuity, refractive errors, ocular biometry, macular, and optic nerve assessments with optical coherence tomography were investigated and compared between cases and controls. RESULTS: No differences in visual acuity or refraction were detected between the study groups. The difference in refractive error was not significant between the groups. Marked differences were observed in the anterior chamber depth, which was shallower in the preterm group (P = 0.044); however, no difference in total axial length was observed. The preterm and control groups significantly differed in terms of central macular thickness (247 ± 19 µm versus 235 ± 22 µm; P = 0.005 right eye); however, the groups did not significantly differ in foveal thickness. Central subfield thickness was also markedly greater in the preterm than in the control children (246.89 ± 19.1 µm versus 236.12 ± 23.3 µm, P = 0.015). No significant differences in mean parafoveal/perifoveal thicknesses or optic nerve parameters were observed between both groups. CONCLUSION: Significant differences between moderate to late preterm and full-term groups in regards to anterior chamber depth, central macular thickness, and central subfield thickness were found. It is important to recognize that being born preterm might have an impact on some ocular structures. Larger population-based studies should be conducted to study the long-term sequelae of moderate-to-late prematurity in our children.

Research and molecular characteristic of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from sheep carcasses.

Domestic ruminants are regarded as the major reservoir of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) closely related to human infection. A total of 363 ovine carcasses were swabbed in an Algiers city slaughterhouse for research on STEC. First of all, screening of the STECs was carried out by a multiplex PCR searching for the genes coding for the virulence factors stx1 , stx2 and eae. This step was followed by STEC isolation and serotyping. The presence of stx+ /stx+ eae+ genes was shown in 116 sheep carcasses (31·95%). From the 116 positive samples, 20 bacterial strains (17·24%) were isolated. Nineteen strains belonged to the species E. coli (STEC), and 1 belonged to Citrobacter braakii (eae+ stx1 + ). During this study, the presence of potentially pathogenic STEC for humans on the surface of sheep carcasses was confirmed. Corrective measures should be considered at the slaughterhouse level to avoid outbreaks of STEC in Algeria. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: PCR screening revealed the significant presence of the genetic markers of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) (stx+ /stx+ eae+ ) on the surfaces of sheep carcasses. Citrobacter braakii (stx1 + eae+ ) was isolated for the first time in this study. The risk of foodborne diseases due to STEC must be taken into account in Algeria. To prevent the emergence of epidemic outbreaks among children and older by people, preventive measures should be taken.

Campylobacter spp. at Different Stages of the Poultry Slaughtering Line in Algeria: Evaluation of Direct and Indirect Modified ISO 10272:2017 Detection Methods and Characterization of the Isolates.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of direct and indirect modified ISO 10272-1:2017 methods for detecting Campylobacter spp. in 10 sites of a poultry slaughterhouse and investigate the relationship between poultry intestinal carriage and carcasses, as well as surfaces contamination during different slaughter steps (scalding, defeathering, evisceration, and rinsing). Antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates were also determined against 12 antibiotics. A total of 165 intestinal (feces and ceca) and non-intestinal (neck skins and surfaces) samples were collected from 10 different sampling sites before, during, and after the slaughtering of six flocks of broiler chickens. After the isolation and phenotypic identification of the isolates, an antibiotic susceptibility study was performed using the agar diffusion method. Thermotolerant bacteria of the genus Campylobacter (TC) were isolated with a prevalence of 47.04% (127/270), and 39.05% (82/210) of the TC isolates were detected in non-intestinal samples. Moreover, 76.19% (80/105) of these microorganisms were detected by a direct isolation method for a sensitivity of 97.56%, while only 1.90% (2/105) of the samples contained TC by an indirect isolation method for a sensitivity of 2.44%. The samples of intestinal origin were positive for TC with a rate of 75.00% (45/60). C. jejuni (76.38%; 97/127) was the most isolated bacterial species. Furthermore, 98.43% (125/127) of the TC isolates were multidrug-resistant and 69.29% (88/127) showed simultaneous resistance to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. Direct isolation seems to be the best method for the detection of C. spp. A serious public health problem of multidrug-resistant C. spp. isolates with critical resistance profiles can be transmitted to broiler carcasses before, during, and after the evisceration step.

Antimicrobial resistance of 100 Salmonella strains isolated from Gallus gallus in 4 wilayas of Algeria.

This study aims at identifying serotypes and surveying the antimicrobial resistance and plasmid support of resistance of 100 Salmonella strains, which were isolated from 96 out of 506 (18.97%) samples taken from different production farms in the wilayas (i.e., Algerian states) of Tizi-Ouzou, Bouira, Bejaïa, and Boumerdes in 2007. The highest percentage of Salmonella (48%) was recorded in Bouira. Thirteen serotypes were identified among the 100 Salmonella strains used in this study. The most prevalent ones were Salmonella Heidelberg (24%), Salmonella Enteritidis (20%), Salmonella Albany (16%), and Salmonella Typhimurium (9%). The strains showed resistance to 8 of the 34 antibiotics tested. Fifty-three percent of strains were resistant to at least one antibiotic, among which 15.09% were multiresistant. The most frequently observed resistance was to quinolones (58.49%), with a contribution of 94.74% of Salmonella Heidelberg resistant strains. The plasmid transfer performed on 53 strains showed that only 11 exhibited one or more markers of resistance, the most frequent being ampicillin, followed by tetracycline, then cotrimoxazole, sulphonamides, and kanamycin, in that order. The tetracycline characteristics were present in 72.72% of transconjugants, those of the ß-lactams and sulphonamides in 27.27% each and those of the aminosides in 9.09%. The incompatibility groups of plasmids belong to the F1me and Com1 classes, and the molecular weight of the plasmid DNA was greater than 100 kb. The phenotypic and genotypic results indicate a clonal dissemination in the Gallus gallus species in this particular study; this phenomenon could generate resistant bacteria and transferable genes of resistance to humans.

Evaluation of the discriminatory power of spoligotyping and 19-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MIRU-VNTR) of Mycobacterium bovis strains isolated from cattle in Algeria.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) caused by Mycobacterium (M.) bovis and M. caprae is a transmissible disease of livestock, notifiable to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). BTB particularly affects cattle and small ruminants and can be transmitted to humans thereby posing a significant threat to veterinary and public health worldwide. M. bovis is the principal cause of bTB in Algeria. In order to better understand the route of spreading and elaborate an eradication program, isolation and characterization of mycobacteria from Algerian cattle was performed. Sixty strains belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex were analyzed by spoligotyping, thereof 42 by 19-locus-MIRU-VNTR-typing. Spoligotyping revealed 16 distinguishable patterns (Hunter-Gaston discriminatory index [HGDI] of 0.8294), with types SB0120 (n = 20) and SB0121 (n = 13) being the most frequent patterns, representing 55% of the strains. Analyses based on 19-locus-MIRU-VNTR yielded 32 different profiles, five clusters and one orphan pattern, showing higher discriminatory power (HGDI = 0.9779) than spoligotyping. Seven VNTR-loci [VNTR 577 (alias ETR C), 2163b (QU11b), 2165 (ETR A), 2461 (ETR B), 3007 (MIRU 27), 2163a (QUB11a) and 3232 (QUB 3232)] were the most discriminative loci (HGDI ˃ 0.50). In conclusion, 19-locus-MIRU-VNTR yielded more information than spoligotyping concerning molecular differentiation of strains and better supports the elucidation of transmission routes of M. bovis between Algerian cattle herds.

The Ridley posterior chamber lens.

In summary, if used in the way I recommend, the Copeland lens gives excellent visual results and freedom from irritation. These results are sufficiently good that they need not be compared with the results of cataract surgery without implantation of a pseudophakos. It can be pointed out that these cases were all chosen with the idea of having a successful result. One cannot pick and choose all cataract patients in this way, but one can choose patients for lens implantation in this manner and thereby ensure excellent results.

Primary central nervous system T-cell lymphoma in aids patients: case report and literature review.

According to the published data, most primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) are B-cell lymphomas; primary T-cell lymphomas are rare. In a search of the MEDLINE database, we found only 6 cases of primary T-cell PCNSL. Here, we present the case of a 43-year-old man with AIDS, not on highly active antiretroviral therapy, who presented with focal neurologic symptoms and was found on magnetic resonance imaging to have multiple brain lesions. A biopsy showed T-cell lymphoma, and the patient was subsequently treated with whole-brain radiation, to marked clinical response. Reported cases from the literature of primary T-cell PCNSL in AIDS patients are summarized in this review.

The Copeland intraocular lens: five to ten years later.

Fifty-seven eyes with extracapsular surgery and Copeland lenses and the same number of intracapsular cataract extractions without lenses are described. All properly chosen lens cases have 6/12 vision or better. Forty percent required capsulotomy because of 6/12 vision or less. Possible cystoid macular edema occurred in two cases. No endothelial changes were present that were not present preoperatively. Five lenses dislocated. Two glaucomas appeared. There was no retinal separation, endophthalmitis, or lens removal for lens-induced irritation.

Progressive familial myoclonus epilepsy.

Seven cases of progressive familial myoclonus epilepsy occurring in three families are presented. The patients were in different stages of the illness. The EEG was abnormal in all. It is suggested that these cases belong clinically to the Lafora bodies group. Nystagmus and optic atrophy, seen in one patient, have not been described previously. Myoclonic jerks did not respond to treatment with diazepam and ethosuximide.

Apallic syndrome in chronic mercury poisoning.

This report includes five cases afflicted by chronic mercury poisoning which was observed in Iraq in 1972. All five cases showed the symptomatology of a severe cerebral damage combined with peripheral nerve lesion. The clinical picture reveals an apallic syndrome or a prestage ensuring in the full-blown picture. The combination of CNS lesions with polyneuropathy is typical of mercury poisoning with failure of all brain functions and the appearance of brain stem automatism, combined with severe muscular atrophy. When such conditions are established the remission seems to be impossible. The historical as well as the clinical and morphological facts of the Minamata disease is reviewed. The different stages of chronic mercury poisoning in Iraq are described.