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Background: Melasma is an acquired pigmentary disorder classically manifested as hyperpigmented macules and patches distributed symmetrically on the face, neck, and rarely the upper limbs. The exact etio-pathogenesis of melasma is complex and not completely understood. Treatment of melasma includes; topical, oral, procedural or combination treatments. Tranexamic acid is a plasmin inhibitor. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral tranexamic acid for treatment of melasma. Patients and methods: The study involved 40 female patients with oral intake of tranexamic acid 250 mg, twice daily, for three months. All patients were evaluated clinically, dermoscopically and by MASI scoring before and after treatment. Results: Results of the study revealed statistically significant improvement of melasma according to MASI score after 3 months of treatment in all patients, indicating that oral TA may be considered as a very effective treatment for melasma. As regard the response of treatment, 19 (47.5%) patients had excellent response, 12 (30%) patients had very good response, and 9 (22.5%) patients had good response. Dermoscopic features after treatment showed that, there were improvement of pigmentation and elimination of erythema as 27 patients (67.5%) showed fainting of colour and elimination of erythema, and 13 patients (32.5) patients showed light brown pigmentation and elimination of erythema. Conclusion: Oral intake of TA is a safe and effective method for treatment of melasma, with no risk of PIH, thrombotic or bleeding tendency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is an approach to investigate the chromosomal pattern of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. This may be useful for breaking the hostparasite relationship, which is very specific and dependable on the genetic (chromosomal) status of these hosts. Freshwater snails are essential for the transmission of schistosomiasis by acting as intermediate hosts for the diseasecausing parasite. The objective of this study clarifies the four meiotic divisions that begin with Interphase, prophase, metaphase, and anaphase by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and measuring the lengths of chromosomes by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results showed the number of the chromosomes of B. alexandrina snails N=18, 2N=36 including 4 types of chromosomes, 5 metacentric pairs, 4 submetacentric pairs, 3 acrocentric pairs, and 6 telocentric pairs chromosomes, they were arranged in a descending manner according to the total length that between 12-2 µm. Notably, the present work is the first chromosomal study of B. alexandrina snails by using TEM and SEM. So high-resolution SEM has proven to be a useful tool for chromosomal study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, both digestive and hermaphrodite glands in Biomphalaria alexandrina snails were examined by light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in a trial to clarify its immunological role as defense mechanism against the parasite infection. B. alexandrina snails used were exposed individually to Schistosoma mansoni miracidia; according to their responsq they were classified into infected snails (shed cercariae) and non-infected snails (failed to shed cercariae). Snails not exposed to S. mansoni miracidia used as control. LM showing great histological alteration in tissues, of the both glands in infected snails, these changes represented by degenerated both oocyte and spermatocyte in hermaphrodite gland in addition to degenerated digestive gland while non-infected snails showing mild degenerated ova with normal spermatocytes also degenerated miracidia. inside granuloma like structure with concentric layers of fibroblast and haemocyte could be observed. By SEM we could detect extensively damaged and fibrosed non-motile cilia with exfoliation of tegumental surface in in- fected B.alexandrina while non-infected ones showing attached numerous cilia with some ballooning of the folds.

The present experiment was conducted to study the effect of ethanolic extract of Egyptian propolis given alone or in combination with inactivated Pasteurella multocida vaccine on rabbits challenged with a virulent strain of Pasteurella multocida. Fifty-six New-Zealand rabbits, 6-8 weeks old and non-vaccinated against pasteurellosis, were randomly divided into eight equal groups. The first group was kept as a control for the experiment. The other groups received different treatments with propolis extract, inactivated vaccine, or both. The experiment continued for seven weeks during which clinical signs, body weight, and mortality rate were monitored, and blood samples were collected weekly for evaluating the leukogram, serum biochemistry, and immune response in all groups of animals. At the end of the seventh week, the animals were subjected to challenge with a virulent strain of Pasteurella multocida. Two weeks later, tissue specimens were collected from different organs for histopathological examination. Results showed that rabbits of the groups treated with both propolis and the vaccine by different routes appeared healthy after challenge. It has been concluded that alcoholic extract of propolis administrated in combination with inactivated Pasteurella multocida vaccine has no adverse effects on the general health conditions and enhances immune response in rabbits.

The reaction of the haemolymph and the tissue of infected intermediate hosts, Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus to Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium antigens were investigated using the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. A new technique, Agarose cell block was used in collection of haemolymph which helped in collecting plenty of well formed cells in comparison to the ordinary one using the cytospin. Collected haemolymph and prepared tissues of uninfected and infected B. alexandria and B. truncatus were fixed and then reacted with anti-S. mansoni and anti-S. haematobium IgG polyclonal antibodies. The haemolymph and tissue of infected B. alexandrina and B. truncatus gave a positive peroxidase reaction represented by a brown colour. In haemolymph, the positive peroxidase reaction was detected mainly in the cytoplasm of the amoebocytes. In the tissue, it was detected in epithelial cells lining the tubules, male cells in the lumen of the tubules and in female oogonia cells along the periphery of the tubules. The similarity in the strength and distribution of positive reaction in B. alexandrina and B. truncates was observed as compared to control. Thus, the immunoperoxidase technique proved to be an effective indicator for the schistosome-antigen in the snails.

The activity of a novel enaminone derivative of 4-hydroxyquinoline, BDHQ, was screened for its effectiveness against murine schistosomiasis by electron microscopy and parasitologic studies. The correlation of these studies with serum levels of IFN-gamma and IgE is described. Two groups of 10 mice each were treated with different doses of BDHQ, and their results were correlated with the control and praziquantel (PZQ)-treated groups. Parasitologic study revealed significant reduction in mature worms and tissue egg loads in BDHQ- and PZQ-treated groups, whereas immature worms revealed significant reduction in BDHQ groups only. The group treated with a higher dose of BDHQ showed significant reductions in intestinal ova count when compared with the PZQ-treated group. Ultrastructural examination of the worm revealed significant degeneration of the spines and tegument in all treated groups, while the genital system was affected in BDHQ-treated groups only. BDHQ showed considerable effect on cellular activation where serum levels of IFN-gamma were significantly increased in comparison to control, while anti-soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP) IgE was significantly increased in comparison to both the control and PZQ-treated groups. Ultrastructural examination revealed cellular activation in buffy coat and the liver in both the BDHQ- and PZQ-treated groups in comparison to the untreated one, whereas in the bone marrow and spleen, evidence of cellular activation was remarkable in the BDHQ-treated groups. In conclusion, BDHQ exhibits high levels of activity against adult and juvenile stages of these parasites, which may be due to its mixed cellular and humoral immunologic mechanisms, as demonstrated by the significant increase of serum levels of IgE and IFN-gamma shown on electron microscopy. Therefore, our results support the comparative advantage that BDHQ has over PZQ.

The effect of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, such (as meloxicam, and pyocyanin pigment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa) with and without praziquantel (PZQ) on worms, ova count, bone marrow and blood cells in 7 groups of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice was studied. The results revealed significant decrease of worm burden and ova count in all treated groups as compared to the infected untreated group, while those with combined treatment of PZQ and meloxicam or pyocyanin showed complete eradication of the worm with the highest reduction in the tissue egg load. EM showed extensive swelling and vesiculation of the tegument, completely implanted spines that overlie degenerated muscle layer were obvious in groups treated with either meloxicam or pyocyanin. Hematological study revealed significant increase (P<0.05) of total leucocytic count of PZQ treated group while that treated with either meloxicam or pyocyanin showed significant decrease (P<0.05), but in combination of PZQ with meloxicam or pyocyanin no significant difference as compared to the infected untreated group. The neutrophil was the main cell affected in groups treated with neither meloxicam nor pyocyanin alone with significant decrease (P<0.05), but with significant increase (P<0.05) in combination with PZQ as compared to the infected untreated group. Those treated with PZQ plus meloxicam showed significant increase as compared to that plus pyocyanin. Eosinophil count showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in all treated groups as compared to the infected untreated group. Inverse correlation between serum level of sFas and peripheral neutrophil count was detected. Ultrastructural study of the bone marrow explained the results as groups treated with meloxicam revealed dissociation between nuclear and cytoplasmic development in the neutophils with cytoplasm maintaining primitive appearance despite maturation of the nucleus, that is manifested by the persistent production of immature granules and the still orientation of Golgi cternae and the centriole around the nucleus. Groups treated with pyocyanin pigment revealed many abnormalities in neutophils as hypogranularity or early apoptotic morphology changes as intense perinuclear chromatin aggregation or nucleus fragmentation. In peripheral blood apoptotic morphology changes was detected in both groups treated with meloxicam or pyocyanin while most of cells of mice treated with PZQ were in an active state. Consequently, it is preferable to give meloxicam with PZQ for a short period of time (less side-effect) to eradicate S. mansoni worm completely but with continuous observation of the peripheral neutrophil count and function.