Eighteen diamidino azaterphenyls and analogues were evaluated as anti-leishmanials; nine of the compounds gave IC50 values less than 1 microM, five exhibited values less than 0.40 microM, and two gave values less than 0.10 microM in a Leishmania donovani axenic amastigote assay. The activity of the diamidines strongly depends on the ring N-atom location relative to the amidine groups and correlates with DNA affinity. Transmission electron microscopy studies showed a dramatic dilation of the mitochondrion and evidence of disintegration of the kinetoplast of the amastigotes.

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) in blood donors is considered as a potential risk for transmission of HBV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBC) positivity in Egyptian blood donations as well as to estimate the frequency of HBV-DNA in anti-HBc-positive donations. The study included 760 Egyptian healthy blood donors, representing 26 different Egyptian governorates screened according to routine practice for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (Abs), HIV-1/2 Abs and Treponema Abs. The accepted blood units for donation were tested for the presence of total anti-HBc Abs by two tests. Positive units for anti-HBc were further tested for HBV-DNA by polymerase chain reaction. According to routine screening, a total of 48/760 units (6.3%) were rejected [38 (5%) HCV-Ab-positive units, 9 (1.18%) HbsAg-positive units and 1 (0.13%) Treponema-Ab-positive unit]. Among the accepted blood units for donation, prevalence of anti-HBc was 78/712 units (10.96%). HBV-DNA was detected in 9/78 (11.54%) of the anti-HBc-positive units, and thus, occult HBV infection was detected in 9/712 (1.26%) of the accepted blood donations. Implementing anti-HBc test to the routine assay for the forthcoming two decades would certainly eliminate possible HBV-infected units. Rejection of these units will be beneficial to decrease the risk of HBV transmission with its potential consequences particularly in immunocompromised recipients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the success rate of adjustable suture techniques in horizontal eye muscle surgery in children aged 10 years and younger.

METHODS: A retrospective review of children who had horizontal eye muscle surgery at or before the age of 10 years. Patients were divided into 1 of 2 groups according to whether a nonadjustable or an adjustable technique was used. The preoperative measurements, type of strabismus, and postoperative results were analyzed.

RESULTS: A total of 98 cases in the nonadjustable group and 298 cases in the adjustable group were identified. Early success rate, defined as alignment within 8(Delta) of straight at the end of 3 months, was notably greater in the adjustable group (79%) than in the nonadjustable group (64.5%). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). In the adjustable group, adjustment was performed in 64% of the cases, either because of an undercorrection or overcorrection. The adjustment procedure was performed under topical proparacaine in 20% of cases and under intravenous propofol in 80%. No complications were reported during the adjustment procedure.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of adjustable sutures can provide an improved success rate over nonadjustable sutures in eye muscle surgery in children aged 10 years or younger.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the success rate of adjustable suture techniques in horizontal eye muscle surgery in children aged 10 years and younger.

METHODS: A retrospective review of children who had horizontal eye muscle surgery at or before the age of 10 years. Patients were divided into 1 of 2 groups according to whether a nonadjustable or an adjustable technique was used. The preoperative measurements, type of strabismus, and postoperative results were analyzed.

RESULTS: A total of 98 cases in the nonadjustable group and 298 cases in the adjustable group were identified. Early success rate, defined as alignment within 8(Delta) of straight at the end of 3 months, was notably greater in the adjustable group (79%) than in the nonadjustable group (64.5%). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). In the adjustable group, adjustment was performed in 64% of the cases, either because of an undercorrection or overcorrection. The adjustment procedure was performed under topical proparacaine in 20% of cases and under intravenous propofol in 80%. No complications were reported during the adjustment procedure.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of adjustable sutures can provide an improved success rate over nonadjustable sutures in eye muscle surgery in children aged 10 years or younger.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate puberty in a group of thalassemic patients with delayed or arrested pubertal development and to compare the effects of hormonal and L-carnitine therapy on puberty in those patients.

PATIENTS: Thirty-two -thalassemic patients with arrested or failure of puberty were enrolled for 1 year in this study.

METHOD: Clinical pubertal assessment and laboratory investigations were done for all patients at the beginning, 6 months later clinical pubertal assessment was done. Patients were divided into two groups (16 each): first group received L-carnitine therapy, while the second group received hormonal therapy. Pubertal and laboratory assessment were done 6 months after hormonal and L-carnitine therapy.

RESULTS: Failure of puberty was confirmed in 71.4% of boys and 33.3% of girls, while arrested puberty was observed in 28.6% of boys and 66.7% of girls. All girls had amenorrhea, primary amenorrhea in 88.9% and secondary amenorrhea in 11.1%. Menses occurred in 20% of female patients after L-carnitine therapy and in 37.5% of them after hormonal therapy. Improvement of pubertal staging was observed in 50% of males after L-carnitine therapy compared to 75% of them after hormonal therapy. While improvement of pubertal staging was seen in 90% of females after L-carnitine therapy compared to 100% of females after hormonal treatment. However, these results showed no significant difference between both groups.

CONCLUSION: Delayed puberty in beta-thalassemia major is either due to failure of gonads or failure of the whole hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis. L-carnitine as well as hormonal replacement therapy had a positive effect on puberty in the thalassemic patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of L-carnitine on puberty in these patients.

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