Frequency and levels of autoantibodies in healthy adult Omanis.

Background: A previous pilot study showed a high frequency of anti-smooth muscle autoantibody in Omani blood donors and pregnant women. We conducted this larger-scale study to investigate the frequency and significance of several autoantibodies in healthy individuals from different regions of Oman.

Methods: Sera obtained from 1537 healthy Omanis (1153 males and 384 females), ranging in age from 18 to 57 years, were tested for the presence of ten different autoantibodies using indirect immunofluorescence, haemagglutination and latex agglutination techniques.

Inhibition effect of honey on the adherence of Salmonella to intestinal epithelial cells in vitro.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect and the ability of honey to prevent Salmonella interitidis adhering to intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. Antimicrobial activity was demonstrated. Bacterial adherence was assayed using S.

Antibacterial activity of Omani honey alone and in combination with gentamicin.

Objective: To investigate the anti-Staphylococcal activity of Omani honey, gentamicin and combination of the 2.

Methods: This study was conducted in the Laboratories of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman in 2004. Thirty honey samples from different parts of Oman were investigated for their activity against Staphylococcus aureus, using an agar well diffusion technique.

Multi-drug resistance of Escherichia coli from the urinary tract.

Objective: Resistance to antimicrobials of different structural classes has arisen in a multitude of bacterial species. This may complicate the therapeutic management of infections, including those of the urinary tract. The aim of this study is to show that antibiotic resistance surveillance is essential.

Serodiagnosis of tuberculosis and leprosy by enzyme immunoassay.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of serodiagnosis for tuberculosis and leprosy using mycobacterial antigen 38 kDa, with kits from Omega laboratories, to detect IgG by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). METHODS: The study population consisted of 58 patients with evidence of tuberculous infection (culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex or microscopic evidence), of whom 23 had pulmonary and 35 had extrapulmonary disease. There were six subjects who had recently been treated for tuberculosis, 11 patients on treatment for leprosy and 137 patients suspected of having tuberculosis on clinical or radiologic grounds (without laboratory evidence).