Experiences of Older Adults with Heart Failure Using Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

Telemedicine (TM) usage increased rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is part of a larger mixed-methods study comparing TM and in-person visits of older adults with heart failure (HF) and describes patient's TM experiences during the pandemic. This study employed qualitative design using survey responses and individual interviews.

Total protein composition of young and adult Biomphalaria alexandrina snails with different compatibilities to Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Schistosomiasis remains a disease of major global public health concern since it is a chronic and debilitating illness. The widely distributed Schistosoma mansoni that causes intestinal schistosomiasis represents a great threat. Its world-wide distribution is permitted by the broad geographic range of the susceptible species of its intermediate host, Biomphalaria, which serves as an obligatory host for the larval stage, at which humans get infected.

Impact of the age of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails on Schistosoma mansoni transmission: modulation of the genetic outcome and the internal defence system of the snail.

Of the approximately 34 identified Biomphalariaspecies,Biomphalaria alexandrinarepresents the intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoniin Egypt. Using parasitological and SOD1 enzyme assay, this study aimed to elucidate the impact of the age of B. alexandrinasnails on their genetic variability and internal defence against S.

Evaluation of ImmunoCard STAT test and ELISA versus light microscopy in diagnosis of giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis.

This study was designed to evaluate ImmunoCard STAT Cryptosporidium/Giardia rapid assay and ELISA copro-antigen assays in detecting Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium species in fecal samples in comparison to microscopy. Both ImmunoCard STAT and ELISA assays were evaluated with 90 stool specimens that were tested by the standard ova and parasite examination including staining with both iron hematoxylin stain and modified Ziehl Neelson stains. Counting the number of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidia oocysts in the positive stool samples was done in order to quantify the lower limit of parasite number that was able to be detected by all included assays.

Building joint commission continuous readiness in partnership with nursing students.

A partnership between an academic medical center and a college of nursing has proven to be an equally beneficial opportunity for continuous readiness for The Joint Commission. Nursing students learn the principles of regulatory compliance and accreditation through simulated surveys in their leadership and management course. The medical center receives continuous feedback and achieves survey readiness and fluency with better-prepared new graduates.

Zinc PVA versus potassium dichromate for preservation of microsporidian spores of human origin.

Microsporidia are emerging opportunistic parasites. Preservation of the biological properties of microsporidian spores is often required in research work. The present study compared two preservatives; zinc polyvinyl alcohol (zinc PVA) and potassium dichromate solutions for preservation of microsporidian spores separated from human faecal samples.

Experimental studies on cyclosporiosis.

Swiss albino mice get Cyclospora infection after orally inoculated with sporulated oocysts. Two weeks post inoculation, most of them passed numerous acid fast immature oocysts in their stools. One week later, light microscopic examination of their intestinal H & E stained sections revealed parasitic stages in a supranuclear location within enterocytes.

Urinary antigen detection for diagnosis of hydatid disease.

Hydatid antigen was demonstrated for the first time in urine of patients with hydatidosis by coagglutination test (Co-A). Urinary antigen was detected in all Co-A positive serum corresponding samples of surgically confirmed hydatid disease. The sensitivity and specificity were 100% in urine compared with the corresponding serum samples.

Is the intestinal tract a portal of entry for Acanthamoeba infection?

Acanthamoeba culbertsoni isolated from a water sample of El-Mahmoudia canal in Alexandria, was orally inoculated into a mouse model (200-400 amoebae/mouse) under different conditions. One week postinfection (P.I.

Experimental amoebic liver abcess produced by oral administration of Entamoeba histolytica cysts.

To determine the possibility of amoebic invasion and liver-abscess formation Swiss albino mice were infected orally with E. histolytica cysts isolated from human stools. Parasitological and histopathological changes in mice colon and liver tissues were sequentially followed.

A comparison between human, crustacean and bivalve isolates of Microsporidia.

Identification of Microsporidia detected in diarrhoeic stool of human and from press preparation of crabs, and bivalves muscles was done by staining with Giemsa, modified trichrome and H & E stains respectively. Positive samples were isolated & used for infection of 3 groups of mice viz group A human isolate, group B crab & group C bivalve isolates. Parasitological and histopathological studies using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were done for samples from each group.

Isolation of dust mites from houses of Egyptian allergic patients and induction of experimental sensitivity by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

Six house dust mite (HDM) species were isolated from dust of floors and mattresses of allergic patients houses in Alexandria. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.p.

Electroencephalographic changes in rats received antigens of different parasites.

The prevalence of epilepsy in developing countries is much higher than in developed ones. Some of the highest prevalence rates in developing countries have been reported from tropical Africa where parasitic infections are endemic. This work was carried out to assess the effect of different parasitic antigens on the activity of cerebral cortex in rats.

Studies on experimental mixed infection of Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni.

Swiss Albino mice have been infected with S. haematobium and challenged 4 weeks later with S. mansoni.

The possibility of congenital infection with Acanthamoeba culbertsoni.

Acanthamoeba culbertsoni is one of the free-living amoebae which are known to be pathogenic to man, causing granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). In this study, Acanthamoeba culbertsoni was isolated from a water sample of El-Mahmoudia Canal in Alexandria, in July-1993. This was used to infect mice intranasally to study the histopathological picture of the brain and lungs.

Effect of ivermectin on combined intestinal protozoal infection (giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis).

Ivermectin, a broad spectrum antiparasitic agent has become a promising drug for treating parasitic infection and infestation. This study was carried out to investigate its activity against two common protozoal infection, giardiasis and cryptsporidiosis in a rat model. The results of this study showed that ivermectin therapy is effective against both parasites at a dose of 200 micrograms/kg.

Opportunistic intestinal protozoa in chronic diarrhoeic immunosuppressed patients.

Chronic diarrhoea accompanied by weight loss is a common and often debilitating problem in immunocompromized patients, receiving chemotherapeutic agents. In these patients, the intestinal opportunistic parasites probably played a major role in causing this clinical manifestation. The present work, aims to search for these parasites.

Serum IgG antibody response to Pneumocystis carinii among immunosuppressed, malnourished and healthy rats.

Pneumocystis carinii is an important opportunistic pulmonary pathogen that causing pneumonia in premature infants, children with immunodeficiency diseases and patients of all ages receiving immunosuppressive agents. In this work, humoral immune responses to this organism were studied, using IFAT during the period of infection and recovery of immunosuppressed and malnourished rats compared to healthy group. Where sever pneumonitis similar to that seen in humans can be induced in this experimental model.

Topical application of ivermectin for human ectoparasites.

Ivermectin is used in veterinary practice against many ectoparasites and endoparasites and is the drug of choice for treatment of human onchocerciasis. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of topical application of this drug against human ectoparasites (Sarcoptes scabiei and Pediculus humanus capitis). Ivernectin was found to have a curative effect on head lice after a single topical application.

Aminosidine sulphate in experimental giardiasis.

Giardia lamblia infection may be asymptomatic or may produce diarrhea with or without malabsorption. Many drugs were used for treatment of giardiasis, but none proved to be ideal since all have potential troublesome side effects as they are absorbed from the intestine. In this study, a locally acting drug aminosidine-sulphate (gabbroral) has been tried in treatment of experimental giardiasis in a rat model under different conditions of gastric acidity which is one of the main local factors affecting the pathogenicity of the organism.

Isolation and identification of free-living amoebae from some water sources in Alexandria.

Samples from different water sources of Alexandria, and from nasal passages of 500 healthy children inhabiting areas nearby these sources were examined for the presence of free-living amoebae. These samples were cultured on 1.5% non nutrient agar streaked with bacteria.

Pneumocystis carinii: recognition of the infection in albino rats using different stains.

Pneumocystis carinii is a commensal protozoan which may cause pneumonia in hosts with compromised immune status and may end fatally. Since effective management of pneumocystic pneumonia depends on rapid and accurate recognition of the disease, so, the present study aims to throw lights on the best staining method for cytodiagnosis of this organism with the sequential pathological changes in the infected lungs. An immunosuppression state was induced in albino rats for 6-8 weeks then rats were sacrificed weekly & lungs were examined for infection using different stains.