Introduction: Timely fibrinolysis for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) reduces infarct size and hence preserves LV function and reduces mortality. Optimal regimen of streptokinase (SK) infusion in such patients is a matter of interest. The current study aimed to compare efficacy and safety of accelerated SK infusion regimen in patients with STEMI versus the standard one. Methods: One hundred consecutive STEMI patients were randomly allocated into one of 2 groups: group I (50 patients) who received accelerated SK regimen (1.5 million units over 30 minutes) and group II (50 patients) received standard SK regimen (1.5 million units over 60 minutes). Efficacy was evaluated non-invasively using clinical (chest pain), ECG (resolution of ST segment) and laboratory tests (earlier and higher peaking of cardiac troponin I). Safety was evaluated by assessment of multiple in-hospital adverse events. Results: Both groups were statistically matched in all baseline criteria. There was a significant difference between both groups regarding each parameter of successful reperfusion in favor of accelerated regimen. When all these parameters were combined, 31 patients (62%) had successful reperfusion in group I versus 19 patients (38%) in group II (P = 0.016). We did not report any significant difference between both groups regarding in-hospital mortality, in-hospital heart failure, major bleeding, hypotension or allergic reaction to SK. Mean pre-discharge ejection fraction was higher in group I than group II (50.9 ± 6.6% versus 47.3 ± 4.6%, P = 0.002). Conclusion: Accelerated regimen of SK infusion is safe and effective method of reperfusion in patients with STEMI.

The suppressive effects of six species of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) against Meloidogyne incognita infected tomato were assessed in two separate trials under greenhouse conditions. The tested EPN species were Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, H. megidis, H. zealandica, Steinernema feltiae, S. glaseri and S. riobravae. In the first trial, EPNs were applied as a liquid suspension of alive or dead infective juveniles (IJs) at rate of 5000 IJs/plant in sandy and clay soils, while in the second trial, two Galleria mellonella infected cadavers of six-day old per plant were used in sandy soil. In the two experiments, application of EPNs was accomplished simultaneously with inoculation of M. incognita. Carbofuran as a standard synthetic nematicide was used as comparison treatment at recommended rate of 0.2 g/plant. Control treatments received only water and M. incognita at rate of1000 IJs/plant. Two months after inoculation, galling (as indicated by number of galls/plant) and reproduction (as indicated by number of egg masses /plant) as well as damage (as indicated by fresh and dry weight of areal parts) were assessed. Data showed that, treatment of carbofuran surpassed all other treatments in minifying galling and reproduction of M. incognita in sandy and clay soils. On the other hand, curative applications of alive or heat-killed IJs significantly (P≤ 0.05) diminished gall formation and egg mass production in tomato roots with slightly amelioration in fresh and dry weight of tomato shoot. Steinernematid species were more comparatively effective than heterorhabditid ones. General means for number of galls and egg masses for steinernematid species were 52.50 and 25.33 with percent reduction of 55.45 and 64.49 %, respectively. Whereas, the parallel values for heterorhabditid species were 69.67 and 36.33 with percent reduction of 40.88 and 49.07%, respectively compared to treatment of M. incognita alone. Treatments of alive IJs overwhelmed those of dead IJs in decreasing number of galls (with percent reduction of 56.53 and 39.79% respectively) and egg masses (with percent reduction of 63.16 and 50.39%, successively). Moreover, utilization of two G. mellonella infected cadavers markedly lowered number of galls and egg masses

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