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BackgroundHypertension is risk factor for development of congestive heart failure. The pathogenesis of myocardial and renal cortex changes in hypertension includes structural remodeling and fibrosis.Aim of studyis to evaluate the effects of therapeutic doses of combined XO-Inhibitors and ACE-Inhibitors on expression of VEGF-A in the myocardium and renal cortex in chronic hypertensive albino rats.Material & MethodsThirty male albino rats were divided into: Group I: (control group), Group II (Non-treated Hypertensive rats), Group III (Allopurinol-treated Hypertensive rats), Group IV (Captopril-treated Hypertensive rats) and Group V (Allopurinol-Captopril-treated Hypertensive rats). At 4 and 8 weeks, the rats were anesthetized followed by obtaining of heart and left kidney to be stained with Masson trichrome and Anti-Vascular endothelial growth factor-A antibody.ResultsGroup II, one month hypertensive rats showed, myocardium showed disarray with significant increase in interstitial fibrosis. The renal cortex showed evidences indicating glomerulosclerosis. Immunohistochemistry, there was high significant decrease in the number of cells of renal cortex with +ve expression of VEGF-A. Later, they showed marked significant increase in interstitial fibrosis. In Group III, myocardium and renal cortex showed high significant increase in interstitial fibrosis. After two month, there were high significant decrease in the surface area of interstitial fibrosis in myocardium and renal cortex with high significant decrease number of the myocardium with +ve expression of VEGaF-A. In Group IV, myocardium showed disarray with marked significant reduction in interstitial fibrosis. The renal cortex showed marked significant reduction in the interstitial fibrosis with significant decrease in the number of cells with +ve expression of VEGF-A. Later, myocardium showed the most high marked significant reduction in interstitial fibrosis with highly significant increase in number of cells with positive expression of VEGF-A. In Group V after two month, both myocardium and renal cortex showed nearly normal architecture with marked significant reduction in interstitial fibrosis.ConclusionsLong term therapy with the combination between allopurinol and captopril decreases the fibrotic changes associated with hypertension and enhances the process of angiogenesis.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have emerged in the 1960s and is now commonly seen in hospitals, clinics and the community. In Saudi Arabia, MRSA prevalence was different from region to another, and the overall estimation was 35.6%. However, the infection with this pathogen can be prevented using many topical antiseptics or antibiotics. Moreover, colonization by this organism might be reduced by good washing using clean water. Thus, the aim of this study was to detect the presence of MRSA among healthcare workers who practice ablution.Methods: Nasal swabs were collected from 22 healthcare workers (64% female and 36% male) at Albaha city, Saudi Arabia. Participants were working at three different departments in the hospital including; clinical laboratory, emergency room and infection control unit with 55%, 36% and 9%, respectively. Identification of MRSA was performed by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (BD GenoOhm MRSA TM Assay). Findings:The results of this study showed that MRSA was not isolated from any participants who use to practice ablution. On the other hand, MRSA was isolated from 3 (27%) samples, which were collected from healthcare workers who do not perform ablution. However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Conclusions:MRSA nasal colonization can be reduced by nasal washing in ablution, which can be an easy and effective method to reduce or prevent colonization by this organism and thereby decrease the infection with serious staphylococcal diseases.