Chemical, biochemical, and bioactivity studies on some soda lakes, Wadi El-Natrun, Egypt.

Wadi El-Natrun is one of the most observable geomorphological features in the North-Western Desert of Egypt; it contains several old saline and saline soda lakes. This study investigates physicochemical and biochemical characteristics and estimates the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TVC), and bioactivities of sediment, cyanobacteria, and brine shrimp (Artemia salina) in soda lakes, i.e., El-Hamra Lake 1 (H1) and El-Hamra Lake 2 (H2). These soda lakes are unique extreme ecosystems characterized by high pH (> 9.3), high alkalinity, and salinity. Some extremophilic microorganisms are hosted in this ecosystem. The results revealed that the chemical water type of studied lakes is soda-saline lakes according to the calculated percentage sequence of major cations and anions. Sodium ranked first among major cations with an abundance ratio of e% 58, while chloride came first among anions with an abundance ratio of e% 71, and bicarbonate and carbonate occupied the last rank with an abundance of 6%. The biochemical investigations showed that TPC and TVC are present in concern contents of sediment, cyanobacteria, and brine shrimp (A. salina) which contribute 89% of antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activities. Thus, this study helps better understand the chemical and biochemical adaptations in soda lake ecosystems and explores natural sources with potential applications in antioxidant-rich products and environmental conservation efforts.

The complexity of basophobia and aging: covariates and consequences.

OBJECTIVE: The study aim is to determine the drug-induced incidence of basophobia, falls, its' related variables and the consequences among older adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was adopted with 210 older adult samples. The tool consisted of 6 sections: a standardized, semi-structured questionnaire and physical examination. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Among the study participants, 49% had falls or near falls and 51% had basophobia in the past 6 months. As per final simultaneous regression analysis model of the study, the covariates to activity avoidance were age (ß=-0.129, CI=-0.087 to -0.019), having >5 chronic diseases (ß=-0.086, CI=-1.41 to -1.182), depressive symptoms (ß=-0.09, CI=-0.089 to -0.189), vision impairment (ß=-0.075, CI=-1.28 to -1.56), basophobia (ß=-0.26, CI=-0.059 to -0.415), taking regular antihypertensives (ß=-0.096, CI= -1.21 to -1.56), oral hypoglycemics and insulin (ß=-0.17, CI=-0.442 to -0.971) and sedatives and tranquilizers (ß=-0.37, CI=-1.32 to -1.73). Use of antihypertensives (p<0.001), oral hypoglycemics and insulin (p<0.01), sedatives and tranquilizers (p<0.001) were strongly associated with fall related to activity avoidance. CONCLUSIONS: The result of this current study suggests that the falls, basophobia and its related activity avoidance among elderly may set in a "vicious cycle" of falls, basophobia, and the numerous negative outcomes such as functional impairment, a decrease in quality of life, and hospitalization. Preventive strategies such as tittering dosage, home- and community -based exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy, yoga, meditation and sleep hygiene may be the choice to break this vicious cycle.

Comparative study on the effect of dietary ß-carotene and phycocyanin extracted from Spirulina platensis on immune-oxidative stress biomarkers, genes expression and intestinal enzymes, serum biochemical in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus.

The current trial investigated the roles of ß-carotene and phycocyanin extracted from Spirulina platensis on growth, serum biochemical, digestive enzymes, antioxidant defense, immune responses, and immune gene expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish (1.52 ± 0.10 g) were randomly stocked to three treatments with three replicates (12 fish per replicate) in nine aquaria (60 L glass aquarium for each), and reared for 70-days. Three tested diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isolipidic, and were offered for experimental fish until ad-libitum three times daily at 09:00 a.m., 11.00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The first diet (control) was without supplementation. About 50 mg ß-carotene and 50 mg phycocyanin kg-1 were supplemented to the other experimental diets, respectively. Results indicated that feed intake was not (P > 0.05) differ among experimental diets. Compared to control diet wight gain and specific growth rate were significantly (P < 0.05) in fish fed diet containing ß-carotene, while, the highest weight gain and the best FCR were detected in phycocyanin diet. Survival fish among treatments was significantly (P < 0.05) differ and the highest survival rate was showed in fish fed diet supplemented with phycocyanin. Either ß-carotene or phycocyanin significantly (P < 0.05) improved the intestinal digestive enzymes compared with control diet, where the highest values of chymotrypsin, trypsin, lipase and amylase were noticed in fish fed phycocyanin. Diets supplemented with ß-carotene and phycocyanin significantly (P < 0.05) improved hematology parameters contents compared with to the control diet, and the best contents were detected in fish fed diet supplemented with phycocyanin. The highest significant (P < 0.05) phagocytic, lysozyme, immunoglobulin M (IgM), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activities were recorded in diet supplemented with phycocyanin. The transcripts of interferon gamma and interleukin 1ß genes were (P < 0.05) up-regulated in the liver of fish fed diet supplemented with ß-carotene and phycocyanin, but expression of HSP70 gene down-regulated in fish fed ß-carotene and phycocyanin containing diet compared control. The highest gene expression of the interferon gamma and interleukin 1ß was observed in fish fed phycocyanin.

The Relationship Between Spirituality and Quality of Life of Jordanian Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between spirituality and quality of life (QoL) of Jordanian women diagnosed with breast cancer. Descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted using a convenient sample of 150 Jordanian women with breast cancer at King Hussein Cancer Center. Participants completed the Arabic version of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-being. A positive linear relationship was found between spirituality and QoL, r = 0.67, p = 0.000. The highest score of correlation was seen between spirituality and the functional domain, r = 0.63, p = 0.000. Spiritual intervention could contribute to increased functional, social, and physical well-being and enhance the total health and QoL of women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Pattern of HER-2 Gene Amplification and Protein Expression in Benign, Borderline, and Malignant Ovarian Serous and Mucinous Neoplasms.

Amplification of HER-2 gene and overexpression of HER-2 receptor play a significant role in the progression of a number of malignancies such as breast cancer. Trastuzumab (anti-HER-2 therapeutic agent) has been used successfully in treatment of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of HER-2 gene amplification and of HER-2 receptor expression in a spectrum of serous and mucinous ovarian tumors to determine whether HER-2 is altered in these neoplasms similar to that occurring in breast cancer. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded microarray tissue sections from 212 specimens were stained with HER-2 antibody using immunohistochemistry and with anti-HER-2 DNA probe using chromogenic in situ hybridization. Specimens consisted of 65 benign tumors (50 serous and 15 mucinous), 26 borderline (13 serous and 13 mucinous), 73 malignant tumors (53 serous carcinoma and 20 mucinous carcinoma), 18 metastatic deposits (13 serous and 5 mucinous), in addition to 30 normal tissues (16 ovarian surface and 14 normal fallopian tube). HER-2 protein-positive expression was not detected in the normal or the benign tissues. Borderline neoplasms showed positive staining, but no overexpression. HER-2 overexpression was seen only in 4 carcinoma specimens: 1/53 (1.8%) primary serous carcinomas and 3/20 (15%) primary mucinous carcinomas. HER-2 gene amplification was seen in 4 specimens: 2 primary mucinous carcinomas and 2 malignant deposits of these 2 mucinous carcinomas. In conclusion, alteration of HER-2 was not detected in ovarian serous neoplasms; however, in mucinous carcinoma, HER-2 amplification and overexpression occur.

Molecular, biochemical, and morphometric characterization of Fasciola species potentially causing zoonotic disease in Egypt.

Fascioliasis is an important disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. The distributions of both species overlap in many areas of Asia and Africa including Egypt. Fifty adult Fasciola worms were collected from livers of cattle and sheep slaughtered in abattoirs, Cairo, Egypt. They were subjected to morphological and metric assessment of external features of fresh adults, morphological and metric assessment of internal anatomy of stained mounted worms, determination of electrophorezed bands of crude adult homogenates using SDS-PAGE, and molecular characterization of species-specific DNA segments using RFLP-PCR. It was found that the correlation between conventional morphology and its morphotype was statistically significant (P value = 0.00). Using SDS-PAGE, 13 bands were detected among both genotypes of Fasciola (35.7, 33.6, 32.4, 29.3, 27.5, 26, 24.4, 23, 21.45, 19, 16.75, 12.5, and 9.1 kDa).The most prevalent bands were that with a molecular weight of 29.3, 26, and 19 kDa. Bands detected were common for both species, but protein bands could not distinguish between F. hepatica and F. gigantica. The result of PCR for the amplification of the selected 28S rDNA fragment with the designed primer set yielded 618 bp long PCR products for F. hepatica and F. gigantica. Different band patterns generated after digestion of the 618 bp segment by the enzyme AvaII obtained with F. hepatica showed segments of the length 529, 62, 27 bp, while with F. gigantica 322, 269, 27 bp bands were obtained. Genotyping revealed no equivocal results. The conventional morphological parameters for species determination of Fasciola spp. endemic in Egypt were evaluated versus protein bands characterization and genotyping. It was concluded that conventional morphological and metric assessments were not useful for differentiation between F. gigantica and F. hepatica due to extensive overlap in the relative ranges. Similar conclusion was reached concerning protein band characterization where the patterns of protein banding were mostly similar. In contrast, genotyping using RFLP-PCR gave consistent results and clear differentiation between the two species. Considering the implications of proper speciation of endemic parasites on clinical evaluation, therapy, epidemiology, and control measures, speciation of parasites is currently revised on molecular basis. The presently used molecular tool is therefore recommended for further study to help draw a proper map for geographical distribution of Fasciola species.

Healing of peri-implant tissues after flapless and flapped implant installation.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of different flapless procedures for the installation of dental implants on peri-implant bone response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After bilateral extraction of the mandibular second and third premolars and a 3-month healing period, 30 SLActive(®) implants were installed for 3 months in 10 Beagle dogs according to three different surgical approaches, i.e.: (1) flapped (F), (2) tissue punch flapless (P), and (3) direct flapless (DF). RESULTS: At harvesting, 29 implants were analysed. Micro-computed tomography and histomorphometrical evaluation (which also included the mobile implants) showed comparable results in bone volume (F=55 ± 9, P=51 ± 4, DF=54 ± 5) and crestal bone level (F=3420 ± 762, P=5358 ± 1681, DF=3843 ± 433). However, the implants inserted using the punch approach revealed a significantly lower first bone contact (F=3420 ± 762, P=5358 ± 1681, DF=3843 ± 433) and bone-to-implant contact percentage (F=70 ± 12, P=48 ± 23, DF=73 ± 12). Considering the gingival response, the barrier epithelium was also significantly deeper around the implants installed using the punch approach (F=1383 ± 332, P=2278 ± 1154, DF=1107 ± 300). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that a flapless surgical technique can be used for the installation of oral implants. In addition, using a tissue punch wider than the implant diameter should be avoided, as it can jeopardize the outcome of the implantation procedure.

Serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii in chronic renal failure patients and renal transplant recipients.

Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected in 78 patients with renal disease by ELISA. Patients were classified according to the renal status; chronic renal failure patients not on haemodialysis (G1 = 19), chronic renal failure patients on regular haemodialysis (G2 = 30), renal transplant recipient (G3 = 29) and 13 normal controls. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG & IgM antibodies were 36.8% & 10.5% in renal failure patients not on haemodialysis, 56.7% &16.7% in patients on regular haemodialysis and 69% & 24.1% in renal transplant recipients versus 23.1% & 0% in controls with statistical significant difference for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies only. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies levels of G3 were lower than that of G1. It was observed that the more the exposure to dialysis, the more the risk of toxoplasmosis. It was found that 85.71% of renal transplant recipient seropositive cases for anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies were detected in one year post-transplantation and 14.28% of cases after the first year of transplantation.

Risk factors predisposing to toxoplasmosis in chronic renal failure patients and renal transplant recipients.

This work evaluated risk factors predisposing to toxoplasmosis in chronic renal failure patients and renal transplant recipients. The present study included 91 cases classified according to their renal status into four groups; control group, renal failure patients not on haemodialysis, renal failure patients on regular haemodialysis and renal transplant recipients group. The age groups (< 20) and (30-) had the highest positivity for anti-Toxoplasma IgG & IgM antibodies in comparison to the other age groups. The results showed no sex difference in positivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG & IgM in groups. There was no significant difference between groups regarding risk factors for contracting toxoplasmosis, clinical presentation suggestive of toxoplasmosis and diabetes mellitus. There was significant difference between all groups as regarding intake of immunosuppressive drugs and blood transfusion.