Detection of two CSN1S1 variants in Egyptian buffalo

The present study investigates CSN1S1 casein gene polymorphism in Egyptian buffalo. CSN1S1 was analyzed in 17 unrelated Egyptian lactating buffalo. The amplified segment includes the last 43 amino acids of Exon 17 and part of Intron 17. In the present study we report for the first time the presence of 2 variants 178^Ser (TCA) and 178^Leu (TTA) in Egyptian buffalo CSN1S1 gene. The genotypic frequencies in the investigated Egyptian buffalo sample were 0.47, 0.058 and 0.47 for homozygous 178^Ser, for homozygous 178^Leu and heterozygous 178^Leu/Ser, respectively. The 178^Ser and 178^Leu variant frequencies are 0.64 and 0.36, respectively which indicates the superiority of variant 178^Ser in Egyptian buffalo. The allelic frequency in Egyptian buffalo is not much different from the corresponding allelic frequency in Italian buffalo (0.69 and 0.31 for 178^Ser and 178^Leu, respectively) as reported by Chianese et al. [3]. This is not surprising since they both belong to Mediterranean type.     

The possible role of L-carnitine on the skeletal muscle of ovariectomized rats

Low muscle strength is observed during the peri-and postmenopausal periods, when the secretion of ovarian hormones is drastically reduced. It is also a predictive of adverse health events as well as incident mobility limitation and disability. The objective of the present study is to study the biochemical and the histological changes in the skeletal muscle of premature menopause-induced rats and the possible protective role of L-carnitine. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were gavaged with L-carnitine (100 mg/kg) daily for 60 days starting from the second post-operative day. Serum levels of estradiol and markers of skeletal muscle damage (creatine kinase and lactic dehydrogenase activities) were determined. Light and electron microscopic study of the quadriceps femoris muscle (QFM) specimens were done. OVX rats showed significant decrease in the serum estradiol level with significant increase the markers for skeletal muscle damage. Histopathological examination of the QFM showed degenerated myofibers, apoptotic changes and compensatory hypertrophy. Degenerated mitochondria, multiple lysosomes and lipid droplets among the damaged myofibrils were also noticed. L-carnitine administration to the OVX rats resulted in non-significant change in the serum estradiol level with significant attenuation of skeletal muscle damage either biochemically or histopathologically. In conclusion, L-carnitine administration recovered muscle degeneration after ovariectomy. This finding suggested that L-carnitine could be recommended in the management of post-menopausal myopathy.     

Effects of different combinations of benzyl adenine and indole acetic acid concentrations on in vitro plant regeneration in hexaploid wheat

Development of a reliable in vitro plant regeneration procedure for hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a prerequisite for its improvement by genetic transformation. Here, we report the effects of two growth regulators, benzyl adenine (BA) and indole acetic acid (IAA) on callus induction and plant regeneration from scutellum cultures of two commercial bread wheat cultivars: Giza 164 and Sakha 69. Callus induction was obtained from isolated embryos cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium. After four weeks of callus induction, all calli were plated on MS basal medium for regeneration. Wheat genotype and callus induction medium played a dominant role in plantlet regeneration. 2.0 mg/L BA and 0.2 mg/L IAA were the best combinations for inducing callus and let to highest regeneration frequency (81.67%) across the cultivars. Overall, based on our medium conditions, Giza 164 displayed higher regeneration frequency (81.11%) than Sakha 69. These results will facilitate genetic transformation for the economic varieties Giza 164 and Sakha 69.     

Effect of celecoxib on the antihypertensive effect of losartan in a rat model of renovascular hypertension

Certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been reported to elevate blood pressure in some hypertensive patients, who are either untreated or treated with antihypertensive agents. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, celecoxib, on the antihypertensive effects of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) antagonist, losartan potassium. We studied the effect of oral treatment with losartan (30?mg/kg), celecoxib (3?mg/kg), and their combination on the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), plasma renin activity (PRA), and plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in male Sprague-Dawley rats with renovascular hypertension (RVH) induced by partial subdiaphragmatic aortic constriction. Treatment was continued for 7 days after aortic coarctation. Aortic coarctation led to significant increases in the MAP, PRA, and plasma PGE2. In RVH rats, losartan treatment caused a significant decrease of MAP with a significant increase in both plasma PGE2 and PRA. Celecoxib caused a nonsignificant change in MAP with a significant decrease in the raised levels of plasma PGE2 and PRA. Concomitant administration of celecoxib and losartan did not significantly affect the lowering effect of losartan on MAP with a subsequent significant decrease in the plasma PGE2 and PRA in RVH rats. Therefore, celecoxib could be used in renin-dependent hypertensive patients who receive losartan, without fear of a rise in their blood pressure.     

Body image disturbance and surgical decision making in egyptian post menopausal breast cancer patients

Background

Proximal major limb amputations due to malignant tumors have become rare but are still a valuable treatment option in palliation and in some cases can even cure. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse outcome in those patients, including the postoperative course, survival, pain, quality of life, and prosthesis usage.

Methods

Data of 45 consecutive patients was acquired from patient's charts and contact to patients, and general practitioners. Patients with interscapulothoracic amputation (n = 14), shoulder disarticulation (n = 13), hemipelvectomy (n = 3) or hip disarticulation (n = 15) were included.

Results

The rate of proximal major limb amputations in patients treated for sarcoma was 2.3% (37 out of 1597). Survival for all patients was 42.9% after one year and 12.7% after five years. Survival was significantly better in patients with complete tumor resections. Postoperative chemotherapy and radiation did not prolong survival. Eighteen percent of the patients with malignant disease developed local recurrence. In 44%, postoperative complications were observed. Different modalities of postoperative pain management and the site of the amputation had no significant influence on long-term pain assessment and quality of life. Eighty-seven percent suffered from phantom pain, 15.6% considered their quality of life worse than before the operation. Thirty-two percent of the patients who received a prosthesis used it regularly.

Conclusion

Proximal major limb amputations severely interfere with patients' body function and are the last, albeit valuable, option within the treatment concept of extremity malignancies or severe infections. Besides short survival, high complication rates, and postoperative pain, patients' quality of life can be improved for the time they have remaining.     

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BSL16 improves phytoremediation potential of Solanum lycopersicum during copper stress

Current study aimed at exploring the diversity of bacterial endophytes with Boswellia sacra and their role in copper (Cu) stress to tomato plants. Bacterial endophytes were belonged to Bacillus, Rhizobium and Paenibacillus, which were screened against Cu (0–10?mM) stress to dwarf and normal rice seeds. Among strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BSL16 showed significantly higher bioremediation potential by accumulating high Cu and promoting growth of rice seeds. B. amyloliquefaciens BSL16 significantly increased growth of tomato plants during 2.5?mM Cu stress. Active colonization of BSL16 reduced the accumulation of Cu in leaf, shoot, and root, and in parallel up-regulated total protein contents in leaf and stem. Glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione contents were significantly higher and lipid peroxidation was lower in endophyte-treated tomato plants as compared to Cu treatment. The current results conclude that application of metal bio-accumulating bacteria can help in improving the plant growth of tomato plants during Cu stress.     

A randomized controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of silymarin on symptoms,signs and biomarkers of acute hepatitis

PurposeMilk thistle or its purified extract, silymarin (Silybum marianum), is widely used in treating acute or chronic hepatitis. Although silymarin is hepatoprotective in animal experiments and some human hepatotoxic exposures, its efficacy in ameliorating the symptoms of acute clinical hepatitis remains inconclusive. In this study, our purpose was to determine whether silymarin improves symptoms, signs and laboratory test results in patients with acute clinical hepatitis, regardless of etiology.MethodsThis is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in which participants, treating physicians and data management staff were blinded to treatment group. The study was conducted at two fever hospitals in Tanta and Banha, Egypt where patients with symptoms compatible with acute clinical hepatitis and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels >2.5 times the upper limit of normal were enrolled. The intervention consisted of three times daily ingestion of either a standard recommended dose of 140 mg of silymarin (Legalon^®, MADAUS GmbH, Cologne, Germany), or a vitamin placebo for four weeks with an additional four-week follow-up. The primary outcomes were symptoms and signs of acute hepatitis and results of liver function tests on days 2, 4 and 7 and weeks 2, 4, and 8. Side-effects and adverse events were ascertained by self-report.ResultsFrom July 2003 through October 2005, 105 eligible patients were enrolled after providing informed consent. No adverse events were noted and both silymarin and placebo were well tolerated. Patients randomized to the silymarin group had quicker resolution of symptoms related to biliary retention: dark urine (p=0.013), jaundice (p=0.02) and scleral icterus (p=0.043). There was a reduction in indirect bilirubin among those assigned to silymarin (p=0.012), but other variables including direct bilirubin, ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were not significantly reduced.ConclusionsPatients receiving silymarin had earlier improvement in subjective and clinical markers of biliary excretion. Despite a modest sample size and multiple etiologies for acute clinical hepatitis, our results suggest that standard recommended doses of silymarin are safe and may be potentially effective in improving symptoms of acute clinical hepatitis despite lack of a detectable effect on biomarkers of the underlying hepatocellular inflammatory process.     

Schistosoma mansoni: Effect of dietary zinc supplement on egg granuloma in Swiss mice treated with praziqantel

Schistosomiasis is one of the most important parasitic diseases in Egypt and chemotherapy is considered the most effective method of control. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of zinc administration against Schistosoma mansoni infection by evaluating the activities of arylesterase and paraoxonase (PON1) enzymes, and the degree of liver damage.One hundred and twenty albino mice were divided into two groups; one was an infected control and the other a treated group which was further subdivided into three according to the praziquantel and zinc supplementation given. Blood and liver samples, collected 10 weeks post-infection, were subjected to parasitological, histopathological, and enzyme assays, and immunological studies. The results showed that dietary zinc supplementation led to marked reduction in worm load, and egg deposition in the liver and intestine.Histopathological examination showed marked reduction in the number and diameter of hepatic granulomas in the treated groups. The activity of arylesterase and PON1 enzymes were partially restored in infected animals receiving zinc. IL-10 mRNA expression was higher in the treated groups than in the infection control group. In conclusion, zinc administration could be a promising adjuvant therapy for S. mansoni infection.     

Changes of organic constituents of crop residues and poultry wastes during fermentation for biogas production

Summary Rice straw, maize, and cotton stalks and poultry droppings, both as such and with either wheat straw litter or sawdust litter, were used as substrates for biogasification. Water slurry combinations, each containing a crop residue and a type of poultry wastes, were prepared to achieve a uniform C/N ratio 301 (w/w) and a total solids content 10% (w/v). Biogas generated and its methane component, as well as changes brought about in the major organic constituents of the feedstocks, were monitored in laboratory biogas digesters for 90 days at 35°C. The maximum cumulative volumes of biogas and methane, were respectively 30 and 14 l/l with rice straw plus wheat straw poultry droppings. The minimum volumes were 15 l biogas/l with cotton stalks + sawdust poultry droppings and 8 l methane/l with rice straw + sawdust poultry droppings. Rice straw combinations gave the highest rates of volatile solids disappearance, short-chain fatty acid formation, and NH₄ -N liberation. No consistent trend among the poultry wastes mixed with each crop residue was evident. Changes in water-soluble substances, protein, fats, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin depended on the components of each feedstock mixture.

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Changement dans les composants organiques des résidus de récolte et des déchets avicoles lors de la fermentation pour la production de biogaz

Résumé La paille de riz, les fanes de maïs et les tiges de coton ainsi que le lisier avicole, comme tels ou en mélange avec la litière de paille de froment ou de sciure ont servi de substrats pour la biométhanisation. On a préparé des combinaisons de boues aqueuses, chacune contenant un résidu de récolte et un type de lisier avicole, de manière à respecter un rapport C/N uniforme de 301 (p/p) et un contenu total en solides de 10% (p/vol.). On a suivi le biogaz produit et son contenu en méthane, ainsi que les changements apparus dans les principaux constituents organiques des substrats, dans des digesteurs de laboratoire pendant 90 jours à 35°C. On a obtenu les volumes cumulés maximum respectivement de 30 l/l de biogaz et de 14/l de méthane pour la paille de riz plus le lisier avicole avec paille de froment. On a obtenu les volumes cumulés minimum de 15l/l de biogaz pour les tiges de coton avec le lisier avicole avec sciure de bois et de 8 l/l de méthane pour la paille de riz et le lisier de poule avec sciure de bois. Les combinaisons avec la paille de riz ont donné les vitesses les plus élevées de disparition des solides volatils, de formation d'acides gras à courte chaîne et de libération d'azote ammoniacal. Il n'y a pas de tendances évidentes pour les lisiers avicoles mélangés avec les divers résidus de récolte. Les changements en substances hydro-solubles, en protéines, graisses, hémicellulose, cellulose et lignine dépendent de la composition de chaque mélange de substrats.