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This study aimed to identify Sarcocystis species isolated from macroscopic sarcocysts of naturally infected sheep and goats using histopathological and molecular studies. A total of 260 macrosarcocyst samples were randomly collected from 1,337 infected sheep and goats slaughtered at different abattoirs in Duhok province, Iraq, from May 2021 to June 2022. The macroscopic cysts, which were found in the esophagus, diaphragm, and abdominal muscles, were classified into fat and thin cysts. Histopathological examination of the observed fat and thin cysts showed a thick eosinophilic wall, several internal septa-forming compartments enclosing numerous bradyzoites, and mild mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltrating around the cysts. The 18 Subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and 28 Subunit ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) genes of Sarcocystis spp. were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from 200 macrosarcocysts samples. Molecularly, the DNA sequencing results obtained from fat macrocysts of sheep and goats were found to be identical to Sarcocystis gigantea, and from thin cysts of sheep proved to be similar to Sarcocystis medusiformis, while from thin macrocysts of goats were found to be identical to Sarcocystis moulei. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis observed a very close relationship between identified species of Sarcocystis and other Sarcocystis DNA sequences of sheep and goats across the world. To our knowledge, this is the first histopathological and molecular study for identification of Sarcocystis spp. isolated from different macroscopic forms of sarcocysts of sheep and goats in Iraq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Slums or informal settlements characterize most large cities in LMIC. Previous evidence suggests pharmacies may be the most frequently used source of primary care in LMICs but that pharmacy services are of variable quality. However, evidence on pharmacy use and availability is very limited for slum populations.Methods: We conducted household, individual, and healthcare provider surveys and qualitative observations on pharmacies and pharmacy use in seven slum sites in four countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and Bangladesh). All pharmacies and up to 1200 households in each site were sampled. Adults and children were surveyed about their use of healthcare services and pharmacies were observed and their services, equipment, and stock documented.Results: We completed 7692 household and 7451 individual adults, 2633 individual child surveys, and 157 surveys of pharmacies located within the seven sites. Visit rates to pharmacies and drug sellers varied from 0.1 (Nigeria) to 3.0 (Bangladesh) visits per person-year, almost all of which were for new conditions. We found highly variable conditions in what constituted a "pharmacy" across the sites and most pharmacies did not employ a qualified pharmacist. Analgesics and antibiotics were widely available but other categories of medications, particularly those for chronic illness were often not available anywhere. The majority of pharmacies lacked basic equipment such as a thermometer and weighing scales.Conclusions: Pharmacies are locally and widely available to residents of slums. However, the conditions of the facilities and availability of medicines were poor and prices relatively high. Pharmacies may represent a large untapped resource to improving access to primary care for the urban poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of pumpkin seed oil on embryonic and larval development of Toxocara cati eggs. The eggs were extracted from uterus of female T. cati worms. For embryonic and larval development, the eggs were suspended with 2.5% formalin-ringer solution maintained at 25°C and 80% humidity. After 35 days of incubation, 83.5% of the eggs developed into larvae. Twenty-five ml of pumpkin seed oil added into each suspension containing eggs and developed larvae, separately. The result showed that, the eggs were only developed into two cells stage in rates of 61.9% and 43.2% at first and fourth week of incubation, respectively. The rate of undeveloped eggs was 35.7% and 56.75% at first and fourth week, respectively. The effect of pumpkin seeds oil on second stage developed larvae in showed that, the rate of live larvae was 38.2% and dead larvae was 61.75% at first week and 12.8% and 87.17% at second week. In control group, 84% of the eggs developed into larvae at the fourth week of incubation period. The results revealed that, pumpkin seed oil has a high anthelmintic efficacy against Toxocara cati and it can be used as an effective traditional herbal medicine for treatment of helminthiases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simplified shear-moment interaction model is proposed for the shear capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) beams without web reinforcement, considering four basic variables (longitudinal steel ratio, concrete strength, shear span to depth ratio and beam size) and verified by existing experimental results. The proposed model shows that shear strength and mode of failure depend on the shear-moment paths followed to bring the beams to failure. This study shows that the variations in the experimental results of shear capacity of slender RC beams ( a / d  2.5 ) defined at the formation of diagonal cracks of beams under the combined action of moment and shear can primarily be explained by the variations of the concrete tensile strength. A design formula based on this shear-moment interaction model is also proposed for shear capacity of slender RC beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the shear capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) membrane elements subjected to pure inplane shear stresses at different levels of loading. These elements are shown to fail in four different modes. A model is proposed for the shear capacity of these membrane elements that can be computed by direct simple expressions without the need to any iterative process as is usually the case in existing models. Failure in these membrane elements is generally preceded by the formation of two or more major critical cracks assumed herein to propagate in a direction normal to the principal tensile stresses in the concrete. At each stage of loading, the major critical cracks are shown to open at an optimum angle that corresponds to the least shearing resistance to external loading. Major cracks as well as ultimate shear capacity of RC membrane elements are shown to occur when the contribution of the x-reinforcement to resist shear stresses is equal to that of the y-reinforcement. Experimental results of tests on RC membrane elements subjected to pure inplane shear stresses obtained from literature are used to validate and compare the proposed model with existing models. Examples are provided for the computations of shear capacity by the proposed model for the different modes of failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The active and passive lateral earth pressures against retaining walls under seismic loading are investigated, taking into consideration the variations of internal friction angle ∅ and seismic effect represented by the seismic angle ϑ. This study basically involves the computation of the active and passive lateral earth pressure coefficients, ae kae and kpe, and their coefficients of variation, cov(kae and) cov(kpe, using a first order Taylor's series expansion. The concept of extreme value distributions (maxima and minima) is utilized for evaluating the reliability of these earth pressure coefficients. Design charts are developed for a wide range of granular soils. Examples illustrating the design method based on the usage of the reliability of these coefficients are also presented. Values of load factor utilized in the conventional deterministic approach are correlated with reliability levels; the load factor values vary depending on the importance of the structure and the variations of the design input values as contrasted to the constant value of load factor used in the conventional deterministic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Kenya, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) accounted for more than 10% of total deaths and 4% of total Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in 2015 with a steady increase over the past decade. The main objective of this paper was to review the existing policies and their content in relation to prevention, control and management of CVDs at primary health care (PHC) level in Kenya.Methods: A targeted document search in Google engine using keywords "Kenya national policy on cardiovascular diseases" and "Kenya national policy on non-communicable diseases (NCDs)" was conducted in addition to key informant interviews with Kenyan policy makers. Relevant regional and international policy documents were also included. The contents of documents identified were reviewed to assess how well they aligned with global health policies on CVD prevention, control and management. Thematic content analysis of the key informant interviews was also conducted to supplement the document reviews.Results: A total of 17 documents were reviewed and three key informants interviewed. Besides the Tobacco Control Act (2007), all policy documents for CVD prevention, control and management were developed after 2013. The national policies were preceded by global initiatives and guidelines and were similar in content with the global policies. The Kenya health policy (2014-2030), The Kenya Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan (2014-2018) and the Kenya National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable diseases (2015-2020) had strategies on NCDs including CVDs. Other policy documents for behavioral risk factors (The Tobacco Control Act 2007, Alcoholic Drinks Control (Licensing) Regulations (2010)) were available. The National Nutrition Action Plan (2012-2017) was available as a draft. Although Kenya has a tiered health care system comprising primary healthcare, integration of CVD prevention and control at PHC level was not explicitly mentioned in the policy documents.Conclusion: This review revealed important gaps in the policy environment for prevention, control and management of CVDs in PHC settings in Kenya. There is need to continuously engage the ministry of health and other sectors to prioritize inclusion of CVD services in PHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]