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Background/aim: Nutraceuticals have been extensively studied in recent years to find safe therapeutics of natural origin instead of relying only on pharmaceuticals. This study aimed to detect the hepato-protective role of moringa and rosemary ethanolic extracts on liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA). Methods: This study was conducted on 60 male albino rats divided into four groups; control, TAA-group (received 100 mg/kg thioacetamide intraperitoneal twice /week for 18 weeks), moringa-protected group (received 300 mg/kg moringa ethanolic extract orally daily with TAA), rosemary-protected group (received 200 mg/kg rosemary ethanolic extract orally daily with TAA for 18 weeks). Results: There were significant increases in liver alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) with significant decreases in reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the TAA-treated group with a high degree of fibrosis which extended to cirrhosis after 18 weeks. Meanwhile, both TAA-moringa and TAA-rosemary treated groups showed improvement in biochemical markers and fibrosis induced by TAA. Conclusion: This study proved that both moringa and rosemary could protect the liver against TAA-induced liver fibrosis and rosemary has greater protection than moringa.

Background: Cancer is constituted as the most famous fatal disease among human-being. DMBA is a common carcinogen and immunosuppressant and experimentally used for the induction of mutations via the creation of DNA adducts. Aim: Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of Lagenaria siceraria on 9,10 dimethyl-1, 2-benzanthracene (DMBA)-induced changes. Materials and Methods: A total number of thirty adult female albino rats within average age 3 months classified into 3 groups as follow: Group1 is designated as control. Group 2 was subcutaneously injected with a single dose of DMBA (10 mg/ 100 g b. wt) and after 90 days, animals have received a daily injection of distilled water for 30 days. Group 3 was subcutaneously mice were injected with a single dose of DMBA and after 90 days, mice were received morning and night daily injection of Lagenaria siceraria (100 mg/ 100 g b.w) for 30 days. After scarifying the mice, ileum samples were taken and passed the histological examination, also Histochemical stains were done. Results: From the cell biological, histochemical, and histopathological points of view, the carcinogen DMBA has a highly stimulatory effect on the cellular activities, DNA synthesis, RNA synthesis, and cell proliferative in the normal epithelial cells lining villi of the ileum of female mice, while Lagenaria siceraria has a highly inhibitory effect on the volume of the nuclei, DNA synthesist, and the cell proliferation of the DMBA-induced cells lining villi of the ileum of female mice. Conclusion: Finally, it could be said that the carcinogen DMBA has a proliferative and/or possibly a carcinogenic effect on the ileum of female mice. Also, It could be concluded that Lagenaria siceraria could be offered an antiproliferative and/or possibly an anti-carcinogenic effect against DMBA.

The planting of monsoon rice (locally known as aman rice) may be delayed due to late heavy rainfall in many regions of South and Southeast Asia resulting in high spikelet sterility with substantial yield loss due to low temperatures during the reproductive stage. Therefore, the study evaluated the performance of foliar-applied boron in mitigating that problem towards sustainable aman rice production. A field experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design where different levels of boron viz. 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 ppm were foliar-sprayed at 33 and 47 days after transplanting (DAT) to a popular aromatic rice cultivar Kataribhog grown in late monsoon. Data were collected on phenology, SPAD value at variable dates, pollen viability, boron concentration in leaves and grains, and yield traits and yield. The pollen viability increased by 81.6% for 200 ppm boron. Boron decreased flag leaf weight but increased panicle weight. Simultaneously, it decreased flag leaf SPAD value and subsequent increase in grain yield, which indicates profound flag leaf reserves translocation into the grain. Foliar-applied B at 200 ppm showed a 32.4 and 40.9% increase of B in leaf and grain, respectively, and improved yield attributes resulting in grain yield by 47.0%. The grain yield had strong positive relations with the B content in leaf and grain, and yield contributing characters. The results conclude that foliar-applied appropriate dose of B can reduce spikelet sterility, individual grain weight and eventually enhance grain formation towards increasing yield in late sown aromatic monsoon rice. [Fundam Appl Agric 2021; 6(3.000): 232-244]

The present study was designed to investigate the biological effects of kefir and whether kefir consumption protects and/or repairs the pancreas of high-fat diet-fed streptozotocin-diabetic rats, and how does it do that?. Our results showed Kefir decreased both the volume of nuclei and RNA content and increased both collagen and lipoproteins material contents in the normal pancreatic cells. Also, kefir increased RNA, protein, and lipoproteins materials content and decreased the volume of nuclei of pancreatic cells in diabetic male rats. Immunohistochemically, kefir showed highly immunoreactive signals of insulin granules inside the Langerhans Islands. Our results showed kefir consumption had a beneficial effect on controlling the glycemic state in diabetic rats by lowering insulin levels and kept the pancreas tissue structurally almost normal. Kefir probably acts as follows: From the cell biological and histochemical points of view, the results showed an increase in the nuclei volume and DNA, RNA, and total protein contents in the pancreatic cells of diabetic rats treated with kefir. Also, the biochemical and immunohistochemical results showed an increase in insulin hormone (functional protein) of these pancreatic cells, which’s probably a result of an increase in the cellular activities or/and the number of beta cells. Finally, therefore we propose that kefir has a stimulatory effect on the cellular activity of beta cells leading to activation of genes responsible for the protein synthesis included insulin hormone, and/or increasing the cell proliferation of beta cells in the pancreas of diabetic rats. From Cell biological, Histochemical, Immunohistochemical, pathological, and Biochemical points of view, the preclinical treatment with kefir or insulin of normal or diabetic male rats, beneficially highly alternates the cellular activities, histochemical and immunohistochemical materials components, and histological architecture. of the pancreas therefore Kefir and insulin may, to some extent, repair the pathological side effects of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The positive results of using kefir and insulin in treating the Pathogen effects of type 1 diabetes mellitus on the pancreas of male mice gave us a hope of possibility to obtain positive clinical applications/implications. Therefore, these positive beneficial results make us continue our work and complete the various pre-clinical trial and clinical experiments phases.

This study was designed to investigate the protective role of kefir and insulin consumption on cellular activities, histochemical components, histological architecture, and integrity of the liver by measuring IL-6 and TNF-α in high fat-fed STZ- induced diabetic male Wistar rats. From a cell biological and histochemical point of view, both kefir and insulin have beneficial various effects on cellular activities and the histochemical components such as DNA, RNA, total protein, collagen, polysaccharides, and phospholipids materials synthesis in the examined normal and diabetic hepatocytes of the male rats. Biochemically, kefir and insulin have various biochemical effects on the serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels. From a pathological point of view, we can say the beneficial various cell biological and histochemical effects of kefir, pathologically may make kefir, to some extent, completely repair all the pathological side effects of type1 diabetes on the hepatocytes in diabetic rats. Also, insulin repair some of the pathological side effects of diabetes on the hepatocytes. The positive results of using kefir and insulin in treating the pathogen effects of diabetes make it possible to obtain positive clinical applications/implications. Therefore, these positive results encourage us to continue working and complete the various long-term pre-clinical trials and clinical trials phases.

This study was designed to investigate the possible protective role of kefir beverage on kidney structure biologically, histochemical and some biochemical parameters such as cholesterol level, MCP-1, and resistin in high-fat diet-fed streptozotocin-diabetic rats. 60 rats were divided into two experiments by six groups: experiment Ⅰ included 3 non-diabetic ones and experiment ⅠⅠ included three STZ- induced diabetes groups. The groups were fed as follows: group 1 received a standard diet and served as control. Group 2 was fed on a standard diet and kefir (0.7 ml/animal/day by gavage). Group 3 received a high-fat diet and kefir (0.7 ml/animal/day by gavage). The diabetic males of groups A, B, and C were fed on the high-fat diet. Group B received besides kefir (0.7 ml/animal/day by gavage), while group C was injected additionally with insulin (0.76 UI/200 mg BW/day). After 5 weeks, animals of all groups were sacrificed. From the cell biological, histochemical, and histopathological conceptions, both kefir and insulin have various effects on cellular activities and different chemical materials contents, such as DNA, RNA, total protein, collagen, polysaccharides, and lipoproteins, in the examined normal and diabetic renal tubule cells of the male rats. Overall, it seems like kefir beverage may, to some extent, completely repair the diabetic pathological side effects such as kidney dysfunction regarding keeping the kidney tissue structurally almost normal with some changes in the histochemical components investigated, also there was an improvement in cholesterol level with a beneficial effect on lowering inflammatory markers. Finally, kefir highly reduces the collagen formation in the renal cells that prevent renal nephron from its function and we propose probably kefir treats kidney failure as a side effect of diabetes, by a mechanism that is opposite to the proposed mechanism, for the formation of this kidney failure induced by diabetes, via us in the present work.

We formulate the tripartite entropic uncertainty relation and predict its lower bound in a three-qubit Heisenberg XXZ spin chain when measuring an arbitrary pair of incompatible observables on one qubit while the other two are served as quantum memories. Our study reveals that the entanglement between the nearest neighbors plays an important role in reducing the uncertainty in measurement outcomes. In addition we have shown that the Dolatkhah’s lower bound (Phys Rev A 102(5):052227, 2020) is tighter than that of Ming (Phys Rev A 102(01):012206, 2020) and their dynamics under phase decoherence depends on the choice of the observable pair. In the absence of phase decoherence, Ming’s lower bound is time-invariant regardless the chosen observable pair, while Dolatkhah’s lower bound is perfectly identical with the tripartite uncertainty with a specific choice of pair.

Breast cancer; Cancer Càncer de mama; Càncer Cáncer de mama; Cáncer The METRIC study (NCT#0199733) explored a novel antibody–drug conjugate, glembatumumab vedotin (GV), targeting gpNMB that is overexpressed in ~40% of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and associated with poor prognosis. The study was a randomized, open-label, phase 2b study that evaluated progression-free survival (PFS) of GV compared with capecitabine in gpNMB-overexpressing TNBC. Patients who had previously received anthracycline and taxane-based therapy were randomized 2:1 to receive, GV (1.88 mg/kg IV q21 days) or capecitabine (2500 mg/m2 PO daily d1–14 q21 days). The primary endpoint was RECIST 1.1 PFS per independent, blinded central review. In all, 327 patients were randomized to GV (213 treated) or capecitabine (92 treated). Median PFS was 2.9 months for GV vs. 2.8 months for capecitabine. The most common grade ≥3 toxicities for GV were neutropenia, rash, and leukopenia, and for capecitabine were fatigue, diarrhea, and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia. The study did not meet the primary endpoint of improved PFS over capecitabine or demonstrate a relative risk/benefit improvement over capecitabine. Funding provided by Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.

Background and objectives Chronic kidney diseases (CKD) have multiple complications that could impair the quality of life in the affected children and their families. This study aimed to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and detect factors affecting it in children with CKD and their families at Sohag, Egypt. Patients and methods The study included 113 children and adolescents with CKD stages 1–5, aged 2–18 years old, attending the pediatric nephrology outpatient clinic and the pediatric dialysis unit at Sohag University Hospital. Two hundred twenty-six children were in the control-group age and sex matched to cases with urinary-system condition but with minor and transient ailments, for example, common cold, diarrhea, etc. The PedsQL version 4.0 Measurement Model was used to assess HRQOL for the study participants and their parents. Results Children with CKD and their parents had significantly lower mean scores for different domains of HRQOL (P < 0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis of factors associated with HRQOL revealed that hemoglobin concentration was the most significant variable associated with self-reported HRQOL total health scores (B = 4.0, confidence interval: 2.5; 5.5, P < 0.0001) followed by the presence of associated chronic illnesses and the female sex. The disease stage was the most significant variable (B=−4.5, confidence interval: −6.2; −2.8, P < 0.0001) associated with parent-reported HRQOL total health scores. Conclusion CKD impaired the HRQOL for the affected children and their families. Detection of CKD at early stages of the illness, improving hemoglobin concentration in the affected children, and preventing comorbid illnesses might improve the HRQOL for those children and their parents.

Background: To evaluate whether current dose reduction strategies for the CT component of hybrid Positron Emission Tomography—Computed Tomography (PET/CT) systems could reduce patient dose with maintaining adequate image quality for PET/CT studies. Materials and Methods: Literature survey was initially based on the selection of keywords and years of publication to identify potentially relevant articles, then the further search was conducted on the authors and references from these articles. The abstract of each article was first appraised to decide whether the content was relevant to this research question. The articles were classified into five groups: studies on dosimetry, studies on radiation-induced diseases, studies on dose reduction methods for CT-based attenuation correction (CTAC), studies on dose reduction methods for CT localization, and studies on reducing the need for a full-dose diagnostic CT in PET/CT imaging. 58 peer-reviewed articles were selected and appraised and 29 articles were used to compose this literature review. Results: The published nuclear medicine and medical physics literature were reviewed. CT dose contributed 47% - 81% of the total effective dose of a standard PET/CT study and was associated with radiation-induced diseases. The dose reduction techniques were extracted and divided into three categories: reducing the CT dose for attenuation correction (AC) and localization, selectively localizing CT use, and reducing the need for a full-dose diagnostic CT. Conclusion: Three strategies have been demonstrated, with high potential for reducing patient dose while maintaining an adequate CT image quality, used for CTCA localization and diagnosis, respectively.

Family Rhabdoviride contains 2 genera Ephemerovirus and Lyssavirus which contain viruses responsible for two destructive diseases Bovine Ephemeral Fever (BEF) and rabies, respectively. Both diseases cause direct and indirect economic losses related to deaths, abortions, cost of treatment and prevention, zoonotic impact and restriction of animal movement. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the immune responses of cattle and buffalo vaccinated with BEF and rabies vaccines when administered separately in comparison with co vaccination. Serum samples were collected from 16 cattle and buffaloes (eight of each) then subjected to serum neutralization test SNT, serum biochemical, liver and kidney function for comparison according to the vaccinated groups. Each animal species divided into 4 groups (2 animals /group) group 1 was vaccinated by 2 doses of attenuated BEF vaccine inactivated at time of use with 2 weeks in between, group 2 was vaccinated by 1 dose of inactivated rabies vaccine, group 3 was vaccinated by rabies vaccine simultaneous with 1st dose of BEF vaccine and boostering dose of BEF vaccine after 2 weeks, group 4 not vaccinated and let to be control group. The results showed that both live attenuated BEF and inactivated cell culture rabies vaccines are safe because they didn’t harmful effect on liver and kidney functions, they are immunogenic as they lead to significant increase in total serum protein due to increase in globulin. Co-vaccination of both vaccines together has higher levels of specific antibodies against both BEF and rabies in all vaccinated animals.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is considered the most important autoimmune disease which affects most body organs and systems. SLE is mostly diagnosed in middle aged females. However, it can affect any age and both genders. Lupus patients may present by minor skin and joint symptoms up to critical internal organ damage. Both clinical and laboratory findings are needed for sure diagnosis.Cardiac disease is frequent in about 50% of lupus patients. Cardiac diseases in lupus patients are usually asymptomatic and discovered accidently. However, they are critical and life threatening, mostly due to premature and accelerated atherosclerosis. Therefore, the American Heart Association considers female patients with SLE as a high risk group for development of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Lately, the rate of survival of lupus patients has improved, but the patient is still at high risk of CV morbidity and mortality.Cardiovascular System involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus includes pericardial involvement, myocardial involvement, valvular disease and the coronary artery disease

Non- alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the commest liver disease worldwide. In Western countries, prevalence between 20 and 30 % is reported among the adult population. Nutrition, excess eating food rich in saturated fats and high caloric food, along with decrease in eating vegetables, fruits, proteins, and 3-Fatty Acids are main contributors of NAFLD growth. Human beings have nearly one thousand bacterial organisms and several millions of bacteria, with 150-time more genes than the human genome colonizing in the human gasterointestinal tract. Lactobacillus, Peptoniphilus, Ruminococcus, Clostridium, and Eubacteria), Bacteroides, and Prevotella are the two main phyla in the human intestines. However, the components and presence of gut microbiota varies due to a high heterogeneity among people due to several factors as age, sex, general conditions, pregnancy, hormonal changes, travelling, infection, and drugs as chemotherapeutic agents or proton pump inhibitors. Our aim is to demonstrate the effect of gut microbiota in development of NAFLD.

The COVID-19 outbreak, which was first experienced in China and rapidly spread in 212 countries/regions of the world including Pakistan. It affected both males and females, but the ratio of males is higher than females worldwide. According to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination of Pakistan, the female ratio is much lower than male in Pakistan (3.6% vs 6.7%). The study mainly focused on the main reasons and possibilities that COVID-19 affected men more than women worldwide, especially in Pakistan. The biological, social, professional, religious, and cultural aspects make a gender disparity in the COVID-19 ratio in Pakistan.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of kefir consumption as a common dairy fermented product on keep the bodyweight balanced on high fat-fed streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar rats which fed with a daily kefir gavage dose, also to examine any effects regards the abdominal circumference (AC) and body fat mass; observed results compared to normal male rats; Experiments were carried out on 60 albino male rats, with age 8 weeks, weighing about 220-250 g, after the adaptation period, male rats were divided randomly into two experiments by six groups: experiment Ⅰ included 3 non-diabetic ones and experiment ⅠⅠ included three STZ induced diabetes groups. The groups were fed as follows: group 1 received a standard diet and served as control. Group 2 was fed on a standard diet and kefir (0.7 ml/animal/day by gavage). Group 3 received a high-fat diet and kefir (0.7 ml/animal/day by gavage). The diabetic males of groups A, B and C were fed on a high-fat diet. Group B received in addition kefir (0.7 ml/animal/day by gavage), while group C was injected additionally with insulin (0.76 UI/200 mg BW/day); all the groups have the access to the drinking water all the time.; the bodyweight of normal and diabetic rat males was determined on 1sttreatment day,and every week until the end the experiment plan (5 weeks) then all the groups were sacrificed with measuring the AC and weighting the fat mass; Summarizing it could be said; through all the work plan (5 weeks), all the six animal groups showed a significant increase in the mean body weight with a normal level in experiment Ⅰ unless in group 3 which fed on HFD and kefir, while in experiment ⅠⅠ kefir helps the diabetic treated group to not losing weight compared to the untreated one; similarity kefir neither affect AC nor relative fat weight.

Background: Pediatric respiratory disease remains an important cause of morbidity in both developing and developed world. Several risk factors are associated with acute respiratory infection (ARIs), some of them are un-modifiable (e.g. age and sex of the child), while others are modifiable and these include nutritional and environmental modifiable risk factors (e.g. lack of breastfeeding and severe malnutrition). Objective: This study was designed to evaluate nutritional status of children with acute lower respiratory tract infection. Patients and methods: This study included 40 children, aged from 1 to 5 years suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI). The children were subjected to complete history, clinical examination and laboratory investigation as estimation of serum level of zinc and pre-albumin. Results: In children with ALRI, there was non-significant difference between children with pneumonia, bronchitis and bronchopneumonia as regard breast feeding, supplementation, MAC, Zinc and pre-albumin, however, the difference between them was significant as regarding BMI and nutritional status. Conclusion: The results of this study concluded that there is positive relation between nutritional status of child and acute LRTI. There was significant decrease in mortality and morbidity due to RTI after improvement of nutritional status of children. The level of zinc and pre-albumin were affected by nutritional status of children.

The gross and histopathological changes in the lungs of small ruminants at Kalubia Governorate were investigated. A total of 159 lung samples (134 sheep and 25 goats) showed gross lesions were collected from February 2018 till November 2019. Bacterial strains were isolated from 26 cases out of 159 (16.35%) including various types where Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant isolated strain from the lungs. Based on histopathological examination, different types of pneumonia (28.9%) including; suppurative pneumonia (10.69%), fibrinous pneumonia (7.54%), interstitial pneumonia (6.28%), granulomatous pneumonia (1.26%) and verminous pneumonia (3.14%) were detected. Bronchitis and bronchiolitis (21.38%); pleural fibrosis (4.4%) were recorded. Pulmonary adenomatosis and fibrosarcoma were detected in lungs of sheep with an incidence of 2.52% and 1.26% respectively. The study concluded that pneumonia is an important lesion in the lungs of small ruminant, and suppurative Pneumonia was the most predominant type. Verminous Pneumonia was detected only in goats and not detected in sheep. Pulmonary adenomatosis were recorded in lungs of sheep but not observed in goat.

The transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) receptor has been implicated in the development of epileptic seizures. We examined the effect of the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin on epileptic seizures, neuronal injury and oxidative stress in a model of status epilepticus induced in the rat by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Capsaicin was i.p. given at 1 or 2 mg/kg, 30 min before the first PTZ injection. Other groups were i.p. treated with the vehicle or the anti-epileptic drug phenytoin (30 mg/kg) alone or co-administered with capsaicin at 2 mg/kg. Brain levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide, and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity, seizure scores, latency time and PTZ dose required to reach status epilepticus were determined. Histopathological assessment of neuronal damage was done. Results showed that brain MDA decreased by treatment with capsaicin, phenytoin or capsaicin/phenytoin. Nitric oxide decreased by capsaicin or capsaicin/phenytoin. GSH and PON-1 activity increased after capsaicin, phenytoin or capsaicin/phenytoin. Mean total seizure score decreased by 48.8% and 66.3% by capsaicin compared with 78.7% for phenytoin and 69.8% for capsaicin/phenytoin treatment. Only phenytoin increased the latency (115.7%) and threshold dose of PTZ (78.3%). Capsaicin did not decrease the anti-convulsive effect of phenytoin but prevented the phenytoin-induced increase in latency time and threshold dose. Neuronal damage decreased by phenytoin or capsaicin at 2 mg/kg but almost completely prevented by capsaicin/phenytoin. Thus in this model of status epilepticus, capsaicin decreased brain oxidative stress, the severity of seizures and neuronal injury and its co-administration with phenytoin afforded neuronal protection.

Background Drowning is the leading cause of death among children 12–59 months old in rural Bangladesh. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a large-scale crèche (daycare) intervention in preventing child drowning. Methods The cost of the crèches intervention was evaluated using an ingredients-based approach and monthly expenditure data collected prospectively throughout the study period from two agencies implementing the intervention in different study areas. The estimate of the effectiveness of the crèches intervention was based on a previous study. The study evaluated the cost-effectiveness from both a program and societal perspective. Results From the program perspective the annual operating cost of a crèche was $416.35 (95% CI: $221 to $576), the annual cost per child was $16 (95% CI: $8 to $23), and the incremental-cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per life saved with the crèches was $17,008 (95% CI: $8817 to $24,619). From the societal perspective (including parents time valued) the ICER per life saved was − $166,833 (95% CI: − $197,421 to − $141,341)—meaning crèches generated net economic benefits per child enrolled. Based on the ICER per disability-adjusted-life years averted from the societal perspective (excluding parents time), $1978, the crèche intervention was cost-effective even when the societal economic benefits were ignored. Conclusions Based on the evidence, the crèche intervention has great potential for generating net societal economic gains by reducing child drowning at a program cost that is reasonable.

Objective To measure the level of hair Mg, as well as its level in serum, in patients with epilepsy and compare them to the levels found in non-epileptic age and gender matched children, and to explore any potential correlation between either serum or hair level of magnesium and seizure characteristics in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Methods An observational cross-sectional study including 50 children with idiopathic epilepsy and 100 non-epileptic age and gender matched control subjects. Cases were subjected to full history taking, examination and measurements of serum and hair levels of magnesium, control subjects only had their serum and hair level of magnesium measured as for the cases. Results The mean serum magnesium was 29.11 ± 13.42 ug/ml for cases and 27.67 ± 7.24 ug/ml for controls and the median hair level of magnesium was 42.22 ug/g with IQR of 25.9 - 56.82 for cases and 38.6 ug/g with IQR of 25.21 - 61.25 for controls. No statistically significant difference was observed between both groups as regards either serum or hair magnesium levels. No statistically significant correlation was observed between either hair or serum levels of magnesium and seizure characteristics though the correlations were nearing statistical significance for the hair magnesium content. Conclusion Hair magnesium level may be better correlated to seizure characteristics and control than serum levels in patients with epilepsy.

Limited access to health care and the lack of robust data systems means non-fatal drownings are largely missed in low-and middle-income countries. We report morbidity among individuals who experienced non-fatal drowning in the Barishal Division, Bangladesh. A representative household survey was conducted in the Barishal Division in southern Bangladesh between September 2016 and February 2017, covering a population of 386,016. The burden of non-fatal drowning was assessed using the WHODAS 2.0 disability assessment tool, a generic assessment instrument for health and disability. A total of 5164 non-fatal drowning events occurred in the one year preceding the survey. Among these 18% were multiple events. From these, 4235 people were administered the WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire. Non-fatal drowning incidence rates were highest in children aged 1–4 years at 5810 per 100,000 population, and among males. Non-fatal drowning was associated with lower socio-economic status and larger family sizes. Few respondents (6.5%, 95% CI: 4.5–8.4%) reported some level of disability (WHODAS-12 score &gt, 8). Incidence of non-fatal drowning is high in the population, however limited impact on morbidity was found. There is a need to develop tools and methodologies for reliable and comparable data for non-fatal drowning, especially to capture post-event disability in children.

Introduction Hydatid disease, which is most often caused by Echinococcus granulosus, can occur in virtually all parts of the body. The disease most frequently occurs in the liver followed by the lungs, muscles, and bones respectively. Primary ovarian hydatid cyst is a rare case. Case presentation A 28-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with vague abdominal discomfort of 8-month duration which was located to the left side of lower abdomen and pelvis associated with episodes of low-grade fever. Her past medical and surgical histories were unremarkable with no surgical operation. She had 3 vaginal deliveries and did not smoke. Discussion Hydatid disease is commonly caused by Echinococcus granulosus. The parasite can colonize virtually in every organ or in several organs at one time in the body. Pelvic hydatid cyst most often presents with vague abdominal pain. The diagnosis of the disease is not straightforward most of the time and requires investigations. The gold standard surgical treatment for ovarian hydatid cyst is cystectomy. Conclusion Ovarian hydatid cyst should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of pelvic masses, especially in endemic areas. Surgical treatment in the form of radical cystectomy is the treatment of choice and it is necessary to take all precautions not to spill hydatid fluid and daughter cysts inside the abdomen. Anthelmintics adjuvant chemotherapy postoperatively may decrease the recurrence rate of the disease., Highlights • Hydatid disease can affect ovaries, like many other organs. • Primary hydatid disease of ovary can be misdiagnosed due to its rarity. • Treatment of primary ovary hydatid disease is surgery. • Anti-parasite agents can also be used, post operatively.

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected millions of individuals around the globe. Forecasting the COVID-19 severity is essential, and various biomarkers could be used to evaluate it. The current study was therefore aimed to evaluate the serum pro-calcitonin (PCT) level as a biomarker for bacterial co-infection and disease severity in COVID-19 patients. A total of 430 COVID-19 positive individuals were examined, in which 332 (77.2%) were male individuals while 98 (22.8%) were female individuals. Among the examined samples, 281 were classified as moderate (PCT value 0.07 ± 0.06 ng/mL), 95 were severe (PCT value 0.5 ± 0.4 ng/mL), and 54 were classified as critical (PCT value > 1 ng/mL) individuals. The increase in the total serum level of PCT was observed with the severity of the disease (p

Background: Spinal anesthesia is recommended for elective cesarean sections, but maternal hypotension by may occur, resulting in severe maternal complications. To avoid spinal hypotension, many methods were attempted; fluid loading, vasopressors, or combination of both. Objectives: Our study aimed to compare administration of intermittent i.v. boluses of norepinephrine and ephedrine to guard against hypotensive effect of spinal anesthesia during delivery. Methods: This study was conducted at Qena University Hospitals, sixty cases undergoing elective ceserian section under spinal anaesthesia were enrolled. They were randomly allocated to two equal groups, group N received prophylactic i.v.bolus of norepinephrine 5 μg,group E received prophylactic bolus of i.v. ephedrine 10mg immediately after intrathecal block. Incidence of hypotension and the numbers of the boluses of vasopressors used were recorded and considered as primary outcomes, maternal complication during the surgery as secondary outcomes. Results: According to SBP, DBP, MAP there was significant lower values in groupE compared with group N. The mean number of boluses of vasopressors used during spinal anesthesia was significantly lower in Group N (2.2 vs. 5.8, P = 0.001). the mean number of hypotension episodes was also significantly lower in Group N (2.5 vs. 5.33, P = 0.001). Regarding operative maternal complications, Group N had a significantly lower nausea(16.7% vs. 66.7%, p=.001) vomiting (60% vs. 16.7%, p=0.001). shivering (23.3% vs. 0%, p=0.001). Conclusion: Norepinephrine can be used as an alternative vasopressor to maintain maternal blood pressure during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery, with lower incidence of maternal complication.

Methylene blue (MethyB) was shown to protect against different brain pathologies. In this study, the effect of acute administration of MethyB on epileptic seizures, brain oxidative stress, and neuronal injury induced in rats by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) was studied. Rats received repeated intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of PTZ until the development of status epilepticus and were i.p. treated once with MethyB at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg, 30 min prior to the first PTZ injection. Results indicated that compared with the PTZ control group, the administration of MethyB at 50 and 100 mg/kg decreased the mean seizure score over the study period by 48.8% and 55.1%, respectively. The development of myoclonic jerks and generalized tonic-clonic seizures was inhibited by 90.0–85.0% and 45.4–56.3%, respectively, compared with the PTZ control group. The mean latency to develop status epilepticus increased by 43.1% after treatment with MethyB at 100 mg/kg. MethyB had no significant effect on the mean threshold dose of PTZ required to reach status epilepticus. MethyB showed inhibitory effects on the increase in brain lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde), and nitric oxide induced PTZ by 16.7–24.0% and 25.2–32.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, the decrease in reduced glutathione and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity and the increase in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in the brain of PTZ-treated rats were attenuated by MethyB. Brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) concentration decreased by PTZ and showed further decrements after treatment with either dose of MethyB. PTZ caused neuronal atrophy in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex and decreased neuronal size and number in the substantia nigra. These pathological changes were prevented by MethyB given at 100 mg/kg. These data indicate that treatment with MethyB inhibits the PTZ-induced seizures in rats and increases the latency to develop status epilepticus. In addition, MethyB decreases brain oxidative stress and protects against neuronal atrophy in this experimental model of generalized epilepsy.

Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine) is an endogenous cannabinoid receptor CB1 ligand that exhibits neuroprotective effects in the brain. In this study, the effect of exogenously given anandamide on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced chemical kindling oxidative stress and brain damage in rats was studied. Rats were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with 35 mg/kg PTZ once every 48 hours for 12 times to induce seizures. Anandamide was i.p. given. 30 min prior to PTZ injection at 100 or 200 mg/kg. Injections of PTZ induced significant increase in brain lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde: MDA), and nitric oxide associated with marked decrease in brain reduced glutathione (GSH). There were also significant decrements in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) concentration, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activities in brain tissue of PTZ injected rats. Meanwhile, there was no significant effect for PTZ on the concentration of brain neutrophil elastase. Anandamide administered at 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly decreased MDA and increased GSH contents and at 200 mg/kg significantly decreased nitric oxide in brain of PTZ-treated rats. The drug also caused significant increments in AChE concentration and PON-1 activity but had no significant effect on BChE or neutrophil elastase in rats treated with PTZ. Anandamide given at the dose of 200mg/kg significantly decreased the mean seizure scores over the study period by 22.3% and the frequency of myoclonic jerks and rearing (stage 3) by 56.7% compared with the vehicle-treated group. Anandamide given at 100 and 200 mg/kg completely inhibited the development of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (stage 5). It is concluded that in the PTZ-induced seizures, the cannabinoid receptor CB1 agonist anandamide decreases brain oxidative stress, neuronal injury, and exerts an antiepileptic activity.

Co-deprivation of some photosynthetic electron transport mineral pairs is sought for enhancing antioxidant accumulation in a local isolate of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, to improve their nutritional value and economic feasibility. The omitted element pairs were iron and sulfur (‑FeS), manganese and iron (‑MnFe) and nitrogen and sulfur (‑NS); chosen on the basis of their strong mediation in redox activities (Fe, Mn or S) or as sinks (N or S) of photosynthetic electrons. Antioxidant contents were estimated in 15 days old cells as growth of Arthrospira was not deteriorated by depriving the studied mineral pairs on the one hand and older cells tend to accumulate secondary compounds than younger ones whose bioenergetics are diverted into vegetative growth on the other hand. Iron‑sulfur, followed by iron‑manganese deprivation, induced the highest rates of photosynthtic oxygen evolution and respiratory oxygen uptake. Nitrogen‑sulfur starved cells, however, seem just survived as the increment of their dry mass relative to the inoculum was insignificant; they exhibited the lowest rates of photosynthesis with significantly enhanced respiration. A positive correlation between dry mass allocation and antioxidant accumulation can be deduced in the following order: ‑FeS > ‑FeMn > ‑NS. Vitamins A and tocopherols exhibited significant rise per unit dry mass (about fourfold that of the control) at ‑FeS while total antioxidants, reducing power and phenolics were more than doubled. FeMn pair deprivation sustained growth but did not enhance the accumulation of the targeted antioxidants. Under NS deprivation, neither Vitamin A nor tocopherols was enhanced although total antioxidants, reducing power and total phenolics were significantly higher than in control cultures. Soluble carbohydrates and free amino acids did not exhibit significant alterations in response to the imposed deprivations, indicating that enhancing the antioxidant accumulation did not take place at the expense of growth or primary metabolism in Arthrospira.

The present study investigated associations between water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) factors and fatal and non-fatal drowning events in Bangladesh. Here, we report findings from a large household survey (89,700) conducted in Barisal Division of Bangladesh. Univariate analyses showed that the use of surface water rather than piped water was associated with an increased risk of both fatal and non-fatal drowning events. Additionally, increased risk of non-fatal drowning events was associated with shared toilet facilities, lack of toilet facilities and non-cemented flooring such as bamboo and wood. The WASH measures reduce the need to access exposure to open water, thus reducing drowning events.