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Simple Summary: The current study was conducted to characterize Tamarix gallica honey in terms of its antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, melissopalynological analysis, physicochemical and biochemical properties, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. For this purpose, Tamarix gallica honey samples from Saudi Arabia, Libya, and Egypt were collected and analyzed. Our results reveal the antimicrobial and antioxidant capacities of this type of honey. Tamarix gallica honey could be considered for therapeutical, food manufacturing, or nutraceutical purposes. This study was conducted to assess the bioactive value of Tamarix gallica honey samples collected from three countries. In total, 150 Tamarix gallica honey samples from Saudi Arabia (50), Libya (50), and Egypt (50) were collected and compared, based on the results of the melissopalynological analysis, their physicochemical attributes, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and biochemical properties, together with their total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. Depending on the geographical origin, we observed different levels of growth suppression for six resistant bacterial strains. The pathogenic microorganisms tested in this study were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There was a strong correlation between the polyphenol and flavonoid contents, as well as significant (p < 0.05) radical scavenging activities. The melissopalynological analysis and physicochemical properties complied with the recommendation of the Gulf and Egyptian Technical Regulations on honey, as well as the Codex Alimentarius of the World Health Organization and the European Union Normative related to honey quality. It was concluded that Tamarix gallica honey from the three countries has the capacity to suppress pathogenic bacterial growth and has significant radical scavenging activities. Moreover, these findings suggest that Tamarix gallica honey may be considered as an interesting source of antimicrobial compounds and antioxidants for therapeutical and nutraceutical industries or for food manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: textile industry is one of the major industries in Egypt. However, the working environment is associated with potential health hazards. Aim of the work: to study the toxic effects of different types of dyes among workers in textile industries and its effect on their respiratory, renal, and immunological systems. Subjects and methods: this study was conducted on 50 male workers exposed to textile dyeing of different ages, selected from all textile plants with dyeing industry at Borg Al-Arab City compared with 50 males, who were not exposed to textile dye as a control group. Results: both groups were comparable as patient age, while smoking was significantly increased in exposed group (38.0% vs 14.0%). Reported symptoms such as itching, abdominal pain, etc. and respiratory symptoms were significantly increased in exposed group. There was significant increase of AST, ALT, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase, urea and serum creatinine in study when compared to control group. Furthermore, there was statistically significant decrease of respiratory function percentage of predicted in study group, and there was statistically significant increase of serum lead concentration in study when compared to the control group (17.18±2.35 vs 6.74±2.29 respectively). In addition, there was significant increase of IgM and IgG in study group. Conclusion: workers in textile industry were significantly exposed to health hazards especially on respiratory system. However, multi-organ affection is the role with increased oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Constipation is a common disorder among children, and most of the cases are functional in aetiology. Few studies have reported the manometric data of normal and constipated children. Aim: To evaluate the manometric parameters in children with functional constipation and to assess any possible changes in these parameters after treatment. Material and methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted at a single centre, enrolling 50 children diagnosed with functional constipation based on Rome IV criteria. Their age ranged from 6 to 14 years with a mean of 7.31 ±1.72 years. High-resolution manometry was performed on all children at the initial presentation and after six months of treatment. Results: The studied children showed markedly abnormal rectal sensation parameters (increased first sensation, first urge, intense urge, and maximum tolerable volume) during rectal balloon distension. These parameters were even higher in children with stool incontinence (p = 0.005). Manometric data after 6 months of treatment showed that the resting and squeeze pressures were increased when compared to pre-treatment recordings; however, both were statistically insignificant (p = 0.474 and p = 0.155, respectively). Abnormalities in rectal sensations and the manometric parameters reached near normal values following treatment. Conclusions: Anorectal manometry is sensitive in predicting improvement in patient condition even before complete clinical cure, and it has a prognostic role in the management of childhood constipation. More research is still needed before recommending anorectal manometry as a routine diagnostic or prognostic tool in paediatric constipation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis is one of the costliest diseases affecting the world's dairy industry. The important contribution of complement Component 5 (C5) to phagocytosis, which plays a major role in the defence of the bovine mammary gland against infection, makes this component of innate immunity a potential contributor in defending udder against mastitis. The objectives of this study were to sequence and analyse the whole coding region of the C5 gene in Egyptian buffalo and cattle, to detect any nucleotide variations (polymorphisms) and to investigate their associations with milk somatic cell score (SCS) as an indicator of mastitis in dairy animals. We sequenced a buffalo C5 cDNA fragment of 5336 bp (KP221293) and a cattle C5 cDNA fragment of 5303 bp (KP221294), which included the whole coding region and 3-UTR. Buffalo and cattle C5 cDNA shared sequence identity of 99%. The predicted complement C5 proteins consist of 1677 amino acid residues in both animals, one amino acid less than in humans and three amino acids more than in mouse C5 protein. Comparing cDNA sequences of different animals revealed nine novel SNPs in buffalo and seven SNPs in cattle, with two of them being novel. The association analysis revealed that five SNPs in buffalo are highly associated with SCS; indicating the contribution of complement C5 variants in buffalo mastitis resistance. No significant associations were detected between C5 variants and SCS in cattle. This is the first report about C5 variants in buffalo and its association with SCS., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)