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Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients are more likely than the general population to suffer from thyroid illness. The major goal was to assess the thyroid dysfunctions due to immunological factors in Egyptian SLE children and how they are related to the course and severity of the illness. Methods: Fifty children and adolescents with SLE are included in this cross-sectional observational study. Every patient underwent a thorough physical examination and a comprehensive history taking. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) approach was used to evaluate the thyroid profile, anti-thyroglobulin (Anti-TG), and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies. Results: Of the 50 patients, the female: male ratio (F: M = 7:1) was 44 females and 6 males (12%). They were between the ages of 5 and 17. Out of the patients, thirty-two (64%) had thyroid dysfunctions, 19 (38%) had euthyroid sick syndrome, ten (20%) had overt hypothyroidism, three (6%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, and none had hyperthyroidism. Of the 50 patients, one (2%) had increased anti-TPO, whereas all other patients had normal anti-TG levels. A statistically significant negative correlation (p-value 0.007) was seen between the disease duration and free thyroxine (FT4). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation (p-values 0.015 and 0.028) was found when comparing the disease duration with thyroid antibodies (anti-TG and anti-TPO). Conclusion: In Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (JSLE), thyroid dysfunctions can be identified. The disease duration but not its activity was significantly correlated with thyroid antibodies. For children with JSLE, thyroid function testing should be done on a regular basis. It is preferable to carry out additional thyroid antibody tests when necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The spreading of root rot disease of faba bean plant (Vichia faba L, VF) in Egypt is still of great challenge faced researchers since VF is an important legume in Egypt, because their seeds are used for human feeding. Fungicides are used for treatment of either seeds or soil; unfortunately they cause environmental pollution. Therefore, there is a need to continue research to find out safe natural solutions. In this regard, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and chitosan (micro or nanoform) were used as an inhibitory product against Rhizoctonia solani OM918223 (R.solani) either singly or in combinations. Results: The results employed herein have exhibited that R.solani caused root rot disease of VF plants in more than 80% of the plants under investigation. Chitosan nanoparticles (Chitosan NPs) were prepared by ionic gelatin method and characterized by using dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR). Chitosan NPs are spherical with a diameter of 78.5 nm and exhibited the presence of different functional groups. The inhibitory natural products against R.solani were arranged according to their ability to inhibit the pathogen used in the following descending manner; combination of AMF with Chitosan NPs, AMF with micro chitosan and single AMF, respectively. Where, Chitosan NPs showed a potent influence on R.solani pathogen and reduced the pre-and post-emergence of R. solani. In addition, Chitosan NPs reduced Disease Incidence (DI %) and Disease Severity (DS %) of root rot disease and are widely functional through mixing with AMF by about 88% and 89%. Further, Chitosan NPs and micro chitosan were proved to increase the growth parameters of VF plants such as nutritional status (mineral, soluble sugar, and pigment content), and defense mechanisms including total phenol, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase in mycorrhizal plants more than non-mycorrhizal one either in infected or healthy plants. Moreover, activity of AMF as an inhibitory against R.solani and improvement natural agent for VF growth parameters was enhanced through its fusing with Chitosan NPs. Conclusions: The use of AMF and Chitosan NPs increased faba bean plant resistance against the infection of root rot R. solani, with both prevention and cure together. Therefore, this research opens the door to choose natural and environmental friendly treatments with different mechanisms of plant resistance to disease. Highlights: Maintaining the good production and protection of VF plant against root rot disease was by either single AMF or in combination together with Chitosan NPs in order to limit losses. The colonization of AMF over with Chitosan NPs exhibited more efficiency in inducing the VF resistance against R.solani than individual colonization of AMF alone. The uses of AMF and chitosan derivatives either in normal or in nano form induce the VF plant to resist root rot disease. It is an important to recall the positive side of Chitosan NPs was also restraint on AMF not on VF itself. A perfect realization of the reaction among Chitosan NPs and AMF efficiency with the response of VF plant would open the door to select natural and eco-friendly treatments with different mechanisms of plant resistance to disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought tolerance is a main trait for growing and stabilizing barley productivity in dry areas globally. The current study was conducted to evaluate the morphological and yield-related traits of the barley cultivar "Giza134" in response to drought stress. To determine the impact of drought and stress, the experiment was conducted in the growth chamber and in rainfed conditions. In the growth chamber, seedlings were irrigated, watered (normally), and subjected to 30% PEG-600 (polyethylene glycol 600) as a drought stress condition. Furthermore, barley plants were evaluated during two consecutive seasons, 2021 and 2022, at Nubaria (normal condition), in addition to two different rainfed locations on the northwest coast of Egypt, West Barrani and East Matrouh. Most morphological and yield component traits declined significantly, including plant height (cm), spike length (cm), number of grains per spike, biological yield (BY; ton/fed-1), and grain yield (GY; Ardab Fed-1). Grain yield losses were over 85% in West Barrani and East Matrouh, respectively, compared with Nubaria. To understand the mechanisms of drought tolerance at the molecular level, the gene expression of drought-responsive genes, including HvAPX1 encodes peroxidase, HvFNR encodes ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase, HvDHN1 encodes dehydrin, HvSAM encodes Sadenosyl-L-methionine methyltransferases, HvEDE encodes ER degradation enhancer, and HVABH encodes alpha/beta-hydrolases, were measured in leaf tissues of "Giza 134." The relative expression levels of HvAPX1, HvFNR, and HvDHN1 were significantly (p 0.01) upregulated, with over 8-fold for HvDHN1. while HvSAM, HvEDE and HVABH genes are downregulated in response to drought stress. These findings might provide new insights into the mechanisms of drought tolerance in barley and facilitate future breeding programs for resilient barley crops in a changing global climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The susceptibility of the tomato varieties to T. absoluta infestation and its relation with some leaf phytochemical components as phenols, flavonoids, proteins, carbohydrates, and free amino acids as well as some leaf enzymes such as phenoloxidase, peroxidase and Glutathione S-transferase were studied. The five investigated tomato varieties were cultivated on the 15th March during two successive summer seasons, 2018 and 2019 to classify the susceptibility of the tested tomato varieties depending on the general mean numbers of T. absoluta infestation (X) and the standard deviation (SD). In the present study, three degrees of susceptibility were observed during both of the two tested seasons; susceptible (S) in 130, T306 and Super Hagen varieties; low resistance (LR) in 586 variety and moderate resistance (MR) in 585 varieties. The mean numbers of eggs, larvae and adults of T. absoluta significantly affected. Present results indicated that the lowest level of enzyme was found in T306 variety (Phenoloxidase) and in 130 variety (peroxidase). Moreover, the 586 variety contained the highest amount of peroxidase and Glutathione S-transferase GST enzymes. Additionally, the increasing of the T. absoluta infestation rates was correlated with the three tested enzyme contents in tomato leaves. The tomato variety, 585 had a moderate resistance against T. absoluta infestation, as it had high levels of total phenols and flavonoids. Moreover, this tomato variety had low levels of total proteins, carbohydrates and free amino acids. The components of total phenols, flavonoids (phytochemical contents) and peroxidase and GST enzymes were highly affected the infestation rates of T. absoluta stages on the five tested tomato varieties. The variability of T. absoluta plant tomato infestations interactions depends on the leaf phytochemical compounds and plant enzymes. These constituents might act as antifeeding and/or repellent components in leaves of tomato varieties against tomato borer. Accordingly, these results may be helpful to evaluate good IPM elements against T. absoluta on tomato varieties during summer plantation in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the left ventricular (LV) functions in a cohort of children with Graves' disease (GD). This is a cross-sectional case-control study. It included 36 children with GD and 36 healthy children matched for age and gender. Thyroid hormones (TSH, FT4, and FT3) and anti-thyroid autoantibodies [anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), thyrotropin receptor (TRAbs), and thyroglobulin antibodies] were measured. Conventional and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiographies were used to assess left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions. LV mass index (LVMI) and myocardial performance index (MPI) were also measured. Compared to healthy children, conventional echocardiography of patients with GD revealed higher LVMI (P = 0.001) indicating LV hypertrophy but normal LV functions while TDI revealed lower Em/Am ratio indicating LV diastolic dysfunction (P = 0.001). Significant correlations were reported between FT4 with LVMI (P = 0.05), Em/Am (P = 0.01), and MPI (P = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, a positive correlation was identified between FT4 with MPI (OR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.09-1.15; P = 0.001).Conclusions: Children with newly diagnosed GD may have significant subclinical changes in LV structure and function (diastolic and global). TDI is more sensitive than conventional Doppler in detecting LV dysfunction. These findings highlight the importance of early monitoring of children with GD for left ventricular mass index and diastolic function. What is Known: • There is an increased risk for cardiac abnormalities in children with Graves' disease (GD). • Limited studies assessed left ventricular function in patients with GD. What is New: • Children with newly diagnosed GD may have significant subclinical changes in left ventricular structure and functions. • Children with newly diagnosed GD should be monitored for left ventricular mass index and diastolic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egyptian broomrape is a root holoparasitic plant that causes severe damage to tomato in Iran. Experiments were conducted in 2013 to investigate the effect of silicon (Si) nutrition on broomrape response in tomato. Si concentration significantly delayed first appearance of broomrape and decreased number of tubercles in both cultivars, although the magnitude of reduction varied with cultivar and Si concentration. Broomrape infection significantly decreased root and shoot dry weights of tomato cultivars. However, Si nutrition at high concentration considerably reduced damage severity of broomrape compared to the treatment that received no Si. Infection of tomato with broomrape resulted in significant increase in peroxidase and catalase activity in the roots of resistant cultivar which led to enhanced crop resistance to oxidative stress and improved growth in this cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is widely used for many industrial and food applications. Nine potato cultivars were planted and collected from a private farm in new Salihiyyah city, Sharkia governorate, Egypt to compare between them at morphological, molecular, biochemical and anatomical levels. Our results indicated that the Inova cultivar was better, however the Bafana cultivar was worse in relation to yield parameters. Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular marker has been used to determine the genetic diversity between these nine cultivars. Through using ten primers we obtained 98 bands, 85 of which were polymorphic by 87%. The highest similarity value (0.827) was found between Caruso and Alliance as the closest but the lowest value (0.418) was found between Charlotte and Bafana as the most distant. Everest tuber contained great amounts of total phenolic and peroxidase activity, while the Bafana tuber contained small amounts of it compared to other cultivars. The phellem layer of the Everest tuber had more thickness than others and the number of phellem rows was the highest. However, the Bafana cultivar listed the lowest value compared to other cultivars. Lower values from both of total bacterial and total fungi were recorded on the tuber of the Everest cultivar. However, Bafana cultivar was recorded to have a higher value of both compared to other cultivars. We suggest that the ISSR marker is a suitable procedure to examine the potato’s genetic diversity at the DNA level. The Everest cultivar is considering the best cultivar to planting and breeding in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylum Actinobacteria covers a broad group of bacteria that are well-known for their applications in pharmaceutical industries. The majority of Actinobacteria found to produce extracellular peroxidases belong to the Streptomycetaceae family, and the majority of the peroxidases produced have been detected in experiments focusing on phenol and/or lignin degradation. In the current study, twenty-three native Egyptian Actinobacteria strains were isolated for lignin utilization. The results indicate that 17 out of 23 were successfully utilizing lignin as sole carbon source on lignin agar medium. Also, they showed ability to degrade lignin model compounds such as vanillic acid, veratric acid and guaiacol. Molecular identification of the 17 isolates by 16S rDNA gene sequencing was carried out. Data analyzed using Blast from Genbank and accession numbers were acquired, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. • The Streptomycetaceae family contains the majority of actinobacteria that produce extracellular peroxidases. • In this study, 23 strains were isolated from various Egyptian locations, with only 17 strains successfully utilizing lignin. • These seventeen Streptomyces strains utilized veratric and vanillic acids, out of them only 14 strains utilized guaiacol. • Identification of the 17 isolates by 16S rDNA gene was done, data analyzed using BLAST from GenBank and accession numbers were acquired. • Phylogenetic tree was constructed within these strains and between them and other actinomycete strains from GenBank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]