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Human babesiosis is caused by the apicomplexan parasite Babesia microti, which is of major public health concern in the United States and elsewhere, resulting in malaise and fatigue, followed by a fever and hemolytic anemia. In this paper we focus on the characterization of a novel B. microti thrombospondin domain (TSP1)-containing protein (BmP53) from the new annotation of the B. microti genome (locus 'BmR1_04g09041'). This novel protein (BmP53) had a single TSP1 and a transmembrane domain, with a short cytoplasmic tail containing a sub-terminal glutamine residue, but no signal peptide and Von Willebrand factor type A domains (VWA), which are found in classical thrombospondin-related adhesive proteins (TRAP). Co-localization assays of BmP53 and Babesia microti secreted antigen 1 (BmSA1) suggested that BmP53 might be a non-secretory membranous protein. Molecular mimicry between the TSP1 domain from BmP53 and host platelets molecules was indicated through different measures of sequence homology, phylogenetic analysis, 3D structure and shared epitopes. Indeed, hamster isolated platelets cross-reacted with mouse anti-BmP53-TSP1. Molecular mimicry are used to help parasites to escape immune defenses, resulting in immune evasion or autoimmunity. Furthermore, specific host reactivity was also detected against the TSP1-free part of BmP53 in infected hamster sera. In conclusion, the TSP1 domain mimicry might help in studying the mechanisms of parasite-induced thrombocytopenia, with the TSP1-free truncate of the protein representing a potential safe candidate for future vaccine studies.

Microwave assisted preparation of cellulose modified with gallic acid (MA-Cell-GA) was developed for high efficient adsorption of Al 3+ . The as-prepared modified cellulose has been characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential measurements. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum was utilized to proof the adsorption of Al 3+ . The effect of various experimental factors, as pH, amount of adsorbent, shaking time, initial metal ion concentration, temperature, concomitant ions and desorption conditions on the extraction efficiency was investigated and optimized in batch mode experiments. The adsorption capacity and the surface area of MA-Cell-GA were 59.6mgg -1 and 160m 2 g -1 , respectively which were significantly higher than those of the sorbent obtained via traditional reflux procedure. The thermodynamic factors (ΔH° and ΔG°) values for adsorption of Al 3+ on MW-Cell-GA confirmed the non-spontaneousity and exothermic character of the adsorption process. It was indicated that the prepared adsorbent can be regenerated easily using EDTA. The procedure was successfully applied for the preconcentration of Al 3+ in water, rocks, blood and soil samples prior to the determination using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Theileria equi and Babesia caballi are the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis (EP), which affects equine production in various parts of the world. However, a safe and effective drug is not currently available for treatment of EP. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is the fourth enzyme in the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway and has been known as a novel drug target for several apicomplexan protozoan parasites. In this study, we evaluated four DHODH inhibitors; atovaquone (ATV), leflunomide (LFN), brequinar (Breq), and 7-hydroxy-5-[1,2,4] triazolo [1,5,a] pyrimidine (TAZ) on the growth of T. equi and B. caballi in vitro and compared them to diminacene aceturate (Di) as the control drug. The growth of T. equi and B. caballi was significantly hindered by all inhibitors except TAZ. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of ATV, LFN, Breq and Di against T. equi was approximately 0.028, 109, 11 and 40 μM, respectively, whereas the IC 50 of ATV, LFN, Breq and Di against B. caballi was approximately 0.128, 193, 5.2 and 16.2 μM, respectively. Using bioinformatics and Western blot analysis, we showed that TeDHODH was similar to other Babesia parasite DHODHs, and confirmed that targeting DHODHs could be useful for the development of novel chemotherapeutics for treatment of EP., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Studies of the association between seronegative or occult (OCI) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and hematological disorders have yielded controversial results. The aim of this study was to investigate seronegative and OCI HCV infections in among patients with different hematological disorders. This study included 90 anti-HCV-negative patients with either benign or malignant hematological disorders (group I), along with 20 age- and sex-matched apparently healthy subjects, who served as controls (group II). We tested for HCV RNA in sera and PBMCs by RT-nested PCR and for liver enzyme activity. Seronegativity and OCI were detected in 66.7 % and 20 % respectively, of the studied cases (group I). OCI was more evident in Hodgkin lymphoma and thalassemia. A significant increase in AST activity was observed in the seronegative and OCI groups and in ALT and AST in HCV-seronegative or OCI and negative HCV patients (p ≤ 0.05). Seronegativity and OCI are a significant clinical problem in patients with hematological disorders, warranting wider use of molecular tests combined with periodic evaluations of liver functions for diagnostic purposes.

Avian influenza viruses circulate widely in birds, with occasional human infections. Poultry-exposed individuals are considered to be at high risk of infection with avian influenza viruses due to frequent exposure to poultry. Some avian H7 viruses have occasionally been found to infect humans. Seroprevalence of neutralizing antibodies against influenza A/H7N7 virus among poultry-exposed and unexposed individuals in Egypt were assessed during a three-years prospective cohort study. The seroprevalence of antibodies (titer, ≥80) among exposed individuals was 0%, 1.9%, and 2.1% annually while the seroprevalence among the control group remained 0% as measured by virus microneutralization assay. We then confirmed our results using western blot and immunofluorescence assays. Although human infection with H7 in Egypt has not been reported yet, our results suggested that Egyptian poultry growers are exposed to avian H7 viruses. These findings highlight the need for surveillance in the people exposed to poultry to monitor the risk of zoonotic transmission of avian influenza viruses.

Objective: to assess the growth and pubertal development among a group of patients with β-Thalassemia Major (β-TM) and to evaluate the role of the pituitary gland and liver MRI signal intensity (SI) reduction in assessing and predicting the clinical severity of growth and pubertal dysfunctions., Methods: Thirty-eight patients with β-TM were examined and divided into two groups: Group I patients were of normal height and puberty and Group II patients had short statures and hypogonadism. Laboratory investigations included serum ferritin, LH, FSH, prolactin, TSH, and basal and dynamic growth hormones. Pituitary and liver MRIs were performed to assess the pituitary to fat (P/F) and liver to muscle (L/M) signal intensities (SI), respectively. Fifteen healthy and sex- and age-matched subjects were included as controls., Results: Both patient groups had significantly elevated serum ferritin and significantly decreased prolactin and IGF1 compared to control subjects. Group II showed a significant reduction in LH, FSH, and IGF1 and a significant increase in ferritin in comparison with Group I and the control group, and it had a highly significant reduction in both P/F and L/M SI in comparison with Group I (p<0.001 and 0.008, respectively). The reduced P/F ratio was significantly correlated with FSH and LH, and a cutoff for a P/F ratio ≥0.94 was obtained to differentiate between Group I and II., Conclusion: MRI in conjunction with the P/F signal intensity ratio is a useful and noninvasive tool for the early diagnosis of pituitary iron overload.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem recognized globally. HCV is a common cause of liver fibrosis that may lead to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HCV infection and genotyping among Egyptian and Saudi Arabian chronic patients using different molecular techniques. HCV RNA viral load was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology. For HCV genotyping, RT-PCR hybridization fluorescence-based method and reverse hybridization line probe assay (INNO-LiPA) were used. A total of 40 anti-HCV-positive patients with chronic hepatitis C were examined for HCV RNA, genotyping, and different laboratory investigations. In the present study, HCV genotypes 4, mixed 4.1b, and 1 were detected in patients of both countries, while genotype 2 was only detected in Saudi Arabian patients. Genotyping methods for HCV showed no difference in the classification at the genotype level. With regard to HCV subtypes, INNO-LiPA assay was a reliable test in HCV genotyping for the detection of major genotypes and subtypes, while RT-PCR-based assay was a good test at the genotype level only. HCV genotype 4 was found to be the predominant genotype among Egyptian and Saudi Arabian chronic patients. In conclusion, data analysis for detecting and genotyping HCV was an important factor for understanding the epidemiology and treatment strategies of HCV among Egyptian and Saudi Arabian chronic patients.

Androstenedione, the main circulating ovarian hormone present after menopause, has been shown to positively correlate with poor spatial memory in an ovary-intact rodent model of follicular depletion, and to impair spatial memory when administered exogenously to surgically menopausal ovariectomized rats. Androstenedione can be converted directly to estrone via the aromatase enzyme, or to testosterone. The current study investigated the hormonal mechanism underlying androstenedione-induced cognitive impairments. Young adult ovariectomized rats were given either androstenedione, androstenedione plus the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole to block conversion to estrone, androstenedione plus the androgen receptor blocker flutamide to block androgen receptor activity, or vehicle treatment, and were then administered a battery of learning and memory maze tasks. Since we have previously shown that estrone administration to ovariectomized rats impaired cognition, we hypothesized that androstenedione's conversion to estrone underlies, in part, its negative cognitive impact. Here, androstenedione administration impaired spatial reference and working memory. Further, androstenedione did not induce memory deficits when co-administered with the aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole, whereas pharmacological blockade of the androgen receptor failed to block the cognitive impairing effects of androstenedione. Anastrozole alone did not impact performance on any cognitive measure. The current data support the tenet that androstenedione impairs memory through its conversion to estrone, rather than via actions on the androgen receptor. Studying the effects of aromatase and estrogen metabolism is critical to elucidating how hormones impact women's health across the lifespan, and results hold important implications for understanding and optimizing the hormone milieu from the many endogenous and exogenous hormone exposures across the lifetime., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Empyema thoracis necessitans is a rare clinical finding nowadays. We report 55 years old Saudi male with past history of road traffic accident, poly trauma, chest surgery and paraplegia admitted for rehabilitation in Sultan Bin Abduaziz Humanitarian City (SBAHC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and diagnosed with empyema thoracis necessitans due to Staphylococcus aureus, treated initially with traditional thoracostomy under water seal intercostal intubation and antibiotics but subsequently required decortication.

Babesia microti is an emerging zoonotic protozoan organism that causes "malaria-like" symptoms that can be fatal in immunocompromised people. Owing to lack of specific therapeutic regiment against the disease, we cloned and characterized B. microti lactate dehydrogenase (BmLDH) as a potential molecular drug receptor. The in vitro kinetic properties of BmLDH enzyme was evaluated using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) as a co-factor and lactate as a substrate. Inhibitory assay was also done using gossypol as BmLDH inhibitor to determine the inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50). The result showed that the 0.99 kbp BmLDH gene codes for a barely soluble 36 kDa protein (332 amino acids) localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of the parasite. In vitro enzyme kinetic studies further revealed that BmLDH is an active enzyme with a high catalytic efficiency at optimal pH of 10.2. The K m values of NAD(+) and lactate were 8.7 ± 0.57 mM and 99.9 ± 22.33 mM, respectively. The IC50 value for gossypol was 0.345 μM, while at 2.5 μM, gossypol caused 100% inhibition of BmLDH catalytic activity. These findings, therefore, provide initial evidence that BmLDH could be a potential drug target, although further in vivo studies are needed to validate the practical application of lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors against B. microti infection.

Objectives: We recently demonstrated a significant correlation between enamel delamination and tooth-level radiation dose in oral cancer patients. Since radiation can induce the synthesis and activation of matrix metalloproteinases, we hypothesized that irradiated teeth may contain active matrix metalloproteinases., Materials and Methods: Extracted teeth from oral cancer patients treated with radiotherapy and from healthy subjects were compared. Extracted mature third molars from healthy subjects were irradiated in vitro and/or incubated for 0-6 months at 37°C. All teeth were then pulverized, extracted, and extracts subjected to proteomic and enzymatic analyses., Results: Screening of irradiated crown extracts using mass spectrometry identified MMP-20 (enamelysin) which is expressed developmentally in dentine and enamel but believed to be removed prior to tooth eruption. MMP-20 was composed of catalytically active forms at Mr=43, 41, 24 and 22kDa and was immunolocalized predominantly to the morphological dentine enamel junction. The proportion of different sized MMP-20 forms changed with incubation and irradiation. While the pattern was not altered directly by irradiation of healthy teeth with 70Gy, subsequent incubation at 37°C for 3-6 months with or without prior irradiation caused the proportion of Mr=24-22kDa MMP-20 bands to increase dramatically. Extracts of teeth from oral cancer patients who received >70Gy radiation also contained relatively more 24 and 22kDa MMP-20 than those of healthy age-related teeth., Conclusion: MMP-20 is a radiation-resistant component of mature tooth crowns enriched in the dentine-enamel. We speculate that MMP-20 catalyzed degradation of organic matrix at this site could lead to enamel delamination associated with oral cancer radiotherapy., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The emergence of drug resistance and adverse side effects of current bovine babesiosis treatment suggest that the search of new drug targets and development of safer and effective compounds are required. This study focuses on dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), the fourth enzyme of pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway as a potential drug target for bovine babesiosis. Recombinant Babesia bovis DHODH protein (rBboDHODH) was produced in Escherichia coli and used for characterization and measurement of enzymatic activity. Furthermore, the effects of DHODH inhibitors were evaluated in vitro. The recombinant B. bovis DHODH histidine fusion protein (rBboDHODH) had 42.4-kDa molecular weight and exhibited a specific activity of 475.7 ± 245 Unit/mg, a Km = 276.2 µM for L-dihydroorotate and a Km= 94.41 µM for decylubiquinone. A 44-kDa band of native BboDHODH was detected by Western blot analysis and found in parasites mitochondria using a confocal microscope. Among DHODH inhibitors, atovaquone (ATV) and leflunomide (LFN) significantly inhibited the activity of rBboDHODH as well as the growth of B. bovis in vitro. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ATV and LFN was 2.38 ± 0.53 nM and 52.41 ± 11.47 µM, respectively. These results suggest that BboDHODH might be a novel target for development of new drug for treatment of B. bovis infection.

A heterologous prime-boost vaccination regime with DNA and recombinant vaccinia virus (rvv) vectors expressing relevant antigens has been shown to induce effective immune responses against several infectious pathogens. In this study, we describe the effectiveness of the prime-boost strategy by immunizing dogs with a recombinant plasmid followed by vaccinia virus, both of which expressed the glutamic acid-rich protein (BgGARP) of Babesia gibsoni. The dogs immunized with the prime-boost regime developed a significantly high level of specific antibodies against BgGARP when compared with the control groups. The antibody level was strongly increased after a booster immunization with a recombinant vaccinia virus. Two weeks after the booster immunization with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing BgGARP, the dogs were challenged with B. gibsoni parasite. The dogs immunized with the prime-boost regime showed partial protection, manifested as a significantly low level of parasitemia. These results indicated that this type of DNA/rvv prime-boost immunization approach may have use against B. gibsoni infection in dogs.

Identification and molecular characterization of Babesia gibsoni proteins with potential antigenic properties are crucial for the development and validation of the serodiagnostic method. In this study, we isolated a cDNA clone encoding a novel B. gibsoni 76-kDa protein by immunoscreening of the parasite cDNA library. Computer analysis revealed that the protein presents a glutamic acid-rich region in the C-terminal. Therefore, the protein was designated as B. gibsoni glutamic acid-rich protein (BgGARP). A BLASTp analysis of a translated BgGARP polypeptide demonstrated that the peptide shared a significant homology with a 200-kDa protein of Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis. A truncated BgGARP cDNA (BgGARPt) encoding a predicted 13-kDa peptide was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli), and mouse antisera against the recombinant protein were used to characterize a corresponding native protein. The antiserum against recombinant BgGARPt (rBgGARPt) recognized a 140-kDa protein in the lysate of infected erythrocytes, which was detectable in the cytoplasm of the parasites by confocal microscopic observation. In addition, the specificity and sensitivity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with rBgGARPt were evaluated using B. gibsoni-infected dog sera and specific pathogen-free (SPF) dog sera. Moreover, 107 serum samples from dogs clinically diagnosed with babesiosis were examined using ELISA with rBgGARPt. The results showed that 86 (80.4%) samples were positive by rBgGARPt-ELISA, which was comparable to IFAT and PCR as reference test. Taken together, these results demonstrate that BgGARP is a suitable serodiagnostic antigen for detecting antibodies against B. gibsoni in dogs., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We analyzed 27,578 CpG sites that map to 14,495 genes in omental arteries of normal pregnant and preeclamptic women for DNA methylation status using the Illumina platform. We found 1685 genes with a significant difference in DNA methylation at a false discovery rate of <10% with many inflammatory genes having reduced methylation. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering revealed natural clustering by diagnosis and methylation status. Of the genes with significant methylation differences, 236 were significant at a false discovery rate of <5%. When data were analyzed more stringently to a false discovery rate of <5% and difference in methylation of >0.10, 65 genes were identified, all of which showed reduced methylation in preeclampsia. When these genes were mapped to gene ontology for molecular functions and biological processes, 75 molecular functions and 149 biological processes were overrepresented in the preeclamptic vessels. These included smooth muscle contraction, thrombosis, inflammation, redox homeostasis, sugar metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. We speculate that reduced methylation may contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and that alterations in DNA methylation resulting from preeclampsia may increase maternal risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

Maternal vascular dysfunction is a hallmark of preeclampsia. A recently described vascular phenotype of preeclampsia involves increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle, and infiltrating neutrophils. In contrast, the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and collagen type Iα 1 is either reduced or not changed in the vessels, suggesting an imbalance in vessel collagen degradation and synthesis in preeclampsia. In the present study, we explored the possible contribution of DNA methylation to the altered expression of genes involved in collagen metabolism. We assayed the differences in DNA methylation in omental arteries from normal pregnant and preeclamptic women, and determined whether reduced DNA methylation increases the expression of MMP-1 in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells and a neutrophil-like cell line, HL-60. Several MMP genes, including MMP1 and MMP8, were significantly less methylated in preeclamptic omental arteries, whereas TIMP and COL genes either were significantly more methylated or had no significant change in their DNA methylation status compared with normal pregnancy. Experimentally induced DNA hypomethylation increased MMP-1 expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells and MMP-1 cells. Our findings suggest that epigenetic regulation contributes to the imbalance in genes involved in collagen metabolism in blood vessels of preeclamptic women., (Copyright © 2012 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The leaf and stem essential oils of Artemisia monosperma from the desert region of central Saudi Arabia were analysed by gas chromatography-based techniques (GC-FID, GC-MS, Co-GC, LRI determination, database and literature search) using polar as well as non-polar columns, which resulted in the identification of 130 components, of which 81 were common to both oils. In the leaf oil 120 compounds were identified, while 91 were identified in the stem oil accounting for 98.4% and 99.7% of the oil composition, respectively. The major constituents of the leaf oil were beta-pinene (50.3%), a-terpinolene (10.0%), limonene (5.4%) and a-pinene (4.6%), while the major constituents of the stem oil were beta-pinene (36.7%), a-terpinolene (6.4%), limonene (4.8%), beta-maaliene (3.7%), shyobunone (3.2%) and a-pinene (3.1%). The two oils showed an important qualitative similarity. However, some specific constituents (39 in the leaf oil and 10 in the stem oil) allow differentiation of the two essential oils.

Purpose: To assess the long term visual outcomes and refractive status of patients who underwent diode laser for threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to investigate the risk factors leading to poor visual outcomes., Methods: Fifty-seven patients (114 eyes) with threshold ROP who underwent laser therapy were contacted for reassessment. A chart review was performed for all patients to collect data on visual acuity, retinal status and strabismus. A favorable visual outcome was defined as ⩾20/160 (Snellen acuity) for young adults (cooperative patients), and ⩾CSM for children (uncooperative patients) while unfavorable visual outcome was defined as <20/160 or

Preeclampsia is characterized by increased thromboxane and decreased prostacyclin levels, which predate symptoms, and can explain some of the clinical manifestations of preeclampsia, including hypertension and thrombosis. In this study, we examined DNA methylation of the promoter region of the thromboxane synthase gene (TBXAS1) and the expression of thromboxane synthase in systemic blood vessels of normal pregnant and preeclamptic women. Thromboxane synthase is responsible for the synthesis of thromboxane A(2), a potent vasoconstrictor and activator of platelets. We also examined the effect of experimentally induced DNA hypomethylation on the expression of thromboxane synthase in a neutrophil-like cell line (HL-60 cells) and in cultured vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. We found that DNA methylation of the TBXAS1 promoter was decreased and thromboxane synthase expression was increased in omental arteries of preeclamptic women as compared with normal pregnant women. Increased thromboxane synthase expression was observed in vascular smooth muscles cells, endothelial cells, and infiltrating neutrophils. Experimentally induced DNA hypomethylation only increased expression of thromboxane synthase in the neutrophil-like cell line, whereas tumor necrosis factor-α, a neutrophil product, increased its expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Our study suggests that epigenetic mechanisms and release of tumor necrosis factor-α by infiltrating neutrophils could contribute to the increased expression of thromboxane synthase in maternal systemic blood vessels, contributing to the hypertension and coagulation abnormalities associated with preeclampsia.

Objective: To investigate ghrelin and resistin concentrations in patients with hyperthyroidism before and after restoration to a euthyroid state and to correlate the 2 peptides with anthropometric and insulin resistance parameters., Methods: The study included hyperthyroid patients and euthyroid healthy participants as a control group. Hyperthyroid patients were evaluated at the start of the study and after normalization of thyroid function with appropriate antithyroid drugs. Anthropometric parameters, insulin resistance parameters (fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance), thyroid function tests, and measurement of ghrelin and resistin were assessed in patients and control participants., Results: The study included 40 hyperthyroid patients (32 women and 8 men, aged 26-42 years) and 30 euthyroid healthy participants (20 women and 10 men, aged 25-43 years) as a control group. In hyperthyroid patients, serum resistin levels and insulin resistance parameters were higher and plasma ghrelin levels were lower than in control participants (P<.001), and all normalized after treatment. Ghrelin levels were correlated only with insulin resistance parameters, but no correlations with any anthropometric or laboratory data were found. Resistin levels did not correlate with any clinical or laboratory data of hyperthyroid patients., Conclusion: In hyperthyroid patients, resistin was increased and ghrelin was decreased, they were not related to anthropometric parameters, and they normalized after treatment of hyperthyroidism.

The present study examined among adolescents in Gaza the relationship between exposure to war stressors and psychological distress as well as the effects of age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Data were collected from a sample of 139 adolescents 12 to 17 years old. Results showed that adolescents reported elevated levels of intrusion, avoidance, and depression compared to levels in communities not affected by war in the recent past. The proportion scoring within the clinical range of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was 56.8% compared to 6.3% in peacetime populations, reflecting a Hedges's g of 1.29 (p < .001). Significant risk factors for PTSD were exposure (β = .377, p < .001), female gender (β = -.257, p < .001), older age (β = .280, p < .01), and an unemployed father (β = -.280, p < .01). Risk factors for anxiety were exposure (β = .304, p < .001), female gender (β = -.125, p < .01), and older age (β = 272, p < .01), whereas female gender (β = <.238, p < .001) was the only significant risk factor for depression. The present study suggests large individual differences in how adolescents are affected by war stressors., (Copyright © 2012 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.)

Background: Neutrophil elastase level/activity is elevated in a variety of diseases such as atherosclerosis, systolic hypertension and obstructive pulmonary disease. It is unknown whether obese individuals with prehypertension also have elevated neutrophil elastase, and if so, whether it has a deleterious effect on pulmonary function., Objectives: To determine neutrophil elastase levels in obese prehypertensive women and investigate correlations with pulmonary function tests., Methods: Thirty obese prehypertensive women were compared with 30 obese normotensive subjects and 30 healthy controls. The study groups were matched for age., Measurements: The following were determined: body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum neutrophil elastase, and pulmonary function tests including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC ratio., Results: Serum neutrophil elastase concentration was significantly higher in both prehypertensive (405.8 ± 111.6 ng/ml) and normotensive (336.5 ± 81.5 ng/ml) obese women than in control non-obese women (243.9 ± 23.9 ng/ml); the level was significantly higher in the prehypertensive than the normotensive obese women. FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio in both prehypertensive and normotensive obese women were significantly lower than in normal controls, but there was no statistically significant difference between the prehypertensive and normotensive obese women. In prehypertensive obese women, there were significant positive correlations between neutrophil elastase and body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and negative correlations with high density lipoprotein cholesterol, FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC., Conclusion: Neutrophil elastase concentration is elevated in obese prehypertensive women along with an increase in high sensitivity C-reactive protein which may account for dyslipidemia and airflow dysfunction in the present study population.

Background: Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) defined as a condition that develops when the reflux of stomach contents causes troublesome symptoms and/or complications. Many drugs are used for the treatment of GERD such as omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor) which is a widely used antiulcer drug demonstrated to protect against esophageal mucosal injury. Melatonin has been found to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa from oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species in different experimental ulcer models. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of exogenous melatonin in the treatment of reflux disease in humans either alone or in combination with omeprazole therapy., Methods: 36 persons were divided into 4 groups (control subjects, patients with reflux disease treated with melatonin alone, omeprazole alone and a combination of melatonin and omeprazole for 4 and 8 weeks) Each group consisted of 9 persons. Persons were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination, and investigations including laboratory, endoscopic, record of esophageal motility, pH-metry, basal acid output and serum gastrin., Results: Melatonin has a role in the improvement of Gastro-esophageal reflux disease when used alone or in combination with omeprazole. Meanwhile, omeprazole alone is better used in the treatment of GERD than melatonin alone., Conclusion: The present study showed that oral melatonin is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of GERD. It is an effective line of treatment in relieving epigastric pain and heartburn. However, further studies are required to confirm the efficacy and long-term safety of melatonin before being recommended for routine clinical use., Trial Registration: QA13NCT00915616.

Cyclization of hydrazones derived from 2-acetyl-1-naphthol and 1-acetyl-2-naphthol with triphosgene gave naphtho[1,2-e]-1,3-oxazines, naphtho[2,1-e]-1,3-oxazines or their spiro dimers depending on the molar ratio of triphosgene used for the cyclization.

Citrus psorosis ophiovirus (CPsV), is considered to be of the most serious and deter mental virus pathogen's citrus species trees in Egypt. CPsV-EG was isolated from infected citrus grapefruit (C. paradisi Macf.) at Agric. Res. Centre (ARC). The grapefruit which used for CPsV-EG isolate was found to be free from CTV, CEVd and Spiroplasma citri where as gave -ve results with DTBIA, tissue print hybridization and Diene's stain respectively. CPsV-EG was detected on the basis of biological indexing by graft inoculation which gave oak leaf pattern (OLP) on Dweet tangor and serological assay by DAS-ELISA using Mab specific CPsV. CPsV-EG was reacted with variable responses on 16 host plants belonging to 6 families. Only 8 host plants are susceptible and showed visible external symptoms which appeared as local, systemic and local followed by systemic infections. CPsV-EG isolate was transmitted from infected citrus to citrus by syringe and grafting and herbaceous plants by forefinger inoculation and syringe. The woody indicators and rootstocks were differed in response to CPsV-EG isolate which appeared as no-response, response, sensitivity and hypersensitivity. The serological characters represented as the antigenic determinants of CPsV-EG isolate related to monoclonal antibodies specific CPsV strain where as appeared precipitation reaction by DAS-ELISA and DTBIA. The partial fragment of RNA3 (coat protein gene) of CPsV-EG (-1140bp and -571bp) was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from grapefruit tissues using two sets primers specific CPsV (CPV3 and CPV4) and (PS66 and PS65) respectively. The virus under study was identified as CPsV-EG isolate according to biological, serological and molecular characters.

Background: There has been little reported research into the effect of war on the behaviour and emotional well-being of pre-school children., Aims: To investigate the relationship between exposure to war trauma and behavioural and emotional problems among pre-school children., Method: A total of 309 children aged 3-6 years were selected from kindergartens in the Gaza Strip, and were assessed by parental reports in regard to their exposure to war trauma, using the Gaza Traumatic Checklist, and their behavioural and emotional problems, using the Behaviour Checklist (BCL) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)., Results: Pre-school children were exposed to a wide range of traumatic events. The total number of traumatic events independently predicted total BCL and SDQ scores. Exposure to day raids and shelling of the children's houses by tanks were significantly associated with total behavioural and emotional problems scores., Conclusions: Direct and non-direct exposure to war trauma increases the risk of behavioural and emotional problems among pre-school children, which may present as non-specific psychopathology.

A new Chromone, 7,8-dimethoxy-2-[2-(3'-acetoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone (1) was isolated from an acetone extract of the Cambodian agarwood along with two known chromones, 6-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (2) and 6,7-dimethoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (3). In addition, an abietane ester (4) and the sesquiterpene dehydrofukinone (5) were isolated from the agarwood oil of the same origin. Structural elucidation of all isolated compounds was made based on IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data.

This study describes the mental health characteristics of 150 children of 6-13 years of age, who had been referred to different types of services in the Gaza Strip: a community mental health center, five primary health centers and a pediatric hospital. There was a high rate of somatising disorders among children referred to the mental health center (42%). Parent-reported rates of significant mental health problems were high for all groups, i.e., 70% in the mental health center group, 30% in the pediatric group, and 18% among children referred to primary health centers.

The aim of this work is to assess the association between vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) and coronary artery disease in men above the age of 40 y. The study included 40 patients above 40 y of age with vasculogenic ED of more than 3 months duration. A dynamic duplex study after intracavernosal injection of a bimix solution (60 mg papaverine + 2 mg phentolamine mesylate) was carried out using a color ultrasound machine. The patients underwent a stress ECG test, carried out on a motor-driven treadmill according to the 'Bruce Protocol'. A total of 12 patients were diagnosed with positive ischemic heart disease (IHD). Their mean peak systolic velocity (PSV) was PSV = 19.58 cm/s. In all, patients were diagnosed with negative IHD; their mean PSV was 36.21 cm/s. A statistically significant difference was observed between patients with positive IHD and patients with negative IHD regarding PSV (P = 0.003). The sensitivity of a PSV of less than 35 cm/s in predicting IHD was 50% with a specificity of 100%. Positive predictive value for abnormal stress ECG to predict a PSV of less than 35 cm/s was 100%. In conclusion, the PSV of cavernosal arteries is a reliable measure for predicting IHD in patients with vasculogenic ED. Patients with a PSV of less than 35 cm/s should be referred for cardiologic assessment as they carry a real risk of having silent IHD.

Background: We examined the prevalence and nature of comorbid post-traumatic stress reactions and depressive symptoms, and the impact of exposure to traumatic events on both types of psychopathology, among Palestinian children during war conflict in the region., Methods: The 403 children aged 9-15 years, who lived in four refugee camps, were assessed by completing the Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist, the Child Post Traumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTSD-RI), and the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ)., Results: Children reported experiencing a wide range of traumatic events, both direct experience of violence and through the media. CPTSD-RI and MFQ scores were significantly correlated. Both CPTSD-RI and MFQ scores were independently predicted by the number of experienced traumatic events, and this association remained after adjusting for socioeconomic variables. Exposure to traumatic events strongly predicted MFQ scores while controlling for CPTSD-RI scores. In contrast, the association between traumatic events and CPTSD-RI scores, while controlling for MFQ scores, was weak. The CPTSD-RI items whose frequency was significantly associated with total MFQ scores were: sleep disturbance, somatic complaints, constricted affect, impulse control, and difficulties in concentration. However, not all remaining CPTSD-RI items were significantly associated with exposure to traumatic events, thus raising the possibility that the association between depression and PTSD was due in part to symptom overlap., Conclusions: Children living in war zones are at high risk of suffering from PTSD and depressive disorders. Exposure to trauma was not found to have a unique association with PTSD. The relationship between PTSD and depressive symptomatology requires further investigation.

The aim of this work is to assess the value of penile duplex in the prediction of intracavernous drug-induced ischemic priapism. A total of 400 patients with erectile dysfunction were evaluated before and after diagnostic intracavernous injection of a trimix solution (papaverine+phentolamine+PGE1) using color Doppler sonography. In all, 29 patients experienced sustained rigid erections for more than an hour. Patients were further divided into two groups. Group A included patients with spontaneous resolution of their rigid erection within 3 h (10/29) and group B included patients with priapism (19/29) that did not resolve within 3 h. In group A, patients had minimal cavernous artery blood flow within the first hour postinjection, that increased with relief of their erection. Group B patients had no blood flow in their cavernous artery an hour after intracavernous injection and for 6 h later. The disappearance of blood flow in the cavernous artery after an hour of sustained rigid erection predicted priapism with 100% specificity and sensitivity. The persistent absence of cavernous artery blood flow for more than an hour, as detected by color Doppler ultrasound, is an objective predictor of priapism. This may guide early intervention to resolve the prolonged erection.

Objective: To establish the nature and extent of maltreatment experiences, coping strategies, and behavioral/emotional problems, and their relationships, in a sample of Palestinian adolescents., Method: A study of 97 male adolescents aged 15-19 years, and attending a vocational training center based in the Gaza Strip. Adolescents completed the Child Maltreatment Schedule and the Ways of Coping Scale (WAYS). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was completed by adolescents and by their teachers., Results: Findings revealed high rates of emotional and physical maltreatment. Reliance on emotion-focused or avoidant coping strategies was associated with exposure to maltreatment. Use of maladaptive coping also predicted emotional difficulties in the respondents., Conclusions: Coping strategies are an important indicator of psychosocial functioning in adolescents who have experienced maltreatment. Identification of coping styles can augment the assessment of at-risk adolescents. Emotion-focused strategies, in particular, appear to be widely used by young people from non-Western cultural backgrounds.

Yttrium reacts with 5-(4'-chlorophenylazo)-6-hydroxypyrimidine-2,4-dione (I), 5-(2'-bromophenylazo)-6-hydroxypyrimidine-2,4-dione (II), 5-(2',4'-dimethylphenylazo)-6-hydroxypyrimidine-2,4-dione (III), 5-(4'-nitro-2',6'-dichlorophenylazo)-6-hydroxypyrimidine-2,4-dione (IV), 5-(2'-methyl-4'-hydroxyphenylazo)-6-hydroxypyrimidine-2,4-dione (V) to form a dark pink complexes, having an absorption maximum at 610, 577, 596, 567 and 585 nm, respectively. The complex formation was completed spontaneously in theil buffer solution and the resulting complex was stable for at least 3 h after dilution. Under the optimum conditions employed, the molar absorptivities were found to be 1.60 x 10(4), 1.29 x 10(4), 1.96 x 10(4), 1.45 x 10(4) and 1.21 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and the molar ratios were (1:1) and (1:2) (M:L). The linear ranges were found within 95 microg of yttrium in 25 ml solution. One of the characteristics of the complex was its high tolerance for calcium and hence a method of separation and enrichment of microamounts of yttrium by using calcium oxalate precipitate was developed and applied to measure yttrium in nickel-base alloys. Interfering species and their elimination have been studied. The precision and recovery are both satisfactory.

Background: Children living in war zones are at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress and other emotional disorders, but little is known about the effect of traumatic events during war. We aimed to assess the nature and severity of emotional problems in Palestinian children whose homes had been bombarded and demolished during the crisis in Palestine, compared with children living in other parts of the Gaza strip., Methods: 91 children exposed to home bombardment and demolition during Al Aqsa Intifada and 89 controls who had been exposed to other types of traumatic events related to political violence completed self-report measures of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and fears., Findings: Significantly more children exposed to bombardment and home demolition reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress (p=0.0008) and fear (p=0.002) than controls. 54 (59%) of 91 exposed children and 22 (25%) of 89 controls reported post-traumatic stress reactions of clinical importance. Exposure to bombardment was the strongest socioeconomic predictor of post-traumatic stress reactions (odds ratio 0.25 [95% CI 0.12-0.53], p=0.0008). By contrast, children exposed to other events, mainly through the media and adults, reported more anticipatory anxiety and cognitive expressions of distress (p=0.001) than children who were directly exposed., Interpretation: Children living in war zones can express acute distress from various traumatic events through emotional problems that are not usually recognised. Health professionals and other agencies coming in contact with children who have been affected by war and political violence need to be trained in detection and treatment of such presentations.