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Background: Poultry feather waste has a potential for bioenergy production because of its high protein content. This research explored the use of chicken feather hydrolysate for methane and hydrogen production via anaerobic digestion and bioelectrochemical systems, respectively. Solid state fermentation of chicken waste was conducted using a recombinant strain of Bacillus subtilis DB100 (p5.2)., Results: In the anaerobic digestion, feather hydrolysate produced maximally 0.67 Nm 3 CH 4 /kg feathers and 0.85 mmol H 2 /day.L concomitant to COD removal of 86% and 93%, respectively. The bioelectrochemical systems used were microbial fuel and electrolysis cells. In the first using a microbial fuel cell, feather hydrolysate produced electricity with a maximum cell potential of 375 mV and a current of 0.52 mA. In the microbial electrolysis cell, the hydrolysate enhanced the hydrogen production rate to 7.5 mmol/day.L, with a current density of 11.5 A/m 2  and a power density of 9.26 W/m 2 ., Conclusions: The data indicated that the sustainable utilization of keratin hydrolysate to produce electricity and biohydrogen via bioelectrical chemical systems is feasible. Keratin hydrolysate can produce electricity and biofuels through an integrated aerobic-anaerobic fermentation system., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The objective of our work is to create a practical procedure to produce in vitro cell suspensions of O. basilicum and to ascertain the factors that encourage enhanced secondary metabolite production. We investigated the impact of these metabolites on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus 's adult and larval target enzymes. The explants were cultivated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media with 0.1 to 1 mg/L plant growth regulators (PGRs) to create calluses. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), kinetin, 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA), and indole-3-butryic acid (IBA) at 0.5, 0.5, 0.1, and 1 mg/L, respectively, with 3% sucrose led to the highest biomass accumulation. In cell suspensions, the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were 39.68 and 5.49 mg/g DW, respectively, with abiotic Verticillium dahliae as an activator. Rosmarinic acid, ursolic acid, nepetoidin A and B, salvigenin, and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside as flavonoids and phenolics were analyzed using UPLC-I TQD MS, with the highest concentrations reached after 40 days. The extract demonstrates insecticidal activity against the fourth-instar larvae of R. ferrugineus , with adults at 1197 µg/mL and 12.5 µg/larvae as LC 50 and LD 50 values. The extract inhibited acetylcholine esterase (AChE), acid phosphatases (ACPs), alkaline phosphatases (ALPs), and gamma-aminobutyric acid-transaminase (GABA-T) in larval tissue in vitro, with IC 50 values of 124.2, 149.3, 157.8, and 204.8 µg/mL, and in vivo, with IC 50 values of 157.2, 179.4, 185.3, and 241.6 µg/mL, after 24 h. Pure compounds identified the activity of the extract, showing the inhibition of AChE, ACPs, ALPs, and GABA-T with IC 50 values ˂ 200 µg/mL (in vitro). The ABMET examination revealed good oral permeability, and docking tests showed that the compounds bind AChE, ACPs, ALPs, and GABA-T. These findings show that a green bioprocessing method such as an O. basilicum cell suspension is a quick and straightforward technique for producing phenolic compounds, and it may be used to develop sustainable bio-insecticides and new green procedures.

Herein, we explored the utilization of graphitized mango seeds as 3D-packed anodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) powered by sewage wastewater. Mango seeds were graphitized at different temperatures (800 °C, 900 °C, 1000 °C, and 1100 °C) and their effectiveness as anodes was evaluated. Surface morphology analysis indicated that the proposed anode was characterized by layered branches and micro-sized deep holes, facilitating enhanced biofilm formation and microorganism attachment. Maximum power densities achieved in the MFCs utilizing the mango seed-packed anodes graphitized at 1100 °C and 1000 °C were 2170.8 ± 90 and 1350.6 ± 125 mW m -2 , respectively. Furthermore, the weight of the graphitized seed anode demonstrated a positive correlation with the generated power density and cell potential. Specifically, MFCs fabricated with 9 g and 6 g anodes achieved maximum power densities of 2170.8 ± 90 and 1800.5 ± 40 mW m -2 , respectively. A continuous mode air cathode MFC employing the proposed graphitized mango anode prepared at 1100 °C and operated at a flow rate of 2 L h -1 generated a stable current density of approximately 12 A m -2 after 15 hours of operation, maintaining its stability for 75 hours. Furthermore, a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 85% was achieved in an assembled continuous mode MFC. Considering that the proposed MFC was driven by sewage wastewater without the addition of external microorganisms, atmospheric oxygen was used as the electron acceptor through an air cathode mode, agricultural biomass waste was employed for the preparation of the anode, and a higher power density was achieved (2170.8 mW m -2 ) compared to reported values; it is evident that the proposed graphitized mango seed anode exhibits high efficiency for application in MFCs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

This manuscript investigates the influence of the chemical activation step order and process parameters on the specific capacitance of activated carbon derived from rice husk. The chemical activation was performed either before or after the carbonization step, using phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as activating agents. For activation before carbonization, the carbonization process was conducted at various temperatures (600, 750, 850, and 1050 °C). On the other hand, for activation after carbonization, the effect of the volume of the chemical agent solution was studied, with 0, 6, 18, 21, 24, and 30 mL/g of phosphoric acid and 0, 18, 30, 45, 60, and 90 mL/g of 3.0 M KOH solution. The results revealed that in the case of chemical activation before carbonization, the optimum temperature for maximizing specific capacitance was determined to be 900 °C. Conversely, in the case of chemical activation after carbonization, the optimal volumes of the chemical agent solutions were found to be 30 mL/g for phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ) and 21 mL/g for potassium hydroxide (KOH). Moreover, it was observed that utilizing phosphoric acid treatment before the carbonization step leads to an 21% increase in specific capacitance, attributed to the retention of inorganic compounds, particularly silica (SiO 2 ). Conversely, when rice husks were treated with KOH after the carbonization step, the specific capacitance was found to be doubled compared to treatment with KOH prior to the carbonization step due to embedding of SiO 2 and KHCO 3 inorganic constituents. This study provides valuable insights into the optimization of the chemical activation step order and process parameters for enhanced specific capacitance in rice husk-derived activated carbon. These findings contribute to the development of high-performance supercapacitors using rice husk as a sustainable and cost-effective precursor material., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a dual solution of generating electrical energy from organic pollutants-laden wastewater while treating it. This study focuses on enhancing MFC performance through innovative electrode design. Three-dimensional (3D) anodes, created from corncobs and mango seeds via controlled graphitization, achieved remarkable power densities. The newly developed electrode configurations were evaluated within sewage wastewater-driven MFCs without the introduction of external microorganisms or prior treatment of the wastewater. At 1,000°C and 1,100°C graphitization temperatures, corncob and mango seed anodes produced 1,963 and 2,171 mW/m 2 , respectively, nearly 20 times higher than conventional carbon cloth and paper anodes. An advanced cathode composed of an activated carbon-carbon nanotube composite was introduced, rivaling expensive platinum-based cathodes. By optimizing the thermal treatment temperature and carbon nanotube content of the proposed cathode, comparable or superior performance to standard Pt/C commercial cathodes was achieved. Specifically, MFCs assembled with corncob anode with the proposed and standard Pt/C cathodes reached power densities of 1,963.1 and 2,178.6 mW/m 2 , respectively. Similarly, when utilizing graphitized mango seeds at 1,100°C, power densities of 2,171 and 2,151 mW/m 2 were achieved for the new and standard cathodes, respectively. Furthermore, in continuous operation with a flow rate of 2 L/h, impressive chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rates of 77% and 85% were achieved with corncob and mango seed anodes, respectively. This work highlights the significance of electrode design for enhancing MFC efficiency in electricity generation and wastewater treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Barakat, Gamal, Kim, Abd El-Salam, Fouad, Fadali, Moustafa and Abdelraheem.)

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major drug-resistant human pathogen accountable for a wide range of infections. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the phenotypic and genotypic features of β-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae clinical isolates from Alexandria, Egypt. A total of 50 nonduplicated clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae were obtained from various specimens. They were identified biochemically and by biotyping using mass spectrometry. For molecular characterization, plasmid profile analysis was performed. Screening for extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), carbapenemases and AmpC production was carried out phenotypically and genotypically. Correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between phenotype, genotype and resistance patterns among the studied isolates. The dendrogram demonstrated 38 distinct plasmid profiles among 62% of our isolates. According to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, 90% of isolates were multi/extensive-drug resistant. Nineteen out of 50 (38%) were resistant to cefoxitin, while only 10 (20%) were resistant to imipenem. All isolates were susceptible to colistin. Phenotypically, ESBL producers (78%) were the most common, followed by carbapenemase producers (24%). Genotypically, the most common ESBL gene was bla SHV (90%), followed by bla CTX-Mu (74%), while the most common carbapenemase genes were bla NDM (56%) and bla OXA-48 (54%). No bla KPC or bla IMP were detected. Plasmid-mediated AmpC resistance was confirmed in only two out of 19 cefoxitin-resistant isolates. Both the bla NDM and bla OXA.48 genes were significantly positive correlated (rho = 0.56, p = 0.004). Absence of bla KPC among carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae isolates in Alexandria, Egypt. AmpC production is not the main factor behind the resistance to cefoxitin among our isolates., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To appraise and compare the reparative role of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) against irradiation damage on albino rats' submandibular gland., Design: Seventy four male albino rats were used, one for BM-MSCs harvesting, 10 for PRP preparation, seven as control group (Group 1). The remaining 56 rats were subjected to single dose (6 Gy) gamma irradiation and were divided into equal four groups; (Group 2): received no treatment, (Group 3): each rat was injected with 1 × 10 5 BM-MSCs, (Group 4): each rat was injected with 0.5 ml/kg PRP, and (Group 5): each rat was injected with 1 × 10 5 BM-MSCs and 0.5 ml/kg PRP. Each group was further subdivided into two subgroups in which rats sacrificed after one and two weeks from irradiation. Any structural changes were examined histopathologically, immunohistochemically using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and CD31 primary antibodies and histochemically using picrosirius red (PSR) stain, then analyzed statistically., Results: Histopathological examination of Group 2 showed atrophied acini, with nuclear changes and signs of degeneration in duct systems. Treated groups revealed signs of regeneration in form of uniform acini and regenerated duct systems especially in Group 5 and in a time depended manner. Immunohistochemical examination revealed increased immunoexpression of PCNA and CD31, while histochemical examination showed decreased PSR in all treated groups in relation to the irradiated group and this was proved statistically., Conclusions: BM-MSCs and PRP are effective as treatment for irradiation-induced submandibular gland damage. However, the combined therapy is recommended over each one separately., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None declared. There's no financial/personal interest or belief that could affect our objectivity., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, the nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide/TiO 2 (rGO/TiO 2 with different percentages) have been synthesized using a modified Hummers' method followed by hydrothermal treatment. The morphology and bonding structure of the prepared samples have been characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photo-characteristic aspects of the prepared samples have been indicated by photoluminescence (PL) emission spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic performance of rGO/TiO 2 demonstrated that it is an effective photocatalyst for methylene blue (MB) dye decomposition through illumination by a mercury lamp. Within 60 min of continuous irradiation, the nanocomposite-induced MB decomposition reached a rate of over 99%. Different MB concentrations and optimal percent loadings in catalysts have been investigated. Furthermore, the results showed that as the amount of catalyst increased, the decomposition of MB enhanced. Finally, the loading percentage of rGO with TiO 2 has been studied, and an empirical equation relating the reaction rate constant until the mass of the photocatalyst and dye concentration has been proposed. The results showed that the prepared nanocomposites had good photocatalytic activity toward water splitting and photo-decomposition of MB., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Platelet-derived lyophilized growth factors (L-GFs) use a standardized number of allogenic pathogen-free platelets instead of autologous platelets used in PRP as a source of growth factors. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of L-GF injection versus placebo in subacromial impingement (SIS) treatment., Methods: The current randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study included sixty patients (40 females and 20 males, aged between 24 and 75 years) diagnosed with SIS (both clinically and sonographically). Patients were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Under ultrasound guidance, group 1 received subacromial saline injection, and group 2 received L-GF injection. Clinical examination, pain visual analogue scale (VAS), shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) and shoulder ultrasound were performed before and at the 8th week after injection., Results: Follow-up assessment showed statistically significant improvement in the L-GF group regarding active flexion, active and passive internal rotation and extension, SPADI-disability scale, VAS and thickness of the supraspinatus tendon by US. Regression analysis showed that group 1 was approximately 30 times more likely than the L-GF group to experience painful arc at follow-up. Both groups showed statistically significant improvement in SPADI-pain scale and SPADI-total, flexion and abduction (still the mean value of abduction was significantly higher in the L-GF group)., Conclusions: L-GF injection resulted in clinically significant reductions in pain and functional disability outcomes in patients with SIS. An objective significant reduction in the thickness of the supraspinatus tendon, measured by ultrasound, in the L-GF group hopefully encourages proper healing and functioning in SIS., Trial Registration: The identification number is NCT04330027, date of first registration (01/04/2020). Unique on 21/11/2019, Protocol ID: 0106178., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Mass gathering restrictions were imposed. The lockdown of the Higher Education Institutions was obligatory to save lives. In February 2021 in Egypt, HEIs were allowed to ease the lockdown restrictions on a case-by-case basis gradually. In this paper, we propose a risk evaluation of planned regular mass gathering events during the pandemic, such as students gathering on-campus during indoor exams, by implementing WHO COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan through Intra-Action Review guidance. This one-group posttest-only design study was done on October 6 University campus during indoor students' exams in Giza, Egypt. We conducted IAR to implement the WHO's COVID- 19 SPRP; Country-level coordination; risk communication; surveillance, rapid response teams; points of entry; infection prevention control; laboratories; supply chain; case management; essential health services, and other possible topics. Between February-21, 2021; April-10, 2021, 25,927 students attended the on-campus living exams. Our result suggests that the high level of Readiness-Capacity during mass gatherings will reduce COVID-19 transmission. The most compelling evidence is the significance of synchronization between the ten pillars in preventing COVID-19 transmission. These findings may be used to influence decision-making for continual improvement of the operational planning guidelines during the outbreaks., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

H 3 PO 4 /KOH combined solution is proposed as a new effective activation agent for activated carbon production from rice husk. Several activated carbon samples were produced by using different volumes of the utilized acid and alkali individually, in addition to the combined solution. FTIR results indicated that the mixed agent partially decomposed the chemical compounds on the rice husk char surface, resulting in an increase in the surface area. Moreover, XRD and EDS analyses showed the presence of a considerable amount of amorphous silica. Electrochemical measurements concluded that the volume of the activation agent solution should be optimized for both single and mixed activation agents. Numerically, for 0.3 g treated rice husk char, the maximum specific capacitance was observed at 7, 10 and 14 mL of H 3 PO 4 , KOH (3 M) and mixed (1:1 by volume) activation agents, respectively; the determined specific capacitance values were 73.5, 124.2 and 241.3 F/g, respectively. A galvanostatic charging/discharging analysis showed an approximate symmetrical triangular shape with linear voltage versus time profile which indicates very good electrochemical performance as an electrode in the supercapacitors application. The stability of the proposed activated carbon was checked by performing a cyclic voltammetry measurement for 1000 cycles at 2 mV/s and for 30,000 cycles at 10 mV/s. The results indicate an excellent specific capacitance retention, as no losses were observed.

Carbon nanofiber-decorated graphite rods are introduced as effective and low-cost anodes for industrial wastewater-driven microbial fuel cells. Carbon nanofiber deposition on the surface of the graphite rods could be performed by the electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile/N,N-Dimethylformamide solution using the rod as nanofiber collector, which was calcined under inert atmosphere. The experimental results indicated that at 10 min electrospinning time, the proposed graphite anode demonstrates very good performance compared to the commercial anodes. Typically, the generated power density from sugarcane industry wastewater-driven air cathode microbial fuel cells were 13 ± 0.3, 23 ± 0.7, 43 ± 1.3, and 185 ± 7.4 mW/m 2 using carbon paper, carbon felt, carbon cloth, and graphite rod coated by 10-min electrospinning time carbon nanofibers anodes, respectively. The distinct performance of the proposed anode came from creating 3D carbon nanofiber layer filled with the biocatalyst. Moreover, to annihilate the internal cell resistance, a membrane-less cell was assembled by utilizing a poly(vinylidene fluoride) electrospun nanofiber layer-coated cathode. This novel strategy inspired a highly hydrophobic layer on the cathode surface, preventing water leakage to avoid utilizing the membrane. However, in both anode and cathode modifications, the electrospinning time should be optimized. The best results were obtained at 5 and 10 min for the cathode and anode, respectively.

Our study's overarching goal was to determine which O. basilicum cell suspensions approach yielded the most insecticidal and R. ferrugineus -inhibitory volatile secondary metabolites. After inoculation with Verticillium dahliae as an activator, the growth kinetics were measured, and the extract was identified using GC-MS. Validation was achieved for the insecticidal efficacy of a volatile extract, the pure phenolic content against larva and adult R. ferrugineus , and the inhibitory effect on proteases (in vivo and in vitro). The volatile extract achieved an LC 50 of 1229 µg/mL and an LD 50 of 13.8 µg/larva. The LC 50 values for β-bergamotene, α-eudesmol, β-farnesene, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, α-guaiene, and β-caryophyllene were 1294, 1312, 1356, 1398, 1426, 1459, 1491, and 1523 g/mL, respectively. The LD 50 activities of α-eudesmol, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, and nerol were 12.4, 13.7, 13.9, 14.2, and 15.6 g/larva, respectively. Active volatile extract of O. basilicum inhibited trypsin proteinase, elastase, cysteine, overall protease, and metalloprotease activity with IC 50 values of 89.4, 101.7, 394.7, 112.4, and 535.2 µg/mL and 178.5, 192.4, 547.3, 208.3, and 924.8 µg/mL, in vitro and in vivo, respectively. There was evidence of action against total proteases (in vitro) with IC 50 values of 78.9, 81.2, 88.6, 90.7, 91.5, 97.6, 107.4, and 176.3 µg/mL for β-bergamotene, α-eudesmol, β-farnesene, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, α-guaiene, and β-caryophyllene, respectively. Total proteases (in vivo) are inhibited by the α-eudesmol, linalool, 1,8-cineole, eugenol, nerol, and (E)-β-ocimene, with IC 50 values of 162.3, 192.7, 193.1, 201.4, 248.6, and 273.2 µg/mL, respectively. ADMET and molecular docking modeling were the only two methods used to conduct in-depth computational analyses of compounds. The study recommended using an efficient cell suspension method to produce a volatile extract rich in useful secondary metabolites that may be utilized as a bio-insecticide.

The purpose of this work was to determine the secondary metabolites generated by O. basilicum cell suspensions, as well as their insecticide and inhibitory activity against R. ferrugineus . The growth kinetics with inoculation Verticillium dahliae were determined and identified using LC-MS. Determination of total phenolic components (TFC), flavonoids (TF), and condensed tannins (TCT) were measured. Insecticidal activity of O. basilicum extract against R. ferrugineus (larva and adult) and proteolytic enzymes activity were assessed (in vitro and in vivo). The O. basilicum extract had an LC 50 of 1238 µg/mL and an LD 50 of 13.4 µg/larva. The LC 50 of chicoric acid, ursolic acid, salvigenin, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, rosmarinyl glucoside, and nepetoidin B demonstrated activity at an LC 50 of 1132, 1167, 1189, 1214, 1275, and 1317 µg/mL, respectively. Chicoric acid, salvigenin, nepetoidin B, and rosmarinic acid demonstrated an LD 50 activity of 10.23, 11.4, 11.9, and 12.4 µg/larva, respectively. The active extract of O. basilicum inhibited total protease, trypsin-like serine proteinases, elastase, cysteine, and metalloprotease activity with an IC 50 (in vitro) of 119.4, 91, 102.4, 76.4, and 52.4 µg/mL, respectively. In silico studies of compounds were conducted, such as molecular docking and ADMET analysis. The study proposes using an efficient cell suspension technique to produce O. basilicum extract containing active secondary metabolites and accessible using as bio-insecticide.

Background: Several systemic diseases manifest themselves in the oral cavity. Dentists who are unaware of these lesions will possibly miss them. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of oral manifestations in patients with LE in a sample of the Egyptian population. Methods: A descriptive study was performed on 189 patients attending the Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Clinic in EL Qasr EL Ainy Hospital, Cairo University. Every patient was examined clinically after completing a questionnaire. Moreover, patients' medical records were also evaluated.  The oral manifestations were recorded according to the WHO guide to physical examination of the oral cavity and classified according to their morphologic aspects and localization. Results: Out of 189 patients, there were 182 females (96.3%) and seven males (3.7%). The prevalence of oral lesions in SLE patients was 55.6%. The most affected site was the tongue 25.7%. The most common clinical aspect was patches, 53%. About 77.1% of the lesions were asymptomatic.  Conclusions: The present study emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis of oral lesions to recognize patients with SLE as the WHO considers oral manifestations of SLE a widespread state. Also, implementation of oral hygiene measures and treatment to improve patients' nutritional state and health-related quality of life are recommended., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2022 Saeed HM et al.)

The current study was designed to investigate the insecticide role of volatile constituents produced from cell suspensions of T. vulgaris and O. basilicum against R. ferrugineus . Constituents were extracted from cell suspension after 40 days. Growth kinetics were measured with an inoculation of Verticillium dahliae and identified by GC-MS. Total volatile phenolic constituents were measured. Insecticidal activity against R. ferrugineus (adult) and proteolytic enzyme activity in larvae were assessed. GC-MS showed that the T. vulgaris extract has higher amounts of thymol, p -cymene, γ-terpinene, β-caryophyllene, and linalool in comparison to the O. basilicum extract, which is rich in estragole, β-terpineol, ( E )-β-ocimene, 1,8-cineole, germacrene D, and eugenol. The T. vulgaris extract showed an LC 50 of 1032 µg/mL, followed by O. basilicum with an LC 50 of 1246 µg/mL. The IC 50 values against the total proteases were 110.8 and 119.4 µg/mL for T.   vulgaris and O.   basilicum , respectively. The IC 5 0 for the trypsin-like serine proteinase assessment was 81.6 and 91 µg/mL for T.   vulgaris and O.   basilicum , respectively. Cysteine, chymotrypsin, and metalloproteinase assessment showed an IC 50 above 5000 µg/mL for both extracts. The study is proposed as a potential approach to use T. vulgaris and O. basilicum extract as a bio-insecticide against R. ferrugineus using an accessible and efficient cell suspension technique.

Objective: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of holmium enucleation of the prostate and bipolar transurethral enucleation of the prostate., Methods: In our randomized controlled trial, 120 patients were allocated into two equal groups representing holmium enucleation of the prostate and bipolar enucleation of the prostate. Operative parameters were recorded according to operative, enucleation and resection time in addition to the intraoperative complications. Patients were followed up at 1, 3 and 12 months postoperative to assess the prostate size, post-voiding residual urine, International Prostate Symptom Score, peak urine flow rate and quality of life, and compared with the preoperative parameters. Cost analysis was evaluated for both procedures., Results: We evaluated 107 patients who finished our follow up and their data were analyzed. The prostate size was 135.2 ± 34.8 mL and 125 ± 26.9 mL for holmium enucleation of the prostate and bipolar enucleation of the prostate, respectively. Holmium enucleation of the prostate was associated with a shorter operative time of 83.43 ± 6.92 min compared with 94.7 ± 12.2 min in bipolar enucleation of the prostate groups. Holmium enucleation of the prostate was associated with an earlier catheter removal time and shorter hospital stay compared with bipolar enucleation of the prostate. Postoperative International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, post-voiding residual urine, peak urine flow rate, prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume reduction were comparable between both groups, and they both showed statistically significant improvement compared with their preoperative parameters. In the cost analysis, holmium enucleation of the prostate was more cost-effective than bipolar enucleation of the prostate., Conclusion: Both holmium enucleation of the prostate and bipolar enucleation of the prostate are safe and effective in the surgical management of large prostatic adenomas. Holmium enucleation of the prostate has a shorter operative time and hospital stay with earlier catheter removal time, and is more cost-effective than bipolar enucleation of the prostate., (© 2020 The Japanese Urological Association.)

Introduction and Objective: Insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus are frequently associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and it is thought that the presence of insulin resistance aggravates liver disease. We aimed to evaluate insulin resistance in nondiabetic Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection., Materials and Methods: Sixty nondiabetic patients with chronic HCV infection and 30 healthy nondiabetic non-HCV-infected volunteers were enrolled in our study. They were divided into 3 groups: group 1 included 30 patients with chronic HCV infection with no cirrhosis, group 2 included 30 patients with chronic HCV infection and cirrhosis of the liver, and group 3 included 30 healthy volunteers as controls. The entire study population underwent a detailed clinical history and physical examination, weight and height measurement, routine laboratory tests, and viral marker determination that included hepatitis B surface antigen and HCV antibodies. PCR analysis was carried out on the patients with positive HCV antibodies. Fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin levels were measured in all the patients, and insulin resistance was calculated according to the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)., Results: Patients with cirrhosis of the liver (2 patients with Child class A, 12 patients with Child class B, and 16 patients with Child class C) showed higher insulin resistance levels (2.76±0.97) than the patients with chronic HCV infection and no cirrhosis (2.03±0.743) and the control group (1.22±0.38). The p value was significantly different between the 3 groups. There were direct and significant correlations between insulin resistance, fasting blood sugar, and fasting insulin levels. Patients with chronic HCV infection showed significantly higher fasting insulin and glucose levels than the control group., Conclusion: Chronic HCV-infected patients showed significantly higher insulin resistance levels than the normal population, even in the absence of hepatic dysfunction and cirrhosis., (Copyright © 2019 Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.)

Background: In the past decade, various health care programs have implemented diverse types of peer-assisted learning (PAL) programs, in particularly peer teaching (PT), due to their reported benefits for students (both those undertaking teaching and those being taught), teachers, and educational institutes. Unfortunately, peer teaching is still under-recognized in pharmacy programs worldwide when compared to other health care programs. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the published literature centered on formal PT programs that are implemented in pharmacy schools. In addition, this review focuses on the methodologies adopted for peer teacher recruitment and training as well as the benefits gained by students (both those undertaking teaching and those being taught). The rationales behind PT implementation are recapitulated as well. Finally, a simple scheme for successful implementation of PT activity is provided to serve as a groundwork for educators., Methods: Pre-defined key terms were used to search for experimental peer teaching activities in pharmacy schools between January 2000 and June 2016. Titles were selected based on pre-set eligibility criteria. Only complete research articles with clear design and evaluation sections were included in this review. Studies about inter-professional peer teaching activities between pharmacy students and other healthcare professions were also included., Results: Six relevant educational research articles containing peer teaching activities were included. A lot of variety exists between different pharmacy courses implementing PT, the format/setting of PT, how peer teachers are selected, and how training and evaluation are implemented. The studies reviewed confirmed that PT was well received by most of the students and had a positive impact on their learning outcome. These findings cannot be generalized due to the insufficient number of studies published beside their methodological limitations and inadequate descriptions of the PT format., Implications: Though PT may be regarded as a feasible teaching strategy, care must be taken during implementation to ensure the fulfillment of the educational objectives. Proper validation of any PT initiative is required before incorporation into the pharmacy curriculum. More research using proper design and suitable sample sizes are recommended to determine the effect of PT activity on students' learning, skills development and confidence., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Phosphopentomutase (PPM) catalyzes the interconversion of α-D-(deoxy)-ribose 1-phosphate and α-D-(deoxy)-ribose 5-phosphate. We developed a coupled or uncoupled enzymatic assay with an enzyme nucleoside phosphorylase for determining PPM activities on D-ribose 5-phosphate at a broad temperature range from 30 to 90 °C. This assay not only is simple and highly sensitive but also does not require any costly special instrument. Via this technology, an open reading frame TM0167 from a thermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima putatively encoding PPM was cloned. The recombinant PPM was overexpressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta. This enzyme has the highest activity at 90 °C. MnCl2 (0.1 mM) and 50 μM α-D-glucose 1,6-bisphosphate are cofactors. The kinetic parameters of Km and kcat are 1.2 mM and 185 s(-1) at 90 °C, respectively. The enzyme has a half-life time of up to 156 min at 90 °C. This enzyme is the most active and thermostable PPM reported to date., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pan-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria, being resistant to most available antibiotics, represent a huge threat to the medical community. Colistin is considered the last therapeutic option for patients in hospital settings. Thus, we were concerned in this study to demonstrate the membrane permeabilizing activity of colistin focusing on investigating its efficiency toward those pan-drug resistant isolates which represent a critical situation. We determined the killing dynamics of colistin against pan-drug resistant isolates. The permeability alteration was confirmed by different techniques as: leakage, electron microscopy and construction of an artificial membrane model; liposomes. Moreover, selectivity of colistin against microbial cells was also elucidated. Colistin was proved to be rapid bactericidal against pan-drug resistant isolates. It interacts with the outer bacterial membrane leading to deformation of its outline, pore formation, leakage of internal contents, cell lysis and finally death. Furthermore, variations in membrane composition of eukaryotic and microbial cells provide a key for colistin selectivity toward bacterial cells. Colistin selectively alters membrane permeability of pan-drug resistant isolates which leads to cell lysis. Colistin was proved to be an efficient last line treatment for pan-drug resistant infections which are hard to treat., (Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

The shift in the pharmacist's role from simply dispensing medications to effective delivery of pharmaceutical care interventions and drug therapy management has influenced pharmacy education.(1-3) The educational focus has shifted from basic sciences to clinical and integrated courses that require incorporating active-learning strategies to provide pharmacy graduates with higher levels of competencies and specialized skills. As opposed to passive didactic lectures, active-learning strategies address the educational content in an interactive learning environment to develop interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills needed by pharmacists to function effectively in their new roles.(4-6) One such strategy is using educational games. The aim of this paper is to review educational games adopted in different pharmacy schools and to aid educators in replicating the successfully implemented games and overcoming deficiencies in educational games. This review also highlights the main pitfalls within this research area.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein is able to accumulate genetic p53 mutations and may be considered co-oncogenic. This study investigates 1p36.3 telomere deletion in B-non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients with chronic HCV infection using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in relation to survival to assess Ki-67 antigen expression. A study group and a control group of 100 patients with B-NHL (50 HCV positive and 50 HCV negative) and 60 control bone marrow biopsies were subjected to FISH for the detection of 1P36.3 deletion and to immunohistochemical staining with Ki-67 antigens. 1p36.3 deletion by FISH was detected in 40% of the study group, and Ki-67 was expressed in approximately 74% of patients. A significant difference was found between positive and negative HCV patients in their overall survival, the qualitative expression of Ki-67 and the quantitative detection of 1p36.3 deletion by FISH. The overall survival was shorter with the presence of an 1p36 deletion by FISH and HCV positive. We concluded that the coexistence of Ki-67 positivity, HCV positivity and 1p36.3 deletion may contribute to infection-related cancers at the 1p36.3 locus., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate response and compare the success rate of two different doses of iodine-131 ((131)I) therapy in the treatment of Graves' disease and investigate the factors that may affect outcome. A retrospective analysis was carried out on 321 patients treated with (131)I for Graves' disease. Group 1 (155 patients) received 8 mCi and group 2 (166 patients) received 12 mCi. The therapy was considered successful if euthyroidism or hypothyroidism was achieved within 1 year of therapy. The outcome was compared with multiple parameters. A significant difference in the outcome between the two groups was found in favor of the second group (P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that lower dose, technetium-99m pertechnetate thyroid uptake greater than 20.9%, and moderate and marked goiter were independent variables associated significantly with a lower response rate (odds ratio 2.601, 4.023, and 3.309, respectively), whereas previous surgical treatment was associated with a higher response rate (odds ratio 3.071). No correlation was found between outcome and age, presence of exophthalmos, previous treatment with methimazole, and its duration. The response rate to the second dose was significantly increased compared with the first one by 27.8%; there was no correlation among the above-mentioned factors and its outcome. The third dose controlled the disease in 81.3% of the remaining patients and control was achieved in the rest after the fourth dose. (131)I is a very effective therapy for Graves' disease, with a cure rate of 100% after four doses. Higher first dose activity is recommended in the presence of poor prognostic factors. The second dose is not necessarily increased in the nonresponders.

Objective: We aimed to assess the percentage of peripheral blood B-lymphocytes expressing OX40 ligand (OX40L) in adult atopic and non-atopic asthmatic patients, and in healthy controls., Methods: This case-control study included 15 atopic asthmatic patients, 15 non-atopic asthmatic patients, and 15 healthy controls. Atopic status was determined by skin prick test reaction to the most common locally-encountered allergens. For all subjects, pulmonary function tests and measurement of total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels by ELISA were performed. In addition, the percentage of B-lymphocytes expressing OX40L was assessed by flow cytometry in all three groups., Results: OX40L expression was significantly higher in atopic asthmatics than in non-atopic asthmatics and controls, but did not differ significantly between non-atopic asthmatics or controls. Among atopic asthmatics, OX40L expression correlated positively with total serum IgE levels, but not with age, disease duration, or values of forced expiratory volume in the first second., Conclusion: The over-expression of OX40L in atopic asthmatic patients appears to be linked to markers of the atopic status as total serum IgE, and signifies the vital role of OX40L in the atopic mechanism. Further large-scale studies are needed to investigate the role of OX40L in other atopic diseases and its relation to disease activity and severity.

Background: Rosuvastatine, doxazosin, repaglinide and oxcarbazepin are therapeutic drugs available in the market for the treatment of different diseases. Potential to display antitumor activities has also been suggested. The aim of the current study was to evaluate their in vitro effects on some human transformed cell lines., Materials and Methods: Cytotoxicity of the four drugs was tested in MCF-7, HeLa and HepG2 cells by the neutral red assay method and also the effect of rosuvastatine and doxazosin against Ehrlich Ascities Carcinoma Cells (EACC) by trypan blue assay., Results: Rosuvastatine exerted the greatest cytotoxic effect against HepG2 cells with an IC50 value of 58.7±69.3; in contrast doxazosin showed least activity with IC50=104.4 ±115.7. Repaglinide inhibited the growth of both HepG2 and HeLa cells with IC50 values of 87.6±117.5 and 89.3±119.5, respectively. Oxcarbazepine showed a potent cytotoxicity against both HeLa (IC50=19.4±43.9) and MCF7 cancer cells ((IC50=22±35.7).On the other hand the growth of EACC was completely inhibited by doxazosine (100% inhibition) while rosuvastatine had weak inhibitory activity (11.6%) ., Conclusions: The four tested drugs may have cytotoxic effects against hepatic, breast and cervical carcinoma cells; also doxazosine may inhibit the growth of endometrial cancer cells. Further investigations in animals are needed to confirm these results.

Objectives: We sought to determine potential prognostic value of total lesion glycolysis (TLG) calculated from combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)., Materials and Methods: We prospectively studied 126 patients with OSCC who underwent PET/CT before definitive treatment by radical surgery. The metabolic tumor volume (MTV) was calculated for the primary tumor according to an absolute standardized uptake value (SUV) of 3. TLG was calculated as MTV × the average SUV. The nodal SUVmax was also recorded. The median value of SUVmax and TLG were used to divide the patients into two categories (high and low). Patients were followed up until death or for at least 24 months from their surgery. Disease-free (DFS) and disease-specific survivals (DSS) were the main outcome measures., Results: The median TLG of the primary tumor ((T)TLG) was 71.4, and the median nodal SUVmax ((N)SUV) was 7.5. Patients with high (T)TLG (≥ median) had a 2-year DFS of 52% whereas the DFS was 74% for those with a low (T)TLG (P=0.007); the 2-year-DSS rates were 53% vs. 84%, respectively (P<0.001). Similarly, patients with high (N)SUVmax (≥ median) had a 2-year DFS of 42% vs. 70% for patients with a low (N)SUVmax (P=0.001); the 2-year-DSS rates were 39% vs. 78%, respectively (P<0.001). In multivariate analyses, (T)TLG, (N)SUVmax, and pathological nodal status were independent prognostic factors for the 2-year DSS. A 3-point prognostic scoring system was formulated based on the presence or absence of the independent factors. Patients with positive neck nodes, high (N)SUVmax, and high (T)TLG (score 3) had a 32-fold higher risk of cancer death compared with those lacking such risk factors (2-year-DSS=26% vs. 97%, P<0.001)., Conclusion: Primary tumor TLG is an independent prognostic factor for cancer control and survival in patients with OSCC. A prognostic scoring system that includes primary tumor TLG, nodal SUVmax, and pathological neck status may be useful for risk stratification in this group of patients., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The schistosomal parasite plays a critical role in the development of malignant lesions in different organs. The pathogenesis of cancer is currently under intense investigation to identify reliable prognostic indices for disease detection. The objective of this paper is to evaluate certain biochemical parameters as diagnostic tools to efficiently differentiate between colonic carcinoma and colonic carcinoma associated with schistosomal infection among Egyptian patients. The parameters under investigation are interleukin 2 (IL-2), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, tissue telomerase, pyruvate kinase (PK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme activities. The results revealed a significant elevation in the level of the tumour markers IL-2, TNF-α and CEA as well as the activities of LDH, telomerase and G-6-PD among non-bilharzial and bilharzial colonic cancer groups, with a more potent effect in bilharzial infection-associated colonic cancer. A significant inhibition in PK activity was recorded in the same manner as compared to normal tissues. The efficacy of this biomarker was also evaluated through detecting sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values. In conclusion, schistosomal colonic carcinoma patients displayed more drastic changes in all parameters under investigation. The combination of the selected parameters succeeded in serving as biomarkers to differentiate between the two malignant types.

Skeletal infection continues to be a common and difficult condition in clinical practice and early accurate diagnosis is very challenging. Clinical and laboratory features of skeletal infections are not always present, may be confusing, and are nonspecific for bone infection in its early stages, therefore, several imaging modalities are used for early detection of osteomyelitis. Plain films should always be the first step in the imaging assessment of osteomyelitis, however, the sensitivity for X-ray radiography has been reported to range from 43% to 75%, and the specificity from 75% to 83%. Over years, scintigraphic procedures have become an essential part of the diagnostic procedure for osteomyelitis. The standard approach for bone scintigraphy with tech 99mTc labeled methylene diphosphonate to assess for osteomyelitis is to perform a three-phase procedure. The positive uptake on all three phases is highly sensitive for osteomyelitis (sensitivity 73% to 100%). 67Ga citrate gained more attention for the more specific diagnosis of osteomyelitis due to its known capacity to localize in cases of active infection and pus. The reported specificity for 67Ga scintigraphy in osteomyelitis is around 67-70% and the specificity is much higher (92%) when 67Ga single photon emission tomography was obtained. Labeled white blood cell (WBC) imaging has become the procedure of choice to diagnose most cases of skeletal infections except for those of the spine. Labeling of leucocytes can be done either by 111In or 99mTc labeled hexamethylpropylene amineoxime. The sensitivity and specificity for labeled WBCs are in the high range of 80% to 90%. [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) has been found to accumulate non-specifically at sites of infection and inflammation. Investigational studies showed that PET is particularly valuable in the evaluation of chronic osteomyelitis and infected prostheses. Other imaging modalities include sonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The sensitivity and specificity of CT for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis has not been established clearly and are in the range of 65% to 75%. The sensitivity of MRI for osteomyelitis has been generally reported as being between 82% and 100%, and specificity between 75% and 96%. Cases of osteomyelitis commonly referred to diagnostic imaging departments include chronic osteomyelitis, diabetic foot infections, vertebral osteomyelitis, joint prostheses and patients with suspected reinfection. These specific entities need special attention and careful selection of the correct tracer or combination of imaging modalities that is best suited for the proper therapeutic management protocols.

Aims: The diagnosis of deep seated bacterial infections, such as intra-abdominal abscesses, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis, can be difficult and delayed, thereby compromising effective treatment. This study assessed the efficacy of a new radioimaging agent, Tc-99m ciprofloxacin (Infecton), in accurately detecting sites of bacterial infection., Methods: Eight hundred and seventy nine patients with suspected bacterial infection underwent Infecton imaging and microbiological evaluation. The sensitivity and specificity of Infecton in detecting sites of bacterial infection were determined with respect to Centres of Disease Control, World Health Organisation, and Dukes's criteria., Results: Five hundred and seventy four positive and 295 negative images were produced. These included 528 true positives, 46 false positives, 205 true negatives and 90 false negatives, giving an overall sensitivity of 85.4% and a specificity of 81.7% for detecting infective foci. Sensitivity was higher (87.6%) in microbiologically confirmed infections., Conclusions: Infecton is a sensitive technique, which aids in the earlier detection and treatment of a wide variety of deep seated bacterial infections. The ability to localise infective foci accurately is also important for surgical intervention, such as drainage of abscesses. In addition, serial imaging with Infecton might be useful in monitoring clinical response and optimising the duration of antimicrobial treatment.

Twenty-five patients with malignant astrocytoma, either postoperatively (15 cases) or with recurrent tumour versus gliosis (10 cases) were included in this study. 201Tl single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed with the calculation of early and delayed uptake values and retention index. A high mean value of early and delayed uptake correlated with a low retention index in patients with high-grade astrocytoma in both postoperative residual and recurrent groups, versus a lower mean value of early and delayed uptake with a high retention index in patients with low-grade tumours. All postoperative cases with high-grade astrocytoma had high 201Tl uptake > 1.5, whereas 66.6% of cases with low-grade astrocytoma had low 201Tl uptake < 1.5. There was a correlation between retention index of 201Tl and tumour grade with r = 0.47. Also, recurrent cases showed remarkable differences in early and delayed 201Tl uptake (P < 0.05) and retention index (P < 0.001) compared with postradiation gliosis. There was a higher sensitivity in detection of tumour viability by 201Tl SPECT of 100% versus 80% using computed tomographic scanning and in the differentiation between recurrent tumour and postradiation gliosis.

Canal wall-down technique tympanoplasty was indicated in about 41 per cent of our cases with chronic suppurative otitis media. In this series done during the last four years, of 576 tympanoplasties, 240 cases needed type III tympanoplasty. In 145 cases, myringostapediopexy was carried out using temporalis fascia grafting over the head of the stapes. Tympano-cartilago-stapediopexy was performed in the other 95 cases by using tragal cartilage and perichondrium over the stapes. A comparison between the results of both methods of grafting is discussed. Improvement in hearing was achieved after tympano-cartilago-stapediopexy. This method proved to be suitable for those cases which need open technique tympanoplasty.

Five nasal stones were extracted from five patients. The etiology and clinical picture have been discussed. The stones were analysed by a crystallographic method, using an X-ray diffraction technique. Their composition was identified as calcium phosphate.