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Mycobacterium bovis is the etiologic agent of bovine tuberculosis (BTB), a serious infectious disease in both humans and animals. BTB is a zoonotic disease primarily affecting cattle and occasionally humans infected through close contact with infected hosts or the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. Zoonotic tuberculosis is strongly associated with poverty and poor hygiene, and low- and middle-income countries bear the brunt of the disease. BTB has been increasingly recognized as a growing public health threat in developing countries. However, the lack of effective surveillance programs in many of these countries poses a barrier to accurately determining the true burden of this disease. Additionally, the control of BTB is threatened by the emergence of drug-resistant strains that affect the effectiveness of current treatment regimens. Here, we analyzed current trends in the epidemiology of the disease as well as the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of M. bovis in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, a region that includes several developing countries. Following PRISMA guidelines, a total of 90 studies conducted in the MENA region were selected. Our findings revealed that the prevalence of BTB among humans and cattle varied significantly according to the population size and country in the MENA region. Most of the available studies were based on culture and/or PCR strategies and were published without including data on antimicrobial resistance and molecular typing. Our findings highlighted the paramount need for the use of appropriate diagnostic tools and the implementation of sustainable control measures, especially at the human/animal interface, in the MENA region.

Microplastics (MPs) contamination is an emerging issue globally; however, adverse impacts of MPs on soil, plants and microbial activity have not been intensively studied. In this study, the potential effect of different levels of MPs (1.5, 7.5, 15%) has been investigated on soil properties, plant properties (Vicia Faba) and microbial activities through a pot experiment. The effect of biochar (BC: 2%) to mitigate the adverse effects of MP has also been examined. Soil properties (pH, EC, OM, CaCO3 and some elements) have significantly differed due to contamination of soil by MPs as well as by adding BC to the soil. The pH and CaCO3 were significantly increased more than in the control, while EC, TDS, available P, Mn and Fe were significantly decreased lower than the control, which implies adsorption on microplastic. Plant properties, such as enzymes, chlorophyll and fresh and dry weight in roots, were adversely affected by MPs contamination; however, BC mitigated this effect, especially with low contamination levels of MPs. The fresh and dry weight of the shoot was not significantly affected by MPs. The cytogenetic analysis showed that the mitotic index was significantly reduced compared to the control (9.39%), while BC increased the mitotic index at 1.5% MPs (7.11%) although it was less than the control. The percentage of abnormalities of V. faba root tip cells under different levels of MPs was significantly increased more than the control; however, BC mitigated this effect, especially at 7.5% MPs. The total count of bacteria and fungi even in soil or in the rhizosphere area did not follow a clear trend; however, the effect of BC was clear in increasing their activities. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were also significantly affected by MPs and BC. In this study, the BC level was low, however, it mitigated some adverse effects of MPs, especially at 1.5 and 7.5% of MPs. Thus, the BC could be promising in mitigating the negative impacts of MPs when applied with suitable levels that need more future studies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Mentha piperita L and/or Thymus vulgaris in ameliorating the hematological changes induced by chronic consumption of oxidized palm oil (OPO) in rats. Methods: Fifty rats were divided into five groups as follows: rats received a basal diet (control), rats received a basal diet sustained with OPO, rats fed OPO and received Mentha piperita extract, rats fed OPO and received Thymus vulgaris extract, and finally rats fed OPO and received both extracts. After 6 weeks, blood samples were withdrawn and a complete blood count test was done. Results: Rats fed a diet containing OPO showed a significant decrease in red blood cells (RBCs), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), lymphocytes (LYM), and platelets (PLTs) accompanied by a significant increase in white blood cells (WBCs), red cell distribution width (RDW), and mean platelet volume (MPV) compared to rats fed a normal diet. In contrast, rats fed on diet containing OPO and the aqueous extract of either Mentha piperita or Thymus vulgaris showed a significant increase in RBCs, Hct, MCV, Hb, MCH, MCHC, LYM, and PLTs accompanied by a significant decrease in RDW, WBCs, and MPV relative to rats fed on diet containing OPO only. Treatment with a combination of both plants showed better improvements. Conclusion: Both Mentha piperita and Thymus vulgaris ameliorate the hematological changes induced by OPO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of Child Friendly Cities (CFCs) was first developed during the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (HABITAT II), held in Istanbul in 1996. The concept is based on four general principles of the United Nations "Convention on the rights of the child": (1) fair treatment of every child, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, socioeconomic background etc.; (2) top priority of the best interests of the child; (3) the child's right to a better life and development; and (4) respect of children's views. In a CFC, children are encouraged to take part in the decision making processes that affect their lives. Instead of starting yet another programme for children, the development of a CFC mobilises and connects existing agencies and actors. Giving examples of some cities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, this paper demonstrates that building CFCs has induced the development of mechanisms and structures which have enabled cities to address children's issues in a systematic manner. These mechanisms and structures include: a municipal child-friendly legal framework, local development councils and NGO networks and local municipal development offices. The author argues that in building CFCs, the role of municipal authorities is indispensable in responding to the needs of children and young people within the municipalities' mandates.

Microplastic pollution is one of the major environmental problems that have recently increased. Some researchers consider it the second largest global environmental problem, and some describe it as we live in a world full of plastic. Microplastic pollution has many negative effects on terrestrial and marine organisms and various environmental elements, and the problem gets worse when microplastics and its degradation derivativesare transferred to food chains and then to humans, which negatively affects their health. This problem has been widely addressed in aquatic and marine ecosystems, but there is still a gap of knowledge in studying the impact of microplastic on soil, soil microbes(largely responsible for its fertility), and plants). Therefore, this review aims to highlight this. Also, it aims to focus on the treatment methods and the potential effect of biochar (because of its unique properties) on the treatment of microplastic pollution. Hence, this review could contribute to reducing the scientific gap on the effects of microplastics on terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate levels and trends, gender differentials, effect of modes of living, regional differentials, and the effect of parental educational on infant and child mortality., Methods: A nationwide stratified random sample was used to estimate levels, trends and differentials of infant and child mortality in Saudi Arabia. The study was executed during the period February 2006 to June 2006 and covered all the 20 health regions of Saudi Arabia. The randomly selected sample was limited to ever married Saudi women in the reproductive age group (15-49 years)., Results: The findings show a continuous and considerable infant and child mortality decline during the 1994-2004 period. The infant mortality rate has decline from 22 per 1,000 live births in 1994 to 17 per 1,000 live births in 2004; while the child mortality rate has declined from 34 to 22 per 1,000 live births in the same period. There is a strong relation between infant and child mortality and the mode of living and parental education., Conclusion: The study proves the continuous decline of infant and child mortality during the study period and affirms the effect of parental education on these indicators.