Efficacy of personal protective equipment to prevent environmental infection of COVID-19 among healthcare workers: a systematic review

BACKGROUND@#Healthcare workers (HCWs) employed personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic, crucial to protecting themselves from infection. To highlight the efficacy of PPE in preventing environmental infection among HCWs, a systematic review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidance.@*METHODS@#A search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted from January 2019 to April 2021 using pre-defined search terms. Articles were screened by three researchers. The approved papers were read in full and included in this review if relevance was mutually agreed upon. Data were extracted by study design and types of PPEs.@*RESULTS@#47 of 108 identified studies met the inclusion criteria, with seven reviews and meta-analyses, seven cohort, nine case-control, fifteen cross-sectional studies, four before and after, four case series, and one modeling studies. Wearing PPE offered COVID-19 protection in HCWs but required adequate training. Wearing surgical masks provided improved protection over cloth masks, while the benefit of powered air-purifying respirators is less clear, as are individual gowns, gloves, and/or face shields.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Wearing PPE, especially facial masks, is necessary among HCWs, while training in proper use of PPE is also important to prevent COVID-19 infection.

Effect of confinement stress on behaviour, performance, clinicopathological and histopathological, alterations of Nile tilapia, challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila with regard to the blue light as stress inhibitor

The present study was carried out to assess the effects of blue light as antistressor and its effect on susceptibility of Nile tilapia [Oreochromis niloticus] to Aeromonas hydrophila [A. hydrophila] infection. A total number of [120] O. niloticus was divided into 3 experimental groups [40 fish / group]. Group 1 [G1], was exposed to normal day light and considered as control group. Group 2 [G2], was exposed to blue light. Group 3 [G3], was exposed to white light [fluorescent illumination]. After 15 days of light exposure, fish in groups 2 and 3 were confined into small area and then challenged with A. hydrophila infection. The obtained data revealed that during exposure to blue light, the fish of [G2] recorded significant lower proportion in behavioural parameters including factors of fright behaviour [creeping, of oblique plan position and air-gulping] than those of [G3]. On the other hand, [G2] showed lower behaviour alterations for fright behaviour during confinement and infection than those of [G3]. Contrarily, it also had significantly higher proportions of aggressive behaviour during exposure to light, confinement and infection than [G3]. So blue light improved behaviour and fish become more comfortable in [G2] than [G3]. Moreover, fish of [G2] showed higher significant growth performance during exposure to blue light and little reduction in growth performance during exposure to both confinement and infection than those of [G3]. The clinicopathological studies revealed significant increase in the stress response indicators after exposure to confinement stress in [G3]. Marked elevation in the serum cortisol, glucose levels and significant leukocytosis associated with heterophilia and lymphopenia was observed in [G3]. On the other hand, non significant changes were observed in the measured stress parameters in group [G2] which exposed to the blue light. Exposure of stressed fish to A. hydrophila infection induced significant leukocytosis with heterophilia, monocytosis and lymphopenia in both [G2 and G3]. Analysis of serum biochemical constituents showed significant elevation in ALT, AST, BUN, creatinine and glucose while significant reduction in the total proteins, albumen and globulin was achieved. These changes were more pronounced and early detected in A. hydrophila infected stressed fish exposed to white light compared to those exposed to blue light. From pathological point of view, fish group which exposed to blue light and infection revealed early positive immune response [activation of melanomacrophage center of spleen] but with time dependent adverse pathological lesions. The lesions were noticed in spleen and gills after 2 weeks. Regeneration of the most observed lesions were detected after 4 weeks. On the other hand, the fish group exposed to white light and infection showed more advanced lesions including diffuse necrosis in hepatic tissue with additional changes in the kidneys. So, the blue light has a protective effect aganist stress in Nile tilapia

Histological changes in some organs of albino rats Fed on two pomegranate varieties by-products

The Present study was performed to evaluate the dietary effect of two pomegranate varieties by-products [Seeds and peels] on the histological picture of some organs of albino rats, namely: Liver, kidney, heart and spleen. The Wardy and Manfalouty pomegranate varieties were used. Likewise, their dietary effect on the weights of those organs was estimated. Thirty adult male albino rats [Sprague Dawley Strain] weighting between [100 and 120g] provided from the Animal House, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University were housed individually in wire cages under the normal laboratory conditions and fed on the basal diet for a week as adaptation period. The rats were randomly allocated into 5 main groups of 6 rats each. Daily administration were continued for one month. One group was used as control and was fed the basal diet, while the other 4 groups were fed the supplemented pomegranate by-products diets.It is note-worthy that the changes taking place in the studied organs revealed a significant increase in liver weight. However, both kidney, heart and spleen recorded a significant decrease in their weights. The histological characteristics of liver revealed preservation of the normal hepatic architecture which means that the pomegranate by-products exhibited protective effect and not toxic effect on the liver. Meanwhile, the histological examination postulated that the noticed enlargement of the lymphoid follicles and the increase in its number in splenic sections of rats fed by the pomegranate varieties by-products [seeds and peels] might have a role in increasing the immune system activity. On the other hand, a dilatation of the glomerular capillaries of the glomerular tuft in the kidney of rats on the treated group were noticed compared to the control group, which could be attributed to the increase in the blood flow within the glomerular capillaries and so increasing the glomerular filtrates. Furthermore, the histological examination of treated groups revealed vasodilatation of the myocardial blood vessels and the coronary blood vessels compared to the control groups clarifying the anti- atherosclerotic effects of pomegranate by-products [seeds and peels]. In conclusion, pomegranate by-products have beneficial effect on different organs and could be supplemented to foods with promising healthful impact

Some biochemical and haematological alterations in hypocupremic ewes and a trial for treatment

A total number of 42 ewes [local breed], 2-5 years old, was selected from a flock containing 250 heads and used in this study. The animals were grazed in free pasture at El-Tall El-Kebir region, Ismailia Governorate. The pastures were improved using azotic urea and lime superphosphate as fertilizers. After the clinical and parasitological examination of the blood, feces and skin, the ewes were divided into two groups [20 healthy controls, group A, and 22 hypocupremic ewes manifested by alopecia and wool abnormalities, group B]. It was concluded that the biochemical analysis of the biological samples of sheep is a reliable tool for the early diagnosis of some nutritional deficiency disorders and cupric glycinate is an effective treatment for hypocupremic sheep

Regional left ventricular function in patients with hot technetium 99M thyroid scan

In this work, 17 hyperthyroid patients underwent technetium 99m thyroid scan after stoppage of treatment for two weeks were studied. The development of enhanced left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with hyperthyroidism was consistent with a direct trophic effect of thyroid hormone on the myocardium. Technetium 99m thyroid scan was a valuable measure in expecting early alterations in diastolic left ventricular function which might be affected before the systolic one

Serum erythropoietin level in cases of normocytic normocytic anaemia in hepatic fascioliasis

In Egypt human fascioliasis is an increasing health problem especially in the Nile Delta. This study was conducted on 35 anaemic patients with fascioliasis, 20 anaemic patients with schistosmiasis [parasitic control group] and 10 persons [healthy control group].Serum erythropoietin "EPO" and ferritin were measured using a sandwitch ELISA technique, also other ferrokinetic parameters were done .In patients with fascioliasis, EPO level [19.05 +/- 13.3 mU/ml] was significantly higher than those of healthy control [7.23 +/- 1.6 mU/ml] and of schistosomiasis [12.3 +/- 2.85 mU/ml] groups [P < 0.001]. Serum ferritin was significantly higher in fascioliasis group [384.8 +/- 51.1 ng/ml] than in schistosomiasis [174.7 +/- 83.4 ng /ml] and in healthy control [117.5 +/- 29.5 ng/ml] groups. [P < 0.001]. Other ferrokinetic studies showed low serum iron, subnormal transferrin saturation, low total iron binding capacity, inspite of adequate iron stores shown by high serum ferritin, these findings together with normal reticulocytic count were similar to those found in the anaemia of chronic disorders.The presence of anaemia inspite of high EPO level and adequate body iron stores may be explained by unresponsiveness of bone marrow to high EPO level which may be due to blocking the action of EOP by some cytokines as interleukin-1, tumour necrosis factor, and gamma interferon which were proved to be abundant in hepatic fascioliasis, or it may be due to an inhibition of bone marrow by large amount of proline which is usualy present in hepatic fasioliasis after treatment, cases of hepatic fascioliasis showed a good improvement of all parameters which were more or less comparable to those of healthy control. Normocytic normochromic anaemia

Association of Hepatitis C Virus and endemic Hepatosplenomegaly

53 patients with provisional diagnosis as endemic hepatosplenomegaly and 20 presumbly healthy controls were included in this stuied. The present study aimed to show how far the association of HCV and endemic hepatosplenomegaly also study the histopathological changes and the relationship between HCV and state of compensation of endemic hepatosplenomegaly. Anti-HCV was positive in 75.5% of patients compared to 20% of the controls, [P<0.001]. HBsAg was positive in 26.4% of patients compared to 5% in the controls, [P<0.05]. The frequency of anti-HCV in patients with hepatosplenomegaly was 65.4%, in patients with shrunken liver and splenomegaly was 77.8%, while in ascitic group the frequency of anti-HCV was 88.9%. A significantly higher levels of serum transaminases [ALT and AST] were found in patients seropositive for Anti-HCV and or HBsAg than in seronegative ones. The histopathological findings of 16 biopsied patients showed that: 5 cases with CAH [all were Anti-HCV positive either alone [3 cases] or inconcoment with HBsAg [2 cases]], 3 cases with CPH [2 cases Anti-HCV- positive and one case HBsAg-positive], 4 cases with cirrohosis [3 cases were Anti-HCV- positive and one case HBsAg-positive], and 4 cases with bilharzial granuloma [only one case was Anti-HCV- positive]. So it can be concluded that HCV and HBV may be important contributary factors in the pathogenesis of endemic hepatosplenomegly

Estimation of the amplicaecum larval infestation in tilapia spp. at high damlake, Egypt

Amplicaecum type larvae are one of the fascinating group of Ascarididea infesting Tilapia nilotica and galilae in High Dam Lake. The present study revealed a total rate of infestation amounting to 33.01% with intensity of larval stages 1-14 larvae/fish. The diagnosed samples covered 22 fish productive areas in Western and Eastern coasts of lake from November 1993 to February 1994. The present estimation of Ascarididea indicated that 20 fish productive areas of Tilapia spp. are positive cases to Amplicaecum larval infestation

Western biotting as serodiagnostic technique for detecting anisakis simplex larval haemoglobin

The Anisakis simplex larvae are one of the important zoonotic parasites infesting marine water fish. The homogenates of larvae showed a considerable sensitivity and specific reactivity. Moreover, western blotting technique proved that larval hemoglobin of Anisakis simplex included specific antigenic properties at 32 kDa relative molecular weight, while sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE] 12% characterized 16 heterologue polypeptide b and s with molecular weights ranging between 76 and 23 kDa. The total protein in larval hemoglobin [Hb] is calculated through the UV absorbance technique as 1.7 g%

Neurological manifestations of acute leukaemia in children

Neurologic manifestations of leukaemia are due to leukaemic infiltration of meninges, brain and cranial or peripheral nerves or result from intracranial hemorrhage and infection. This complication has been noted in 18 out of 176 patients with acute leukaemia whether they are newly diagnosed or previously diagnosed [i.e. on maintenance therapy] admitted to Al-Mansoor Pediatric teaching hospital from the first of Nov. 1992 to thirty-first of March 1993. The symptomatology of [CNS] involvement consist of vomiting headache, convulsions, cranial nerve palsy and non-specific neuro1ogica1 signs. It is more predominant in males than females; it may occur at any stage of the disease, as initial manifestation or during hematological remission or an active leukaemic phase. 3 of our patients presented as initial manifestation, 7 were in haematological remission. The spinal fluid demonstrated increased cell count, elevated protein concentration and decreased sugar level. The incidence, of CNS leukaemia is inversely correlated with platelets count at the time of initial diagnosis of leukaemia and directly related with total leucocytec count

Biochemical effects of some natural chelating agents decreasing lead toxicity

Lead was determined in River Nile water and tap water in different localities of Great Cairo. The results revealed a high degree of lead pollution. In an attempt to reduce the biochemical effect of lead poisoning, 2% pectin or 2% chitin were incorporated in the rat diet given 200 ppm pb [as lead acetate] in drinking water. Four groups of rats were used [each group 10 rats] and the experiment was conducted for 42 days. Regarding lead content in different organs and blood, a net decrease occurred by pectin or chitin addition to the diet. In case of pectin addition, lead content in liver, kidney, brain and blood decreased by 38.3, 46.4, 24.05 and 12.1% respectively as compared with rat given 200 ppm Pb in drinking wafer. In case of chitin addition a similar trend was observed. Glutathion content significantly decreased in liver, kidney and blood by pectin or chitin addition. Got, GPT, alkaline phosphatase activities, haemoglobin and hematocrite values were close to those of controls. Statistical analysis was also carried out on the above results

Biochemical studies on the effect of lead pollution

The level of lead deposition and the extent of vegetables pollution were studied. Lead in unwashed Ficus nitida leaves throughout the four seasons in Great Cairo averaged 45 ppm in Giza and 3.6 ppm in low polluted area. Washed leaves showed values ranging from 0.88 to 19.9 ppm. Vegetables collected from 20 markets in Cairo indicated that Spearmint. Leaves had the highest lead content [92.Oppm] followed by Lettuce [22 ppm] and tomatoes [2.7 ppm]. An experiment was carried out to study the biological effect of lead in drinking water. Lead was given to rats in drinking water containing 0.0, 100, 2140, and 1000 ppm. as lead acetate for 42 days. Lead content increase in kidneys, brain, blood and liver by 23.7, 18.15, 11.3 and 8.7 -folds by giving 1000 ppm, as compared with specific control. Glutathione in different organs and blood showed also a positive correlation with lead ingestion. Hemoglobin and Hematocrit decreased by about 50% in blood by increasing lead up to 1000 ug/ml in drinking water. GPT. GOT and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly increased by increasing lead doses drinking water