Alhagi maurorum aqueous extract protects against norfloxacin-induced hepato-nephrotoxicity in rats / 中草药·英文版

Objectives: While the protective effects of Alhagi maurorum have been shown against various ailments, its role against norfloxacin-induced adverse effects has not been studied. The current study was conducted to determine the effect of A. maurorum aqueous extract against norfloxacin-induced side effects in rats. Methods: Twenty-four male albino rats were randomly assigned into four groups, which received normal saline, norfloxacin (50 mg/kg b.wt orally once a day), A. maurorum aqueous extract (300 mg/kg b.wt orally once a day), and norfloxacin with A. maurorum aqueous extract by the same previous mentioned dosages. Blood samples were collected for hematological examination to evaluate liver and kidney function tests. Hepatic and renal tissue samples were obtained to assess antioxidant activity and histopathological examination. Results: A. maurorum aqueous extract significantly ameliorated norfloxacin-induced elevation in tissue malondialdehyde, and reduction in tissue antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities as well as reduced glutathione concentration. Concurrent administration of A. maurorum aqueous extract with norfloxacin significantly reduced serum alkaline phosphatase, aminotransferases, urea, creatinine, and uric acid and increased RBCs count, Hb concentration, PCV, leucocyte, and monocyte counts compared with the norfloxacin-treated group. Co-administration of A. maurorum aqueous extract with norfloxacin prevented the degenerative changes induced by norfloxacin alone in liver and kidney tissues. The phytochemical profile of the extract showed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenolics, and flavonoids. Conclusion: These findings indicated that A. maurorum possesses potent antioxidant activities and could be used to attenuate norfloxacin-induced side effects.

Agreement between 2 raters' evaluations of a traditional prosthodontic practical exam integrated with directly observed procedural skills in Egypt / 보건의료교육평가

PURPOSE@#This study aimed to assess the agreement between 2 raters in evaluations of students on a prosthodontic clinical practical exam integrated with directly observed procedural skills (DOPS).@*METHODS@#A sample of 76 students was monitored by 2 raters to evaluate the process and the final registered maxillomandibular relation for a completely edentulous patient at Mansoura Dental School, Egypt on a practical exam of bachelor’s students from May 15 to June 28, 2017. Each registered relation was evaluated from a total of 60 marks subdivided into 3 score categories: occlusal plane orientation (OPO), vertical dimension registration (VDR), and centric relation registration (CRR). The marks for each category included an assessment of DOPS. The marks of OPO and VDR for both raters were compared using the graph method to measure reliability through Bland and Altman analysis. The reliability of the CRR marks was evaluated by the Krippendorff alpha ratio.@*RESULTS@#The results revealed highly similar marks between raters for OPO (mean= 18.1 for both raters), with close limits of agreement (0.73 and −0.78). For VDR, the mean marks were close (mean= 17.4 and 17.1 for examiners 1 and 2, respectively), with close limits of agreement (2.7 and −2.2). There was a strong correlation (Krippendorff alpha ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.79–0.99) between the raters in the evaluation of CRR.@*CONCLUSION@#The 2 raters' evaluation of a clinical traditional practical exam integrated with DOPS showed no significant differences in the evaluations of candidates at the end of a clinical prosthodontic course. The limits of agreement between raters could be optimized by excluding subjective evaluation parameters and complicated cases from the examination procedure.

Agreement between 2 raters' evaluations of a traditional prosthodontic practical exam integrated with directly observed procedural skills in Egypt / 보건의료교육평가

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the agreement between 2 raters in evaluations of students on a prosthodontic clinical practical exam integrated with directly observed procedural skills (DOPS). METHODS: A sample of 76 students was monitored by 2 raters to evaluate the process and the final registered maxillomandibular relation for a completely edentulous patient at Mansoura Dental School, Egypt on a practical exam of bachelor’s students from May 15 to June 28, 2017. Each registered relation was evaluated from a total of 60 marks subdivided into 3 score categories: occlusal plane orientation (OPO), vertical dimension registration (VDR), and centric relation registration (CRR). The marks for each category included an assessment of DOPS. The marks of OPO and VDR for both raters were compared using the graph method to measure reliability through Bland and Altman analysis. The reliability of the CRR marks was evaluated by the Krippendorff alpha ratio. RESULTS: The results revealed highly similar marks between raters for OPO (mean= 18.1 for both raters), with close limits of agreement (0.73 and −0.78). For VDR, the mean marks were close (mean= 17.4 and 17.1 for examiners 1 and 2, respectively), with close limits of agreement (2.7 and −2.2). There was a strong correlation (Krippendorff alpha ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.79–0.99) between the raters in the evaluation of CRR. CONCLUSION: The 2 raters' evaluation of a clinical traditional practical exam integrated with DOPS showed no significant differences in the evaluations of candidates at the end of a clinical prosthodontic course. The limits of agreement between raters could be optimized by excluding subjective evaluation parameters and complicated cases from the examination procedure.

Value of cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-ALPHA] for rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis

Meningitis is common in tropical areas and also in Egypt and has a world-wide distribution This study evaluated the potential role of CSF TNF alpha in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of acute meningitis [bacterial versus aseptic meningitis]. This case-control study was conducted between Ain Shams University Tropical Medicine Department and Embaba Fever Hospital. Fifty patients with suspected meningitis were recruited during from January 2014 to June 2014. They were divided according to culture results into 2 groups: GI: 40 patients with acute bacterial meningitis [proved by CSF culture], G2: 10 patients matched according to age and sex with clinical sings of CNS infection but without laboratory evidence of bacterial origin, [Suspected cases, and negative culture]. Both groups were subjected to thorough history taking, full clinical examination, and laboratory investigations including CSF analysis and CSF TNF was measured by ELISA. The results showed a highly significant difference between cases and control regarding CSF TNF [P=0.00]. The criteria's of diagnostic validity test was 100% for all at cutoff >/= 275ng/ml and 0.05]

Evaluation of salivary and serum anti-helicobacter pylori in Egyptian patients with H. pylori related gastric disorders

Helicob acter pylori is a common and important transmissible bacterial human pathogen. Although several diagnostic tests are available for the detection of H. pylori infection, all of them have both advantages and disadvantages, and none can be considered as a single gold standard. Serological methods analyzing [serum and saliva] by using enzyme immunoassays, which are simple, reproducible and inexpensive, can detect either antigen or antibody. This study evaluated the frequency of anti- H. pylori serum and salivary antibodies positivity among Egyptian patients with gastric disorders and the validity of salivary, serum serological tests for diagnosis of H, pylori, comparing this with gold standard tests performed on endoscopy biopsy. This prospective, case-controlled study included 45 Egyptian patients who attended Ain Shams University Hospitals Cairo, Egypt between January 2013 and June 2013. There were 29 males and 16 females their mean age was 51.78 +/- 7 [range 18-60]. Among the ulcerogenic drugs, Aspirin was the most common drug [46.7%].The evidence revealed the sensitivity of Rapid Urease Test [RUT] was 100%, specificity was 71.4%, Positive Predictive value [PPV] was 88.6% and Negative Predictive value [NPV] was 100%. The sensitivity of serum IgG was 68.97% and specificity was 42.86%; while the sensitivity of serum IgA was 89.6% and the specificity was 50%. Correlating the salivary IgG results with H. pylori status diagnosed by culture, salivary IgG succeeded to diagnose 19 cases from the 31 positive H. pylori patients with a sensitivity of 63.33% and specificity of 92.86% whereas the results of salivary IgA showed a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 92.86%

Psychiatric morbidity in Egyptian children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and their care providers

Aim of the study: To evaluate the psychological morbidity of acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] on children and their parents at different stages of illness and to assess the crucial contribution of the psychologist in the pediatric oncology team

Methods: We recruited 103 children with ALL and their 96 parents, and divided them into five groups according to disease phase: diagnosis, initial remission, active treatment, survival and relapsing. We compared these to 22 healthy controls and their parents. Patients and controls were subjected to clinical assessments, the symptoms checklist of the International Classification of Disease ICD [ICD-10], and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. The parents of patients and controls underwent a general health questionnaire, the ICD-10 symptoms checklist, rating scales for anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] assessment scale, and the physical cognitive affective social economic ego problems [PCASEE] questionnaire for quality of life [QOL] rating

Results: Psychiatric morbidity was evident in nearly 60% of leukemic children and their parents and was significantly increased in comparison to controls. Children mostly suffered from adjustment and oppositional defiant disorders. The most common discriminators between patient groups were conduct and attention problems being lowest in newly diagnosed patients, and social aggression being lowest in patients in remission. The three parameters were highest in relapsed patients whose parents mostly had adjustment and depressive disorders. Risk factors for child psychopathology were older age, female gender, and parental psychopathology. Mothers and parents with lower education and professional level were found to be vulnerable. Performance and total intelligence quotient [IQ] were significantly lower in leukemic children, and these were most pronounced in the survivor group. Risk factors for cognitive dysfunction were younger age, longer chemotherapy duration, and lower parental education level

Conclusion: Most patients and their caregivers suffered from significant psychiatric morbidity, highlighting the need for routine screening to improve psychological outcomes in such cases

Asymptomatic metastatic osteosarcoma to the right ventricle: case report and review of the literature

Metastatic cardiac tumors are far more common than primary tumors, and benign primary cardiac tumors are common than malignant tumors. We report a 22-year-old Saudi woman with right femur osteosarcoma who was found to have a large right ventricular mass by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Diagnosis was highly suggestive by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography [FDG PET/CT] scan. We performed a review of the literature for metastatic osteosarcoma of the right ventricle

Scanning Electron Microscopy studies on Wohlfahrtia nuba [myiasis producing fly] larvae

Using SEM techniques, micromorphological features of the three larval instars of Wohlfahrtia nuba were studied, revealing their anterior ends, anterior spiracles, and posterior ends and posterior spiracles. We illustrated some important differences especially in shape and size of the mouth hooks, size, number and shape of the leaf-like structures surrounding the mouth vestibule and the blunt broad branches of the lower end of the frontal sclerites. Also, this work illustrates the process of first larval moulting, which occurs through a longitudinal line starting from the anterior end of the larva till reaching its posterior end. Characteristic morphological differences were illustrated between the three larval instars as well. Thus it seems that it is of much importance to use SEM in the study of the larval stages of myiasis-producing flies and not only in the third stage