Production and Investigation of the Antiseptic Properties of Soaps Made from the Barks, Seeds and Leaves Extracts of Neem Tree

The main aim of this work is to investigate the antiseptic properties of Azadirachta indica (Neem) tree parts (leaves, barks and seeds). The extracts were used in the production of soap samples of various concentrations (20 mg/cm3, 15 mg/cm3, 10 mg/cm3 and 5 mg/cm3). Inhibitory Activity sensitivity test using Agar-well Diffusion Method was employed to test the antibacterial activities of the soap samples on two bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Propionibacterium acnes. The results show that soap samples from the Neem parts exhibited antiseptic properties against the bacteria tested. According to the results, the Neem bark soap produces the highest level of effectiveness across the entire concentration spectrum, followed by the Neem seed soap. The Neem leaves soap produced the lowest level of effectiveness against the two bacteria. The order of effectiveness of the soap samples is: NBRK (Neem barks) > NSED (Neem seeds) > NLVS (Neem leaves). The commercial soap (NRMS) used as a control sample did not exhibit antibacterial activity against the two microbes.

Decolorization of Synthetic Dyes by Ficus carica Latex Peroxidase Isoenzymes

Aims: The current study aims to elucidate the potential of Ficus carica latex peroxidase isoenzymes for decolorizing different synthetic dyes in comparison to the commercial horseradish peroxidase. Study Design: The decolorization of 20 dyes was investigated using the purified F. carica latex peroxidase isoenzymes (purified FP1 and partially purified FP2, and FP3), and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a control. Place and Duration of Study: Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Division, National Research Centre, Egypt, between January 2017 and March 2018. Methodology: The purified and partially fractions of peroxidase isolated from latex of F. carica were used for the present study. Stock solutions of the dyes were prepared in 0.05 M sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.5) and diluted to the requested concentrations ranged from 12 to 330 µM in order to get maximum absorbance does not exceed 1.5 as initial reading. The efficiency of decolorization was expressed in terms of percentage. All experiments were performed in triplicate. Results: F. carica latex peroxidase isoenzymes and commercial horseradish peroxidase were able to decolorize some of tested dyes and the extent of decolorization achieved with different dyes classes were varied according to different chemical structure of each dye. The decolorization efficiency after 3 h of incubation at 40°C using 6.4 U/ml of peroxidase activity of FP1, FP2, FP3 and HRP, was found to be extremely efficient in decolorizing some dyes and relatively low in other dyes. Conclusion: The efficiency of F. carica latex peroxidase isoenzymes toward different synthetic dyes meet the prerequisites needed for environmental and industrial applications.

Co-existence of pests and their associated predators inhabiting cantaloupe plants, cucumis melo L. in Assiut, Egypt

The present study was carried out during 2014 and 2015 growing seasons of cantaloupe. Faunistic composition of pests and their associated predators inhabiting cantaloupe plants Cucumis melo L. revealed the presence of 22 insect species belonging to 17 families and 10 orders. The serious pest species were represented by 14 species with 7 predaceous species. The most abundant sucking insect pest was whitefly; Bemisia tabaci Genn. It was the most abundant and seemed to be the major pest infesting cantaloupe, followed by the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch:, and some piercing sucking insects such as cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii Glov.; onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lind. and jassids, Empoasca spp. Orius sp, Chrysoperla carnea Steph. and Coccinella undecimpunctata L. were the most numerous predators. In all cases the dominance degrees of the pests were higher than those of the predators

Laparoscopic deroofing of symptomatic renal cysts in Al-Jumhoori teaching hospital Mosul city

Laparoscopy offers a safe and efficacious means of ablating symptomatic simple renal cysts with the benefits of shorter hospital stay, quicker convalescence, and reduced postoperative pain. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic cyst deroofing during our early experience in laparoscopic urology work. To present the outcome of laparoscopic management of symptomatic simple renal cysts in Mosul Urologic Center. Between April 2010 and September 2013, 16 patients [had 19 cysts], with male to female ratio of 1:1.6, were underwent laparoscopic deroofing of symptomatic simple renal cysts at urologic theatre in Al-Jumhoori Teaching Hospital in Mosul and their data were collected and analyzed. All procedures were carried out by transperit-oneal approach. Patients underwent clinical review and radiological follow up with ultrasonography +/- computerized tomography. Success rate was defined as no recurrence of the cyst and significant pain relief. All 16 procedures were completed laparoscopically, without major complications or conversion to open surgery. Estimated mean blood loss during and after surgery was about 119.6 ml and the mean operating time was 48.8 minutes. Patients were hospitalized for a mean of 1.4 days. Five patients developed postoperative fever, and one had incomplete clearance of all cysts. After a mean radiological and clinical follow up of 12 and 23 months respectively, one patient had symptomatic and one had radiologic failure [6.25% and 5.3% respectively]. Cytological and pathological findings for malignancy or any other abnormalities were negative in all patients. Laparoscopic transperitoneal deroofing of simple renal cysts represents an effective and safe method of treatment with minimal morbidity

Role of calcium in enhancing the activity and thermal stability of a new cationic peroxidase purified from euphorbia tirucalli latex

A new cationic peroxidase from Euphorbi and firucalli [pencil cactus] latex was purified to homogeneity using benzene fractionation, gel filtration and cation-exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme was found to be monomeric with a molecular weight of 44 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE]. The purified enzyme had a broad specificity towards some phenolic substrates in the order of 2,2'-azino-bis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid] [ABTS] > guaiacol > 0-phenylenediamine > 4-aminoantipyrene, whereas no affinity towards ascorbic acid and o-dianisidine was recorded. The enzyme had pH and temperature optima at 7.0 and 40°C, respectively. Study of kinetic parameters demonstrated that ABTS had the highest affinity towards ELP, where K[m], F[max] and V[ms]/K[m] values were 0.503 mM, 500 U/assay and 994.04 U/mM, respectively. ELP was stable from 10°C up to 60°C and lost about 70% of its activity at 70°C. The thermal inactivation profile of ELP in absence of Ca[2+] is biphasic and characterized by a rapid decline in activity on exposure to heat, followed by a more gradual decrease in activity on continued exposure. However, the purified enzyme exhibited increased thermal stability in the presence of calcium ions. Furthermore, the activity of purified enzyme was enhanced by 550% in the presence of 15 mM CaCl[2], suggesting a pivotal role for Ca[2+] in conferring structural stability to the heme environment and in retaining the active site of ELP. Most of the examined metal ions [except for Ca and Mg] and compounds had differential inhibitory effects on ELP activity. In conclusion, a locally available plant [Euphorbia tirucalli] could be a potential candidate source for peroxidase, the most widely used enzyme in industrial and biomedical applications. In addition, calcium was found to be essential for enhancing enzymatic activity and thermal stability of the purified Euphorbia tirucalli latex peroxidase

impact of religion on child behaviour problems as perceived by Sudanese parents and teachers

The inclusion of 'religious or spiritual problem' as a diagnostic category for the first time in the DSM-IV conveys that religious and spiritual issues can be the focus of psychiatric and psychological consultation, treatment and research. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of religion on patterns of children's behaviour problems as reported by Sudanese parents and teachers. A sample of 300 parents completed demographic and family factors questionnaire and Conner's Parents 48 Rating Scale about their children's behavioral adjustment. The children's classroom teachers [300] have also completed Conner's Teacher-39 Rating Scale. Parents were

asked about their religious practices and observance in order to estimate their level of religiosity [good/ fair/ bad]. Scores of one, two and three were given to each estimate respectively. The univariate tests revealed significant effect of religion upon each pattern of child behaviour problems as reported by Sudanese parents and teachers. Children who have parents with good religious observance are more likely to have no or fewer behavioral and emotional disturbances. It can also be concluded that the influence of religion upon family ecology and modes of human development will be an important predictor of children's resilience

diagnosis and prevalence of subclinical hepatic encephalopathy in apparently healthy children and adolescents with cirrhosis

Subclinical or minimal hepatic encephalopathy [SHE or mHE], in con-to hepatic encephalopathy is not associated with overt neuropsychiatric symptoms but rather with subtle changes detected by special psychomotor and/or neurophysiologic tests. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the validity of the neuropsychological and neurophysiological to diagnose SHE in children and adolescents with liver cirhosis. Furthermore, to detect its prevalence in a specific period. A prospective controlled study was applied on 23 patients [10 males and 13 females with mean age 10.24 +/- 3.87 years] with different etiologies of liver cirrhosis through the period from August 2002 to August 2003. Fifteen healthy and adolescents with matched age, sex and education standard, included as a control group. All patients and controls were subjected to thorough clinical evaluation, laboratory tests of liver functions, neuropsychological assessment using the Egyptian version of Wechsler intelligence tests, visual and mapping analysis of electroencephalographic records and event related potential [P300] testing. Patients and controls were age and sex matched d showed no significant difference in periods of education. Serum bilirubin and prothrombin time were significantly affected in patients compared with controls. Verbal, performance and full scale IQ were all significantly affected in patients compared with controls; a cut off point of abnormal test performance was seated at scaled score 2 SD below th mean of the controls. Patients have sigr4flcant slowing in EEG back ground activity compared to controls [P=0.001]; a cut off point for diagnosis of slow activity was seated at 6.8 C/S. Prevalence of SHE among cirrhotic patients was 47.8% by applying two abnormal neuropsychologic tests and 65.2% by applying two abnormal psychologic tests together with significant slowing of EEG background activity. Prevalence of SHE among patients with Child-Pugh class B/C cirrhosis was significantly higher than that recorded in patients with class A cirrhosis [P<0.05] Event related potentials [P300] mean wave latency and mean wave amplitude showed no significant differences between patients and controls however, cirrhotic patients with SHE had significant prolongation of mean P300 wave latency than patients without SHE [P=0. 031]. Clinical follow up [5 +/- 1 .64months] revealed that two out of fifteen mHE diagnosed patients died after 3 and 5 months from initial testing and the two were Child-Pugh class C and overt encephalopathy was precipitated by sepsis. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy is quite prevalent in our patients [65.2%] and the diagnosis can be ascertained by special neuropsychological and/or neurophysiological tests. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy is thought to predict the development of overt hepatic encephalopathy, thus it is clinically relevant

Patterns of acute poisoning by drugs and substances abuse among addicts: a clinical and laboratory study

The drug dependency problem in Egypt and wordwide is currently one of the major issues of concern to the public as well as the professionals. This study was conducted on all addicts with acute poisoning by drugs and or substances abuse [n= 149]. They were admitted to Alexandria Poison Center [APC] and critical care unit [CCU] at Alexandria Main University Hospital [AMUH] during six months period from January to June 2003. In this study, all addicts were clinically examined. Routine investigations, arterial blood gases and acid base status were done with detection of drug or substance of abuse in urine by Axsym and gas chromatography / mass spectrometry [GC/MS] for negative urine samples. The study showed that 71.2% of addicts were encountered in the age group 20<40 years. adolescents accounted for 15.4% of the addicts. Males outnumbered females with a sex ratio of 17.5:1. The study revealed that the majority of addicts were smokers 95.3% single 71.8% and started drug/ substance abuse in the age group 10<30 years [87.2%]. 43.7% of addicts were of low and very low social class while 28.9% were commercial workers. The duration of addiction ranged from one to 10 years. In the present study cannabis was the first abused substance [24.2%]. Hypnotics whether of benzodiazepine [14.8] or barbiturates [10.7] accounted for 25.5%. Ethyl alcohol either alone or adulterated by methyl alcohol, opiods, constituted 21.5%, 9.4% and 19.5% respectively. Female addicts were more likely to abuse benzodiazepines [75.0%]. 26.2% of addicts presented with severe poisoning and were in need of critical care interventions. The study revealed that postive urine samples for benzodiazepines, oPiates, barbiturates and cannabis accunted for 100%, 96.6% 93.8% and 72.2%, respectively. The majority of addicts recovered completely [83.2%], deaths accounted for 3.4% of the total addicts. It is recommended that, Continuous health education and prevention programs concerning health hazards of drug and substance abuse among adolescents and young adults are highly indicated. In addition the Staff of poison centters and emergency departments, should be well trained to deal with diagnosis and management of overdose in addicts. Also screening immunoassay technique should be done on all urine samples of addicts and better to be confirmed using GC/MS, as the latter is more reliable in legal cases, where it can stand court defense