Leaf litter decomposition and nutrient evaluation of three riparian trees

The study estimated the decomposition rate and nutrient dynamics of the litter of three riparian tree species; Mortis nigra L. [Moraceac], and Salix tetrasperma Roxb. and Populus alba L. [Salicaceae]. Dead fallen leaves of the studied species were collected from the banks of El-Khamseen canal; an ultimate Nile branch passing along Saft El-Laban town, Giza Governorate, Egypt. The amount of nutrients released back into eater after the decomposition of the dead leaves' tissues was investigated in plastic tanks located in the ecology lab of Botany Department of Cairo University, at the window side under natural conditions. The litterbag technique was followed. The species detritus decomposition was studied during the autumn season from September 25 to November 25], 2014. In order to determine the decay rates, litterbags [1.5 mm] were applied and collected at seven times intervals for three replications, each. All samples were dried, weighed and analyzed for total soluble sugars, P, N, ash and lignin concentrations. Decomposition of Morus leaf litters A as faster than that of the other two species due to its high quality [lower lignin, higher P and moderate N and total soluble sugars contents], in comparison to other species. More than 50% of the initial leaf masses of the study species were decomposed during two months. The difference in decay rate was affected by the ratios: C/N, C/P, lignin /N and lignin /P. The variation in the microbial activities caused fluctuations in the liter nutrient concentrations and the nutrient content remaining. Bacterial and fungal counts differed on the surfaces of the remaining masses depending on the variation in P and N concentrations. Leaf litter decay of species was mainly dependent on bacterial counts that ranged between limited numbers to uncountable than on fungi. Suitable thermal and aerobic conditions contributed to the explanation of the high decay of the species. There was a strong positive correlation between the species and mass remaining, species and N content remaining and between all nutrient concentrations and all nutrient content remaining. No positive relation was found between harvest time and sugar, P and N content remaining. The leaf litter extracts affected the seed germination of Eruca sativa. Moreover, the extracts caused root growth inhibition and promoted the shoot growth of the seedlings

Prevalence of tobacco use among adult and adolescent females in Egypt

Egypt assessed tobacco use among young people and adults through implementation in 2009 of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey [GYTS] among school students aged 13-15 years and the nationally representative Global Adult Tobacco Survey [GATS] among adults aged 15+ years. Both surveys employed cluster sampling to produce nationally representative samples and used standard core questionnaires with optional, country-specific questions. The results indicated that a higher percentage of adolescent girls in Egypt used tobacco than did adult females. Overall, 3.8% of girls aged 13-15 years used some form of tobacco compared with 0.6% of women aged 15+ years. Adolescents were over 14 times more likely than adult women to currently smoke cigarettes and 11 times more likely to smoke waterpipes. Moreover, the prevalenceof cigarette smoking among adolescent girls had increased from 1.4% in the 2005 GYTS to 2.8% in 2009, indicating that social and cultural norms may be changing

Clinico-pathological profile of bronchogenic carcinoma cases presented to Chest Department, Cairo University in the last 10 years

Introduction: Lung cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer as well as the leading cause of cancer death in males in 2008 globally

Aim of the work: To evaluate the clinico-pathological profile of the bronchogenic carcinoma cases in the Chest Department, Cairo University

Patients and methods: Retrospective study was carried out in the Chest Department, Cairo University, in which four hundred and four confirmed cases of bronchogenic carcinoma were admitted during July 2002 till July 2012. Data regarding demographics, smoking, histology, clinical presentation, radiographic findings are reported

Results: Our study included 404 confirmed cases of bronchogenic carcinoma. Male to female ratio was 4.6:1. The highest incidence was in the sixth and seventh decades of life [63.6%]. Smoking was found to be the main risk factor in 75.7% of patients. Cough was the most common symptom found in 347 patients [85.9%], followed by dyspnea in 276 patients [68.3%]. Most common radiological finding was mass lesion [49.8%]. Majority of cases were diagnosed by bronchoscopy [68.1%]. Four types of bronchogenic carcinoma were found: squamous cell carcinoma 37.4% adenocarcinoma 29.5%, small cell carcinoma 14.9%, large cell carcinoma 7.2% and undifferentiated carcinoma 11.1%. In females, adenocarcinoma was the predominant cell type [54.2%] while in males, squamous cell carcinoma was the predominant cell type [42.5%]

Conclusion: Bronchogenic carcinoma is more frequent beyond the middle age. Smoking is still the major risk factor. Adenocarcinoma is more common in females and was the most frequent tumor in non-smokers, while in males, squamous cell carcinoma is still the predominant cell type

Skin manifestations of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Cairo, Egypt

We assessed the dermatological manifestations associated with chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection and their association with liver status. Of 155 patients with chronic HCV infection in Cairo, Egypt, 71 [45.8%] had dermatological manifestations: pruritus without evident skin lesions [21.3%], pigmented purpuric eruption [5.2%], aphthous ulcer and lichen planus [3.9% each], leukocytoclastic vasculitis [2.6%], psoriasis [1.9%], tinea versicolor [1.3%] and other conditions [5.8%]. Shrunken liver, splenomegaly and ascites were significantly associated with the presence of skin lesions [relative risk 8.0, 2.7 and 1.8 respectively], and shrunken liver was significantly associated with pruritus [relative risk 2.1]. Sex was not associated with any of the skin lesions

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: effect of intervention guidelines on knowledge and practices of patients with chronic wounds

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy [HBOT] is an important adjunct in the management of wound problems, which exist in chronic oxygen deficiency and in which the local oxygen tension is below optimal of healing. This study aims to evaluate the effect of HBOT intervention guidelines on knowledge and practices of patients with chronic wounds. A quasi experimental design was used. This study was conducted at the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Unit, affiliated to Naser Institute Hospital. A purposive sample included 40 adult patients with chronic wounds [Diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers and pressure ulcers]. 1] Patients' interviewing questionnaire sheet to assess patients' knowledge [pre/post tests], 2] An observation checklist to evaluate patient's practices [pre/post tests], 3] Anxiety Rating Scale to determine patients' anxiety level [pre/post tests], 4] Developed guidelines, 5] Patient condition assessment: wound symptoms chart to assess symptoms experienced by the patients, and wound assessment parameter scoring tool to assess wound healing [pre/post treatment]. There is a lack of knowledge and practices among the study sample. Statistically significant differences were also found between pre/post guidelines regarding to their knowledge and practices in relation to HBOT. In addition, patients had a higher level of anxiety in the pre test, while it decreased in post tests. The HBOT intervention guidelines were helpful on the improvement of knowledge and practices of the patients with chronic wounds. There is a need for sustained patients' educational sessions, HBOT should be available for all patients with chronic wounds. Further studies should be done on a large number of subjects for evidence of results and generalization

Evaluation of serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein [Comp], soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-II[sTNF-RII] and interleukin-6 [IL-6] levels in relation to serum estradiol, functional and radiologic findings in postmenopausal females with knee joint osteoarthritis

To evaluate the possible relation between serum levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein COMP, sTNF-RII, IL-6 and estradiol in post-menopausal females with clinically and radiologically documented osteoarthritic changes in the knee joint. Twenty post-menopausal females [PMOA] -with clinically and radiologically documented knee joint osteoarthritis were compared to a control group of ten post-menopausal females [control group [I]] and ten pre-menopausal females [control group [2]] "who were clinically and radiologically free of knee joint osteoarthritis. To all the studied subjects, a complete clinical examination was performed, including body mass index calculation, as well as scoring .systems for functional assessment of joint. Plain X-ray of both knee joints was performed. Serum samples were obtained for analysis of urea, creatinine, uric acid, total calcium, inorganic phosphates, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor COMP, sTNF-fUI, IL-6, and estradiol levels. The mean serum estradiol values in the PMOA, and control group [I] were significantly lower than their corresponding value in control group [2], and slightly lower in the PMOA than control group [1]. The mean serum COMP value was slightly higher in the PMOA group than its corresponding value in control group [1], and both mean sera values were significantly higher than their corresponding mean value in control group [2]. The mean serum sTNF-RII value was significantly higher in the PMOA group than its corresponding values in control group [1] and control group [2]. As regards mean serum IL-6 value, it was significantly higher in control group [1] than its corresponding values in the both PMOA and control group [2]. Based on ROC curve analysis in PMOA and control group [1], both serum COMP and sTNF-RII yitld a diagnostic specificity of 90% each, while the diagnostic sensitivity was 45% and 50% respectively. By using the combined approach, we were able to increase the diagnostic sensitivity of serum COMP and sTNF-RII to 90% and 83% respectively. On the other hand, the receiver operating characteristics [ROC] curve analysis of the same parameters in PMOA and control group [2], revealed a diagnostic sensitivity of 100% for each of serum COMP and s TNF-PJI as well as a diagnostic specificity of 90% for serum COMP and 70% for sTNF-RII. The fact that radiographic evidence of OA usually appears in advanced stages of the disease led to the need of identifying possible serum biochemical markers that could reflect the joint tissue status. From the above mentioned results, it could be concluded that the combined measurement of serum levels of the biochemical markers COMP and sTNF-RII may be used in identifying osteoarthritis in post-menopausal females. Furthermore, menopausal state per-se could play a role in the limitation of the diagnostic sensitivity of either of the two parameters if one of both analytes was chosen alone for measurement

Utilization of defatted sesame flour in formulation of chicken sausages and its effect on storage stability and microbil load

Defatted sesame flour [DSF], as a plant protein, was used in the formulation of chicken sausages by replacement of 9 and 18% of chicken meat with equal amounts of DSF. Sensory evaluation of chicken sausages showed that sausages prepared by using 9% DSF improved the quality attributes. Addition of DSF to chicken formula markedly increased the sulphur- containing amino acids as compared with the control samples. The storage stability of the frozen sausages was investigated by following the changes occurring in total volatile bases nitrogen [TVBN]. thiobarbituric acid [TBA] and microbiological load during storage. The obtained results showed that partially substitution of chicken meat with DSF caused reduction in both of the TVBN and TBA values followed by a slight increase in these values for all the samples during the frozen storage. The results of microbiological analysis showed that coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and shigella were absent in all the tested samples

Intercostobrachial nerve preservation during axillary clearance for cancer breast is: it a must?

Axillary clearance has been an integral part of breast cancer surgery. However, it can present sequela and complications including: limitation of shoulder movement, paresthesia and chronic pain in the arm and axilla, which are related to the nerve injuries. This study aimed at evaluating the feasibility of preservation of Intercostobrachial nerve [ICBN] during complete axillary dissection and to compare the impact of preservation or sacrifiction on postoperative axillary and inner aspect of the arm symptoms and sensation. The study was carried out on 58 consecutive patients with operable carcinoma of the breast, admitted to Alexandria Surgical Oncology Unit during 2003. Preservation of ICBN during complete axillary dissection was attempted in all patients. Accordingly they are divided into: thirty patients in whome the ICBN was preserved [Group A] and 28 patients, in whome the ICBN was sacrificed [Group B]. Clinical examination of the patients revealed that 34 cases were N[0] [58.6%]: 18 in group A and 16 cases in group B. During surgery, the nerve was found to be easily preserved in slim patients and when the axillary lymph nodes were not heavily involved. After 3 and 6 months; improvement of sensory symptoms was found both subjectively and objectively in group A. This was significantly noticed after 3 months postoperative. On the other hand persistence of anesthesia and hyposthesia was manifested in group B patients. Although patients who had preservation of ICBN were symptomatic in the immediate postoperative period, yet resumption of normal axillary and inner arm sensation was attained with longer follow up. It is recommended to preserve the ICBN wherever feasible as it has a positive impact on maintaining the axillary and inner arm sensation with a subsequent improvement in the quality of life in these patients

Correlation between biochemical markers of liver fibrosis and histopathological features in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Aim: Liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C is related to sex and age at infection. Several biochemical markers are highly predictive for the discrimination of significant fibrosis. The aims of this study were to compare an index of five-biochemical markers with histological features and to determine the utility of combining historical features [age and sex] with the five-marker index for the prediction of significant fibrosis. Subjects and Thirty untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C and a known duration of infection had a liver biopsy and serum tested for markers of fibrosis. The discriminative values of the markers and an index of historical features for the diagnosis of clinically significant fibrosis [F2-F4, by the Metavir scoring system] were compared using areas under receiving operating characteristic [ROC] curves. A modified index was constructed combining the five-marker index and historical features. Of the 30 patients included 70% were males. The median age at infection was 28 +/- 13 and the median duration of infection was 17 +/- 8 years. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, sex [P=0.003], age at biopsy [P-0.004] were independently predictive of F2-F4 fibrosis. For the discrimination of F2-F4 fibrosis, the areas under ROC curves were 0.796 +/- 0.033 for the five-marker index versus 0.709 +/- 0.037 for the historical index [P=0.079]. For diagnosis of advanced fibrosis [F3, F4] the areas under the curves were 0.920 +/- 0.032 and 0.762'0.049 [P=0.007], respectively. The discriminative value of the combined biochemical and historical index was not statistically significantly different from that of the five-marker index alone [P=ns]. Conclusions: A simple index including age, sex, and five biochemical markers accurately predicts significant hepatitis C related fibrosis

Functional analysis of responsibilities of community doctors in Egypt

The aim of the study was the determination of general picture and types of activities performed by rural community doctors in Egypt. Collection of data was through instantaneous intermittent observation of activities and functions of community doctors of the sample. Results showed that the community doctors had spent a low percent of their time in productive work. There was positive relationship between such productivity and governorate, type of center, doctors' position, periods of experience, residence at the center and sex. Also there was an inversed relationship between the productivity of the community doctors and their number in the same center