Role of multislice computed tomography in evaluation of colo-rectal neoplasm

Computed tomographic [CT] colonography is a noninvasive, rapidly evolving technique that has been shown in some studies to be comparable with conventional colonoscopy for the screening of colorectal cancer. The addition of intravenous contrast material to CT colonography can aid differentiation of true colonic masses from pseudolesions such as residual stool and improves the depiction of enhancing masses that might otherwise be obscured by residual colonic fluid. The aim of this study is to assess the role of multi detector computed tomographic colonography in staging of colo-rectal neoplasm and detection of synchronous lesons such as adenomatous polyp. The study included fifty-five patients with suspected colo-rectal neoplasm and underwent MDCT colonography and fibro-optic colonoscopy on the same day. The MDCT colonography with IV contrast media has 94% accuracy for identifying tumor wall invasion by colorectal carcinoma and 71% accuracy for identifying regional lymph nodes involvement and the sensitivity of both MDCT colonography and fibro-optic colonoscopy equal in detection of polyps more than 5 mms. The contrast enhanced MDCT colonography is an excellent investigating tool in staging of colo-rectal neoplasm in detection of synchronous adenomatous polyps more than 5 mms

Removal of lead from aqueous solutions by xerogel film supported on activated carbon and silica

Carbon xerogel [X], a kind of novel carbon material with low-density and continuous nano-porous structure that can be controlled and tailored on nanometer scale, has been prepared through the sol-gel polycondensation of resorcinol [R] with formaldehyde [F] followed by drying at ambient pressure and carbonization in inert atmosphere. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to find out the effective lead removal at different metal ion concentrations. Removal of lead from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto xerogel film supported on activated carbon and silica has been performed. The removal of Pb ions from aqueous solutions was studied by batch method. The effects of initial metal concentrations, initial pH, contact time and the quantity of adsorbents were investigated. It was found that carbon xerogel supported on activated carbon exhibited the best adsorption potential for removal of lead ions from solutions

use of nano supported nickel catalyst in reduction of p-nitrophenol using hydrazine hydrate as hydrogen donor

P-aminophenol was prepared by reduction of p-nitro-pheilol over nano sized nickel catalysts supported on two different supports, SiO2 and AI2O3 using hydrazine hydrate as hydrogen source. Several loadings of nano-sized Ni were used thus, 20, 5, and 2.5 wt% were prepared. XRD and ESR were employed to investigate the prepared catalysts. The Ni/AI2O3 support was found to be more effective and gives high durability. The catalytic activity of the reaction was found to be influenced by the crystallinity of the nickel in addition to the strain between nano sized nickel particles. The catalytic activity of the prepared catalysts was compared with commercial Raney nickel and showed higher activity especially at lower loading. During the reaction a detectable change of the color was observed from yellow to green to colorless, which enables us to propose a mechanism of this reaction

Frequency and patterns of gastrointestinal wall thickening in patients with liver cirrhosis by contrast enhanced CT

To evaluate the frequency and patterns of gastrointestinal wall thickening at contrast material-enhanced computed tomograhy CT in patients with liver cirrhosis. Three radiologists retrospectively assessed the contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans of 150 patients with cirrhosis and 100 patients without cirrhosis for gastrointestinal wall thickening from the stomach through the descending colon. The frequencies of wall thickening were determined in the cirrhosis and in the control groups. The segmental distribution, symmetry, and enhancement pattern were evaluated in all patients with cirrhosis and compared with the control group. Gastrointestinal wall thickening was seen in 98 patients [65.3%] with cirrhosis and in nine [9%] control subjects [P <0.005]. The jejunum and ascending colon were the most common sites of gastrointestinal wall thickening; each was involved in 64 [42.6%] patients. The scans of 60 [40%] patients with gastrointestinal wall thickening showed multisegmental distribution. Gastrointestinal wall thickening was concentric and homogenous in all patients with liver cirrhosis. Gastrointestinal wall thickening is common on contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans in patients with cirrhosis. Multiple segments were involved. Frequently, the jejunum and ascending colon are the most common sites of involvement

Value of PCR in the detection of B-thalassemia gene mutations among silents heterozygous carriers: a mulit-stage study

The detection of heterozygous [beta-thalassemia carriers is very important, as they transmit the [3 beta- thalassemia gene to their offspring, for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis. The screening of carriers is routinely performed by measuring red blood cells [RBCs] indices and the level of hemoglobin A[2] [HbA[2]]. However, in a considerable number of cases results are equivocal. So this multi-stage study was planned to detect different gene mutations among [Beta-thalassemia trait individuals, with equivocal hematological results age [silent carriers] by PCR. One hundred parents of 50 thalassemic children, besides 20 control age- and sex-matched individuals served as the subjects of this study. Serum iron, hemoglobin [Hb], RBCs indices [HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC], reticulocytic counts, and one point osmotic fragility [OPOF] test were performed to all subjects. Meanwhile, qualitative detection of [beta -thalassemia mutations, using allele specific oligonucleotides [ASO] was performed to 25 carriers with normal serum iron, RC, OPOF. and/or normal HbA[2] [silent carriers]. The mutations at IVS 1-110, IVS 1-6, IVS I- 1] represented the most common mutations, accounting for 36%,20%, and 12%, respectively. Meanwhile, 3/25 [12%] of mutations were uncharacterized. The sensitivity of OPOF test, HbA[2] by chromatography and PCR in the detection of [beta-thalassemia trait accounted for 86%, 83% and 88%, respectively.Its concluded that for silent carriers, with normal serum iron, RC, RBCs indices, OPOF test and/or normal HbA[2] PCR should be performed

new screening technique for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion in children

A definitive diagnosis of tuberculosis [TB] requires the recovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis [MTB] from a patient's secretions, body fluids or tissues. However, the detection rate of MTB, by various methods [Z-N smear, culture and/or PCR], is not high in TB pleural effusions. Several studies, on adult patients, demonstrated that an activity of adenosine deaminase [ADA] level in pleural effusion above 40 lU/L is strongly associated with TB. The objective of this trial was to test the validity of ADA level in the diagnosis of TB pleural effusion, in children. Forty five patients with confirmed TB pleural effusion were studied versus 25 control children with non-tuberculous effusion.The mean age of onset of TB pleural effusion was 9.54 +/- 3.6 years. Males are affected more than females, with an M/F ratio of 3 : 1; 89% of patients had received BCG-vaccination, which finding may indicate doubtful efficacy of the currently used BCG-vaccine against the development of TB pleurisy; Anorexia and weight loss, fever and night sweats, chest wheezes and local signs of pulmonary involvement represent the most common manifestations of TB pleural disease; A low total peripheral blood WBCs counts [with relative lymphocytosis], an increased ESR, a frequently positive tuberculin test are characteristics of TB pleural effusions; Pleural fluid is frequently associated with characteristics of exudate; The average level of ADA activity in pleural fluid of TB children accounted for 116.4 +/- 36 U/L which is statistically higher than that of nontuberculous children, 93% of patients had levels above 60 U/L vz 4% for nontuberculous children; A statistically higher average mean proportion of lymphocytes, in pleural fluid of TB patients, more than nontuberculous ones; The most sensitive tests in the diagnosis of TB pleural effusion in children were ADA [93.3%], lymphocyte proportion [> 50%] in pleural fluid [91.1%], and positive tuberculin skin testing [75.6%]. We conclude that the analysis of ADA levels in pleural effusions constitutes a useful marker for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion, which in addition, can be made quickly and cheaply

Irrigation management for some maize cultivars under different plant populations

The effect of different irrigation intervals [10, 15 and 20 days] and plantpopulations [15, 20 and 30 thousand plants/fed.] on growth, yield and itscomponents as well as grain chemical composition of three maize cultivars,i.e. single cross 10 [SC 10]. Three way cross 310 [TWC 310] and Giza 2 werestudied. Two field experiments were carried out during 1998 and 1999 seasonsat the Central Administration Farm of the Agricultural Extension, El-FashnDistrict, Beni-Sweef Governorate, Egypt. The results showed that prolongingirrigation intervals up to 20 days decreased significantly growth patternsstudied after 70 and 90 days from sowing as well as grain yield and itscomponents. Total carbohydrate, crude protein and oil percentages in maizegrain were significantly affected by irrigation intervals. The data showedthat increasing plant population up to 30 thousand plants per feddan led to asignificant increase in plant height and final grain yield per feddan; whereas,stem diameter and ear leaf area as well as grain yield/plant and itscomponents were significantly decreased. Total carbohydrates and crudeprotein percentages were significantly reduced by increasing plant populationup to 30 thousand plants/fed., while oil content was insignificantly affected. Significant differences were found among the tested maize cultivars withrespect to growth patterns, yield and its components as well as the chemicalcomposition of grain. The data clearly showed that SC 10 cultivar was superiorin final grain yield than the two other ones. It also recorded the highestgrain yield [3.61 t/fed.] against 3.45 and 3.27 for TWC 310 and Giza 2,respectively. The results revealed that soil moisture stress has a seriouseffect on grain yield. The application of irrigations every 10 days, combinedwith planting SC 10 or TWC 310 cultivars at density 30 thousand plants/fed. could be recommended to obtain the best grain yield

Response of some oil crops to biofertilization with phosphate dissolving bacteria associated with different levels of phosphatic fertilization

The experiments aimed at evaluating the effect of biofertilization with phosphobacterin [phosphate dissolving bacteria-PDB] under variable levels of phosphatic fertilization with superphosphate on yield, yield components and seed quality [protein and oil percentage of soybean, sesame and sunflower]. The results showed significant responses to biofertilization on most of the yield, yield component characters, seed quality, protein, oil percentages of soybean, sesame and sunflower. Biofertilization increased seed yield by 20.4, 25.3 and 15.4% over the control treatment for soybean, sesame and sunflower, respectively. However, seed oil content showed a reversible trend compared to seed yield. The highest seed protein content was found by using 100 kg/fed. superphosphate for soybean, while sesame and sunflower seeds contained the highest protein percentages at 200 kg superphosphate

Effect of plant density on yield and yield component of some mung bean varieties [vagina radiata roxb]

Two field experiments were conducted at El-Fashn District, Beni-Swef Governorate, Egypt, to study the productivity of some mung bean varieties under different plant densities. In the first season, the experiment included four treatments on combinations of two varieties [Kawmy-1 and Giza-1] and two plant densities [140 x 10[3] and 280 x 10[3] plants per feddan]. In the second season, the experiment was replicated in two locations and included nine treatments on combinations of three varieties [Kawmy-1, Giza-1 and Vc-1000] and three plant densities [140 x 10[3], 186.666 and 280 x 10[3] plants per feddan]. The soil used was clay loam with medium fertility for the three locations. The obtained results indicated that Kawmy-1 surpassed Giza-1 variety in plant height, number of pods and weight of pods per plant as well as number of seeds per pod and seed weight per plant. Seed yield per feddan was also affected by the variety and plant population. Kawmy-1 variety surpassed both Giza-1 and Vc-1000 in most yield component characters, while Giza-1 variety recorded the lowest number of days to reach 50% flowering and the highest value of 100 seed weight in the first season. In the second season, no particular trend was noticed. The differences between Kawmy-1 and Vc-1000 were not significant for most studied criteria. Low density plants, i.e., 140 x 10[3], recorded the highest value for most studied criteria, except plant height and seed yield per feddan in both seasons. Data also showed that there were significant effects due to interaction between variety and plant density on most yield and yield component characters in both seasons

Treatments for B-glucosidase release from yeast cells

Among various treatments tested for releasing active beta-glucosidase in a good yield from Kfragilis NRRL Y-1137 cells, sonication was the most efficient method followed in descending order by organic solvents, homogenization breakage and freezing and thawingOptimum activity of the crude beta-glucosidase was obtained at 50C for 10 min at pH 6.2In addition, 0.05 Mof potassium phosphate was the most favorable buffer for beta-glucosidase activity

Catalytic activity of scandium-zeolite in cumene cracking

Scandium exchanged NaX zeolites NaXSc 1-NaXSc 5 are active in cumene cracking. The rate of conversion of cumene increases with increasing the scandium content of the catalyst, the reaction temperature and the activation temperature of the catalyst. The apparent energy of activation is calculated on non-thermally pretreated catalyst to be 84. 43 KJ mol [-1] whereas, on the pre-activated catalyst it is 40. 08 KJ mol[-1]