Comparison between Kato-Katz thick smear and sedimentation techniques in diagnosis of faecal-orally transmitted helminthes and other geohelminthes

Kato-Katz technique is widely used for the diagnosis of Fecal-orally transmitted helminthic infections. It is relatively simple and inexpensive. However, a single slide prepared from a single stool specimen has low sensitivity, particularly in light infections. Therefore, there is a great need for concentration techniques. This study detected an accurate and affordable method for diagnosis of fecal-orally transmitted helminthes and other geohelminthes. The study was carried out on 217 stool samples of different sex and age groups. Stool samples were collected from different urban and rural areas in Sharkia Governorate. Stool samples were examined macroscopically and analyzed by different parasitological techniques: direct wet mount [DWM], Kato-Katz thick smear, spontaneous sedimentation in tube technique [SSTT] and formol ether sedimentation technique [FEC]. The results showed that formol ether sedimentation method detected 59 positive samples followed by spontaneous sedimentation in tube technique [48/59 positive samples]. FEC showed significant difference when compared to direct wet mount and Kato-Katz thick smear. SSTT also showed significant difference when compared to DWM [P <0.05].The overall prevalence of intestinal helminthes was [29.6%] among studied samples in Sharkia Governorate. The commonest helminthic infection was H. nana [12%] followed by E. vemicularis [10%] then A. lumbricoides [3.7%]

Characterization of the hemocytes of susceptible and resistant biomphalaria alexandrina snail

The internal defense system consists of soluble components of hemolymph and circulating cells known as hemocytes. The circulating hemocytes play a central role in innate immunity. This work aimed to study the hemocytes of both susceptible and resistant B. alexandrina snails exposed to and mansoni infection using light and electron microscopes. Two tested groups were included in the study; 60 susceptible and 60 resistant B. alexandrina snails. Both tested groups were studied as regad the hemocyte count [before and after infection] and the morphological characteristics of both circulating and tissue hemocytes by light and electron microscopes. Before infection, there was no significant difference between the two groups as regard the hemocyte count, however after infection, there is a significant decrease in the circulating hemocytes of the resistant group. Light microscopy revealed five morphological types of circulating cells of both susceptible and resistant snails. Regarding scannig electron microscopy, hemocytes of susceptible snails appeared rounded with smooth or slightly rough surface. However, that of the resistant snails appeared irregular in shaped with corrugated surface. Furthermore, Light microscopy and the transmission electron microscopy revealed signs of cell activation in the hemocytes of the resistant group. The circulating hemocytes consist of five cell types in both susceptible and resistant B. alexandarina and morphologies of these cells are quite similar, but with more signs of cell activations in the resistant group. More specific studies on the functional activities of the hemocytes and mechanisms that may affect or influence the susceptibily and/or non-susceptibility of molluscs to invade microorganisms is essential and how they an act in the immune response

Effects of artemether treatment on prepatent and patent Schistosoma mansoni infection in experimentally infected mice

Schistosomiasis is a chronic debilitating parasitic disease. Long-term repeated use of praziquantel [PZQ] for control of the disease morbidity may lead to resistance or reduced susceptibility to the drug. Artemether [ART], the anti-malarial drug may become an alternative therapy to PZQ as it also displays anti-schistosomal properties. To assess the effects of artemether experimentally on prepatent [juvenile worms] and patent [adult worms] Schistosoma mansoni infection. Three groups each composed of twenty mice were used in the study. The first group [prepatent infection] was treated with double dose of ART [each 400 mg/kg] three and four weeks post infection [PI], the second group [patent infection] was treated with the same dose at six and seven weeks PI and the third group represented the infected control group. The effect of the drug was assessed by parasitological, histopathological and ultrastructural studies. It was found that ART significantly decreased the number of worms and their body sizes in treated mice groups. It also decreased the tissue egg load and decreased the granuloma size in the liver of mice in the second group. It had a more potent effect on juvenile worms [group 1] as no or few fibrous granulomas appeared in the tissues. Scanning electron microscope revealed swelling and erosion of the tubercles with breaks in some areas of the tegument in both groups of treated mice groups. The oral sucker showed breaks and focal lysis of the underlying muscle fibers. Artemether is an effective drug against Schistosoma mansoni infection. It has schistosomicidal and ovicidal effects and hence anti-pathologic activities especially in those treated early after infection [3 and 4 weeks PI]. Additional clinical studies using artemether in different epidemiologic settings with higher doses as well as future trials to study its ability to prevent reinfection and against S. hematobium are also recommended

Reduce the acrylamide content in frying potatoes by olive leaves and reduce the toxicity of acrylamide by arginine in rats

Acrylamide was determined in some traditionally commercial and homemade Egyptian foods in addition to mother milk. Some additives were used during preparation of home fried potatoes. Fried onions and fried eggplants contained very high amounts of acrylamide. Olive leaves prevented formation of acrylamide in home fried potatoes. Egyptian mother milk contained large quantities of acrylamide [482 microg/L]. Arginine, lysine or valine was administrated into rats without or with acrylamide daily for 35 consecutive days, as antidotes. Two groups of rats were administrated acrylamide and vehicle [control]. Acrylamide decreased the initial weight of rats, serum and brain contents of total proteins, albumin and glutathione in addition to lactate dehydrogenase activity, while malonaldehyde content, glutathione-Stransferase, superoxide dismutase and lysosomal enzymes activities [Acid phosphatase, N-acety-beta-galactosidase and beta galactosidase] were increased comparing to control. Histopathological studies showed also a great damage in brain by acrylamide. Arginine ameliorated the harmful effects of acrylamide to great extent followed by lysine to lesser extent

Relationship between serum cytokines profiles and hepatic fibrosis in Schistosomiasis mansoni: an experimental study

Forty of eighty mice [10 each group] were infected with S. mansoni cercariae and sacrificed at 3 weeks [G-A], 6 weeks [G-B], 12 weeks [G-C] and 16 weeks [G-D] post infection [P.I]. The other forty mice were used as control groups of ten mice each. There were highly significant difference between egg counts after 12 weeks and 16 weeks of infection compared to 6 weeks P.I. The maximum egg count and mature eggs were in 6[th] week P.I while dead eggs reached the peak at 16[th] weeks P.I. Liver egg counts showed maximum followed by intestinal and then, stool egg counts. A highly significant differences in hydroxy-proline, TGF-Bland DL-4 of infected than in controls and their peak at 16 weeks P.I. A significant difference in the EFN-gamma in the infected than in controls with peak occurred at 6 weeks P.I. and declined after that reaching a low level at 16 weeks P.I. A highly significant positive correlation was between TGF-Bland IL4 and significant negative correlation between IFN- gamma and both IL4 and TGF-B1. A highly significant and significant negative correlation between TGF-B1 and egg count at 12 and 16 weeks P.I respectively. Negative correlation was between IL-4 and egg count at 16 weeks P.I. But, significant positive correlation was between IFN- gamma with the egg count at 16 weeks P.I. A significant negative correlation was between TGF-B1 and oogram at 6 and 16 weeks P.I, but highly significant positivity was between IFN- gamma and oogram at 16 weeks P.I. A significant negative correlation was between IL-4 and oogram at 16 weeks P.I. A significant positive correlation was between levels of hydroxyproline and TGF-B1 at 12 and 16 weeks P.I. Highly significant negative correlation between hydroxyproline and IFN- gamma was at 12 weeks P.I with significant and highly significant positive correlation between hydroxyproline and IL4 at 12 and 16 weeks-P.I

Assessment of nutritional status of pre-school children in Assiut governorate, Egypt

Although the share of malnourished children have gradually been declining over the past 25 years, 167 million children under five years old almost one third of developing country children were estimated to be underweight. Malnutrition is directly responsible for 300,000 deaths per year in children younger than 5 years in developing countries and contributes indirectly to over half the deaths in childhood worldwide. Malnutrition in Egypt is one of the most important factors that affect Egyptian's health and development. For many years, malnutrition has been a severe blow on Egypt's population affecting individuals' production, which in turn affects its economy. The objectives are to identify the determinants of the nutritional status of the studied children and to measure the magnitude of malnutrition among preschool children in Assiut Governorate. A Cross sectional community based study design was applied. A representative sample from 3 districts of Assiut Governorate [Urban 30% and Rural 70%] in the form of cluster sampling technique, with a constant number of preschool children per cluster. A pre-structured questionnaire was used for collecting data, interviewing the mothers in order to collect socioeconomic factors, environmental factors, gastrointestinal and respiratory morbidity. Anthropometric measurements [height, weight, head circumference, mid upper arm circumference, and skin fold thickness] were recorded for each child. The total sample included 732 children aged 24-72 months with the mean age +/- SD [49.9 +/- 75. 7] months. The gender distribution was 363 [49.6%] males, and 369 [50.4%] females, illiteracy was 211 [41.5%] mothers and 141 fathers 27.7%].Working status of mothers 53 [10.4%] mothers were working outside the home. 499 mothers [98.0%] had piped water supply in their houses, By using weight/ age Z-score [WAZ] 11.1% were under weight, using height/age Z-score [HAZ] 28.4%.were stunted and using weight for height Z-score [WHZ] 6.2% were wasted. Stunting constitutes a significant public-health problem among the pre-school children in Assiut Governorate, while under-nutrition represents a relatively less common problem. Interventions to improve socioeconomic and environmental situations are recommended to overcome these problems

Delayed diagnosis of foreign body aspiration in children

Foreign body aspiration in children is common and usually presents with an initial episode of choking with subsequent respiratory symptoms. There may be cough, wheeze, or strider, with decreased or abnormal breath sounds on examination. However, it can mimic other illnesses and cause difficulty in diagnosis. Radiological investigations may help to confirm aspiration but should not be used to exclude it. This case is a presentation of foreign body aspiration with a delay in diagnosis and misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma. It is believed that delay could have been avoided with a more careful approach to the history and more appropriate use of investigations. This case also demonstrates the use of CT scan with reconstruction in diagnosis of foreign body

Comparative examination of constitutive equations for apparent viscosity of human blood

The adequate mechanical characterization of blood is an important prerequisite for quantitative description of blood flow. Variation in the apparent viscosity among normal is very small. Thus, changes due to disease or surgical intervention can be readily identified, making blood viscosity a useful clinical parameter. So, to understand many aspects of the cardiovascular system in physiological and pathological states many models studied the apparent viscosity of human blood. Consequently, it is necessary to select a constitutive equation suitable for numerical analysis to compare computed values with experimental data of blood viscosity. In the present work, three constitutive equations namely, corotational Jeffreys, Oldroyed 8-constant and Giesekus models, were studied by comparing computed values with the experimental data of the blood viscosity. To this end, accurate point viscosity data previously obtained by Brookfield DV-III Rheometer is utilized. For each constitutive equation, the numerical values of constants which yield the best fit with experimental data are determined. The best agreement between experimental and calculated viscosity is obtained with the Giesekus model. The success of this model is attributed to the deformation rate dependence of its viscosity and time constants

Using some industrial and agricultural wastes for the production of animal feed through biotechnology

During this activity, tomato pomace as food industrial waste beside two agricultural wastes dry olive wastes [branches and leaves] and lentil straw as well as combination mixtures of them in a ratio of 1:1 were me starting materials of the current work. After chemical evaluation of the previous wastes, they were subjected to fungal treatment using a strain of white rot fungi [Pleuroteus ostreatus] [10% based on dry weight]. The obtained data revealed an increase in protein content ranged 30- 40% as well as an appearent decrease in lignocellulosic materials [lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose], a fact that is considered to be a promising screen of the use of these treated wastes as applied and useful non traditional feed stuffs. These results were confirmed by in-vitro digestibility determination

Improving the nutritive value of maize stalks by using pleurotus ostreatus and phanerochaete chryrospoium

The ability of fungi [white rot fungi] to degrade the lingocellulosic substrates was initiated. Two strains of white rot fungi namely, Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium were used to improve the nutritive value of selected agricultural crop residue namely, maize stalks mixed with an agro industrial waste namely, pea nut husk at different ratios 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3, respectively. After pasteurizing mixtures of maize stalks and pea nut husk at the previously mentioned ratios, they were packed in polyetylene bags then inoculated with two strains of white rot fungi [Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium] and incubated for 30 days at 28 degree sign C and 35 degree sign C, respectively, using solid state fermentation technique. Results showed that maize stalks and pea nut husk with a ratio of 3:1 decreased lignin content from 10.90 to 100.30% and 7.00%, and increased protein value from 9.75 to 11.73%, and from 11.00 to 13.04%, when combined mixture were treated with Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium, respectively

Okra and Jew's mellow mucilages as hypoglycemic agents

Adult male normal and diabetic rats were maintained on diets containing 1,2,3 or 4% mucilage extracted from okra pods and jew's mellow leaves. The blood samples were taken every two weeks for measuring glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and triacylglycerols. At the end of experiment [6 weeks], the animals were sacrificed and hepatic glycogen contents were measured. The mucilages decreased plasma levels of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C and triacylglycerols, while HDL-C and hepatic glycogen were increased

Laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery versus human menopausal gonadotrophin in the management of infertility due to polycytic ovarian disease

Either of electrosurgical laparoscopic ovarian drilling [LOD]or gonadotropin [hMG] therapy is the second choice for induction of ovulation in clomiphene citrate resistance patients with polycystic ovarian disease, this study aim to compare both modalities [LOD and hMG]. Comparative study Bab El-Sharia University Hospital. Seventy five patients with anovulatory infertility due to PCOD were recruited from infertility clinic, the patients subdivided into two groups : first group [40 patients] treated with hMG, and second group [35 patients] subjected to LOD. The results of menstrual pattern, hormonal response, ovulation pattern and occurrence of pregnancy were compared between both modalities of treatment. Improved menstrual pattern 90% versus 70%, ovulation rate 79% versus 75%, pregnancy rate 40% versus 32.5% in LOD and hMG treated groups respectively. The rate of twin pregnancy was 7% in LOD treated group versus 23% in hMG treated group. No abortion occurred with LOD compared with 23% abortion rate in hMG treated group. The outcome of pregnancies in LOD was 100% healthy live birth compared with 76.9% in hMG treated group. NO hyperstimulation associated with LOD. The results with LOD are some what superior to the results with hMG

Formation constants of 3,5,7,2',4', pentahydroxyflavone-Nd-III complexes by spectrophotometric and potentiometric studies

Complex formation of Nd [III] with 3,5,7,2',4'-pentahydroxyflavone has been studied by spectrophotometric and potentiometric methods at 25C and at mu = 0.1 M using NaClO4. The metal forms 1:1 and 1:2 complexes. The protonation constants of morin and the stepwise stability constants of its Nd complex have been determined. Free energy changes during protonation of the ligand as well as during complex formation are reported. The solid complex was prepared and studied to ascertain the mode of bonding