Date and their processing byproducts as substrates for bioactive compounds production

Date is the most popular fruit in middle-east countries. However, the date production process is accompanied by a substantial increase of loss during picking, storage, commercialization and conditioning process. Date and their byproducts have many essential elements for the growth of microorganisms. Thus, they can be converted into value-added compounds through biotechnology. In this paper, date and their processing byproducts used as substrates for producing value-added products such as organic acids, exopolysaccharide, antibiotics, date flavored probiotic fermented dairy, bakery yeast, etc, were reviewed.

Coagulation and renal effects of voluven versus haes-steril in major orthopedic surgery

Hydroxyelhyl starch [HES] solutions are effective plasma volume expanders. Impairment of coagulation and renal junction occur with large HES volumes infused perioperatively. Therefore, a lower substituted novel HES [Voluven] was developed to minimize hemostatic interactions. The aim of the study is to evaluate the benefit of voluven to reduce hemostatic interactions and preserve renal junction while preserving its efficacy in restoring plasma volume in comparison to HAES-steril [pentastarch]. After approval of our local institutional university ethical committee, and a written consent was obtained from each one. Fifty consecutive adult patients, ASA I and II, scheduled for elective major orthopedic surgery at Assiut University Hospital were included in the study. The patients were allocated into two equal groups [each of 25 patients] according to the type of the study solution used as plasma volume replacement. Group-A: received [Voluven]. Group-B: received HAES-steril. Hemodynamic parameters: central venous pressure [CVP], mean arterial blood pressure [MABP], and heart rate [HR] were recorded before anesthesia induction [baseline], one hour after induction of anesthesia, at the end of surgery, 5 h after surgery and 24 h after surgery. Coagulation profile: Screening tests: prothrombin time [PT], prothrombin concentration [PC], International Normalized Ratio [INR]], partial thromboplastin time [aPTT] and serum fibrinogen level. Specific tests of haemostasis: factor VIII concentration and von Willebrand factor [vWF], Renal function tests: blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. Measurements time: sample were collected one day before surgery ['baseline], at 5 h and 24h after surgery. Amount of given colloids [ml], blood loss [ml] and packed RBCs [ml,] were recorded in all patients in two groups. All patients in the two groups were subjected to the some anesthetic management. Data was statistically analyzed using SPSS program version 16, a p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. There were significant differences with time as regard PT, PC, and INR in both groups and there was significant difference between the two groups, more increase in PT, INR and more decrease in PC in Haesteril group than in Voluven group. Voluven produced less inhibitory effect on coagulation factor VIII and Von Willibrand factor concentration and consequently, aPTT in comparison with HA ES-steril. Blood loss and transfusion requirements were less with Voluven group than with HAES-steril group. BUN and serum creatinine significantly changed over time in both groups but still within normal range in Voluven groups, but in Haesteril group there were significantly changed over time, mildly elevated above normal range and there was significant difference between the two groups with more increase in Haestril group. Compared with HAES-steril, Voluven are more likely to produce less coagulation abnormalities and less renal impairment in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery manifested by less blood loss and less erythrocytes transfusion

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia: epidemiological trends from 2000 to 2010

OBJECTIVE@#To study epidemiological trends related to cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Al Hassa, an endemic area in Saudi Arabia.@*METHODS@#This retrospective study included the spatial/temporal analysis of the reported cases of CL using the available surveillance database for the disease at the regional Vector Control Unit, from 2000 to 2010.@*RESULTS@#The incidence of CL was declining at a stable rate especially during the last 3 years of the study (2008-2010). An interesting finding was the percentage of expatriates affected was increasing over the last 10 years compared to that of the Saudis.@*CONCLUSIONS@#A definite declining trend in the incidence of CL was observed in Al Hassa. Further studies are warranted to assess whether special public health measures are needed for better control of CL in expatriate populations in Saudi Arabia.

Assessment of tolerability of beta- blockade therapy in patient with left ventricular systolic dysfunction heart failure

Little data exist to demonstrate the tolerability of beta-blocker therapy in an unselected community heart failure population already treated with the clinical trial or higher dose ACEI or ARB. 141 patients who had left ventricular systolic failure on standard therapy were recruited in our study. Patients were assigned to receive either Carvedilol or Bisoprolol. This prospective observational study showed that beta-blocker therapy is well tolerated and can be safely titrated in an out-patient setting

Clinical pattern of partial epilepsy in Sudanese patients

To study the pattern of clinical presentation of partial epilepsy among Sudanese epileptic patients attending Elshaab Teaching Hospital from May 2005 to March 2006. Seizures are categorized as partial [with the initial activation of a limited number of neurons in a part of one hemisphere] or generalized [with the initial activation of neurons throughout both hemispheres]. The study was conducted at Elshaab Teaching Hospital May 2005- March 2006. Fifty patients with partial were included in a prospective cross- sectional hospital-based-study. The mean age is 35.96 years. Male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Abdominal aura predominates in 12%, followed by autonomic symptoms in 8%, fear in 6%, anxiety and visual hallucination in 4%, olfactory hallucination, auditory hallucination and automatism in 2%. Postictal confusion was found in 16% followed by post ictal sleep and Todd's paralysis in 8%, headache in 6% and amnesia in 4%. Abnormal neurological signs found in 30%. Space occupying lesions in 22% and cerebrovascular accident in 20% are the commonest causes for partial epilepsy, followed by brain atrophy in 6%, and arterioveneous malformation in 2% as detected by MRI. EEG was found abnormal in 56% i.e. 42% focal discharge, 10% focal discharge with secondary generalization and 4% generalized discharge. Prodromal symptoms like abdominal pain nausea and vomiting were the commonest symptoms in partial epilepsy. Confusion, sleep, Todd's paralysis, headache and amnesia were the commonest post ictal symptoms. Brain MRI detected space-occupying lesions in most of the patients. Interictal epileptic focal discharges [IEDs] were detected in more than half of the studied population