A multi-component spectrophotometric method for simultaneous determination of total bilirubin, oxyhemoglobin, and methemalbumin in human sera

A new multi-component spectrophotometric method was developed experimentally and theoreticallyto determine the accurate serum concentrations of the total bilirubin (TB), oxyhemoglobin (HbO2), andmethemalbumin (Mha) in healthy human adults and neonates with hemolytic jaundice. With respect to theexperimental technique, the method of preparation of serum solution has been developed, like the use ofdistilled water as a solvent and centrifugation of serum solutions to clear the sample turbidity. The resultsof TB were compared to the diazo-assay. Theoretically, the formulas used for the calculation of the majorcomponents (TB, HbO2, and Mha) in human sera have been derived based on the theory of multi-componentspectrophotometric analysis and the mathematical Gaussian elimination method for matrix calculation. Themethod of multi-component spectrophotometry, suggested in this study for determination of TB, showed% error (3.1%–4.9%), indicating the high accuracy of the method. The small coefficients of variation(CV = 3.65%–5.1%) indicate the high precision of the method. The results showed higher values of serum TB(p < 0.00005), HbO2 (p < 0.001), and Mha concentrations (p < 0.00005) in neonates, when compared to adults.The method is highly sensitive and accurate. It is inexpensive, precise, reproducible, and has the advantages ofsimplicity, speed, and can be computerized.

Effect of chronic diseases of lifestyle knowledge on readiness for change among long-distance microbus drivers in Giza, Egypt

Commercial drivers suffer from sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition and numerous stressors that can impact their health. This study aimed to assess the health lifestyle risk level of microbus drivers in Giza, Egypt, and to compare their level of readiness for change with their knowledge about chronic diseases of lifestyle, before and after an educational intervention. Data were collected from 235 long-distance microbus drivers via a health lifestyle assessment questionnaire, pre–post-tests of a health education module, and the readiness for change questionnaire. The majority of drivers had high risk scores in the eating habits, exercises/fitness and safety sections. A highly significant difference was found in chronic diseases of lifestyle knowledge scores and in readiness for change scores before and after the intervention. A positive correlation was found between readiness for change and knowledge pre- and post-intervention. Further studies are needed of barriers for drivers to change their health lifestyles

accessory nerve

The radical neck dissection [RND] in the management of head and neck cancers may be done in the expense of the spinal accessory nerve [SAN] 1. De-innervations of the muscles supplied by SAN and integrated in the movements of the shoulder joint, often result in shoulder dysfunction. Usually the result is shoulder syndrome which subsequently affects the quality of life1. The modified radical neck dissections [MRND] and selective neck dissection [SND] intend to minimize the dysfunction of the shoulder by preserving the SAN, especially in supra-hyoid neck dissection [Level I-III +/- IV] and lateral neck dissection [level II-IV]2, 3. This article aims to focus on the SAN to increase the awareness during MRND and SND

Hygienic significance of microbial counts in some meat products

The aim of this work was to evaluate the microbial quality of most popular meat products sold in local markets at Alexandria province and to investigate their hygienic significance. Total counts of aerobic bacteria [ABC], Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms, Staphylococci, Enterococci and mould and yeast were determined in 120 samples of burger, sausage, basterma, frankfurter, luncheon and hotdog [20 of each]. Results showed that there were high contamination levels of all determined microbial counts in examined meat products. Burger, sausage and basterma samples [raw meat products] have highest microbial counts with no significant difference in between and all of them exceeded the Maximum Permissible Limit [MPL] of Egyptian standard and ICMSF limit which may constitute a public health hazard. Frankfurter, luncheon and hotdog samples [cooked meat products] were contaminated with different microbial populations with lower levels than raw products but they are not mostly wholesome as many of them exceeded the MPL for most microbial parameters. We could conclude that these products may be produced under unsanitary hygienic conditions along the processing stages of raw meat products. Also, this is may be an indication of post processing contamination during handling, transportation, storage and retailing in examined cooked meat products. The control measures and hygienic requirements needed to produce safe and high quality meat products were discussed and clarified to be employed

Immunosuppressive effect of purified pyocyanine pigment on T-lymphocytes viability against experimental infection with hydatid cyst protoscolices

The effect of pyocyanine pigment, which was isolated and purified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, on specific lymphocytes viability inside the body of white male Balb/c mice against the experimental secondary hydatidosis and the infectivity of protoscolices was studied in comparison with negative control mice groups, phosphate buffered saline [PBS] and positive control group [immunoferon]. Four groups of male Balb/c mice were intraperitoneally [IP] inoculated with four purified concentrations of pyocyanine [25, 50, 75, 100 micro m/ml]. Seven days later, they were given the same concentrations as a booster dose of the pigment, then 7 days later they were intraperitoneally infected with 2000 protoscoleces/ mL [PBS] as a challenge dose. The fifth group was intraperitoneally inoculated with 1ml of sterile PBS and used as a negative control group, while the sixth group was intraperitoneally inoculated with 100 micro mg/ml immunoferon and received the challenge dose of 2000 protoscoleces/ ml PBS and served as the positive control group. The concentrations of 50, 75 and 100 micro m/ml of this pigment had suppressive effect on these specific immune response cells. This effect was statistically significant [p<0.01] after six weeks from the challenge dose with intraperitoneal protoscolices infection. This effect revealed that the protoscolices infectivity increased due to suppression viability of T lymphocytes, while the immunoferon showed a significant stimulation of these specific cellular cells, which decrease the protoscolices infectivity in comparison with higher pigment concentrations. Pyocyanine is a toxic pigment causing suppression of T-cells activity, especially at higher concentrations which allow protoscolices development and growth

Effect of purified 1-hydroxyphenazine pigment on active and total T rosette formation against secondary hydatidosis

The effect of 1-hydroxyphenazine pigment which was isolated and purified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on specific immune response T cells inside the body of white male BALB/C mice against experimental secondary hydatidosis and the infectivity of protoscoleces was studied. The aim of this study was to find out the effect of this phenazine pigment [1-hydroxyphenazine] on one of the specific cell-mediated reaction against experimental hyadatidosis. In vivo which may affect the infectivity of hydatid cyst protoscoleces. Six mice groups were used in this research, four of them were injected with[Primary and booster doses] of four concentrations of purified l-hydroxyphenazine pigment [25, 50, 75 and 100 micro mole/ml] isolated from Pseudomonas areuginosa and then injected with 2000 protoscoleces /ml as a challenge dose after 7 days, active and total T rosette were calculated, and after 25 weeks the infectivity of prtoscoleces were studied in relative with the numbers and diameters of hydatid cysts which formed in vitro. In comparison with negative control mice groups [P.B.S.] the results showed that the higher purified concentrations [50, 75 and 100 micro mole/ml] of the pigment had suppressive effect on the specific immune response T cells and this effect was highly significant [P<0.0l] after 6 weeks from challenge dose with protoscoleces intraperitoneally [l.P] against this pigment. This effect reflects that the protoscoleces infectivity was increased due to suppression of T rosette formation activity of T lymphocytes while the mitogen Phytohaemagglutinin [PHA] showed a significant stimulation of the specific cellular response which decrement protoscoleces infectivity in comparison with higher pigment concentration l-hydroxyphenazine is a toxic pigment [dose dependent] causing decrementation of T cells activity especially at higher concentrations which allow protoscoleces development and growth

Antimicrobial activity of rosemary [Rosemarinus officinalis L] against food related bacteria in medium and food model systms

Rosemary was tested against various food-borne bacteria. Most bacteria showed high sensitivity to the spice when it was applied at concentration up to 2% . In agar media results indicated that a concentration as low as 0.3% was sufficient to inhibit the growth of some bacterial strains. When the antimicrobial activity of rosemary was evaluated against S.aureus [inoculum size:-Slog CFU/g] in minced beef stored at 7°C, only a spice level of 1% reduced the pathogen population significantly but total elimination was not chieved. In boiled rice no or a slight reduction in pathogen population was observed in samples stored at refrigerated temperature [7°C]. However a concentration as low as 0.3% of rosemary was sufficient to declined the pathogen counts by-2 log cycles when tomato sauce samples inoculated with pathogen were stored at either 7 or 27°C for 3 days. There was evidence that low pH enhanced the antibacterial activity of rosemary whereas high protein and fat content reduced the effect of spice. As rosemary withstands heat treatment it could be a useful preservative agent in the food that pasteurized in their final package

Charge transfer complexes of benzimidazoles with pi-acceptors

Charge transfer complexes play an important role in biological system. Some investigators[1] suggested that the activity of biologically active compounds may depend on their tendencies to form such CT complexes. Benzimidazoles have received much attention because of their biological importance.[2,4] Studies have shown the benzimidazole molecule favours the formation of a CT species [5] The complexes of benzimidazoles depend upon the nature of substituents and also on the nature of the solvent [6] Benzimidazoles have been found to interact strongly in solution with iodine to give 1: 1 molecular charge transfer [CT] complexes of the n-sigma type and the donor site was reported to be the nitrogen atom of imidazole ring [7-9] Interaction of some thiazoles and oxazolones derivatives as donors with nitrobenzene derivatives as acceptors have been studied [10-11]The CT complexes of some Schiff bases derivatives with tri-and dinitrobenzenes have been studied, where found to be the electron-acceptor of a molecule depends on the number of the nitro group of the acceptor[12-13] The charge transfer aromatic nitro compounds have been reported with various aromatic amine compounds[14]. In the present work, an attempt has been made to investigate the complexes of benzimidazoles with 4-nitrophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol and picric acid. Equilibrium constants and molar extinction coefficients of the charge transfer complexes formed are determined at different temperatures and in different solvents

Treatment of male subfertility with FSH in intrauterine insimination: a randomized study

A prospective randomized study was performed in 148 couples undergoing IUI because of male Subfertility. In the treatment group, 150 IU FSH were administered IM to the husbands, three times a week, starting 3 months before the beginning of IUI cycles and maintained until the fifth IUI cycle. In the control group no treatment was given. The pregnancy rate per cycle was 13.5% in the FSH group versus 10% in the non-FSH group. The pregnancy rate per woman was 44.4% in the FSH group versus 37% in the non-FSH group. This means that the pregnancy rate increase was > 30% per cycle and >20per woman in the FSH group. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 59.2% in the FSH group versus 42.9% in the non-FSH group. The pregnancy rate outside the IUI cycles was 14.7% in the FSH group versus 2.5% in the non-FSH group|

Serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity in children with diabetes mellitus

Scrum levels of angiotensin converting enzyme were measured in 21 children with type I diabetes mellitus and 13 healthy children. Diabetic subjects were excluded if they had hypertension; liver diseases; or kidney diseases. None of the children were receiving any medications except insulin in diabetic group. After an overnight fasting, blood sample was taken from each child for determination of fasting blood suger; glycosylated haemoglobin; and angiotensin converting enzyme. Data were analysed according to the non-paired student's t-test and linear regression analysis. Levels of angiotensin converting enzyme were significantly elevated in diabetic group as compared with control subjects [33.76 + 6.6 U/l vs 26.3 + 4.76 U/l .t = 3.82 and p<0.001]. No correlation was found between angiotensin converting enzyme levels and glycosylated haemoglobin or fasting blood glucose values. Many factors could contribute to elevation of this enzyme in diabetic children; increased release from damaged vasculature; subclinical hepatic impairment and insulin defeciency and/ or resistance

Serum and urinary B2-microglobulin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Serum and urinary beta-2 microglobulin [beta-2 m], C-reactive protein [CRP], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], and total lymphocytic count [TLC] were determined in 32 patients with classic seropositive rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and 20 healthy control subjects matched for age and sex. Patients with RA had significant increase in the levels of serum beta-2 m, CRP, ESR, and TLC, but they had nonsignificant increase in the levels of urinary beta-2 m. A positive significant correlation was found between the increased levels of serum beta-2 m and CRP [P <0.001], ESR [P <0.001] and TLC [P <0.05] but no correlation was found with levels of urinary beta-2 m [P >0.05]. The increased levels of serum beta-2 m in patients with RA could be attributed to the high turnover in the lymphocytic pool. According, serum beta-2 m could become part of the routine biochemical assessment of patients with RA with more relevance to the disease process than the acute phase proteins CRP and ESR

Thyroid and male infertility

The functional state of the thyroid gland was evaluated clinically and by PBI for 104 infertile males and 25 normal controls. An euthyroid state was found to be fundamental for spermatogenesis. Hypothroidism was detected in 3 cases and a case record of azoospermic thyrotoxicosis is described with normalization of semen picture after medical control of the hyperthyroid state. Liothyronine therapy [20 ug/day] was very effective among infertile males with hypothyroidism and useless in euthyroidism. Study of the functional state of thyroid gland is essential before T 3 therapy