Comparative study on the effect of chelated multimicronutrient compound and mixture of monomicronutrient compounds on the growth and nutrient uptake in some plants

The objective of this work was to study the effect of foliar application with chelated multimicronutrient compound [Fetrilon Giri] and mixture of mononutrient compounds on the dry weight and uptake of macro and micronutrients by wheat, faba bean and maize plants. The dry weight of wheat, faba bean and maize was increased due to spraying of both Fetrilin Giri and a mixture compound. The increase in the dry weight by using Fetrilon Giri was generally higher than by using mixture compound, while it was less in case of faba bean. Spraying mixture compound and Fetrilin Giri improved nutrient uptake of plants not only for Fe, Mn and Zn but also for other nutrients [N,P,K, Mg and Cu]. It might be concluded that mixture compounds can induce similar effect as Fetrilon Giri foliar fertilizer to improve macro and micronutrient

Doppler sonography of the portal circulation in cases with portal hypertension

Portal hypertension is a common complication of chronic liver disease in Egypt due to high prevalence of schistosomiasis and viral hepatitis. The aim of this study is to assess duplex and color Doppler hemodynamic parameters of portal hypertensive patients. Twenty-five patients with portal hypertension were studied and 15 cases [undergoing upper endoscopy for reasons other than portal hypertension] were taken as a control. All patients were subjected to history taking clinical examination, laboratory work-up upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography and color Doppler ultrasonography. The results of this study revealed a significant increase in the diameter of the portal vein, a significant decrease in blood flow velocity in the portal and superior mesenteric veins as well as the development of collateral vessels, the commonest is the coronary vein

Prospective study of bacteremia following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

This study was carried out on 30 patients submitted to E.R.C.P. [endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography] in Kasr El-Aini G.I. Endoscopy Unit. All cases were subjected to full history taking, general and abdominal examination, bacteriological examination, laboratory investigations and ultrasonography prior to the procedure of E.R.C.P. Blood cultures were done before five and ten minutes after E.R.C.P. In an attempt to identify a potential source of infection, aspirates were taken from the common bile duct after injection of the contrast media. Swabs were taken from the endoscope and the cannula before and after E.R.C.P. In 4 control cases to evaluate the extent of sterility of the instrument used before E.R.C.P. and to detect any organisms contaminating them after the procedure. Positive blood cultures were detected in 6 patients representing an incidence of 20% and none of them exhibited chills or fever during the following 24 hours. Most of the bacteriemic cases showed pancreatic-biliary duct dilatation as seen by E.R.C.P. or ultrasonography. Five of the bacteriemic cases were diabetic and one case had a cirrhotic liver. E.R.C.P. is a helpful and safe procedure. The bacteriemia following it is usually asymptomatic. Prophylactic antibiotics are recommended in diabetics, cirrhotics and those discovered to have pancreatic-biliary duct obstruction

Functional and ultrasonographic renal assessment in children with liver cirrhosis

Twenty Child's grade "A" cirrhotic children [9 cryptogenic, 6 posthepatitic, 2 biliary, 2 following AI CAH and one metabolic] whose ages ranged between 3 and 15 years [mean 7.1 + or ' 3.4 years] were studied clinically, biochemically and ultrasonographically for assessment of their renal performance. Seven normal children served as a control group. Serum creatinine, creatinine clearance and blood urea showed no statistically significant differences between patients and controls [P >0.05 for each]. On the other hand, the mean FENa% in patients [0.49 +/- 0.24%] was statistically significantly lower than that of controls [0.70 +/- 0.23%] [P <0.05] while their FEPO4% [16.77 +/- 7.9%] was statistically significantly higher than that of controls [9.29 +/- 6.5%] [P <0.05]. The patients' mean serum phosphorus [4.24 +/- 0.63 mg/dl] was lower than that of controls [4.86 +/- 0.83 mg/dl] [P <0.05]. Microalbuminuria, an indicator of increased glomerular permeability, was statistically significantly higher in patients [9.75 +/- 23.9 mg/dl] than controls [0.55 +/- 0.08 mg/dl] [P <0.05]. Urinary alpha 1 microglobulin, an indicator of tubular proteinuria, was also higher in patients [12.55 +/- 14.6 mg/g cr] compared to controls [1.98 +/- 4 mg/g cr] [P <0.01]. Microabluminuria correlated significantly and positively with serum creatinine [r = 0.55] and alpha 1 MG [r = 0.54] while it correlated negatively with creatinine clearance [r = 0.45] and serum albumin [r = -0.4]. Alpha 1 MG correlated significantly and positively with serum creatinine [r = 0.72], ALT [r = 0.53] and AST [r = 0.52] while it showed a significant negative correlation with serum albumin [r = -0.44]. Ultrasonographic measurements of right kidney size, left kidney size and renal parenchymal thickness in patients showed no statistically significant difference from those of controls [P >0.05 for each]. Also, all patients except two showed a normal echogenicity. Thus, although the patients with compensated cirrhosis had no clinical or laboratory evidence of renal impairment yet they had microalbuminuria and increased excretion of alpha 1 MG both of which are early predictors of glomerular and tubular dysfunction, respectively

Sonographic evaluation of spleen and portal venous system before and after complete eradication of oesophageal varices by injection sclerotherapy

The spleen size, portal vein diameter and splenic vein diameter were measured sonographically in fifteen patients before and after complete eradication of oesophageal varices by injection sclerotherapy. Significant increases in splenic size from 1202.39 +/- 509.39 cm[3] to 1514.37 +/- 550.9 cm[3], and portal vein diameter from 1.59 +/- 0.36 cms to 1.67 +/- 0.35 cms, and splenic vein diameter from 1.28 +/- 0.31 cms to 1.48 +/- 0.31 cms were observed. These findings denote definite effects of injection sclerotherapy on the spleen size and portal venous system

Ultrasonic assessment of the portasystemic abdominal collaterals before and after injection sclerotherapy of oesophageal varices

We studied 30 patients with different types of liver cirrhosis and fibrosis coming for injection sclerotherapy of bleeding oesophageal varices. Clinical, laboratory, endoscopic and sonographic examinations were carried out before the start of sclerotherapy and after complete eradication of the oesophageal varices. The following results were found: Collateral channels had developed in 77 percent of patients after sclerotherapy compared to 70 percent before sclerotherapy. The commonest collaterals observed after sclerotherapy were seen in the gastrosplenic ligament [46.7 percent], followed by coronary vein [40 percent] and paraumbilical vein [37 percent].There was no correlation between the presence of collaterals and the mean portal and splenic vein diameters, age of the patients or the etiology of the liver disease. The number of sites of collaterals had increased and new areas of collaterals assplenic hilum and leinorenal ligament collaterals had been seen after injection sclerotherapy. All primary gastric varices and gastric extension of oesophageal varices had been obliterated after eradication of the oesophageal varices.Secondary gastric varices had developed in 13 percent of cases after obliteration of oesophageal varices with no correlation to the number or sites of collateral channels observed

Nutritional evaluation and toxicological studies on microalgae [scenedesmus acutus] 276-3a

General chemical composition of fresh water green algae [Scenedesmus acutus strain 276-3a] was studied. The essential amino acid profile of algal protein demonstrated a high nutritive value of this algae. Two groups of rats were fed on diets supplemented with algae at two levels [10 percent and 20 percent] for four weeks, and another rat group received casein basal diet serving as control. No growth retarding substances or mortality effects were noticed in the two tested rat groups receiving diets supplemented with Scenedesmus. Hematological investigation indicated no abnormal adverse effects in all tested rat groups. In algae-fed rat groups, the relative organ weights of spleen and lungs significantly decreased, whilst, uterus and ovary of female rats significantly [P<0.05] increased as compared to the control animals. Serum biochemical examination demonstrated significant increase of urea, creatinine and cholesterol levels. Conversely, triglyceride level was markedly decreased. No significant changes were found in liver enzyme activities and blood glucose level in response to all treatments