Microbiological evaluation of some dairy products sold by dairy shops and street vendors in rural areas

Ninety random samples of Kareish cheese, rice milk and yoghurt were collected as 15 samples of each from dairy shops and street vendors. The results obtained as a mean of total bacterial count, coliform, yeast and mould of dairy shops 3.9 x 104, 2 x 102 ,1.6 xl0[4] 4.4xl0[4], 3.5 xl0[2], 1.4 xl0[3], 1.5 x 10[2] i 4.5 x 10[3], 0.51 x 10[2], 1.5 x 10[3],1.2 x 10[3] and street vendors 6.3 x 10[4], 9.6 x 10[2], 4.4 x 10[4] 3.6 x 10[3] 8.7 x 10[4] 4.3 xl0[2], 2.2 x 10[3], 7.3 x 10[2]U.9 x 10[2], 2.3 xl0[2], 14 x 10[2], 4 x 10[2] respectively. The mean count of Staphylococcus aureus, for rice milk andyoghurt were 1.1 x 10[2], 6 x 10[2]; 3.4 x 10[2] and 10 x 10[2], respectively. The incidence of E. coli for the three products were 6.6%, 33.3%; 13.3%, 26.6%; 13.3% and 20.0%. Incidence of Staphylococcus areus enterotoxins both type A and D were 7.7% but C was 23.1%. The isolated moulds were Alternaria sp., Asp. Niger, Caldosporium sp., Asp. flavus and penicillium sp. Salmonella failed to be detected in all examined samples The public health importance as well as hygienic measures to improve the quality of the products were discussed

Effect of virus load on insukin resistance in HCV infected patients

Chronic HCV infection is a multifaceted disease, which is associated with numerous of clinical manifestations. Type 2 diabetes considered another conditions added to HCV complications It is a complex and multisystem disease with a pathophysiology that includes a defect in insulin secretion, increased hepatic glucose production and resistance to the action of insulin Human tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNf alpha] - an unglycozylated polypeptide cytokine- has the ability to inhibit insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. The aim of this study is to investigate the status of insulin resistance expressed as HOMA index in patients with HCV infection, patients with HCV+D.M and its relationship to TNF- alpha level and virus load in comparison with healthy control and another control group with DM but without HCV infection. Group I: control group [n=15], group II: 1-ICV patients [n= 18], group III: HCV patients with D.M [n = 13] and group IV D.M. patients [n=15]. Show that HOMA index was highly significant increased in patients with HCV, HCV+DM and DM compared with control [p<0.001]. Furthermore, patients with HCV+DM had significant increased level in HOMA index compared to those of DM alone [p<0.001]. Serum TNF- alpha level were also significant increased in patients with HCV and HCV + DM compared with patients with D.M alone and to control group [p<0.001]. HCV RNA load showed a significant cotrelation with both HOMA index and TNF-a levels [r=0.81 1 and 0.848, respectively] [p<0.001]. In conclusion this study showed that HCV infection induces insulin resistance through increased TNF- alpha secretion. The degree of insulin resistance is directly proportional to the virus load

Mycotoxin residues in new chicken breast meat products

Thirty random poultry meat products fifteen from each [Kiev and Cordon bleu] were collected from different groceries and supermarkets in Cairo and Giza Governorates were analyzed for determination of some mycotoxin residues. Aflatoxins [AFs] and ochratoxin A [OA] could be detected with different percentages and levels, the highest percentages [86.66%] of AFB1 were present in coat of Kiev and Cordon bleu, while the lowest percentage [13.33%] for G[1] and G[2] in the meat part of Kiev and M[1] and M[2] in its coat. OA was detected in all tested samples of Cordon bleu coat, but the lowest percentage [46.66%] in the Cordon bleu core "cheese". On the other hand, the highest estimated level [22.0 microg/kg] of AFB[1] was estimated in Cordon bleu coat and 10.6 microg/kg OA in Kiev coat. The lowest level was found to be 1.1 microg/kg for each of AFs [B[1], B[2], G[1] G[2] in Kiev coat and 1.1 microg/kg OA in each of meat and butter of Kiev and meat and cheese of Cordon bleu samples. The public health significance of mycotoxin residues and measures to prevent contamination of meat products with mycotoxins were discussed

Oxidative stress and cardiovascular diseases risk factors in hepatitis C infected hemodialysis patients

Oxidative stress which is defined as a disturbance of the normal balance between oxidants and antioxidants in the body, play a key role in accelerated atherosclerosis and to be involved in cardiovascular diseases [CVD] of dialyzed patients who are at the risk of increased oxidative stress. is to evaluate the effect of hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection and dialysis on oxidative stress markers Malondialdehyde [MDA], and its effect on increased CVD in HCV positive hemodialysis [HD]. 60 adults on maintenance HD patients were divided into 4 groups: group-I: 15 patients positive to HCV Ab with no clinical evidence of CVD; group-II: 15 patients positive to HCV Ab with clinical evidence of CVD; group-III: 15 dialysis patients negative to HCV Ab with no clinical evidence of CVD; group-IV: 15 dialysis patients negative to HCV Ab with history of different CVD and Group V: 15 healthy control subjects. all patients were subjected to: full history and clinical examination, CXR, ECG, Echocardiography, routine laboratory investigations eg; BUN, creatinine, Lipid profile, ALT, AST, Albumin and measurement of serum MDA. MDA increase in all groups in comparison to control.- There is a strong correlation between MDA and CVD risk factors in groups II and IV than in other groups.- MDA increase with increasing years of dialysis.- There is a strong correlation between MDA and ALT in group-I and n and no correlation in groups III and IV. HD treatment is associated with rises in oxidative stress marker and the infection of HCV increases this effect. Oxidative stress is a strong factor in development of CVD in HD patients