Response of three wheat varieties to nitrogen levels, seeding rates and their combination; 2: Spike characters

To achieve larger production per unit area, sciences and farmers face a great defiance in improving cropping practices and elicitation new top yielding wheat varieties and also to establish the effects of these factors on the spike characters. Two years experiment were conducted to evaluate the effect of three nitrogen fertilizer levels (recommend rate 80 kg N/fed and 25% lower and higher than the recommended, i.e. 60 and 100 kg N/ fed, three seeding rates (40, 60 and 80 kg grains/fed) and there varieties (Giza-171, Gemmiza-12 and Shandawil-1), on spike characters of wheat at the Agricultural and experimental Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons. The experimental design was a split- split plot in randomized complete block arrangement with three replications. Nitrogen levels were allocated to the main plots, while the sub plots were assigned for seeding rates. Wheat varieties were distributed at random in the sub-sub plots. Each sub-sub plots area 4 m (2 x 2m). Generally, results indicated that significant effect on spike length and number of grains/ spike in both seasons and on weight of grains/ spike and 1000-grain weight in one season, where the tallest and heaviest spike as well as the heaviest 1000-grain weight were produced at the 100 kg N/fed in both seasons but the highest number of grains/spike was obtained at 80 kg N/fed in one season. It could be concluded that application nitrogen at the rate of 100 kg/fed proceed the favorable effect on spike characters under the environmental conditions of the experimental site and the similar conditions. Seeding rates caused a significant effect on all studied traits in one season, so the highest values were at 80 kg grains/fed, but this effect on 1000-grain weight was true in both seasons, where the highest value was at 60 kg grains/fed. Moreover, varieties were significantly differed in all spike character in both seasons except number and weight of grains/spike in one season where Giza-12 variety surpassed others. Al studied interactions had significant effect on all studied traits either in one or two season. Planting Giza-171 with 80 kg grains/fed and application of 100 kg N/fed was the pest treatment.

Preemptive analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversalis fascia plane block in children undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study / 대한마취과학회지

Background@#Surgical repair of congenital inguinal hernia results in significant postoperative discomfort and pain. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the pre-emptive analgesic efficacy of a transversalis fascia plane (TFP) block after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. @*Methods@#Forty-four patients aged 12 to 60 months who underwent unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy were enrolled. Four patients were excluded, and the remaining were allocated to the control group and the TFP block group. In the TFP block group, 0.4 mL/kg bupivacaine 0.25% was instilled in the plane between the transversus abdominis and transversalis fascia, while in the control group 0.9% saline was used instead of bupivacaine. The collected data were the total dose of paracetamol consumed during the first 12 h postoperatively, the postoperative Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) pain score, time to first use of rescue analgesia, number of patients required additional postoperative analgesics, and parents' satisfaction. @*Results@#The median paracetamol consumption was significantly lower in the TFP block group than in the control group, and FLACC pain scores were significantly lower for all study times in the TFP block group with higher parental satisfaction scores than those for the control group. The number of patients who required additional analgesics was significantly lower in the TFP block group than in the control group. @*Conclusions@#The use of a TFP block decreases postoperative analgesic consumption and postoperative pain intensity after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. Future studies with larger sample size are required to evaluate the actual complications rate of TFP block.

Preemptive analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversalis fascia plane block in children undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study / 대한마취과학회지

Background@#Surgical repair of congenital inguinal hernia results in significant postoperative discomfort and pain. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the pre-emptive analgesic efficacy of a transversalis fascia plane (TFP) block after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. @*Methods@#Forty-four patients aged 12 to 60 months who underwent unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy were enrolled. Four patients were excluded, and the remaining were allocated to the control group and the TFP block group. In the TFP block group, 0.4 mL/kg bupivacaine 0.25% was instilled in the plane between the transversus abdominis and transversalis fascia, while in the control group 0.9% saline was used instead of bupivacaine. The collected data were the total dose of paracetamol consumed during the first 12 h postoperatively, the postoperative Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) pain score, time to first use of rescue analgesia, number of patients required additional postoperative analgesics, and parents' satisfaction. @*Results@#The median paracetamol consumption was significantly lower in the TFP block group than in the control group, and FLACC pain scores were significantly lower for all study times in the TFP block group with higher parental satisfaction scores than those for the control group. The number of patients who required additional analgesics was significantly lower in the TFP block group than in the control group. @*Conclusions@#The use of a TFP block decreases postoperative analgesic consumption and postoperative pain intensity after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. Future studies with larger sample size are required to evaluate the actual complications rate of TFP block.

Anti-diabetic effect of balanites aegyptiacea leaves extract [HEGLIG] by regulation of erythrocyte glucose uptake in diabetic patients type 2 in vitro

Background: in Diabetes, the increase in the oxidative stress and decrease in the antioxidant defense may elevate he susceptibility of diabetic patients to many pathological complications, oxidative induced cell damage has been proposed to play an important role in the etiology of numerous pathological conditions. So, the aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant potential of Alcoholic Leaves extract of Balanites aegyptiacea [Heglig] due to the presence of phenolic and flavonoids compounds on uptake of glucose in vitro by erythrocytes of diabetic patients

Results: in hyperglycemic patients, erythrocytes malondialdehyde level was highly significantly increased [P<0.0001] than that of control. However, the erythrocytes glutathione content was highly significantly decreased [P< 0.0001] when compared to that of corresponding control values. The glucose uptake by erythrocytes of diabetic patients was highly significantly decreased [P < 0.0001] with increasing hyperglycemia [Fasting Blood glucose], while it was highly significantly elevated [P< 0.0001] after addition of Balanites aegyptiacae leaves extract to the incubation medium. On the other hand, the malondialdehyde concentration was highly significantly reduced [P < 0.0001] on adding the extract. So, it could be concluded that, an appreciate support for enhancing Antioxidant supply from natural sources such Balanites aegyptiace leaves extract may help control blood glucose levels and prevent pathological complications of diabetes

Nano-Crystalline Cellulose as a Novel Tablet Excipient for Improving Solubility and Dissolution of Meloxicam.

This study explored the effect of nano-crystalline cellulose (NCC) on Meloxicam (MX) solid dispersion (SD) prepared by co-grinding technique compared to micro-crystalline cellulose (MCC) in presence of lactose. MX-tablets were prepared by direct compression of different co-ground SDs or physical mixtures. The solubility, dissolution, SEM and DSC of different preparations were studied. Flow-through cell apparatus (FTC) was used to study the dissolution of MX from tablets at pH 7.4. Generally, the results revealed that increasing NCC loadings showed a direct increase in both the solubility and dissolution of MX. MCC did not improve either the solubility or the dissolution of MX in the physical mixture, while, co-grinding dramatically decreased the dissolution rate of MX. It was interesting to find that grinding of MX-powder alone or in a mixture with lactose highly increased MX solubility and dissolution. SEM as well as DSC were found to be very good tools, without a single exception, to describe the observed solubility and dissolution of MX in these proposed preparations. SEM-images showed the particle size reduction upon grinding or co-grinding techniques. While DSC-data proved that the crystalline structure of MX has been changed to an amorphous state.

Portal hypertension treatment with candesartan plus propranolol for nine months restores normal portal circulation hemodynamic pattern

Post HCV liver cirrhosis is one of the most prominent etiologies behind the abnormal portal circulation hemodynamics. It occurs as a result of distorted balance between portal venous flow [PVF] and intrahepatic resistances [IHR]. PVF is partially controlled by using both specific and non-specific beta blockers [NSBBs] that have insignificant effects on IHR. Angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs] inhibit the activated hepatic stellate cell [HSC] contraction and thought to reduce the dynamic portion of MR. The study aimed to slow down the venous blood flow and to reduce the IHR of portal vein vasculature to control sequelae of the enhanced post cirrhosis portal venous turbulence. We evaluated the effects of Candesartan plus propranolol compared to each of them individually in management of portal hypertension [PH]. Three groups of 25 patients each, presented with chronic HCV infection and grade II- III esophageal varices [OV], were randomly assigned to one of three treatment regimens: Propranolol or Candesartan or both. Subjects were screened every three month by Doppler Ultrasound for a total of nine months. Damping Index [DI], pulse Pulsatility index [PT], Portal Venous Flow [PVF] Volume, Portal Venous Peak Velocity [PVPV], and Portal Vein Diameter [PVD] were evaluated once every third month. Our study concluded that combined therapy [Propranolol + Candesartan] induced highly significant improvements that led to restoration of normal values of DI, PI, PVF volume and PVPV overtime compared to monotherapy regimens [P>0.001]. Data strongly recommended using Propranolol plus Candesartan in overtime management of portal hypertension

Fluoxetine abolished psychological stress deleterious effect on memory in protein malnourished mice.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of Fluoxetine (FLX) on both learning and memory of psychologically stressed protein malnourished mice as compared to its effect in normally fed ones. Animals were divided into two major groups, a normally fed (NF) mice and a Protein malnourished one (PM). Stress was induced using the learned helplessness (LH) technique. Each animal was exposed for 5 days to the psychological stress session alone or in association with drug administration following completion of 21 days under the diet regimen. Fluoxetine (FLX) was administrated daily in dose of 10mg/kg i.p. before mice exposed to foot shocks. Stress significantly decreased time required to reach platform in normally-fed (NF) mice. FLX significantly increased time required to reach platform as compared to (PM) escape mice. Stress significantly decreased time spent in platform quadrant in both (NF) and (PM) mice. FLX significantly increased time spent in the platform quadrant, as compared to stressed (PM) mice. The results could be concluded that stress enhanced learning in (NF) mice and impaired memory in both (NF) and (PM) mice. FLX abolished psychological stress effect on memory performance under protein malnutrition. Fluoxetine retard learning in (PM) escape mice. Such effects were correlated with significant modifications of brain 5-HT, NE and DA contents.

Influence of adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells in combination with injectable bone substitute on osteoclastogenesis in osteoporotic rats.

The present study was designed to evaluate the influence of adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cell (ASCs) with or without calcium phosphate composite on osteoclastogenesis in osteoporotic rats. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were harvested from adipose tissue of both the omentum and the inguinal fat pad of male rats, as the sex mismatch, to track the MSCs fate and to ensure their homing to the injured females' femurs. The isolated ASCs were characterized via the morphological appearance, multilineage potential and the PCR detection of CD29, CD44, CD106, CD14, CD34 and CD45 surface markers. Fifty adult female albino rats were enrolled in the current study. The rats were classified into five groups: group 1 was the gonad intact control, group 2 served as untreated ovariectomized (OVX) rats, group 3 was OVX rats treated with ASCs, group 4 was OVX rats treated with ASCs with injectable bone substitute (IBS) and group 5 was OVX rats treated with IBS. The serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF-қβ ligand (RANKL) were assayed using ELISA procedure. In addition, nuclear factor-κβ (NF-κβ) gene expression level was estimated in femur bones using real time –PCR. The isolated ASCs proved their MSCs identity via their morphological appearance and multilineage potential. In addition, the isolated ASCs showed positive expression for CD29, CD45, CD44 as well as CD106 and negative expression for CD34 and CD14. Besides, the positive expression of the Y-chromosome (sry) gene detected in the ASCs treated groups indicated that the systemically delivered single dose of undifferentiated ASCs was able to home at the females' femur bones. Adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) injection with or without calcium phosphate composite in OVX rats reversed the effect of ovariectomy on the studied biomarkers causing significant increase in serum OPG level accompanied with significant decrease in serum RANKL level. Also, significant down regulation of NF-κβ gene expression in femur bones was detected in the treated groups compared with untreated OVX group. These results clarified the good influence of ASCs against osteoclastogenesis. In addition the combination of ASCs injection with osteoinductive material injectable calcium phosphate composite (IBS), may be useful to achieve the significant antiosteoporotic effects.

Modulation the oxidant - antioxidant imbalance induced by thioacetamide in liver of albino rats

The effect of free radicals on human beings has come to attract considerable attention due t their close relation to toxicity and disease. The aim of the present investigation is to evaluate the antioxidant efficacy of fresh garlic extract [FGE], aged garlic extract [AGE] and ginger ethanolic extract [GEE] against the oxidative stress induced by thioacetamide administration. Silymarin and Hipamax plus [HP] were employed in the current study as reference materials used in the treatment of liver diseases. Intraperitoneal [ip] administration of thioacetamide [200 mg/kg b.wt., three times a week for four weeks] induced oxidative stress that confirmed by the significant elevation of malondialdehyde [MDA, as an indicator of lipid peroxidation], nitric oxide [NO], myeloperoxidase activity [MPO] with the decline in glutathione content [GSH] and the activities of superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSHPx], glutathione S-transferase [GST] in liver tissue. Meanwhile, there was no change in protein carbonyl. The pre and co-administration of fresh garlic extract, aged garlic extract and ginger ethanolic extract with thioacetamide significantly reduced MDA, NO, MPO activity and enhanced the activity of SOD, GSHPx, GST and markedly increase GSH content in liver tissue. In conclusion, the test materials employed in the current study displayed well marked antioxidant potency and more pronounced antioxidant potency was exerted by AGE

protective effect of lemon grass and its oil on hepatotoxicity in rats caused by CCL4

The present work was conducted to study the effect of lemon grass and its oil on the nutritional value, percent of organs weight/body weight, lipid parameters, glucose, iron status, kidney and liver functions of rats suffering from hepato-toxicity caused by CC1[4]. Six experimental groups [n = 6 for each group] were established. Groups [1 and 2] were fed on basal diets [used as a negative and positive control groups, respectively]. Groups [3- 4] received basal diets containing two levels of lemon grass [2.5 and 5g lemon grass/l00g diet, respectively]. Groups [5-6] received basal diets containing two levels of lemon grass oil [2.5 and 5g lemon grass/l00g diet, respectively]. Before 2 days from the end of the experiment period [28 days], all treated and positive control groups were injected with CC1[4], in paraffin oil [20% at dose 5 ml/kg] subcutaneous injection to induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Addition of lemon grass or its oil to the diets improved the nutritional value, in addition to the percent organs weight/ body weight. The mean values of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-c], very low-density lipoprotein [VLDL-c], uric acid, urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, aspartate amino transferase [AST] and alanine amino transferase [ALT] decreased in all treated groups with lemon grass or its oil, as compared to the positive control groups, while high-density lipoprotein [HDL-c] increased. Histopathological examination of liver in group treated with CC1[4] revealed degenerative and necrotic changes, however, treated groups with lemon grass or its oil showed marked amelioration of the severity of these changes. It was concluded that high level of lemon grass or its oil [5g /l00g diet] realized the best effect on lipid profile, kidney and liver functions, glucose level and iron status

Molecular genetic and biochemical evaluation of ghrelin hormone as a novel signal of gonadal function in adult male rats

It is well known that reproductive function is regulated by the interplay of the hypothalamus, pituitary and gonads, which form the so called reproductive axis. A number of factors primarily involved in the control of energy balance and metabolism have been proven as putative modulators of the gonadal axis, thus providing the basis for the link between energy homeostasis and fertility. Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid peptide. It is predominantly produced by the endocrine X/ A- like cells of the stomach submucosa and mobilized by food deprivation. Ghrelin concentrations were observed to change with fasting and refeeding in mammals. The potential reproductive role of ghrelin has received attention recently. The Objective of this work is to study the effect of chronic food restriction on ghrelin level in adult male rats and it's relation to reproductive hormones. The present study was carried out on 32 adult male Sprague Dawley rats divided into 4 groups: Group I [control group] comprised 8 rats fed ad libitum for 30 days, Group II, III and IV [food-restricted groups for 10, 20 and 30 days respectively] each consisted of 8 rats fed 50% of ad libitum intake determined by the amount of food consumed by the control group. Mean body weight of food restricted rats was observed to decrease during the period of the experiment. Food restriction produced significant increase of serum ghrelin with significant decrease of both gastric and hypothalamic ghrelin accompanied with significant increase in its gene expression in stomach and hypothalamus. Testosterone, follicle- stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH] levels showed significant decrease correlated with down- regulation of gonadotropins, aromatase and kisspeptin [Kissl] genes in food restricted rats compared with control group. Ghrelin could be one of the hormones responsible for the suppression of male reproductive axis in case of negative energy balance. Thus, ghrelin could provide a link between energy homeostasis and reproductive capacity in adult male rats

prognostic value of triple negative in stage II/III breast cancer

Breast cancer is no longer seen as a single disease but rather a multifaceted disease composed of distinct biological subtypes with diverse natural history, clinical, pathological and molecular features. Recent attention has been directed at molecular classification of breast cancer. To evaluate the prognostic value of triple negative subtype in stage II/III breast cancer. To define the role of clinical stage in pro gnosis of breast cancer We used immuno-histochemical technique to divide 255 cases of breast cancer, stages II and III, into four subtypes according to estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor [ER/PR] and Her-2 expression. Triple-negative subtype comprised 76.5% of the cases with 12.3% recurrence rate. Luminal A subtype also carried a poor out come with 16. 7% recurrence rate. Triple negative subtype has the worst overall and disease-free survival in stage II/III breast cancer. Clinical stage is still an independent prognostic factor in breast cancer of all types

Effect of sleep disturbances on quality of life for patients undergoing hemodialysis program

End-stage renal disease [ESRD] is an increasing health problem worldwide, its treatments negatively affect on quality of sleep and quality of life as well. Many patients with ESRD who are undergoing chronic hemodialysis treatment suffer from sleep disturbance. Aiming to assess the factors affecting sleep disturbances among patients under hemodialysis treatment program as well as to assess the effect of sleep disturbance on quality of life among those patients. This study is a descriptive study. It was conducted in the dialysis unit in El-Minia University Hospital. The study group was a convenience sample of 100 patients, 20-50 years old, and undergoing maintenance hemodialysis program. Patients' assessment were done through using the following data collection tools: 1] a structured interview questionnaire sheet, 2] Quality of Life Index [Quality of Life Index, Dialysis Version III [QLI], 3] The Karn of sky Performance Scale] and 4] The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PQSI]. Results of this study showed significant positive correlation between quality of sleep and quality of life. Concluded that the patients' undergoing HD therapy sleep disturbance had a negative impact on quality of life and functional performance ability. Recommended a counseling program for those groups of patients to improve their sleep quality

Potential antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of propolis extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus leading to various complications including atherosclerosis. Propolis was reported to have oxygen radical scavenging activity. The present study was designed to investigate the possible antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of ethanolic extract of propolis [EEP]. Type[2] diabetes was induced in rats by injection of streptozotocin [STZ] in a dose of 60 mg/kg bwt, i.p. for 3 consecutive days. After 5 weeks of STZ injection, there were an apparent reduction in the animal body weight amounting to 21% and significant increases in serum glucose [184%], triglycerides [63%], total cholesterol [43%] and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C] [148%] with a concomitant decrease in serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C] [51%] as compared to the control normal group. In addition, there was significant elevation in pancreatic lipid peroxides measured as malondialdehyde [MDA] and serum nitric oxide [NO] amounting to 185% and 224%, respectively with marked reduction in serum reduced glutathione [GSH] andcatalase [CAT] [66% and 31%, respectively] and pancreatic superoxide dismutase [SOD] [54%] in STZ-treated rats. On the other hand, oral daily treatment of animals with EEP in a dose of 200mg/kg bwt for a period of 5 weeks ameliorated STZ-induced alterations in the animal body weight as well as in serum glucose, lipids, lipoproteins, NO, GSH and CAT and pancreatic MDA and SOD. In conclusion, propolis extract offers promising antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects that may be mainly attributed to its potent antioxidant potential. Further studies will be needed in future in order to determine which one[or more] of its active constituents has the main antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects

Virtual colonoscopy-comparison with optical colonoscopy for the detection of colonic space- occupying lesions

This prospective study was performed on 20 consecutive patients with suspected or known colonic neoplasia to evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of a new virtual colonoscopy technique for the detection of colorectal lesions in comparison with optical [conventional] colonoscopy as the standard of reference. They were 12 males and 8 females with age ranging between 48-72 years and mean age of 56.3 years. All patients were subjected to a thorough history and clinical examination, routine laboratory tests and abdominal ultrasonography. After standard bowel preparation, all patients underwent a non-contrast helical CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis followed by conventional colonoscopy in the same day. The images of CT colonography were reconstructed into a virtual colonoscopy [VC] presentation and compared with subsequent conventional colonoscopy in a blinded manner. Conventional colonoscopy identified 22 polyps 5 mm or greater in 12 patients, and no polyps were detected in 8 patients. Virtual colonoscopy correctly identified 5 polyps of 9 polyps 5-9 mm in size, and 11 of 13 lesions greater than or equal to 10 mm in diameter. Per-patient findings of VC for lesions 5-9 mm were; sensitivity 55.6%, specificity 81.8%, positive predictive value 71.4%, negative predictive value 69.2%, over all accuracy 70% and for lesions greater than or equal to 10 mm were; sensitivity 91.7%, specificity 87.5%, positive predictive value 91.7%, negative predictive value 87.5%, over all accuracy 90%. It could he concluded that VC is feasible and has excellent sensitivity and specificity for detection of colorectal lesions 10 mm and larger and provide another effective complement for the diagnosis and screening

Assessment of the phospholipase A2 patterns of some Egyptian snakes venoms

Despite of the fact that functionally diverse phospholipase A2 variants of snake venoms are well characterized at the level of protein and gene sequences; the patterns of individual snake venom PLA2s are poorly known. We investigated the activity, molecular weights and isoelectric points of the phospholipase A2s of some medically important snake venoms in Egypt. Portrayal of the phospholipase A2 activity of the vipers, "Pseudocerastes persicus fieldi, Cerastes cerastes and Echis carinatus" and the elapids "Naja haje, Walterinnesia aegyptia and Naja nigricollis" venoms revealed that: 1- The elapid venoms, with the exception of Naja haje, displayed higher PLA2 activity than viper venoms; 2- The molecular weights of the phospholipase A2 variants were close to 14 kDa; 3- The major phospholipase A2s of Naja nigricollis were basic proteins while those of Walterinnesia aegyptia venom were acidic proteins; 4- The Naja nigricollis and Pseudocerastes persicus fieldi venoms possessed the highest phospholipase A2 activity while the Walterinnesia aegyptia and Pseudocerastes persicu fieldi had the highest hemolytic activity of the tested elapids and vipers, respectively; 5- The in vitro hemolytic activities of the venoms were inhibited by the heterologous antivenoms, suggesting that the venom hemolytic factor [s] have shared epitopes. The data provided biochemical information of snake venoms phospholipase A2 which allowed designing procedure for isolation of the phospholipase A2s to study their pharmacological effects

Predictive value of biochemical markers in pregnancy induced hypertension

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate 10% of all pregnancies. They include gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia, and chronic hypertension. The aim of this study was to identify predictive markers for early diagnosis of women who are at risk of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. This study was conducted on a total of 64 cases. Twenty nine were pregnant females who developed pregnancy induced hypertension and 35 females were normotensive throughout pregnancy with normal pregnancy outcome taken as controls. Subjects were recruited from the Prenatal Diagnosis Clinic, at the National Research Center. Maternal blood samples were taken as part of the department's routine second trimester biochemical screening program at 14- 20 weeks gestation. All cases were subjected to the estimation of human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF- alpha], C-reactive protein [CRP], nitric oxide [NO] and the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde [MDA], in addition to the estimation of lipid profiles [cholesterol [Ch], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDLc], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDLc] and triglycerides [TG]], urea and creatinine. The study showed significant increase of [beta-hCG, TNF-alpha, CRP, MDA, urea, creatinine, TG, Ch and LDLc in women who developed PIH compared with normotensive pregnant women, while NO was significantly decreased in women who developed PIH compared with normotensive pregnant women. It could be concluded that the elevated levels of TNF-alpha, beta-hCG, CRP and MDA, in addition to decreased levels of NO and abnormal lipid profiles were implicated in subsequent risk for PIH. Furthermore TNF-alpha and MDA may be considered as important predictive markers for early detection of PIH

Wheat germ oil attenuates gamma radiation-induced skeletal muscles damage in rats

Muscular strength is important in sport as well as in daily activities. Exposure to ionizing radiation is thought to increase oxidative stress and damage muscle tissue. Wheat germ oil is a natural unrefined vegetable oil. It is an excellent source of vitamin E, octacosanol, linoleic and linolenic essential fatty acids, which may be beneficial in neutralizing the free oxygen radicals. The present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of wheat germ oil, on radiation-induced oxidative damage in rat's skeletal muscle. Wheat germ oil was supplemented orally via gavages to rats at a dose of 54 mg/ kg body weight/day for 14 successive days pre- and 7 post-exposure to 5 Gy [one shot dose] of whole body gamma irradiation. Animals were sacrificed 7, 14 and 21 days post radiation exposure. The results revealed that whole body gamma-irradiation of rats induces oxidative stress in skeletal muscles obvious by significant elevation in the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TEARS] associated with significant decreases in the content of reduced glutathione [GSH], as well as decreases in superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT] and glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px] activities. Irradiated rats showed, also, significant decreases in creatine phosphokinase [CPK], glutamate dehydrogenase [GDH] and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G-6-PD] activities. Furthermore, total iron, total copper and total calcium levels were significantly increased in skeletal muscles of irradiated rats group compared to control group. Wheat germ oil treated-irradiated rats showed significantly less severe damage and remarkable improvement in all the measured parameters, compared to irradiated rats. It could be concluded that wheat germ oil by attenuating radiation-induced oxidative stress might play a role in maintaining skeletal muscle integrity

Nosocomial infections in a medical - surgical intensive care unit

We aimed to describe the pattern of nosocomial infections in an adult medical-surgical intensive care unit [ICU]. A 2-year prospective cohort study of nosocomial infection surveillance in a 15-bed adult combined medical and surgical ICU of Farwaniya Hospital, Kuwait, was carried out. Data were collected between January 2004 and December 2005 using the standard surveillance protocols and nosocomial infection site definitions of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System's ICU surveillance component. Of 1,173 patients hospitalized in the ICU for an aggregate duration of 6,855 days, 89 patients acquired a total of 140 nosocomial infections; 46 [33%] ventilator-associated pneumonia [VAP], 33 [24%] central-line-associated bloodstream infection and 15 [11%] catheter-associated urinary tract infection, 22 [16%] cutaneous infection and 24 [17%] other infections. The overall patient day rate was 20.6/1,000 patient days. The patient infection rate was 10.6/100 patients at risk. The mean VAP rate was 9.1/1,000 ventilator days [95% CI, 5-13.2], the central-line-associated bloodstream infection rate 5.5/1,000 central line days [95% CI, 3.2-7.8] and the catheter-associated urinary tract infection rate 2.3/1,000 catheter days [95% CI, 1.2-3.4]. Of all nosocomial infections, 119 [85%] were culture-confirmed and 21 [15%] were clinically defined culture-negative infections. Of the culture-confirmed nosocomial infections, 81 [68%] were Gram-negative, 32 [27%] Gram-positive and 6 [5%] fungal. The most frequent organism was Pseudomonas aeruginosa [20, 17%], followed by Acinetobacter baumannii [15, 13%], Klebsiella spp. [13, 11%] and Escherichia coli [10, 8%]. The crude mortality was 27% among ICU-infected patients. VAP was the most common nosocomial infection in our ICU. Gram-negative organisms were more commonly reported as etiologic agents of ICU infections