Study the relationship of erythropoietin and chronic obstructive pulomonary disease

It has long been known that COPD causes polycythemia secondary to erythrocytosis caused by hypoxia present in advanced cases of COPD. However, it was shown in several studies that some COPD patients had anemia rather than erythrocytosis. Revealing the changes which occur in erythropoiesis in response to COPD was the aim of the current study. 41 COPD patients of different groups according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and ten healthy control subjects age and sex matched were enrolled in the study. For all, history taking and full Clinical exam were performed, also ABGs, PFT [spirometry], routine labs [CBC, liver and renal function] and determination of EPO should be performed on human serum by ELISA. Showed that the erythropoietin level was 15.24 +/- 2.6 in stage 1, 22.61 +/- 5.68 in stage 2, 33.59 +/- 4, in stage 3, then 17.9 +/- 3.3 in stage 4. Also the total percentage of anemia in COPD patients was 46.3% [19/41], in comparison to 51.3% [21/41] non anemic and 2.4% [1/41] polycythemic. And that the percentage of anemia was 27.3% in stage 1, followed by 38.0% in stage 2, 100% in stage 3 then dropped to 58.33% in stage 4 with emergence of polycythemia in 8.33% of cases. Although COPD was thought to cause polycythemia, the current study showed that almost half of patients have anemia, and polycythemia occurred only in the advanced stages. It also appeared that response to erythropoietin in COPD is probably blunted especially with increased severity of the condition. This might be considered as a contributing factor in the development of anemia in COPD which is considered as anemia of chronic disease

Toxicity assays applied to wastewater of 10[th] of Ramadan industrial city, Egypt

The toxic impact of wastewater of 10[th] of Ramadan industrial city [Egypt] on the receiving water body was investigated. Both algal and fish bioassay procedures were applied to the raw and treated wastewaters. In case of raw wastewater the EC50 [96 hours] for the green algae [Scenedesmus obliquus], the diatoms [Nitzschia linearis] and blue green algae [Oscillatoria limnetica] amounted to 29%, 36% and 41%, respectively. In case of Tilapia fish [Oreochromis niloticus]; the LC50 [96 hours] amounted to 13.9%. Treated wastewater did not show toxic effects on algal cultures or Nile Tilapia fish. Exposure of the fish to the raw wastewater induced an increase in the serum content of glucose, AST, ALT activities, creatinine and uric acid compared to the control

Parasitological, blood cellular and biochemical studies on filariasisi of dogs

The present work was done on eighty two stray dogs in three localities in Sharkia province to be investigated for filariasis, hematological and serum chemistry profiles of naturally infested dogs. Out of the examined dogs, 14 [17.1%] were infested in Dipetalonema reconditum, 12 [85.7%] of them were males and 2 dogs [14.3%] were females. Microfilariae appeared as a snakelike with a rapidly, forward movement across the microscopic field in wet smear while in Giemsa stained smears showed a coiled or twisted appearance. The total length of the microfilariae ranged from 250-26 micro m [aver. 255 micro m] and the breadth was 3.5-4.5 micro m [aver. 4 micro m]. The anterior end of the microfilaria devoid from nuclei to a distance of 7-8 mm [aver. 7 mm] while the posterior end showed a hooked tail. The micofilariae showed a nocturnal periodicity. This is the first record of filariasis in dogs in Sharkia province. Hematological studies revealed hemolytic anemia [macrocytic hypochromic type] associated with low erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit value. A marked increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], reticulocyte, thrombocyte, total and differential leucocytic counts were encountered, in comparison with the control group. Biochemical analysis of sera from infested dogs showed a significant increase In serum alanie aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] activities, serum bilirubin [total and indirect], total proteins, globulins, urea nitrogen, creatinine, inorganic phosphorus, potassium and a decrease in serum glucose, albumin, calcium, and sodium values, with insignificant change in the magnesium level

Treatment of a combined dairy and domestic wastewater in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket [UASB] reactor followed by activated sludge [AS-system]

The feasibility of using an Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket [UASB] reactor followed by activated sludge [AS-system] for the treatment of wastewater discharged from Dairy factory was explored. The UASB reactor was operated at a Hydraulic Retention Time [HRT] of 24 h and Organic Loading Rates [OLR's] ranging from 1.9 to 4.4 kg COD/m[3].d. Despite variation in OLR, the reactor provided a more or less constant effluent quality of 1385 mg/I for COD total, and 576 mg/l for total BOD5, corresponding to removal values of 69 and 79%, respectively. Total suspended solids [TSS] and volatile suspended solids [VSS] removal averaged above 72 and 75%, respectively. Residual phosphorous and oil and grease concentrations were 8.2 mg P/l and 44 mg/l, respectively, corresponding to removal values of 63 and 83%. This high performance could be attributed to the long Sludge Residence Time [SRT =76 d] imposed to the reactor. Total and faecal coliform counts were reduced by a value of 1.07 and 0.9 log10, respectively. The VS/TS ratio of 0.66 of excess sludge revealed its good quality. Net sludge yield coefficient was found to be around 0.2g VSS per g COD total removed per day, corresponding to 20% of the total influent COD. Preliminary results of activated sludge [AS] batch experiments indicated first order removal kinetics between total organic carbon [TOC] and contact time. The TOC removal reached 98.4% within 2.0h. Accordingly, the AS-system was operated at a HRT of 2.0 h. The AS- step achieved a substantial reduction of COD total, BOD5 total, TSS and oil and grease resulting in residual concentrations of only 35.0, 7.0, 14.0 and 2.8 mg/l, respectively. The geometric mean of total and faecal coliform counts was reduced by a value of 1.28 and 1.64 log10, respectively. The results obtained indicated that the use of an integrated system consisting of UASB followed by an AS-system for the treatment of dairy wastewater could achieve over 98.9% of COD total. 99.6% of BOD5 total and 98.9% of oil and grease

Update status of toxoplasmosis and brucellosis in small ruminants and human in Sharkia province

Toxoplasmosis and brucellosis are widely distributed zoonotic diseases affecting a wide spectrum of animals and humans Serum samples were collected from 182 sheep, 294 goats and 60 human from different localities of Sharkia province [Zagazig - Abo-Hammad - Fakous and Abo-Kabeer] in the period between March - July 2005 and serologically tested for presence of specific antibodies against toxoplasmosis and brucella species Out of 182 sheep, 48 [26 4%] were sero-positive for toxoplasmosis By using of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], 17 [9.3%] were IgG positive and 6 [3.3%] were 1gM positive Among goats 38 [12.93%] were positive by IHAT and by ELISA 12 [4.08%] were positive for presence of IgG as well as 9 [3.06%] were positive for presence of IgM Rose Bengal Plate Antigen [RBPA], Buffered Acidified Plate Antigen [BAPA] Rivanol test [Riv T] and serum agglutiation Test [SAT] were applied to identify brucellosis. Out of 182 sheep sera samples, 21[11.54%] were sero-positive; Meanwhile out of 294 goat sera, 12 [4.08%] showed sero-positivity to brucellosis. Brucella melitensis biovar - 3 was isolated from milk samples and tissue specimens [especially lymph nodes] of the reactor animals and from 17 ewes sero-positive to brucellosis there were 8 positive for isolation and identification of Brucella melitensis, whereas there were 3/15 sero-positive goats [20%] so that control measures of toxoplasmosis and brucellosis were suggested. Concerning to human the incidence of toxoplasmosis and brucellosis were 28.3% and 8.3% respectively

Effect of natural and synthetic sweetners on serum lipids and glucose of alloxan diabetic rats

The effect of feeding different levels of natural sweeteners [sucrose, fructose, manitol] and synthetic sweeteners [aspartame] on serum lipid and glucose of alloxan diabetic rats was investigated. Feeding the sweeteners continued for 28 days. The Serum glucose levels revealed significant increase in diabetic control and diabetic control fed sucrose. Aspartame showed significant decrease in serum glucose at low level, while at the high level produced insignificant decrease. In this respect, fructose showed the best results for lowering serum glucose level. Feeding manitol produce significant decrease in serum triglycerides, while aspartame and fructose revealed insignificant increase, the highest value for serum triglycerides was given by sucrose diet. On the other hand, sucrose and aspartame showed significant decrease in serum cholesterol levels, whereas manitol and fructose groups [revealed insignificant increase. Rats fed sucrose and aspartame showed significant decrease in High Density Lipoproteins [HDL] cholesterol levels, meanwhile, manitol produced significant increase. Low Density Lipoproteins [LDL] was significantly reduced on feeding manitol and aspartame, while fructose group showed insignificant decrease. Sucrose group showed high significant increase in LDL cholesterol. Serum total lipids were increased in sucrose and aspartame groups. Manitol and fructose groups revealed significant decrease in total lipids

Water quality assessment of the River Nile system: an overview / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>The main objective of the present article is to assess and evaluate the characteristics of the Nile water system, and identify the major sources of pollution and its environmental and health consequences. The article is also aimed to highlight the importance of water management via re-use and recycle of treated effluents for industrial purpose and for cultivation of desert land.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>An intensive effort was made by the authors to collect, assess and compile the available data about the River Nile. Physico-chemical analyses were conducted to check the validity of the collected data. For the determination of micro-pollutants, Gas Chromatography (GC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used. Heavy metals were also determined to investigate the level of industrial pollution in the river system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The available data revealed that the river receives a large quantity of industrial, agriculture and domestic wastewater. It is worth mentioning that the river is still able to recover in virtually all the locations, with very little exception. This is due to the high dilution ratio. The collected data confirmed the presence of high concentrations of chromium and manganese in all sediment samples. The residues of organo-chlorine insecticides were detected in virtually all locations. However, the levels of such residues are usually below the limit set by the WHO for use as drinking water. The most polluted lakes are Lake Maryut and Lake Manzala. Groundwater pollution is closely related to adjacent (polluted) surface waters. High concentrations of nutrients, E. coli, sulfur, heavy metals, etc. have been observed in the shallow groundwater, largely surpassing WHO standards for drinking water use.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A regular and continuous monitoring scheme shall be developed for the River Nile system. The environmental law shall be enforced to prohibit the discharge of wastewater (agricultural, domestic or industrial) to River Nile system.</p>

Disseminated neonatal candidiasis in the neonatal intensive care unit

The study included 50 critically-ill newborns with clinical features of neonatal sepsis, selected when having a minimum of 2 of the risk factors known to enhance the development of systemic candidiasis namely, prematurity or low birth weight [90%], prolonged antibiotic therapy [80%], prolonged insertion of intravascular cannulae [70%], gastrointestinal surgery or diseases [38%], use of aminophylline [32%] or steroids [16%] and/or prolonged endotracheal intubation [16%].Candida albicans could be isolated in only one of 35 urine specimens obtained by suprapubic bladder aspiration. All blood samples [obtained from 50 newborns] and CSF samples [from 13 newborns] were negative for C.-albicans inspite of prolonged culture on appropriate media. Disseminated neonatal candidiasis seems to affect a minority [2%] of high risk critically ill neonates. In highly suspicious cases different specimens [Blood, Urine and CSF] should be cultured since the organism may be grown in only one of these specimens