Evaluation of oxidative stress and apoptosis in breast cancer

Reactive oxygen species are important in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including breast cancers. In this study, we aimed to evaluate oxidative stress in patients with breast cancer and to investigate its relationship with apoptosis. Our results showed that, the median levels and positivity rates of Malondialdehyde [MDA], Nitric Oxide [NO], Total Antioxidant [TAO], caspase-3,%DNA fragmentation and MDA/TAO ratio measured in breast cancer tissues by colorimetric methods were higher in the malignant group as compared to benign control group. Moreover, MDA, NO and%DNA fragmentations were over produced in advanced grade and stage P<0.05. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between MDA/TAO ratio and positive lymph node metastasis. Also, there were significant positive correlations of caspase-3 and%DNA fragmentation with positive estrogen receptor and NO. Moreover, the total antioxidants were positively correlated with positive progesterone receptor. In Conclusion; oxidative stress, NO and apoptosis are highly detected in breast cancer tissues especially with advanced grade and stage

Availability and quality of solid waste collection service at suburban area in Alexandria City, Egypt

Collection process is the main step in solid waste management program. If it was not done properly, it causes many environmental pollution and health risks. So, the aim of this study was to asses the solid waste collection services provided by Onyx in a suburban area in Alexandria Governorate. Khorshid suburban area was chosen, which is divided into two regions: north and south. The Northern part belongs to Montazah District while southern belongs to East District. Interview questionnaire sheets were filled by frequent visiting to this area. Collected data were analyzed statistically. Data revealed that the southern region of Khorshid was not serviced by Onyx at-all and the citizens disposed off their waste either onto the bank of the Mahmoudia Canal that leads to contamination of the water, in the streets, or is incinerated. On the other side, the north Khorshid which is serviced by Onyx Company suffered from many problems. The unavailability of adequate number of containers with respect to number of houses and the far distance between some houses and the place of waste containers led to accumulation of solid waste in the streets, spreading of bad odor, and overuse of insecticides. In addition, spreading of respiratory and diarrheal diseases was prevalent among children. Also, the results revealed the presence of indirect significant correlation [p<0.05] between the frequency of emptying containers by vehicle and prevalence of insects and consequently the overuse of insecticides and prevalence of allergic disease among children. There is a direct correlation between the diseases and spreading of insects and rats [P<0.05]. All residents said that the quality of collection services is worse and had worsened. The worst state from the public view was due to negligence from the Company itself, inadequate number of workers, and there is no good supervision and follow up from the responsible supervisors. However, the Governorate enforces pay percentage of monthly electrical consumption. This system was unacceptable by nearly all residents because the charge was high whereas no service was provided. So, it is recommended that the solid waste collection by a private Company [Onyx] must be supervised strictly by Governorate itself to ensure the implementation of this service in remote areas as the same quality in urban areas. Follow up from the districts on services that are provided to customers to evaluate and improve it

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs misuse: an epidemiological study in Misr El-Kadima District; Cairo, Egypt [2002-2003]

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, [NSAlDs] are the most commonly consumed Over the counter [OTC] preparations worldwide. In Egypt community based research to estimate problem of NSAlDs misuse is lacking. The current study Is a community based household survey to assess the problem of NSAIDs misuse, pattern of use as well as co morbidity associated with NSAIDs use. The current work is implemented in one of the heavily populated districts in Cairo [Misr El Kadema]. Multistage random sample was designed. A total of 352 households [i,e families] were included, the total number of individuals above 18 years mount to 1239. NSAIDs users represent 24.5% of this population. The majority of users are females [242 out of 300 i,e 80.67%], illiterate and housewives. Nearly three fourths of users have duration of use for three years or more. Nearly two thirds [65%] of the users use NSAIDs without physicians' prescription. Aspirin is the most commonly used drugs, headache represent the main cause of NSAIDs. Grade I nephropathy was detected in 10. 3% of the sub sample subjected to ultrasonography. Depression represent the commonest mental health problem among subjects assessed for mental health status. The study recommends development of national guidelines for NSAIDs use health education program to raise the awareness of the public about NSAIDs use should be implemented. This program should target high risk groups specially women and illiterate

Solidification as low cost technology prior to land filling of industrial hazardous waste sludge

The aim of this study was to stabilize and solidify two different treated industrial hazardous waste sludges which were selected from factories situated close to Alexandria. They were selected to ensure their safe transportation and landfill disposal by reducing their potential leaching of hazardous elements which represent significant threat to the environment, especially the quality of underground water. The selected waste sludges have been characterized. Ordinary Portland cement [OPC] and cement kiln dust [CKD] from Alexandria Portland Cement Company and calcium sulfate as a by-product from the dye industry were used as potential solidification additives to treat the selected treated waste sludges from tanning and dyes industry. Waste sludges as well as the solidified wastes have been leach-tested using the general acid neutralization capacity [GANG] procedure. Concentration of concerning metals in the leachates was determined to assess the changes in the mobility of major contaminants. The main advantages of solidification are being simple and low cost process which includes readily available low cost solidification additives that convert the industrial hazardous waste sludges into inert materials

Treatment of pulp and paper mill effluent

Paper industry is considered one of the major industries, especially in Egypt. National paper company [NAPA] which produces many types of paper was selected in this study. It uses approximated 25000m3/d of fresh water and discharges approximated 18000 m3/d of wastewater into Abou-Qir Bay. The waste is characterized by high values of COD, BOD and SS [1650 mg/l. 630 mg/l and 965 mg/l, respectively]. So, the aim of this study was to treat the NAPA mill waste to comply it with the law 4/1994 that governs its discharge. The treatment involves primary sedimentation followed by biologically treatment and then finally clarification. The primary clarifier achieved approximated 83% of SS, 71% of COD and 68% of BOD removal after 2.5 hour sedimentation time. The sludge resulting from the clarifier was fractionated and approximated 63% of what it was recycled as a useful fiber. The clarified effluent is then treated biologically using activated sludge at different hydraulic retention time [HRT] and different F/M ratio. The system achieved approximately 95% COD removal and 93% BOD at HRT 8 hour, F/M ratio ranged from 0.22 to 0.29 d-1 and after clarification for 1.5 hour. The characteristics of the final clarified treated effluent are below the permissible limits of the environmental law [4/1994]

Evaluation of environmental engineering conditions and risk hazards in plastic recycling industry

The aim of this work was to evaluate the environmental sanitary engineering conditions, as well as, environmental risk hazards in plastic recycling industry. The results of the evaluation of environmental engineering conditions showed a good or fair score in some of the studied items. Nevertheless, reconsideration should be given to some other items. Wastewater washing analysis included higher values of oil and grease in plant A and B, and highly alkaline final effluent in plant B. Although most of air contaminants were below the recommended levels of occupational exposure, TSP, THC's and noise were high in plant B due to higher loading operations