Assessment of safety and quality aspects of boiling treatment of quail eggs.

A total of 300 quail eggs were collected randomly from different markets in Cairo and Giza Governorates. Five eggs were represented as one egg sample. Shell and content of each egg were examined for their microbiological contents, sensory evaluation and study of Escherichia coli O157 survival in artificially contaminated eggs. Moreover, qualitative detection of antimicrobial residues by seven plates microbiologically bioassay and confirmed by validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods for positively reacted antimicrobials in raw and boiled samples. There was a significant difference (P < 0·05) between the grading score of eggs after the boiling at 2-, 4-, 5- and 7-min. Based on the survival results, the refrigeration storage and boiling for 5 min of quail eggs was confirmed that such eggs are without E. coli O157. After the boil, the concentrations of oxytetracycline (OTC) and 4-Epi-OTC residues were significantly reduced, and there was no effect on the concentration of sulphadimidine (SDD), amoxicillin (AMO) and Diketo residues. Samples that exceeded the maximum residual limits (MRLs) were 17·0%, 12·0%, 10·0%, 16·0% and 14·0% for SDD, OTC, 4-Epi-OTC, AMO and Diketo, respectively. After boiling, no significant change was noted for SDD, AMO and Diketo, but all OTC and 4-Epi-OTC were completely below MRLs. Therefore, SDD and AMO with their metabolite (Diketo) are heat-stable antimicrobial residues with multiple human health hazards.

New topical photodynamic therapy for treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa using methylene blue niosomal gel: a single-blind, randomized, comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), is a chronic, recurrent dermatosis affecting skin that contains apocrine glands. Photodynamic therapy using aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) activated by intense pulsed light (IPL) have shown variable success rates, with some adverse effects. AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer delivered as a niosomal gel for the treatment of HS using IPL. METHODS: We enrolled 11 patients with HS in the study, which was a randomized split-body study. One side of each patient's body was treated with niosomal MB (NMB) gel and the other side was treated with unloaded (free) MB (FMB) gel. The affected sites were irradiated using IPL with a 630 nm filter. Patients were followed up at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: Drug release from the FMB gel was significantly higher (P > 0.05) than from the NMB gel. Lesions showed 77.3% and 44.1% reduction on the NMB and FMB sides, respectively. A significant reduction in the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Lesion, Area and Severity Index (HS-LASI) after treatment was elicited in both groups, with no pain, erythema or hyperpigmentation. CONCLUSION: The combination of MB as a photosensitizer activated with 630 nm IPL as a light source is a successful PDT for HS. Delivery of MB in niosomes was more effective for drug penetration to the dermis compared with delivery by FMB gel. The 630 nm filter was not only a source of activation of MB but also a means of hair-follicle destruction.

Inhibition of Salmonella typhi growth using extremely low frequency electromagnetic (ELF-EM) waves at resonance frequency.

AIMS: Typhoid is a serious disease difficult to be treated with conventional drugs. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a new method for the control of Salmonella typhi growth, through the interference with the bioelectric signals generated from the microbe during cell division by extremely low frequency electromagnetic waves (ELF-EMW-ELF-EM) at resonance frequency. METHODS AND RESULTS: Isolated Salmonella typhi was subjected to square amplitude modulated waves (QAMW) with different modulation frequencies from two generators with constant carrier frequency of 10 MHz, amplitude of 10 Vpp, modulating depth ± 2 Vpp and constant field strength of 200 V m(-1) at 37°C. Both the control and exposed samples were incubated at the same conditions during the experiment. The results showed that there was highly significant inhibition effect for Salm. typhi exposed to 0·8 Hz QAMW for a single exposure for 75 min. Dielectric relaxation, TEM and DNA results indicated highly significant changes in the molecular structure of the DNA and cellular membrane resulting from the exposure to the inhibiting EM waves. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that finding out the inhibiting resonance frequency of ELF-EM waves that deteriorates Salm. typhi growth will be promising method for the treatment of Salm. typhi infection either in vivo or in vitro. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This new non-invasive technique for treatment of bacterial infections is of considerable interest for the use in medical and biotechnological applications.

[Epidemiological study of hyperlipemia in a Lebanese population]. / Etude épidémiologique des hyperlipémies dans une population libanaise.

An epidemiological study was conducted on 500 persons (60% women and 40% men) from the medico-technical staff of the "Hôtel-Dieu de France" (Lebanon center for hospitalization and medical formation) in order to establish the lipid profile of the Lebanese population. The following results were obtained (mean values): total cholesterol 5.27 mmol/l (SD = 1.04), HDLc 1.28 mmol/l (SD = 0.40), LDLc 3, 31mmol/l (SD = 0.94), Triglycerides 1.55 mmol/l (SD = 1.55), glucose 5 mmol/l (SD = 0.80), Fibrinogen 3.09 g/l (SD = 0.67) and Lipoprotein (a) 0.20 g/l (SD = 0.253) with 20% of the population having Lp(a) values greater than 0.3 g/l. The distribution of these parameters in regard to the sex, age, Lebanese regions origin, body mass index and the waist to hips ratio, as well as tobacco consumption, alimentary habits, personal and familial history of dyslipidemia or coronary diseases, are reported. The results of Lp(a) measurements and correlations to other parameters confirm its importance as an independent risk factor for coronary problems. The significant percentage of subjects with lipid levels higher than those recommended by the NCEP, 19% for total cholesterol, 27% for LDL cholesterol and 20% for Lp(a), has to be seriously considered.

Effects of a static magnetic field on haemoglobin structure and function.

The exposure of mice to static magnetic fields (MF) of different strengths (1000-4000 G) for 10 min was studied. The effects of these magnetic fields on the function of haemoglobin (Hb), and its conformational stability, auto-oxidation kinetics, bioenergetics and viscosity, and those of different Hb derivatives were investigated. The fractions and concentrations of the inactive Hb pigments (such as methaemoglobin, carboxyhaemoglobin and sulfohaemoglobin) and the active Hb (in the HbO2 form) were determined using a newly developed multi-component spectrophotometric method. The direct effect of magnetic fields of relatively high strengths (3500 and 4000 G) led to different Hb conformations, accompanied by changes in intermolecular interactions represented by the slope of the eta sp/C = F(C) lines and Huggins' constant K', while no measurable change in the intrinsic viscosity [eta] of Hb was observed. These results indicate a lack of changes in the dimensions and shape of the Hb molecule. Study of the kinetics of oxyhaemoglobin auto-oxidation revealed decreases in the auto-oxidation reaction rate of 2-5.9% and 10-17%, under the effect of static MFs of strengths 1000-2500 G and 3500-4000 G, respectively.