TOXIC ACTIVITY AND DELAYED EFFECTS OF FIVE BOTANICAL OILS ON THE FOLLOWING GENERATIONS OF AGROTIS IPSILON (HUFNAGEL) (INSECTA: LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) AFTER PARENTS TREATMENT.

The present study is carried out to evaluate the toxic efficiency and delayed effects of five botanical oils on the greasy cut worm Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), as a trial for the attainment of a possible use of an alternative safe and effective phytochemicals against the insect-pest. So as to minimize or prevent the repeated usage of conventional insecticides, then reduce the environmental pollution as well as the occurring hazards to man and domestic animal due to the use of the pesticides alone. Four tested concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.5% v/v) from each of camphor, red basil, menthol, rose and anise oils, were bioassayed by treating the offered castor oil bean leaves, to the 4th instar larvae along 48h, under the laboratory higrothermic conditions of 25±2 °C and 65±5% R.H. The obtained results showed that the five tested oils were found to have more or less toxic activity and drastic effects on the inspected parameters of fitness components of the treated parent generation of the insect, in particular, pupae, emerged adult moths and laid eggs/female. In this respect camphor and red basil oils were highly effective, followed by menthol oil, anise oil and the least effective one was rose oil. Moreover, the assessed unprofitable delayed effects on the going on of the biological performance within the treated insects showed the adverse effects on the fitness components of the consequent generations (fs) post (p) one treatment with each of the bioassyed oils. The prevalence of adverse effects and disturbance in the going on biological performance through the period of (p) generation; which is followed by the distinct failure of insect development in (f1) generation were recorded for each of the tested menthol oil at 0.5 and 1.5% (v/v); camphor oil at 1.5 and 2.5% and red basil oil at 2.5% (v/v). While anise and rose oils were somewhat less efficient causing the distinct failure of the following generations up to the 3rd and/or the 6th ones. That observed distinct failure of the insect development could be attributed to the rapid or/and slow cumulative effect of the induced recessive lethal genes in both influenced sexes along the interval of the following developed generations (fs) after (p) one treatment, causing apparent adverse disturbance of the normal biological performance, which finally appears at the beginning of the failed generation.

Ongoing deterioration of the nutritional status of Palestinian preschool children in Gaza under the Israeli siege.

This cross-sectional, community-based, household survey was carried out in Gaza City, Palestine during the first half of 2009 to study the nutritional status of Palestinian preschool children aged 2-5 years under blockade. The response rate was 95.2% from a total sample of 770. The majority (94.4%) of households faced difficulties accessing food, the main cause was the siege and the shortage of food products; and the majority (85.5%) were food insecure households. Just over 50% of the preschoolers were anaemic, 26.8% of those who had a stool test had parasitic infections, and 15.0 were stunted. Food insecurity was the first predictor of stunting andd underweight, and malnutrition indicators indicate the worst situation in the Gaza Strip for several decades.

Ongoing deterioration of the nutritional status of Palestinian preschool children in Gaza under the Israeli siege

This cross-sectional, community-based, household survey was carried out in Gaza City, Palestine during the first half of 2009 to study the nutritional status of Palestinian preschool children aged 2-5 years under blockade. The response rate was 95.2% from a total sample of 770. The majority [94.4%] of households faced difficulties accessing food, the main cause was the siege and the shortage of food products; and the majority [85.5%] were food insecure households. Just over 50% of the preschoolers were anaemic, 26.8% of those who had a stool test had parasitic infections, and 15.0 were stunted. Food insecurity was the first predictor of stunting and underweight, and malnutrition indicators indicate the worst situation in the Gaza Strip for several decades

Iodine deficiency disorders among school children in upper Egypt: an epidemiologic study.

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are the world's single most significant cause of preventable brain damage and mental retardation. Data regarding IDD in upper Egypt are scarce and even lacking. The aim of the present work was to study the prevalence of IDD and some potential risk factors in upper Egypt. Using a two-stage cluster sampling technique, 6750 school children aged 8-10 years were screened for IDD through clinical examination of the thyroid gland and determination of urinary iodine, from three governorates in upper Egypt, namely Al-Minya (population of 3.3 million), Assyut (population of 2.9 million), and Suhag (population of 3.1 million). Iodine was determined in samples of soil and drinking water. Overall, the prevalence rate of goitre was 34.6 per cent. The median urinary iodine level for children with goitre was 5.04 micrograms/dl compared to 14.81 micrograms/dl among children free of goitre. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that certain groups of school children were much more likely to develop goitre. They included females (OR = 3.07, 95 per cent CI = 2.78-3.39), children in households where drinking water had an iodine content of less than 0.5 microgram/100 ml (OR = 3.44, 95 per cent CI = 3.09-3.89), and children living in places where soil content of iodine was less than 0.2 microgram/100 g (OR = 2.67, 95 per cent CI = 2.30-3.10). We conclude that IDD is a severe public health problem in upper Egypt. The present situation in upper Egypt necessitates an urgent intervention programme.

Iodine deficiency disorders among primary-school children in Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

The prevalence of iodine deficiency in primary-school children in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate was assessed. A total of 2250 primary-school children aged 8-10 years were selected by a two-stage cluster sampling technique. The results revealed that the prevelance rate of goitre was 27.1% and it was significantly higher in females [29.2%] than males [25.1%]. The median urinary iodine level was 6.7 micro g/dl and 3.9 micro g/dl for grade 1 and grade 2 goitre respectively. It was concluded that iodine deficiency is a public health problem of moderate severity in primary-school children in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. This necessitates an intervention programme through salt iodization