Occurrence of Anisakis and Hysterothylacium Nematodes in Atlantic Chub Mackerels from Libyan Coasts.

The occurrence of zoonotic parasitic nematodes in Atlantic chub mackerels (Scomber colias syn. Scomber japonicus) from Libyan waters was investigated, using epizootiological estimations and molecular specific characterization of larvae. Nematodes belonging to Anisakis spp., the main etiological agent of anisakiasis in Mediterranean waters, and to Hysterothylacium spp. so far considered not pathogenic to humans, were detected. Prevalence values were generally high in visceral cavities (over 40 % for both parasites) while were low for Anisakis (around 1 %) and null for Hysterothylacium in muscles. Moreover, the level of infections was associated with seasons, a feature potentially useful to plan fishing captures and to elaborate risk mitigation strategies for anisakiasis. Species molecular identification performed on a subsample described the presence of Hysterothylacium aduncum as the predominant species, along with Anisakis pegreffii and the hybrids (A. pegreffii and A. simplex sensu stricto), thus posing a concrete zoonotic risk following the consumption of such fish species as a raw preparation.

Ecological content validation of the Information Assessment Method for parents (IAM-parent): A mixed methods study.

This mixed methods study content validated the Information Assessment Method for parents (IAM-parent) that allows users to systematically rate and comment on online parenting information. Quantitative data and results: 22,407 IAM ratings were collected; of the initial 32 items, descriptive statistics showed that 10 had low relevance. Qualitative data and results: IAM-based comments were collected, and 20 IAM users were interviewed (maximum variation sample); the qualitative data analysis assessed the representativeness of IAM items, and identified items with problematic wording. Researchers, the program director, and Web editors integrated quantitative and qualitative results, which led to a shorter and clearer IAM-parent.

Durable diagnosis of seminal vesicle and sexual gland diseases using the nano optical sensor thin film Sm-doxycycline complex.

A new method in which a nano optical sensor for diagnosis of different diseases of seminal vesicle and sexual gland was prepared. The working principle of the method depends on the determination of the fructose concentration in semen of different patients by using nano optical sensor thin film Sm-doxycycline doped in sol-gel matrix. The assay is based on the quenching of the characteristic emission bands of Sm(3+) present in silica doped Sm-doxycycline nanooptode thin film by different fructose concentrations in acetonitrile at λex = 400 nm. This method was optimized for parameters, such as, solvent effect, operational stability, shelf life and interference parameters. Good and reproducible linearity (1 × 10(-9) - 5.0 × 10(-5) mol L(-1)) with a detection limit of 9.0 × 10(-10) mol L(-1) and quantification limit of detection (LOQ) 2.7 × 10(-9) mol L(-1) were obtained. Seminal fructose determination in different patient samples after appropriate dilutions confirmed the reliability of this technique. The method was successfully applied for routine fructose monitoring in human semen samples of different cases such as; obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia, inflammation of male accessory glands, atrophy of seminal vesicle, congenital vas deferens and retrograde ejaculation.

Patterns of dystrophin gene deletion in Egyptian Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy patients.

Large variations in the proportion of intragenic deletion in the dystrophin gene have been observed in different populations. Although dystrophin gene deletion was extensively studied all over the world, only few studies were done on Egyptian population and there was no account on the dystrophin gene duplication. In this study, we present our results on the pattern of deletion of the dystrophin gene together with the usage of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a method for duplication analysis within the dystrophin gene in Egyptian patients. Forty one Duchene/Becker muscular dystrophy patients were included in this study. The diagnosis was based on detailed clinical assessment, serum creatine kinase (CK) level, neurophysiologic study and muscle biopsy for histopathological analysis. DNA was extracted from ten milliliter peripheral blood according to basic protocol, and multiplex polymerase chain reaction for dystrophin gene using both Chamberlin and Beggs sets of primers amplifying eighteen exons covering the two main dystrophin gene hot spots. In addition primers from Abbs set were used when it was necessary to check the exon borders. DNA from cases with no detectable deletion was analyzed for dystrophin gene duplication using quantitative PCR technique. We had a percentage of 61.1% deletion which is higher than data from previous Egyptian studies and most of the deletion was localized in the major hotspot region between exons 44 and 52 and we had 5% of the cases with duplication. Our results were compared with previous studies from Egypt and with studies from different populations especially with data recorded in the Middle East and North Africa.