Synthesis of castor oil/PEG as textile softener.

New castor oil/polyethylene glycol (CAO/PEG) hybrids were synthesized by reacting of CAO with PEG 300, 600, 1000, 2000 or 4000, in presence of ammonium per sulfate (APS) as an initiator. The optimum conditions to synthesis such hybrids are: PEG/CAO weight ratio, 35%; APS/PEG weight ratio, 15%; reaction temperature, 80 °C; and reaction time, 60 min. Only the hybrids based on PEG 1000 and 2000 formed oil in water stable emulsions. Treating cotton fabric samples with easy care finishing formulation containing 40 g/L of the synthesized hybrids emulsions results in an enhancement in softness, tensile strength, whiteness index, and stiffness along with a reduction in nitrogen content, wrinkle recovery angle, and wettability properties of treated fabric, compared to that sample finished in absence of that emulsions. The chemical structure of the synthesized CAO/PEG1000 hybrid was confirmed via the FTIR and 1HNMRanalysis whereas the TEM analysis showed that the particles size of that hybrid emulsion is in the range of 27-105 nm. Moreover, such hybrid emulsion treated fabric surface was characterized via SEM and EDX analysis. Furthermore, treating dyed samples with the nominated hybrid emulsion improves the color strength of that samples but keeps the washing fastness, wet rubbing fastness as well as alkaline perspiration fastness of the dyed/finished samples unchanged. The wet rubbing fastness and alkaline perspiration fastness of all the dyed/finished samples were enhanced while the light fastness of such samples decreased.

Improving Stability of Flaxseed Oil by Rice Bran Oil as Source of γ-Oryzanol.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Rice bran oil (RBO) and flaxseed oil (FSO) are vegetable oils that play an important role in human nutrition. RBO is very rich in γ-oryzanol, which is extracted from the inner husk and seed of the rice. γ-oryzanol is a mixture of natural antioxidant compounds in the RBO. Therefore, the current study aimed at the possibility of using rice bran oil (RBO) to improve the oxidative stability of virgin flaxseed oil (FSO) without synthetic antioxidants. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Rice bran oil (RBO) has been added into FSO at 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm compared with FSO containing 200 ppm BHT as synthetic antioxidants. <b>Results:</b> The results showed that the use of RBO leads to an increase in the ability to resist against oxidation and it increases with the increase in the amount of RBO addition in the FSO samples, which recorded 7.36, 8.50 and 10.15 hrs for FSRB1, FSRB2 and FSRB3, respectively, while FSBHT (FSO sample contain BHT) recorded 8.40 hrs. <b>Conclusion:</b> The research recommended the addition of RBO as a source of γ-oryzanol to various foods increases the oxidative stability, increases the nutritional and health value of the food.

Chemical and Sensory Evaluation of Balady Bread Supplemented with Watermelon Rinds Flour and its Anti-Hyperlipidemic Effect in Male Albina Rats.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Watermelon is a good source of minerals, vitamins and dietary fibers. It has been considered a health benefits effect due to the high amount of antioxidants and phytonutrients such as phenolics, flavonoids, phytosterols and other medicinal compounds which decrease the risk of cardiovascular, diabetes and cancer. This research was carried out to study the effect of wheat flour (WF) supplemented with different levels of watermelon rinds flour (WRF) on the chemical and organoleptic properties of balady bread. Furthermore, the effect of prepared bread on reducing blood lipids of hyperlipidemic rats. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Wheat flour (WF) has been supplemented with different levels (5, 10, 15 and 20%) of watermelon rinds flour (WRF). The chemical and organoleptic properties of balady bread and the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of prepared bread on hyperlipidemic rats were evaluated. <b>Results:</b> The results indicated that incorporation of WRF in balady bread wheat flour increased the fibre, ash and minerals content of prepared bread. While carbohydrates content and energy value were decreased by increasing the WRF substitution levels. Organoleptic evaluation tests showed that up to 15% of WF could be replaced with WRF in balady bread and still more acceptable bread compared with control bread samples. In addition, rats fed on a hyperlipidemic diet containing balady bread fortified with WRF showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) and Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (V-LDL) level by increasing the amounts of simultaneous supplementation with WRF 5-15% in the formulated balady bread compared to control samples. <b>Conclusion:</b> The research recommended that the 15% replacement of WRF gave good quality properties and lead to reducing body weight and serum lipid profile of hyperlipidemic rats.

Hepatic injury induced by radio frequency waves emitted from conventional Wi-Fi devices in Wistar rats.

In this study, the impact of standard 2.45 GHz radio frequency source (averaged whole-body specific absorption rate 0.01 W kg-1 24 h-1 daily for 40 consecutive days) on the liver of Wistar female rats was investigated. The rats were randomly divided into control and Wi-Fi-exposed groups. At the end of the exposure, liver samples were dissected from rats. Rats' livers were inspected through the evaluation of some oxidative stress parameters and the evaluation of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase levels as well as through the molecular investigation using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Histopathological examination in addition to ultrastructure examination was also performed. The present data revealed that Wi-Fi exposure leads to severe oxidative stress in the rat liver. Furthermore, Wi-Fi exposure resulted in deleterious effects in the liver function and alters its molecular structure. Moreover, severe histological and ultrastructural alterations are reported in the hepatic tissues points to hepatotoxic effects induced by Wi-Fi exposure. In conclusion, care must be taken when using Wi-Fi emitting devices due to their severe impact on the liver. Public awareness of the need to decrease exposure time and increase the distance from Wi-Fi exposure sources must be raised wherever possible.

Grafting of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone onto κ-carrageenan for silver nanoparticles synthesis.

A water soluble, non-gel, poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)/κ-carrageenan (PVP/KC) hybrid was synthesized by graft copolymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (VP) onto κ-carrageenan in an aqueous medium using ammonium persulphate (APS) as an initiator. Factors affecting the polymerization reaction such as ammonium persulfate concentration, reaction temperature and time, liquor to KC ratio (LR) and KC to VP molar ratio were studied. The results obtained revealed that the optimum reaction polymerization conditions to prepare that hybrid with a total conversion of 93.9% are: [VP], 0.1799 mol/L; VP/KC molar ratio, 50%; [APS], 0.0105 mol/l; LR, 15 l/k; reaction temperature, 90 °C and reaction time, 75 min. Moreover, the grafted KC of that hybrid was characterized via investigating its FTIR analysis. Furthermore, the potential application of such hybrid as a route for synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using AgNO3 as a precursor was investigated. The synthesized Ag NPs are characterized using the ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) as well as transmission electron microscope (TEM). The UV-vis showed a band at 435 nm that confirms the presence of Ag NPs. The TEM image shows that such nanoparticles have a spherical structure with an average size ranging from 3 -18 nm.

A non-woven fabric wound dressing containing layer - by - layer deposited hyaluronic acid and chitosan.

Novel wound dressings composed of non-woven cotton (NWC) fabric and multilayer of hyaluronan (HA) and chitosan were built using layer-by-layer assembly technique. Factors affecting the building up of that dressings such as HA concentration, number of coating layers and nitrogen content of the NWC fabric quaternized form were studied. Meanwhile, some physico-chemical properties of such dressings were investigated. Moreover, to enhance the antibacterial properties of the aforementioned dressings, Silver nano-particles (Ag NPs) were prepared and incorporated as a functional additive in the final HA layer of such dressings. Factors affecting the building up of that dressings such as HA concentration, number of coating layers and nitrogen content of the NWC fabric quaternized form were studied. The results obtained showed that: i) increasing of HA concentration from 0.25 to 1.0% is accompanied by a gradual reduction in the swelling properties and an improvement in the gel fractionas as well as antibacterial properties of treated fabric along with a decreasing in extents of stiffness, air permeability and the relative water vapor permeability of treated fabric, ii) increasing of steeping time of coated samples results in an improvement in percent swelling of these samples. TEM image of the prepared Ag-NPs depicts that the particle size of that nano-particles was <13nm. Furthermore, the prepared dressing surface was characterized via scanning electron microscope. The EDX of Ag NPs loaded dressings confirmed the presence of Ag NPs onto such dressings with Ag - content of 0.24% (w/w). The thermogravimetric analysis assured that the prepared dressings based on quaternized NWC fabric have higher thermal stability than the un-quaternized form.

Giardia duodenalis assemblages in Egyptian children with diarrhea.

Giardia duodenalis is considered the most common cause of parasitic diarrhea worldwide. Genetic studies revealed that at least eight assemblages (A-H) exist. Of these assemblages, A and B are found primarily in human beings and occasionally in animals. The association between clinical symptoms and G. duodenalis assemblages is controversial. The aim of the present study was to determine the assemblages of G. duodenalis prevalent among Egyptian children with diarrhea. Therefore, 96 positive stool samples for Giardia by light microscopy were subjected to multilocus genotyping targeting the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi), ß-giardin (bg), and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes. Amplified polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were then purified, sequenced, and aligned with reference strains to determine the assemblages of the Giardia isolates. Out of the 96 microscopically positive stool samples for Giardia, 77 (80 %) were successfully amplified and sequenced at least at one locus. Of these, 21 (27.3 %) were shown to be assemblage A, 54 (70.1 %) assemblage B, while discordant sequence typing results were observed in 2 (2.6 %) samples. AII was the predominant subassemblage of assemblage A, while it was generally difficult to further classify assemblage B. It was concluded that infection with assemblage B was more common than that with assemblage A. No associations between epidemiological information and assemblage were detected, except with age. Although infections with assemblage B were more frequently associated with abdominal pain and acute diarrhea than with assemblage A, the difference was not statistically significant.

Enhancing some functional properties of viscose fabric.

To enhance the functional properties of viscose fabrics, Tinosan(®) CEL (TC), Ag, and TiO(2) nano-particles were incorporated as functional additives in different easy care finishing formulations alone and in admixtures. Results indicated that padding viscose fabrics in finishing bath containing 10 g/l TC and 60 g/l dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) enhances some performance as well as antibacterial properties of the treated fabrics. Moreover, incorporation of Ag or TiO(2) nano-particles in the DMDHEU or DMDHEU/TC finishing baths enhances the functional properties of the treated samples such as antibacterial properties, UV-blocking properties, and/or self cleaning performance. Incorporation of poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) in the aforementioned finishing formulations enhances these functional properties along with durability to wash. On the other hand, incorporation of Silicon(®)-SLH softener in finishing baths along with TC affects the performance and antibacterial properties of the treated fabrics.

Poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) adduct for attaining multifunctional cellulosic fabrics.

Aqueous polymerization of partially neutralized acrylic acid (AA) along with polyethylene glycol (PEG-600) at AA/PEG-600 mass ratio 3/1 using ammonium persulfate as initiator under proper conditions results in formation of PAA/PEG-600 adduct. The structure of the adduct was confirmed by FT-IR spectra. The potential applications of the prepared adduct in: sizing, durable hand building of cotton cellulose, as well as in functional finishing of cellulose containing fabrics, i.e. cotton, viscose and cotton/polyester, with Ag- or TiO2-nanoparticles were investigated. The modified substrates using the prepared adduct showed a remarkable improvement in their sizing, hand building and/or functional properties, i.e. antibacterial, anti-UV, and self cleaning, in addition to durability to wash. TEM images of the prepared nano-particles, SEM images of the untreated and treated substrates, as well as EDX spectra to analyze the surface elemental compositions were examined. The tentative mechanisms were also suggested.

Crosslinking of alginic acid/chitosan matrices using polycarboxylic acids and their utilization for sodium diclofenac release.

Three different ratios of alginic acid/chitosan matrices of ratios 3/1, 1/1 and 1/2, respectively, were crosslinked in their dry state using citric acid (CA)/sodium hypophosphite (SHP) at different conditions controlling the crosslinking process such as citric acid concentration, citric acid/sodium hypophosphite molar ratio as well as time and temperature of reaction. Results indicate that such matrices were crosslinked efficiently on curing at 180°C for 9min in presence of CA/SHP ratio 1 and the citric acid concentration of 0.6 based on the weight of any matrices. The crosslinked matrices were characterized by investigating their swelling properties, FT-IR and thermalgravimetric analysis. Furthermore, such crosslinked matrices were tested as drug release for sodium diclofenac.

Gastric mucosal Helicobacter pylori distribution and its implications.

In tile present study the clinicopathological aspects of H. pylori infection in different parts of the stomach were investigated in 36 patients. The results showed that 28 patients (77.8%) were H. pylori positive and 8 patients (22.2%) were H. pylori negative by histopathology and confirmation with modified Giemsa stain. There was no statistically significant difference belween H. pylori positive and negative patients regarding dyspeptic symptoms or intestinal metaplasia histopathologically. Histopathological examination revealed chronic gastritis with mononuclear cell infiltration in all studied patients. According to the degree of cell infiltration, chronic gastritis was graded as mild, moderate and severe. There was a statistically significant difference between H. pylori positive and H. pylori negative patients regarding both severity and activity of chronic gastritis in the antrum and body compared to the fundus. Also, there was significant correlation between the grade of H. pylori colonization and the grade of chronic active gastritis on one hand and between H. pylori infection and atrophic gastritis. The serum anti-H. Pylori - IgG positive cases who were H pylori negative by history, showed atrophic gastritis acid intestinal metaplasia. This may be due to the fact that the mucosa has become inhospitable for H. pylori.

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome: neutrophil function in 15 cases fron 4 families in Egypt.

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the periodontal pathologic cause of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome by comparing, with respect to neutrophil function, probands with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome from 4 families in Egypt, unaffected siblings of the probands, and age-matched and gender-matched control subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Family histories and clinical dermal and oral manifestations of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome were evaluated for 15 affected members of 4 families with the syndrome, 10 siblings of the probands, and 7 age-matched and gender-matched controls. Phagocytic and intracellular killing (lytic activity) of polymorphonuclear neutrophils was evaluated for all subjects according to a modification of the method of Wilkinson; opsonization was evaluated according to a modification of the methods of Cutler et al. Data were analyzed by means of analysis of variance. RESULTS: Family pedigrees were plotted, and consanguinity was noted in 3 of the 4 families with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome. The means and SDs for phagocytic killing, lytic activity, and opsonization indices were as follows: probands, 4.76+/-1.99, 0.42+/-0.20, and 0.84+/-0.07; unaffected siblings, 10.4+/-1.3, 3.3+/-0.3, and 0.84+/-0.07; controls, 10.8+/-0.8, 3.5+/-0.6, and 0.85+/-0.05. The phagocytic killing and lytic activity indices demonstrated significance between the probands and both siblings and controls (P<.0005), whereas the opsonization index did not demonstrate significance between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly decreased neutrophil function in probands with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome was demonstrated with respect to neutrophil phagocytotic and lytic activity but not with respect to opsonization. Therefore, specific neutrophil dysfunction appears to be etiologically involved in this disorder.

Hepatitis C virus transmission in family members of Egyptian patients with HCV related chronic liver disease.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egypt has become a major public health problem. In the present study, sexual and intrafamilial transmission of HCV infection were assessed in the family members of 200 Egyptian patients (index patients) with HCV-RNA positive and biopsy ascertained chronic hepatitis C. Index patients were 139 men (mean age 55+/-11 years) and 61 women (mean age 48+/-8 years). Family members consisted of 200 spouses; 139 women (mean age 45+/-12 years) and 61 men (mean age 58+/-9 years); and 355 children (183 males and 172 females, mean age 11.8+/-10 years). All the family members were tested for the presence of antibodies to HCV in their sera. Thereafter, HCV-RNA detection by PCR and HCV serotype determination were performed in antibody positive contacts. Hepatitis C virus antibodies were detected in 28 (14%) spouses, all of them were also positive for HCV-RNA. Hepatitis C virus serotypes were identical in HCV seropositive patient-spouse pairs (Serotype 4). None of the 355 children involved in this study showed HCV antibodies in their sera. No significant difference was found between the prevalence of male-to-female and female-to-male transmission of HCV. A highly significant association was found between both the age of the spouse and the duration of marriage to index patient and HCV seropositivity in spouses. Moreover, HCV seropositivity in spouses was significantly related to increased serum ALT and HCV-RNA levels, histological severity of chronic hepatitis C and to a history of dental care, as a risk factor for HCV acquisition, in index patients. It was concluded that spouses of patients with HCV viremia and chronic liver disease have an increased risk for acquiring HCV, while intrafamilial acquisition of HCV in non sexual contacts seems to be rare. The authors suggest that spouses of HCV viraemic patients should be followed routinely for markers of HCV infection and liver disease.

Immunological disorders in chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients.

It is known that hepatitis C virus (HCV) related to chronic liver disease may be associated with various immunological disorders, among these disorders are mixed cryoglobulinemia, serum antinuclear antibodies, antismooth muscle antibodies and liver/kidney microsomal antibody type 1 (LKM1). However, the actual prevalence and pathogenic role of these disorders in patients with chronic hepatitis C are unclear. It was our aim to estimate the prevalence of different autoimmune antibodies in cases of hepatitis C chronic liver disease and to assess if such changes have any clinical significance. A total of 30 chronic hepatitis C patients (22 males and 8 females) with a mean age of 43.5 +/- 6.7 years, all patients were ELISA II positive, HCV RNA PCR positive and HbsAg negative, with elevated ALT more than 2 folds of the normal, in addition to 20 healthy controls of matched age and sex were tested for rheumatoid factor, cryoglobulin, antinuclear antibody, antismooth muscle antibody, antimitochondrial antibody and LKM1. The rheumatoid factor was present in 18 (60%) of the HCV Ab +ve patients and in 1 (5%) of the controls (p < 0.0002), cryoglobulins were present in 4 (13.3%) of the patients and not detected in the controls (p > 0.24), antinuclear antibody was positive in 4 (13.3%) of the patients and in 1 (5%) of the controls (p > 0.6), antismooth muscle antibody was positive in 1 (3.3%) of the patients and not detected in any of the controls, the antimitochondrial antibody and LKM1 were not detected in both the patients and the controls. In conclusion, we can see that chronic hepatitis C patients show prevalence of some autoimmune antibodies and their presence is not associated with any implication on the clinical presentation.

Study of interleukin-2 receptor in schistosomiasis mansoni and its analogous changes in collagen diseases and schistosomal arthropathy.

An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in the serum of patients with different stages of S. mansoni infection, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and schistosomal arthropathy. The results demonstrated significant higher level of sIL-2R in different patient groups compared to the control group. The highest level of sIL-2R was recorded in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis complicated with ascites. The difference was statistically significant compared to other groups. There was no significant difference in sIL-2R regarding rheumatoid arthritis and SLE. Schistosomal arthropathy group showed significant higher level of sIL-2R compared to rheumatoid arthritis, SLE and early S. mansoni infection while the difference was insignificant compared to hepatosplenic schistosomiasis without ascites.

Endothelial tissue pathological alterations demonstrated in mice naturally infected with Sarcocystis.

Comparative electron microscopical study showed a spectrum of cytopathological changes ranging from exudative to obstructive inflammation of the vascular endothelium in mice naturally infected with Sarcocystis. The endothelial cells changes were characteristic of necrotizing vasculitis and ischaemic injury indicating loss of metabolic integrity and impaired perfusion. Signs of chronic inflammation and reflecting macrophage-lymphocyte interaction were also evident. The fact that the endothelial affection was not a consistent feature in all infected mice, indicates that such cytopathological alterations may often be temporary and repairable or more likely they are genetically predisposed.

The primary structure of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase from pig heart: peptides obtained by cleavage at basic residues.

Results obtained as part of a study of the primary structure of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase from pig heart are described. In particular, the S-aminoethylated protein was digested with trypsin and with the lysine specific protease from A. mellea. In the first case peptides contained 221 out of the total of 401 amino acid residues in the protein were obtained. By contrast the digest with A. mellea protease was not examined exhaustively and six peptides containing 49 amino acid residues were isolated. Digestion of the trifluoroacetylated and S-aminoethylated protein with A. mellea protease yielded a mixture of large fragments three of which, containing 89 amino acid residues, are described here. The combined results of these three digests yielded 66.6% of the total structure, concentrated mainly in the N-terminal half of the protein.

Large-scale purification and some properties of the mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase from pig heart.

A method has been developed which allows isolation of 0.3--0.5 g of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase in five days starting from 10 pig hearts; the method does not involve initial preparation of mitochondria. Mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase and the cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase may conveniently be recovered from side fractions. The product mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase is homogeneous as judged by various electrophoretic techniques and by N-terminal analysis. Crystals of the enzyme have been obtained both from concentrated, essentially salt-free, solutions and from solutions of ammonium sulphate. The amino acid composition, N and C-terminal amino acid sequences and subunit molecular weight have been determined; these characteristic properties are compared with those of the cytoplasmic isozyme from the same source.