Long-term protection of hepatitis B vaccination among Egyptian children

Background: Hepatitis B Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Objective: to detect the long-term immunogenicity of the vaccine in Egyptian children after five and ten years of vaccination. Methods: Two hundreds healthy children were recruited. They were divided into two groups according to their age. Group A included 100 child, around 6 years old, vaccinated 5 years ago. Group `B` included 100 child, around 11 years old, vaccinated 10 years ago. Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titre was tested, booster dose of the vaccine was given to children whose HBsAb was < 10 mIU/ml, then one and half month later, they were retested for HBsAb to evaluate the response. Results: Both groups had a wide range of HBsAb (2-1000 mlU/ml), and there was a significant difference in the level of the two groups. Our data proves the decline of antibody titre with time. In group A, 19 children needed a booster dose, 14 of them were vaccinated, and 10 were retested after one and half month. The results showed that 9 (90%) responded by increased level of HBsAb, with six (66.6%) showing an adequate response. In group B, 52 children had antibody titre < 10, 48 of them were vaccinated and 34 were retested one and half months later. Two out of the 34 did not respond and 32 (94.2%) responded by an increase in the antibody titre. Of those who responded, 19 had adequate response (HBsAb ≥ 100) and 13 had hypo-response (HBsAb = 10 -100). Eighty percent (80%) of boys versus 51.7% of girls responded adequately. Conclusion: Hepatitis B vaccine is an effective and successful way for preventing HBV infection. No need for booster dose at least for 5 years after vaccination .Keywords: HBV- HB vaccine- long term immunityEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011;9(1):35-4

AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION BY USING SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR IN VERTICAL CLOSED SYSTEM FOR LETTUCE PRODUCTION

The experiment was held at the Arid land Agricultural graduate studies and Research Institute - Ain Shams University. A soil moisture sensor is designed and used for measuring and controlling soil moisture content in plant media.  The device has been programmed and connected to three water-lifting pumps to operate them according to each treatment.         A vertical system has been constructed using 18 columns of white square styrofoam pots filled with perlite (In-organic substrate). Three soil moisture content treatments were selected as T1 = 60 %, T2= 80%, and T3 = 100% which were controlled by the sensors.  Solution tank filled with dissolved nutrient elements was used for supplying required water.       Two types of lettuce (green and red) lettuce seedlings were planted in the perlite substrate and irrigated by drip irrigation system. The system was closed and was based on smart automatic drip irrigation system,        Results revealed that, 556.5 liters of water was consumed under condition of T1 = 60 %, while 697.5 liters and 908.5 were consumed under condition of T2= 80 %, and T3 = 100% respectively After 47 days the Red lettuce yield (weight, number of leaves, and also weight of dry lettuce) was higher than green lettuce for all treatments. Yields of lettuce per system unit (4.5 m2) 16 kg/m2 and water use efficiency 26kg /m3 (Barbosa et al 2015) conventional production yielded 3.9 ±  0.21 kg/m2/y of lettuce produce, with water. Hydroponics offered 11±1.7 times higher yields but required 82±11 times more energy compared to conventionally produced lettuce

EFFECT OF BARLEY ETIOLATED SPROUTING WITH SOME HAYS USING SALINE WATER ON THE NUTRITIONAL AND ECONOMICAL VALUE OF THE PRODUCT

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of barley grain etiolated sprouts mixture with faba bean, Egyptian clover, wheat and rice hays to improve fodder value. Hays were used as media to etiolated sprouts of barley with three seeding densities (10, 20 and 30% w: w). Growing conditions of the system can produce between 12.8 to 38.38Kg of fresh fodder and 3.18 to 9.10Kg of dry fodder in 4 days from one kilogram of dry barley grains. The dry fodder per unit seed volume (Kg/Kg grain) was decreased with increasing seed density. Since hays were decreased but the nutrient content of the fodder, especially protein was increased. Barley etiolated sprouts improved quality of hays fodder from faba bean, Egyptian clover, rice and wheat crop. Carbohydrate lipid, protein and total energy content were increased with increasing barley-seeding density while crude fiber was decreased. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was decreased with decreasing seed density especially with rice hays (39.92) and increased with increasing seeding density especially with faba bean hays (74.77). Fiber fraction (Neutral detergent fiber NDF, Acid detergent fiber ADF, Acid detergent lignin ADL), cellulose and lignin percentage were decreased with increasing seeding density of barley, Relative feed value (RFV) was increased with increasing seed density for barley grown on faba bean, Egyptian clover, rice and wheat hays.                      The barley etiolated sprout production system obtained a good quality fresh forage in small area all year around and low cost estimated per ton DM; total digestible nutrients (TDN) and crude protein (CP) compared with hydroponic barely green sprouts. Therefore, the system can recommended as cheap energy (TDN) and protein (CP). In addition, the system saving agricultural lands and partially water consumption for strategy crop production as wheat and corn since its fodder products can produced and grown in small dark area during absence of natural forage

RESPONSE OF STRAWBERRY PLANTS TO SHORTENING DAY LENGTH , SHADING AND COLD STORAGE UNDER EGYPTIAN CONDITIONS

This experiment was performed in 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 seasons at El-Bosaly Protected Cultivation Experimental Site, of the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), 15 Km west of Rosetta. The current study was conducted in open field to investigate the growth and productivity of strawberry plants under the shading and cold storage methods. Two strawberry cultivars were used, i.e., Camarosa (cv.) and Yael (cv.). Transplants were set up on 15 of March to 15 of September in both two seasons of 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, respectively under El-Bosaly conditions. Seven treatments were used i.e., short day, 40% shading, 73% shading, three periods cold storage at 5Co, i.e., (24h, 48h and 73h) and control. Results indicated that the application of 73% shading treatment was the most effective in reducing maximum and minimum of air temperature and radiation, followed by 40% shading, whereas, the highest value of maximum and minimum air temperature, radiation were observed in control treatment throughout the two growing seasons. In addition, 73% shading treatment produced the tallest plants and the highest number of leaves per plant and leaf area per plant. Moreover, flowering and chlorophyll in leaves were increased by application of short day treatment. Also, fruit characters such as average weight and number of fruits per plant were the highest values with 40% shading. Chemical components of fruits, i.e., T.S.S were increased with 73% shading treatment. When plants were grown under 40% shading treatment, followed by 73% shading, while cold storage for 72 h treatment gave the lowest values. Neither cultivars nor the interaction between cultivars and tested factors had any significant effects on many studied characters

Különböző termesztési módok hatása a paradicsom összetételére és minőségére

Results obtained during the experimental procedures showed that tomatoes grown in greenhouses had the best physical and chemical properties, with the exception of the content of vitamin C. This was particularly conspicuous in the dry matter content, refractometer reading, sugar and acid content. From the aspect of quality, greenhouse tomatoes were followed by tomatoes cultivated under plastics foils, and lastly by tomatoes grown in the field. It can be stated on the basis of the experimental results that the properties of tomatoes of 70% degree of ripeness were in general more favourable than those of tomatoes of 80% degree of ripeness. Von den bei den Versuchsarbeiten erhaltenen Ergebnisse konnte festgestellt werden, dass die im Treibhaus gezogenen Tomaten die besten physikalischen und chemischen Eigenschaften (mit Ausnahme des Vitamins C) aufwiesen. Dies war besonders offenbar im Fall des Trockensubstanzgehaltes, und des damit zusammenhängenden Refraktionswertes, bzw. des Zucker- und Säuregehaltes. Betreffs der Qualität standen die unter Kunststoff-folien und dann die am Ackerfeld produzierten Tomaten nach den im Treibhaus bezogenen. Auf Grund der Untersuchungsergebnisse wurde festgestellt, dass die Tomaten bei einem 70% igen Reifungsgraddiber günstigere Eigenschaften verfügten, als die Tomaten bei einem 80% igen Reifungsgrad. A partir des résultats obtenus lors des expériences il s’est fait établirqu’a l ’exception de la teneur en vitaminé C, les tomates cultivées dans des serres ont les meilleures caractéristique physiques et chimiques. Cela se montre surtout dans la teneur en solides et la valeur de refraction, ainsi que dans les teneursen sucre et en acide. La seconde catégorie est celle des tomates cultivles sous des toiles plastiques et la troisiéme celle des fruits cultivés en plain air. Les résulatats permettent de conclure que les caractéristiques destomates du degré de maturité de 70 p. c. sont, en generál, supérieures ä cedes des gruits du degré de maturité de 80 p.

(E)-1-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)-4,4-di­methyl­pent-1-en-3-one

In the mol­ecule of the title compound, C14H16O3, all non-H atoms except for one methyl C atom lie on a crystallographic mirror plane. The conformation with respect to the C=C bond [1.3465 (12) Å] is trans. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked via C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into C(5) chains propagating along [100]

EFFECTS OF WATER SALINITY AND EGYPTIAN CLOVER AMENDED SUBSTRATES ON TOMATO TRANSPLANT PRODUCTION

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth of tomato transplants irrigated with saline water in a commercial soilless potting media amended with fermented clover produced by anaerobic fermentation of a mixture of clover and water for different periods (1, 2 and 3 weeks). Treatments were distributed in completely randomized factorial design included three salinity levels in irrigation water (260, 1000 and 2000 mg l-1) without and with fermented clover corresponding to 0, 10, 20 and 30% of the substrate (1peat: 1perlite: 1vermiculite) by volume. Plant height (cm), number of leaves, vegetative fresh and dry weights (g) per plant were recorded 35 days after sowing. The obtained results showed that the mean values of the aforementioned parameters were increased due to the incorporation of clover-based amendment with higher pronounced effect recorded for fermented clover as compared to non-fermented clover. The highest values were obtained due to the incorporation of three weeks fermented clover at 20% mixing percentage followed by 30%. There were significant differences among water salinity treatments; fresh water (260 mg l-1) recorded the highest vegetative growth of tomato transplants. Furthermore, fermented clover alleviated the salt stress on transplants and increased the growth parameters under saline water irrigation. These results suggested that clover can be used for producing organic tomato transplants, instead of imported media, supporting by fermentation to enhance the ability of clover to supplement the transplants with the nutrient needs and cope the salinity condition

RETENTION OF ZN, PB, CU AND CD METAL IONS ONTO SEWAGE IRRIGATED SOIL

The sorption isotherm and kinetic of Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+ , and Cd2+ ions onto sewage irrigated soil (El-Gebal El Aasfar-Qalubia) was examined as a function of the retention time and initial ion concentration using batch equilibrium sorption experiments. Results show that the Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd metal ions onto the soil is relatively rapid and sorption reaches equilibrium at about 240 minutes. Kinetics of the sorption process on the soil is well characterized by the pseudo-second order reaction rate. Langmuir, Freundlich and D–R isotherm models are fitted for the sorption of Cu2+, Pb2, Zn2+, and Cd2+ ions onto the soil. The constants of all models were calculated for each metal ion and compared. It indicated clear differences between the sorption characteristics of Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ ions on the sewage irrigated soil

Comparative physiological, morphological, histological, and AQP2 immunohistochemical analysis of the Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius) and oxen kidney: Effects of adaptation to arid environments

Compared to other mammals, Arabian camels are ideal models for exploring the structural adaptations that enable camels to survive in arid environments. Thus, this study aimed to explore how evolutionary adaptation to arid conditions modifies the characteristics of the kidneys in Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius) compared to oxen. Urine samples were physically and chemically analyzed. Harvested kidneys were subjected to topographical and fast spin echo magnetic resonance (FSE-MR) imaging. Histology, histomorphometry, and Aquaporin-2 (AQP2) expression by immunohistochemistry were also performed. Here, in dromedaries, sodium and potassium values in the urine were much higher (p=0.001, for both), whereas chloride was much lower (p=0.004) than the values of oxen. Compared with oxen, the level of the hormone aldosterone in serum was significantly lower (p=0.002), whereas creatinine and urea were significantly higher (p=0.005 and p=0.001, respectively). Uric acid in dromedaries and oxen did not differ significantly (p=0.349). Like sodium levels (p=0.001) in dromedary serum, chloride was also much higher (p=0.002) than in oxen. The average value of potassium was much lower (p=0.009) than that of oxen. Morphologically, anatomical and FSE MRI studies revealed that minor and major calyces were not found in dromedary kidneys. The renal pelvis was not found in oxen, and the major calyx was directly connected to the ureter. The dromedary kidney contained a wider medullary portion as well as increased diameters for renal corpuscles (RCs), proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs), and collecting tubules (CTs, p<0.05) compared with the oxen. We also noted that AQP2 was significantly expressed in dromedary nephron components, except for RCs, compared with oxen as shown by immunohistochemistry. Overall, these data strongly suggest that the dromedary has a greater ability to adapt to harsh desert conditions in terms of producing highly concentrated urine than oxen