Beneficial therapeutic effects of Nigella sativa and/or Zingiber officinale in HCV patients in Egypt

Hepatitis C is a major global health burden and Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide. The current study was designed to evaluate the beneficial therapeutic effects of ethanolic extracts of Nigella sativa, Zingiber officinale and their mixture in Egyptian HCV patients. Sixty volunteer patients with proven HCV and fifteen age matched healthy subjects were included in this study. Exclusion criteria included patients on interferon alpha (IFN-α) therapy, infection with hepatitis B virus, drug-induced liver diseases, advanced cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or other malignancies, blood picture abnormalities and major severe illness. Liver function enzymes, albumin, total bilirubin, prothrombin time and concentration, international normalized ratio, alpha fetoprotein and viral load were all assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. Ethanolic extracts of Nigella sativa and Zingiber officinale were prepared and formulated into gelatinous capsules, each containing 500 mg of Nigella sativa and/or Zingiber officinale. Clinical response and incidence of adverse drug reactions were assessed initially, periodically, and at the end of the study. Both extracts as well as their mixture significantly ameliorated the altered viral load, alpha fetoprotein, liver function parameters; with more potent effect for the combined therapy. In conclusion, administration of Nigella sativa and/or Zingiber officinale ethanolic extracts to HCV patients exhibited potential therapeutic benefits via decreasing viral load and alleviating the altered liver function, with more potent effect offered by the mixture

A projection method for statics and dynamics of lattice spin systems

A method based on Monte Carlo sampling of the probability flows projected onto the subspace of one or more slow variables is proposed for investigation of dynamic and static properties of lattice spin systems. We illustrate the method by applying it, with projection onto the order-parameter subspace, to the three-dimensional 3-state Potts model in equilibrium and to metastable decay in a three-dimensional 3-state kinetic Potts model.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, RevTex, final version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Effects of Some Essential Oils on Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production

The present study aimed at investigating the effects of some essential oils on inhibiting fungal growth of A. flavus and aflatoxin production. Clove oil was found as the best among the six different oils tested against the radial growth at the concentration of 0.05. mL/100ml. However the other oils were also significantly better than the control except the Pumpkin oil. Different concentrations (0.00, 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05 ml/100ml) of only three of the oils were tested against the radial growth of A. flavus. Clove and Cumin oils were significantly effective than the control at all these concentrations. Although Pumpkin oil was slightly more effective than the control at its higher concentration (0.05) ml/100ml), it was not effective at its lower concentrations (0.01 and 0.03 ml/100ml). Clove oil was also the best in suppressing mycelial growth at the concentration of 0.05 ml/100ml. However, the other oils were also significantly better than the control, while, Pumpkin oil was non-effective. Spore germination was also affected by the oils tested. Clove oil gave complete inhibition at its higher concentration followed by Cumin, Rehan, Garlic and Desert date, while Pumpkin oil was the least one. Aflatoxin production was highly affected by the essential oils tested. Clove and Cumin exhibited a complete inhibition, followed by Rehan; Garlic and Desert date while Pumpkin oil was non-effective

Determination of Macro and Micro minerals Contents of Kejeik Fish Product

The objective of this study was to determine the contents of macro and micro minerals of Kejeik product collected from two different locations in Sudan: Singah city (Blue Nile) and Kusti city (White Nile). The ash content of Kejeik samples ranged between 5.78% and 11.80% and the highest value (11.80%) was found in Ijl Kejeik from  Kusti, while the lowest value (5.78%) was found in Ijl Kejeik from Singah. All Kejeik samples contained appreciable amounts of macro-minerals and the calcium was the highest in all samples. Moreover, Kejeik samples contained most of the micro-minerals, however, Nawk Kejeik and Ijl Kejeik collected from Singah contained the lowest concentration of iron. The copper content in Kejeik samples determined in the present study were within a range of 1.99-28.1mg/kg, the lowest was found in Garmut Kejeik (1.99mg/kg), while the highest was in Ijl Kejeik (28.1mg/kg. The study concluded that Kejeik is a safe food with a highly nutritive value which is recommended to be utilized in Sudanese meals especially during shortage of food as nutrients sources

THE EFFECTS OF DIABETES MELLITUS ON THE RESPONSE TO PEGINTERFERON-ALPHA IN COMBINATION WITH RIBAVIRIN THERAPY IN EGYPTIAN CHRONIC HEPATITIS C PATIENTS

Objective:The present study aimed to determine whether type 2 diabetes mellitus influences the response to antiviral therapy with peg-interferon alpha plus ribavirin in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C. Methods:All patients were treated with peginterferon alpha 2 b (1.5 μg/Kg/body weight) subcutaneously plus oral ribavirin application in a dose ranging from 800-1200 mg/day and followed after 12 w of therapy. Results: The present study indicated that, non-significant changes were observed in liver function, kidney function, thyroid function tests, tumor marker, immunological analysis, hematological parameters, viral load and degree of cirrhosis between both groups’ baselines, while the only significant difference was regarded in glucose level. However, diabetic group showed a significant decrease in response to antiviral therapy as compared to non-diabetic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. Furthermore, significant decrease in serum liver enzymes activity and total bilirubin level as compared to baseline levels in both groups, while there were a significant increase in alanine transaminase (ALT) activity and total bilirubin level in diabetic group as compared to non-diabetic HCV group after treatment. Also, significant decreases in hemoglobin concentration, white blood cells and platelet counts, in both groups after treatment as compared to there before treatment while diabetic group showed significant decreases in hemoglobin concentration and white blood cells count when compared with non-diabetic HCV group after treatment. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes mellitus influence the response to antiviral therapy with peginterferon plus ribavirin in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C

Comparison of Oral, Tympanic and Fresh Urine Temperature in Healthy Young Adult Males in Kingdom Suadi Arabia

Background: Core body temperature (CBT) is commonly evaluated by measuring oral (OT) and tympanic membrane (TT) temperatures; however, there are considerable debates on which of these methods is the most appropriate.Objective: To evaluate concordance of OT and TT with CBT.Material and Methods: OT, TT and fresh urine temperature (FUT) were measuredsimultaneously in 45 apparently healthy young adult males from Buraydah, Qassim, KSA during July 2015. All readings were obtained between 7:00 and 10:00 pm according to the standard methods. FUT was used as indicator of CBT.Results: OT (36.35±0.41° C) was significantly higher compared with TT (35.99±0.81° C, P = 0.013) as well as FUT (35.55±0.76° C, P < 0.001). TT was significantly higher compared with FUT (P = 0.003). Using one sample t-test, the difference between OT and TT (0.36±0.92° C, P = 0.011), OT and FUT (0.80±0.90° C, P < 0.001) and TT and FUT (0.44±0.80° C, P = 0.001) were significantly above zero. Disconcordance of the OT, TT and FUT measurements are further illustrated by Bland-Altman plots. There were no significant correlations between OT and TT as well as between OT and FUT. However, TT correlated positively with FUT (r = 0.48, P = 0.001).Conclusions: OT and TT are inappropriate measures for CBT. CBT has influence on TT, but not OT.Key words: Core body temperature, oral, tympanic, urine

Design of a small-scale solar Dryer to Improve Natural Drying of Vegetables and Fish

This study aimed at improvement of a solar dryer based on the principle of natural–convection used for drying vegetables and fish. The constructed dryer, comprises of three main models, solar collector (tent of polythene sheet collector), drying chamber and solar chimney. Design has been made to eliminate the problem of quality loss and over drying. Okra, Tomato, onion, fish were subjected to solar drying and open – air drying processes. The chemical, microbiological analyses and sensory evaluation were carried out for the dried products. The results gives indication of improved quality for solar dryer compared to products dried in open – air systems which indicates its efficiency in drying. &nbsp