Studies on the physiology and mechanics of egg production in the domesticated fowl: a biometrical investigation of weight variations in eggs and their component parts with special reference to their behaviour in clutches

#1. The investigation was designed to gain information on the role of the three main components of the egg (yolk, albumen and shell) in determining its total weight., with special reference to the variability known to occur when eggs are produced in sequence. #2. The data used consisted of weight measurements made on the whole egg yield of twelve purebred Brown Leghorn pullets from 4th March 1947 to the end of their respective laying cycles. #3. Clutches examined varied in content from 2-6 eggs; the first two classes contained more than halfihe total eggs and the last three slightly under a quarter. #4. The overall mean egg weight was 60.78 grams It 0.258 and the respective corresponding percentages of yolk, albumen and shell, 31.0, 59.7 and 9.4%. #5. The trend for whole egg weight is downward with successive position in the clutch and increasing clutch length; the differences become progressively smaller; that between the first and second egg of the first two clutches is disproportionately large. Egg weight increases as the season under review advances. #6. Yolk and albumen weights showed the same trends to varying degrees. #7. In shells, mean weight fell with increasing clutch size but in the other two groupings (clutch position and season)ruirecse the order found in the first two components, except that in the 5 and 6-egg clutches, the last, first and second eggs were heaviest. #8. Correlations between yollf and albumen weight were significant and positive for the first part of the season under review, but in four birds this relation broke down in the second part. Compared with those which behaved consistently, the eggs from this group showed a slightly larger increase in yolk weight in the second seasonal period, a noticeable lack of increase in albumen and a marked decrease in shell weight. 9. The data on yolk conforms with the views that delayed ovulation increases the weight of the first egg of a clutch and that changes in size may be hormonally controlled. #10. It was concluded that two major factors may affect albumen variations (a) the changing size of a mechanical stimulus consisting of the yolk plus the soluble proteins secreted between the passage of one egg and another, and (b) the time the egg remains in the uterus. #11. Shell variations could be related to the time interval between /- between ovipositions and so to the length of sojourn in the uterus. #12. A final inference is that though sources of stimulation such as hormones, might be expected to increase egg weight through an effect on time of ovulation and the secretion rate of soluble proteins, a possible negative relation between yolk weight and time of oviposition might result in a limiting effect on albumen and shell secretion. The question of the actual relations obtaining between ovulation and oviposition therefore, seems to be vital to any attempts to increase egg size by artificial means

Flexural and long-term behavior of CFRP-strengthened reinforced concrete beams

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Study of plasma adiponectin level in patients with metabolic syndrome

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of interrelated common clinical disorders, including hypertension, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and dyslipidaemia, in addition to obesity. Central obesity accompanied by insulin resistance is a keyfactor in the development of metabolic syndrome (MS) and future macro vascular complications. Adiponectin is the most abundant peptide secreted by adipocytes, being a key component in the interrelationship between adiposity, insulin resistance and inflammation. Hypoadiponectimia has already been associated with the risk of the MS in several populations. Plasma adiponectin level was measured in the current study to clarify its role as a biomarker for metabolic syndrome (MS).Methods: This study was conducted on 40 MS patients (Group I) compared with 20 age and sex matched healthy volunteers (Group II). All patients and controls were subjected to full medical history, clinical examination and laboratory investigations in addition to plasma adiponectin level.Results: Plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower in subjects with MS when compared with subjects with no diagnosis of MS. There was significant negative correlation between plasma adiponectin and age, waist circumference, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, insulin resistance, serum insulin, and triglycerides. Also there was significant positive correlation between plasma adiponectin and HDL.Conclusion: We conclude that adiponectin levels could help as a biomarker for cases of MS.

Magnesium in type 2 diabetes mellitus and its correlation with glycemic control

Background: Hypomagnesaemia may have negative impact on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. This study was done to compare serum Mg levels in type 2 diabetic patients with non diabetic healthy control subjects and to assess the correlation between serum Mg levels and glycemic control in Egyptian patients.Methods: 60 type 2 diabetic patients attending the outpatient clinic of diabetes at Kasr Al Aini hospital faculty of medicine Cairo University and 30 healthy age matched control subjects were enrolled. Fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin, fasting lipids, Hb A1C and serum Mg were measured. Weight, height and blood pressure were recorded. BMI, IR (HOMA), were calculated. The data was analyzed and expressed in terms of mean ± SD. Pearson correlation was performed to establish the relationship between Mg and metabolic variables in type 2 diabetic patients.Results: serum Mg levels were significantly reduced in type 2 diabetic patients compared to the control group with mean ±SD (1.29 ± 0.31 mg/dl) versus (2.41 ± 0.13 mg/dl) with P value < 0.001. There were highly significantly negative correlations between serum Mg levels and HbA1c, fasting glucose and insulin resistance with (r = -0.969, -0.894, -0.653) respectively, P value < 0.001. The best cut off point of Mg was ≤ 2.0 mg/dl in differentiating cases from controls using ROC curve analysis.Conclusion: hypomagnesaemia is closely linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus and it is strongly correlated to glycemic control. We recommend to measure serum Mg in type 2 diabetes and patients who need supplementation should be considered.

Avaliação da sorção de lindano sobre carvão ativado derivado de palha de arroz e biomassa fúngica de Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Rice straw was used for preparation of activated carbon using chemical activation by impregnation with concentrated H3 PO4 followed by pyrolysis at 500 º C for 2h. Physicochemical properties were investigated by several procedures; elemental analysis, scan electron microscope and porosity characteristics. Batch experimental mode was applied for adsorption and biosorption studies. A matrix effect analysis is applied to correlate the lindane adsorption or biosorption capacity to the agitation time, initial levels of lindane and carbon dose or biosorbent concentration. The Scanning Electron Microscope images equipped with Energy-dispersive X-ray reflect the enhancement of thermo-chemical activation by H3 PO4 in increasing the porosity of AC. Sorption behavior of Lindane by Activated Carbon (AC) and Phanerochaete chrysosporium, respectively have been studied to compare the obtained results in order to consider cost effective method for agriculture wastewater treatment. The adsorption capacity and distribution coefficients were determined for the adsorption system as a function of sorbate concentration. Under the studied concentrations, the adsorption of lindane by AC and its biosorption by Phanerochaete chrysosporium match to Langmuir as well as Freundlich isotherms. Afterword, adsorption and biosorption behavior was assessed by calculation of constants for each isothermal model. Finally, Biosorption of Lindane by Phanerochaete chrysosporium showed higher and faster removal compared with AC derived from rice straw.Utilizou-se palha de arroz para a preparação de carvão ativado por ativação química por impregnação com H3PO4 concentrado seguido de pirólise a 500 ºC por 2h. As propriedades físico-químicas foram investigadas por vários procedimentos; Análise elementar, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e características de porosidade. O modo experimental em lote foi aplicado para estudos de adsorção e biossorção. Uma análise de efeito de matriz é aplicada para correlacionar a capacidade de adsorção ou de biossorção de lindano com o tempo de agitação, os níveis iniciais de lindano e dose de carbono ou concentração de biossorvente. As imagens do microscópio eletrônico de varredura, equipadas com raios X de dispersão de energia, refletem o aumento da ativação termoquímica por H3PO4 no aumento da porosidade de AC. O comportamento de sorção do Lindano por Carvão Ativado (AC) e Phanerochaete chrysosporium, respectivamente, tem sido estudado para comparar os resultados obtidos, a fim de considerar o método de custo efetivo para o tratamento de águas residuais da agricultura. A capacidade de adsorção e os coeficientes de distribuição foram determinados para o sistema de adsorção em função da concentração de sorbato. Sob as concentrações estudadas, a adsorção de lindano por AC e sua biossorção por Phanerochaete chrysosporium combinam-se a Langmuir assim como isotermas de Freundlich. O comportamento de adsorção e biossorção foi avaliado por cálculo de constantes para cada modelo isotérmico. Finalmente, a Biossorção de Lindano por Phanerochaete chrysosporium mostrou maior e mais rápida remoção comparada com AC derivada de palha de arroz

Genotypic detection of rifampicin and isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains by DNA sequencing: a randomized trial

Correction to Genotypic detection of rifampicin and isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains by DNA sequencing: a randomized trial Amina Abdelaal, Hassan Abd El-Ghaffar, Mohammad Hosam Eldeen Zaghloul, Noha El mashad, Ehab Badran, Amal Fathy Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2009, 8:4 (30 January 2009

Intravitreal methotrexate infusion for prophylaxis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy after pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Background: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the leading cause of recurrent retinal detachment after surgical repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Our study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of intravitreal methotrexate infusion (IMI) for the prevention of PVR after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in eyes with RRD. Methods: This prospective comparative interventional study was conducted from September 2020 to November 2021 at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Egypt. We recruited a consecutive, non-randomized sample of 47 eyes of 47 patients with RRD undergoing PPV. Participants were allocated to a control group or an intervention group that received IMI during surgery. Each group was subdivided into subgroups of eyes at high-risk of developing PVR and eyes with established preoperative PVR grade C. Outcome measures at the 3-month postoperative follow-up were the rate of retinal attachment, incidence of PVR, reoperation rate to flatten the retina, and changes in the retina and/or optic nerve function as assessed by full-field electroretinogram and flash visual evoked potential. Results: Data from 47 eyes (23 and 24 eyes in the intervention and control groups, respectively) were evaluated. Subgroups IA, IB, and IIB each included 12 eyes, subgroup IIA included 11 eyes, and all subgroups had comparable sex ratios and age distributions. Postoperative PVR at 1 month and between 1 and 3 months was present in 13% and 4% of eyes in the intervention group, respectively. Reoperation to flatten the retina was required in 2 (9%) eyes in the intervention group, while 22 eyes (96%) had complete flattening of the retina at 3 months. No significant differences were found between the study groups and the corresponding subgroups regarding the outcome measures (all P &gt; 0.05). No adverse events attributable to IMI were detected up to 3 months postoperatively. Conclusions: Although IMI was safe for intraocular use in eyes with RRD and PVR grade C or a high risk of developing PVR, it did not affect the anatomical success rate or development of PVR up to 3 months after PPV. Further multicenter randomized clinical trials with longer follow-up periods and larger sample sizes are needed to verify these preliminary outcomes

Significance of Serum Cytokeratin-18 in Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis C Infected Egyptian Patients

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus is one of the most common etiologic agents of chronic liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in which there is continuous inflammation and regeneration of hepatocytes.Cytokeratin-18 (CK18) has been suggested to play an important role in tumorigenesis of epithelial cancers.AIM: Estimation of CK18 serum levels in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (CHCV) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and find the relationship between their levels, the severity of the disease and the development of HCC.METHODS: We measured serum levels of CK18 in 60 Egyptian patients (30 with CHCV &amp; 30 with HCC) and 30 healthy controls.RESULTS: Patients with HCC had highly significant increased CK18 levels compared with CHCV patients, healthy controls. Cytokeratin-18 among the three classes of Child-Pugh classification show highly significant gradual increase from child A to C. Furthermore, In HCC there were positive correlations between CK18 and with RBCs, ESR, and AFP.CONCLUSION: CK18 is a sensitive indicator of the severity of liver disease. Patients with CHCV infection can be followed up by measurement of its serum level which can predict the development of HCC. The combination of AFP and CK18 increased the sensitivity of detection for HCC