Bacillus Thuringiensis Var. Aizawai HD-137 as a Potential Agent for Biological Control

Four strains of Bacillus thuringiensis were screened for their chitinolytic activity on colloidal chitin. B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 with the GenBank accession number HM173355 showed the highest chitinase activity, which was recorded after 2 days of incubation. The optimum condition for high chitinase production was Nutrient Yeast extract, Salt Medium, NYSM, with 0.2% colloidal chitin, two days of incubation, pH 6 and 30°C. The novel strain B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 is also considered as a powerful phytopathogenic control agent in which it showed inhibition of the mycelial growth of some phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria solani, Rhizopus B1 and B2, Fusarium solani and Aspergillus flavus. The clear zones of mycelial inhibition ranged from 12 to 19mm. The partial nucleotides sequence of chitinase gene from B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 showed similarities to the chitinase producing bacteria in the GenBank, and it was more related to B. thuringiensis (AB699714, GQ921840 and GQ921842) and B. ehimensis chi60 (AB110081). It is obvious that the B. thuringiensis var. aizawai HD-137 is considered as a significant biocontrol agent against phytopathogenic fungi

Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Heritability of Some Rapeseed (Brassica Napus) Genotypes Using Agronomical and Molecular Traits

High level of heritability and variability were estimated for all traits among genotypes. The genetic similarity of nine genotypes Brassica napus was estimated by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), which ranged from 69% to 94%. The phylogenetic tree resulted in two different clusters; the first including two genotypes which also showed high similarity in agronomic traits and the second included the rest of the genotypes. The genetic diversity was discussed in relation to molecular and agronomical traits. High and positive correlation were recorded for all traits. The high coupled of heritability and variability is considered as a powerful source for the selection of donors in the breeding program, where the genetic gain depends on the availability of genetic variation and high heritability

Levels of certain tumor markers as differential factors between bilharzial and non-biharzial bladder cancer among Egyptian patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background/Objective</p> <p>Bladder cancer is the commonest type of malignant tumors as a result of schistosomaisis which is a major healthy problem in many subtropical developing countries. The aim of this study is to comparatively elucidate the underlying biochemical tumor markers in schistosomal bladder cancer versus non-schistosomal bladder cancer when compared to normal healthy ones.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This work was performed on tissue specimens from total 25 patients and serum samples from total 30 patients versus ten healthy individuals served as control. The investigated parameters in serum are: xanthine oxidase (XO), fructosamine, lactate dehydrogense (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total proteins, essential and non- essential amino acids profile, hydroxyproline, total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-<it>α</it>). In addition, the current investigation also extended to study some markers in tumor bladder tissues including, pyruvate kinase enzyme (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results showed that biharzial bladder cancer patients recored more significant elevation in serum XO, fructosamine, LDH, AST, ALT, hydroxyproline, IgE and TNF-<it>α </it>than in bladder cancer patients when compared to control ones. While, in tissues there were significant increase in PK, LDH, AST & ALT activities of schistosomal bladder cancer than in bladder cancer as compared to control healthy patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It could be concluded that, bilharzial and non-bilharzial bladder cancer showed distinct biochemical profile of tumor development and progression which can be taken into consideration in diagnosis of bladder cancer.</p

Frequency and severity of ketoacidosis at diagnosis among childhood type 1 diabetes in Khartoum state, Sudan

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially life threatening acute complication of Type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This study aimed to determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of pediatric DKA at diagnosis of new-onset T1DM in Khartoum during 2000- 2017 period. Methods: The study was retrospective and involved review of medical files of children (&lt;15 years) with T1DM in the city hospitals and diabetes centers. Results: The overall frequency of DKA among T1DM children at onset of disease diagnosis was 17.6% (173/982). The episodes of DKA increased from 26% in first 6- year period (2000-2005) to 46.3% in the last 6-year period (2011-2012; p&lt;0.001). No significant difference in the frequency of DKA was observed according to gender (p=0.9) and age (p=0.24). Compared to other age groups, the severity of DKA (pH&lt;7.1) was higher in pre-school children (p&lt;0.01). Approximately, 5% of patients were complicated with cerebral edema with a mortality rate of 1.7%. Conclusion: The DKA frequency at diagnosis of childhood T1DM in Khartoum was lower than previous reports. In addition, the severity of DKA was high among pre-school age children with a relatively high mortality rate when compared to the global rate

Fundamental Role of Neurochemicals Aberration in the Pathogenesis of Autism Spectrum Disorders

AIM: The aim of this research was to establish the perturbation of reliable biomarkers implicated in the pathophysiology of autism to help in the early diagnosis and to be as targets in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in children and to spotlight into the complex crosstalk between these biomarkers. PATIENS AND METHODS: This study included 90 autistic children aged from 2 to 7 years old, who were classified into two groups, the atypical autism of 30 children and the childhood autism. The childhood autism group was further divided into mild-moderate autism group and severe autism group each of 30 children. The control group included 30 matched healthy children. All the participants were subjected to full psychiatric examinations, psychological investigations, and biochemical measurements, including gamma-aminobutaric acid (GABA), serotonin, dopamine (DA) in plasma, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in serum. RESULTS: The autistic groups showed a highly significant increase in GABA, serotonin, DA, and BDNF levels compared to the control. Of note, the levels of GABA, DA, and BDNF were significantly increased with the increased disease severity. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between BDNF levels and both GABA and DA levels in the childhood autism group has been recorded. CONCLUSION: The present clinical setting provides new insight into the fundamental role of BDNF in the brain of autistic children as any alterations of its level due to GABA increment cause change in serotonin and DA levels which have empirical evidence in the pathophysiology of ASD. The results received in this research, create a fertile base for the setup of particular targets in the intervention of this ailment

Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Its Association with Hyperandrogenemia Among Sudanese Reproductive Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are more common and frequently occur among PCOS women. The objective of this study was to evaluate atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) as a predictor of CVD and its association with hyperandrogenemia among PCOS women. Methods and Results: This hospital-based study, conducted in Khartoum (Sudan) from October 2020 to September 2021, used a case-control design. The patients (n=150) were women with diagnosed PCOS, according to Rotterdam criteria. The controls were 150 infertile women who did not have PCOS. An ELISA reader (ASYS Expert Plus Microplate, Austria) was used to quantify serum insulin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) by indirect methods and total testosterone (TT) by competitive method during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Serum samples of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were assayed on the Cobas c311 system (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany). The triglyceride–glucose index (TyGI) and TyGI-BMI, as a marker for insulin resistance (IR), were calculated. The logarithmically converted ratio of the molar concentrations of TG to HDL-C was used to determine the AIP. Low CVD risk was defined as 0.24. PCOS women had a significant increase in BMI, compared to non-PCOS (P0.1. PCOS women with hyperandrogenemia showed significantly increased AIP and decreased HDL-C. Additionally, about 73% of PCOS women with hyperandrogenemia had lower HDL-C, and 29.9% had a high risk of CVD (AIP>0.24). A Spearman correlation revealed that PCOS women’s TT correlates positively with TC, TG, TyGI, and AIP and inversely correlates with HDL-C. AIP positively correlates with TT, TC, TyGI, and TyGI-BMI index. Conclusion: Our data revealed a significant occurrence of hyperandrogenemia, dyslipidemia, AIP, and obesity, all of which are considered risk factors for CVD in PCOS women

Wax co-cracking synergism of high density polyethylene to alternative fuels

AbstractAttempts have been made to understand the thermal degradation of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and their combined co-cracking using different ratios of HDPE and petroleum wax under nitrogen atmosphere. We have conducted the experiments using HDPE as the raw material and petroleum wax as co-feed by at 400 and 450°C reaction temperatures. The product distribution was noted along with reaction time of 0.5–3h for the degradation. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) technique was used to measure the weight change of the feedstock as a function of temperature and time. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the degradation temperature. Products were characterized using gas chromatography (GC) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), some other standard physical methods were used to determine the main properties of the liquid products. Results show that the mixed plastic-wax samples could be converted into gases, gasoline, and middle distillate depending upon the composition of feed polymer/wax ratio. It was found that the products mostly consisted of paraffin and olefin compounds, with carbon numbers of C1–C4, C5–C9 and C10–C19 in the case of gases, gasoline and middle distillate respectively

Sufficiency and Efficiency of Field Training for Radiology Students During Internship Experience in Najran University, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: The study was design to evaluate the effectiveness and adequacy of the internship period employing quantitative study descriptive survey approach. &nbsp; Theoretical framework: Internship is requirement of every student of radiology program of Radiological Sciences patch for the award of bachelor's degree at Najran University, Saudi Arabia. The competency level would demonstrate influence the sufficiency and efficiency of clinical training during internship period which represent six months after completing nine levels of radiology program. &nbsp; Design\Methodology\Approach: The survey was distributed to the tow levels of the last year of radiological sciences which composed of 81 male and female students which gathered seventy-seven (77) participants. Data collected through a questionnaire and summarized as percentages, frequencies, means and standard deviations using SPSS version 20.0. &nbsp; Findings: The study revealed un adequacy of the internship period and showed low efficiency due to its short duration. &nbsp; Research, Practical, Social Implication:The research construct and variables are identified the effectiveness and adequacy of the internship period.this&nbsp; study will be the modele of internship with a new qualitative change related to a period of time acceptable to students, similar to other universities. &nbsp; Originality/Value:&nbsp;The originality and value in this study are the framework conceptance and questionnaire that prepared and proved for evaluating the effectiveness and adequacy of the internship period for student of radiology program. &nbsp; Conclusion: In general internship period must be efficient and adequate to enhance sufficiency and efficiency experience by intern trainees

Value of diffusion MRI versus [18F]FDG PET/CT in detection of cervical nodal metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer patients

Background: In differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients, cervical nodal metastasis is a negative prognostic factor. Preoperative imaging plays an important role in treatment planning for nodal metastasis and recurrence. The aim of the study is to compare the diagnostic performance of the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and the F-18 flurodeoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography ([18F]FDG PET/CT) in detection of cervical nodal deposits in DTC patients. Materal and methods: The study was conducted on 30 patients, each performed both modalities just before the surgery. The gold standard was the pathological specimens with post-operative clinico-radiological follow-up, to assess the diagnostic performance of each modality. Results: Based on pathological and post-operative clinico-radiological follow up data. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV) and accuracy were 84%, 80%, 50%, 95% and 83% for PET/CT compared to 84%, 60%, 42.8%, 91.3% and 80% for DW-MRI. On comparing the diagnostic performance of combined DW-MRI and PET/CT to each modality alone, the sensitivity and NPV were improved to 96% and 80% respectively. Conclusions: [18F]FDG PET/CT study is a valuable diagnostic modality for the assessment of cervical nodal deposits in DTC patients, surpassing DW-MRI. Combined PET/CT and DW-MRI techniques seemed to have synergistic performance, mainly in terms of sensitivity and NPV, for detection of nodal metastases