Breast Engorgement among Women with Caesarean Section: Impact of Nursing Intervention

Background: Breast engorgement is defined as enlarged & filling of breast with milk. It is one of the most significant problems confronting nursing women, especially primiparous, in the first week of motherhood. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of nursing intervention on relieve of breast engorgement among women with caesarean section. Design and setting an interventional study was conducted in postnatal unit of Beni-Suef University hospital. Sample was simple random sample comprised a total of 90 Primiparae’s cesarean section mothers; 45 in the interventional group & 45 in the control group. Tools of Data Collection were interview questionnaire sheet, knowledge assessment sheet and observational & Engorgement assessment scale. The study revealed that, the nursing intervention was more effective and contributed rapid recovery from breast engorgement especially among the older, educated, housewives, high social class's women and those who were rural dwellers. The study recommended that Prevention is a key element in reducing breast engorgement potentially among nursing mothers. So, primiparous mothers should learn about preventive measures for breast engorgement. Teaching mother how to express both breasts simultaneously to yield the most volume and to decrease time spend pumping each consecutively is the responsibility of health care providers

Breast Feeding Knowledge and Practices Among Primiparous Women with Caesarean Section: Impact on Breast Engorgement in Upper Egypt

Background: The benefits of breast milk are greatly enhanced if breastfeeding starts within one hour after birth. Hunan milk contains a host of dynamic and unique feeding properties. Breast engorgement is one of the most common minor discomforts confronting nursing women after delivery, especially Primiparous. The aim of the study was to investigate the breastfeeding knowledge and practices among primiparous women with a cesarean section and its impact on breast engorgement in Upper Egypt. The study was conducted in the postnatal unit of Beni-Suef University Hospital. The study design was a descriptive study. The type of sample was a simple random sample. The study comprised 90 Primiparous cesarean section mothers; suffer from breast engorgement. Tools of Data Collection were interview questionnaire sheet, knowledge assessment sheet, observational checklist, and engorgement assessment scale. The study revealed that the studied women’s knowledge and technique of breastfeeding were not adequate among the whole study sample. Breast engorgement was more prevalent among the younger, less educated, housewives, low social class's women and those who were rural dwellers. Recommendation: Providing the mother with guidance and support on positioning and latching and modification of hospital practices are effective in reducing breast problems

Histopathological Changes of the Retina After Nd: YAG Laser Thrombolysis in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion: An Experimental Study

Introduction: The efficacy of many therapeutics techniques for treatment of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) has been the subject of many investigations. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the transluminal Nd: YAG laser thrombolysis as a new therapeutic approach used for treatment of BRVO in rabbits as an experimental model.Methods: Four rabbits were considered as a control (n=8 eyes); occlusion of the branch retinal veins was performed by using a dye enhancing thrombus formation in right eyes of 10 rabbits (n=10 eyes). Thrombi in the retinal veins were induced by intravenous injection of rose bengal solution as a photosensitizer immediately before the argon laser application with a power of 1200 mW, a spot size of 100 μm, and a duration of 20 ms. One week later, transluminal Nd: YAG laser thrombolysis (30 mJ, 3 pulses/4 ns) was employed to the site of occluded veins, until the thrombi were partially or completely shattered. The rabbits were followed up after 4 days, 1 week and 2 weeks for slit lamp fundus examination and the treated retinas were isolated for histopathological examination.Results: Argon laser photothrombosis induced complete BRVO with some vitreous hemorrhage, destruction, and necrosis in the surrounding retinal layers. Moreover, one week later, Nd: YAG laser thrombolysis showed complete venous flow, minimal vitreous hemorrhage, reperfused retina, complete veins improvement. Follow up after 2 weeks revealed more improvement of all retinal layers.Conclusion: Treatment with transluminal Nd: YAG laser thrombolysis represented a novel therapeutic modality in BRVO

Genetic and histopathology studies on mice: Effect of fenugreek oil on the efficiency of ovarian and liver tissues

There is a growing interest in understanding the biological effect of medicinal plants. In the present investigation, the effects of fenugreek oil administration on the liver and ovarian activity genetically (i.e., meiotic progression in collected oocytes as well as changes in DNA and RNA content in the liver and ovarian tissues) and histopathologically (i.e., alterations in the liver and ovarian tissues) were examined in mice. Swiss albino female mice were orally administrated with different doses of fenugreek oil for 10 days. The mode and magnitude of effect were found to be depending on the dose of fenugreek oil and type of tissue. Administration with fenugreek oil at 0.1 and 0.15 ml/mouse increased the total number of cumulus-oocyte complexes as well as improved their quality. Cytogenetically, fenugreek oil was able to stimulate the oocytes collected from treated mice at all doses to progress in meiosis. Levels of nucleic acids content in all groups did not significantly change neither in the DNA nor RNA in ovarian- or liver-tissues. Histopathological examination of the ovaries collected from untreated mice as well as from mice treated with 0.05 ml/mouse of fenugreek oil showed no histopathological alterations. However, ovaries of mice treated with 0.1 or 0.15 ml/mouse of fenugreek oil showed improvement in several tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first study that suggests significant stimulating effects of fenugreek oil on the ovarian activity in mice.Keywords: Fenugreek, mice, ovaries, oocytes, meiosis, DNA, RNA, histopatholog

Histopathology of Corneal Lenticules Obtained from Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) versus Microkeratome Excision

Purpose: To study the alterations on the lenticules extracted after femtosecond (Femto) small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) versus the corneal free cap removed using a microkeratome. Methods: The visuMax (500 kHz; laser energy: 180 nJ) was used for small-incision lenticule extraction. Free caps from human cadaveric corneas were excised by microkeratome. The collected lenticules were examined with the light and transmission electron microscope (TEM) for histological analysis, DNA fragmentation was assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA damage was evaluated using comet assay, and corneal proteins secondary structure was assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results: Light microscopic examination showed the presence of more edematous stroma under Femto SMILE than under free cap with a percentage change of 101.6%. In the Femto SMILE group, TEM examination showed pyknotic keratocytes, disruption, and cavitation of the collagen arrays stromal area under Femto SMILE. The DNA fragmentation for the Femto SMILE group revealed one undefined band with a size of 1.1 Kbp. The comet assay analysis indicated the presence of 3% and 8.0% tailed cells for the free cap and Femto SMILE groups, respectively. The tail lengths were 1.33 ± 0.16 and 1.67 ± 0.13 μm (P < 0.01), the percentage of tail DNA was 1.41 ± 0.18% (P < 0.01) and 1.72 ± 0.15%, and the tail moments were 1.88 ± 0.12 AU and 2.87 ± 0.14 AU (P < 0.001) for the free cap and Femto SMILE groups, respectively. FTIR spectroscopy of the Femto smile group revealed disorders in the secondary and tertiary structure of the proteins. Conclusion: Femto SMILE technique induced more structural changes, DNA fragmentation, DNA damage, and corneal proteins secondary structure alteration than those induced by a microkeratome cutting. These changes may be attributed to the deep penetration of high energy levels to the corneal layer. These findings may highlight the potential impact of the Femto SMILE on the cornea and the necessity for managing the laser parameters used

Photothrombosis of Corneal Neovascularization by Photodynamic Therapy Utilizing Verteporfin and Diode Laser

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of experimental corneal neovascularization (NV) with benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD).Methods: One group was considered as control (n=6 eyes) then, corneal NV was induced in 30 New Zealand male rabbits (n=60 eyes) by placing 7.0 silk sutures at midstromal depth approximately1mm from the limbus. Fifteen rabbits with corneal NV were left without any treatment, and 15 rabbits were subjected to photodynamic therapy (PDT) by intravenous injection with Verteporfin at a dose of 1.5 mg /Kg. Diode laser (660 nm) was applied after 15minutes for 5 minutes with a power of 50 mW/cm2. All rabbits were successively followed up by slit lamp examination for periods of 1 day, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Three rabbits were selected and sacrificed weekly (n=6 eyes each) and the corneas were isolated for histopathological examination.Results: The results of slit lamp examination indicated the gradual regression of the cornea neovascularization 4 weeks of PDT. Furthermore, regression of corneal neovascularization was documented clinically by decrease number and length of blood vessels and by histopathological examination.Conclusion: PDT with Verteporfin can provide efficacious treatment of corneal neovascularization

Extrato de Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer neutraliza o stress oxidativo em ratos alimentados com dieta contaminada com multi-micotoxinas

The current study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of Panax ginseng extract (PGE)against the toxicity and oxidative stress in rats fed aflatoxin (AFs) and/or fumonisin (FB)-contaminateddiet. Eighty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into eight experimental groups included thecontrol group, the group treated orally with PGE (0.5 mg/kg b.w.) and the groups fed AFs (1.4 mg/kg diet) and/or FB (20 mg/kg b.w.) contaminated diet alone or plus PGE for 11 weeks. Blood, liverand kidney tissue samples were collected at the end of treatment period for biochemical andhistological studies. The results indicated that PGE increased super oxide dismutase (SOD) levelin liver; however, the other parameters were comparable to controls. Animals fed AFs and/or FBcontaminateddiet showed a significant increase in serum biochemical parameters and oxidativestress markers accompanied with a significant decrease in antioxidant parameters levels and asevere histological changes in the liver tissue. These changes were more pronounced in the groupfed AFs plus FB. PGE succeeded to induce a significant improvement in all biochemical parametersand the histological picture towards the control although it did not normalize them. It could beconcluded that PGE is a promise candidate against the exposure to multi-mycotoxins in food.O presente estudo foi conduzido para avaliar os efeitos protetores do extrato de Panax ginseng(PGE) contra a toxicidade e estresse oxidativo em ratos alimentados com aflatoxinas (AFs) e/oudieta contaminada por fumonisina (FB). Oitenta fêmeas de ratos Sprague-Dawley foram divididasem oito grupos experimentais, incluindo o grupo controle, o grupo tratado com PGE oralmente (0,5mg/kg de peso corporal) e os grupos alimentados com as dietas contaminadas de AFs (1,4 dieta mg/kg) e/ou FB (20 mg/kg de peso corporal) isoladas ou com mais PGE durante 11 semanas. Amostrasde sangue, do fígado e do tecido do rim foram recolhidas no final do período de tratamentopara estudos bioquímicos e histológicos. Os resultados indicaram que a PGE aumenta o nível desuperóxido dismutase (SOD) no fígado, no entanto, os outros parâmetros foram comparáveis aosdo grupo controle. Animais alimentados com dieta contaminada por AF e/ou FB mostraram umaumento significativo nos parâmetros bioquímicos séricos e marcadores de estresse oxidativo,acompanhados de uma diminuição significativa nos níveis de antioxidantes e nos parâmetros dealterações histológicas graves no tecido do fígado. Essas alterações foram mais pronunciadas nogrupo alimentado com AFs mais FB. PGE obteve sucesso quanto à introdução de uma melhoriasignificativa em todos os parâmetros bioquímicos e histológicos com relação ao grupo controle,embora não os tenha normalizado. Pode-se concluir que a PGE é uma promissora candidatacontra a exposição às multimicotoxinas em alimentos

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Genetic and histopathology studies on mice: effect of fenugreek oil on the efficiency of ovarian and liver tissues

There is a growing interest in understanding the biological effect of medicinal plants. In the present investigation, the effects of fenugreek oil administration on the liver and ovarian activity genetically (i.e., meiotic progression in collected oocytes as well as changes in DNA and RNA content in the liver and ovarian tissues) and histopathologically (i.e., alterations in the liver and ovarian tissues) were examined in mice. Swiss albino female mice were orally administrated with different doses of fenugreek oil for 10 days. The mode and magnitude of effect were found to be depending on the dose of fenugreek oil and type of tissue. Administration with fenugreek oil at 0.1 and 0.15 ml/mouse increased the total number of cumulus-oocyte complexes as well as improved their quality. Cytogenetically, fenugreek oil was able to stimulate the oocytes collected from treated mice at all doses to progress in meiosis. Levels of nucleic acids content in all groups did not significantly change neither in the DNA nor RNA in ovarian-or liver-tissues. Histopathological examination of the ovaries collected from untreated mice as well as from mice treated with 0.05 ml/mouse of fenugreek oil showed no histopathological alterations. However, ovaries of mice treated with 0.1 or 0.15 ml/mouse of fenugreek oil showed improvement in several tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first study that suggests significant stimulating effects of fenugreek oil on the ovarian activity in mice

Light-Emitting Diode Laser Therapy for HyperoxiaInduced Retinal Abnormalities: LED Laser Therapy for Retinal Hyperoxia

Introduction: Hyperoxygenation is linked to numerous effects in a variety of organ systems. It can cause tissue damage by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), increasing oxidative stress, and inducing cell death by apoptosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of low-level laser therapy on the retina in response to acute hyperoxia in animals.Methods: A total of 70 Wistar albino rats were evaluated in the present study: 10 rats were designated as a control group, and the rest were exposed to hyperoxia (O2, 90%) for 3 days, 1 week, and 2 weeks (20 rats each). Each group was divided into two subgroups (n=10), one of which was designated as hyperoxia only. The other was treated with a 670 nm light-emitting diode laser (2 sessions/one week, ~ 9.0 J/cm2) in each eye. The animals were euthanized, and their retinas were dissected for analysis of protein content, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and histological examination.Results: We found that two weeks of hyperoxia-induced an increase in retinal protein content (P<0.001), an alteration in the intensities and molecular weights of protein fractions, a significant decrease in the TAC level (P<0.01), and a noticeable increase in H2 O2 and MDA levels (P<0.001). Histological examination revealed fragmentation of the photoreceptors and neovascularization in the outer and inner plexiform layers. Furthermore, the data showed remarkable improvement in the retinal protein contents, oxidative state, and retinal structure after light-emitting diode laser therapy.Conclusion: Light-emitting diode laser therapy was found to be a useful treatment paradigm for reducing hyperoxia-induced retinal damage. DOI: 10.34172/jlms.2021.6