Genetic Changes of S Gene during Co-inoculation of Two Infectious Bronchitis Virus Vaccines in SPF Chicks

Despite widespread immunizations, infectious bronchitis (IB) remains a significant issue in the Egyptian poultry industry. Multiple IBV genotypes, GI-1, GI-13, GI-16, and GI-23 have been continually circulating among chicken flocks in Egypt, inducing a substantial economic loss to the poultry sector. In addition, live attenuated vaccines representing classical and variant strains can control IBV in Egypt, mainly H120 and 793B. The H120 vaccine is widely spread and offers inadequate protection against heterotypic IBVs in the field. Therefore, a homologous live-attenuated VAR2 vaccine was developed from the Egyptian variant-2 strain Eg/1212B/2012.IB. Variant II vaccine protects against the homologous IBV challenge under experimental and field circumstances. In this study, an experimental trial was performed to simulate field practices such as heterologous vaccination of day-old specific pathogen-free chicks with IBV H120 vaccine (representing GI-1) and IB Var 2 vaccine (representing GI- 23). The current study aimed to determine the existence of nucleotide and amino acid variations within the S gene in isolated viruses following ten passages in the same bird. The deduced amino acid sequence of the S gene indicated viruses isolated from the 6th and 10th passages were identical and shared (96 %) and (83 %) identities with the IB variant II vaccine and H120, respectively. However, amino acid substitutions were observed at 26 positions in the N terminal domain (S1) and S2 is conserved compared to IB Var 2 vaccine. Most amino acid modifications occurred in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the S1 gene. HVR2 has seven amino acid changes compared to the IB Var II vaccine. Isolates of P6 and P10 lacked IBV glycosylation site at position 139 which was detected in IBV/EG/1212B/2012 as well as IB variant II vaccine. The study also revealed no evidence of recombination between the two used live vaccines

Association of various reproductive rights, domestic violence and marital rape with depression among Pakistani women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Depression among women is common in developing countries. Gender inequality can contribute to women's risk for depression. Lack of reproductive and sexual rights is an important marker of gender inequality and women do not have the freedom to express their reproductive and sexual needs in many parts of the world. Therefore we designed this study to determine the association of depression with lack of various reproductive rights and domestic violence among married women in Karachi, Pakistan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A case-control study with 152 cases and 152 controls, which included women 15-48 years, recruited from two teaching hospitals from 1^stJune 2007 through 31^stAugust 2007. The SRQ was administered to all subjects. A cut off score of 8 was used to confirm cases of depression diagnosed by physicians, and to exclude cases of depression from the controls. Self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the risk factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>61% of the cases and 43% of the controls were ever abused by spouse and the frequency of marital rape was 33% in cases and 13% in controls. After adjusting for the effects of other variables in the model, less than 18 years of age at marriage (OR 2.00; 95% CI = 1.07, 3.7), decision for marriage by parents (OR 3.51; 95% CI = 1.67, 7.37), abuse by in laws (OR 4.91; 95% CI = 2.66, 9.06), ≤ 3 hours per day spent with husband (OR 2.33; 95% CI = 1.34, 4.08), frequency of intercourse ≤ 2 times per week (OR 1.85; 95% CI = 1.06, 3.22) and marital rape (OR 3.03; 95% CI = 1.50, 6.11) were associated with depression among women.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In our study depression in married women was associated with younger age at marriage, lack of autonomy in marriage decisions, marital rape and domestic abuse by in-laws. Efforts should be directed towards creating awareness about the reproductive and sexual rights of women in Pakistan. Physicians should be trained to screen and identify women who may be at risk for psychological distress as a result of denial of reproductive rights so that they can support positive mental health outcomes through individual, family or marital counseling.</p

The PROVENT-C19 registry: A study protocol for international multicenter SIAARTI registry on the use of prone positioning in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 ARDS

Background The worldwide use of prone position (PP) for invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 is progressively increasing from the first pandemic wave in everyday clinical practice. Among the suggested treatments for the management of ARDS patients, PP was recommended in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign COVID-19 guidelines as an adjuvant therapy for improving ventilation. In patients with severe classical ARDS, some authors reported that early application of prolonged PP sessions significantly decreases 28-day and 90-day mortality. Methods and analysis Since January 2021, the COVID19 Veneto ICU Network research group has developed and implemented nationally and internationally the "PROVENT-C19 Registry", endorsed by the Italian Society of Anesthesia Analgesia Resuscitation and Intensive Care. . .'(SIAARTI). The PROVENT-C19 Registry wishes to describe 1. The real clinical practice on the use of PP in COVID-19 patients during the pandemic at a National and International level; and 2. Potential baseline and clinical characteristics that identify subpopulations of invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 that may improve daily from PP therapy. This web-based registry will provide relevant information on how the database research tools may improve our daily clinical practice. Conclusions This multicenter, prospective registry is the first to identify and characterize the role of PP on clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients. In recent years, data emerging from large registries have been increasingly used to provide real-world evidence on the effectiveness, quality, and safety of a clinical intervention. Indeed observation-based registries could be effective tools aimed at identifying specific clusters of patients within a large study population with widely heterogeneous clinical characteristics. Copyright

Estimation of national sources and sinks of greenhouse gases based on satellite observations

Human-driven Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the most significant contributor to climate change. World countries and Egypt are moving towards achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030, and 2050, to reach Net-Zero emissions. Based on satellite observations, this research assesses and monitors the GHG emissions induced by human activities in Egypt. Different satellite sensors were utilized in this study to obtain Methane (CH4), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) amounts during 2015–2022. To get a deeper insight into the effects of anthropogenic activities on CO2 and CH4 amounts, they were correlated with land use and land cover, fire incidents, and industrial activities in Egypt. Results revealed a noticeable increase in CH4 and CO2 emissions over the country with a maximum level in 2022. CO2 has a seasonal variation mode, with the highest amounts in spring reaching 0.000409 CO2/mol dry-air. As well, the high CH4 concentration fluctuates all the year-round, with a peak around 1890 ppbv in August. The high levels of GHGs mostly concentrated in the Nile Delta and Nile Valley, where most of the anthropogenic activities are existing. Fire incidents, industries, and land cover change maps showed a spatial matching with the high emission zones. However, the emissions are increasing in Egypt it does not exceed the global average. In conclusion, unmanaged human activities in Egypt increased GHGs release and affected environmental sustainability. This study attempts to better understand the ambient environment in Egypt and support the decision-makers with full insight into the GHG emission hotspots in the country to mitigate their release into the atmosphere and achieve Net-Zero emissions

Potential Efficiency of Earth Observation for Optimum Fishing Zone Detection of the Pelagic Sardinella aurita Species along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

This research utilizes the efficiency of remotely sensed data and advanced digital image processing techniques to assist in monitoring for the management of marine fisheries in Egypt (south Mediterranean Sea region). A newly developed model is applied to the Sardinella aurita fisheries to determine optimal fishing zones, and is then applied to monitor and detect the potentially optimal fishing zones for other locally important and economic fish species. This approach depends on chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and sea-surface temperature (SST) characteristics that are that known to control this species communities. The ranges and distribution of SST and Chl-a were obtained from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aqua as well as Sentinel-3 satellites during the period from 2018 to 2020. The results revealed that there is a strong link between Sardinella abundance and both the SST and the Chl-a concentration. The suitable months for the abundance of this pelagic fish species were defined to be from May to November, producing 75% of the catch (nearly 42 K tons). Low abundances were recorded during the months from December to April, below the suitable harvest levels for this species. This research highlighted the importance of using satellite data as a tool to help scientists to develop appropriate management strategies for the sustainable management of fisheries resources worldwide

Potential Efficiency of Earth Observation for Optimum Fishing Zone Detection of the Pelagic <i>Sardinella aurita</i> Species along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

This research utilizes the efficiency of remotely sensed data and advanced digital image processing techniques to assist in monitoring for the management of marine fisheries in Egypt (south Mediterranean Sea region). A newly developed model is applied to the Sardinella aurita fisheries to determine optimal fishing zones, and is then applied to monitor and detect the potentially optimal fishing zones for other locally important and economic fish species. This approach depends on chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and sea-surface temperature (SST) characteristics that are that known to control this species communities. The ranges and distribution of SST and Chl-a were obtained from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aqua as well as Sentinel-3 satellites during the period from 2018 to 2020. The results revealed that there is a strong link between Sardinella abundance and both the SST and the Chl-a concentration. The suitable months for the abundance of this pelagic fish species were defined to be from May to November, producing 75% of the catch (nearly 42 K tons). Low abundances were recorded during the months from December to April, below the suitable harvest levels for this species. This research highlighted the importance of using satellite data as a tool to help scientists to develop appropriate management strategies for the sustainable management of fisheries resources worldwide

Investigation on Fowl Adenovirus Outbreaks in some Broiler and Broiler Breeders’ Flocks in Egypt

Egypt's poultry industry has been adversely impacted by multiple outbreaks of inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and hepatitis hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) in recent years, resulting in significant economic losses. So, this research aimed to identify and characterize IBH and HPS in broiler and broiler breeders’ flocks across the country for three years (2020-2022). Clinical cases of fowl adenovirus (FAdVs) infection in 835 flocks (10,000–20,000 birds in each flock) were investigated from 11 Egyptian provinces for identifying and genotyping FAdVs. The examined flocks showed variant symptoms of diarrhea, anemia, and general weakness. An enlarged, yellowish, and friable liver with necrotic foci was observed at necropsy, along with hydropericardium effusions, an enlarged, mottled spleen, enteritis, severe pancreatitis, and an inflamed bursa. DNA extracted from suspected isolates was analyzed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing targeting the loop L1 of the hexon gene. The sequences were analyzed using BLAST and compared to adenovirus available in the GenBank database NCBI.  FAdVs were detected in 22.4% (146/650) of broiler flock samples and 32.9% (61/185) of broiler breeders’ flocks. Additionally, the hexon gene was subjected to phylogenetic analysis, which revealed that FAdVs can be classified into four genotypes. (FAdVs B-E) were detected from 34 represented samples (n= 34), 1 out of 34 FAdV-B, 3 out of 34 FAdV-C, 22 out of 34 FAdV-D, and 8 out of 34 FAdV-E (4 with 8a and 4 with 8b), FAdV-D was the most predominant. This investigation revealed the existence of infectious FADVs of various genotypes, and it is critical to design an effective vaccination program and comprehensive epidemic prevention in both broiler and broiler breeders’ flocks in Egypt

Expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme mRNA gene in the kidneys of patients with glomerulonephrites

A little is known about the behavior of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in glomerulo-nephritis (GN), although it is activated in other models of injury. To study renal angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) gene expression in patients with GN to determine its role in the disease process and other factors that may influence the course of the disease and the prognosis, e.g. treatment with ACE inhibitor (ACEI) drugs, we studied 20 patients with GN allocated to two groups: ten patients received an ACEI drug and ten patients did not receive ACEI in addition to a control group of ten healthy subjects. Routine and special laboratory investigation, histopathological studies and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis for renal ACE mRNA were done for both the study and the control groups. There was a statistically significant increase in ACE mRNA gene expression in the GN groups than in control group, but no statistically significant difference in ACE mRNA gene expression between the patients group that received and the group that did not receive ACEI. A significant correlation was found between the ACE mRNA gene expression and the mean blood pressure, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and 24-h urinary protein. In conclusion, a higher level of ACE mRNA gene expression in patients suffering from GN may suggest a role of the RAS in the process of GN, perhaps contributing to glomerular hypertrophy and matrix overproduction. The use of ACEI drugs possibly slows the rate of progression of renal failure and plays a role in controlling the pathophysiology

Effect of Nigella sativa, atorvastatin, or L-Carnitine on high fat diet-induced obesity in adult male Albino rats

Obesity is increasing rapidly across the globe. It is widely accepted that natural products with a long safety background may modulate obesity. The current work aimed to investigate the effect of Nigella sativa, atorvastatin, or L-Carnitine on high-fat diet-induced obesity in white male albino rats. A regular basal diet was fed to 7 rats, and a high-fat diet (HFD) was fed to 24 rats throughout the study for 12 weeks. The HFD group was split equally into four subgroups, each containing six rats. The first group fed on HFD with no medication, the second group received HFD+ Nigella sativa, the third group received HFD+ atorvastatin, and the fourth group received HFD+L-carnitine. At the beginning of the seventh week (the start of the treatment regimen), Nigella sativa, atorvastatin, or L-Carnitine were administered for six weeks. Glucose, body weight, serum atherogenic index (AI), ALT, and AST activities were analyzed. The pathological alterations in the hepatic tissues were examined microscopically and scored. The results revealed that the HFD diet significantly increased the final body weight, serum AI, and serum levels of liver enzymes. Treatment with L-carnitine or Nigella sativa significantly normalized the lipid profile and decreased the final body weight, serum AI, and Serum ALT. Histopathological examination of the liver of HFD received rats showed features of steatosis, which were mitigated by the administration of Nigella sativa or L-Carnitine, while atorvastatin had no significant effect on the improvement of hepatic lesions. Collectively, study findings showed that Nigella sativa or L-Carnitine has mitigated effects on metabolic and histopathological changes in the liver tissues of rats fed with HFD