Appendicitis in Children: Audit of outcome in Kosti-Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Appendicitis is the most common cause of the acute surgical abdomen in children. It accounts for approximately one-third of childhood hospital admissions for abdominal pain. Objectives: To audit the outcome of management of children presenting with abdominal pain suspicious of acute appendicitis. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 67 children admitted and treated for acute appendicitis in Kosti Teaching Hospital from January 2005 to December 2007. Symptoms, signs, details of management and results of follow up were studied. Results: Boys comprised 45 (67.16%). Age ranged from 4 – 15 years (mean 11.13± 2.59) years. 44(65.67%) of children had acute, 16(23.88%) perforated appendicitis, 3(4.48%) appendiceal mass,appendix single patient (1.49%) had appendiceal abscess and 3(4.48%) normal. Five patients (7.46%) developed postoperative complications but no mortality was encountered.Conclusion: In spite of advances in means of diagnosis appendicitis remains a clinical diagnosis with excellent outcome if diagnosed and treated promptly.Key words: Appendicitis, appendicular abscess, appendicular mass

Effect of Lead Toxicity on Cytogenisity, Biochemical Constituents and Tissue Residue with Protective Role of Activated Charcoal and Casein in Male Rats

Abstract: Lead is a common industrial and environmental pollutant. Prolonged exposure of a sublethal dose to this toxicant is associated with oxidative stress, damage of DNA and considered to be a risk factor for kidney, liver added to many disorders. This study was carried out to investigate the most toxic effects of lead with trial to diminish this toxicity by supplementation of casein or activated charcoal. Therefore, forty mature male albino rats were used , they divided into four equal groups, 10 rats of each. Group 1 was considered as control. Rats of other groups (2, 3 and 4) were supplemented lead acetate at a dose of 0.5 g/100 ml drinking water for 2 months. Gr 3 is given charcoal at a concentration of 0.05g ration, while in Gr 4 casein is mixed with ration at a concentration of 20 g/100 g ration. Group 2 revealed significant increases in serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, GGT, TB, TC, LDL and CAT levels and decreased total protein, HLDL, VLDL, trace mineral salts, SOD and GSH-px. The results of haematological study evoked a significant decrease in the red blood cells (RBCs) count, blood haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and packed cell volume (PCV). Cytogenetic study resulted a significant increase in the percent of multinucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MPCE) as well as significant increase in the polychromatic-erythrocytes (PCE) and normochromatic erythrocyte (NCE) ratio (PCER/NCE) Lead concentration in level serum and different tissues showed lead accumulation in serum, kidney, liver, muscle, intestine and spleen. Supplementation of charcoal and casein induce protective effects against lead toxicity in most of above parameter studies, and casein showed higher efficacy in the protection of lead-induced toxicity than charcoal

COVID-19 Mathematical Study with Environmental Reservoir and Three General Functions for Transmissions

In this paper, the ongoing new coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic is being investigated using a mathematical model. The model depicts the dynamics of infection with several transmission pathways and general infection functions, plus it highlights the significance of the environment as a reservoir for the disease’s propagation and dissemination. We have studied the qualitative behavior of the proposed model representing a system of fractional differential equations. Under a set of conditions on the general functions and the parameters, we have proven the global asymptotic stability of all steady states by using the Lyapunov method and LaSalle’s invariance principle. We also carried some numerical results to confirm the analytical results we obtained

Curriculum Analysis using Harden’s 10 questions framework: Case study Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of El Imam EL Mahadi (2018)

Introduction:Curriculum analysis is defined as unpacking a curriculum into its component parts, evaluating how the parts fit together, checking underlying beliefs and assumptions and seeking justification for curriculum choices and assumptions. Methods:This is a qualitative descriptive study analyzing the undergraduate curriculum of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi by adopting Harden’s 10 Questions of curriculum development framework approach. Answering Harden’s questions reflects the fundamental curricular components and how the different aspects of a curriculum framework fit together. Results:The analysis of the curriculum of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi  reveals a curriculum with interactive components. Clear structured objectives and goals reflect the faculty’s vision. The approach for needs assessment is based on a scientific ground, and the curriculum integrated contents have been set to meet national and international requirements. Adopting SPICES strategies helps the faculty and students achieve the objectives of the curriculum. Different motivated instructional methods are adopted compatible  with the program objectives and outcomes. A wide range of assessment methods has been adopted correctly and reliably, and in alignment with the intended outcomes to assess the learning outcomes of the curriculum. The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi  has a favorable  educational environment for operation of its curriculum and it has also a well-defined policy for curriculum management, monitoring and evaluation. Conclusion:Harden’s 10 questions are satisfactorily addressed by the multi-discipline and well developed, well-structured, and integrated curriculum of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of El Imam El Mahdi. The curriculum supports the mission and objectives of the faculty

Status and origin of Egyptian local rabbits in comparison with Spanish common rabbits using mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis

[EN] Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and cytochrome b (cyt b) gene sequences were used to determine the status of genetic diversity and phylogeny for 132 individuals from local rabbit breeds in Egypt and Spain. The Egyptian local rabbit breeds were Egyptian Red Baladi (ERB), Egyptian Black Baladi (EBB) and Egyptian Gabali Sinai (EGS). However, the Spanish local rabbit breed was Spanish common rabbit (SCR). Previous breeds were compared with European Wild Rabbit taken from Albacete, Spain (EWR). A total of 353 mutations, 290 polymorphic sites, 14 haplotypes, 0.06126 haplotype diversity and –1.900 (P<0.05) for Tajima’s D were defined in this study. Haplotype A mostly occurred in 83.3% of Egyptian rabbits and 11.7 % of EWR, while haplotype B occurred in 63.8% of Spanish rabbits and 36.2% of the EGS breed. A total of 47 domestic and wild Oryctolagus cuniculus published sequences were used to investigate the origin and relation among the rabbit breeds tested in this study. The most common haplotype (A) was combined with 44.7% of published sequences. However, haplotype B was combined with 8.5%. Haplotypes of Egyptian, SCR and EWR were scattered in cluster 1, while we found only one EGS haplotype with two haplotypes of EWR in cluster 2. Our results assumed that genetic diversity for ERB, EBB and SCR was very low. Egyptian breeds and SCR were introduced from European rabbits. We found that ERB and EBB belong to one breed.Emam, AM.; Afonso, S.; González-Redondo, P.; Mehaisen, G.; Azoz, A.; Ahmed, N.; Fernand, N. (2020). Status and origin of Egyptian local rabbits in comparison with Spanish common rabbits using mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis. World Rabbit Science. 28(2):93-102. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2020.12219OJS93102282Abrantes J., Areal H., Esteves P.J. 2013. Insights into the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) innate immune system: genetic diversity of the toll-like receptor 3(TLR3) in wild populations and domestic breeds. 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Evol., 28: 1801-1816. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msr003Carneiro M., Albert F.W., Melo-Ferreira J., Galtier N., Gayral P., Blanco-Aguiar J.A., Villafuerte R., Nachman N.M., Ferrand N. 2012. Evidence for widespread positive and purifying selection across the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) genome. Mol. Biol. Evol., 29: 1837-1849. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/mss025Christensen N.D., Peng X. 2012. Rabbit genetic and transgenic model. In: The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea pig, Hamster and other Rodents (Eds. Suckow, M.A., Stevens, K.A. and Wilson, R.P). Elsevier, USA, pp. 165-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-380920-9.00007-9Christodoulakis M., Golding G.B., Iliopoulos C.S., Pinzón Ardila Y.J., Smyth W.F. 2007. Efficient algorithms for counting and reporting segregating sites in genomic sequences. J. Comput. Biol., 14: 1001-1010. https://doi.org/10.1089/cmb.2006.0136Emam A.M., Afonso, S., Azoz, A., Mehaisen, G.M.K., Gonzalez, P.; Ahmed, N.A., Ferrnand N. 2016. Microsatellite polymorphism in some Egyptian and Spanish common rabbit breeds. In Proc.: 11th World Rabbit Congress, 15-18 June 2016, Qingdao, China. pp: 31-34.Emam A.M., Azoz A., Mehaisen G.M.K., Ferrnand N., Ahmed N.A. 2017. Diversity assessment among native middle Egypt rabbit populations in North upper- Egypt province by microsatellite polymorphism. World Rabbit Sci., 25: 9-16. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2017.5298Ennafaa H., Monnerot M., Gaaied A.E., Mounolou J.C. 1987. Rabbit mitochondrial DNA: preliminary comparison between some domestic and wild animals. Genet. Select. Evol.,19:279-288. https://doi.org/10.1186/1297-9686-19-3-279FAO. 2007. Global plan of action for animal genetic resources and the Interlaken declaration. Available at http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1404e/a1404e00.htm. Accessed August 2019.FAO. 2011. Animal production and health guidelines (9), Molecular genetic characterization of animal genetic resources, Commission on genetic resources for food and agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome.Fu Y.X., Li W.H. 1993. Statistical tests of neutrality of mutations. Genetics,133: 693-709.Fuller S.J., Wilson, J.C., Mather P.B. 1997. Patterns of differentiation among wild rabbit populations Oryctolagus Cuniculus L. in arid and semiarid ecosystems of North-Eastern Australia. Mol. Eco., 6: 145-153. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-294X.1997.00167.xGaggiotti O.E. 2003. Genetic threats to population persistence. Ann. Zool. Fennici, 40: 155-168. Galal E.S.E., Khalil M.H. 1994. Development of rabbit industry in Egypt. Cahiers Options Méditerranéennes, 8: 43-56.Geraldes A., Ferrand N., Nachman M.W. 2006. Contrasting patterns of introgression at X-linked loci across the hybrid zone between subspecies of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Genetics, 173, 919-933. https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.105.054106Ghalayini M, Launay A, BridierNahmias A, Clermont O, Denamur E, Lescat M, Tenaillon O. 2018. Evolution of a dominant natural isolate of Escherichia coli in the human gut over the course of a year suggests a neutral evolution with reduced effective population size. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 84: e02377-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02377-17González-Redondo P. 2007. Estado de las poblaciones y posibilidades de recuperación del conejo doméstico común Español. In Proc.: IV Jornadas Ibéricas de Razas Autóctonas y sus Productos Tradicionales: Innovación, Seguridad y Cultura Alimentarias. Seville (Spain), pp. 367-372.Grimal A., Safaa H.M., Saenz-de-Juano M.D., Viudes-de-Castro M.P., Mehaisen G.M.K., Elsayed D.A.A., Lavara R., Marco Jiménez F., Vicente J.S. 2012. Phylogenetic relationship among four Egyptian and one Spanish rabbit populations based on microsatellite markers. In Proc.: 10th World Rabbit Congress, 3-6 September, 2012, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, pp. 177-181.Guo H., Jiao Y., Tan X., Wang X., Huang X., Huizhe X., Jin H. and. Paterson, A.H. 2019. Gene duplication and genetic innovation in cereal genomes. Genome Res. 29: 261-269. https://doi.org/10.1101/gr.237511.118Guo H., Jiao Y., Tan X., Wang X., Huang X., Jin H., Paterson A.H. Gene duplication and genetic innovation in cereal genomes. Genome Res., 29: 261-269.Gupta A., Bhardwaj A., Supriya, Sharma P., Pal Y., Kumar S. 2015. Mitochondrial DNA- a Tool for Phylogenetic and Biodiversity Search in Equines. J. Biodivers Endanger Species, S1: 006. https://doi.org/10.4172/2332-2543.S1-006Hall S.J.G. 2004. Livestock biodiversity: genetic resources for the farming of the future. Blackwell Science Ltd. Oxford, United Kingdom. 280 pp. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470995433Jayaraman R. 2011. Hypermutation and stress adaptation in bacteria. J. 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Acute effects of cigarette smoking on the cardiac diastolic functions

AbstractBackgroundSmoking is an independent risk factor for coronary heart diseases and it increases all causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.Aim of the workTo assess the acute effect of cigarette smoking on ventricular diastolic functions (LV and RV) in healthy, young, and slim smokers.MethodsThirty volunteers who had recently commenced smoking (less than one year) and who smoked 1–2 cigarettes per day, underwent ECG, 2D and M-mode echocardiography, standard Doppler echocardiography, pulsed TDI (tissue Doppler imaging) on septal and lateral side of mitral annulus and lateral tricuspid annulus. Vp values were measured. The investigator asked them to hold smoking for at least two days after which echocardiographic examination was conducted before smoking one cigarette and the second examination conducted immediately after smoking one cigarette containing at least 0.4mg of nicotine.ResultsDoppler findings over the mitral valve showed the E wave was significantly reduced from 82.7±10.4 to 74.6±10.4 after smoking; the A wave increased; the E/A ratio was reduced from 1.5±0.3 to 1.2±0.2; the E′ septal significantly decreased (15.3±2.4 vs. 11.2±1.1) after smoking, and the E/E′ ratio increased from 5.5±1.1 to 6.7±1.1. Doppler findings over the tricuspid valve showed the E wave was reduced from 60.6±9.7 to 52.7±9.6; the A wave increased from 42.2±6.5 to 50.1±6.6; and the E/A ratio decreased (1.45±0.25 vs. 1.06±0.19). The E′ significantly decreased from 14.1±1.8 to 10.9±2.4, while the A′ increased (10.2±2.4 vs. 12.7±3.6) after smoking; and the IVRT of the RV was significantly prolonged from 62.9±7.5 to 68.7±7.9 after smoking. The Vp was markedly reduced from 67.8±8 to 55.2±3.5 after smoking. These findings reflected on the LV filling pressure (LVFvp) which increased from 9.8±1.4 to 10.5±1.3 after smoking. All changes were statistically significant at P<0.001.ConclusionsOur study reveals that cigarette smoking can result in significant acute alteration in the diastolic functions of both ventricles

Evaluation of Podocalyxin level in pre-eclampsia with severe features' patients: a cross-sectional study

Background: This study aims to evaluate the level of podocalyxin (PCX) in preeclampsia with severe features patients and correlate it with the results of laboratory tests.Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional study conducted in Assiut Women Health Hospital between April and October 2018.  The study included 60 patients divided into two groups; Group (A): 30 patients diagnosed to have preeclampsia with severe features and Group (B): 30 patients as normal control group. Complete laboratory investigations with measurements of the PCX level was performed for all study participants.Results: No statistically significant difference between the study group and control group according to blood urea (p= 0.339) and serum creatinine (p= 0.801).There was statistically significant difference between the study group and control group according to PCX level (p= 0.001); the mean PCX was 3340.0 ± 2394.6 in the study group versus 1083.5±1400.2 in the control group. Univariate analysis revealed podocalyxin was not correlated with clinical data or laboratory investigations.Conclusions: Podocalyxin levels were significantly elevated in preeclampsia

Diversity assessment among native Middle Egypt rabbit populations in North Upper-Egypt province by microsatellite polymorphism

[EN] Safeguarding biodiversity is an important goal for animal production in developed countries. This study investigated genetic diversity among native Middle-Egypt rabbit (NMER) populations in North Upper-Egypt province by using microsatellite polymorphism. Nineteen microsatellite loci were used in the study and an area of 231 km was surveyed, as native rabbits covered 14 points belonging to four Northern Upper Egypt governorates (South Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef and Minya). Standard statistical parameters of genetic variability within and between populations confirmed that the highest genetic diversity was found towards the south. Among NMER populations, the mean number of alleles per locus was lowest in South Giza (5.32), while it was highest in Minya (6.00). This study found that NMER featured a high number of private alleles ranging between 7 and 11 (mean value was 10.5). Results also showed a high genetic diversity in NMER populations and that heterozygosity ranged between 0.384 and 0.445, strongly indicating extensive genetic variation in the NMER populations. The mean values of observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.405 and 0.612, respectively. Factorial correspondence analysis and neighbour joining trees (NJ) showed 2 main NMER rabbit groups: the Northern group (South Giza and Fayoum) and the Southern group (Beni Suef and Minya). All populations showed a high percentage of assignment in this study (0.913 to 0.946). The structure analysis showed that each population existed in separate clusters. This research provides an overview of genetic diversity of NMER populations in the Northern Upper Egypt province for the first time. In conclusion, results of this study could be used to designate priorities for conservation of NMER populations.Emam, A.; Azoz, A.; Mehaisen, G.; Ferrand, N.; Ahmed, N. (2017). 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