Levels of Salivary IFN-gamma, TNF-Alfa, and TNF Receptor-2 As Prognostic Markers in (Erosive) Oral Lichen Planus

To explore the feasibility of detecting salivary levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and sTNFR-2 from erosive oral lichen planus (ELP) patients for clinical application, 20 ELP patients were enrolled in the study as were 20 age-sex-matched controls. From all subjects, saliva level of the tested biomarkers was determined by ELISA. Salivary profiles were assessed in ELP patients by ELISA after being treated with prednisone. A significantly higher level of IFN-γ (P ≤ .01), TNF-α (P ≤ .0001), and sTNFR-2 (P ≤ .01) was detected in ELP patients before treatment than in controls. Following treatment, the salivary levels of IFN-γ (P ≤ .01), TNF-α (P ≤ .05), and sTNFR-2 (P ≤ .01) decreased significantly when compared to their pretreatment levels. This study demonstrated that salivary IFN-γ, TNF-α, and sTNFR-2 can be detectable in ELP patients and decreased significantly after treatment with prednisone, which may reveal the possibility of using these disease-related biomarkers in diagnosis and monitoring

Study of the effect of HFE gene mutations on iron overload in Egyptian thalassemia patients

Background: HFE gene mutations have been shown to be responsible for hereditaryhemochromatosis. Their effect on iron load in β-thalassemia patients and carriers remains controversial.Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of HFE gene mutations (C282Y and H63D) in β-thalassemia patients and carriers and to investigate its effect on their serum ferritin levels.Patients and methods: A total of 100 β-thalassemia subjects; 75 patients and 25 carriers were screened for HFE gene mutations by PCR-RFLP. Serum ferritin measured by ELISA was evaluated in relation to HFE mutations.Results: Twenty-eight β-thalassemia patients (37.3%) were heterozygotes for H63D mutation (H/D), 8 (10.7%) were D/D and 39 (52%) were negative (H/H). Among carriers, 4 (16%) were D/D and 21 (84%) were H/H homozygotes. C282Y mutant allele was not detected in any of the subjects. Serum ferritin levels were significantly higher in β-thalassemia patients heterozygotes or homozygotes for H63D mutation compared to those without mutation (p= 0.000). Carriers homozygotes for H63D mutation showed significantly higher serum ferritin levels compared to those without mutation (p< 0.001).Conclusion: Homozygosity for H63D mutation tends to be associated with higher ferritin levels in beta-thalassemia patients and carriers suggesting its modulating effect on iron load in these cases

Prediction of Modulus of Rupture from Modulus of Elasticity for Some Egyptian Hardwoods

The MOE and MOR of 112 air-dry small, clear specimens (2 x 2 x 30 cm) of six species of hardwoods grown in Egypt were determined. Simple linear regression analysis revealed that MOR is highly correlated with MOE of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Khaya senegalensis, Tamarix articulata and Casuarina spp. However, the "r" values for Jacaranda ovalifolia and Melia azedarach were not significant. In addition, covariance analysis showed that the six regressions equations have different slopes and Y-intercepts and therefore cannot be grouped. The only grouping was that between the regression lines of the first three species mentiones above.Introducing specific gravity in the regression equation did not result in improving the correlation coefficients, except in the case of Casuarina spp. Using specific gravity alone for predicting the MOR was found to be unreliable due to the relatively low "r" values obtained for the species except in the case of Casuarina spp

Constrained Probabilistic Continuous Review Inventory System with Mixture Shortage and Stochastic Lead Time Demand

This paper derives the probabilistic continuous review backorders and lost sales inventory system when the order cost is a function of the order quantity. Our objective is to minimize the expected annual total cost under a restriction on the expected annual holding cost when the lead time demand follows some continuous distributions by using the Lagrangian method. Some published special cases are deduced and an illustrative numerical example with some graphs is added

EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION ON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF MANGO KEITT CV. TREES GROWN UNDER OPEN FIELD AND SHADING CONDITIONS

This study was carried out during three successive seasons of 2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 in a private orchard at 76 km Cairo, Alex. Desert road  to investigate the effect of nitrogen and potassium fertilization treatments and shading with white net on yield, and fruit quality of three-years-old mango (Mangifica indica L.) cv. Keitt grafted on sucary seedling rootstocks planted at 2.5×2.5 meters apart grown in sandy soil under drip irrigation system with wells water .This experiment included nine treatments of fertilization: T1= N 80+ K2O 80 Kg/Fed., T2= N 80+ K2O 100 Kg/Fed., T3= N 100+ K2O 80 Kg/Fed., T4= N 100+ K2O 100 Kg/Fed., T5= N 120+ K2O 80 Kg/Fed., T6= N 120+ K2O 100 Kg/Fed.,T7= N 150+ K2O 80 Kg/Fed., T8= N 150+ K2O 100 Kg/Fed. and control (T9) = N 133+ K2O 90 Kg/Fed.. The results cleared that mango Keitt cv. trees grown under white net shading condition significantly increased yield (kg)/ tree, number of fruit set/ panicle, fruit weight, TSS and ascorbic acid content. Trees supplied with 150 Kg/Fed. nitrogen + 100 Kg/Fed. potassium exhibited the highest yield (kg)/tree, number of fruit set/panicle and  fruit weight under shade . Moreover, the best fruit peel color was achieved with trees received 100 kg/feddan of nitrogen +100 kg/feddan of potassium and grown under screenhouse conditions during the three studied seasons. The higher significant value of acidity and TSS were recorded in trees supplied by 120 units of nitrogen + 100 units of potassium during first and third season. Whereas, the control treatment attained a maximum ascorbic acid content

URINARY MARKERS OF OXIDATIVE DNA DAMAGE IN TYPE 1 DIABETIC CHILDREN: RELATION TO MICROVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

  Objective: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a widespread metabolic disease, which frequently carries with it a significant impact on human health. Oxidative damage and tissue inflammation have been claimed to be a typical pathogenic component for the progression of diabetic complications. We aim in this study to explore the relation of urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) (as a marker of nucleic acid oxidation) to microvascular complications in T1DM.Methods: A case–control study, enrolling 45 T1DM children and an equivalent number of healthy subjects, was performed. Full clinical examination and anthropometric measurement were performed to all subjects. Urinary assessment for 8-oxodG and albumin was done in addition to blood sampling for lipid profile and glycated Hb (HbA1c) assay. Complete ocular examination for assessment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) was also done.Results: Levels of urinary 8-oxodG, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein in cases were significantly higher than non-diabetics; these levels were likewise higher in uncontrolled T1DM patients in comparison with well-controlled T1DM subjects. Urinary 8-oxodG and HbA1c were significantly higher in diabetic patients with albuminuria and DR compared to patients without complications. Significant positive correlation was found between 8-oxodG with HbA1c (r=0.8, p<0.01), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r=0.4, p=0.02), and cholesterol (r=0.4, p=0.05).Conclusion: Urinary 8-oxodG was found to be a reliable marker for assessing oxidative DNA damage in T1DM and can be used in the determination of microvascular complications related to diabetes

INCREASED URINARY 8-OXO-7,8-DIHYDRO-2′-DEOXYGUANOSINE EXCRETION IN A SAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN CHILDREN WITH BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR: MARKER FOR LIPID PEROXIDATION-INDUCED DNA DAMAGE

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate oxidative stress status in children with β-thalassemia major.Methods: Our study was conducted in children with β-thalassemia aged from 5 to 15 years. Investigate the urinary excretion of human 8-oxo-7,8- dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine, which will be analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To investigate serum levels of antioxidant enzymes include glutathione s-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT).Results: We found a significant elevation of the urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine level with p=0.001 compared to control group, a significant reduction of both GST and CAT p=0.05 and 0.03, respectively, compared to control group. There was a significant negative correlation between urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanisine and CAT level, r=−0.378, p=0.016, hemoglobin - r=−0.610, p=0.001, hematocrit (%) - r=−0.478, p=0.002, while a significant positive correlation between urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanisine and alanine aminotransferase - r=0.547, p=0.001, and serum ferritin - r=0.391, p=0.013. There was a significant negative correlation between CAT and serum ferritin - r=−0.320, p=0.44.Conclusion: We conclude that the strongly increased urinary excretion 8-oxo-7,8=dihydro-2′-deoxyguanisine indicates elevated lipid peroxidation induced DNA damage in internal organs such as the liver. These highly pro mutagenic lesions may contribute to the increased risk of thalassemia patients to develop hepatocellular carcinoma

Vitamin D Status in Neonatal Pulmonary Infections: Relationship to Inflammatory Indicators

AIM: The study aimed to evaluate serum vitamin D concentrations among neonates with pneumonia. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 33 neonates with pneumonia in addition to 30 healthy controls. CBC, CRP, Serum vitamin D and Pentraxin 3 levels were measured for all participants. RESULTS: There was significant difference between patients and controls regarding Hemoglobin levels, TLC and CRP (p value < 0.01, = 0.002, < 0.01 respectively). Patients with pneumonia showed significant lower levels of Vit. D (9 ± 2.1) compared to controls (14.1 ± 2.8), P value < 0.01. However, patient group had significant higher levels of Pentraxin 3 (29.1 ± 4.8) compared with controls (12.6 ± 3), P value < 0.01. Moreover, mechanically ventilated patients revealed significant lower vit D (7.7 ± 1.8) and higher pentraxin 3 (32.2 ± 2.6) compared to patients on free oxygen (9.1 ± 2.1, 26.4 ± 3.7 respectively), P value = 0.05, 0.02 respectively. Regarding hospital stay, it had significant positive correlation with serum pentraxin 3 (r = 0.6, P value < 0.01) and significant negative correlation with serum vit D (r = -0.4, P value = 0.04). Finally a significant negative correlation between serum levels of vitamin D and Pentraxin 3 was found (r = -0.4, P value = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Lower concentration of serum vitamin D may be significantly associated with neonatal pneumonia. It also can predict the need for mechanical ventilation and duration of hospital stay in neonatal pneumonia. Similarly, higher levels of Pentraxin 3 may be used as an indicator for mechanical ventilation need and a longer hospital stay in neonates with pneumonia

DIRECT EMBRYOGENESIS AND INDIRECT ORGANOGENESIS OF DATE PALM (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L.) CV. SEWI USING IMMATURE FEMALE INFLORESCENCES

This study was achieved at the Tissue Culture Laboratory of the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute, Giza, Egypt during the period from 2013 to 2017, Direct embryo initiation and callus formation of date palm cv. Sewi from immature female inflorescences have been achieved on modified MS medium supplemented with 4 mg l-1 Picloram plus 3 mg l-1 2 iP and 2 g l-1 PVP. Results also showed that BA at 0.5 mg l-1 produce the highest number of differentiated embryos/culture, while kinetin at 0.25 mg l-1 significantly increased the average number of adventitious shoots/culture. NAA at 1.0 mg l-1 induced the highest rooting percentage and micro-shoot length. On the other hand the best survival percentage during the acclimatization stage was observed with plantlets produced from IBA at 0.5 mg l-1 during the rooting stage

Growing and laying performance of two different-plumage color Japanese quail varieties supplemented with corn silk in their diet

The current study aimed to investigate the dietary supplementation effect of corn silk (CS) on performance and blood chemistry of brown and whitefeathered quails during the grower and layer periods. Japanese quails of brown and white-feathered color (180 birds/variety at 2 wks old) were randomly allotted into three groups with 3 replicates each (n = 20 birds/ replicate). Corn silk powder (CS) was supplemented to the basal diet at 0, 1, and 2% of the diet for each quail variety for 1-month growing period, then continued for another 6-wk laying period to assess the egg production and egg quality characteristics. CS supplementation at 1% and 2% for brown and white-feathered quails respectively improved their growth performance (body weight and weight gain), carcass yield, and intestinal villi length with increasing feed consumption but without changes in feed conversion ratio. In both quail varieties, CS addition had a hypolipidemic effect, confirmed by lowering serum triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) while increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations (P < 0.05) with a clear response observed in white quails than the brown ones. Besides, CS supplementation increased (P = 0.002) hen day egg production in brown feathered quails, while reducing it in the white-feathered quails compared with the CS-free diet. The increased egg production was not significantly (P > 0.05) correlated with lower content of TG and CHO, while significantly increased the antioxidant content in both quail varieties (P < 0.05). Moreover, CS dietary supplementation significantly enhanced (P = 0.003) the yolk color, especially in brown-feathered quail. In conclusion, CS can be safely supplemented to the Japanese quail diet (1% and 2% for brown-feathered and white-feathered quails respectively) to improve growth performance, and egg quality characteristics