The Combined Effects of the Calcium Activated Factor and Cathepsin D on Skeletal Muscle

Myofibrils were isolated from atdeath ovin elongissimus muscles and incubated with crude calcium activated factor prepared from the same muscle and with purified cathepsin D. Myofibrils we reincubated with these enzymes separately (first incubation) and successively (second incubation). The major changes induced by cathepsin D first incubation include degradation of myofibrillar proteins with molecular weight \u3e 200 K, myosin, actin, troponin- T and troponin 1. Also new bands appeared at the 140- 160 K, 80 K, 68 K and 30 K regions. Similar changes were obtained 1v hen myofibrils were incubated first with CAF then with cathepsin D (second incubation). On the other h and CAF first incubation resulted in the degradation of the high molecular weight proteins ( \u3e 200 K), desmin, troponin T , troponin I and it released a -actinin. Also new bands appeared immediately below C-protein (140 K) , 95 K and 30 K. Unlike cathepsin D, CAF did not affect myosin or actin. However, when myofibrils were first incubated with cathepsin D then wit h CAF (second incubation) the latter was able to degrade actin to a much greater degree than cathepsin D. Both enzymes were able to affect the Z-lines of the myofibrils

Knowledge and Awareness of Diabetic Retinopathy among Diabetic Sudanese Patients, Khartoum State, Sudan, 2018

Background: The level of awareness of diabetic retinopathy is considered an important factor for early diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness of diabetic retinopathy among patients with diabetes mellitus in Khartoum, Sudan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among diabetic patients attending Zeenam and Abdullah Khalil Diabetic Centers between June and September 2018. A convenience sample of diabetic patients was used. Information on the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, patients’ knowledge, compliance with available treatments, and routine eye examinations was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Patients were also asked about the barriers that may interfere with a regular eye examination. Results: A total of 200 patients were enrolled and 94 (47%) of them were female; 13% of the respondents were diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, 31.5% were hypertensive, and 13.5% had hyperlipidemia. Additionally, 88.5% of the patients were aware that DM can affect their eyes and 87% had never been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. Although around 83% thought that diabetic retinopathy could lead to blindness, only 35.5% of them had undergone fundus examination by ophthalmologists. Moreover, 39% of the participants had irregular diabetes follow-up and 43% monthly follow-up. Only 31% went for regular eye check-up; however, their compliance with routine retinal assessment was poor, with a total of 72.5% of participants assuming that they have good vision and need not get their eyes checked up regularly. The chief factor that was related to increased awareness of diabetic retinopathy in the study was the level of education. Conclusion: Although a large proportion of diabetic patients in Khartoum are aware that diabetes mellitus can affect their eyes, regular retinal assessment of patients was poor, thus hindering early diagnosis and management

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Study of Various Techniques for Improving Weak and Compressible Clay Soil under a High Earth Embankment

This paper investigates the suitability of three soil improvement techniques for the construction of a high earth embankment on thick weak and highly compressible clay soil. The eastern approach embankment of Alhalfaya Bridge on the River Nile linking Khartoum North and Omdurman cities was chosen as a case study and a comprehensive site investigation program was carried out to determine the properties the subsurface soils. The study results showed that unless the subsurface soils have been improved they may fail or undergo excessively large settlements due to the embankment construction. Three ground improvement techniques based on the principles of the “staged construction method, SCM”, “vertical sand drain, VSD” and “sand compaction piles, SCP” of embankment foundation soil treatment are discussed and evaluated. Embankment design options based on applications of the above methods have been proposed for foundation treatment to adequately support embankment loads. A method performance evaluation based on the improvement of soil properties achieved; the time required for construction and compared estimated costs criteria was made to assess the effectiveness and expected overall performance. Adoption of any of the soil improvement techniques considered depends mainly on the most critical and decisive factor governing the embankment design. Based on the overall performance for the embankment case studied, the sand drains is considered as the most appropriate improvement method followed by the sand compaction piles technique whereas the staged construction method showed the poorest overall performance

Study of Various Techniques for Improving Weak and Compressible Clay Soil under a High Earth Embankment

This paper investigates the suitability of three soil improvement techniques for the construction of a high earth embankment on thick weak and highly compressible clay soil. The eastern approach embankment of Alhalfaya Bridge on the River Nile linking Khartoum North and Omdurman cities was chosen as a case study and a comprehensive site investigation program was carried out to determine the properties the subsurface soils. The study results showed that unless the subsurface soils have been improved they may fail or undergo excessively large settlements due to the embankment construction. Three ground improvement techniques based on the principles of the “staged construction method, SCM”, “vertical sand drain, VSD” and “sand compaction piles, SCP” of embankment foundation soil treatment are discussed and evaluated. Embankment design options based on applications of the above methods have been proposed for foundation treatment to adequately support embankment loads. A method performance evaluation based on the improvement of soil properties achieved; the time required for construction and compared estimated costs criteria was made to assess the effectiveness and expected overall performance. Adoption of any of the soil improvement techniques considered depends mainly on the most critical and decisive factor governing the embankment design. Based on the overall performance for the embankment case studied, the sand drains is considered as the most appropriate improvement method followed by the sand compaction piles technique whereas the staged construction method showed the poorest overall performance

SARS-CoV-2 infection complicated by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

This article reports a case of SARS-CoV-2 infection complicated by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in the second trimester in a South Asian woman. She presented with itchiness and grossly elevated bile acid following SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. Her cholestasis resolved in parallel with her infection while she was being treated with ursodeoxycholic acid. Bile acid is considered harmful to a developing fetus and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly stillbirth. Ursodeoxycholic acid is still commonly used in the treatment of these patients despite controversy about its value. It has anti-inflammatory properties and there have been suggestions that this could benefit patients with SARS-CoV-2. Elevated levels of primary bile acids (cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid) are considered harmful to a developing fetus, and are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, in particular, stillbirth. The secondary bile acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, is thought to be beneficial by reducing cholesterol production in the liver. This clinical case study highlights a diagnostic enigma in the management of this unique clinical case presentation

Antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of Damsissa (Ambrosia maritima) leaf powder extract added to minced beef during cold storage

The antioxidant and antimicrobial effect of Damsissa leaf powder extract (DLPE) for application to cold-stored minced beef was investigated. DLPE exhibited inhibition zones of 14.0 and 12.7 mm against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of DLPE were 188.06 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 2.56 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g, respectively. DLPE exhibited a concentration-dependent increase (P ≤ 0.05) in total reducing power ability (TRPA), scavenging of H2O2, and chelation of Fe2+ ions. Incorporation of different concentrations of DLPE in minced beef significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced the physicochemical characteristics, sensory features, and microbial quality of the minced beef during cold storage (4°C). DLPE (2.5%) was effective (P ≤ 0.05) in delaying lipid oxidation and preventing microbial growth in stored minced beef. Therefore, DLPE at 2.5% concentration is recommended as a useful preservative to prolong the shelf-life of minced beef during cold storage

Effect of Prerigor Pressurization on Bovine Lysomal Enzyme Activity

Longissimus muscle from 8 dairy cows was prerigor pressure (PRP) treated at different pres sure levels (0, 34.5, 68.9 and 103.5 I·INm- \u27 ). a-Glucuronidase (indicator of lysosomal enzymes) activity in the unsedimentable (U) and sedimentable (S) fractions was fluorometrically assayed at ! ~ , 24 and 168 hr postmortem. At I ~ and 24 hr postmortem, the specific activity of a-Glucuronidase in the U-fraction from PRP treated samples was significantly (