Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of a lichen used as a spice (Platismatia glauca)

Background: Lichen is a complex symbiotic relationship arose from algae or cyanobacteria that live together with some fungal species. Some of them are edible and consumed as spice such asPlatismatia glauca. The current study aimed to evaluate it’s the antimicrobial properties of the methanolic extract of lichen thalli of P. glauca against some referenced bacterial and yeast strains.Methods: Disc diffusion test, minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum bactericidal (MBC) or minimum fungicidal (MFC) tests were carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of lichen.Results: All tested microorganisms exhibited varying degrees of susceptibility. Among the tested strains, the most susceptible bacterium -using the disc diffusion assay- was Staphylococcus saprophyticus (18.5±1.0 mm), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (14.5±0.5 mm), Shigella flexneri(12.5±1.5 mm), Streptococcus pneumoniae (12.0±1.0 mm), Proteus vulgaris (11.5±0.5 mm),Salmonella Typhimurium (11.5±0.5 mm), Bacillus cereus (11.0±1.0 mm) and Escherichia coli(11.0±0.0 mm), respectively. It also showed high antifungal activity against Candida albicans(22.5±0.5 mm).  The MIC, MBC and MFC were promising, which were as low as 3.125 to 12.5 mg/ml for MIC and 6.25 to 12.5 mg/ml for MBC and MFC.Conclusion: From the obtained results, it is concluded that the lichen thalli of Platismatia glaucapossesses a remarkable antimicrobial activity and it may be considered as a source of potential antimicrobial agents.Keywords: Antibacterial, Antifungal, Lichen, Platismatia glauc

Anemia after kidney transplantation

Background: Anemia is a major cardiovascular riskfactor in renal disease. It might be appropriate toextrapolate this association of anemia with cardiovasculardisease to renal transplant recipients who continue tohave a significant cardiovascular risk.The aim of our study was to elucidate the prevalence andrisk factors of anemia after kidney transplantation.Methods: We studied 118 stable adult kidney transplantrecipients [age at transplant ranged between 22 and 58,42 12], 74 (62.7%) were males and 44 were females(37.3%) who received allograft between December 1998and October 2008 and had at least 1 year of posttransplantfollow up data at Sugar Medical Center,Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI), and HealthInsurance Organization Cairo. Hemoglobin (Hb) level at6 months, and 1 year after renal transplantation wasrecorded, the eGFR was calculated using the MDRDformula. Risk factors for anemia were evaluated usingunivariate and multivariate regression analysis.Results: Anemia (Hb <12 g/dl in females and <13 g/dl inmales) was common (28.8% at 6 months, 31.4% at 1year). Significant anemia (Hb <11 g/dl in females and<12 g/dl in males) was also common (15.3% at 6 months,16.8% at 1 year). Severe anemia (Hb <10 g/dl in bothgenders) at 6 months post-transplant was less commonaffecting 4 out of 118 (3.4%) patients. At 1 year, 8 out of118 (6.8%) had severe anemia. Univariate andmultivariate analysis showed that a higher serumcreatinine level and lower eGFR were significant riskfactors at 6 months and 1 year post transplant. At 1 year,in addition to higher creatinine level and lower eGFR,female gender and immunosuppressive drugs(azathioprine and sirolimus) also were significant riskfactors.Conclusions: Anemia is common during the first yearafter kidney transplantation. High serum creatinine, loweGFR, female gender and immunosuppressive drugs[azathioprine, sirolimus] are independent risk factors forpost-transplant anemia

The Politics of Natural Gas in the Middle East Today

A recent development in energy security studies shows the growing significance of natural gas in international relations. Natural gas security looms large in international politics, especially in conflicting regions like the Middle East. The paper delves into the increasingly significant argument that natural gas needs much more political involvement than any other source of energy, especially oil. Based on gas importers and exporters in Middle East as case studies, the paper aims to determine the weight of energy consumer and transit states in the political process with regard to the security of gas. Consequently, it examines multiple political factors that play a role in securing gas. The impact of the geopolitical factor is particularly notable. The findings show that several issues are involved in the political relations between exporting and importing states that affect the stability of gas supply and price. In summary, the paper suggests that there is an urgent need to develop a new gas security policy, especially in cases where energy exporters and importers are suffering from political and social instability in a region like Middle East

Safety and efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin sodium) in comparison with standard unfractionated heparin for haemodialysis anticoagulation

In this issue of the African Journal of Nephrology (AJN Vol 18, No 1) we publish original articles ranging from the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in an African population in general, to the role of HIV in kidney disease. An elegant study of fractionated heparin use in haemodialysis is also presented. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is an important modality of renal replacement to be considered in Africa in view of its ease of operation. However, beware of potential complications including sclerosing peritonitis as reported in Cape Town (South Africa).As in the past, this issue covers a wide variety of topics with contributions from diverse authors from south to west and North Africa.On behalf of the editorial board, I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of the authors and reviewers who have contributed to this issue of the journal, as well as to the readers for their sustained interest in the African Journal of Nephrology.Prof A. Assounga, Editor-in-chie

Energy Security In Jordan’s Foreign Policy, 2003 - 2014

Jordan mengimport lebih 97 peratus daripada keperluan tenaga negara dalam konteks ekonomi, politik dan kekangan sosial, terutamanya selepas kebanjiran pelarian dari negara-negara jiran dan gangguan bekalan gas asli dari Mesir yang disebabkan ketidakstabilan di Timur Tengah. Justeru, tesis ini mengkaji pendekatan politik yang diambil untuk menjamin keselamatan tenaga sepanjang tempoh 2003 - 2004. Objektif utama kajian ini adalah mengenal pasti kekuatan hubungan di antara dasar luar negera Jordan dan keselamatan tenaga, untuk menerangkan kesan kebergantungan terhadap sumber tenaga luar negara dan pengaruh pembekal tenaga terhadap dasar luar negara Jordan, di samping mengenal pasti peranan dasar luar negera Jordan dalam menangani isu keselamatan tenaga. Analog Institutionalisme Neoliberal daripada kesalingbergantungan dan kerjasama memberikan suatu perspektif teori tentang cara memahami permasalahan ini. Oleh itu, suatu reka bentuk kajian kualitatif digunakan dan asas empirik daripada kajian terdiri daripada sebelas sesi temu bual separa berstruktur dengan golongan elit dan dua kumpulan perbincangan berfokus. Peserta kajian terdiri daripada latar belakang akademik, politik, dan sosial. Kesemua data disokong dengan data rasmi yang diperoleh daripada pihak kerajaan. Data dianalisis dengan program perisian kualitatif Nvivo10. Jordan imports more than ninety-seven percent of its energy needs within a context of economic, political, and social difficulties, especially after the influx of refugees from neighboring countries and the interruption of natural gas supply from Egypt due to the instability in the Middle East. Therefore, the political approach to achieve energy security over the period 2003 to 2014 is explored in this thesis. The primary objectives of the study are to identify the strength of the relation between Jordan’s foreign policy and energy security, to clarify the effect of dependence on foreign energy sources and the influence of energy suppliers on Jordan’s foreign policy, and to identify the role of foreign policy in addressing the energy security issues. The Neoliberal Institutionalism analogue of interdependence and cooperation offer a theoretical perspective on how to understand the problem. A qualitative study design was adopted, and the empirical basis of the study consisted of eleven semi-structured interviews with the elite, and two focus group discussions with participants in different academic, political, and social backgrounds, all supported by official data from the government. The data were analyzed by qualitative software program NVivo 10