Effect of Small Interfering RNAs on in Vitro Replication and Gene Expression of Feline Coronavirus

Feline corononavirus (FCoV) infection is ubiquitous in domestic cat populations worldwide and is usually associated with subclinical or mild enteritis. However, in some cats infection may result in the development of a fatal progressive disease called feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). FIP is considered to be the major cause of infectious-related death in pet cats. Currently, there is no protective vaccine or curative treatment to this highly fatal disease. In this study, we evaluated the ability of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to inhibit the in vitro viral replication and gene expression of FCoV as a potential treatment for FIP. Five synthetic siRNAs were designed to target different regions of the FCoV genome. The siRNAs were tested individually and in various combinations in vitro for their antiviral effects against 2 strains of FCoV (feline infectious peritonitis virus WSU 79-1146 and feline enteric coronavirus WSU 79-1683). Tested combinations targeted the FCoV leader and 3′ untranslated region; FCoV leader region and nucleocapsid gene; and FCoV leader, 3′ untranslated region, and nucleocapsid gene. For each test condition, assessments included relative quantification of the inhibition of intracellular viral genomic RNA synthesis by means of real-time, reverse-transcription Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis; flow cytometric evaluation of the reduction of viral protein expression in infected cells; and assessment of virus replication inhibition via titration of extracellular virus with a 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) assay. The 5 siRNAs had variable inhibitory effects on FCoV when used singly. Combinations of siRNAs that targeted different regions of the viral genome resulted in more effective viral inhibition than did individual siRNAs that targeted a single gene. The tested siRNA combinations resulted in approximately 95% reduction in viral replication (based on virus titration results), compared with findings in negative control non-targeting siRNA-treated FCoV-infected cells. This study shows that FCoV replication can be specifically inhibited by siRNAs that target coding and noncoding regions of the viral genome, suggesting a potential therapeutic application of RNA interference in treatment of feline infectious peritonitis

Lightweight Mutual Authentication Protocol for Low Cost RFID Tags

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology one of the most promising technologies in the field of ubiquitous computing. Indeed, RFID technology may well replace barcode technology. Although it offers many advantages over other identification systems, there are also associated security risks that are not easy to be addressed. When designing a real lightweight authentication protocol for low cost RFID tags, a number of challenges arise due to the extremely limited computational, storage and communication abilities of Low-cost RFID tags. This paper proposes a real mutual authentication protocol for low cost RFID tags. The proposed protocol prevents passive attacks as active attacks are discounted when designing a protocol to meet the requirements of low cost RFID tags. However the implementation of the protocol meets the limited abilities of low cost RFID tags.Comment: 11 Pages, IJNS

Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter species infection among neonatal sepsis

Background: Neonatal septicemia is regarded as one of the leading causes of mortality as well as morbidity globally. There is emerging evidence that multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) and mortality are linked in the scientific literature.Objective: It was the goal of this work to improve the prognosis of neonates with Acinetobacter species through early detection of infection and risk factors associated with increased mortality and effective management.Patients and Methods: Our study was done on 60 neonates who were suspected to having sepsis at Zagazig University Hospitals, Pediatric Department. All neonatal blood samples were taken aseptically and the bacteria that caused septicemia were identified. Acinetobacter species were identified. Drug sensitivity tests were performed on a variety of risk variables.Results: Only nine patients had Acinetobacter infection (15% of all patients) and two thirds of them had multi drug resistance (resistant for ≥3 antimicrobials). Gestational age more than or equal 36 weeks was protective factor against getting infection with MDR-Acinetobacter among the studied patients. Acinetobacter was most sensitive to ciprofloxacin and tigecycline antibiotic, while it was most resistant to sulphamethoxazole /trimethoprim antibioticsConclusion: Neonatal MDR Acinetobacter septicemia is on the rise, and it's connected with high morbidity as well as mortality rates. There must be an infection control policy in place at every neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in order to control Acinetobacter infection and enhance outcomes

CRIOSPHINX STELA FROM TELL HEBOUA - NORTH SINAI

[En] A rectangular stela was found in the vicinity of Tell Heboua I by accident early 2020. The stela was uncovered 500 m to the west of the fortification walls of Heboua I, during a land reclamation project which is going on at the western vicinity of Tell Heboua I. Our well-trained guard Hassan al-Masody, recognized the limestone slab on top of the embankment of a small drainage canal. When turning this recognizable piece of stone, he found it to be decorated of a limestone stela. Inscribed materials that were discovered at Heboua area are still limited compared to the long history of the site and the extensive and continuous archaeological work done. This obviously due to the scarcity of the stone at this sandy remote area. In addition, every piece of stone in the North Sinai archeological sites was taken from its original place and reused along the history till now. [Ar] لوحه من تل حبوة-شمال سيناء لوحة مستطيلة الشكل عثر عليها مصادفة فى أوائل عام 2020. وذلك على بعد 500 متر إلى الغرب من الجدران المحصنة لمدينة ثارو - حبوة 1 ، واللوحة من الحجر الجيري الابيض تم العثور عليها مكسورة الى قطعتين من المنتصف ، وكانت فى حالة سيئة وتم ترميمها مبدئيا فى الموقع. ظهر اللوحة خشن به العديد من علامات الأزميل المحفورة. تم تزيين اللوحة بنقوش غائرة. تمثل زخرفة اللوحة أحد العناصر الرئيسية التى تشير إلى صورة أسد راقد برأس كبش criosphinx مع حامل قرابين فى المقدمة. يمكن التعرف على الكبش على أنهOvis platyura aegyptiaca بناءً على القرون المنحنية للأمام. كبش بلاتيورا ، المخلوق المقدس البارز لآمون ، أصبح أحد أكثر الحيوانات قداسة فى مصر القديمة من خلال ارتباطه بالإله آمون ، الذي كان ، مثل آمون رع ، الإله البدائى والإله الأعلى للآلهة المصرية ، تاجه يرمز إلى السماء ، ويتكون من تاج يعلوه ريشتان مرتفعتان. لا يوجد نص على اللوحة ؛ يمكن تصنيفها على أنها لوحة نذرية ، وهى لا تحتوى على صورة الشخص الذى وهبها ولكن مثل عليها الاله فقط. ومن المرجح طبقا لما عثر عليه فى منطقة تل حبوة 1 انها تؤرخ بعصر الدولة الحديثة

Effect of Coping Strategies Education on Knowledge and Behaviors of Women Experienced Workplace Bullying

Context: Workplace bullying is defined as the perceived situation in which an employee is systematically and repeatedly the target of work-related or personal harmful acts. Workplace bullying is an occupational stressor shown to have particular detrimental health outcomes for those targeted.Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of coping strategies education on knowledge and behaviors of women who experienced workplace bullying. Methods: A quasi-experimental (pre/posttest) design was used to achieve this study's aim. The study was conducted at Beni-Suef University affiliated to the Ministry of Higher Education. The study was conducted on a convenient sample of 500 women working at Beni- Suef University. They included 360 employee women from different age groups, educational backgrounds, and job positions. The sample also includes 100 nurses and 40 workers. The study used two tools. The researcher designed a structured interview questionnaire to assess the women's socio-demographic profile and their knowledge regarding workplace bullying. The second tool was a coping behavior checklist for workplace bullying designed by the researcher to assess the women's behaviors toward workplace bullying. Results: shows that 36.0% of the studied women were in the age group ≥30 with a mean age of 34.38±4.33. Half of the studied women suffered from all mentioned health effects, followed by absenteeism 15%, then depression 12%, and 7% suffering decreased self-esteem, the least health problems 6% was for a physical problem (cardiovascular, diabetes mellites, and neuromuscular problems). The study reveals a statistically significant improvement of women's knowledge regarding workplace bullying at post compared to pre educational intervention and at follow up phase compared to the post-intervention phase at p <0.001. The results also show a highly statistically significant improvement in the women's behaviors toward workplace bullying between pre and post-intervention phases and between post and follow-up phases of intervention at p <0.001. Conclusion: The research hypotheses were supported. The women exposed to the coping strategies education had improved knowledge and behaviors compared to their pre-education level. Effective organizational interventions are recommended to help prevent and address bullying incidents, and robust legislative mechanisms are also recommended to allow for restitution and compensation, particularly for women

Invasive fungal infections and patients with malignancies in upper Egypt

The incidence of invasive fungal infections has increased considerably in recent years. The aim of this study was to present a suitable early diagnostic procedure in immune compromised patients, using detection of fungal infection of urine samples collected from 33 patients with malignancies (from 2-89 years old), during the period from December 2012 to February 2014, from South Egypt. Fifty-three fungal species representing 14 genera were collected during this investigation from urine samples on Sabouraoud’s Dextrose Chloramphenicol Agar (46 species and 12 genera) and Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol Agar media (41 species and 11 genera). Aspergillus (16 species), Penicillium (14 species), Yeasts (5 species) and Cladosporium (5 species) contributed the broadest spectra of species in all samples tested on two types of media used. Other species were represented by 13 species belonging to 10 genera. The results indicate that immune compromised patient is a suitable habitat for the growth and sporulation of different groups of fungi, both saprophytic and pathogenic. A variety of types of filamentous fungi were obtained from malignancies patients. Immunosuppressant patient’s exposure for fungal infection so should be in especial care from food, drinking and air. Published by the International journal of Microbiology and Mycology (IJMM

The Yolk Sac Abnormalities, Maternal Serum Level of Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125) and Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (B-HCG) as an Early Predictors of First Trimester Pregnancy Loss in Patients with Threatened Miscarriage

Background: Pregnancy loss before 20 weeks is considered a miscarriage, as is the loss of a fetus weighing less than 500 grams before viability. A medical emergency, threatened miscarriage affects 15–25% of pregnancies. Aim and objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the predictive value of maternal blood levels of Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (B- HCG) in individuals at risk of miscarriage during the first trimester. Subjects and methods: This study was a prospective cohort study. This study included 120 pregnant women with threatened abortion between (6-11 weeks) and followed up till end of 14th week. Results: 36(30%) of pregnant women aborted, while 84(70%) of women continued till 14th weeks of pregnancy. At a cut-off value of 45 U/ml, the CA125 test was shown to have a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 77.5%, respectively, while also having a positive predictive value of 79.8% and a negative predictive value of 87.5%. At a cut-off value of 18.501 mlIU/ml, the B-HCG test's sensitivity and specificity were determined to be 96.3 and 88.9, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 89.7% and a negative predictive value of 96%. Conclusion: Even before fetal morphology can be investigated sonographically, abnormalities in the size of the yolk sac can be utilized as a good prognostic sign of early pregnancy loss. Pregnancy viability can be estimated from first trimester serum CA 125 and Beta HCG measurements