Características fisicoquímicas y estabilidad oxidativa del aceite de germen de maíz egipcio producido por extracción enzimática acuosa

The physicochemical properties and the oxidative stability of Egyptian corn germ oil produced by aqueous enzymatic extraction using fungal cellulase, bacterial and bovine proteases, either individually or in combination were compared to that extracted by hexane. The optimized conditions of the new bovine protease for maximum oil yield were: 0.1% enzyme, pH 7.5 and 1h incubation time versus 0.6%, 0.63% enzyme, pH 4, 8.2 and 4, 2h incubation for fungal cellulase and bacterial protease, respectively. The higher oil yield was obtained by combining cellulase with bacterial protease (62.38%) or with bovine protease (51.94%) relative to hexane extraction (100%). The refractive index, iodine, saponification and peroxide values, DPPH scavenging activity, as well as fatty acids composition of enzymes and solvent-extracted oils were comparable. The acid value and color index of the enzyme-extracted oils were better than that produced by hexane, indicating that enzymes could be applied in the production of eco-friendly corn oil.Las propiedades fisicoquímicas y la estabilidad oxidativa del aceite de germen de maíz egipcio producido por extracción enzimática acuosa utilizando celulasas fúngicas, proteasas bacterianas y bovinas, ya sea individualmente o en combinación, se compararon con las extraídas con hexano. Las condiciones óptimas de la nueva proteasa bovina para un rendimiento máximo de aceite fueron: 0,1% enzima, pH 7.5 y tiempo de incubación 1h versus 0,6%, 0,63% enzima, pH 4; 8,2 y 4; 2h de incubación para celulasa fúngica y proteasa bacteriana, respectivamente. El mayor rendimiento de aceite se obtuvo combinando celulasa con proteasa bacteriana (62,38%) o con proteasa bovina (51,94%) en relación con la extracción de hexano (100%). El índice de refracción, yodo, saponificación y los valores de peróxido, la actividad de eliminación de DPPH, así como la composición de ácidos grasos de los aceites extraídos enzimáticamente y los extraídos con disolventes fueron comparables. El índice de acidez y el índice de color de los aceites extraídos con enzimas fueron mejores que los obtenidos con el hexano, lo que indica que las enzimas podrían aplicarse en la producción de aceite de maíz ecológico

Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Health

Climate change is a global health emergency, with impacts felt most acutely by vulnerable populations and communities. This paper explores health risks from climate change in a global context, setting out key risks and actions towards addressing these. In the context of COP27, it draws in a focus on Egypt as a case study throughout to exemplify the risks faced by countries which are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. This policy working paper has been produced by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Egypt, with contributions from the UK Universities Climate Network, through an academic collaboration ahead of COP27 in Egypt in 2022

Barriers to the delivery of diabetes care in the Middle East and South Africa: a survey of 1,082 practising physicians in five countries

SUMMARY Aims: Developing countries face a high and growing burden of type 2 diabetes. We surveyed physicians in a diverse range of countries in the Middle East and Africa (Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Lebanon) with regard to their perceptions of barriers to type 2 diabetes care identified as potentially important in the literature and by the authors. Methods: One thousand and eighty-two physicians completed a questionnaire developed by the authors. Results: Most physicians enroled in the study employed guideline-driven care; 80–100% of physicians prescribed metformin (with lifestyle intervention, where there are no contraindications) for newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, with lifestyle intervention alone used where metformin was not prescribed. Sulfonylureas were prescribed widely, consistent with the poor economic status of many patients. About one quarter of physicians were not undertaking any form of continuing medical education, and relatively low proportions of practices had their own diabetes educators, dieticians or diabetic foot specialists. Physicians identified the deficiencies of their patients (unhealthy lifestyles, lack of education and poor diet) as the most important barriers to optimal diabetes care. Low-treatment compliance was not ranked highly. Access to physicians did not appear to be a problem, as most patients were seen multiple times per year. Conclusions: Physicians in the Middle East and South Africa identified limitations relating to their patients as the main barrier to delivering care for diabetes, without giving high priority to issues relating to processes of care delivery. Further study would be needed to ascertain whether these findings reflect an unduly physician-centred view of their practice. More effective provision of services relating to the prevention of complications and improved lifestyles may be needed. What's known It is known that the success of care for diabetes depends critically on the delivery of optimised care for diabetic patients. Many barriers to the delivery of such care have been identified. Relatively little is known regarding how these barriers influence the delivery of diabetes care in the Middle East and South Africa. What's new Physicians generally followed management guidelines in type 2 diabetes care. Perceived barriers to optimal diabetes care mainly focussed on attributes of patients, rather than process issues in care or aspects of the physicians' practice

The laser technologies of targeted opening of blood-brain barrier for drug brain delivery

Here we show the photodynamic treatmen

Symptomatic Acute Hepatitis C in Egypt: Diagnosis, Spontaneous Viral Clearance, and Delayed Treatment with 12 Weeks of Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a

The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of spontaneous viral clearance (SVC) after symptomatic acute hepatitis C and to evaluate the efficacy of 12 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa-2a in patients who did not clear the virus spontaneously.Patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis C were recruited from two "fever hospitals" in Cairo, Egypt. Patients still viremic three months after the onset of symptoms were considered for treatment with 12 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa-2a (180 microg/week).Between May 2002 and February 2006, 2243 adult patients with acute hepatitis were enrolled in the study. The SVC rate among 117 patients with acute hepatitis C was 33.8% (95%CI [25.9%-43.2%]) at three months and 41.5% (95%CI [33.0%-51.2%]) at six months. The sustained virological response (SVR) rate among the 17 patients who started treatment 4-6 months after onset of symptoms was 15/17 = 88.2% (95%CI [63.6%-98.5%]).Spontaneous viral clearance was high (41.5% six months after the onset of symptoms) in this population with symptomatic acute hepatitis C. Allowing time for spontaneous clearance should be considered before treatment is initiated for symptomatic acute hepatitis C

Miscellaneous Rheumatic Diseases [73-83]: 73. Is There a Delay in Specialist Referral of Hot Swollen Joint?

Background: Patients with acute, hot, swollen joints commonly present to general practitioners, emergency departments and/or acute admitting teams rather than directly to rheumatology. It is imperative to consider septic arthritis in the differential diagnosis of these patients. The British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) has produced guidelines for the management of this condition, which include recommendations for early specialist referral and joint aspiration of all patients with suspected septic arthritis. We examined whether the initial management of patients with acute hot swollen joint(s) at University College London Hospital (UCLH) follows BSR guidelines. Methods: For the period Feb to Nov 2009, appropriate patients were identified by searching the UCLH database using the diagnostic terms, "pyogenic arthritis”, "septic arthritis” and "gout”; and from all joint aspirate requests sent to microbiology. Medical notes were obtained and any patients who had elective arthroscopies or chronic (> 6 weeks) symptoms were excluded. Data were collected on the time taken from the onset of symptoms to specialist (orthopaedic/rheumatology) referral and joint aspiration, collection of blood cultures and antibiotic treatment with or without microbiology advice. Results: Twenty patients were identified with hot swollen (18 monoarticular, 3 prosthetic) joint(s) of < 2 weeks duration. Of whom, 3/20 (15%) were admitted directly to rheumatology, 7/20 (35%) to the acute admissions unit, 3/20 (15%) to orthopaedic, 4/20 (20%) to a medical team and 1/20 (5%) to general surgery. In 19 (95%) cases, specialist (rheumatology/orthopaedic) advice was sought. Of 14 cases not seen directly by specialists 9 (64%) were referred at 24-48 h and 5 (36%) at 48-192 h. All 20 patients had joint aspiration. In 9/20 (45%) of cases, joint aspiration was performed in less than 6 h, 3/20 (15%) cases at 6-24h and 6/20 (30%) cases at 24-192 h and was not recorded in two patients. Of these, crystals were identified in two and one was culture positive. Blood cultures were received for only 6/20 (30%) of cases and only clearly documented to have been taken prior to antibiotic therapy and none were positive. Of 14/20 (70%) started on antibiotic treatment empirically, only 6 (42%) were preceded by joint aspiration. In the 6 patients not treated with antibiotics due to low index of suspicion of septic arthritis, synovial fluid and blood cultures were negative. Microbiology advice was sought in 10/20 (50%) of cases by the admitting teams but the timing of this advice is unclear. Conclusions: Despite the provision of 24 h rheumatology and orthopaedic cover at UCLH, we found a significant delay in acute medical firms seeking specialist advice on the management of patients with acute, hot swollen joints with subsequent deviation from BSR guidelines. Consequently, we plan to increase awareness of these guidelines amongst medical firms at UCLH. Disclosure statement: All authors have declared no conflicts of interes