Neurofibromatosis type 1 and multiple sclerosis: Genetically related diseases

Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disorder with involvement of both the cutaneous and nervous systems. Patients are susceptible to neurological complication in the form of tumors of the brain and spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the myelinated axons in the central nervous system. Unlike MS, none of the neurological complications of NF1 is demyelinating. The association of these two diseases in the same patient is rare and could be genetically related. Early detection of the presence of MS in patients with NF1 is of utmost importance as treatment will certainly decrease further neurological disability. Here we report the first Egyptian lady with this association

Blood Pressure and Blood Pressure Deficits as Predictors of Acute Kidney Injury in Vasopressor Dependent Patients Post Cardiovascular Surgery

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious post-operative complication following cardiovascular surgery. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the value of blood pressure and blood pressure deficits as predictors of AKI in post cardiovascular surgery vasopressors’ dependent patients. METHODS: A prospective observational, single center study, conducted on 100 patients requiring vasopressor support for more than 4 h after cardiovascular surgery. All included patients were subjected to the measurements of three or more systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) readings from the ward charts before surgery and the mean of these measures was calculated, was recorded and pre-operative systolic perfusion pressure (SPP), diastolic perfusion pressure (DPP), and mean perfusion pressure (MPP) were calculated. A vasopressor-associated average values for hemodynamic pressure-related parameters (SAP, DAP, MAP, CVP, SPP, DPP, and MPP) were calculated on the 1st 24 h after admission. The percent deficit in post-operative average parameters in relation to pre-operative parameters was determined as % parameter deficit. RESULTS: The pre-operative SAP, DAP, MAP, SPP, DPP, and MPP were significantly higher in the non-AKI compared to AKI patients while pre-operative central venous pressure (CVP) was significantly higher in AKI patients. The post-operative DAP, MAP, DPP, and MPP were also higher in non-AKI and the post-operative CVP was lower in non-AKI compared to AKI patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study concluded that the relative decrease in the perfusion pressures could be significant predictors of AKI after cardiovascular surgery in vasopressor dependent patients. The higher pre- or post-operative CVP or its relative decrease after cardiac surgery was seen also to be associated with higher incidence of AKI

High SARS CoV2 antibody-prevalence among health care workers with variable exposure to COVID-19 patients: A cross-sectional university hospital study.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pattern of medical services changed to minimize transmission to health care workers (HCWs) or hospitalized patients. Despite the care of COVID-19 patients in a special ward, new cases are accidentally discovered. This study aimed at determining the antibody seroprevalence among asymptomatic HCWs and the associated risks. Methods: The study involved 190 participants, including physicians, nurses, technicians, and administrative staff. All were inquired for sociodemographic, specialty, previous isolation, and previous infection, and their blood was tested for SARS-CoV2 antibody. Results: Of 190 HCWs; 72,1% were females, the mean age was 32.6±7.9 years, 10.5% were smokers, and 15.8% reported co-morbid illness. SARS CoV2 antibodies were found in 68 (35.8%); being IgG, IgM and both IgM and IgG in 47 (69.1%), 10 (14.7%) and 11 (16.2%) participants respectively. The prevalence was higher (47.6%) among HCWs of the COVID unit, [OR=1.7 (95% CI: 0.69-4.3)] and HCWs with previous COVID-19, OR:1.61 (95% CI:0.88-2.94). The prevalence was significantly lower among smokers (p=0.049), OR:0.29 (95% CI:0.08-1.01), and significantly higher in HCWs who recalled cough (p=0.036) OR: 1.97 (95% CI: 1.05-3.69). The likelihood of antibody seropositivity increased in technicians [OR:2.02 (95% CI: 0.92-4.44)], followed by physicians [OR:1.7 (95% CI: 0.7-4.33)] while the odds ratio was low among nurses [OR:0.58 (95% CI: 0.32-1.07). Conclusion: A considerable proportion of antibody positive HCWs had evidence of past SARS CoV2. Provision of adequate personal protective equipment and periodic screening of HCWs are urgently needed to lessen the transmission within the health care settings

Review: Current trends in coral transplantation – an approach to preserve biodiversity

Ammar MSA,El-Gammal F, Nassar M, Belal A, Farag W, El-Mesiry G, El-Haddad K, Orabi A, Abdelreheem A, Shaaban A. 2013. Review: Current trends in coral transplantation – an approach to preserve biodiversity. Biodiversitas 14: 43-53. The increasing rates of coral mortality associated with the rise in stress factors and the lack of adequate recovery worldwide have urged recent calls for actions by the scientific, conservation, and reef management communities. This work reviews the current trends in coral transplantation. Transplantation of coral colonies or fragments, whether from aqua-, mariculture or harvesting from a healthy colony, has been the most frequently recommended action for increasing coral abundance on damaged or degraded reefs and for conserving listed or “at-risk” species. Phytoplanktons are important for providing transplanted corals with complex organic compounds through photosynthesis. Artificial surfaces like concrete blocks, wrecks or other purpose-designed structures can be introduced for larval settlement. New surfaces can also be created through electrolysis. Molecular biological tools can be used to select sites for rehabilitation by asexual recruits. Surface chemistry and possible inputs of toxic leachate from artificial substrates are considered as important factors affecting natural recruitment. Transplants should be carefully maintained , revisited and reattached at least weekly in the first month and at least fortnightly in the next three months. Studies on survivorship and the reproductive ability of transplanted coral fragments are important for coral reef restoration. A coral nursery may be considered as a pool for local species that supplies reef-managers with unlimited coral colonies for sustainable management. Transplanting corals for making artificial reefs can be useful for increasing biodiversity, providing tourist diving, fishing and surfing; creating new artisanal and commercial fishing opportunities, colonizing structures by fishes and invertebrates), saving large corals during the construction of a Liquified Natural Gas Plant

Bioactive Hydroperoxyl Cembranoids from the Red Sea Soft Coral Sarcophyton glaucum

A chemical investigation of an ethyl acetate extract of the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum has led to the isolation of two peroxide diterpenes, 11(S) hydroperoxylsarcoph-12(20)-ene (1), and 12(S)-hydroperoxylsarcoph-10-ene (2), as well as 8-epi-sarcophinone (3). In addition to these three new compounds, two known structures were identified including: ent-sarcophine (4) and sarcophine (5). Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, with the relative configuration of 1 and 2 confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Isolated compounds were found to be inhibitors of cytochrome P450 1A activity as well as inducers of glutathione S-transferases (GST), quinone reductase (QR), and epoxide hydrolase (mEH) establishing chemo-preventive and tumor anti-initiating activity for these characterized metabolites

Eucalyptus-derived essential oils alleviate microbes and modulate inflammation by suppressing superoxide and elastase release

The Eucalyptus tree, belonging to the myrtle family, grows all over the world for its pharmaceutical and industrial benefits. In this article, we present a comparative analysis of the chemical composition of the hydrodistilled oils obtained from three different Eucalyptus species growing in Egypt viz. E. citriodora, E. camaldulensis, and E. ficifolia. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric guided analysis resulted in the identification of a total of 20 metabolites in E. citriodora oil with citronellal (54.9%) and citronellol (25.4%) being the most dominant components. β-cymene (12.7%) and 1,8-cineole (11.7%) were the major volatile constituents identified in E. camaldulensis oil, while trans-β-ocimene (22.4%), 1,8-cineole (13.5%), and L-trans-pinocarveol (12.5%) were the dominating components in the oil of E. ficifolia. The essential oils of the studied species were evaluated for their in vitro anti-inflammatory, antiviral including anti-SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2), antibacterial, and antifungal activities. E. citriodora oil displayed the highest inhibitory activity on the release of the superoxide radical (32%) and elastase enzyme (31%) in human neutrophils, while E. ficifolia oil had enhancing effects on elastase. The latter showed significant antiviral effects against hepatitis A, herpes simplex, and coxsackie viruses with IC50 values at 2.1, 2.5, and 5.6 μg/mL, respectively. Moderate antibacterial and antifungal activities were observed for Eucalyptus oils with Staphylococcus aureus being the most susceptible bacterial strain. E. ficifolia oil, similarly, displayed the best antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value at ca. 25 μg/mL (for S. aureus). On the contrary, E. camaldulensis oil was the most active against Candida albicans with an MIC value at 45 μg/mL. In silico studies were performed with a number of macromolecular drug targets for confirming the biological activities of the identified compounds and for interpreting their ADME (absorption-distribution-metabolism-elimination) parameters