Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Feline Intestinal Lymphosarcomas in Egypt

Feline intestinal lymphosarcomas are mostly caused by Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). Unfortunately, there is no available vaccine for FeLV in Egypt. The diagnosis of feline intestinal lymphosarcomas depends upon abdominal palpation, x-rays examination, ultrasonography, direct ELISA and histopathology of masses excised during laparotomy. The recorded clinical signs in intestinal lymphosarcoma affected cats were variable including vomiting, fever, anorexia, ascites, anemia, dyspnea, constipation and emaciation. The affected lymph nodes were mesenteric, mediastinal and retropharyngeal. The prevalence of intestinal lymphosarcomas in the examined cats was 4.03 % (11 out of 273 cats). The prevalence was higher in queens than toms (2.93 % and 0.73 % respectively). The Siamese cats had higher prevalence than the Sherazy ones (2.56 % and 1.47 % respectively). X-ray films and ultrasonographic images performed on the eleven cats suffered from intestinal lymphosarcomas revealed ascities and abdominal masses. The comparison of ELISA and histopathology (of excised masses) results showed that 9 out of 11 intestinal lymphosarcoma affected cats were infected with FeLV that proved not all cases of intestinal lymphosarcoma were caused by FeLV. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ELISA to diagnose intestinal lymphosarcoma in cats were 81.81 %, 100 % and 92 % respectively. Gross autopsy of the collected lymph nodes, livers, kidneys revealed that gross lymphadenopathy involving one or more nodes, hepatomegaly and kidney enlargement. Microscopically, the examined tissues specimens showed that the normal architecture of the examined lymph nodes, livers, and kidneys has been replaced by a diffuse infiltrate of both lymphocytes and lymphoblasts. The vast majority of the cells are small lymphocyte-type cells with round basophilic nuclei and a sparse rim of cytoplasm. The eleven intestinal lymphosarcoma affected cats exposed to abdominal exploratory surgery (laparotomy) died at one to three months post-surgery. It is concluded that the vaccination of kittens and cats against FeLV in Egypt is very important to prevent the highly fatal intestinal lymphosarcomas

The effectiveness of using mobile learning to enhance UAEU students’ achievement and motivation in Emirati studies course

United Arab Emirates University adopted a particular project aiming to improve and develop the learning process. The idea of the research focused on the utilization of mobile learning in classrooms through using the iPad devices by students in different content areas. Applying such a notion helped in motivating students in learning, especially, for some courses featured as more theoretical and abstract like Emirati Studies course. The Emirati Studies, considering as a compulsory course for the students in the UAEU, addresses different aspects related to the Emirati community whether socially, historically, geographically, politically or economically. So, the purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of mobile leaning utilization in developing students’ achievement and motivation in Emirati Studies course. The study was conducted in the United Arab Emirates University in Al-Ain City during spring semester (2015-2016). The sample was selected through using stratified sampling technique; in which the population was divided into two subgroups including (97) male students and (104) female students studying in four sections distributed equally for both genders. The researcher employed a descriptive method to construct a list of standers for creating a digital learning unit using mobile learning in addition to using the quasi-experimental research design, the sample was selected and divided into two groups; the experimental group included (55) female students and (49) male students, and the control group contained (52) female students and (44) male students. The content was selected from the Emirati Studies’ content in which the experimental group was taught by using mobile learning, while the control group used the same content through applying the conventional way of teaching. The content was digitized by utilizing the iBook author application. Data were collected through carrying out an achievement test and adopted John Keller’s Instructional Materials Motivation Scale (IMMS) after translating it to Arabic. Data were statistically analyzed by employing t-test to show the significant differences of the means between the two groups in both; the achievement test and the motivation scale. The results revealed that there was statistic significant differences at (0.05) between the experimental group and control group in both the achievement and the motivation measurement for the benefit of the experimental group. The research used (ETA) Square to identify the practical value of the experimental method, The research findings suggest that mobile learning has minimal effectiveness in improving UAEU students’ achievement in the course “Emirati Studies”. The results, however, point out the effectiveness of using mobile learning that adopts Keller’s model in fostering UAEU students’ motivation in studying the course “Emirati Studies”. The recommendations in this study were illustrated in considering (ARCS) Model of motivation in designing any targeted content to serve the learning process, and in implementing mobile learning in other content areas

REMOVAL OF FERRIC IONS (Fe+3) FROM NEUTRAL SOLUTIONS USING MODIFIED CHITOSAN

The object of this study is to assess the removal of Fe(III) ions from aqueous solutions onto modified chitosan. The effect of various parameters has been investigated by the following batch adsorption technique. The various variables studied include initial concentration of the adsorbate, agitation time, adsorbent dosage, kinetics, influence of temperature. The experimental data was fit well to the Freundlich isotherm. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH, ΔS and ΔG were calculated, indicating that the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic nature

Antimony germanium sulphide amorphous thin films fabricated by chemical vapour deposition

Antimony germanium sulphide (Sb-Ge-S) amorphous thin films have been directly fabricated on both silica on silicon and commercial glass substrates by means of chemical vapour deposition. These Sb-Ge-S films have been characterized by micro-Raman, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis techniques. The analysis results for these amorphous films indicate the composition of Sb-Ge-S can be varied by changing the deposition temperatures. The quality of these Sb-Ge-S amorphous thin films gives them high potential for the chalcogenide optical waveguide and device applications

Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Hospital Environment in South Libya

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been emerged as a significant pathogen and is the most common dreadful gram-negative bacilli found in various health care-associated infections all over the world due to its virulence, well-known ability to resist killing by various antibiotics and disinfectants. The aim of this study was isolation and identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the hospital environment and determining the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates to four antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin, Amikacin, Imipenem, and Piperacillin). A total of 200 sterile cotton swab samples were collected from hospital environment including ground, walls, beds, bed sheets, blankets, doors, doors handle, nurse tables, trays, chairs, electronic equipment's, medicine cabinet, windows and (operation theater) (Sabha medical center and Brack general hospital were enrolled in this cross-sectional study). Bacterial isolates were identified by standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out by disc diffusion method. Results revealed that out of the 200 collected samples, 12 Pseudomonas spp. (6%) were isolated. Other different bacterial species isolated were 148 (74%) and 40 samples (20%) were negative for growth. Most isolates were obtained from sinks 6 (50%) and then ground 2 (16.7%), Air conditions 2 (16.7%), walls 1 (8.3%), Chairs 1 (8.3%). we found that all Pseudomonas spp. isolates were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Amikacin, Piperacillin, and Imipenem

ENHANCING THE ESTERIFICATION CONVERSION USING PERVAPORATION

Coupling of a pervaporation membrane unit with an esterification reactor has been undertaken with a view to improve the overall efficiency of the esterification process through removal of one of the products. The esterification reaction of acetic acid with methanol in the presence of two alternative heterogeneous catalysts Nafion resin (NR) and silica sulfuric acid (SSA) is investigated on the laboratory scale. The system consists of a batch reactor externally coupled with pervaparation (PV) module containing a Nafion membrane. The effect of different parameters on the esterification / pervaporation system is explored. The studied parameters include reactants molar ratio, temperature, and catalyst weight percent. The results show that the water diffusion through the PV membrane helps to break the thermodynamic equilibrium barrier of reversible esterification reaction and improve the reaction conversion. The maximum conversion reached 96.76 % after 60 min at 60 ºC, 3% silica sulfuric acid as catalyst, with a reactant to acid molar ratio of 8:1, and a membrane surface area to reactor volume of 1.3 cm-1.

Effect of Lifestyle Modification on Glycemic Control of Type 2 Diabetic Patients at Suez Canal University Hospitals

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, as one of the major universal public health disorders wide spread, requires patients’ lifestyle modulation which would be conducive in dominating blood glucose. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of lifestyle modification on glycemic control of type 2 diabetic patients at Suez Canal University Hospitals at Ismailia city. A quasi-experimental design made up of a control group and a study group with pre- and post-test administration was applied. This study was carried out at the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic and the Diabetic Outpatient Clinic of Suez Canal University Hospitals at Ismailia city in Egypt. 92 type 2 diabetic patients were included in this study. The Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire; Health promoting lifestyle profile II Scale; and Physical assessment sheet were used for data collection in the two groups. After implementing of the program, those patients who received lifestyle modification intervention achieved better total score of knowledge & knowledge related practice about DM, health promoting lifestyle domains values and glycated hemoglobin, compared with the control group. Factors related to lower glycated hemoglobin in the present study were lower fasting blood sugar level and increasing physical activity. Overall, lifestyle modification program has a positive influence on blood glucose control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, it is recommended to that lifestyle modification interventions should be integral part of the curative management of type 2 diabetic patients, and further study in other places to investigate the effect of lifestyle modification on glycemic control of those patients

C9orf72 poly GA RAN-translated protein plays a key role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis via aggregation and toxicity

An intronic GGGGCC (G4C2) hexanucleotide repeat expansion inC9orf72 is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (C9ALS/FTD). Repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation of G4C2 RNA can result in five different dipeptide repeat proteins (DPR: poly GA, poly GP, poly GR, poly PA, and poly PR), which aggregate into neuronal cytoplasmic and nuclear inclusions in affected patients, however their contribution to disease pathogenesis remains controversial. We show that among the DPR proteins, expression of poly GA in a cell culture model activates programmed cell death and TDP-43 cleavage in a dose-dependent manner. Dual expression of poly GA together with other DPRs revealed that poly GP and poly PA are sequestered by poly GA, whereas poly GR and poly PR are rarely co-localised with poly GA. Dual expression of poly GA and poly PA ameliorated poly GA toxicity by inhibiting poly GA aggregation both in vitro and in vivo in the chick embryonic spinal cord. Expression of alternative codon-derived DPRs in chick embryonic spinal cord confirmed in vitro data, revealing that each of the dipeptides caused toxicity, with poly GA being the most toxic. Further, in vivo expression of G4C2 repeats of varying length caused apoptotic cell death, but failed to generate DPRs. Together, these data demonstrate that C9-related toxicity can be mediated by either RNA or DPRs. Moreover, our findings provide evidence that poly GA is a key mediator of cytotoxicity and that cross-talk between DPR proteins likely modifies their pathogenic status in C9ALS/FTD

Bim Links ER Stress and Apoptosis in Cells Expressing Mutant SOD1 Associated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is an important pathway to cell death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We previously demonstrated that ER stress is linked to neurotoxicity associated with formation of inclusions of mutant Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Cells bearing mutant inclusions undergo mitochondrial apoptotic signalling. Here, we demonstrate that the BH3-only protein, Bim, is a direct link between ER stress and mitochondrial apoptosis. In the murine neuroblastoma cell line, Neuro2a, bearing mutant SOD1 inclusions, indicators of both ER stress and apoptosis are expressed. Bim knockdown by siRNA significantly reduced nuclear apoptotic features in these inclusion-bearing cells (but did not affect the proportion of cells overall that bear inclusions). Further, both Bax recruitment to mitochondria and cytochrome c redistribution were also decreased under Bim-depletion conditions. However, upregulation of CHOP, a marker of ER stress, was not reduced by Bim knockdown. Significantly, knockdown of CHOP by siRNA reduced the extent of apoptosis in cells bearing mutant SOD1 inclusions. These sequential links between ER stress, CHOP upregulation, and Bim activation of mitochondrial apoptotic signalling indicate a clear pathway to cell death mediated by mutant SOD1

The redox switch that regulates molecular chaperones

© 2015 by De Gruyter. Modification of reactive cysteine residues plays an integral role in redox-regulated reactions. Oxidation of thiolate anions to sulphenic acid can result in disulphide bond formation, or overoxidation to sulphonic acid, representing reversible and irreversible endpoints of cysteine oxidation, respectively. The antioxidant systems of the cell, including the thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems, aim to prevent these higher and irreversible oxidation states. This is important as these redox transitions have numerous roles in regulating the structure/function relationship of proteins. Proteins with redox-active switches as described for peroxiredoxin (Prx) and protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) can undergo dynamic structural rearrangement resulting in a gain of function. For Prx, transition from cysteine sulphenic acid to sulphinic acid is described as an adaptive response during increased cellular stress causing Prx to form higher molecular weight aggregates, switching its role from antioxidant to molecular chaperone. Evidence in support of PDI as a redox-regulated chaperone is also gaining impetus, where oxidation of the redox-active CXXC regions causes a structural change, exposing its hydrophobic region, facilitating polypeptide folding. In this review, we will focus on these two chaperones that are directly regulated through thiol-disulphide exchange and detail how these redox-induced switches allow for dual activity. Moreover, we will introduce a new role for a metabolic protein, the branched-chain aminotransferase, and discuss how it shares common mechanistic features with these well-documented chaperones. Together, the physiological importance of the redox regulation of these proteins under pathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will be discussed to illustrate the impact and importance of correct folding and chaperone-mediated activity