Vegetative Growth and Chemical Parameters of Onion as Influenced by Potassium as Major and Stimufol as Minor Fertilizers

Abstract: Two field experiments were carried out during two experimental seasons of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 under newly sandy reclaimed soil at El-Nubaria region. The aim of these experiments is to study the vegetative growth and chemical parameters of onion plants cv. Giza-20 as influenced by levels of potassium (100 and 150 units of K 2 O/fed.) as potassium sulphate (48% K 2 O) applied as soil top dressing and levels of stimufol (0, 1, 2 and 3g/l) as foliar spraying for three times in 15 days interval. The obtained results strongly indicated that the vigor plant growth expressed as length, leaves number, fresh and dry weights of onion plant were detected with that plants which supplied with a higher level of potassium (150 units of K 2 O). In the same regards, the higher bulb yield as tons/fed. and the size of bulb as well as mineral contents of bulb tissues were recorded with the addition of higher potassium level. Foliar spraying of onion plants by stimufol as minor nutritional fertilizer at level of 3g/l gained the best plant growth and yield if compared with the other application levels. Also, the mineral contents of bulb tissues followed the same trends of results. The interaction between the application rates of potassium and foliar applications of stimufol had no significant effect at 5% level of significance on all measured parameters in both seasons. The highest values of N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in bulb tissues, bulb yield and vegetative growth properties were recorded with onion plants which received the higher potassium rate (150 units of K 2 O) with foliar sprayed by stimufol at the highest dose of 3g/l

Irisin levels in relation to metabolic and liver functions in Egyptian patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract Irisin is a new myokine that is suspected to influence metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, there is a great controversy as regard its level in cases of MetS and its correlation with different metabolic parameters. The aim of the present study was to assess irisin levels in MetS patients and study its relationship to metabolic and liver functions to evaluate the possible role of the liver in regulation of this level. 60 subjects included in this experiment and divided into three groups: Group I (normal control persons), group II (MetS patients with normal liver enzymes) and group III (MetS with elevated liver enzymes and fatty liver). Serum irisin levels showed significant increases in group II and III compared with group I and significant increases in group III compared with group II. Also, irisin levels were positively correlated with body mass index, serum triglycerides, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and liver enzymes. We concluded that serum irisin level increased in patients with MetS especially those with elevated liver enzymes and had a positive correlation with parameters of lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis with the possibility of hepatic clearance to irisin.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Gastroprotective Effects of Montelukast and Nigella Sativa Oil against Corticosteroids- Induced Gastric Damage: Much More Than Antiasthmatic Drugs

Corticosteroids are used to treat variety of diseases like bronchial asthma. However, long term corticosteroids have a gastric ulcerogenic potential. Montelukast (MTK) and nigella sativa oil (NSO) are used in treatment of bronchial asthma. Previous studies showed that MTK and NSO had gastroprotective effects in other models of gastric ulcer. The present study assesses synergistic gastroprotective effects of both drugs in dexamethasone (DXM)-induced gastric damage. 50 male rats were divided into 5 groups; normal control (I), DXM group (II), MTK+DXM group (III), NSO+DXM group (IV), MTK+NSO+DXM group (V). After 7 days, stomachs were removed for biochemical analysis and histological examinations. Significant increases in MDA level, SOD activity, MPO activity, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cells, with significant decreases in mucus secretion were detected in DXM-treated group compared with group I. While, significant decreases of MDA level, MPO activity, and PCNA positive cells and significant increases in mucus secretion were detected in treated groups compared with group I and II. SOD activity significantly decreased in group V compared with group II only. We could conclude that administration of either MTK or NSO or both with DXM counteracts DXM induced-gastric lesions.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

An attempt to improve the proximate composition of local Artemia strain (Wadi El Natrun, Egypt)

Abstract Background Comparative analysis of essential amino acids and fatty acid of enriched and unenriched Artemia spp. collected from Wadi El Natrun, Elbeheira, Egypt, was investigated. Results The obtained results indicated that Leucine recorded the highest concentration (17.22%, 11.4%) in unenrichment A. tunisiana and A. franciscana, respectively followed by arginine (10.31%, 9.6%); however, glutamic acid recorded the lowest concentration (0.05%) in A. tunisiana. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in some amino acid concentrations (P < 0.001) in both A. tunisiana and A. franciscana as arginine, valine, proline, and aspartic acid. Other amino acids were highly significantly fluctuated as glycine, leucine, histidine, phenylalanine, glutamic, and tyrosine; they were high in A. franciscana. Aspartic acid was significantly higher in unenrichment nauplii. Regarding the comparison between A. franciscana and enrichment A. tunisiana, the data showed non-significant improvement for the majority of the recorded amino acids. The analysis of unsaturated fatty acids n-3 and n-6 families after 18 and 24 h of enrichment Artemia was achieved. The composition of unsaturated fatty acids was significantly increased after enrichment to 79.7 mg/g DW instead of 46.5 in newly hatched nauplii. Saturated fatty acids were also significantly increased from 20 to 25.28 mg/g DW. The enrichment process was significant (P < 0.001) in nauplii enriched with fatty acids for 18 h. The more pronounced effect of duration was the amount of energy as it was 33.17 kJ/g after 18 h, while it was 45.693 kJ/g after 24 h incubation. The ratio of ascorbic acid, due to Artemia enrichment by vitamin C for 24 h, was increased from 853 to 3227 μg/g dry weight after enrichment. Conclusion To conclude, enrichment with cod liver oil and vitamin C obviously affected the chemical composition of local Egyptian Artemia (A. tunisiana)

Retinopathy of Type 1 Diabetes in Arab Countries: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of retinopathy prevalence in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in 22 Arab countries. We systematically searched 4 different literature databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science and Embase), from the date of inception until December 2017, to collect all the information about patients with T1D who developed retinopathy complications; for statistical analysis, we used MetaXL to evaluate the pooled prevalence estimate and the subgroup prevalence estimates employing double arcsine transformation and inverse variance heterogeneity models. Our search strategy returned 475 studies, of which 39 met our inclusion criteria; of those, 16 were eligible for meta-analysis that were captured only in 15 Arab countries, through 45 years (1969-2014). The number of retinopathy patients was 396 out of 1,931 patients with T1D. The prevalence of retinopathy was 19% (95% CI 10-28%). Substantial heterogeneity was observed (Q 240.78, p < 0.0001, I2 93.77%, 95% CI 91.35-95.52%); however, no single study considerably affected the overall pooled prevalence estimate. Almost one fifth of T1D patients in 15 Arab countries have diabetic retinopathy, therefore it is important to improve the care of patients with T1D and in Arab countries to avoid the development of such a devastating complication

Data_Sheet_1_Cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral stress-related symptoms and coping strategies among university students during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic.docx

BackgroundStress is manifested by different physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral stress-related symptoms, and everyone experiences it uniquely. The COVID-19 Pandemic has tremendously affected university students' lives. So, we conducted this study to determine the stress frequency, causes, determinants, and related symptoms involving physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral traits and coping strategies among university students in Egypt during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021.MethodsCross-sectional study targeted 1,467 randomly selected undergraduate university students, representing all colleges from 30 universities in Egypt, through a validated self-administrated questionnaire.ResultsThe total stress-related symptom score was statistically significant (p ConclusionStress and its related physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms are prevalent among university students. Most of the university students who were recruited reported that the COVID-19 pandemic badly affected their lives and used negative ways to deal with stress, like staying alone and sleeping too much. Positive ways to deal with stress, like seeing a therapist or meditating, were less common.</p

Randomized Controlled Study Comparing Use of Propofol Plus Fentanyl versus Midazolam Plus Fentanyl as Sedation in Diagnostic Endoscopy in Patients with Advanced Liver Disease

Objectives. We aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of propofol plus fentanyl versus midazolam plus fentanyl as sedative for patients with advanced liver disease presented for gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods. A total of 100 patients with liver cirrhosis referred for upper endoscopy were enrolled and divided equally in two groups, midazolam plus fentanyl group and propofol plus fentanyl group. All patients were subjected to history taking, estimation of level of sedation, endoscopist rating, and hemodynamic parameters including oxygen saturation, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, incidence of side effect as (bradycardia, hypotension, hypoxia, nausea and vomiting, cough, shivering, or diplopia), time needed for complete recovery, and time needed for discharge. Results. There was no statistical significant difference between the studied groups regarding age, sex, weight, Child–Pugh classification score, type and duration of endoscopic intervention, time needed for complete recovery, or time needed for discharge. Complication rates were similar in both groups except for mean arterial blood pressure which was significantly lower in group of patients receiving propofol and fentanyl (P=0.001). Conclusion. The use of either propofol or midazolam in combination to fentanyl is effective in sedation of patients with advanced liver diseases presented for upper GIT endoscope. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03063866

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Extended-Spectrum &beta;-Lactamases and AmpC &beta;-lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae among Human, Cattle, and Poultry

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae are a universal public health alarm frequently identified among humans, animals, and poultry. Livestock and poultry production are a possible source of multidrug-resistant microorganisms, including ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, which confer antimicrobial resistance to different &beta;-lactam antimicrobial agents. From January to May 2020, a cross-sectional study was carried out in three dairy cattle farms and four poultry farms in different districts of northern Egypt to assess the prevalence of ESBLs, AmpC beta-lactamase-producing E. coli and Klebsiella in livestock, poultry, and human contacts, and to investigate the genetic relatedness of the recovered isolates. In total, 140 samples were collected, including human fecal samples (n = 20) of workers with intimate livestock contact, cattle rectal swabs (n = 34), milk (n = 14), milking machine swabs (n = 8), rations (n = 2), and water (n = 2) from different cattle farms, as well as cloacal swabs (n = 45), rations (n = 5), water (n = 5) and litter (n = 5) from poultry farms. The specimens were investigated for ESBL-producing E. coli and Klebsiella using HiCrome ESBL media agar. The agar disk diffusion method characterized the isolated strains for their phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility. The prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae was 30.0%, 20.0%, and 25.0% in humans, cattle, and poultry, respectively. Further genotypic characterization was performed using conventional and multiplex PCR assays for the molecular identification of ESBL and AmpC genes. The majority of the ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae showed a multi-drug resistant phenotype. Additionally, blaSHV was the predominant ESBL genotype (n = 31; 93.94%), and was mainly identified in humans (n = 6), cattle (n = 11), and poultry (14); its existence in various reservoirs is a concern, and highlights the necessity of the development of definite control strategies to limit the abuse of antimicrobial agents