Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among university female students, Gaza, Palestine

The intestinal parasites are still endemic among children, women, and men in Gaza Strip. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of intestinal parasites among young female students of Islamic University of Gaza to report the existence and prevalence of intestinal parasites. A total of 305 stool samples were collected from female students in all faculties and were examined by wet mount and formal ether sedimentation technique. This study showed that the overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 20.6%. The detected intestinal parasites were as follows: (7.5%), (4.9%), (0.3%), (2.6%), (1.0%), and (3.9%). Science students showed the highest prevalence for parasitic infections (35.3%), and married students (16.7%) had higher prevalence than single students (6.5%). It was concluded that female students also are under risk of gaining parasitic infection in spite of their education. It is recommended that university students should be subjected to regular medical examinations for parasitic infections. [Abstract copyright: Copyright: © 2019 Avicenna Journal of Medicine.

Optimization studies of biomass production and protein biosynthesis in a Spirulina sp. isolated from an oilpolluted flame pit in the Niger Delta

Using a modification of the Bangladesh 3 medium, dose response analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of certain parameters on biomass production and protein biosynthesis in a Spirulina sp.isolated from an oil-polluted flame pit. A set of conditions described as optimized was compared with another set of conditions described as normal. The optimized parameters include pH 9.0, temperature30oC, 0.30 mg/L SO4-2, 0.008 mg/L P043-, 2.0 g/L HC03-, 25 mg/L N032-, 1.0% Cl- and light intensity 15 ìEm-2s-1. Agitation was achieved through aeration using an aquarium pump to supply air at ca 150 bubbles min-1. Biomass and protein produced were significantly (P = 0.05) higher in the optimized than in thenormal condition; that is, biomass and protein produced in optimized condition were 22.7 and 25.8%, respectively, higher than those produced in normal growth condition. The total amino acidconcentration in optimized condition was 58.7% higher than in normal conditions. These results show  that cultivating the Spirulina species at these optimized environmental conditions could significantlyimprove biomass yield and protein synthesis in the organism

Enterotoxicigenicity profile of Escherichia coli, Vibrio, and Salmonella species isolated from well and river water sources in Oproama town in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Well water is the only source of drinking water in Oproama Town in Rivers state, Nigeria. Water from these sources is consumed without treatment, and potentially poses a health risk to the local population. The Enterotoxigenicity profile of Escherichia coli, Vibrio and Salmonella species isolated from well and river water sources in Oproama were investigated using fluid accumulation (FA) ratio. The study revealed that Salmonella isolate (S9) from the river showed doubtful toxicity out of the ten Escherichia coli, ten Vibrio and ten Salmonella isolates. This study revealed a near-absence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Vibrio and Salmonella organisms from the waters in Oproama. More studies are required to further test the overall safety of these water sources due to the potential risk of consuming untreated water. KEYWORDS: Escherichia coli, Vibrio, Salmonella, Enterotoxigenicit

Influence of aeration and lighting on biomass production and protein biosynthesis in a Spirulina sp. isolated from an oil-polluted brackish water marsh in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

The influence aeration and light intensity could have on biomass production and protein biosynthesis in a Spirulina sp. isolated from an oil-polluted brackish water marsh is examined. Biomass, proximal composition and amino acid composition obtained from aerated cultures of the organism were compared with non-aerated cultures after a 35 days incubation period. Cultures of the organism were also grown in ordinary sunlight, and artificial light intensities of ca.7.5 and 15 mEm-2 S -1. Results showed that both aeration and exposing the cultures of the organism to artificial illumination improved biomass production and protein biosynthesis in the Spirulina sp. compared to sunlight illuminated and non aerated cultures. These results would be useful in optimizing growth conditions for maximum biomass and protein yields from the organism

Genomic surveillance uncovers a pandemic clonal lineage of the wheat blast fungus

Wheat, one of the most important food crops, is threatened by a blast disease pandemic. Here, we show that a clonal lineage of the wheat blast fungus recently spread to Asia and Africa following two independent introductions from South America. Through a combination of genome analyses and laboratory experiments, we show that the decade-old blast pandemic lineage can be controlled by the Rmg8 disease resistance gene and is sensitive to strobilurin fungicides. However, we also highlight the potential of the pandemic clone to evolve fungicide-insensitive variants and sexually recombine with African lineages. This underscores the urgent need for genomic surveillance to track and mitigate the spread of wheat blast outside of South America and to guide preemptive wheat breeding for blast resistance

Risk of malignancy in resected pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) are rare mucin-producing cystic tumours defined by the presence of ovarian-type stroma. MCNs have a malignant potential and thus surgery is frequently performed. The aim of this cohort study was to define better the criteria for surgical resection in patients with MCN. METHODS: This multicentre retrospective study included all resected MCNs between 2003 and 2015 in participating centres. Lesions without ovarian-type stroma were excluded. Patient characteristics, preoperative findings, histopathology findings and follow-up data were recorded. RESULTS: The study included 211 patients; their median age was 53 (range 18-82) years, and 202 (95·7 per cent) were women. Median preoperative tumour size was 55 (range 12-230) mm. Thirty-four of the 211 (16·1 per cent) were malignant, and high-grade dysplasia (HGD) was found in a further 13 (6·2 per cent). One-third of MCNs in men were associated with invasive cancer, compared with 15·3 per cent in women. Five cases of malignant transformation occurred in MCNs smaller than 4 cm. All cases of malignancy or HGD were associated with symptoms or features of concern on preoperative cross-sectional imaging. In multivariable analysis, raised carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (odds ratio (OR) 10·54, 95 per cent c.i. 2·85 to 218·23; P < 0·001), tumour size (OR 4·23, 3·02 to 11·03; P = 0·001), mural nodules (OR 3·55, 1·31 to 20·55; P = 0·002) and weight loss (OR 3·40, 2·34 to 12·34; P = 0·034) were independent factors predictive of malignant transformation. CONCLUSIONS: Small indeterminate MCNs with no symptoms or features of concern may safely be observed as they have a low risk of malignant transformation

Brain metastases in gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma: Insights into the role of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)

Background: Gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinomas rarely metastasize to the central nervous system (CNS). The role of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in patients with these cancers and CNS involvement is presently unknown.Patients and Methods: A multicentre registry was established to collect data from patients with gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinomas and CNS involvement both retrospectively and prospectively. Inclusion in the study required a predefined clinical data set, a central neuro-radiological or histopathological confirmation of metastatic CNS involvement and central assessment of HER2 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridisation (ISH). In addition, expression of E-cadherin and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins were assessed by IHC. Results: One hundred patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The population's median age was 59 years (interquartile range: 54-68), of which 85 (85%) were male. Twenty-five patients were of Asian and 75 of Caucasian origin. HER2 status was positive in 36% (95% CI: 26.6-46.2) of cases. Median time from initial diagnosis to the development of brain metastases (BMets) or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) was 9.9 months (95% CI: 8.5-15.0). Median overall survival from diagnosis was 16.9 months (95% CI: 14.0-20.7) and was not related to the HER2 status. E-cadherin loss was observed in 9% of cases and loss of expression in at least one DNA MMR proteins in 6%. Conclusions: The proportion of a positive HER2 status in patients with gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma and CNS involvement was higher than expected. The impact of anti-HER2 therapies should be studied prospectively

Mitochondrial Damage in the Trabecular Meshwork Occurs Only in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and in Pseudoexfoliative Glaucoma

Open-angle glaucoma appears to be induced by the malfunction of the trabecular meshwork cells due to injury induced by oxidative damage and mitochondrial impairment. Here, we report that, in fact, we have detected mitochondrial damage only in primary open-angle glaucoma and pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma, among several glaucoma types compared.Mitochondrial damage was evaluated by analyzing the common mitochondrial DNA deletion by real-time PCR in trabecular meshwork specimens collected at surgery from glaucomatous patients and controls. Glaucomatous patients included 38 patients affected by various glaucoma types: primary open-angle, pigmented, juvenile, congenital, pseudoexfoliative, acute, neovascular, and chronic closed-angle glaucoma. As control samples, we used 16 specimens collected from glaucoma-free corneal donors. Only primary open-angle glaucoma (3.0-fold) and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (6.3-fold) showed significant increases in the amount of mitochondrial DNA deletion. In all other cases, deletion was similar to controls.despite the fact that the trabecular meshwork is the most important tissue in the physiopathology of aqueous humor outflow in all glaucoma types, the present study provides new information regarding basic physiopathology of this tissue: only in primary open-angle and pseudoexfoliative glaucomas oxidative damage arising from mitochondrial failure play a role in the functional decay of trabecular meshwork