T-helper 1 Immune Response in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and its Relation to Disease Activity

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by various immunological abnormalities, including dysregulated activation of both T and B lymphocytes. The etiology of this immunological disorder has not been clearly elucidated. Aberrant production and imbalance of T-helper (Th) cell cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of Th1 cytokines interleukin-18 (IL-18) and osteopontin (OPN) in SLE patients and their correlation with the disease activity. Methods: The study included 24 patients with SLE and 20 age- and sex- matched control subjects. The disease activity was evaluated with the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Plasma OPN and IL-18 concentrations were measured in patients and control groups using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Plasma OPN and IL-18 concentrations were significantly higher in SLE patients than in the control group (P < 0.001). OPN and IL-18 concentrations correlated positively and significantly with SLEDAI scores in SLE patients (r = 0.831, P < 0.001 and r = 0.826, P < 0.001 respectively). In addition, there was a highly significant positive correlation between OPN and IL-18 levels (r = 0.75, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The circulating IL-18 and OPN concentrations were significantly elevated in SLE patients and correlated with the SLEDAI score. This suggests a crucial role for Th1 cytokines in the inflammatory processes and tissue damage in SLE disease. Both cytokines my act as potential disease markers for monitoring of SLE disease activity and therapeutic efficacy. Keywords: SLE, Th-1, SLEDAI, osteopontin, IL-1

Mejora de la producción de lípidos de un prometedor hongo oleaginoso Aspergillus sp. cepa EM2018 para la formación de biodiesel: optimización de las condiciones de cultivo e identificación

Oleaginous fungi have recently gained increasing attention among different microorganisms due to their ability for lipid production for the preparation of biofuel. In the present study, a locally isolated fungus E45, identified genetically as Aspergillus sp. strain EM2018, was found to produce 25.2% of the total lipids content of its dry cell weight (DCW). Optimization of culture conditions was performed and lipid accumula­tion increased by about 2.4 fold (from 25.2% to 60.1% of DCW) when the fungus was grown for seven days in the potato dextrose (50 g/L) liquid medium at pH 5.0, incubation temperature at 30 ºC and inoculum size of 2 × 106 spore/mL. Supplementation of the medium with yeast extract and NaNO3 at a concentration of 0.05% as organic and inorganic nitrogen sources, respectively, increased lipid production (53.3% lipid/dry biomass). Gas chromatography analysis of fungal lipids revealed the presence of saturated (mainly palmitic acid C16:0 (33%) and lignoceric acid C24:0 (15%)) and unsaturated fatty acids in different proportions (mainly linoleic acid C18:2 (24.4%), oleica cid C18:1 (14%) and arachidonic C20:4 (7.4%). These findings suggest this new oleaginous fungus as a promising feedstock for various industrial applications and for the preparation of biodiesel.Los hongos oleagino­sos recientemente están ganando una creciente atención entre diferentes microorganismos debido a sus capaci­dades de producción de lípidos para la preparación de biocombustibles. En el presente estudio, se descubrió que un hongo E45 aislado localmente, identificado genéticamente como la cepa Aspergillus sp. EM2018, produce un 25,2% de lípidos totales de su peso de células secas (DCW). Se realizó la optimización de las condiciones de cultivo y la acumulación de lípidos se incrementó aproximadamente 2,4 veces (del 25,2% al 60,1% de DCW) cuando el hongo creció durante siete días en un medio líquido de dextrosa de papa (50 g/L) a pH 5.0, 30 °C de temperatura de incubación y 2 × 106 esporas/ml de tamaño de inóculo. La suplementación del medio con extracto de leva­dura y NaNO3 a una concentración de 0,05% como fuentes de nitrógeno orgánico e inorgánico, respectivamente, aumentó aún más la producción de lípidos (53,3% de lípidos/biomasa seca). El análisis mediante cromatografía de gases de los lípidos fúngicos reveló la presencia de ácidos grasos saturados (principalmente palmítico C16:0 (33%) y lignocérico C24:0 (15%)) y ácidos grasos insaturados en diferentes proporciones (principalmente linoleico C18:2 (24.4%), oleico C18:1 (14%) y araquidónico C20:4 (7,4%). Estos hallazgos sugieren que este nuevo hongo oleaginoso es una materia prima prometedora para diversas aplicaciones industriales y preparación de biodiésel

The new enclosures: critical perspectives on corporate land deals

The contributions to this collection use the tools of agrarian political economy to explore the rapid growth and complex dynamics of large-scale land deals in recent years, with a special focus on the implications of big land deals for property and labour regimes, labour processes and structures of accumulation. The first part of this introductory essay examines the implications of this agrarian political economy perspective. First we explore the continuities and contrasts between historical and contemporary land grabs, before examining the core underlying debate around large- versus small-scale farming futures. Next, we unpack the diverse contexts and causes of land grabbing today, highlighting six overlapping mechanisms. The following section turns to assessing the crisis narratives that frame the justifications for land deals, and the flaws in the argument around there being excess, empty or idle land available. Next the paper turns to an examination of the impacts of land deals, and the processes of inclusion and exclusion at play, before looking at patterns of resistance and constructions of alternatives. The final section introduces the papers in the collection.ESR

SOCIOECOLOGICAL AND SOIL-PLANT STUDIES OF THE NATURAL VEGETATION IN THE NORTHERN MOJAVE DESERT-GREAT BASIN DESERT INTERFACE

Volume: 4Start Page: 73End Page: 8

MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF THE VEGETATION IN A TWO-DESERT INTERFACE

Volume: 4Start Page: 42End Page: 5

FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF NUMBERS OF PERENNIAL SHRUBS IN THE NORTHERN MOJAVE DESERT

Volume: 4Start Page: 34End Page: 3

A PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF A SMALL DESERT AREA IN ROCK VALLEY, NEVADA

Volume: 4Start Page: 59End Page: 7

Epidemiology and risk factors of chronic kidney disease in the El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasing worldwide. Renal replacement therapy and kidney transplantation are increasing the burden on health systems. Various risk factors can lead to this disease. In this work, we tried to study the epidemiology and risk factors of chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) in one of the Egyptian areas (El-Sharkia Governorate), and from this study we can get some data about the distribution and most common causes of this disease. A cross-sectional study was conducted at 15 dialysis centers in governmental hospitals in ElSharkia, Egypt. We used a questionnaire and direct interviewing with ESRD patients in addition to using medical records for our data collections. One thousand and four patients were selected randomly from 2136 patients who were known CKD patients on regular hemodialysis. Each week, two to three visits were performed in each center and during each visit, direct interviews were performed for ten to 15 patients, which took about 30 min for each patient. The study sample (n = 1004 patients) consisted of 62.2% males and 37.8% females. The mean age of patients was 52.03 + 14.67 years. The highest percentage of patients (31.9%) was found to be between 50 and 60 years in both males and females. More than half (61.3%) of the ESRD patients were living in villages, while about one-third (38.7%) of the ESRD patients were living in cities. Hypertension and diabetes were the main causes of ESRD. 15.5% of ESRD patients had diabetes mellitus, 31.8% had hypertension, 8.4% had kidney stone, 8.8% had urinary tract infection, 4.6% had congenital abnormality and 3.7% had primary glomerulonephritis. The main risk factors of renal diseases are hypertension and diabetes, while unknown causes represent a high percentage of all causes by 17.7%. Primary glomerulonephritis is the lowest cause of CKD in the El-Sharkia governorate, Egypt

Vascular access complications and risk factors in

Background: Morbidity related to vascular access is the leading cause of hospitalization for chronic hemodialysis patients and is associated with high cost. Since data on vascular access complications are scarce, this study was designed to focus on vascular access complications in hemodialysis patients. Methods: 119 patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) on regular hemodialysis were recruited for the study, They were subjected to the following Laboratory blood tests: Kidney function tests, CBC, KT/V, serum albumin, fasting blood sugar, swab culture and sensitivity from the skin over the vascular access and blood culture and sensitivity from both central and peripheral samples, In addition, radiological Doppler ultrasound was done for all patients to evaluate the vascular access. Results: 27 out of 119 patients (22%) have positive blood culture, 64 (53.7%) patients have positive swab culture, 68 (57%) patients have stenosis, 25 patients (21%) have athermanous plaques and 44 (36.9%) patients have aneurysmal dilatation. There was a significant low Kt/V in patients with stenosis and aneurysmal dilatation (p < 0.001). Low Kt/V, low serum albumin level and low BMI were significant in patients with central blood infection (p < 0.008, <0.008 and <0.001 respectively). There was significant increase in the risk of infection in male patients, patients with low BMI, increased BUN and increased duration of HD session (p < 0.046, <0.008, <0.002 and <0.009 respectively). Stenosis was the most common risk factor for vascular failure as it occurred in (29%) of patients. Diabetes was the second common risk factor for vascular failure as it occurred in (17%) of patients. Conclusion: Stenosis and infection are the most common complications of the vascular access. DM is an important risk factor for the incidence of infection. Other risk factors for dialysis CRBSI include older age, low serum albumin, high BUN and decreasing the duration of dialysis