Willingness-to-pay for services provided by the Clinical Services Improvement Project (CSI) in Egypt

Willingness-to-pay (WTP) surveys are increasingly used in reproductive health programs to predict the impact of price changes on revenues, utilization, and client profile. The FRONTIERS program worked with the Clinical Services Improvement (CSI) project and the Cairo Demographic Center to carry out a WTP survey in six CSI clinics in Egypt. The survey found that most clients would be willing to pay higher prices for CSI services, and WTP did not vary much by client economic status. However, predictive validity was low when all reasons for client discontinuation were included. WTP surveys have the potential to be useful tools for predicting client response to price increases, but predictions for methods like DMPA (which have high discontinuation for method-related reasons) must be adjusted downward using data on method discontinuation from program statistics or from the literature

FLAVONOIDS FROM SUGAR BEET LEAVES AS HEPATOPROTECTIVE AGENT

Objective: This work was designed to investigate the activity of Beta vulgaris (B. vulgaris) extract against hepatotoxicity induced by (carbon tetrachloride) CC14 in male rats.Methods: Hepatoprotective study was performed on rats, divided into different groups; control healthy rats, the group received B. vulgaris extract, intoxicated rats by CC14, CCl4 group treated with alcoholic leaves extract, and CCl4 intoxicated rats treated with silymarin. The evaluation was done through measuring liver function indices and oxidative stress markers.Results: The activities of Alanine Transferase (ALT), Aspartate Transferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) increased by 187.07, 52.37, 50.58, and 94.59% respectively in CCl4 group from control. Supplementation of beet extract decreased this elevation to 10.83, 26.43, 17.07 and 37.21% for the previous parameters respectively. The values obtained of the enzymes activity return nearly to that of control values, also a histopathological investigation of liver confirmed the results obtained.Conclusion: Beet showed a remarkable anti-hepatotoxic activity against CC14 induced hepatic damageKeywords: B. vulgaris, Hepatoprotective, Flavonoids, Liver function, Antioxidant enzyme, Histopatholog

Сравнение показателей соотношений тромбоциты / лимфоциты и нейтрофилы / лимфоциты в качестве предикторов исхода COVID-19

Clinical presentation is an undependable prognostic indicator of COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019). So, a more objective predictor is needed to precisely evaluate and classify the prognosis. Immune dysregulation to lymphocytes, mainly T-lymphocytes, have been noticed between COVID-19 patients. The aim. This study was planned to determine the role of platelet-to-lymphocyte count ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in assessment of COVID-19 prognosis. Methods. 70 hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 were included in this study. All included patients underwent a consistent clinical, radiological and blood examination. Laboratory analysis was made by means of a commercially accessible kit. Blood cells ratios were computed by dividing their absolute counts. Results. Non-significant association was found between laboratory data and COVID-19 clinical severity. A significant association between CT classification and platelet-to-lymphocyte count ratio (higher value in L type; p = 0.001) was detected. Platelet-to-lymphocyte count ratio was significantly higher among intubated cases. However, Non-significant association was found between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and need of endotracheal intubation. Conclusion. Routine blood values are abnormal in patients with COVID-19. Platelet-to-lymphocyte count ratio ratios could be used as more meaningful biomarker than other values in predicting the prognosis of COVID-19. LMR helpful in COVID-19 severity.Клиническая картина является ненадежным показателем прогноза исхода новой коронавирусной инфекции (НКИ), поэтому для точной оценки и классификации прогноза необходим более объективный прогнозирующий фактор. У пациентов, перенесших НКИ, отмечается нарушение регуляции иммунного ответа со стороны лимфоцитов, в основном Т-лимфоцитов. Целью исследования явилось определение роли показателей соотношений тромбоциты / лимфоциты и нейтрофилы / лимфоциты при оценке прогноза COVID-19. Материалы и методы. В исследование были включены госпитализированные пациенты (n = 70) с подтвержденным COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019). У всех пациентов проводились последовательное клиническое и рентгенологическое обследование и анализ крови. Лабораторные анализы выполнялись с помощью коммерческого набора. Соотношения показателей клеток крови рассчитывались путем деления их абсолютного количества. Результаты. Обнаружена незначимая связь между лабораторными показателями и степенью тяжести COVID-19. Выявлена значимая связь между степенью поражения легких по данным компьютерной томографии и показателем соотношения тромбоциты / лимфоциты (более высокое значение для L-типа; p = 0,001). У интубированных пациентов соотношение показателя тромбоциты / лимфоциты было значимо выше. Однако обнаружена незначимая связь между показателем соотношения нейтрофилы / лимфоциты и необходимостью интубации трахеи. Заключение. У пациентов с COVID-19 наблюдаются отклонения показателей рутинных анализов крови. Показатель соотношения тромбоциты / лимфоциты может служить биомаркером при прогнозировании течения COVID-19, а показатель соотношения лимфоциты / моноциты полезен при прогнозировании степени тяжести COVID-19

Effect of Quercetin on Diabetic Rat

Background: Quercetin (QR) is one of the major constituents of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Psidium guajava (Guava leaves). Objectives: The work’s aim is to understand the Quercetin’s mechanism in improving insulin resistance, use the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) to determine the influence of quercetin on glycemic control, Look at how quercetin affects diabetes-related lipid metabolism and lipid profile measures. Analyze the impact of QR on oxidative stress in diabetic rats and contrast its antidiabetic effects whether administered as a nutrient or supplement. Materials and methods: Sixty adult male Wister rats that were matched in age and had starting body weights between 150 and 200 g were used in this study. One normoglycemic control group and 3 diabetic control groups (15 rats per group) were used. The diabetic control rats received the vehicle orally as saline daily, the normoglycemic control group received quercetin orally in a dose of 50 mg/kg per day, and the diabetic rats received quercetin orally in a dose of 100 mg/kg per day. Results: After six weeks of therapy, the rats with diabetes receiving isolated quercetin at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg had reduced blood glucose levels, and their triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol profiles all significantly improved. Also, there was significant decrease homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, serum transaminases, hepatic malondialdehyde, and HMG CoA expression in liver and a substantial rise in levels of insulin, hepatic GSH, and insulin receptor substrate (IRS2) expression & Phosphoinositide 3-kinases in liver as compared to those of control group, but non- significance changes in high-density lipoprotein, AKT expression in liver were observed. Conclusions: Quercetin could be considered as a potential hypoglycmeic medication with possible mechanisms controlling the hyperglycemic state and cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels

ASSESSMENT OF CYTOTOXIC AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF Zygophyllum album AND Suaeda palastina EXTRACTS ON HUMAN LIVER CANCER CELL LINES

In this study, anticancer activity of Zygophyllum album and Suaeda palastina extracts was evaluated. Dichloromethane, methanol and hot water were used as solvents for extraction. Results indicated that the highest half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) on human lung carcinoma (A549) cell lines was achieved by dichloromethane extracts of Z. album and S. palastina (70.48 μg/ml and 34.82 μg/ml respectively) compared to methanolic and hot water extracts. Furthermore, dichloromethane extracts of both plants had antiproliferative effect and highly cytotoxicity on human cancer cells. IC50 of Z. album was 27.74 μg/ml in the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), while IC50 of S. palaestina was 30.76 μg/ml with no cytotoxic activity on normal cell lines. In conclusion, these results suggest that Z. album and S. palaestina could be a good candidate species as a natural source of anticancer agents

Resolving Power of Visible to Near-Infrared Hybrid β\beta-Ta/NbTiN Kinetic Inductance Detectors

Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KIDs) are superconducting energy-resolving detectors, sensitive to single photons from the near-infrared to ultraviolet. We study a hybrid KID design consisting of a beta phase tantalum ($\beta$-Ta) inductor and a NbTiN interdigitated capacitor (IDC). The devices show an average intrinsic quality factor $Q_i$ of 4.3$\times10^5$ $\pm$ 1.3 $\times10^5$. To increase the power captured by the light sensitive inductor, we 3D-print an array of 150$\times$150 $\mu$m resin micro lenses on the backside of the sapphire substrate. The shape deviation between design and printed lenses is smaller than 1$\mu$m, and the alignment accuracy of this process is $\delta_x = +5.8 \pm 0.5$ $\mu$m and $\delta_y = +8.3 \pm 3.3$ $\mu$m. We measure a resolving power for 1545-402 nm that is limited to 4.9 by saturation in the KID's phase response. We can model the saturation in the phase response with the evolution of the number of quasiparticles generated by a photon event. An alternative coordinate system that has a linear response raises the resolving power to 5.9 at 402 nm. We verify the measured resolving power with a two-line measurement using a laser source and a monochromator. We discuss several improvements that can be made to the devices on a route towards KID arrays with high resolving powers.Comment: 11 pages, 9 Figues, Journal Pape

Influence of Methomyl (Copter 90%) on certain biochemical activities and histological structures of land snails Monacha cartusiana

This manuscript was conducted to spotlight the toxic effect of two sub-lethal concentrations of Methomyl (Copter) LC20 (0.075 g/L) and LC40 (0.180 g/L) on some biochemical parameters and histological alterations for land snail Monacha Cartusiana (Muller, 1774). Land snails belong to the class Gastropoda and Phylum Mollusca. This study cleared that both the used concentrations (of Copter) caused a significant increase for activities of three enzymes: alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), and Aspartate amino transaminase (AST) after 24, 48, and 72 h from exposure starting. In contrast, a total protein (TP) activity decreased at exposure for two concentrations at all lethality periods. Both concentrations of Copter (0.0.75 g/L and 0.180 g/L) have shown histological changes for land snail tissues after 96 h of exposure; digestive gland, hermaphrodite gland, foot, and mantle. Degeneration, rupture, and vacuolization for digestive cells have been shown; furthermore, hemolytic infiltration in connective tissue will be recognized for the digestive gland. The Oocyte and sperm show degenerated with deformation in the connective tissue of the hermaphrodite gland. Likewise, deformation in the muscle fiber layer of the foot in the land snail distorts the epidermis and mucus gland suffering from necrosis. Moreover, mantle shows rapture in epidermis layer, deformed in muscle fiber layer, and vacuolization and necrosis take place in mucus gland. © 2021 The Author(s

Lactation performance and feed utilization of Rahmani ewes fed with either a newly produced bacteriocin-like substance or a commercial bacteriocin

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of feeding a newly produced bacteriocin-like substance from Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (PNP) with a commercial bacteriocin (NISEEN-S; CNP) in lactating Rahmani ewe diets. In experiment 1, the effects of four levels (500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 unit/kg substrate, dry matter (DM) basis) of both bacteriocins on in vitro ruminal fermentation kinetics, total gas production (TGP), methane production (CH4), and nutrient degradability were determined. In experiment 2, 2 wk before the expected parturition, 30 multiparous lactating Rahmani ewes (mean ± SD: 2 ± 0.3 parity, 46.8 ± 2.5 kg body weight, 23 ± 2.7 mo of age, and 370 ± 13 g/d of previous milk production) were equally divided into three treatments in a complete randomized design for 90 d. The ewes in the control treatment were offered a diet composed of 600 g of concentrate feed mixture, 300 g berseem hay, and 100 g of faba bean straw (Control), or supplemented with produced bacteriocin like substance (PNP) or commercial (CNP) bacteriocin at 500 unit/kg feed (DM basis). In experiment 1, both PNP and CNP linearly and quadratically decreased (P < 0.001) CH4 production; however, PNP and CNP at 500 unit/kg feed quadratically increased fiber degradability (P < 0.01). In experiment 2, both PNP and CNP increased (P < 0.05) nutrient digestibility, and ruminal total volatile fatty acids, acetate, and propionate, while decreasing ruminal ammonia-N. The PNP treatment increased (P < 0.05) blood total proteins and albumin, while PNP and CNP treatments increase serum glucose. Both PNP and CNP treatments increased (P < 0.05) daily milk production and milk efficiency, without affecting the concentration of milk components. Both PNP and CNP are recommended to improve feed utilization and milk production, with superior results detected for PNP at 500 unit/kg feed daily

Tunable polymeric mixed micellar nanoassemblies of Lutrol F127/Gelucire 44/14 for oral delivery of praziquantel: a promising nanovector against hymenolepis nana in experimentally-infected rats

Hymenolepiasis represents a parasitic infection of common prevalence in pediatrics with intimidating impacts, particularly amongst immunocompromised patients. The present work aimed to snowball the curative outcomes of the current mainstay of hymenolepiasis chemotherapy, praziquantel (PRZ), through assembly of polymeric mixed micelles (PMMs). Such innovative nano-cargo could consolidate PRZ hydrosolubility, extend its circulation time and eventually upraise its bioavailability, thus accomplishing a nanoparadigm for hymenolepiasis tackling at lower dose levels. For consummating this goal, PRZ-PMMs were tailored via thin-film hydration technique integrating a binary system of Lutrol F127 and Gelucire 44/14. Box-Behnken design was planned for optimizing the nanoformulation variables employing Design-Expert® software. Also, in Hymenolepis nana-infected rats, the pharmacodynamics of the optimal micellar formulation versus the analogous crude PRZ suspension were scrutinized on the 1st and 3rd days after administration of a single oral dose (12.5 or 25 mg/kg). Moreover, in vitro ovicidal activity of the monitored formulations was estimated utilizing Fuchsin vital stain. Furthermore, the in vivo pharmacokinetics were assessed in rats. The optimum PRZ-PMMs disclosed conciliation between thermodynamic and kinetic stability, high entrapment efficiency (86.29%), spherical nanosized morphology (15.18 nm), and controlled-release characteristics over 24 h (78.22%). 1H NMR studies verified PRZ assimilation within the micellar core. Additionally, the in vivo results highlighted a significant boosted efficacy of PRZ-PMMs manifested by fecal eggs output and worm burden reduction, which was clearly evident at the lesser PRZ dose, besides a reversed effect for the intestinal histological disruptions. At 50 µg/mL, PRZ-PMMs increased the percent of non-viable eggs to 100% versus 47% for crude PRZ, whilst shell destruction and loss of embryo were only clear with the applied nano-cargo. Moreover, superior bioavailability by 3.43-fold with elongated residence time was measured for PRZ-PMMs compared to PRZ suspension. Practically, our results unravel the potential of PRZ-PMMs as an oral promising tolerable lower dose nanoplatform for more competent PRZ mass chemotherapy