Effect of Green Light from Doubled Frequency Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) Laser in the Nanosecond Range on Rabbit’s Lens –In Vitro Study

 INTRODUCTION: The unprotected eye is extremely sensitive to laser radiation and can be permanently damaged from direct or reflected beams. The area of the eye damaged by laser energy is dependent upon the wavelength of the incident laser beam, duration of exposure and tissue characteristics. This study aims to investigate the effect of intense green light from doubled frequency Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) (532nm) in the nanosecond range on the protein of rabbits lenses after short and prolonged (6, 18 seconds) exposures.METHODS: The fundamental wavelength (1064 nm) was frequency doubled in β- Barium Borate (BBO) crystal for second harmonic generation (SHG). Rabbits’ lenses were irradiated in vitro, and the effect of the laser was evaluated by comparing the protein concentration, structure and conformation by sodium dodecyle sulphate polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).RESULTS: The results indicated a significant change in the soluble protein content, the molecular weights and the backbone structure of different lens crystallin fractions. These effects were more distinct when using laser with prolonged irradiation for 18 seconds than for 6 seconds.CONCLUSION: Irradiation with frequency doubled Nd-YAG green laser seem to be cataractous if the lens is exposed to laser that is intense enough to warrant thermal protein aggregation, folding and denaturatio

A Study of Vitamin D Insufficiency in Postmenopausal Type 2 Diabetic Women

AbstractBackgroundType 2 diabetic elderly women are at increased risk for osteoporotic fractures. Low levels of vitamin D increases this risk. We aimed to measure levels of 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25 OH-D) in these patients to help assess the level of risk.Patients and MethodsIn this cross sectional case-control study, the serum concentrations of 25 OH-D were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in 60 ambulatory, postmenopausal, type 2 diabetic female patients under oral anti-diabetic treatment. Thirty control females were comparable for weight, age and years since menopause. Calcium and Vitamin D intake (obtained by 24 hour dietary recall), sun exposure, parathyroid hormone (PTH), serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were also assessed.ResultsThe prevalence of 25 OH-D insufficiency was significantly higher in diabetic patients than in control subjects (38.3% vs. 20%, p<0.01). About 13% of diabetics with vitamin D insufficiency had high PTH levels. While most of the control group with 25 OH-D insufficiency had elevated PTH levels. Out of 66 diabetic women, only 11.7% had adequate vitamin D intake and 30% had adequate calcium intake. Similarly, in non-diabetic women, only 13.3% had adequate vitamin D intake and 26.7% had adequate calcium intake. However, a highly significantly percentage of diabetic women (43.4%) with inadequate vitamin D intake develop vitamin D insufficiency compared with non-diabetic women (23.1%) (p<0.001). Diabetic patients with 25 OH-D insufficiency tend to be older, with higher BMI, and HBA1C (P<0.01, <0.01, <0.001 respectively).ConclusionWe documented increased risk of vitamin D insufficiency in type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women in the face of inadequate dietary vitamin D and low sun exposure. This finding might partially explain the increased risk for osteoporosis among this group and warrants consideration of dietary vitamin D supplementation

Measuring the Degree of Satisfaction among Preparatory Year Students Regarding the Virtual Lessons and Educational Platforms in the Universities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aims is to examine the degree of satisfaction among students in the preparatory year at the Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz University (PSAU) and Imam Abdul Rahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) regarding the virtual lessons and educational platforms during the 2019 coronavirus pandemic. It focused on the educational services provided through educational platforms and virtual lessons especially those that replaced traditional lessons during the pandemic period as an alternative option for continuing the educational process and the difficulties they faced during the pandemic. The sample represented a transitional stage between secondary and university education and the results were based on the opinions provided by males, females and students with disabilities. In addition, the study relies on a descriptive and analytical approach and contains 31 questions that were given to 276 undergraduate students. It was found that the virtual lessons through the educational platforms were a good solution for the students because they saved time and effort and supported students with disabilities. The results also showed that 78.5% expressed satisfaction with using virtual lessons and educational platforms which indicates the success of the process of transitioning to distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two universities were recommended to make the necessary improvements

ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF DRACAENA CINNABARI BALF. RESIN ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SOQATRA ISLAND IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

Objective:&nbsp; Dracaena cinnabari&nbsp; balf is a species plant in Abalfurn 1984e de la p pharmaciegavaceae family. It is&nbsp;a tree endemic to the Island of Socotra, Yemen. It was used as a dye and medicine in Socotra&nbsp; and the Mediterranean basin. Some researches demonstrated both hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic of its resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis, a traditional Chinese tree. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of the ethanolic extract of Dracanea cinnabari balf resin (DCBR), endemic in Socotra Island, in Alloxan induced diabetes, and evaluation of possible antihyperlipidemic activity of the same extract in high-cholesterol diet-induced hyperlipidemia in male albino rats. Methods: Experimental diabetes was induced in rats with intraperitoneal injection a single dose of Alloxan (150 mg/Kg). Hyperlipidemia was induced in rats by administration of 1% cholesterol in diet and 0.5 % Hydrogen Peroxide in drinking water for 14 days. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured at 1st day, 7th day and 14th day. Pancreas histopathology was done at the end. Estimation of serum lipid profile and liver&nbsp;&nbsp; histopathology was done at the end of 14 day. The results were expressed as mean±SD and differences among the groups of animals were compared using one-way ANOVA. Results: Administration of ethanolic extract of resin of two doses (100 and 300mg\Kg) in alloxan induce diabetic rats resulted in a significant decrease in FBG levels with a recovery in destruction of pancreas cell compared with untreated group .Also the same doses of extract showed significant decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein and Atherogenic index in comparing with untreated group. Conclusion: From the results of present study we can conclude the ethanolic extract of Dracaena cinnabari Balf. have a hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in experimental animals&nbsp; , these activity are time and dose dependent.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Peer Review History: Received 7 October 2018; &nbsp;&nbsp;Revised 18 October; Accepted 1 November, Available online 15 November 2018 Academic Editor: Dr. Gehan Fawzy Abdel Raoof Kandeel,&nbsp;Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622,&nbsp; Giza, Egypt, [email protected]&nbsp; UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Rana Ahmed MohamedEl-Saied El-Fitiany, Ahram Canadian University, Giza, Egypt, [email protected] Dr. Mohamed Derbali, Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir, Tunisia, [email protected] Similar Articles: EVALUATION OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF EUPHORBIA NERIIFOLIA STEM BARK ON BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS, SERUM AND TISSUE LIPIDS IN A PRECLINICAL MODEL HYPOGLYCEMIC AND LIPID LOWERING EFFECT OF AQUEOUS FRESH LEAF EXTRACT OF CHROMOLAENA ODORATA (LINN) IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS FED DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF CHOLESTEROL ENRICHED DIE

Role of nanoparticles in diagnosis and management of parasitic diseases: Review article

Background: An extensive class of materials, nanoparticles (NPs) include particulate compounds with a minimum diameter of 100 nanometers (nm). This is because of their tiny size and huge surface area, which allows them to traverse the blood-brain barrier, enter the respiratory system and be adsorbable through endothelial cells. Today, nanoparticles for drug administration are being studied to increase their sustained release, intracellular penetrability as well as bioavailability, due to the constant development and innovation of nanomedicine.Objective: To determine how nanoparticles can help diagnose and treat parasitic diseases.Conclusion: Nanoparticles could be conjugated with proteins and immunoglobulins that could help in specific diagnosis of several parasitic diseases, in addition, improved efficacy and reduced harmful side effects can be achieved by immobilizing antiparasitic medicines on or inside nanomaterials

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Egyptian pediatric cancer patients with acute and chronic active HBV infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are eight genotypes of hepatitis B virus (A-H) and subgenotypes are recognized. Genotyping can be accomplished based on a partial sequence of HBV genome such as the pre-S or S gene. Several methods have been developed and used for HBV genotyping. This study was undertaken to determine the HBV genotypes in Egyptian pediatric cancer patients with acute and chronic liver disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>HBV genotypes were determined in 22 patients who had acute forms of liver disease (AH) and in 48 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH). A type-specific primer based the nested-PCR method was employed in the HBV genotyping.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This study showed that HBV infections in pediatric cancer patients are attributed predominantly to viral genotypes D and B that constituted 37.1% and 25.7%, respectively of the total infections. In addition, there was a relatively high prevalence of mixed infections of 15.7% among the studied group especially mixed A/D genotype infections. Genotype D was found significantly more often in patients with CAH than in patients with AH [23/48(47.9%) <it>v </it>3/22 (13.6%)].</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings show the distribution of HBV A-D genotypes in pediatric cancer Egyptian patients. Furthermore, our results indicate a markedly high prevalence of mixed A/D genotype infections in subjects with CAH and a possible association of mixed infections with the severity of liver diseases.</p

Clinical and genetic assessment of pediatric patients with Gaucher’s disease in Upper Egypt

Background: Gaucher’s disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that results from pathogenic mutations of GBA gene encoding the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (acid b-glucosidase). Of the approximately 300 mutations associated with GD, 4 accounts for the majority of mutations seen in GD patients: N370S, L444P, 84 GG and IVS2+1.Aim: Establishing and providing, clinical and molecular backgrounds of pediatric patients with GD in Upper Egypt.Subjects and methods: The present study is a cross sectional study, carried out on 26 pediatric patients with GD. They were recruited from the pediatric outpatient clinics and inpatients Pediatric departments of Assiut and Qena University hospitals, Upper Egypt. Clinical evaluation and mutation analysis using commercially available strip assay kit after PCR amplification of the target gene were done for all included GD patients.Results: Consanguinity between patients’ parents was present in 73.1% of the included patients. 76.9% of included patients were of type 1 GD, while 23.1% were of type 3 GD and none of our patients was classified as type 2 GD. The main frequent clinical presentations of GD in this study were hepatosplenomegaly (88.5%); pallor (76.9%); abdominal distension (61.5%) and musculoskeletal involvement (37.1%). Neurological abnormalities of type 3 GD included in this study were squint, seizures and delayed mental development. Five different genotypes were detected, homozygous for the mutation L444P, homozygous for the mutation N370S, heterozygous for the mutations N370S and rec Ncil, heterozygous for IVS2 +1 and rec NciI, heterozygous for L444P and IVS2 +1. Conclusions: Non-neuropathic type 1 and type 3 GD were the only clinical types found in the present study. The most common mutant alleles found in this study were L444P and N370S