DETECTION FOR MECA GENE IN EGYPTIAN CLINICAL Staphylococcus aureus SAMPLES AND STUDY THEIR GENOTOXIC ACTIVITY

Staphylococcus aureus isolates were isolated from fifty clinical samples collected from Ain Shams University Hospitals (March - July 2016) and identified using biochemical and microbiological tests. PCR was performed using specific primers to determine the isolates of Methicillin - Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) based on the presence of mecA gene. Thirty-four isolates from total fifty isolates (68%) were identified as MRSA isolates. To study the genotoxicity for this isolates, forty-five mice were injected with these MRSA isolates and comet and micronuclei assays were performed on mice liver tissues and bone marrow respectively. These assays revealed 24% - 22% DNA damage as an indicator for chromosomal breakage by comet and micronucleus assays respectively which indicate that infection with these isolates leads to mutations. Studying these isolate furthermore will give an insight on how critical maintaining high standard hygiene in Egyptian hospitals and attention to infection control system can prevent occur of outbreak

Procjena anthelmintičke učinkovitosti pripravaka albendazola i ivermektina u magaraca u Darfuru u Sudanu

The therapeutic efficacies of albendazole and ivermectin drench formulation at the manufacturer’s recommended dose were evaluated in a controlled trial in Nyala town, South Darfur State, Sudan. The study involved 24 donkeys naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes; they were divided into four groups of equal size. Albendazole was administered orally once at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg body mass, or twice, 14 days apart at dose rate of 10 mg/kg body mass. Ivermectin was administered orally as a single dose at 200 μg/kg body mass. Treatment efficacy was based on the mean faecal egg count reduction 14 days post treatment. A faecal egg count reduction of 100% was found after treatment with albendazole and ivermectin. In addition efficacy percentages of albendazole and ivermectin against immature and adult nematodes were as follows: Trichostrongylus axei 67.09% and 100%, Parascaris equorum 100% and 100%, Oxyuris equi 100% and 100%, Strongylus sp. 98.4% and 100%; and small strongyles 100% and 100%. Albendazole single and twice and ivermectin with the single dose showed moderate efficacy (33%, 59.08% and 62.71%, respectively) against larvae found in the cranial mesenteric artery aneurisms. No adverse reactions were observed in treated donkeys during the experiment period.Učinkovitost pripravaka albendazola i ivermektina u preporučenoj dozi istražena je u kontroliranom pokusu provedenom na magarcima u gradu Nyala u južnom Darfuru u Sudanu. Istraživanje je obuhvatilo 24 magarca prirodno invadirana želučanocrijevnim oblićima. Magarci su bili ravnomjerno raspoređeni u četiri skupine te peroralno liječeni albendazolom u dozi od 10 mg/kg tjelesne mase jednokratno ili dvokratno u razmaku od dva tjedna. Ivermektinom su liječeni peroralno i to jednokratno u dozi od 200 mg/kg tjelesne mase. Ljekovit učinak bio je određen na temelju smanjenja broja jaja u izmetu dva tjedna nakon liječenja. Dokazano je bilo 100%-tno smanjenje broja jaja nakon liječenja obama pripravcima. Učinkovitost je bila dokazana i postmortalnom parazitološkom pretragom i to prebrojavanjem nezrelih i odraslih oblića. U liječenih životinja ustanovljeno je 67,9% manje nezrelih te 100% manje odraslih oblića Trichostrongylus axei. Stopostotna učinkovitost bila je dokazana za nezrele i za zrele obliće Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi te male strongilide. Nešto manja učinkovitost (98,4%) bila je dokazana za nezrele obliće Strongylus sp. Kombinacija jednokratnoga i dvokratnoga davanja albendazola s jednokratnim davanjem ivermektina pokazala je prosječno dobru učinkovitost (33%, 59,08% i 62,71%) protiv ličinki u aneurizmama na području kranijalne mezenterijske arterije. U magaraca nisu bile primijećene nikakve nuspojave nakon primjene lijekova

Procjena anthelmintičke učinkovitosti pripravaka albendazola i ivermektina u magaraca u Darfuru u Sudanu

The therapeutic efficacies of albendazole and ivermectin drench formulation at the manufacturer’s recommended dose were evaluated in a controlled trial in Nyala town, South Darfur State, Sudan. The study involved 24 donkeys naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes; they were divided into four groups of equal size. Albendazole was administered orally once at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg body mass, or twice, 14 days apart at dose rate of 10 mg/kg body mass. Ivermectin was administered orally as a single dose at 200 μg/kg body mass. Treatment efficacy was based on the mean faecal egg count reduction 14 days post treatment. A faecal egg count reduction of 100% was found after treatment with albendazole and ivermectin. In addition efficacy percentages of albendazole and ivermectin against immature and adult nematodes were as follows: Trichostrongylus axei 67.09% and 100%, Parascaris equorum 100% and 100%, Oxyuris equi 100% and 100%, Strongylus sp. 98.4% and 100%; and small strongyles 100% and 100%. Albendazole single and twice and ivermectin with the single dose showed moderate efficacy (33%, 59.08% and 62.71%, respectively) against larvae found in the cranial mesenteric artery aneurisms. No adverse reactions were observed in treated donkeys during the experiment period.Učinkovitost pripravaka albendazola i ivermektina u preporučenoj dozi istražena je u kontroliranom pokusu provedenom na magarcima u gradu Nyala u južnom Darfuru u Sudanu. Istraživanje je obuhvatilo 24 magarca prirodno invadirana želučanocrijevnim oblićima. Magarci su bili ravnomjerno raspoređeni u četiri skupine te peroralno liječeni albendazolom u dozi od 10 mg/kg tjelesne mase jednokratno ili dvokratno u razmaku od dva tjedna. Ivermektinom su liječeni peroralno i to jednokratno u dozi od 200 mg/kg tjelesne mase. Ljekovit učinak bio je određen na temelju smanjenja broja jaja u izmetu dva tjedna nakon liječenja. Dokazano je bilo 100%-tno smanjenje broja jaja nakon liječenja obama pripravcima. Učinkovitost je bila dokazana i postmortalnom parazitološkom pretragom i to prebrojavanjem nezrelih i odraslih oblića. U liječenih životinja ustanovljeno je 67,9% manje nezrelih te 100% manje odraslih oblića Trichostrongylus axei. Stopostotna učinkovitost bila je dokazana za nezrele i za zrele obliće Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi te male strongilide. Nešto manja učinkovitost (98,4%) bila je dokazana za nezrele obliće Strongylus sp. Kombinacija jednokratnoga i dvokratnoga davanja albendazola s jednokratnim davanjem ivermektina pokazala je prosječno dobru učinkovitost (33%, 59,08% i 62,71%) protiv ličinki u aneurizmama na području kranijalne mezenterijske arterije. U magaraca nisu bile primijećene nikakve nuspojave nakon primjene lijekova

Evaluation the Effectiveness of CMC and Klucel-E Modified with TiO2 and ZnO Nanoparticles Used for Consolidation the Damaged Paper Maps

The main goal of this work is to study and evaluate the effectiveness of nano titanium dioxide and nano zinc oxide for enhancing the performances of Carboxymethyl cellulose CMC and Klucel-E used as consolidation materials for historical paper maps. Historical map samples dating back to 1817 & 1952 A.D were treated with CMC and Klucel-E loaded with TiO2 nanoparticles and ZnO nanoparticles. Some of the treated samples were submitted to investigation methods and others were submitted to the artificial thermal aging and then to investigation methods to monitor the changes of consolidation materials after accelerated aging test and to evaluate their effect on mechanical, physical and chemical properties of historical  paper samples under effect of  artificial heat  ageing. Visual assessment, pH measurements, Attenuated Total Reflection infrared spectroscopy (FTIR- ATR) study and mechanical properties determination were undertaken, to see if any significant structural or chemical differences could be detected between “untreated”, “treated” and “treated aged” samples. The results showed that no dramatic changes in functional groups on the paper, as monitored by infrared spectroscopy, occurred in the samples before and after treatment; pH values, however, showed that the tested nanocomposites gave good results in decreasing the acidity of the treated paper. The nanocomposites also enhanced optical and mechanical properties of treated samples

Evaluation of rainwater harvesting and shrub establishment methods for sustainable watershed management in northern Afghanistan

Watershed rangelands in Northern Afghanistan provide various ecosystem services that support the local people’s livelihoods, but they are now highly degraded essentially due to the continuous high grazing pressure and recurrent droughts. Effects of shrub establishment method enhanced by water harvesting techniques to rehabilitate degraded rangelands have not been well addressed. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of direct seeding and transplanting of seedlings in combination with semi-circular bunds on growth, yield, and survival rate of four shrub species (Atriplex halimus, Atriplex nummularia, Atriplex lentiformis, and Maireana brevifolia) under semi- arid conditions of Sayyad village, Khulm watershed. Survival rate (%), plant height, width, and plant length (cm) and plant cover (%) were measured for each plant over five occasions. A non-destructive reference unit was used to estimate biomass production. The results showed that growth attributes and biomass production of shrubs were consistently greater in the transplanting compared to direct seeding. On average, the plant length, width, height, volume, cover, and biomass production of transplanted shrubs were greater than direct-seeded shrubs by 24.3%, 8.6%, 8.7%, 121.5%, 13.8% and 34.1%, respectively. Biomass production of transplanted seedlings was the highest for A. nummularia (1313.5 g DM/plant) and A. halimus (800 g DM/plant). There was a strong correlation between plant biomass production and plant volume (R2 Plant volume = 0.88) for the shrub A. nummularia, indicating that plant volume is a key variable for assessing biomass production for this species. Additionally, the survival rate of M. brevifolia was 100% in both planting methods, suggesting that based on better survival this halophytic plant has great potential when restoring degraded rangelands. Collectively, on the basis of better growth rates, yield, and survival, transplanting A. nummularia and A. halimus may enhance shrub establishment and contribute to the rehabilitation of sloping semi-arid degraded areas of Northern Afghanistan

TOXICOLOGICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF GOLD NANORODS IN NORMAL RATS

Objective: assessment of acute, subchronic and chronic toxicity of pegylated gold nanorods (PEG-gold NRs) in Wistar rats of both sex in three routes of administration {intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC)}.Methods: in the acute toxicity study; PEG-gold NRs were injected once by three different routes, blood and tissue samples were collected after 14 d. In the subchronic and chronic studies; PEG-gold NRs were injected via three different routes, at 0.225, 0.45 and 0.9 mg/kg, once daily for 5 consecutive days, followed by a 23-day recovery period, for three and six months in the subchronic and chronic toxicity studies, respectively. Hematology, urinalysis, biochemical and histopathological examinations were conducted at the end of each study.Results: acute toxicity showed a significant decrease in serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels after single IV, IM and SC injection of PEG-gold NRs, while serum creatinine was significantly increased after IV and IM injection. Subchronic results revealed a significant decrease in serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels. The chronic study showed a significant decrease in serum triglycerides, sodium levels, total leukocytes count and significant increase in serum creatinine after IV injection. IM injection resulted in significant decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, cholesterol, sodium levels and total leukocytes count. SC injection resulted in significant decrease in serum triglycerides, glucose, red blood cell count with increased creatinine and hematocrit.Conclusion: PEG-gold NRs at the three examined doses is apparently safe since no serious signs of toxicity were detected. IM and SC routes of injection were irritating, so we recommend the IV route.Â

Effectiveness of the neutralizing antibody sotrovimab among high-risk patients with mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 in Qatar

ObjectivesTo estimate the real-world effectiveness of sotrovimab against severe, critical, or fatal COVID-19 in Qatar at a time in which most SARS-CoV-2 incidences occurred due to the BA.2 Omicron subvariant. MethodsWe conducted a matched case-control study among all individuals eligible for sotrovimab treatment per United States Food and Drug Administration guidelines in the resident population of Qatar. The odds of progression to severe forms of COVID-19 were compared in cases (treatment group) versus controls (eligible patients who opted not to receive the treatment). Subgroup analyses were conducted. ResultsA total of 3364 individuals were eligible for sotrovimab treatment during the study period, of whom 519 individuals received the treatment, whereas the remaining 2845 constituted the controls. The adjusted odds ratio of disease progression to severe, critical, or fatal COVID-19 comparing the treatment group to the control group was 2.67 (95% confidence interval 0.60-11.91). In the analysis including only the subgroup of patients at higher risk of severe forms of COVID-19, the adjusted odds ratio was 0.65 (95% confidence interval 0.17-2.48). ConclusionThere was no evidence for a protective effect of sotrovimab in reducing COVID-19 severity in a setting dominated by the BA.2 subvariant

Support for UNRWA's survival

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides life-saving humanitarian aid for 5·4 million Palestine refugees now entering their eighth decade of statelessness and conflict. About a third of Palestine refugees still live in 58 recognised camps. UNRWA operates 702 schools and 144 health centres, some of which are affected by the ongoing humanitarian disasters in Syria and the Gaza Strip. It has dramatically reduced the prevalence of infectious diseases, mortality, and illiteracy. Its social services include rebuilding infrastructure and homes that have been destroyed by conflict and providing cash assistance and micro-finance loans for Palestinians whose rights are curtailed and who are denied the right of return to their homeland