Sustaining the population growth of desert settlements, case study: North Sinai, Egypt

Egypt faces ongoing problems in its population distribution. While heavily populated areas of the Nile Valley continue to attract migrants, depopulated areas remain largely empty. In North Sinai, in spite of governmental support represented in new infrastructure and many urban and investment projects, there exists a tremendous under- population problem. In the meantime the urban centres of Egypt are suffering worsening social, economic, infrastructural and environmental problems exacerbated by overpopulation. This thesis addresses the concept of sustaining population growth of desert settlements. It argues that the socio-economic needs of desert settlements are to a large part overlooked, thus contributing to their failure to attract and retain large numbers of people. Discussion of this subject is structured into three parts, followed by the conclusion and recommendations. Part One uses extensive literature references to give a comprehensive background to the different features of desert settlements and their social, economic and environmental dimensions. Part Two covers the theoretical approach of sustaining the population growth of desert settlements, especially in peripheral areas. This part ends with a comparative analysis between three desert development experiences; in Egypt, the USA and Israel. These first two parts are targeted to address the indicators of sustaining population growth. These investigations into the subject area support a view that it is not sufficient for governments only to use economic, employment and infrastructural means to attract people to desert settlements. These do not tackle the problem of public attitudes towards living in remote communities, nor do they provide settlements that are adaptive to the desert environment, which would invite settlers to remain and bring up their families there. These insights construct the analytical background to the field study in Part Three, which outlines the research techniques and the case study, field survey and questionnaire conducted with the assistance of residents of five chosen desert settlements in North Sinai. This analysis examines the attitudes among `local' and `new comer' households looking at their residential mobility, the relocation process, and the consequences of the community and prospects for the future. The findings lead to the conclusion that much of the deviation from achieving national and regional population dispersal policies can be explained through studying the socio-economic and socio-cultural dimensions of desert settlements. They highlight significant differences in values, motivations and interests of both `local' and `newcomer' households and explain that these forces should have a major influence in formulating and implementing effective population redistribution policies. Although the research limits itself to the context of the desert environment, the author suggest that its findings may offer valuable insights to other parts of the world, where national policies are seeking to counter the global problems of rural -urban migration

Clinical and microbiologic determinants of serious bloodstream infections in Egyptian pediatric cancer patients: a one-year study

SummaryObjectives:Bloodstream infections (BSI) remain a major cause of morbidity and death in patients undergoing treatment for cancer. However, all recent epidemiological and therapeutic studies underline the absolute need for knowledge of the factors governing the infections in each center. The aim of this study is to identify the factors affecting BSI in the pediatric service of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Cairo University. More tailored policies for the treatment of patients with febrile neutropenia following chemotherapy can then be created.Patients and methods:Over a 12-month period, all children with cancer and fever, with or without neutropenia, who were admitted to the NCI for empirical therapy of febrile episodes and who had a microbiologically confirmed bloodstream infection were studied retrospectively.Results:A total of 328 BSI occurred in 1135 febrile episodes in pediatric cancer patients at the NCI in one year. Gram-positive bacteria were isolated in 168 episodes (51.2%) and 61.9% of the total isolates (either single or mixed), Gram-negative in 97 (29.6%), and mixed infections in 45 (13.7%). The common causative agents of bloodstream infections in this study were coagulase-negative staphylococci (16.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (13.4%), Streptococcus spp. (12.1%) followed by Acinetobacter spp. (6.7%) and Pseudomonas spp. (5.5%). Fungemia was encountered in 18 episodes, being mixed in nine of them. A more serious BSI in terms of a prolonged episode was encountered in 30.2% of the episodes and was significantly associated with patients being hospitalized, having intensified chemotherapy, polymicrobial and fungal infection, lower respiratory tract infections and persistent neutropenia at day seven.Conclusions:In a large population of children, common clinical and laboratory risk factors were identified that can help predict more serious BSI. These results encourage the possibility of a more selective management strategy for these children

Micellar liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of norfloxacin and tinidazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms and human plasma

A micellar liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of a binary mixture of norfloxacin and tinidazole (NOR and TIN) in dosage forms and human plasma. The analysis was carried out using a Waters Symmetry® C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm particle size). The running mobile phase consisting of 0.15 M sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 0.3 % triethylamine (TEA), 5 % n-propanol, the pH was adjusted to 4 by addition of 0.02 M orthophosphoric acid pumped at a flow rate 1.0 mL/min with UV at 275 nm. Calibration curves were linear over the range 1-28 and 1.5-42 µg/mL for NOR and TIN, respectively. The quantification limits were 0.7 and 1.0 µg /mL for NOR and TIN respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of NOR and TIN in human plasma without prior precipitation of protein. The mean percentage recoveries of bioavailability test in human plasma (n = 3) were 90.31 ± 4.22 and 90.05 ± 1.3 for NOR and TIN, respectively.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Micellar liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of norfloxacin and tinidazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms and human plasma

A micellar liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of a binary mixture of norfloxacin and tinidazole (NOR and TIN) in dosage forms and human plasma. The analysis was carried out using a Waters Symmetry® C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm particle size). The running mobile phase consisting of 0.15 M sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 0.3 % triethylamine (TEA), 5 % n-propanol, the pH was adjusted to 4 by addition of 0.02 M orthophosphoric acid pumped at a flow rate 1.0 mL/min with UV at 275 nm. Calibration curves were linear over the range 1-28 and 1.5-42 µg/mL for NOR and TIN, respectively. The quantification limits were 0.7 and 1.0 µg /mL for NOR and TIN respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of NOR and TIN in human plasma without prior precipitation of protein. The mean percentage recoveries of bioavailability test in human plasma (n = 3) were 90.31 ± 4.22 and 90.05 ± 1.3 for NOR and TIN, respectively.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Simultaneous determination of sulpiride and mebeverine by HPLC method using fluorescence detection: application to real human plasma

A new simple, rapid and sensitive reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of sulpiride (SUL) and mebeverine Hydrochloride (MEB) in the presence of their impurities and degradation products. The separation of these compounds was achieved within 6 min on a 250 mm, 4.6 mm i.d., 5 m particle size Waters®-C18 column using isocractic mobile phase containing a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.01 M dihydrogenphosphate buffer (45:55) at pH = 4.0. The analysis was performed at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with fluorescence-detection at excitation 300 nm and emission at 365 nm. The concentration-response relationship was linear over a concentration range of 10- 100 ng/mL for both MEB and SUL with a limit of detection 0.73 ng/mL and 0.85 ng/mL for MEB and SUL respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the analysis of both MEB and SUL in bulk with average recoveries of 100.22 ± 0.757% and 99.96 ± 0.625% respectively, and in commercial tablets with average recoveries of 100.04 ± 0.93% and 100.03 ± 0.376% for MEB and SUL respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of MEB metabolite (veratic acid) in real plasma simultaneously with SUL. The mean% recoveries (n = 3) for both MEB metabolite (veratic acid) and SUL were 100.36 ± 2.92 and 99.06 ± 2.11 for spiked human plasma respectively. For real human plasma, the mean% recoveries (n = 3) were and respectively

A STUDY ON THE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN ORANGE TREES DIRECTIONS ON THE CITRUS LEAFMINER, PHYLLOCNISTIS CITRELLA STAINTON (LEPIDOPTERA: GRACILLARIIDAE) AND THE COMMON PREDATORY SPECIES, IN QALUOBIYA GOVERNORATE

Field studies were carried out to study the effect of the different four directions (East, West, North and South) and the middle of the orange trees on the occurrence of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Staint. (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), attacking orange orchards during the period extended from the beginning of July, 2015 until the end of June 2016. Also, to determine the common predatory species occurred in navel orange orchards in Qaluobiya Governorate. The warmer months that have the highest temperature degrees and that months having the newly orange leaves, had the highest percentages of infestation by the pest. The obtained results revealed that, the South direction of the orange trees had the highest percentages of leaves damage by the citrus leafminer, P. citrella. Where, there were significant differences between the South direction (68.75%), in comparing with those of the West direction (64.42%), the North direction (60.58%), the East direction (54.58%) and the middle of the orange trees (45.38%). So, it is recommended to firstly begin the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs against the pest in this direction and at the suitable time. Moreover, the importance of the natural role of the common predatory species recorded in the orange orchard is obviously shown and must be encouraged and developed. The highest total numbers of all recorded predatory species were during July, 2015 (47 individuals) and April, 2016 (35 individuals). The recorded predatory species were the highest in the South direction (70 individuals), in comparing with those of the North direction (54), the East direction (50), the West direction (37) and the middle of the orange trees (20). True spiders were recorded as the most predators (114 individuals), in orange orchard and also in the same time of pest occurrence. The animal predatory species (true spiders and predatory mites) were the highest in their numbers (167 individuals), in comparing to the insect predatory species: Chrysoperla carnea, Scymnus sp., Coccinella undecimpunctata, Orius sp. and Metasyrphus sp., of lower individuals numbers (64 individuals). In general, from this study, it is also recommended to use the different predatory species such as: Chrysoperla carnea, Scymnus sp., Coccinella undecimpunctata and Orius sp., for P. citrella control firstlyfrom the South direction. Where, this pest controlcan be applied by mass rearing of these predators in the laboratory and releasing them in orange orchards against P. citrella or other related pests (such as the citrus aphids species and mealybugs). This approach is believed to be highly practical for use as one of the means of biological control with the frame work of suitable and safe IPM programs in citrus orchards in Egypt

Neutralizing activities of caprine antibodies towards conserved regions of the HCV envelope glycoprotein E2

Anti HCV vaccine is not currently available and the present antiviral therapies fail to cure approximately half of the treated HCV patients. This study was designed to assess the immunogenic properties of genetically conserved peptides derived from the C-terminal region of HVR-1 and test their neutralizing activities in a step towards developing therapeutic and/or prophylactic immunogens against HCV infection. Antibodies were generated by vaccination of goats with synthetic peptides derived from HCV E2. Viral neutralizing capacity of the generated anti E2 antibodies was tested using in vitro assays. Goats immunized with E2 synthetic peptides termed p412 [a.a 412-419], p430 [a.a 430-447] and p517 [a.a 517-531] generated high titers of antibody responses 2 to 4.5 fold higher than comparable titers of antibodies to the same epitopes in chronic HCV patients. In post infection experiments of native HCV into cultured Huh7.5 cells anti p412 and anti p 517 were proven to be neutralizing to HCV genotype 4a from patients' sera (87.5% and 75% respectively). On the contrary anti p430 exhibited weak viral neutralization capacity on the same samples (31.25%). Furthermore Ab mixes containing anti p430 exhibited reduced viral neutralization properties. From these experiments one could predict that neutralization by Abs towards different E2-epitopes varies considerably and success in the enrichment of neutralization epitope-specific antibodies may be accompanied by favorable results in combating HCV infection. Also, E2 conserved peptides p517 and p412 represent potential components of a candidate peptide vaccine against HCV infection

Conserved peptides within the E2 region of Hepatitis C virus induce humoral and cellular responses in goats

The reason(s) why human antibodies raised against hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 epitopes do not offer protection against multiple viral infections may be related to either genetic variations among viral strains particularly within the hypervariable region-1 (HVR-1), low titers of anti E2 antibodies or interference of non neutralizing antibodies with the function of neutralizing antibodies. This study was designed to assess the immunogenic properties of genetically conserved peptides derived from the C-terminal region of HVR-1 as potential therapeutic and/or prophylactic vaccines against HCV infection. Goats immunized with E2-conserved synthetic peptides termed p36 (a.a 430–446), p37(a.a 517–531) and p38 (a.a 412–419) generated high titers of anti-p36, anti-p37 and anti-P38 antibody responses of which only anti- p37 and anti- p38 were neutralizing to HCV particles in sera from patients infected predominantly with genotype 4a. On the other hand anti-p36 exhibited weak viral neutralization capacity on the same samples. Animals super-immunized with single epitopes generated 2 to 4.5 fold higher titers than similar antibodies produced in chronic HCV patients. Also the studied peptides elicited approximately 3 fold increase in cell proliferation of specific antibody-secreting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from immunized goats. These results indicate that, besides E1 derived peptide p35 (a.a 315–323) described previously by this laboratory, E2 conserved peptides p37 and p38 represent essential components of a candidate peptide vaccine against HCV infection

Clinical Outcome of Breast Cancer Occurring after Treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Case-Control Analysis

Background: To evaluate diagnosis, management and outcome of breast cancer (BC) occurring after irradiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). Methods: 39 cases of BC in 28 HL survivors were retrospectively reviewed. 21 patients were included in a case-control analysis. Results: The median age at diagnosis of HL and BC was 25.3 and 45.3 years, respectively. The median interval to develop BC was 16.1 years. Eleven women (39.2%) had bilateral disease. Mode of detection of the index breast cancers was by mammographic screening in 17 patients (60.7%), palpable lump in 8 patients (28.6%), clinical examination in two patients (7.1%), and unknown in one patient (3.6%). Case-control analysis showed that histological features and prognosis of BC after HL were similar to those of primary BC, however, for BC after HL, mastectomy was the predominant surgery (P = .001) and adjuvant radiotherapy and anthracycline-based chemotherapy were less frequently used as compared to primary BC (P < .001 and .003, respectively). Conclusion: The previous history of HL does not appear to be a poor prognostic factor for BC occurring thereafter