The influence of ABO blood groups on sensitization of potential kidney transplant recipients

In this study 50 chronic renal failurepatients were tested for blood ABO groups and forthe presence of lymphocytotoxic antibodies against apanel of 20 donor lymphocytes (of known HLAtypes) using microcytotoxicity assay. The influenceof other factors affecting sensitization, such asnumber of blood transfusions, pregnancies andprevious graft rejections were analyzed too. Theresults showed that41.2 % of blood group 0 patients,61.1 % of group A I, 90% of group B, and 80% ofgroup A IB are sensitized (PRA> 10%).These results pointed to higher incidence ofsensitization in patients with blood groups B andA IB as compared to groups A I and 0.Our data suggest an impact of the ABO system on thesensitization phenomenon

Effects of Probiotic on Comfort and Body Care Behaviors of Broilers Reared at Different Stocking Densities

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of probiotic on comfort and body care behaviors of broilers reared at two different densities. Two hundred and forty chicks were subdivided into four groups, two groups were reared under low stocking density (LSD); 10 bird/m2 and another 2 groups were reared under high stocking density (HSD); 15 bird/m2. In each density, one group was supplemented with probiotic in the drinking water and the other was not supplemented. Normal behavior of birds was recorded throughout the growing cycle twice a week, using video camera (Sony, Japan). Then after, comfort (standing, lying and sleeping), body care (preening, dust bathing, wing/leg stretching and head scratching) and aggressive behaviors of birds were analyzed. HSD reduced comfort behavior compared to low density without probiotic group. Standing frequency was significantly increased at the 6th week of the growing cycle. In addition, interrupted lying bouts frequency was increased and the non-interrupted lying bouts (frequency and duration) were decreased significantly. Moreover, preening frequency was decreased. However, aggressive behavior was not observed in all groups. Probiotic supplementation didn’t alter comfort, aggressive and body care behaviors of broilers at both densities in comparison to low density without probiotic group. However, birds stocked at high stocking density and supplemented with probiotic showed no alterations in all behavioral patterns compared to HSD group without probiotic supplementation. Data suggested that the used probiotic in this study was unable to improve comfort and body care behaviors of broilers reared at low stocking density and failed to alleviate impacts of high density stress on these behaviors

Characteristics of polyps in Lebanese population

Background: The objective of this study is to describe characteristics of the polyps in Lebanese population and evaluate the dysplasia and its relation to the polyps’ locations. Methods: Retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the Department of National Institute of Pathology in Lebanon and comprised biopsy of colonic polyps or resected polyps from patients from 2007 to 2009. We collected demographic data and polyps’ characteristics. Then, we divided patients according to age sex, location, histology. Results: With 2298 polyps in 1470 patients, the mean age was 57.45 with 68% aged more than 50yo. 75.6% have one polyps and multiple polyps more commonly found in older patient (> 50 years). More than 20 % of polyps found in the recto-sigmoid area. In the right colon, people older than 50 years were more likely to have polyps (19%) compared to those < 30 years (8.3%) (p < 0.05). In the rectum, people < 30 years were more likely to have polyps compared to those > 50 years (p < 0.01). Concerning the histology, tubular adenoma is the most common type and more prevalent in left colon. Hyperplastic polyps mainly found in the recto-sigmoid area and mainly in age group 30-50 in contrast to adenomatous polyps found over 50yo. Adenocarcinomas and/or degenerative polyps were founded in 5.9% of our population. Conclusion: This study gives valuable information on colorectal polyp in Lebanese population about age, sex, dominant histology and anatomic location. We noted a male predominance and mainly above 50 years old. The majority had single polyps, >50% of polyps were localized in the recto sigmoid. Adenomatous polyps were the most common type

Efficacy of Probiotic in Improving Welfare and Mitigating Overcrowding Stress in Broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of probiotic in improving welfare of broilers reared under low stocking density (LSD) and mitigating high stocking density (HSD) stress. A total number of 240 chicks were sub divided into four groups with three replicates for each. Two groups were reared under LSD (10 bird/m2).; 48 chicks (16 bird/ replicate) for each and another 2 groups were reared under HSD (15 bird/m2); 72 chicks (24 bird/ replicate). At each density, one group was supplemented with Protexin® and the other was not supplemented. Blood corticosterone (CS) level was measured and behavior of broilers was recorded weekly. At the end of the growing cycle, behavioral welfare fear response test (time of first attempt to stand, number of attempts to stand and tonic immobility duration) was performed and brain monoamines (serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine) concentrations were measured. As a result, HSD stress increased the time birds spent to perform the first attempt to stand and prolonged TI duration. However, Protexin® supplementation only reduced the time of first attempt to stand at higher density without alteration of the number of attempts required to induce TI. No significant improvement in fear response in LSD birds supplied with Protexin®. Furthermore, HSD stress decreased feeding, drinking and walking duration. However, Protexin® supplementation improved feeding, drinking and walking behaviors at LSD and did not improve behaviors of birds at HSD. Moreover, HSD increased CS levels at the 4th, 5th and 6th week of the growing cycle. However, Protexin® supplementation had a decreasing effect on CS levels in the birds reared at HD at the last two weeks of the growing cycle. In addition, brain serotonin concentration was increased in birds reared at HD without Protexin® supplementation and showed no alteration in that supplemented with the probiotic at LSD and HSD. Data suggests that, Protexin® supplementation may be beneficial in improving welfare (behavior al indicator) of broilers reared at LSD and alleviate some effects of HSD stress on birds

Hypogonadism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: relationship with airflow limitation, muscle weakness and systemic inflammation

AbstractObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of hypogonadism in male patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), and to study its impact on skeletal muscle dysfunction and assess the effect of systemic markers of inflammation on testosterone level and muscle function. The study included 50 stable male COPD patients and 30 controls.MethodsBoth groups were subjected to the following measurements; inflammatory markers levels (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin – 6 (IL-6)), sex hormones including; serum total (T) and free testosterone (FT), sex hormone binding globulins (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and 17β estradiol levels (E2), the exercise capacity (6-minute walk distance (6MWT)) and quadriceps muscle force (One repetition maximum (1RM) and EMG). COPD patients underwent spirometry.ResultsThere was a higher prevalence of hypogonadism in COPD patients than the controls (62% versus 17%). There was a significant negative correlation between serum testosterone levels (T and FT) and the severity of airway obstruction. Quadriceps muscle force and the exercise capacity were significantly lower in COPD patients than controls but they showed no correlation with the testosterone level. Inflammatory markers were significantly higher in COPD patients compared to controls and showed a significant correlation with the severity of airflow obstruction. The higher inflammatory markers levels were related to more muscle weakness as hs-CRP was inversely correlated with the quadriceps strength and exercise capacity, while IL-6 was inversely correlated to quadriceps strength only.ConclusionHypogonadism is highly prevalent in clinically stable COPD patients and is particularly related to the severity of the airway obstruction. Systemic inflammation is present in stable COPD patients and its intensity is related to the severity of the underlying disease and it predisposes to skeletal muscle weakness and exercise intolerance. However, we failed to find a significant association between hypogonadism and muscle weakness or systemic inflammation

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a disease that is caused by the formation of an abnormal hemoglobin type, which can bind with other abnormal hemoglobin molecules within the red blood cells (RBCs) to cause rigid distortion of the cell. This distortion prevents the cell from passing through small blood vessels; leading to occlusion of vascular beds, followed by tissue ischemia and infarction. Infarction is frequent all over the body in patients with SCA, leading to the acute pain crisis. Over time, such insults result in medullary bone infarcts and epiphyseal osteonecrosis. In the brain, cognitive impairment and functional neurologic deficits may occur due to white matter and gray matter infarcts. Infarction may also affect the lungs increasing susceptibility to pneumonia. The liver, spleen, and kidney may show infarction as well. Sequestration crisis is an unusual life-threatening complication of SCA, in which a significant amount of blood is sequestered in an organ (usually the spleen), leading to collapse. Lastly, since the RBCs are abnormal, they are destroyed, resulting in a hemolytic anemia. However, the ischemic complications in patients with SCA disease far exceed the anemia in clinical significance

Spice Foods effects on Body Weight Reductions between Obese Animal Models

The aim of this study was determination and identification of phenolic and flavonoids fraction in addition to the antioxidant activities of used herbals (curcumin, black pepper and cumin) by HPLC in addition to evaluating the effects of such different spicy food consumptions on body weight reduction between obese animal models. Rats were randomly divided to ten groups fed; Black Papers, Cumin and Curcumin either alone or in different mixtures additionally to groups fed Orlistat (control body weight loss), Non-obese negative control group (C-ve) and Obese control positive group (C+ve). Blood glucose and body weight levels were measured at the beginning and end of the experimental in addition to rats’ lipid profiles (total cholesterol; triglycerides;, high dense lipoprotein cholesterol; low dense lipoprotein cholesterol; and very low dense lipoprotein cholesterol). Results presented that obese models received (Cumin)  Cu/( Curcumin ) Cur mixture have the biggest effective significant treatment (about -80% body weight reduction  ) followed by both groups fed mixtures of (Curcumin ) Cur/( Black Papers ) Bp  and (Curcumin) Cur/( Black Papers ) Bp/( Cumin ) Cu; decreased by -68.0 and -65.6g respectively. The study could be more valuable causing significant body weight reduction between obese models, however human studies are needed

THE ROLE OF LINGO-1 AND MYELIN BASIC PROTEIN MRNAS IN CENTRAL REMYELINATION IN ETHIDIUM BROMIDE-INDUCED DEMYELINATION IN RATS

Objective: The study aimed to assess the possible role of quercetin, pioglitazone, metformin, and dapagliflozin in the enhancement of remyelination process after ethidium bromide (EB)-induced demyelination. Methods: The study was conducted on 60 male Wister rats (250–300 g), randomly divided into sham-operated group and five demyelination groups (each of 10 rats) which subjected to intrapontine stereotaxic injection of EB (10 μl of 0.1% EB) to induce demyelination. Then, randomly subdivided into: EB control group: Rats were treated with normal saline, quercetin-treated group (50 mg/kg/day), pioglitazone-treated group (10 mg/kg/day), metformin-treated group (500 mg/kg/day), and dapagliflozin-treated group (10 mg/kg/day). Behavioral tests (beam balance, foot fault, rotarod, and inverted screen) were conducted for all groups as well as biochemical analysis of LINGO-1 and myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNAs and histological examination of pontine tissues. Results: The EB control group showed deterioration of motor performance on behavioral tests. Degenerative changes were observed in pontine tissue on histological examination together with upregulation of LINGO-1 protein and downregulation of MBP level. While the treated groups after EB demyelination showed significant improvement in motor performance and decreased degenerated neurons in histological examination with upregulation of MBP level and downregulation of LINGO-1 protein level. Conclusion: Quercetin, metformin, dapagliflozin, and pioglitazone showed neuroprotective effect and enhancement of remyelination process

Modular Instruction in Elementary Education: A Research Study of Adaptability and Attitude in Modular Learning

This study focused on the adaptability and attitude of Grade 6 students in the Modular Learning Approach. This study aims to create a comprehensive review of the adaptability and attitude of elementary students in the Modular Learning Approach Especially. It seeks to describe and analyze the following: the profile of the respondents in terms of sex and education of the parents; the adaptability of the respondents toward the relationship between the student's profile in terms of their sex and educational attainment of parents; the attitude of the respondent's significant relationship between sex and educational attainment. The researcher used the quantitative survey questionnaires to gather data from 128 Grade 6 students in five Elementary Schools in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija who enrolled during the School Year 2020-2021. The study revealed that the respondent's demographic profile in sex has no significant relationship to their adaptability and attitude in the modular learning approach. Yet the parents' educational attainment of the respondents has a significant relationship to adaptability in terms of learning assistance and support in the modular learning approach. The results further signified that parents' educational attainment is a basis for adaptability in modular learning