Prevalence of Intestinal Protozoa among Saudi Patients with Chronic Renal Failure: A Case-Control Study

It has been hypothesized that chronic renal failure (CRF) predisposes patients to infection with intestinal protozoa. We tested this hypothesis with a matched case-control study to determine the prevalence of these protozoa and their diarrhea associated symptoms among 50 patients with CRF (cases) from Taif, western Saudi Arabia. Fifty diarrheal patients without CRF were recruited in the study as controls. Participants were interviewed by a structured questionnaire and stool samples were collected. Samples were thoroughly examined with microscopy and three coproantigens detection kits. Enteric protozoa were detected in 21 cases and 14 controls. Blastocystis spp. were the most predominant parasite (16% in cases versus 8% in controls), followed by Giardia duodenalis (10% in cases versus 12% in controls) and Cryptosporidium spp. (10% in cases versus 6% in controls). Cyclospora cayetanensis was identified in two cases, while Entamoeba histolytica was described in one case and one control. Intestinal parasitism was positively associated with the male gender, urban residence, and travel history. Clinical symptoms of nausea/vomiting and abdominal pain were significantly varied between the parasitized cases and controls (P value ≤ 0.05). Given the results, we recommend screening all diarrheal feces for intestinal protozoa in the study's population, particularly those with CRF

A genetic analysis of <i>Trichuris trichiura</i> and <i>Trichuris suis f</i>rom Ecuador

BACKGROUND: Since the nematodes Trichuris trichiura and T. suis are morphologically indistinguishable, genetic analysis is required to assess epidemiological cross-over between people and pigs. This study aimed to clarify the transmission biology of trichuriasis in Ecuador. FINDINGS: Adult Trichuris worms were collected during a parasitological survey of 132 people and 46 pigs in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador. Morphometric analysis of 49 pig worms and 64 human worms revealed significant variation. In discriminant analysis morphometric characteristics correctly classified male worms according to host species. In PCR-RFLP analysis of the ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS-2) and 18S DNA (59 pig worms and 82 human worms), nearly all Trichuris exhibited expected restriction patterns. However, two pig-derived worms showed a "heterozygous-type" ITS-2 pattern, with one also having a "heterozygous-type" 18S pattern. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit partitioned worms by host species. Notably, some Ecuadorian T. suis clustered with porcine Trichuris from USA and Denmark and some with Chinese T. suis. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Latin America to genetically analyse Trichuris parasites. Although T. trichiura does not appear to be zoonotic in Ecuador, there is evidence of genetic exchange between T. trichiura and T. suis warranting more detailed genetic sampling

Divergence across mitochondrial genomes of sympatric members of the Schistosoma indicum group and clues into the evolution of Schistosoma spindale

Schistosoma spindale and Schistosoma indicum are ruminant-infecting trematodes of the Schistosoma indicum group that are widespread across Southeast Asia. Though neglected, these parasites can cause major pathology and mortality to livestock leading to significant welfare and socio-economic issues, predominantly amongst poor subsistence farmers and their families. Here we used mitogenomic analysis to determine the relationships between these two sympatric species of schistosome and to characterise S. spindale diversity in order to identify possible cryptic speciation. The mitochondrial genomes of S. spindale and S. indicum were assembled and genetic analyses revealed high levels of diversity within the S. indicum group. Evidence of functional changes in mitochondrial genes indicated adaptation to environmental change associated with speciation events in S. spindale around 2.5 million years ago. We discuss our results in terms of their theoretical and applied implications

Erosion impact on slurry pump behavior and productive life: An experimental and Numerical investigation

ABSTRACTNormally, the characteristics of the main parts of a slurry pump that may be suffer from erosion under two-phase flow circumstances have been extensively and thoroughly researched. Whereas, the effect of particle properties on pump behavior or performance has been the subject of several studies; however, the current research focused on various methods for reducing slurry erosion utilizing recent research methods. Thus, the analysis and investigation for various pressure distributions, velocity, erosion-rate, and vortex structure were carefully demonstrated in this study. In addition, the slurry pump’s wear or erosion characteristics were carefully examined, and it was found that as the flow rate increases, the wear of the suction surface worsens. As a result, the key findings of this research might offer the ideal guidance for optimum design and the right strategies for erosion protection for any slurry flow through centrifugal pumps

Regional aspects of digital economic development

Development of digital economy has become a strategic priority in the majority of developed and developing countries. Today, the creation and dissemination of digital technologies are becoming a key factor for competitive success of the countries and regions, which changes national and regional socioeconomic environment. This chapter’s goal is to reveal and assess the factors contributing to the development of information and communication technologies in the regions of the Russian Federation. The study uses regression analysis to estimate the dependence between several indicators of dissemination and use of digital technologies in the main sectors of economy—business sector, households, public services—and the characteristics of regional development. It is demonstrated that in Russia digital divide between the regions remains rather high, with more than a quarter of the employed population and nearly a half of information and communication technology spending being concentrated in metropolitan centers. The richer and more educated regions have distinct long-term advantages in digital economic development. If these trends are confirmed, the accelerated development of digital technologies will be concentrated mainly in the largest regions; high differentiation in the level of digital economic development will persist or even be amplified

Iron oxide nanoparticles and their pharmaceutical applications

The importance of different polymorphic forms of iron oxide nanoparticles attracted a lot of attentions in various applications due to their unique electrical, optical and magnetic properties. Moreover, the excellent biocompatibility, high surface area, spherical shape, tunable nanoscale size and the availability of synthesis route make them desirable in various biological and pharmaceutical applications. To this aim, in this review, different synthesis methods of iron oxide nanoparticles were discussed, also the main characterization techniques used for elucidation of the iron oxide nanoparticles were reviewed. The exploitation of iron oxide nanoparticles-based systems as anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial agents and its involvement in drug delivery system were reviewed in details. Additionally, the influence of nanoparticles size and the reagent type and conditions utilized in synthesis and their pharmaceutical applications was highlighted