Serological Detection of Sarcocystiosis in Buffaloes

The study aimed to serologically detect the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in buffaloes using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the first time in Iraq. An overall 184 buffaloes of different ages and sexes were selected randomly from the regions of Wasit province (Iraq) from March to June (2022), and subjected to draining of venous blood under aseptic conditions. After centrifugation, the obtained sera were examined by indirect ELISA. Totally, 33.15% of study animals were positive for IgG antibodies. According to their concentrations, the ODs level showed a significant increase (P<0.0186) in mild infection (63.93%) when compared to moderate (27.87%) and strong (8.2%) infections. Subsequently, values of mild, moderate, and strong infections were 0.330 ± 0.01, 0.554 ± 0.019 and 0.912 ± 0.031 nm, respectively. Regarding age and sex factors, significantly higher positivity (P<0.0469) was shown in buffaloes aged >10 years old (57.89%); while the lowest was seen in those <1 year (13.64%). Subsequently, older buffaloes appeared significantly (P<0.0192) at higher risk (2.1685) when compared to other age groups. Females recorded an obvious increase (P<0.05) in positivity (35.95%) and risk (1.8569) in comparison with males; 19.35% and 0.5385, respectively. The results indicate that ELISA is of great value in the diagnosis of sarcocystosis

Leaf nitrogen determination using non-destructive techniques–A review

© 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. The optimisation of plant nitrogen-use-efficiency (NUE) has a direct impact on increasing crop production by optimising use of nitrogen fertiliser. Moreover, it protects environment from negative effects of nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide production. Accordingly, nitrogen (N) management in agriculture systems has been major focus of many researchers. Improvement of NUE can be achieved through several methods including more accurate measurement of foliar N contents of crops during different growth phases. There are two types of methods to diagnose foliar N status: destructive and non-destructive. Destructive methods are expensive and time-consuming, as they require tissue sampling and subsequent laboratory analysis. Thus, many farmers find destructive methods to be less attractive. Non-destructive methods are rapid and less expensive but are usually less accurate. Accordingly, improving the accuracy of non-destructive N estimations has become a common goal of many researchers, and various methods varying in complexity and optimality have been proposed for this purpose. This paper reviews various commonly used non-destructive methods for estimating foliar N status of plants

Dimensi Gender Dalam Novel Perempuan Berkalung Sorban Karya Abidah El Khalieqy: Pendekatan Feminisme Dan Implementasi Sebagai Bahan Ajar Sastra Di SMA

This study has three objectives are to describes: (1) the novel structure of Perempuan Berkalung Sorban by Abidah El Khalieqy. (2) gender dimensions in Perempuan Berkalung Sorban novel by Abidah El-Khalieqy. (3) the implementation of the research results of Perempuan Berkalung Sorban novel by Abidah El-Khalieqy as a literary material in senior high school. This research uses qualitative method and narrative analysis. The main data source in this research is the novel Perempuan Berkalung Sorban by Abidah Al-Khalieqy. Technique of collecting data is done by library technique. The result of the research concludes that (1) The novel structure of Perempuan Berkalung Sorban by Abidah El-Khalieqy is (a) theme: expressing the need to recognize women existence. (B) Plot: conventional. (c) Characterization: Annisa Nuhaiyyah and Samsudin (main characters), Kiai Hanan Abul Malik, Rizal, Wildan, Hajjah Mutmainah, Lek Khudhori, Kalsum, Pak Joko, Mbak May, Mbak Ulfah, and Aisha (additional figures). (2) The elements of feminism in the novel of Perempuan Berkalung Sorban: marginalization, subordination, stereotypes, violence, and workload on women. (3) The research results of this Perempuan Berkalung Surban novel can be implemented in the study of literature subjects Indonesian Language and Literature for high school students of class XI semester 2. Basic Competence 3.9 Analyze the contents and linguistic novels based on the 2013 curriculum

Bedside testing of CYP2C19 vs. conventional clopidogrel treatment to guide antiplatelet therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients

BACKGROUND: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are treated with dual antiplatelet therapy comprising aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor. Clopidogrel is widely used in these patients in several areas worldwide, such as Middle East, but is associated to sub-optimal platelet inhibition in up to 1/3 of treated patients. We investigated a CYP2C19 genotype-guided strategy to select the optimal P2Y12 inhibitor. METHODS: This prospective randomized clinical trial included STEMI patients. The standard-treatment group received clopidogrel, while the genotype-guided group were genotyped for CYP2C19 loss-of-function alleles and carriers were prescribed ticagrelor and noncarriers were prescribed clopidogrel. Primary outcome was a combined ischemic and bleeding outcome, comprising myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, cardiovascular death, or Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes major bleeding one year after STEMI. RESULTS: STEMI patients (755) were randomized into a genotype-guided- (383) and standard-treatment group (372). In the genotype-guided group, 31 patients carrying a loss-of-function allele were treated with ticagrelor, while all other patients in both groups were treated with clopidogrel. Patients in the genotype-guided group had a significantly lower risk of primary outcome (odds ratio (OR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20–0.59,), recurrent myocardial infarction (OR 0.25, 95%CI 0.11–0.53), cardiovascular death (OR 0.16, 95%CI0.06–0.42) and major bleeding (OR 0.49, 95%CI 0.32–0.74). There was no significant difference in the rate of stent thrombosis (OR 0.85, 95%CI 0.43–1.71). CONCLUSION: A genotype-guided escalation of P2Y12 inhibitor strategy is feasible in STEMI patients treated with clopidogrel and undergoing PCI and is associated with a reduction of primary outcomes compared to conventional antiplatelet therapy

Access and utilisation of primary health care services comparing urban and rural areas of Riyadh Providence, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has seen an increase in chronic diseases. International evidence suggests that early intervention is the best approach to reduce the burden of chronic disease. However, the limited research available suggests that health care access remains unequal, with rural populations having the poorest access to and utilisation of primary health care centres and, consequently, the poorest health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the factors influencing the access to and utilisation of primary health care centres in urban and rural areas of Riyadh province of the KSA

Libyan cochlear implant programme: achievements, difficulties, and future goals

Cochlear implantation has become established worldwide as a safe and effective method of auditory rehabilitation of selected severely and profound deaf children and adults. Over 100,000 patients have received cochlear implants worldwide with the paediatric population proving to be the main beneficiaries. The Libyan cochlear implant programme was set up in 2004. Data relating to the patients who received cochlear implantation at Tripoli Medical Centre between October 2007 and February 2010 were analysed. Implant operations were performed on 37 patients. All patients received Med-El SONATATI100 devices. Thirty-four (91.9%) of these patients were children, whilst three (8.1%) were adults. Combined, congenital hearing loss (56.8%) and perinatal/neonatal (29.7%) were the two main aetiological factors in children. Seventeen patients (45.9%) had a positive family history of deafness. Sixteen patients (43.2%) were born to blood-related parents. The overall rate of minor and major complications was 16.2%, which is comparable to previous studies

Hospital Admissions Due to Ischemic Heart Diseases and Prescriptions of Cardiovascular Diseases Medications in England and Wales in the Past Two Decades

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the trend of ischemic heart disease (IHD) admission and the prescriptions of IHD medications in England and Wales. Methods: A secular trends study was conducted during the period of 1999 to 2019. We extracted hospital admission data for patients from all age groups from the Hospital Episode Statistics database in England and the Patient Episode Database for Wales. Prescriptions of IHD medications were extracted from the Prescription Cost Analysis database from 2004 to 2019. The chi-squared test was used to assess the difference between the admission rates and the difference between IHD medication prescription rates. The trends in IHD-related hospital admission and IHD-related medication prescription were assessed using a Poisson model. The correlation between hospital admissions for IHD and its IHD medication-related prescriptions was assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Our study detected a significant increase in the rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) medication prescriptions in England and Wales, representing a rise in the CVD medications prescription rate of 41.8% (from 539,334.95 (95% CI = 539,286.30–539,383.59) in 2004 to 764,584.55 (95% CI = 764,545.55–764,623.56) in 2019 prescriptions per 100,000 persons), with a mean increase of 2.8% per year during the past 15 years. This increase was connected with a reduction in the IHD hospital admission rate by 15.4% (from 838.50 (95% CI = 836.05–840.94) in 2004 to 709.78 (95% CI = 707.65–711.92) in 2019 per 100,000 persons, trend test, p < 0.01), with a mean decrease of 1.02% per year during the past 15 years and by 5% (from 747.43 (95% CI = 745.09–749.77) in 1999 to 709.78 (95% CI = 707.65–711.92) in 2019 per 100,000 persons, trend test, p < 0.01) with a mean decrease of 0.25% per year during the past two decades in England and Wales. Conclusion: The rate of hospitalisation due to IHD has decreased in England and Wales during the past two decades. Hospitalisation due to IHD was strongly and negatively correlated with the increase in the rates of dispensing of IHD-related medications. Other factors contributing to this decline could be the increase in controlling IHD risk factors during the past few years. Future studies exploring other risk factors that are associated with IHD hospitalisation are warranted

Side effects and the need for secrecy: characterising discontinuation of modern contraception and its causes in Ethiopia using mixed methods

Background: Contraceptive discontinuation is a major barrier to reducing global unmet needs for family planning, but the reasons why women discontinue contraception are poorly understood. Here we use data from Ethiopia to investigate (i) the magnitude of contraceptive discontinuation in 2005-2011, (ii) how the risk of discontinuation varies with method type and education level and (iii) the barriers to continuation. Our main hypothesis is that contraceptive discontinuation is driven by the experience of physiological side-effects associated with the use of hormonal contraception, rather than a lack of formal education. Methods: We used a mixed methods explanatory sequential design to explain the quantitative results in more details through the qualitative data. First, we analysed quantitative data from the 2011 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey to study patterns of contraceptive discontinuation and method choice using multilevel multiprocess models. Second, we conducted semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions in the 3 most populated regions of Ethiopia with individuals of reproductive age and health professionals. Results: The analysis of EDHS data shows that the rate of discontinuation has not reduced in the period 2005-2011 and remains high. Discontinuation mainly takes the form of abandonment, and is a function of method type, age and wealth but not of educational level. Interviews with women and health professionals reveal that the experience of debilitating physiological side effects, the need for secrecy and poverty are important barriers to continuation. Conclusions: Our findings together suggest that physiological and social side-effects of contraceptive use, not a lack of formal education, are the root causes of contraceptive abandonment in Ethiopia. </p