Management of postpartum iron deficiency anemia: review of literature

Anemia is a condition in which either the number of circulating red blood cells or their hemoglobin concentration is decreased. As a result, there is decreased transport of oxygen from the lungs to peripheral tissues. The standard approach to treatment of postpartum iron deficiency anemia is oral iron supplementation, with blood transfusion reserved for more server or symptomatic cases. There are a number of hazards of allogenic blood transfusion including transfusion of the wrong blood, infection, anaphylaxis and lung injury, any of which will be devastating for a young mother. These hazards, together with the national shortage of blood products, mean that transfusion should be viewed as a last resort in otherwise young and healthy women. Currently, there are many iron preparations available containing different types of iron salts, including ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, ferrous ascorbate but common adverse drug reactions found with these preparations are mainly gastrointestinal intolerance like nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, while ferrous bis-glycinate (fully reacted chelated amino acid form of iron) rarely make complication. Two types of intravenous (IV) preparations available are IV iron sucrose and IV ferric carboxymaltose. IV iron sucrose is safe, effective and economical. Reported incidence of adverse reactions with IV iron sucrose is less as compared to older iron preparations (Iron dextran, iron sorbitol), but it requires multiple doses and prolonged infusion time. Intramuscular iron sucrose complex is particularly contraindicated because of poor absorption. It was also stated that when iron dextran is given intravenously up to 30% of patients suffer from adverse effects which include arthritis, fever, urticaria and anaphylaxis

Fatty acids in fish and beef and their nutritional values: a review.

This review aims to summarize the latest developments and recent knowledge regarding the fatty acids in fish and beef, their profiles and nutritional values. The paper covered the types of different fatty acids such as unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially the omega-3 in different fish species. The study also summarized the nutritional values of the fatty acids as compared to those in other animal species. However, the strategies influencing the fatty acid composition of beef were also reflected. The study revealed that many fatty fishes were found as excellent sources of UFA and PUFA, especially the omega-3. On the other hand, beef was proposed major source of saturated fat in a diet. The quality attributes of beef meat such as tenderness, juiciness, and flavor intensity have been shown to be affected by the chemical properties and lipid content. Moreover, increasing dietary omega-3 fatty acid intakes for potential health benefits for protecting against cardiovascular diseases was recommended. This work may assist the researchers and scientists to have a clear picture about what have been achieved earlier and what critical work should be conducted in future

Biochar: The Black Diamond for Soil Sustainability, Contamination Control and Agricultural Production

Production of biochars from agricultural wastes reduces significantly the volume and weight of the wastes, and hence, it can be considered as a promising means for managing the agricultural wastes. Biochar has received great interest during the last few years, due to its beneficial role to mitigate CO2 emission through enhancing the long-term carbon sequestration. The effects of biochar on soil properties vary widely, depending on the characteristics of soil and the biochar. Most types of biochars are of alkaline nature and of high C content. Addition of biochar to the soil can improve the cation exchange capacity enrich soil with the nutrients and enhance the microbial growth, and improve some soil physical properties such as water retention and aggregation. For contamination control, biochars have proven to be a suitable tool for controlling the contaminants in the environment. The high surface area, porous structure, alkaline nature, and the presence of functional groups characterized the biochar as alternative option for the remediation of heavy metal contaminated waters and soils. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the effects of biochar in the presence of mineral and/or organic fertilizers on the plant growth and nutrient transformation in soils. In addition, biochar is successfully used for treating the acid soils; therefore, future studies are needed to investigate the neutralization of alkaline performance of biochar to be used safely in alkaline soils

An Efficient In Vitro Propagation Protocol of Cocoyam [Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L) Schott]

Sprouted corm sections of “South Dade” white cocoyam were potted and maintained in a greenhouse for 8 weeks. Shoot tips of 3–5 mm comprising the apical meristem with 4–6 leaf primordial, and approximately 0.5 mm of corm tissue at the base. These explants were treated to be used into the culture medium. A modified Gamborg's B5 mineral salts supplemented with 0.05 μM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were used throughout the study. Thidiazuron (TDZ) solution containing 0.01% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used. Erlenmeyer flasks and test tubes were used for growing cultures. The effect of different media substrate, thidiazuron, and the interaction between TDZ and Benzylaminopurine (BAP) on cocoyam culture were tested. Results indicated that cocoyam can be successfully micropropagated in vitro through various procedures. All concentrations tested (5–20 μM BAP and 1–4 μM TDZ) produced more axillary shoots per shoot tip than the control without cytokinins. Greater proliferation rates were obtained through the use of 20 μM BAP and 2 μM TDZ, respectively, 12 weeks from initiation. Shoots produced with BAP were larger and more normal in appearance than those produced with TDZ, which were small, compressed, and stunted. The use of stationary liquid media is recommended for economic reasons

The relationship between water activity and fish spoilage during cold storage : a review

This review paper presents clearer picture about the relationship between spoilage of cold stored fish and water activity. The paper was an attempt of presenting the recent existing information and the latest development in this regard. It covered the relationship between water activity and moisture content, water activity control, spoilage of fish and its different phases and the relationship between the spoilage and water activity. The paper revealed that during the initial period of storage some of the characteristics of the fish product reduce in intensity or are lost and in the later stage bacterial degradation of tissues became evident. The water activity (aw) played an important factor in fish spoilage and the growth of different microorganisms depends on its rate. If the aw reduced to 0.6, the growth of bacteria and moulds can be prevented. The detection of spoilage can be determined by controlling water activity and in the same time can be retarded by reducing the aw of the fish by either drying or freezing to keep the fish in good stage with high nutritional and organoleptic quality. The information presented in this study is very important and can assist in preventing spoilage of fishes and their products particularly when production and processing operations are applied

Saline infusion sonohysterography for uterine cavity evaluation in women with abnormal uterine bleeding

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of saline infusion sonohysterography (SIS) with hysteroscopy, as a gold standard diagnostic method, in detecting endometrial pathology in premenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding.Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Al-Azhar University hospital, Assiut, Egypt. Fifty patients were recruited from the gynecological outpatient clinic complaining of abnormal uterine bleeding. They were evaluated by SIS and compared with hysteroscopic examination for each.Results: The mean age of patients was 45.56±3.48 years. All the intracavitary lesions; endometrial polyps, submucous fibroids and hyperplastic endometrium were equally detected by both methods. Diagnostic accuracy of SIS in comparison with hysteroscopy was 76% with sensitivity 80%, specificity 72%.Conclusions: SIS is a reliable and accurate method for evaluation of the uterine cavity. It can be a good alternative technique for the evaluation of uterine cavity abnormalities where hysteroscopy is not available

Can deficit irrigations be an optimum solution for increasing water productivity under arid conditions? A case study on wheat plants

Water scarcity is of growing concern in many countries around the world, especially within the arid and semi-arid zones. Accordingly, rationalizing irrigation water has become an obligation to achieve the sustainable developmental goals of these countries. This may take place via using deficit irrigation which is long thought to be an effective strategy to save and improve water productivity. The current study is a trial to evaluate the pros and cons of using 50 and 75 % of the irrigation requirements (IR) of wheat (deficit irrigations) versus 100 %IR, while precisely charting changes in wheat growth parameters, antioxidant enzymes in plant shoots and the overall nutritional status of plants (NPK contents). Accordingly, a field experiment was conducted for two successive seasons, followed a split-plot design in which deficit irrigations (two irrigations to achieve 50 % of the irrigations requirements (IR), three irrigations to attain 75 % IR, and four irrigations to fulfill 100 % IR) were placed in main plots while four different studied wheat cultivars were in subplots. Results obtained herein indicate that deficit irrigations led to significant reductions in growth parameters and productivity of all wheat cultivars, especially when using 50 % IR. It also decreased NPK contents within plant shoots while elevated their contents of proline, peroxidase, and catalase enzymes. On the other hand, this type of irrigation decreased virtual water content (VWC, the amount of water used in production on ton of wheat grains). Stress tolerance index (STI), and financial revenues per unit area were also assessed. The obtained values of grain productivity, STI, VWC and financial revenues were weighted via PCA analyses, and then introduced in a novel model to estimate the efficiency of deficit irrigations (ODEI) whose results specified that the overall efficiency decreased as follows: 50 %IR < 75 %IR < 100 %IR. In conclusion, deficit irrigation is not deemed appropriate for rationalizing irrigation water while growing wheat on arid soils

Comparative study of the osteogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells derived from different sources

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can regenerate missing tissues and treat diseases. Hence, the current work aimed to compare the proliferation rate and the osteogenic differentiation potential of bone marrow MSCs (BMSCs), gingival MSCs (GMSCs) and submandibular MSCs (SMSCs). MSCs derived from bone marrow, gingiva and submandibular salivary gland were isolated and cultured from rats. The proliferation capacity was judged by MTT proliferation Assay. Osteogenic differentiation was assessed by Alzarin red stain and quantitative RT-PCR was performed for Runx-2 and MMP-13. The highest significant proliferation was estimated in the BMSCs compared to GMSCs and SMSCs (p-value was < 0.01). All studied cell types formed mineralized nodules as stained with Alizarin Red stain at the 3rd passage of differentiation. However, BMSCs seemed to generate the highest level of mineralization compared to GMSCs and SMSCs. RT-PCR revealed that the expression of Runx-2 and MMP-13 mRNAs was significantly increased in the BMSCs compared to GMSCs and SMSCs (p-value was < 0.01). BMSCs displayed maximum osteogenesis results followed by the GMSCs and lastly by the SGSCs. Thus, it could be recommended that GMSCs can be used as a second choice after BMSCs when bone tissue reconstruction is needed

Estimation of supply and demand functions of the major food security crops in the Sudan (1974- 2004)

This study aimed at estimating the supply and demand functions and measuring the food consumption gaps of the main food crops, namely sorghum, wheat and millet. Descriptive statistics and backward regret-ssion analysis were used as tools of analysis. Results showed that the quantity of food crops produced was far below the real needs for local consumption. Moreover, self-sufficiency ratio has declined from 100 % in 1981/1982 to 72.6% in 2000 /2001, indicating positive trend in the food consumption gap. Regarding sorghum crop, results showed that the most important factor affecting the supply of sorghum was the lagged producer price whereas the most important factors affecting demand for sorghum were consumer price of sorghum and per capita income. Results showed that the most important factors affecting the supply of wheat were the producer price of sorghum and the producer price of cotton whereas the most important factor affecting demand for wheat was the consumer price of sorghum. The millet crop was affected by the lagged producer price and consumer price of millet supply and demand functions, respectively. The results of this study indicated that, in a national sense, Sudan is food insecure during the period 1980/81-2004/2005. The shift in consumption habits towards wheat is highly responsible for the food insecurity. &nbsp