Evaluating the performance of two rapid antigen detection tests in diagnosis of SARS- COV- 2 infection

Background:Rapid antigen detection tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection could promote the clinical and public health policies to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapid antigen detection and molecular approaches could expand entry to checking and initial evidence of issues and playing an essential role in public health managing choices that may decrease the transmission. Objectives: We evaluated the diagnostic accurateness of couple of rapid antigen recognition tests equated with the molecular-based assays for verdict of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: The 100 nasopharyngeal swabs were verified by the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR kit as a gold standard for COVID-19 recognition. SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen (Ag) was evaluated in the nasopharyngeal swabs using iFlash and UNICELL-2019-nCoV antigen methods. The iFlash-2019-nCoV antigen assay, which is a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA), was used to qualitatively determine the nucleocapsid protein antigen, where the other one was used to identify the nucleocapsid protein antigen by lateral flow immunofluorescent test. Results: Out of the 100 samples, 62% were positive by RT-PCR. Amongst 62 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 43 (69.4%) were positive by iFlash and 40 samples (64.5%) were positive by the UNICELL-2019-nCoV antigen assay. The specificity of both I Flash-2019-nCoV antigen assay & UNICELL-2019-nCoV antigen assay with RT-PCR were 100% and sensitivity were 69.35 and 64.52%, respectively. This sensitivity was augmented to 100% compared with the PCR with Ct-value of ≤25 and specificity of 80.28 and 84.51%, respectively. Conclusion: Antigen detection rapid diagnostic tests may be motivating in the initial stage of the infection when the viral load is elevated, and the risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission be high

EFFECT OF SPROUTING USING SALINE WATER ON STORAGE WHEAT GRAIN SPROUTS CHARACTER, PROXIMATE ANALYSIS AND PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOUNDS FRACTION

One day old wheat grain sprouts were used to study the effect of using saline water for sprouting on sprout characters, and changes of some chemical compounds after 2 years wheat grain storage of Gemmeiza 11 cultivar. Sprout characters showed no significant different in storage grain sprouts weight at all NaCl concentration while increased in fresh grains sprouts with increasing NaCl concentration. Sprouts chemical components as affected by storage revealed that storage Gemmiza II had the highest crude protein and the lowest carbohydrate content compared with dry fresh seeds. Non storage grains also had higher protein and lowest carbohydrate and energy content compare with dry fresh grains. The results of phytochemical analysis showed that wheat fresh grain sprouts increase phytochemical compounds and recorded the higher values when using saline water (37 compounds) followed by using tap water (33 compounds) compared with dry fresh grains (30 compounds). Saline water also enhanced the number of phytochemical compounds in two year storage grain sprouts (31 compounds vs. 28 compounds for tap water). Moreover, storage grains decreased the number of identified compounds during sprouting. It can be recommended that wheat grain sprouting is a procedure that has been developed to significantly increase the bioavailability of phytonutrients and phytochemical to ensure the nutritional security of population for Egypt

Rat precision-cut liver slices predict drug-induced cholestatic injury

Drug-induced cholestasis (DIC) is one of the leading manifestations of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). As the underlying mechanisms for DIC are not fully known and specific and predictive biomarkers and pre-clinical models are lacking, the occurrence of DIC is often only reported when the drug has been approved for registration. Therefore, appropriate models that predict the cholestatic potential of drug candidates and/or provide insight into the mechanism of DIC are highly needed. We investigated the application of rat precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) to predict DIC, using several biomarkers of cholestasis: hepatocyte viability, intracellular accumulation of total as well as individual bile acids and changes in the expression of genes known to play a role in cholestasis. Rat PCLS exposed to the cholestatic drugs chlorpromazine, cyclosporine A and glibenclamide for 48 h in the presence of a 60 μM physiological bile acid (BA) mix reflected various changes associated with cholestasis, such as decrease in hepatocyte viability, accumulation and changes in the composition of BA and changes in the gene expression of Fxr, Bsep and Ntcp. The toxicity of the drugs was correlated with the accumulation of BA, and especially DCA and CDCA and their conjugates, but to a different extent for different drugs, indicating that BA toxicity is not the only cause for the toxicity of cholestatic drugs. Moreover, our study supports the use of several biomarkers to test drugs for DIC. In conclusion, our results indicate that PCLS may represent a physiological and valuable model to identify cholestatic drugs and provide insight into the mechanisms underlying DIC

Health education effect regarding pediatrics basic life support on knowledge, attitude and practice of primary schools` teachers in Ismailia city

Background: As children are more liable for fatal events and they spend longer time in schools, it is crucial to provide current knowledge and training in basic life support procedures to their teachers. Aim: The aim of the work was to assess the effect of health education on the knowledge, attitude and practice of schools' role about pediatric basic life support. Subjects and Methods: This quasi experimental study design was conducted on 100 schools' roles who teach or deal with students in primary school, with a convenience sample collected from some five schools at Ismailia governate, between January and March 2019. After receiving theoretical training, teachers were shown how to do BLS using a cardiac resuscitation model and video. The BLS procedures were then practised by the teachers on the cardiopulmonary resuscitation model. Teachers were required to execute the BLS stages sequentially on the cardiopulmonary resuscitation model after a minimum of 4 weeks and a maximum of 6 weeks following practical instruction. Results: Prevalence of good knowledge increased from 84% in the pre test to 100 % in the post test but this wasn’t statistically significant.&nbsp

The prevalence of fibromyalgia among school children in Kalubia

Aim of the work This study aimed to determine the prevalence of juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome (JFMS) among school children in Kalubia. Patients and methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted on school children in Kalubia governorate in January 2012 to determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome among school children. A total of 2000 children attending on the days of our visits were recruited from (a) primary and (b) preparatory schools. JFMS was diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) revised criteria 2010. Results We found that the prevalence of fibromyalgia among students in Kalubia governorate was 1.25%. Widespread pain and fatigue were found in all JFMS cases (100%), muscle stiffness was found in 14 cases (56%), and decreased physical activity in 12 cases (48%). Migraine was detected in 13 cases (52%), whereas sleep disturbance was present in 10 cases (40%). Also, depression was found in 10 cases (40%) and anxiety in two cases (8%). Irritable bowel symptom was detected in five cases (20%), but both weight fluctuation and atypical chest pain were recorded in one case (4%). Conclusion Pediatricians and other health providers should suspect JFMS in children suffering from pain, fatigue, and heat and exercise intolerance

Measurement of serum trace elements levels in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Aim This study was designed to assess the serum levels boron (B), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and to evaluate their relationships with the disease activity parameters. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 30 children with JIA and 20 apparently healthy children. Patients were subjected to a thorough history-taking, clinical examination, plain radiography of both hands, and laboratory investigations including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibodies. Disease activity was measured using the Juvenile arthritis disease activity score 27 (JADAS-27 score). Serum B, Cu, and Zn levels were also measured. Results The mean serum B level was highly statistically significantly lower in the JIA patients′ group than that in the control group. The mean serum Cu level was highly statistically significantly higher in the JIA patients′ group than that in the control group. Finally, the mean serum Zn level was statistically insignificantly lower in the JIA patients group than that in the control group. There were significant negative correlations between serum B concentrations and tender joint count (TJC). There were significant positive correlations between serum Cu concentrations and TJC, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and JADAS-27. There were significant negative correlations between serum Zn concentrations and TJC and JADAS-27. Conclusion B serum level may play a role in the pathophysiology of JIA and its severity. Serum levels of B, Cu, and Zn seem to be of fundamental importance in the assessment of a JIA patient