Low dose multidetector computed tomography in localizing the transition zone of Hirschsprung’s Disease: A novel study

Objectives: The objectives of this study were the evaluation of low dose multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in localizing the site of the transition zone (TZ) of Hirschsprung’s Disease (HD) for preoperative planning. Patients and methods: Twenty-two infants were recruited from pediatric and surgical clinics in Assiut University Hospital and Sohag University Hospital. The recruited patients were sedated before examination. Examinations were done using 64-rows MDCT. Each MDCT examination was reviewed to determine the location and length of the TZ and compared with operative and pathological results. Results were analyzed by chi square test and interobserver agreement using Kappa test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: According to operative and pathological data, the site of the TZ: 17 (77.27%) were of short-segment disease (rectosigmoid HD), 2 (9%) were of long segment (above sigmoid colon), and 3 (13.63%) were of ultrashort segment. A correct diagnosis of TZ by MDCT was made in 19 out of 22 with 82.4% sensitivity and 80% specificity. The site of TZ was concordant in 17. Results yielded a moderate strength of inter-observer agreement in localizing the site of TZ (k = 0.546) and ( P= 0.009). Conclusion: Low-dose MDCT has a good role in localizing the site of TZ of HD in infants

Humic Acid-Coated Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles Confer Resistance to Acremonium Wilt Disease and Improve Physiological and Morphological Attributes of Grain Sorghum

Acremonium wilt disease affects grain quality and reduces sorghum yield around the globe. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of humic acid (HA)-coated Fe3O4 (Fe3O4/HA) nanoparticles (NPs) in controlling acremonium wilt disease and improving sorghum growth and yields. During the season 2019, twenty-one sorghum genotypes were screened to assess their response to Acremonium striticum via artificial infection under field conditions and each genotype was assigned to one of six groups, ranging from highly susceptible to highly resistant. Subsequently, over the two successive seasons 2020 and 2021, three different concentrations of 10, 40 and 80 mg L−1 of Fe3O4/HA NPs were tested against A. striticum. The concentrations of 40 and 80 mg L−1 were found to be highly effective in controlling acremonium wilt disease on different sorghum genotypes: LG1 (highly susceptible), Giza-3 (susceptible), and Local 119 (resistant) genotypes. After harvest, the physiological (growth and yield) and biochemical (peroxidase, catalase, and gibberellic acid) attributes of sorghum plants were determined, and the results demonstrated that concentrations of 40 and 80 mg L−1 increased peroxidase and catalase activities in healthy (uninoculated) sorghum genotypes compared to inoculated sorghum genotypes. Additionally, the toxicity of Fe3O4/HA NPs on male albino rats was investigated via hematological (CBC), chemical (ALT and AST) and histopathological analyses. The concentration 80 mg L−1 of Fe3O4/HA NPs caused a marked increase in ALT and creatinine level after 51 days of feeding. Severe pathological alterations were also observed in liver and kidney tissues of rats administered with grain sorghums treated with 80 mg L−1. In comparison with the untreated control plants, a concentration of 40 mg L−1 significantly increased the growth, yield and gibberellic acid levels (p ≤ 0.05) and was found to be safe in male albino rats. Conclusively, a concentration of 40 mg L−1 of Fe3O4/HA NPs showed promising results in curtailing A. striticum infections in sorghum, indicating its great potential to substitute harmful fertilizers and fungicides as a smart agriculture strategy