Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Vertical Transmission in 12-Month-Old Infants Born to HCV-Infected Women and Assessment of Maternal Risk Factors

Background. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an underappreciated cause of pediatric liver disease, most frequently acquired by vertical transmission (VT). Current guidelines that include the option of screening infants for HCV RNA at 1–2 months are based on data prior to current real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based testing. Previous studies have demonstrated VT rates of 4%–15% and an association with high maternal viral load. We evaluated HCV RNA in infants with HCV VT and assessed maternal risk factors in a prospective cohort in Cairo, Egypt

Effect of Commercial Cyanobacteria Products on the Growth and Antagonistic Ability of Some Bioagents under Laboratory Conditions

Evaluation of the efficacy of blue-green algal compounds against the growth of either pathogenic or antagonistic microorganisms as well as their effect on the antagonistic ability of bioagents was studied under in vitro conditions. The present study was undertaken to explore the inhibitory effect of commercial algal compounds, Weed-Max and Oligo-Mix, against some soil-borne pathogens. In growth medium supplemented with these algal compounds, the linear growth of pathogenic fungi decreased by increasing tested concentrations of the two algal compounds. Complete reduction in pathogenic fungal growth was observed at 2% of both Weed-Max and Oligo-Mix. Gradual significant reduction in the pathogenic fungal growth was caused by the two bioagents and by increasing the concentrations of algal compounds Weed-Max and Oligo-Mix. The present work showed that commercial algal compounds, Weed-Max and Oligo-Mix, have potential for the suppression of soil-borne fungi and enhance the antagonistic ability of fungal, bacterial, and yeast bio-agents

Bioagents and Commercial Algae Products as Integrated Biocide Treatments for Controlling Root Rot Diseases of Some Vegetables under Protected Cultivation System

Integrated commercial blue-green algae extracts and bioagents treatments against vegetables root rot incidence when used as soil drench under greenhouse and plastic house conditions were evaluated. All applied treatments reduced significantly root rot incidence at both pre- and postemergence growth stages of cucumber, cantaloupe, tomato, and pepper plants compared with untreated check control. In pot experiment, the obtained results showed that treatments of Trichoderma harzianum or Bacillus subtilis either alone or combined with commercial algae extracts were significantly superior for reducing root rot disease for two tested vegetable plants compared with the other tested treatments as well as control. It is also observed that rising concentrations of either algae products, Oligo-X or Weed-Max, were reflected in more disease reduction. Promising treatments for controlling root rot disease incidence were applied under plastic houses conditions. As for field trails carried out under plastic houses conditions at different locations, the obtained results revealed that the applied combined treatments significantly reduced root rot incidence compared with fungicide and check control treatments. At all locations it was observed that Weed-Max (2 g/L) + Bacillus subtilis significantly reduced disease incidence of grown vegetables compared with Oligo-X (2 mL/L) + Trichoderma harzianum treatments. An obvious yield increase in all treatments was significantly higher than in the control. Also, the harvested yield in applied combined treatments at all locations was significantly higher than that in the fungicide and control treatments

The relationship between semen quality and mineral composition of semen in various ram breeds

Abstract Semen was collected during the breeding season from rams by electroejaculation from two native (13 Najdi and 8 Naemi) and three imported (6 Merino, 7 Somalian and 9 Sudanese) sheep breeds. There was a marked reduction in sperm concentration and the percentage live spermatozoa (p<0.01) produced by the Somalian (Barbari) and Sudanese (Sawakni) breeds. On the other hand, these two breeds showed the highest percentage of spermatozoal individual motility (p<0.05) and the highest concentrations of sodium (Na) chloride (Cl) and inorganic phosphorus (P) in the whole semen, seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Superior sperm density, percentage live spermatozoa and seminal concentrations of potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) were evidenced in the Najdi, Naemi and to a lesser extent, in the Merino rams. The biological effects of these inorganic constituents, together with magnesium (Mg), in the semen on semen quality should be considered in the interpretation of the results obtained in the fertility evaluation of the various ram breeds.

Inhibitory effect of antagonistic bio-agents and chitosan on the growth of tomato root rot pathogens In vitro

Abstract Fungal and bacterial bio-agents and the by-product chitosan as fungicides alternatives were evaluated for their inhibitory effect against the growth of tomato root rot pathogenic fungi under laboratory conditions. The tested pathogenic fungi were Fusarium oxysporum radicisycopersici, F. oxysporum lycopersici, F. solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsii, Macrophomina phaseolinae, Pythium sp. and Phytophthora sp., Meanwhile, isolates of the antagonistic microorganisms, i.e. T. harzianum, T. viride, Bacillus subtilis, and P. fluorescens. Mycelial growth of pathogenic fungi was significantly reduced by the inhibitor action produced by all antagonistic agents tested. The antagonistic fungi had a greater effect on the retardation of growth (75.5--100%) compared with the bacterial agents (57.7-83.3%). The inhibitor effect of the two tested chitosan (High and Low molecular weight) was increased as chitosan concentration is increased in growth medium to reach its maximum at the highest concentration (5 g/L). Complete inhibition of tested fungal growth was observed at the concentration of 4 g/L of LMW chitosan, while the highest fungal growth reduction was recorded in PDA-amended with HMW at the same concentration. On the light of the present study, it could be suggested that the use of chitosan as natural safe materialsalone or in combination with bio agents is considered one of low cost and effective applicable methods for controlling such soil-borne plant pathogens causing plant diseases

The Association of Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Resistance and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Overweight/Obese Children

Background/Aim: To study the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS), insulin resistance (IR) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in overweight/obese children with clinical hepatomegaly and/or raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Patients and Methods: Thirty-three overweight and obese children, aged 2-13 years, presenting with hepatomegaly and/or raised ALT, were studied for the prevalence of MS, IR and NAFLD. Laboratory analysis included fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and liver biochemical profile, in addition to liver ultrasound and liver biopsy. Results: Twenty patients (60.6%) were labeled with MS. IR was present in 16 (48.4%). Fifteen (44%) patients had biopsy-proven NAFLD. Patients with MS were more likely to have NAFLD by biopsy (P=0.001). Children with NAFLD had significantly higher body mass index, waist circumference, ALT, total cholesterol, LDL-c, TG, fasting insulin, and lower HDL-c compared to patients with normal liver histology (P< 0.05) and fitted more with the criteria of MS (80% vs. 44%). IR was significantly more common among NAFLD patients (73% vs. 28%). Conclusion: There is a close association between obesity, MS, IR and NAFLD. Obese children with clinical or biochemical hepatic abnormalities are prone to suffer from MS, IR and NAFLD