Prevalence of HCV Infections Among Hemodialysis Patients in Al Gharbiyah Governorate, Egypt

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant problem for patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment. This medical problem has never been studied in Al Gharbiyah Governorate; this study was conductedaiming to estimate the prevalence of anti-HCV positive patients and the incidence of seroconversion in its different HD units.Methods: All 2351 patients maintained on HD in the eight towns of Al Gharbiyah Governorate were interviewed and their anti-HCV status was tested by a third-generation enzyme immunoassay. Patients whotested negative for anti-HCV at the start of the study were re-assessed monthly for HCV seroconversion and at the end of the study all patients were screened for HCV antibodies. Results: At the start of our study in March 2011, we found that 824 out of 2351 patients (35%) were anti-HCV reactive. At the end of study in November 2011, we found that HCV seroconversion occurred in 168 out of1527 patients (11%) who were HCV free at the start of the study. By the end of the study, a total of 42.2% were found to be anti-HCV reactive.Conclusion: The study demonstrated high prevalence of anti-HCV in HD units in Al Gharbiyah Governorate. Similar studies must be conducted in all Egyptian governorates’ HD units to evaluate this major health problem all over Egypt. We also encourage strict application of preventive strategies for HCV infection in all health institutes, especially HD units

Trypsin-based diet for the growth indices of Spanish mackerel

To protect the sustainability of the aquaculture industry, fishmeal is being replaced with alternative feed ingredients such as plant-based protein components. However, most plant-based feedstuffs contain a wide array of anti-nutritional factors. These factors can potentially hinder nutrient consumption, which in turn can interfere with fish health and performance. Protease enzyme supplements can reverse the impacts of anti-nutritional factors and enhance fish growth. This study aimed to incorporate the trypsin enzyme into the food of Spanish mackerel and explore its effects on growth factors, body composition, and blood biochemical parameters. This study was a fully-randomized experiment with three treatments and three replications. This experiment was carried out as a completely randomized design with three treatments and three replications, and the trypsin enzyme was added to the fish diet at different levels: 0%, 0.015%, and 0.025%. For a timeframe of 60 days, the fish were given experimental diets. The growth indices considered were: specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), condition factor (CF), feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight gain percentage (WGP), and hepatic steatosis index (HSI). The results showed that FCR, PER, SGR, and WGP at enzyme levels of 0.015% and 0.025% were substantially different from the control group

Norfloxacin Antibiotic Drug Complexes of (I), (II), (III) and (IV) Metal Ions: Spectroscopic and Biological Studies

ABSTRACT The new norfloxacin (nor) complexes of Li(I), Pb(II), Sb(III) and Se(IV) with general formulas: [Li(nor) H-NMR) spectroscopic, molar conductivity and elemental analysis tools. The antimicrobial activities of complexes were tested against some kind of bacteria and fungi

New Platinum(IV) and Palladium(II) Transition Metal Complexes of s-Triazine Derivative: Synthesis, Spectral, and Anticancer Agents Studies

New Pd(II) and Pt(IV) triazine complexes [Pt3(L1)2(Cl)9(H2O)3].3Cl.3H2O (1), [Pt3(L2)2(Cl)9(H2O)3].3Cl (2), [Pt3(L3)2(Cl)9(H2O)3].3Cl (3), [Pt2(L4)2(Cl)6(H2O)2] .2Cl.4H2O (4), [Pd3(L1)2(H2O)6] .3Cl2 (5), [Pd3(L2)2(H2O)6].3Cl2 (6), [Pd3(L3)2(H2O)6].3Cl2 (7), and [Pd2(L4)2(H2O)4].2Cl2 (8) were synthesized and well characterized using elemental analyses, molar conductance, IR, UV-Vis, magnetic susceptibility, 1H, 13C-NMR spectra, and thermal analyses. These analyses deduced that the L1, L2, and L3 ligands act as tridentate forming octahedral geometry with Pt(IV) metal ions and square planar geometry in case of Pd(II) complexes but the L4 ligand acts as bidentate chelate. The molar conductance values refer to the fact that all the prepared s-triazine complexes have electrolyte properties which are investigated in DMSO solvent. Surface morphology behaviors of prepared complexes have been scanned using TEM. The crystalline behavior of triazine complexes has been checked based on X-ray powder diffraction patterns. The antimicrobial activity of the free ligands and their platinum(IV) and palladium(II) complexes against the species Staphylococcus aureus (G+), Escherichia coli (G−), Aspergillus flavus, and Candida albicans has been carried out and compared with the standard one. The coordination of ligands towards metal ions makes them stronger bacteriostatic agents, thus inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi more than the free ligands. The cytotoxic assessment IC50 of the free ligands and its platinum(IV) complexes in vitro against human colon and lung cancer cell lines introduced a promising efficiency

Hemi-Synthesis of Chiral Imine, Benzimidazole and Benzodiazepines from Essential Oil of Ammodaucus leucotrichus subsp. leucotrichus

The hemi-synthesis of chiral imine, benzimidazole and benzodiazepine structures is reported by the condensation of (S)-(−)-perillaldehyde, the major phytochemical of Ammodaucus leucotrichus subsp. leucotrichus essential oil, with different amine derivatives of 2,3-diaminomaleonitrile, o-phenylenediamine and 3-[(2-aminoaryl)amino]dimedone. The reaction proceeds in situ at ambient temperature without prior isolation of the natural (S)-(−)-perillaldehyde. Final products precipitate in the ethanolic reaction medium. 2D NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies were used to unequivocally characterize the structures in solution and in the solid state, respectively. Chiral HPLC analysis confirms the formation of unique enantiomers and diastereomeric mixtures