Prevalence of acute kidney injury in cardiac patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) has consistently been associated with adverse clinical outcome after acute myocardial infarction (MI). In addition, AKI is well-known as a potent predictor of the clinical course in heart failure patients. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of AKI in patients with acute MI and congestive heart failure (CHF) in the ICU at Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt. Patients and methods This study included 100 patients with acute MI and 100 patients with CHF admitted to the ICU. They were subjected to careful history taking, thorough clinical examination, ECG and echocardiographic evaluation, and laboratory investigations, including cardiac enzyme evaluation, renal profile, and fasting blood glucose. Definitions of AKI depend on the measurement of serum creatinine as a surrogate marker for the glomerular filtration rate, in addition to the calculation of estimated glomerular filtration rate. Results The proportion of patients who experienced AKI was 47% in patients with CHF and 45% in patients with acute MI. They were significantly older in age (P=0.013 and 0.004, respectively). In CHF, patients with AKI had significantly higher fasting blood sugar (P=0.011), abnormal ECG changes (P=0.001), lower ejection fraction (P=0.034), and lower diastolic dysfunction (P=0.027). However, in acute MI, patients with AKI had significantly higher fasting blood sugar (P=0.013) and higher troponin I level (P=0.015). Conclusion The most important risk factors for AKI in patients with CHF are older age, higher frequency of diabetes mellitus, abnormal ECG changes, lower ejection fraction, and diastolic dysfunction. However, high troponin I and older age are the most important risk factors for AKI in patients with acute MI. Careful monitoring of susceptible patients in the ICU is recommended for early detection and management of AKI in those patients

Effect of Forage Moringa oleifera L. (moringa) on Animal Health and Nutrition and Its Beneficial Applications in Soil, Plants and Water Purification

Moringa oleifera L. (moringa) is known as one of the most useful multipurpose plants. It can be effectively utilized as a natural biopesticide and inhibitor of several plant pathogens. Thus, it can be included in integrated pest management strategies. Moringa and its products have different uses in many agricultural systems. The use of moringa as a crop enhancer is an eco-friendly way of improving crop yields at the lowest possible cost. This inexpensive increase in productivity can contribute to meeting some of the food needs in some parts of the world as the global population increases and poverty rates rise. One of the most important characteristics of moringa is that it has high biological and nutritional values and can be used as animal feed, green fertilizer, medicine, biopesticide and in seed production. Moringa has been characterized as a potentially useful animal feed owing to its high content of protein, carotenoids, several minerals and vitamins (such as iron and ascorbic acid) and certain phytochemicals (kaempferitrin, isoquercitrin, rhamnetin, kaempferol and quercetin). This review aims to provide more knowledge about the nature, nutritional value, phytochemicals and uses of Moringa oleifera as a promising material in the fields of soil and plant management, water treatment, as well as animal and poultry production