Dietary supplementation of quercetin nanoparticles enhances the growth performance hematological and immunological responses and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to silver nanoparticles toxicity

The wide incorporation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in aquaculture could result in releasing of these particles into the environment with environmental impacts and health hazards. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the impacts of the dietary supplementation of quercetin nanoparticles (QNPs) on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) growth, antioxidants, and immunity besides its susceptibility to the infection with Aeromonas hydrophila with or without the aqueous exposure to AgNPs. First, the 96-h LC50 value for AgNPs in O. niloticus wa estimated to be 19.81 mg/L (the 1/10th of the 96 h LC50 of AgNPs = 1.98 mg/L). Then a total of 240 Nile tilapias (40.00 ± 0.45 g) were randomly distributed into 4 groups (each group contains 60 fish in 3 replicates of 20 fish). The 1st group (control) was fed on a basal diet without QNPs and AgNPs. The 2nd group (QNPs) received the basal diet supplemented with QNPs (400 mg/kg), the 3rd group (AgNPs) was exposed to 1/10th 96-h LC50 of AgNPs (1.98 mg/L) and fed on QNPs free diet, while the 4th group (AgNPs+ QNPs) was exposed to AgNPs (1.98 mg/L) and cosupplemented with QNPs (400 mg/kg). Besides, AgNPs resulted in marked elevation in the serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) contents, and declines in lysozyme activity and the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and immunoglobulins (IgM and IgG) in the exposed fish (AgNPs group). These effects were accompanied with significant downregulation in the relative mRNA expressions of SOD, CAT, and GSH and upregulation in the expressions of INF-γ, TNF-α, and Il-1β. Feeding QNPs-enriched diet, alone or combined with AgNPs exposure, conversed most of these effects and restored some to the control levels. AgNPs exposure increased mortalities, lowered survival rates and altered Nile tilapia’s resistance to A. hydrophila infection in the AgNPs exposed fish, whereas co-supplementation with QNPs enhanced their resistance with less mortalities. In summary, the reported immunomodulation, and protective properties of QNPs dietary supplementation, strengthen its applicability as an effective and promising feed supplement to alleviate the AgNPs associated toxicity in fish

Isolation of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus harboring seb gene and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (serogroups O18, O114 and O125) from soft and hard artisanal cheeses in Egypt

Background: Soft and hard artisanal cheeses are regularly consumed in Egypt. These products are usually processed from raw milk which may harbor many pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. Aim: Evaluate the safety of some artisanal cheeses in Egypt such as Ras, Domiati and Mish through chemical and microbiological examination. Methods: One hundred and fifty random samples of traditional Ras, Domiati and Mish cheeses (50 each) were microbiologically and chemically analyzed. Counts of total bacteria, presumptive coliform, staphylococci, yeast and mold were estimated. Furthermore, isolation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was performed followed by PCR confirmation, isolates of E. coli were examined for presence of virulence genes on the other hand detection of the five classical enterotoxin genes of S. aureus was performed using multiplex PCR. Regarding chemical analysis moisture, salt and acidity content were measured. Correlations between chemical and microbial findings were investigated. Results: Mean counts of total bacteria, presumptive coliform, staphylococci, yeast and mold were (2×108, 3×106 and 1×107 ), (3×105, 5×10 and 5×102), (1×106, 4×105and 1×105), (3×105, 1×105 and 5×105) and (7×103, 4×103 and 3×104) for Ras, Domiati and Mish cheeses, respectively. Serological identification of suspected E. coli revealed that E. coli O125 was isolated from Ras and Domiati samples, E. coli O18 was recovered from Ras samples, while E. coli O114 was isolated from Mish samples. PCR results revealed that all detected isolates of E. coli were positive for both iss (increased serum survival) and fimH (type 1 fimbriae) genes. Concerning isolated S. aureus all examined products were harboring S. aureus enterotoxigenic strains with seb and sed genes were most common. The mean values of moisture, salt and acidity were (30.03, 56.44 and 58.70), (3.30, 6.63 and 7.56) and (0.65, 0.68 and 0.50) for Ras, Domiati and Mish cheeses, respectively. Conclusion: Enterotoxigenic S. aureus harboring seb gene and enteropathogenic E. coli (serogroups O18, O114 and O125) were frequently isolated from soft and hard artisanal cheeses in Egypt. Therefore, strict hygienic measures should be applied during their manufacture, handing and distribution

Estimation of the Time Since Death Based on the Post-mortem Histopathological Changes in a Rat Brain: An Observational Study

A comprehensive inference of the structural alterations that occur in the body after death plays a pivotal role in the accurate interpretation of the time since death in many human and animal death investigations. Particular estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI) is usually affected by many frequently changed environmental and other factors that influence the sequential changes that happen to a body after death. Histopathologic investigation in autopsy is a unique technique to investigate PMI. Moreover, it is a supplementary investigation in cases where macroscopic examinations fail to display a diagnostic pathology regarding death. Here, we investigated the post-mortem histopathological changes in rats' brains to pinpoint the time that elapsed since death. For this purpose, we used 72 male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into two main groups 36 young-aged rats and 36 adult-aged rats. The two main groups were subdivided into 6 subgroups (6 rats/subgroup). After accommodation, rats were cervically dislocated and intact brain was collected at 0-hour post-mortem and the at 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, and 24th hrs post-mortem at room temperature (RT) and 4oC. The histopathological changes of collected brain tissues revealed that the post-mortem changes begin to be emphasized after 8th hrs post-mortem in both young and adult rats at RT than at 4oC. Those changes included hemorrhage, mild neuronal degeneration, and apoptotic neurons that were prominent in the cerebral cortex. Moreover, cerebral cortex histopathologic changes continued till the 24th hrs post-mortem. Also, the cerebellar changes followed the same path as the cerebral ones. However, the results deduced that the post-mortem changes were prominent at RT in young-aged rats. In conclusion, observation of the histopathological changes of brain tissue under certain individual and environmental circumstances can be an effective, inexpensive, and additional tool to accurately estimate the PMI. &nbsp

Organochlorine pesticide residues in buffalo meat, liver, kidney, milk, and kariesh cheese

High-quality animal protein, vitamins B1, B6, and B12, as well as minerals like zinc, selenium, and iron, can all be found in buffalo meat and milk. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been widely utilized for many years because of their long duration of action, low cost, and toxicity against a variety of pests. Despite being outlawed everywhere, OCPs are still being used illegally. One of the main responsibilities of the food safety and public health sectors is to guarantee the safety and wholesomeness of such food products before they are made available to the public. In order to determine the residual OCP contents in retailed buffalo meat, liver, kidney, milk, and kariesh cheese, this study was conducted. The obtained results in the current investigation revealed the detection of OCPs at 75%, 40%, 25%, 60%, and 80% in the examined buffalo raw milk, kariesh cheese, meat, kidneys, and liver. Different OCPs were detected at variable concentrations; however, such concentrations were within the established permissible limits in Egypt. In conclusion, OCPs are still in use in Egyptian agricultural activities and residual concentrations can be detected in the meat, offal, and dairies. Therefore, it is highly advised to continuously check for OCP residues in foods with both animal and plant origins. Additionally, it is strongly advised that farmers become more aware of the negative consequences of OCPs

Organochlorine pesticide residues in buffalo meat, liver, kidney, milk, and kariesh cheese

High-quality animal protein, vitamins B1, B6, and B12, as well as minerals like zinc, selenium, and iron, can all be found in buffalo meat and milk. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been widely utilized for many years because of their long duration of action, low cost, and toxicity against a variety of pests. Despite being outlawed everywhere, OCPs are still being used illegally. One of the main responsibilities of the food safety and public health sectors is to guarantee the safety and wholesomeness of such food products before they are made available to the public. In order to determine the residual OCP contents in retailed buffalo meat, liver, kidney, milk, and kariesh cheese, this study was conducted. The obtained results in the current investigation revealed the detection of OCPs at 75%, 40%, 25%, 60%, and 80% in the examined buffalo raw milk, kariesh cheese, meat, kidneys, and liver. Different OCPs were detected at variable concentrations; however, such concentrations were within the established permissible limits in Egypt. In conclusion, OCPs are still in use in Egyptian agricultural activities and residual concentrations can be detected in the meat, offal, and dairies. Therefore, it is highly advised to continuously check for OCP residues in foods with both animal and plant origins. Additionally, it is strongly advised that farmers become more aware of the negative consequences of OCPs

Implementation strategies, facilitators, and barriers to scaling up and sustaining post pregnancy family planning, a mixed-methods systematic review

Abstract Background Post pregnancy family planning includes both postpartum and post-abortion periods. Post pregnancy women remain one of the most vulnerable groups with high unmet need for family planning. This review aimed to describe and assess the quality of the evidence on implementation strategies, facilitators, and barriers to scaling up and sustaining post pregnancy family planning. Methods Electronic bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Global Index Medicus) were searched from inception to October 2022 for primary quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method reports on scaling up post pregnancy family planning. Abstracts, titles, and full-text papers were assessed according to the inclusion criteria to select studies regardless of country, language, publication status, or methodological limitations. Data were extracted and methodological quality assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The convergent integrated approach and a deductive thematic synthesis were used to identify themes and sub-themes of strategies to scale up post pregnancy family planning. The health system building blocks were used to summarize barriers and facilitators. GRADE-CERQual was used to assess our confidence in the findings. Results Twenty-nine reports (published 2005–2022) were included: 19 quantitative, 7 qualitative, and 3 mixed methods. Seven were from high-income countries, and twenty-two from LMIC settings. Sixty percent of studies had an unclear risk of bias. The included reports used either separate or bundled strategies for scaling-up post pregnancy family planning. These included strategies for healthcare infrastructure, policy and regulation, financing, human resource, and people at the point of care. Strategies that target the point of care (women and / or their partners) contributed to 89.66% (26/29) of the reports either independently or as part of a bundle. Point of care strategies increase adoption and coverage of post pregnancy contraceptive methods. Conclusion Post pregnancy family planning scaling up strategies, representing a range of styles and settings, were associated with improved post pregnancy contraceptive use. Factors that influence the success of implementing these strategies include issues related to counselling, integration in postnatal or post-abortion care, and religious and social norms. Trial registration Center for Open Science, OSF.IO/EDAK

Sun-Exposed versus Sun-Protected Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma: Clinico-Pathological Profile and p16 Immunostaining

Introduction: Although widespread, BCC is still relatively poorly understood in regards to pathogenesis and prognosis, particularly the lesions formed on anatomical sites away from sun exposure. With the aim of deepening our understanding of the pathogenesis and clinico-pathological correlations of BCCs, we conducted this study. Methods: Tissue blocks and data of 52 Egyptian patients diagnosed with BCC were retrieved for clinical information and inclusion criteria, then re-examined histologically; p16 immunostaining was carried out and evaluated for analysis and comparison between the two groups, i.e., sun-exposed and sun-protected. Results: Sex, age, clinical suspicion, tumor size, recurrence status, and histologic variants did not show a significant difference between the sun-protected and sun-exposed groups; however, the mean ages recorded were 67.2 vs. 62.7 for the sun-protected and sun-exposed groups, respectively. A total of 52% of BCCs were positive for p16. The sun-protected lesions showed p16 positivity in 61% of cases, whereas 49% of the sun-exposed lesions were positive with no significant difference. There was a significant difference in p16 expression between the recurrent and non-recurrent lesions. Conclusions: A significant difference was seen in the case of cancer recurrence, where all the recurrent BCCs in this study demonstrated negative p16 immunostaining of the primary lesions; however, the positively stained cases in total were 52% of BCCs. The mean patient age of the sun-protected group was much higher than in previous peer studies. We assume that the biological, prognostic, and clinical aspects of p16 protein expression in BCCs are still far from being clearly understood. Further studies are highly recommended, with more focus on its role in the pathogenesis and the prognostic factors