Utility of the Guy’s Stone Score in predicting different aspects of percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Objective: To evaluate Guy’s scoring system (GSS) as a grading system for complexity of kidney stone before percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) as a predictor for different items of outcome.Patients and methods: Between July 2014 till July 2015, 100 patients with renal stone (s) and candidates for prone PCNL were evaluated and graded by GSS preoperatively. All intraoperative and postoperative data and complications using modified Clavien system were recorded, collected and statistically analyzed in relation to different grades of GSS to evaluate its predictive ability to different items of outcome.Results: Mean age of the patients was 47.38 ± 14.6 years. The patients were distributed in different grades of GSS with no statistically significant difference as mean age, sex, and mean BMI of the patients, stone side and previous renal surgery. There was high statistically significant difference in mean operative time, rate of blood transfusion, and mean number of renal punctures between different Guy’s scores, with all of them showed the highest values at GS IV. There was significant correlation between increase in the grade of GS and the need for re-PCNL and auxiliary procedures. The final stone free rate (SFR) was 93% and complication rate was 27% with significant increase in the immediate success rate, SFR, and complication rate with advancement of the grade of GSS.Conclusion: GSS has a positive correlation with SFR, re-treatment rate, need for auxiliary procedure, and rate of complication

The influence of ABO blood groups on sensitization of potential kidney transplant recipients

In this study 50 chronic renal failurepatients were tested for blood ABO groups and forthe presence of lymphocytotoxic antibodies against apanel of 20 donor lymphocytes (of known HLAtypes) using microcytotoxicity assay. The influenceof other factors affecting sensitization, such asnumber of blood transfusions, pregnancies andprevious graft rejections were analyzed too. Theresults showed that41.2 % of blood group 0 patients,61.1 % of group A I, 90% of group B, and 80% ofgroup A IB are sensitized (PRA> 10%).These results pointed to higher incidence ofsensitization in patients with blood groups B andA IB as compared to groups A I and 0.Our data suggest an impact of the ABO system on thesensitization phenomenon

Synthesis of some new quinoxalines with expected pharmacological activities

4-Methylphenylenediamine 1 was reacted with α-dicarbonylsto give quinoxalines 2a-g, 4a-d and/or 7a-c.Quinoxalines 7a-c were converted into dihydropyridazinoquinoxalines 9a-c, thienoquinoxalines 10a-c and/or dichloroquinoxalines 11a-c. Compounds 11a-c were converted into ethoxyquinoxalines 12a-c, arylaminoquinoxalines13a-f and/or quinazolinoquinoxalines 14a-c. The reaction of 11a-c with semicarbazide and/or sodium azide was also described

Coping with the cold: unveiling cryoprotectants, molecular signaling pathways, and strategies for cold stress resilience

Low temperature stress significantly threatens crop productivity and economic sustainability. Plants counter this by deploying advanced molecular mechanisms to perceive and respond to cold stress. Transmembrane proteins initiate these responses, triggering a series of events involving secondary messengers such as calcium ions (Ca2+), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inositol phosphates. Of these, calcium signaling is paramount, activating downstream phosphorylation cascades and the transcription of cold-responsive genes, including cold-regulated (COR) genes. This review focuses on how plants manage freeze-induced damage through dual strategies: cold tolerance and cold avoidance. Tolerance mechanisms involve acclimatization to decreasing temperatures, fostering gradual accumulation of cold resistance. In contrast, avoidance mechanisms rely on cryoprotectant molecules like potassium ions (K+), proline, glycerol, and antifreeze proteins (AFPs). Cryoprotectants modulate intracellular solute concentration, lower the freezing point, inhibit ice formation, and preserve plasma membrane fluidity. Additionally, these molecules demonstrate antioxidant activity, scavenging ROS, preventing protein denaturation, and subsequently mitigating cellular damage. By forming extensive hydrogen bonds with water molecules, cryoprotectants also limit intercellular water movement, minimizing extracellular ice crystal formation, and cell dehydration. The deployment of cryoprotectants is a key adaptive strategy that bolsters plant resilience to cold stress and promotes survival in freezing environments. However, the specific physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying these protective effects remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this review underscores the need for further research to elucidate these mechanisms and assess their potential impact on crop productivity and sustainability, contributing to the progressive discourse in plant biology and environmental science

EVALUATION OF FOOD TYPE INTRODUCED TO THE HONEYBEE COLONIES ON CONTAMINATION OF EXTRACTED HONEY WITH MICROORGANISMS

The aim of the present work to study the effect of foodtypes (sugar syrup fortified with Garlic (Allium sativum), Lemon (Citrus limon), Garlic plus Lemon), pollen grains and plain sugar syrup (1:1)) on contamination of honey with bacteria, fungi and yeasts. The data indicated that application of sugar syrup plus extracts of garlic, lemon, garlic plus lemon or bee pollen led to decrease population of bacteria, fungi and yeasts compared with control treatment (plain sugar syrup 1:1). The fungi were the least population in all the treatments compared with bacteria and yeasts, meanwhile population of bacteria were moderately and the yeasts were the most occurrence. Garlic plus lemon treatment was the most effective against population of microorganisms, but garlic and lemon separate were moderately effective and bee pollen treatment was the least effective compared with other treatments. According to isolation and identification procedures, three bacterial species (Bacillus brevis, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium botulism), four fungal species (Aspergillus apis, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium sp. and Penicillium sp.) and three yeasts species (Debaromyces sp., Lipomyces sp. and Saccharomyces sp.) were determined according to cultural, morphological and physiological characters. Cladosporium botulism bacterium was the most frequency compared with other bacteria species, but Aspergillus apis fungus was the most frequency compared with other fungi species and Lipomyces sp. was the most frequency compared with other yeasts

Microbial and Sensory Assessment of Sand Smelt Fish Burger and Finger during Frozen Storage

The current study aimed to assess the microbiological safety and sensory quality of fish burger and finger made from sand smelt fish (Atherinahepsetus) which was found unacceptable from consumers. The substitution material (soybean flour (SF) and minced boiled potatoes (MBP)) were used by different levels in this investigation to improve the sensory evaluation of produced fish products. Total bacterial count (TBC) values for burger and finger samples gradually declined till the day 45th then increased in the later period of frozen storage. Yeast and Molds growth were not detected during the frozen storage over the entire period of 90 days storage, except for zero time the score values of the quality attributes: color, taste, odor and texture, as well as overall acceptability of sand smelt fish burgers and fingers, slightly declined during frozen storage. The filling materials SF and MBP used in the production of fish products showed an observed effect in maintaining the sensory qualities of the products for 90 days of frozen storage. It can be concluded that sand smelt fish products maintained good microbial and sensory quality at the end of 90 storage period in the freezer, opening an opportunity for this good nutritious protein source to be used as a daily food

Association of GH gene polymorphism with growth and semen traits in rabbits

[EN] Although growth hormone (GH) gene mutations are described in several species, the studies concerning their variabilities and associations with economic traits in rabbits are scarce, particularly associations with semen traits. A total of 149 rabbit bucks from five populations (V-line=36, Moshtohor line=28, APRI line=42, cross ½A½M=23, and Gabali=20) were used in the present study to identify polymorphism of c.-78 C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of GH gene among these populations and to investigate the association of GH gene polymorphism with body weight (BW), daily weight gain (DG) and semen traits. DNA was extracted from blood samples for genotyping of c.-78 C>T SNP of GH gene based on polymerase chain reaction with the restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. The genetic diversity of SNP C>T of GH gene was assessed in terms of genotypic and allelic frequencies, effective number of alleles (Ne), observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), reduction in heterozygosity due to inbreeding (FIS) and polymorphism information content (PIC). Three genotypes of TT, CC and TC of PCR product of 231 bp of GH gene were detected and all the populations were in HWE in terms of GH gene. The highest Ne was obtained for the Moshtohor line (1.978), while the lowest allelic numbers were obtained for V-line (1.715) and Gabali breed (1.800). The highest genotype frequency of GH gene was 0.48 in TT genotype of V-line, 0.21 in CC genotype of Moshtohor line, 0.67 and 0.56 in TC genotype of ½A½M and Gabali rabbits (P<0.05). The highest frequency for C allele was recorded by Moshtohor line (0.45) and the lowest frequency by Gabali (0.32). The genetic diversity scores for GH gene were intermediate (Ho=0.551, He=0.471, PIC=0.358). The values of Ho ranged from 0.444 in V-line to 0.667 in ½A½M cross, while the values of He were 0.425 in V-line and 0.508 in Moshtohor line. The values of PIC were moderate and ranged from 0.332 in V-line to 0.375 in M-line. The highest FIS was observed in Moshtohor line (0.042) and the lowest value was observed in ½A½M cross (–0.413). The CT genotype of GH gene showed the highest and significant values for body weights at 4, 8, 10 and 12 wk (542, 1131, 1465 and 1861 g) and daily gains at intervals of 4-6 and 8-10 wk (23.1 and 26.5 g). Additionally, the CT genotype recorded the highest and significant values for volume of ejaculate (1.1 mL), sperm motility (57.6%), live sperm (85.6%), normal sperm (93.1%) and sperm concentration in semen (611×106/mL), along with the lowest and significant values for dead sperms (14.4%) and abnormal sperms (6.9%).The authors are very grateful to the Central Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Egypt for the help and support in molecular genetic analyses. This work was financially supported by the research project entitled “Genetic improvement of local rabbit breeds by using molecular genetic techniques” from the Scientific Research Fund (SRF), Benha University, Egypt.Khalil, MHE.; Zaghloul, AR.; Iraqi, MM.; El Nagar, AG.; Ramadan, SI. (2021). Association of GH gene polymorphism with growth and semen traits in rabbits. 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Plasma wakefield accelerator driven coherent spontaneous emission from an energy chirped electron pulse

Plasma accelerators (Esaryet al2009Rev. Mod. Phys.811229) are a potentially important source of highenergy, low emittance electron beamswith high peak currents generated within a relatively short distance. As such, they may have an important application in the driving of coherent light sources such as the Free Electron Laser (FEL) which operate into the x-ray region (McNeil and Thompson 2010 Nat. Photon.4814–21). While novel plasma photocathodes (Hidding et al 2012 Phys. Rev. Lett. 108035001) may offer orders of magnitude improvement to the normalized emittance and brightness of electron beams compared to Radio Frequency-driven accelerators, a substantial challenge is the energy spread and chirp of beams, which can make FEL operation impossible. In this paper it is shown that such an energy-chirped, ultrahigh brightness electron beam, with dynamically evolving current profile due to ballistic bunching at moderate energies, can generate significant coherent radiation output via the process of Coherent Spontaneous Emission (CSE) (Campbell and McNeil 2012 Proc. FEL2012 (Nara, Japan)).While this CSE is seen to cause some FEL-induced electron bunching at the radiation wavelength, the dynamic evolution of the energy chirped pulse dampens out any high-gain FEL interaction. This work may offer the prospect of a future plasma driven FEL operating in the high-gain Self Amplified CSE mode