The essence of fertilization: oocyte meets sperm

The problem of reduced fertility in high yielding dairy cattle is a very complicated one, and the relationship between various measures of fertility and level of milk production remains controversial. In this brief review the essence of the problem is considered: what is the oocyte's and the sperm's contribution, and what is the importance of the resulting embryo in the declining fertility of the Holstein Friesian cow

Comparative analysis of transformed potato microtubers and its non-transformed counterpart using some biochemical analysis along with inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker

The rapid progress of transgenic biotechnology has significantly promoted the development and production of genetically modified (GM) crops. The aim of this study was to compare some compositional analysis and genetic variation of transformed potato microtubers (Solanum tuberosum L. Desiree) line (which harbor potato virus Y coat protein gene) with its conventional line in order to understand the metabolic and genomic changes associated with the transformation process. The constituents measured were: amino acids profile, minerals content, reducing sugar, vitamin C, total phenolic, total flavonoid, β-carotene and antioxidant activity. Also, PCR based assay using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) was employed to characterize the genetic variation between both lines. The data demonstrated that, there were no significant differences between the transformed and nontransformed line in total amount of amino acids, some minerals, total phenolic, total flavonoid and β- carotene contents. Obtained results of the ISSR profile was efficiently discriminated in both selected lines at DNA level. Generally, it was concluded that the transformed microtubers line was confirmed to be similar to that of the non-transformed microtubers line.Key words: Amino acids, genetic modification, phenolic content, reducing sugar, Solanum tuberosum

Identification of multidrug-resistant bacteria and Bacillus cereus from healthcare workers and environmental surfaces in a hospital

No Abstract

Correlation between a single nucleotide polymorphism (G/T at nt –88) in the Mx1 gene promoter and the response to interferon therapy for hepatitis C virus in Egyptian patients

Interferon used in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients stimulates the expression of a number of host genes encoding enzymes with antiviral activities, including myxovirus resistance gene- 1 (Mx1). Mx1 gene was found to have a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position -88 in the promotor region that affect the expression of Mx 1 protein and was suggested to be associated with the response of HCV. In this study, we assessed the relation between the SNP in the Mx1 gene and the responsiveness of Egyptian HCV patients to pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment along with other host-related and virus-related predictors of treatment outcome. We genotyped the biallelic G/T SNP in the promoter region of Mx1 gene at position -88 from the transcription start site by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in 42 interferon treatment-naïve Egyptian patients that were treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. We found that Mx1 nt-88 SNP is not significantly correlated to achieving sustained virological response (SVR) after pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin combined treatment. We conclude that Mx1 gene polymorphism at codon nt-88 cannot be considered as biological marker to potentially identify responders and non-responders of HCV patients to achieve a sustained virological response to treatment with interferon (IFN) in combination with ribavirin.Key words: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), interferon (IFN), myxovirus resistance protein (Mx1 protein), myxovirus resistance gene-1 (Mx1 gene), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)

Determination of Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Calyx and Epicalyx Ethanolic (Alcoholic) Extract

Background: Medicinal plants contain physiologically active ingredients that over the years have been exploited in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments.  Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) calyx and epicalyx ethanolic extract.  Methods: The total phenolic content was estimated by Folin Ciocalteau method using gallic acid as standard while the antioxidant capacity was determined based on the plant extract to scavenge DPPH radical. Results: The total phenolic content was found to be 41.07 mg gallic acid equivalent /g .The extract exhibited a significant measurable dose dependent inhibition of the DPPH activity. At a concentration of 250µg/ml, sabdariffa calyx epicalyx ethanolic extract scavenged 86% of DPPH radical whereas 125 and 50 µg/ml caused 53% and 23% DPPH inhibition respectively and a very mild inhibition was produced at a concentration of 5 µg/ml.  Conclusion: It can be concluded that sabdariffa calyx epicalyx ethanolic could be a potential source of antioxidant principles

Detection of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Diptera: Glossinidae) and Stomoxys flies using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in southern Sudan

Ethanol-fixed entire bodies of the tsetse fly, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes, and unidentified stable flies, Stomoxys spp., collected from near Juba town, southern Sudan, were  tested for Trypanozoon trypanosomes infections using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for the first time in Sudan. The crude target DNA sequences were extracted by incubation of entire flies in Nonindet PCR template buffer containing proteinase-K. The DNA amplification sets of conditions were adjusted for each pair of primers employed. The oligonucleotide primers used included TBR1-2, SRAA-E, SRAB537-B538 and TgsGPFOR-REV. The results showed that 74.4% of G. f. fuscipes and 39.36% of Stomoxys spp. were infected with Trypanozoon trypanosomes. Out of the 117 examined G. f. fuscipes, 46.2, 24.8, 35.04, 17.09 and 10.26% were due to T. b. gambiense (TgsGPFOR-REV), T. b. rhodesiense (SRAA-E), T. b. rhodesiense (SRA3537-3538), mixed infection with T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense and T. b. brucei, respectively. However, infections in Stomoxys spp. of 2.13 and 37.2% were due to T. b. rhodesiense and T. b. brucei, respectively.Key words: Glossina fuscipes fuscipes, T. b. gambiense, T. b. Rhodesiense, vectoral capacity, infection rate, PCR technology

Effect of sodium chloride concentration on the functional properties of selectec Legume flours

Providing safe, nutritious, and wholesome food for poor and undernourished populations has been a major challenge for developing countries. This has led to the necessity of assembling complete food composition tables, yielding information about the traditional foods and on the functional properties of the plant foods that are consumed regularly in the developing countries. Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is the common salt used at household and industry levels to improve palatability of processed foods. Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of different concentrations of NaCl on the functional properties of selected legume flours. The effect of increasing concentration of NaCl on the protein solubility, emulsifying and foaming properties of white bean, pigeon pea, cowpea and hyacinth bean were studied. The results revealed that the protein solubility of pigeon pea, cowpea and white bean flours significantly increased by increasing salt concentration and reached a maximum at 0.4 M NaCl (for pigeon pea and cowpea flours) and 0.6 M for white bean flour and then gradually decreased at higher salt concentration. The protein solubility profile of hyacinth bean fluctuated with the salt concentration, with the highest solubility at 0.6 M NaCl and lowest solubility at 0.4M NaCl. With the exception of white bean, the maximum emulsifying activity of all selected legume flours was found at 0.4 M NaCl whereas that of white bean was found at 0.2 M NaCl. Generally, with increasing salt concentration, the emulsifying activity slightly decreased for the legume flours, except for cowpea which fluctuated. Addition of NaCl significantly decreased the emulsion stability and foaming capacity of the four of selected legume with the maximum improvement being observed at 0.2 M NaCl, and then decreasing gradually at higher salt concentration. Significant improvement of foaming stability was observed when salt concentration increased. Based on the results of the present study the selected legume flour demonstrated good functional properties following the addition of NaCl, which makes these legume flours potential ingredients for application in salt containing foods.Keywords: functional properties, Legumes, Protein solubilityAfrican Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Volume 12 No.

Correction: Detecting antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli using benchtop attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and machine learning.

Correction for 'Detecting antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli using benchtop attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and machine learning' by Hewa G. S. Wijesinghe et al., Analyst, 2021, DOI: 10.1039/d1an00546d

Occurrence of unusual non-fermentative gram negative bacilli in intensive care units of a university hospital, Egypt

Non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) other than Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter species have emerged as nosocomial pathogens. No much data is currently available concerning the occurrence of these types of bacteria in Zagazig University Hospitals (ZUHs). In this study, the occurrence as well as the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of unusual NFGNB obtained from clinical samples collected from intensive care units (ICUs) of ZUHs was assessed. Additionally, the genetic relatedness among the most prevalent unusual NFGNB species was studied.Results: Out of 516 non-repeated clinical sample, 97 NFGNB (18.7%) were isolated. Among them, 17 unusual NFGNB were identified by API 20NE, accounting for 17.5% of NFGNB and 3.3% of all tested samples. Within the unusual NFGNB, Burkholderiacepaciacomplex (Bcc) was the most prevalent species accounting for 94.1% of NFGNB and 3.1% of total samples. This was followed by Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei) which accounted for 5.9% of NFGNB and 0.2% of all obtained specimens. Tigecycline antibiotic was the most effective antibiotic against Bcc isolates (68.8% susceptibility) in disc diffusion method. After random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) testing, the obtained Bcc isolates were found to be genetically diverse. This highlights Bcc as an emerging nosocomial pathogen in ICUs of ZUHs. Continuous monitoring of the occurrence of Bcc in ICU as well as in other hospital wards is warranted.Keywords: ʺUnusualʺ, ʺNon-fermentativeʺ, ʺgram-negative bacilliʺ, ʺintensive care unit

Sudanese Medical Students and Scientific Research

Background: Most of developing countries face problems in assessment of their public health practices. Gain of this knowledge is orchestrated by  research. Medical students can play an essential role in improving public database.Objective: to explore knowledge, attitude and skills of medical students in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), Omdurman Islamic University (OIU) towards research.Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional, institution-based study. A total of 442 students, equally from each batch participated in the study. Equal numbers of male andfemale were considered to eliminate gender and seniority bias. Structured pretested questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were fed to Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS) version 15. Means, standard deviation and correlations were done where appropriate. Statistical  significance was taken at P =0.05.Results: The mean knowledge score was 37% and attitude was positive in 77.1% of the students. Only 18.3% had attended research methodology workshop. The rate of internet navigation is directly proportional to the social class. Only 14.7% knew the engines used for finding medical literature.Conclusion: The low knowledge score is due to lack of application of research in the academic curriculum; however, the students have a fairly positive attitude. The knowledge is expected to improve with the intended policy to include practical research in the curriculum.Key Words: Public health, academic curriculum, Suda