Incidence of Cronobacter sakazakii in Dairy-based Desserts

Cronobacter sakazakii is one of emerging foodborne pathogens around the world. A total of 90 dairy-based desserts samples (ice cream, Muhallabia and rice pudding) were examined for detecting C. sakazakii. All samples were submitted for bacteriological examination and confirmed by molecular identification using 16S rRNA gene for C. sakazakii. The bacteriological and molecular examination revealed that the incidence of occurrence of C. sakazakii was 5.55% from the total dairy-based desserts samples, the highest percentage occurred in rice pudding samples (10%), while the incidence of C. sakazakii in ice cream and Muhallabia were 3.33% for each type. The results pointed out that high risk for human may occur by contaminated dairy-based desserts. The hygienic precautions must be taken during the processing of these types of products

Histological effect of ovariectomy and estrogen replacement on parotid gland of adult albino rat

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Carbon Nanomaterials Based Supercapacitors: Recent Trends

The increasing demand for renewable energy sources worldwide and the predicted depletion of current fossil fuel sources need continuous energy storage and conversion technology development. The use of supercapacitors (SC) as electrical energy storage devices in consumer electronics items and alternative power sources is an interesting and potentially lucrative area of application. Therefore, continuous developments are conducted to improve SC performance using different composites and nanocomposites. Carbon materials in SC are among the most important uses of this material. This chapter provides a short communication on recent progress in supercapacitor-based carbon materials. Various fundamental carbon allotropes were presented and debated, including fullerene, carbon nanotubes, and graphene-based supercapacitors

Impact of maternal gestational diabetes on neutrophil functions of full term neonates

Background: Maternal gestational diabetes is associated with an inflammatory environment that may contribute to fetal and placental inflammatory profile changes. Few studies investigated the effect of maternal gestational diabetes on neonatal innate immunity.Objectives: Our objective was to study neutrophil number and function in neonates born to mothers with gestational diabetes.Methods: Neutrophil number (complete blood count) and functions [CD11b, CD62L and Dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) by flow cytometry] were assessed in the cord blood of 30 full term neonates born to gestational diabetic mothers on insulin during pregnancy and another 15 born to healthy mothers as controls.Results: The mean total leucocytic and absolute neutrophil count were significantly lower in neonates of diabetics than in normal neonates (13.55± 2.51 and 17.89± 3.66 p> 0.001; 9.01±1.59 and 14.18±3.44 p>0.001 respectively). Mean CD11b, CD62L and DHR were lower among neonates of diabetic mothers than normal neonates (82.48± 8.09 & 87.85± 4.87 p < 0.05; 8.63±4.41 and 24.98±10.47 p <0.001; 68.71± 10.24 and 79.57±8.64 p< 0.001 respectively). Unlike the control neonates, neonates of gestational diabetic mothers had positive correlation between the functional neutrophil parameters (r0.39 p<0.05).Conclusion: Gestational diabetes affects cord blood neutrophil count and functions leading to high susceptibility to infection.Keywords: Gestational, diabetes mellitus, neutrophil

Improving emergency departments: simulation-based optimization of patients waiting time and the number of staff present in a hospital

The emergency department (ED), operating around the clock every day of the year, serves a diverse range of patients with varying medical conditions, making it the vital core of a hospital. Consequently, optimizing and simulating the ED's processes becomes essential to enhance the quality of care provided. This study offers a case analysis employing simulation to assess patient flows in a hospital's emergency department. Our objective is to evaluate the impacts of system enhancements within the ED. This model aims to measure patients' time from their ED entry, determine daily patient numbers, and calculate the overall patient movement time within the department. If the patient's condition is serious, he will be presented immediately to the doctor without waiting. A doctor will be added to the unit if the number of patients exceeds the standard limit.</p

Increased myeloperoxidase activity as an indicator of neutrophil-induced inflammation and sepsis in neonates

Background: MPO is an enzyme that contains heme secreted by phagocytic cells after the respiratory burst system activation. MPO is expressed mainly by neutrophils and monocytes in small quantities and it is very important to determine further process of hydrogen peroxide.Objective: to evaluate neutrophils activation and the MPO enzyme activity in plasma as an indicator of sepsis as well as sepsis severity in neonates with sepsis with correlation to their clinical and laboratory findings.Methods: were classified into 2 groups: sepsis group: included 45 neonates with gestational ages 28-40 weeks with sepsis, 15 of them had been subjected to follow up samples, control group: included 30 neonates proved to be free of sepsis. All neonates were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and measurement of plasma MPO enzyme.Results: this study revealed that MPO activity and neutrophil cell count are increased in sepsis group compared to the non-septic neonates. The ROC curve showed that the best cut off for MPO in prediction of septic patients and mortality was found &gt;54 mu/ml and &gt;83 mu/ml respectively. There was positive correlation between MPO enzyme activity and the total leukocyte count and neutrophil count. By following up some of sepsis group neonates there was significant decrease in MPO activity goes along with improvement in clinical state of neonates with sepsis. MPO enzyme activity was found to be low in septic shock patients who also have pancytopenia compared to septic patients without shock.Conclusion: plasma MPO enzyme proved to be a good marker of sepsis in neonates, with a good prognostic value in severe cases.Keywords: MPO, inflammatory response, neonates, sepsi

Effect of Different Plant Growth Regulators on Callus Induction from Seeds of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present study was undertaken to develop a reproducible protocol for efficient in vitro callus initiation of chick pea (Cicer arietinum L.). The main objectives of this present study were to develop the optimal concentrations and combination of auxin and cytokinin for optimized callus induction from seeds as explants. Callus induction was initiated from seeds on MS media supplement, which varied according to the plant growth regulators treatment. Among the growth regulator combinations the highest rate of callus induction (85%) was observed in MS medium containing 2 mg L -1 of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D), 2 mg L -1 Benzylaminopurine (BAP) showed higher percentage ( 63% ) of callus formation than 1- Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), which produced 49% of callus. There were significant differences in percentage of calli fresh/dry weights (g/jar) on the different initiation ( seven) medium used were the MS+2,4-D, MS+2,4-D +NAA+ BAP and MS+ BAP had the highest fresh/dry weights (g/jar) in both induction medium

Practical Needs in Assessing Response to Therapy in Operated Brain High Grade Glioma According to Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Criteria

Background: Tumors known as gliomas begin in the brain or spine's glial cells and might spread throughout the body.&nbsp; An effort was made to improve tumor response evaluation and end point selection through the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) working group. Objective: To standardize the assessment method and results reporting by applying MRI-RANO criteria in detecting glioma response to surgical treatment. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study included 12 patients (4 males and 8 females) whose mean age was 53.6 ± 15.1years. Included patients are those who were operated and pathologically proved as brain glioma grade IV (GBM). They underwent post-operative MRI within 48 hours and are available for follow up MRI after 3 months. Imaging modalities applied in both MRI exams were conventional magnetic resonance imaging, MRI diffusion weighted images, and contrast imaging. RANO criteria were applied. Results: According to RANO criteria, none of the lesions had pseudo response or pseudo progression. However, two thirds (66.7%) had progressive disease and one third (33.3%) had complete response. There was statistically significant association between MRI findings 3 months postoperative and RANO criteria as patients with compete response had statistically significant decrease on measurable solid components, diffusion restriction, post contrast enhancement and all lesions had grade I edema with no mass effect or midline shift compared to patients with progressive disease. 4 cases that showed complete response category had fulfilled all the RANO criteria, while 8 cases with category progressive disease had fulfilled more than one of the described RANO criteria. Conclusion: RANO criteria are an effective tool to be used in interpretation of MRI for follow-up of surgically operated glioma patients to detect their response

FOXP3 Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Pediatric Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL): A Preliminary Data

FOXP3 (forkhead box P3) polymorphism is associated with many inflammatory diseases and cancers. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of pediatric malignancies.This study was designed to investigate the impact of FOXP3 (-3279C/A and -2383C/T) gene polymorphism on the susceptibility of Egyptian children to ALL. A total of 128 subjects with ALL and 124 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Genotyping of FOXP3 (-3279C/A and -2383C/T) were performed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). There was a significant increase (P&lt;0.01) in FOXP3 (-3279CC) genotype, while FOXP3 -3279CA genotype was significantly decreased in ALL patients compared to controls. Insignificant change in FOXP3 (-2383C/T) genotypes was demonstrated between both groups. FOXP3 (-2383CC) genotype was significantly decreased (p&lt;0.05) in treatment responders compared to non-responders and a significant increased (p&lt;0.05) in relapsed patients comparing to the non-relapsed group. Taken together, our pilot study pointed to the potential role of FOXP3 (-3279C/A) gene polymorphisms in Egyptian children ALL susceptibility. An additional prospective large scale study should be carried out to support our findings