10 research outputs found
Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies in Diseases of the Liver
No full textAbstract Not Provided
Comparison Between The Efficacy of Different Medical Herbs on Cryptosporidium spp.
No full textObjectives:
The study was planned to show the effect of different medicinal plants extracts on Cryptosporidium spp.
Materials and Methods:
The experimental study was performed in laboratory mice to show the efficacy of different medical plants extracts (Achillea fragrantissima, Artemisea herba-alba,
Cardaria draba, Mentha longifolia , Olea europea, Prosopis farcta, Punica granatum, Teucrium polium and Ziziphus spina-charisti on shedding of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts.
Results:
In a study on the effect of medical plant extracts on the shedding of oocysts in mice, it was found that different medical plants extracts decrease the shedding of
Cryptosporidium oocysts in mice. Using 250 mg / kg B.W., route it was shown that the efficacy of Prosopis farcta (67.6 %) followed by Artemesia herba alba (57.7 %), Cardaria draba (35.9 %) and the lowest was Teucrium polium (12.7 "/o) but Mentha longifolia had no effect. It was also shown that the efficacy of medical plants extracts (500 mg / kg B.W.) was higher than (250 mg / kg B.W.) in shedding of the parasite oocysts. In a study of the effect of plant extracts on the development of oocysts of Cryptosporidium in the macrophage in Rpm medium, it was found that the efficacy of Punica granatum (75.9%) was highest, followed by Prosopis farcta (67.1%) and Artimesia herba- alba (55%).
Conclusions:
The medical plant extracts have an effect on Cryptosporidium spp. Infection in albino mice. The possibility of studying the therapeutic research on
Cryptospridium spp. in RPM medium
Molecular Characterization of Carbapenem Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella quasipneumoniae Isolated from Lebanon
No full textKlebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative organism and a major public health threat. In this study, we used whole-genome sequences to characterize 32 carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) and two carbapenem-resistant K. quasipneumoniae (CRKQ). Antimicrobial resistance was assessed using disk diffusion and E-test, while virulence was assessed in silico. The capsule type was determined by sequencing the wzi gene. The plasmid diversity was assessed by PCR-based replicon typing to detect the plasmid incompatibility (Inc) groups. The genetic relatedness was determined by multilocus sequence typing, pan-genome, and recombination analysis. All of the isolates were resistant to ertapenem together with imipenem and/or meropenem. Phenotypic resistance was due to blaOXA-48,blaNDM-1, blaNDM-7, or the coupling of ESBLs and outer membrane porin modifications. This is the first comprehensive study reporting on the WGS of CRKP and the first detection of CRKQ in the region. The presence and dissemination of CRKP and CRKQ, with some additionally having characteristics of hypervirulent clones such as the hypermucoviscous phenotype and the capsular type K2, are particularly concerning. Additionally, mining the completely sequenced K. pneumoniae genomes revealed the key roles of mobile genetic elements in the spread of antibiotic resistance and in understanding the epidemiology of these clinically significant pathogens. © 2019, The Author(s)
Dental caries, oral health and life style variables among school children in Qatar
No full textBackground: Effective delivery of dental services must be based on reliable information regarding the prevalence and severity of disease in the target population. Evaluation of the various factors known to influence the severity and progression of disease is essential for health policy makers to promote oral health resources and address oral health needs.
Objective: The overall aim of this research is to describe the situation of dental caries and investigate the associations of level of oral health knowledge, teeth irregularity, BMI and other life style variables (TV viewing, internet use, passive smoking and dietary habits) with dental caries, including the impact of socio-demographic factors amongst school children in Qatar.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Qatar from October 2011 to March 2012. A total of 2,113 children aged 12-14 years were randomly selected from 16 schools from different areas. Clinical examination was conducted by three calibrated examiners using World Health Organization criteria for diagnosing dental caries. Teeth irregularity was determined clinically according to a method described by Björk et al (1964). A pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to assess oral health knowledge and life style data. Data analyses were performed.
Results: The mean decayed, missing and filled teeth index values was 4.62 (±3.2), 4.79 (±3.5), and 5.5 (±3.7), respectively, for the 12, 13 and 14 year old children. The caries prevalence was 85%. The mandibular incisors and canines were least likely to be affected by dental caries, while maxillary and mandibular molars were the most frequently attacked by dental caries. Of the total sample, only one quarter reported a high level of oral health knowledge. There were more incidences of teeth crowding (44.1%) than teeth spacing (9.5%). The overall prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity was 5%, 10%, and 5% respectively. Almost half of the children spent > two hours watching television and 46% spent > two hours using internet. Approximately 35.8% of children had exposure to passive smoking. Concerning dietary habits, 99.4% of children consumed sugar containing snacks in between meals. Approximately 65% consumed sugar containing snacks within one hour of bed time. Almost 49.1% skipped eating breakfast regularly and 22.7% skipped eating lunch regularly. Around 83.8% consumed diary snacks in between meals. Overall, 74.2% drank tea in-between meals and 80.1% chewed gum in-between meals. All variables were affected by socio-demographic factors, but significant differences were found in female children in that they were more at risk to dental caries than male children. Also, children who resided in semi-urban areas were more at risk to dental caries than children who resided in urban areas. The occurrence of dental caries is significantly associated with the level of oral health knowledge, teeth irregularity, and other life style variables.
Conclusion: The need to reduce sedentary behaviors and to promote a more active and healthy lifestyle is becoming increasingly essential in Qatar. Implementation of a community-based preventive oral health programs on a healthy diet and practices of adequate oral hygiene should be promoted in schools through integration into the school curriculum and services to combat the growing problem of dental caries
Highly efficient magnetically separable SrFe12O19 for photo-assisted oxidation of benzylic alcohol derivatives under visible light
No full textThe selective oxidation of the C alpha- OH group of benzylic alcohols is a crucial process for the conversion of lignin into useful products. In this study, we describe the synthesis and characterization of magnetic strontium hexaferrite, SrFe12O19. The SrFe12O19 nano-powder was produced through coprecipitation at a pH level of 10. The catalyst has been studied using various methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and magnetic field dependence measurements. The study aimed to evaluate the photocatalytic performance of SrFe12O19 in selective oxidation of benzylic alcohols and degradation of methylene blue under visible light. Additionally, the magnetic properties of the catalyst were also investigated. Magnetic properties were also investigated. M-SrFe12O19 with a band near 2 eV, showed excellent photocatalytic degradation performance at ca. 90% of MB under visible light. The photocatalytic degradation activity was evaluated for three cycles, and the results demonstrate that it maintains its photodegradation potency, with significant photo-degradation conversion of 89%, 87%, and 84%. The experiment clearly demonstrated that the reaction kinetics followed a pseudofirst order. The oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) was successfully carried out over SrFe12O19 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, a highly effective green oxidant, under visible light. Notably, the experiment results showed a maximum conversion of BzOH, reaching approximately 70%, with absolute selectivity towards benzaldehyde (BzCHO). Furthermore, the yield of aldehyde increases according to the Hammett constant, with the highest yield being obtained for 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (sigma = -0.37). The synthesized M-SrFe12O19 material shows potential as an eco-friendly method for lignin valorization.Deanship for Research & Innovation of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University in Saudi Arabia [DSR 2020-084-BASRC, IF-2020-018- BASRC]Financial support from Deanship for Research & Innovation of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University in Saudi Arabia (Grant number: DSR 2020-084-BASRC) is gratefully acknowledged. Author (H.K.) extends his appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University in Saudi Arabia (Grant number: IF-2020-018- BASRC)
Intraoperative transfusion practices in Europe
No full text© 2016 The Author. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Journal of Anaesthesia.Background: Transfusion of allogeneic blood influences outcome after surgery. Despite widespread availability of transfusion guidelines, transfusion practices might vary among physicians, departments, hospitals and countries. Our aim was to determine the amount of packed red blood cells (pRBC) and blood products transfused intraoperatively, and to describe factors determining transfusion throughout Europe. Methods: We did a prospective observational cohort study enrolling 5803 patients in 126 European centres that received at least one pRBC unit intraoperatively, during a continuous three month period in 2013. Results: The overall intraoperative transfusion rate was 1.8%; 59% of transfusions were at least partially initiated as a result of a physiological transfusion trigger- mostly because of hypotension (55.4%) and/or tachycardia (30.7%). Haemoglobin (Hb)- based transfusion trigger alone initiated only 8.5% of transfusions. The Hb concentration [mean (sd)] just before transfusion was 8.1 (1.7) g dl-1 and increased to 9.8 (1.8) g dl-1 after transfusion. The mean number of intraoperatively transfused pRBC units was 2.5 (2.7) units (median 2). Conclusions: Although European Society of Anaesthesiology transfusion guidelines are moderately implemented in Europe with respect to Hb threshold for transfusion (7-9 g dl-1), there is still an urgent need for further educational efforts that focus on the number of pRBC units to be transfused at this threshold
Intraoperative transfusion practices in Europe
No full text\ua9 2016 The Author. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Journal of Anaesthesia. Background: Transfusion of allogeneic blood influences outcome after surgery. Despite widespread availability of transfusion guidelines, transfusion practices might vary among physicians, departments, hospitals and countries. Our aim was to determine the amount of packed red blood cells (pRBC) and blood products transfused intraoperatively, and to describe factors determining transfusion throughout Europe. Methods: We did a prospective observational cohort study enrolling 5803 patients in 126 European centres that received at least one pRBC unit intraoperatively, during a continuous three month period in 2013. Results: The overall intraoperative transfusion rate was 1.8%; 59% of transfusions were at least partially initiated as a result of a physiological transfusion trigger- mostly because of hypotension (55.4%) and/or tachycardia (30.7%). Haemoglobin (Hb)- based transfusion trigger alone initiated only 8.5% of transfusions. The Hb concentration [mean (sd)] just before transfusion was 8.1 (1.7) g dl-1 and increased to 9.8 (1.8) g dl-1 after transfusion. The mean number of intraoperatively transfused pRBC units was 2.5 (2.7) units (median 2). Conclusions: Although European Society of Anaesthesiology transfusion guidelines are moderately implemented in Europe with respect to Hb threshold for transfusion (7-9 g dl-1), there is still an urgent need for further educational efforts that focus on the number of pRBC units to be transfused at this threshold
Bacteroides ovatus Alleviates Dysbiotic Microbiota-Induced Graft-Versus-Host Disease
No full textAcute lower gastrointestinal GVHD (aLGI-GVHD) is a serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Although the intestinal microbiota is associated with the incidence of aLGI-GVHD, how the intestinal microbiota impacts treatment responses in aLGI-GVHD has not been thoroughly studied. In a cohort of patients with aLGI-GVHD (n = 37), we found that non-response to standard therapy with corticosteroids was associated with prior treatment with carbapenem antibiotics and a disrupted fecal microbiome characterized by reduced abundances of Bacteroides ovatus. In a murine GVHD model aggravated by carbapenem antibiotics, introducing B. ovatus reduced GVHD severity and improved survival. These beneficial effects of Bacteroides ovatus were linked to its ability to metabolize dietary polysaccharides into monosaccharides, which suppressed the mucus-degrading capabilities of colonic mucus degraders such as Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Akkermansia muciniphila, thus reducing GVHD-related mortality. Collectively, these findings reveal the importance of microbiota in aLGI-GVHD and therapeutic potential of B. ovatus
Intraoperative transfusion practices and perioperative outcome in the European elderly: A secondary analysis of the observational ETPOS study.
No full textThe demographic development suggests a dramatic growth in the number of elderly patients undergoing surgery in Europe. Most red blood cell transfusions (RBCT) are administered to older people, but little is known about perioperative transfusion practices in this population. In this secondary analysis of the prospective observational multicentre European Transfusion Practice and Outcome Study (ETPOS), we specifically evaluated intraoperative transfusion practices and the related outcomes of 3149 patients aged 65 years and older. Enrolled patients underwent elective surgery in 123 European hospitals, received at least one RBCT intraoperatively and were followed up for 30 days maximum. The mean haemoglobin value at the beginning of surgery was 108 (21) g/l, 84 (15) g/l before transfusion and 101 (16) g/l at the end of surgery. A median of 2 [1-2] units of RBCT were administered. Mostly, more than one transfusion trigger was present, with physiological triggers being preeminent. We revealed a descriptive association between each intraoperatively administered RBCT and mortality and discharge respectively, within the first 10 postoperative days but not thereafter. In our unadjusted model the hazard ratio (HR) for mortality was 1.11 (95% CI: 1.08-1.15) and the HR for discharge was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.74-0.83). After adjustment for several variables, such as age, preoperative haemoglobin and blood loss, the HR for mortality was 1.10 (95% CI: 1.05-1.15) and HR for discharge was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78-0.87). Pre-operative anaemia in European elderly surgical patients is undertreated. Various triggers seem to support the decision for RBCT. A closer monitoring of elderly patients receiving intraoperative RBCT for the first 10 postoperative days might be justifiable. Further research on the causal relationship between RBCT and outcomes and on optimal transfusion strategies in the elderly population is warranted. A thorough analysis of different time periods within the first 30 postoperative days is recommended
Intraoperative transfusion practices and perioperative outcome in the European elderly: A secondary analysis of the observational ETPOS study
No full textThe demographic development suggests a dramatic growth in the number of elderly patients undergoing surgery in Europe. Most red blood cell transfusions (RBCT) are administered to older people, but little is known about perioperative transfusion practices in this population. In this secondary analysis of the prospective observational multicentre European Transfusion Practice and Outcome Study (ETPOS), we specifically evaluated intraoperative transfusion practices and the related outcomes of 3149 patients aged 65 years and older. Enrolled patients underwent elective surgery in 123 European hospitals, received at least one RBCT intraoperatively and were followed up for 30 days maximum. The mean haemoglobin value at the beginning of surgery was 108 (21) g/l, 84 (15) g/l before transfusion and 101 (16) g/l at the end of surgery. A median of 2 [1–2] units of RBCT were administered. Mostly, more than one transfusion trigger was present, with physiological triggers being preeminent. We revealed a descriptive association between each intraoperatively administered RBCT and mortality and discharge respectively, within the first 10 postoperative days but not thereafter. In our unadjusted model the hazard ratio (HR) for mortality was 1.11 (95% CI: 1.08–1.15) and the HR for discharge was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.74–0.83). After adjustment for several variables, such as age, preoperative haemoglobin and blood loss, the HR for mortality was 1.10 (95% CI: 1.05–1.15) and HR for discharge was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78–0.87). Preoperative anaemia in European elderly surgical patients is undertreated. Various triggers seem to support the decision for RBCT. A closer monitoring of elderly patients receiving intraoperative RBCT for the first 10 postoperative days might be justifiable. Further research on the causal relationship between RBCT and outcomes and on optimal transfusion strategies in the elderly population is warranted. A thorough analysis of different time periods within the first 30 postoperative days is recommended
