8 research outputs found
Utilization of Palm Wastes for Production of Invert Sugar
No full textAbstractAn economically attractive technique was adopted using date palm fibers as a new carrier for invertase adsorption and for invert sugar production. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the results of incubation of Baker's yeast with palm fibers in aqueous solution at 40° C for half an hour. CO2 produced from this reaction was employed as a reactant and it succeeded to modify the cellulosic surface of the palm fibers. This increased the capacity of invertase that had been secreted from Baker's yeast to be immobilized tightly on the cellulosic surface of the fibers. These results confirmed by FTIR and SEM. Characterization of the enzyme indicated that 1 gram of immobilized invertase on such wastes can produce 600mg of invert sugar. By this technique, Egypt would be able to supply 6 million kg invert sugar per year. Molasses used instead of sucrose to assess the sustainability of the process
Lifestyle Pattern of Visually Impaired Students at Special Blind Schools in Damanhour City
No full text<p><strong>Abstract:</strong> Background: people with visual impairment are vulnerable because they are limited in access information and loss of vision can cause changes personal<sup>’</sup>s lifestyle. Aim: is to assess lifestyle pattern of visually impaired students at special blind schools in Damanhour city. Design: a descriptive cross-sectional research design. Settings: The Special Blind Schools in Damanhour city (namely El-Noor for the blind). Subjects: all visually impaired and blind students at the previous mentioned setting were included into the study (110 students). Tools: Tool (I): Students’ Profile Structural Interview Questionnaire. Tool (II): Students’ Healthy Behaviors and Lifestyle knowledge Assessment Sheet. Tool (III): Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) II. Results: the mean age of the studied students was 11.76 ± 3.706 years. The majority of them had poor level of knowledge compared to 65.4% of them had moderate health promoting lifestyle profile. There was highly statistically significant relation between students<sup>’</sup> total level of knowledge score regarding level of their health promoting lifestyle profile. Conclusion: the majority of visually impaired students had poor level of knowledge about healthy lifestyle. Recommendations: Providing visually impaired students with a booklet written in Braille that contains the most important daily healthy lifestyle habits.</p>
<p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Visual impairment, Lifestyle, Pattern, Students.</p>
<p><strong>Title:</strong> Lifestyle Pattern of Visually Impaired Students at Special Blind Schools in Damanhour City</p>
<p><strong>Author:</strong> Amina Mohamed Gomaa Hawash, Reem Bassiouny Mahmoud EL-Lassy<sub>, </sub>Doaa Ali El Demerdash</p>
<p><strong>International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing</strong></p>
<p><strong>ISSN 2394-7330</strong></p>
<p><strong>Vol. 10, Issue 3, September 2023 - December 2023</strong></p>
<p><strong>Page No: 84-100</strong></p>
<p><strong>Novelty Journals</strong></p>
<p><strong>Website: www.noveltyjournals.com</strong></p>
<p><strong>Published Date: 02-October-2023</strong></p>
<p><strong>DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8398663">https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8398663</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Paper Download Link (Source)</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/Lifestyle%20Pattern%20of%20Visually%20Impaired-02102023-3.pdf">https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/Lifestyle%20Pattern%20of%20Visually%20Impaired-02102023-3.pdf</a></strong></p>International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing, ISSN 2394-7330, Novelty Journals, Website: www.noveltyjournals.co
Age changes in gastric mucosa of male albino rats: histological, immunohistochemical, histomorphometric and biochemical study
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Age-related changes in the stomach are associated with alterations in the structure and secretory function of the gastric glands. The present study aimed to investigate histological, histomorphometric and biochemical changes in the gastric mucosa of rats with age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty adult male albino rats were randomly divided into four age groups, 20 rats per group (prepubertal, adolescent, adult, and senile). Gastric specimens were subjected to light microscopic examination using haematoxylin and eosin, PAS and Masson’s trichrome stains. Immunohistochemical staining for caspase-3 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was carried out. Measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in gastric tissue homogenates was performed using ELISA. Quantitative analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression was done by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Light microscopic examination of gastric mucosa of senile rats revealed distortion of gastric glands and erosions. Surface mucous cells, mucous neck cells, parietal and chief cells exhibited cytoplasmic destruction, nuclear degeneration, apoptosis and oxidative damage. There was a significant decrease in the mean gastric mucosal thickness, an increase in collagen content, and a decrease in mucous content with the advance of age. These morphological changes were associated with a significant decrease in both SOD and GPx activity, and an increase in MDA activity, in addition to decreased VEGF gene expression. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric mucosa of aged rats showed histological and immunohistochemical alterations. These changes were associated with oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant capacity, and decreased angiogenesis
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of alpha lipoic acid protect against valproic acid induced liver injury
Get PDFValproic acid (VPA) is one of the most used anti-epileptic drugs inspite of its many adverse effects as anemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and liver toxicity. The hepatoprotective effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) was confirmed. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to detect the protective effect of ALA against the adverse effects of VPA. Materials Methods: Thirty white albino Wistar male rats were divided into 4 groups. Group (1) was the control group; Group (2) included rats that received ALA (100mg/kg/day) orally for 14 days; Group (3) and Group (4) included rats that received VPA (500 mg/kg/day) for 15 days intraperitoneal, but group 4 rats received ALA (100mg/kg/day) orally for 14 days prior to VPA. Blood samples were collected and livers were excised from rats for colorimetric analysis and rt-PCR. Results: Rats that received VPA showed leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, a significant decrease of SOD, glutathione, Nrf2, and Sirt1, besides a significant increase of MDA and TNF alpha. Prior treatment with ALA prevented all these results. Conclusion: ALA protected against VPA-induced liver damage and hematological disturbance via anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
Exploring the cost-effectiveness of high versus low perioperative fraction of inspired oxygen in the prevention of surgical site infections among abdominal surgery patients in three low- and middle-income countries
No full textBackground: This study assessed the potential cost-effectiveness of high (80–100%) vs low (21–35%) fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) at preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) after abdominal surgery in Nigeria, India, and South Africa. Methods: Decision-analytic models were constructed using best available evidence sourced from unbundled data of an ongoing pilot trial assessing the effectiveness of high FiO2, published literature, and a cost survey in Nigeria, India, and South Africa. Effectiveness was measured as percentage of SSIs at 30 days after surgery, a healthcare perspective was adopted, and costs were reported in US dollars (216 compared with 6 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −1) difference in costs. In India, the average cost for high FiO2 was 195 for low FiO2 leading to a −15 to −1164 compared with 93 (95% CI: −65) difference in costs. The high FiO2 arm had few SSIs, 7.33% compared with 8.38% for low FiO2, leading to a −1.05 (95% CI: −1.14 to −0.90) percentage point reduction in SSIs. Conclusion: High FiO2 could be cost-effective at preventing SSIs in the three countries but further data from large clinical trials are required to confirm this. © 2023 The Author
Age changes in gastric mucosa of male albino rats: histological, immunohistochemical, histomorphometric and biochemical study
Get PDFBackground: Age-related changes in the stomach are associated with alterations in the structure and secretory function of the gastric glands. The present study aimed to investigate histological, histomorphometric and biochemical changes in the gastric mucosa of rats with age.
Materials and methods: Eighty adult male albino rats were randomly divided into four age groups, 20 rats per group (prepubertal, adolescent, adult, and senile). Gastric specimens were subjected to light microscopic examination using haematoxylin and eosin, PAS and Masson’s trichrome stains. Immunohistochemical staining for caspase-3 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was carried out. Measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in gastric tissue homogenates was performed using ELISA. Quantitative analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression was done by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: Light microscopic examination of gastric mucosa of senile rats revealed distortion of gastric glands and erosions. Surface mucous cells, mucous neck cells, parietal and chief cells exhibited cytoplasmic destruction, nuclear degeneration, apoptosis and oxidative damage. There was a significant decrease in the mean gastric mucosal thickness, an increase in collagen content, and a decrease in mucous content with the advance of age. These morphological changes were associated with a significant decrease in both SOD and GPx activity, and an increase in MDA activity, in addition to decreased VEGF gene expression.
Conclusions: Gastric mucosa of aged rats showed histological and immunohistochemical alterations. These changes were associated with oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant capacity, and decreased angiogenesis
Outcomes Following Vascular and Endovascular Procedures Performed During the First COVID-19 Pandemic Wave
Get PDFObjective: The first COVID-19 pandemic wave was a period of reduced surgical activity and redistribution of resources to only those with late stage or critical presentations. This Vascular and Endovascular Research Network COVID-19 Vascular Service (COVER) study aimed to describe the six-month outcomes of patients who underwent open surgery and or endovascular interventions for major vascular conditions during this period. Methods: In this international, multicentre, prospective, observational study, centres recruited consecutive patients undergoing vascular procedures over a 12-week period. The study opened in March 2020 and closed to recruitment in August 2020. Patient demographics, procedure details, and post-operative outcomes were collected on a secure online database. The reported outcomes at 30 days and six months were post-operative complications, re-interventions, and all cause in-hospital mortality rate. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with six-month mortality rate. Results: Data were collected on 3 150 vascular procedures, including 1 380 lower limb revascularisations, 609 amputations, 403 aortic, 289 carotid, and 469 other vascular interventions. The median age was 68 years (interquartile range 59, 76), 73.5% were men, and 1.7% had confirmed COVID-19 disease. The cumulative all cause in-hospital, 30-day, and six-month mortality rates were 9.1%, 10.4%, and 12.8%, respectively. The six-month mortality rate was 32.1% (95% CI 24.2-40.8%) in patients with confirmed COVID-19 compared with 12.0% (95% CI 10.8-13.2%) in those without. After adjustment, confirmed COVID-19 was associated with a three times higher odds of six-month death (adjusted OR 3.25, 95% CI 2.18-4.83). Increasing ASA grade (3-5 vs. 1-2), frailty scores 4-9, diabetes mellitus, and urgent and or immediate procedures were also independently associated with increased odds of death by six months, while statin use had a protective effect. Conclusion: During the first wave of the pandemic, the six-month mortality rate after vascular and endovascular procedures was higher compared with historic pre-pandemic studies and associated with COVID-19 disease. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of European Society for Vascular Surgery. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues
Get PDFVariability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types. © 2021 The Author(s
