Density-Dependent Mortality of the Diving Beetle, Rhantus elevatus (Dytiscidae: Coleoptera) Preyed Upon Culex pipiens Larvae: Effects of Prey and Predator Densities.

Diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) are general predators that feed primarily on mosquito larvae and can control their populations, but the evidence for such an assumption remains weak. Rhantus elevatus is an important predator of this group distributed in Egypt with both larval and adult stages preying on immature mosquito. For determine predator effectiveness, it is requisite to identify the functional response (a = rate of attack and T= time of handling) and searching efficacy (a= area of discovery and m = mutual interference) as both correlate with biocontrol efficacy.

Plant species influences the composition of root system microbiome and its antibiotic resistance profile in a constructed wetland receiving primary treated wastewater.

Introduction: Constructed wetlands (CWs) are nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment where the root system microbiome plays a key role in terms of nutrient and pollutant removal. Nonetheless, little is known on plant-microbe interactions and bacterial population selection in CWs, which are mostly characterized in terms of engineering aspects.

Methods: Here, cultivation-independent and cultivation-based analyses were applied to study the bacterial communities associated to the root systems of and co-occurring in the same cell of a CW receiving primary treated wastewaters.

Laparoscopic Right Donor Nephrectomy: A Two-Center Comparative Study.

Introduction As the field of laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy (LLDN) has progressed over the years, there has been a growing emphasis on optimizing surgical techniques and outcomes to ensure the safety and well-being of living kidney donors. The early experiences with right LLDN, marked by challenges and concerns such as high conversion rates to open surgery and early graft loss due to technical reasons, prompted a reevaluation of the approach toward right-sided donor nephrectomies. In this article, we aim to compare the safety and efficacy of right LLDN to left LLDN performed in our centers and to provide valuable insights that can ultimately enhance patient outcomes and ensure the well-being of living organ donors.

Clinical Outcomes of Intravesical Prostatic Protrusion in Patients With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Background Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a disorder that is characterized by the hyperplasia of the cellular elements of the prostate, leading to an enlarged prostate. One of the parameters affecting urinary outflow is intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP). It is a phenomenon wherein the enlargement of the prostate protrudes into the bladder along the plane of least resistance.

Degrees of Testicular Atrophy Following Orchidopexy for Testicular Torsion.

Introduction Testicular torsion is an urological emergency. It is a time-sensitive condition in which twisting of the spermatic cord and testicular blood supply occurs, causing acute onset severe scrotal pain. The incidence of testicular torsion is highest amongst prepubertal males; however, it can occur at any age.

Challenges of Retrograde Ureteroscopic Procedures in Overweight Patients.

Background: Obesity and urolithiasis are both prevalent conditions that have an impact on the healthcare system. The ureteric diameter and accessibility play a crucial role in the management of urolithiasis in both overweight and normal weight patients. Studies have shown that obesity can lead to changes in ureter diameter where excessive body fat can exert pressure on the kidneys, causing them to enlarge in size and this enlargement can result in a compression of the adjacent structures, including the ureter.

Renal Carcinoma Patterns and Prevalence in Bahrain: A Descriptive Study.

Cancer is a major health problem with a significant impact on society and healthcare systems. In 2018, approximately 18.1 million cases of cancer were diagnosed and 9.

Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Presenting as Torsion in a Young Patient.

Testicular torsion is a relatively common urological emergency, which involves the twisting of the spermatic cord and its contents leading to ischemia to the testes, which usually presents as sudden, severe scrotal pain. In comparison, testicular neoplasms are far less commonly encountered in the emergency department as they often present as painless hard masses that grow slowly over longer periods of time. Extremely rare cases of testicular neoplasms present as sudden scrotal pain that causes a challenging task in the emergency department as physical examinations and ultrasound findings could vary and not be specific enough in confirming the diagnosis.

Laparoscopy-Assisted Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) in Ectopic Pelvic Kidney.

An ectopic kidney is a rare developmental anomaly in which the kidney can be pelvic, iliac, abdominal, and thoracic, and affected patients are more prone to conditions such as reflux, pelvic ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction, hydronephrosis, nephrolithiasis, and even renal failure than patients with normally structured kidneys. In this case, we present a 43-year-old male who is a known case of ectopic left pelvic kidney and presented with chronic lower abdominal pain. Upon imaging, it was revealed that he had a staghorn stone for which he underwent laparoscopy-assisted percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL).

Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Instigating Paraplegia in a Male Patient.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) constitutes about 2% of all adult malignancies and is the most common malignant renal neoplasm with bony metastases occurring in up to 50% of patients with RCC. In this case, we report a 42-year-old male who presented with chronic back pain and had a sudden episode of paraplegia. The patient was initially referred to the orthopedics service.

Comparative Preliminary Evaluation of 2 In-stream Water Treatment Technologies for the Agricultural Reuse of Drainage Water in the Nile Delta.

In the Nile Delta, a complex network of canals collects drainage water from surface-irrigated fields but also from municipal wastewater. The goal of this work was to assess the technical, environmental, and financial feasibility of the upgrade of a drainage canal (DC) into either an in-stream constructed wetland (ICW) or a canalized facultative lagoon (CFL), in order to produce a water reusable in agriculture according to Egyptian law. The model-based design of the proposed technologies was derived from field experimental data for the ICW and laboratory data for the CFL.