Evaluating Heat Stress Effects on Growth in Tunisian Local Kids: Enhancing Breeding Strategies for Arid Environments.

This study evaluates the impact of thermal load on the weights of Tunisian local kids using 24 models with cubic and quadratic Legendre polynomials, based on daily temperatures (Tmin, Tmax, and Tavg) on the day of weight recording and averaged over 7, 14, and 21 days before weighing. The deviance information criterion (DIC) consistently shows that cubic polynomial models offer a better fit than quadratic models, highlighting their superior accuracy in studying the effects of thermal load on kid weights. The models with the best fit utilized average or maximum temperatures over 14 or 21 days.

Unlocking the potential of lactic acid bacteria mature biofilm extracts as antibiofilm agents.

The continuous growth of biofilm infections and their resilience to conventional cleaning methods and antimicrobial agents pose a worldwide challenge across diverse sectors. This persistent medical, industrial, and environmental issue contributes to treatment challenges and chronic diseases. Lactic acid bacteria have garnered global attention for their substantial antimicrobial effects against pathogens and established beneficial roles.

Pathogen prioritisation for wastewater surveillance ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, France.

BackgroundWastewater surveillance is an effective approach to monitor population health, as exemplified by its role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.AimThis study explores the possibility of extending wastewater surveillance to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, focusing on identifying priority pathogen targets that are relevant and feasible to monitor in wastewater for these events.MethodsA list of 60 pathogens of interest for general public health surveillance for the Games was compiled.

Assessing Environmental Effects upon Modeling the Individual Lactation Curve of a Local Goat Population in a Pastoral System.

The present study aims to use Wood's model to determine the parameters of individual lactation curves in a local goat population and their factors of variation under a pastoral system. A total of 137,927 records from 432 local goats were collected to assess the impact of litter size, year and month of kidding, herd and the age of the dam on lactation curve parameters. Wood's model parameters were estimated using non-linear regression, and individual curves were fitted.

Prediction of birth weight using body measurements of local caprine population kids raised in a low-input breeding mode under arid environment.

The aim of this study is to establish linear measurements of local goat kids at birth and their factors of variation, as well as their possible correlations with birth weight. Additionally, the study analyses statistical models and barymetric functions to predict birth weight of kids based on their morphometric data. The database includes data on 128 goat kids born to 89 goats and 9 bucks in the experimental goat herd at the El GORDHAB station of IRA.

SARS-CoV-2 in the environment: Contamination routes, detection methods, persistence and removal in wastewater treatment plants.

The present study reviewed the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and the evaluation of virus infectivity in feces and environmental matrices. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in feces and wastewater samples, reported in several studies, has generated interest and concern regarding the possible fecal-oral route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. To date, the presence of viable SARS-CoV-2 in feces of COVID-19 infected people is not clearly confirmed although its isolation from feces of six different patients.

Clofarabine and total body irradiation (TBI) as conditioning regimen for allogeneic stem cell transplantation in high-risk acute leukemia patients: a two-center retrospective cohort study.

Clofarabine (Clo) is an immunosuppressive purine analog that may have better anti-leukemic activity than fludarabine (Flu). The addition of total body irradiation (TBI) to conditioning regimens has been widely investigated. However, the use of single agent Clo in combination with intermediate doses of TBI ranging from 4 to 8 Gy has not been studied yet.

Inhibition of Aflatoxin B1 Synthesis in by Mate (), Rosemary () and Green Tea () Extracts: Relation with Extract Antioxidant Capacity and Fungal Oxidative Stress Response Modulation.

Plant extracts may represent an ecofriendly alternative to chemical fungicides to limit aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination of foods and feeds. Mate (), rosemary () and green tea () are well known for their beneficial properties, which are mainly related to their richness in bioactive phenolic compounds. AFB1 production is inhibited, with varying efficiency, by acetone/water extracts from these three plants.

Latest updates on cellular and molecular biomarkers of gliomas.

Gliomas are the most common central nervous system malignancies, compromising almost 80% of all brain tumors and is associated with significant mortality. The classification of gliomas has shifted from basic histological perspective to one that is based on molecular biomarkers. Treatment of this type of tumors consists currently of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Staphylococcus epidermidis in gut microbiota: in vitro antimicrobial resistance.

The gastrointestinal tract is one of the most complex microbiological niches containing beneficial and non-pathogenic bacterial strains of which some may evolve into virulent under specific conditions. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is of the most known beneficial species with an ability to protect the intestine as opposed to Staphylococcus epidermidis 444 which causes serious health risks due to its high antimicrobial resistance. This study investigates first the survival and coexistence ability of L.

Dietary Exposure and Risk Assessment of Mycotoxins in Thyme and Thyme-Based Products Marketed in Lebanon.

This study aimed at evaluating the incidence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in thyme and thyme-based products, related dietary exposure, and cancer risk for regular and high consumption. A total of 160 samples were collected, and 32 composite samples were analyzed. AFB1 and OTA were respectively found in 84% (27/32) and 38% (12/32) of the samples.

On the modelling of weights of kids to enhance growth in a local goat population under Tunisian arid conditions: the maternal effects.

To provide the local goat population with an adequate breeding scheme under an arid environment, this study aimed to evaluate the use of alternative models attempting to dissect the additive genetic (AG) and permanent environmental (PE) components of direct and maternal effects on weights of kids up to weaning. Records of 903 local kids over a period of 16 years were used in this study. Data were split into four groups corresponding to four periods along weight recording.

Clinical Significance of Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes and Ki67 Expression as a Predictive Value for Pathological Complete Response following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Experience from a Tertiary Care Center in Lebanon.

Introduction: Breast cancer is considered nowadays the most prevalent cancer worldwide. The molecular era has successfully divided breast cancer into subtypes based on the various hormonal receptors. These molecular subtypes play a major role in determining the neoadjuvant chemotherapy to be administered.

The Elephant in The Room: AML Relapse Post Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is an unfavorable event associated with a poor prognosis, particularly for patients with early relapses. It usually arises from resistant leukemic blasts that escaped both preparative chemotherapy regimen and the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. Independent from the choice of salvage treatment, only minority of patients can achieve durable remissions.

The Use of Voriconazole as Primary Prophylaxis for Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Single Center's Experience.

Background: Invasive fungal infections (IFI) following allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-HCT) are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Primary prophylaxis using voriconazole has been shown to decrease the incidence of IFI.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis at the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit of the American University of Beirut including 195 patients who underwent allo-HCT for hematological malignancies and received voriconazole as primary prophylaxis for IFI.

Mechanisms of Immunotoxicity: Stressors and Evaluators.

The immune system defends the body against certain tumor cells and against foreign agents such as fungi, parasites, bacteria, and viruses. One of its main roles is to distinguish endogenous components from non-self-components. An unproperly functioning immune system is prone to primary immune deficiencies caused by either primary immune deficiencies such as genetic defects or secondary immune deficiencies such as physical, chemical, and in some instances, psychological stressors.

B-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in Relapse Presenting as a Uterine Mass: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is a highly aggressive malignant proliferation of lymphoblasts of B-origin grouped with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Multiple studies demonstrated the various sites of involvement in adult LBL. The involvement of the uterus as a site of relapse for such disease is rare.

Antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic properties of organs of Cannabis sativa L.: relation to phenolic content and antioxidant capacities.

Aflatoxin B1 is a carcinogenic mycotoxin that frequently contaminates crops worldwide. Current research indicates that the use of natural extracts to combat mycotoxin contamination may represent an eco-friendly, sustainable strategy to ensure food safety. Although Cannabis sativa L.

Southern Mediterranean coast pollution: Long-term assessment and evolution of PAH pollutants in Monastir Bay (Tunisia).

In order to evaluate the long-term pollution level(s) of Monastir Bay (Tunisian-Mediterranean coastal area), four sediment cores were collected from the meeting points between the main local streams and the marine environment and investigated. Macroscopic observations and granulometric and chemical compositions showed that this Bay received heterogeneous materials. The distribution of 15 total PAH (priority pollutants) concentrations in different levels of core sediments ranged from 222 to 2992 μg kg.

Regulation of Secondary Metabolism in the Genus.

, one of the most common fungi occurring in a diverse range of habitats, has a worldwide distribution and a large economic impact on human health. Hundreds of the species belonging to this genus cause disastrous decay in food crops and are able to produce a varied range of secondary metabolites, from which we can distinguish harmful mycotoxins. Some species are considered to be important producers of patulin and ochratoxin A, two well-known mycotoxins.

Prediction of Salmonella serovars isolated from clinical and food matrices in Lebanon and genomic-based investigation focusing on Enteritidis serovar.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovars are considered major causes of food poisoning and we performed this study because Salmonella is a burden in Lebanon. The present study investigated the ability of genomic information to predict serovar using a collection of Salmonella isolates from infected humans (n = 24) and contaminated food (n = 63) in Lebanon.