Fungal infection in patients with end-stage liver disease: low frequency or low index of suspicion.

Background: End-stage liver disease (ESLD) is associated with dysregulation of the immune system and increased susceptibility to infections. Although invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a growing public health problem, studies of IFI in ESLD are lacking. The aims of this study were to screen for IFI in ESLD and to assess risk factors and serum interleukin 17 (IL-17) as a marker of the cellular immune response.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Edwardsiella ictaluri-Specific Bacteriophage PEi21, Isolated from River Water in Japan.

We present the complete genome sequence for a novel Edwardsiella ictaluri-specific bacteriophage, PEi21, isolated from river water in Japan. An initial comparative genome analysis revealed that the phage was closely related to the previously reported Edwardsiella tarda phage MSW-3 isolated from a red sea bream farm in Japan.

New quinoline alkaloid from Ruta graveolens aerial parts and evaluation of the antifertility activity.

Bioassay-guided isolation of methanol extract of Ruta graveolens L. leaves yielded a new quinoline alkaloid, (4S) 1,4-dihydro-4-methoxy-1,4-dimethyl-3-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)quinoline 2,7-diol, and nine phenolic compounds including rutin as a major compound. Structures of the isolated compounds were determined by using chromatography, UV, HR-ESI-MS and 1D/2D (1)H/(13)C NMR spectroscopy.

Liver Biopsy and FibroScan to Detect Early Histopathological Changes in Chronic HBV Patients Not Candidate for Treatment.

Background: We aimed at evaluating liver biopsy and FibroScan (FS) to assess early histopathological changes among chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients not candidates for treatment.

Methods: One hundred thirty-five chronic hepatitis B naive patients were followed up twice weekly at National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute. All patients were not candidates for treatment according to both Egyptian and international guidelines.

Generalized uniqueness theorem for ordinary differential equations in Banach spaces.

We consider nonlinear ordinary differential equations in Banach spaces. Uniqueness criterion for the Cauchy problem is given when any of the standard dissipative-type conditions does apply. A similar scalar result has been studied by Majorana (1991).

Amine functional hydrogels as selective substrates for corneal epithelialization.

The aim of this study was to develop a synthetic hydrogel to act as a corneal substitute capable of selectively supporting the adhesion and proliferation of limbal epithelial cells (LECs) while inhibiting growth of limbal fibroblasts. Deficiency of LECs causes conjunctival epithelial cells to move over the cornea, producing a thick scar pannus. Unilateral defects can be treated using LEC cultured from the unaffected eye, transplanting them to the affected cornea after scar tissue is removed.

Tracheal diverticulum: a rare cause of hoarseness of the voice.

Tracheal diverticulum is a rare benign disease also known as paratracheal air cyst. Mostly these are asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally on radiologic examination of the chest. Common symptoms are cough, recurrent respiratory tract infections, and sometimes dysphagia.

A revised scope in different prognostic models in cirrhotic patients: Current and future perspectives, an Egyptian experience.

Background And Study Aim: The prognosis of cirrhosis is of great interest for liver transplantation and new therapies of related complications. Traditional prognostic models such as Child-Pugh (CP) and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) were developed to predict mortality in decompensated cirrhosis, but lack parameter(s) related to complications. Recently, new models such as creatinine-modified Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CrCTP) and sodium-based MELD variants were developed to improve prognostic accuracy and enhance outcome predictive capability.

Can transient elastography, Fib-4, Forns Index, and Lok Score predict esophageal varices in HCV-related cirrhotic patients?

Background: Gastroesophageal varices are present in approximately 50% of patients with liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate liver stiffness measurement (LSM), Fib-4, Forns Index and Lok Score as noninvasive predictors of esophageal varices (EV).

Methods: This prospective study included 65 patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis.

Optimization of hot-compressed water pretreatment of bagasse and characterization of extracted hemicelluloses.

Developing optimum treatment and separation procedures for hemicellulose components of lignocellulosic biomass could be useful in ethanol fermentation processes and obtaining pure hemicelluloses as biopolymers. Sugarcane bagasse analyses indicate that xylose is the major hemicellulose component constituting 17.7% of dry bagasse weight.

Semi-scale production of PHAs from waste frying oil by Pseudomonas fluorescens S48.

The present study aimed at developing a strategy to improve the volumetric production of PHAs by Pseudomonas fluorescens S48 using waste frying oil (WFO) as the sole carbon source. For this purpose, several cultivations were set up to steadily improve nutrients supply to attain high cell density and high biopolymer productivity. The production of PHAs was examined in a 14 L bioreactor as one-stage batch, two-stage batch, and high-cell-density fed-batch cultures.

Ultrasensitive norovirus detection using DNA aptasensor technology.

DNA aptamers were developed against murine norovirus (MNV) using SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment). Nine rounds of SELEX led to the discovery of AG3, a promising aptamer with very high affinity for MNV as well as for lab-synthesized capsids of a common human norovirus (HuNoV) outbreak strain (GII.3).

Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and five terpenoid compounds against Campylobacter jejuni in pure and mixed culture experiments.

The aim of this study was to examine the antimicrobial potential of three essential oils (EOs: tea tree oil, lemon myrtle oil and Leptospermum oil), five terpenoid compounds (α-bisabolol, α-terpinene, cineole, nerolidol and terpinen-4-ol) and polyphenol against two strains of Campylobacter jejuni (ACM 3393 and the poultry isolate C338), Campylobacter coli and other Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria. Different formulations of neem oil (Azadirachta indica) with these compounds were also tested for synergistic interaction against all organisms. Antimicrobial activity was determined by the use of disc diffusion and broth dilution assays.

Antimicrobial activity of propolis special extract GH 2002 against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates.

The need to discover and develop alternative therapies to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections is timely. The aim of this study was to examine the antimicrobial potential of propolis, as a purified and concentrated special extract GH 2002, against clinical isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes, methicillin-resistent Stapylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) and Candida. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal microbicidial concentrations (MMCs) of propolis against microbial pathogens were evaluated using the broth microdilution method.

Integrated bio-behavioural HIV surveillance surveys among female sex workers in Sudan, 2011-2012.

Objectives: To assess HIV and syphilis prevalence, HIV-related behaviours and testing for HIV in female sex workers (FSW) in Sudan.

Design: Bio-behavioural surveys using respondent-driven sampling were carried out among FSW in the capital cities of 14 states in Sudan in 2011-2012. HIV and syphilis testing was done by rapid tests.

A study of the early changes of the level of calcitonin gene-related Peptide and histopathology of penises of rats with experimentally induced type I diabetes mellitus by streptozocin.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multiorgan disease that leads to neurovascular complications that disturb the normal erectile function.

Aim: The aim of the current work was to study the early changes occurring in the level of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and histopathological changes in penile tissues of uncontrolled diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: This study was carried on 50 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into two main groups: group I (control, n = 10) and group II (diabetic, n = 40).

Validated stability-indicating methods for the simultaneous determination of amiloride hydrochloride, atenolol, and chlorthalidone using HPTLC and HPLC with photodiode array detector.

Two stability-indicating chromatographic methods are described for simultaneous determination of amiloride hydrochloride (AMI), atenolol (ATE), and chlorthalidone (CHL) in combined dosage forms. The first method was based on HPTLC separation of the three drugs followed by densitometric measurements of their bands at 274 nm. The separation was carried out on Merck HPTLC silica gel 60F254 aluminum sheets using chloroform-methanol-ammonia 27%, w/w (9 + 2 + 0.

Are results of bariatric surgery different in the Middle East? Early experience of an international bariatric surgery program and an ACS NSQIP outcomes comparison.

Background: Bariatric operations performed at the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute Abu Dhabi are submitted randomly from the entire surgery volume at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City to the American College of Surgeons (ACS) NSQIP. Our aim is to report our early experience and compare our bariatric surgery outcomes with ACS NSQIP hospitals of similar size.

Study Design: We queried the ACS NSQIP database for bariatric surgery codes between August 2009 and August 2012 for hospitals with >500 beds.

Residues and dissipation of kresoxim methyl in apple under field condition.

The dissipation and residual levels of kresoxim methyl in apple under field condition were determined by using HPLC-DAD with QuEChERS method. At fortification levels of 0.05, 0.

Single-stage operative management of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy leaks without endoscopic stent placement.

Background: Leaks occur in 1.4-20 % (Bohdjalian et al., Obes.

Clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of salivary mucoceles in 13 dogs.

Salivary mucocele is one of the causes of submandibular swelling in dogs and is due to a collection of mucoid saliva that has leaked from a damaged salivary gland. The purpose of this case series report was to describe the clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of confirmed salivary mucoceles in 13 dogs admitted to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Cairo University. The final diagnosis of salivary mucocele was based on aspirate cytology for all dogs and additional surgical excision for seven dogs.

Chemical composition and biological evaluation of Physalis peruviana root as hepato-renal protective agent.

This study was designed to investigate the potential of Physalis peruviana root as a functional food with hepato-renal protective effects against fibrosis. The chemical composition of the plant root suggested the presence of alkaloids, withanolides and flavonoids. Five compounds were isolated and their structures elucidated by different spectral analysis techniques.

Efficacy of Leptospermum petersonii oil, on Plutella xylostella, and its parasitoid, Trichogramma pretiosum.

The efficacy of lemon-scented tea tree oil (LSO), Leptospermum petersonii (FM. Bailey), was evaluated against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) under laboratory conditions.

An fMRI study on cortical responses during active self-touch and passive touch from others.

Active, self-touch and the passive touch from an external source engage comparable afferent mechanoreceptors on the touched skin site. However, touch directed to glabrous skin compared to hairy skin will activate different types of afferent mechanoreceptors. Despite perceptual similarities between touch to different body sites, it is likely that the touch information is processed differently.

Primary malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast: a study of seven cases and literature review.

Introduction: Primary breast lymphoma is an uncommon disease with poor clinical outcome. Breast lymphomas present less than 0.5% of malignant breast neoplasms and 2.