Vol.4 No.2 – 3 : Flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae) associated with human corpses in Alexandria, Egypt

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By : Tarek I. Tantawi , Ibrahim E. El-Shenawy , Hoda F. Abd El-Salam , Somia A. Madkour , Nevine M. Mahany

 

Abstract

During the period from 20 May 2000 to 8 May 2002, 15 human corpses found in different seasons and habitats in Alexandria, Egypt were investigated for insect evidence. The aim of the present study was to identify and record the different species of flies infesting the corpses to establish a database for the potential use of insects as forensic indicators in Alexandria. Insect collecting was performed during autopsy at El-Esaaf Morgue, Kom El-Deka, Alexandria. All the corpses examined were enrolled in death investigations. Larvae of six fly species belonging to three families were collected from the corpses; Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya megacephala, and Lucilia sericata (Calliphoridae); Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Sarcophagidae); and Muscina stabulans (Muscidae). These fly species were the initial colonizers of the corpses and, hence, are important in minimum postmortem interval estimates in Alexandria. Larvae of Calliphoridae were the most common and abundant insects, collected from 86.66% of the corpses and infested corpses in all seasons and habitats. Chr. albiceps was the most common species, invading 73.33% of the corpses of which 33.33% of infestations were found in urban, indoor situations. Outdoor infestations of corpses by this species accounted for 40%. Larvae of Chr. albiceps were collected from corpses in all seasons and were found to monopolize six corpses. Chr. megacephala, L. sericata, and S. argyrostoma were able to invade each 20% of the corpses where they acted as primary flies. S. argyrostoma was found to be a highly indicative species to corpses found in urban, indoor habitats during the warmer seasons. Three cases of forensic entomology interest are presented and discussed.

Flies (Diptera) vol4 issue 2

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Vol.4 No.2 – 2 : Clinical Manifestations of Philadelphia-negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in Sudan

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By :  Sahar  Elbager , Enaam Abdelgader , Samah Ali , Tahani Mursal , Nahid Yousif , Eltaher Osman , Amar Dowd , Magdi Bayoumi

 

Abstract

Background/ objective: The Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), is a heterogeneous group of oncohematological diseases that express a high burden of symptoms that significantly affect patient quality of life and are associated with high morbidity and premature mortality. This study aimed to determine the clinical manifestations of MPNs in Sudanese population.

Method: A retrospective study was carried out in the Radiation and Isotope Center at Khartoum (RICK), Sudan. 290 medical records of MPNs were examined.

Results: Polycythemia Vera (PV) was the most frequent (64.1%) with a median age at diagnosis of 50 years. It was, followed by Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) (28.6%, median age 48years) and Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF) (7.3%, median age 58years). Male patients had mostly a history of PV (p < 0.05). Females were predominately affected by ET (p < 0.05), despite the gender distribution of PMF patients was approximately similar (p > 0.05). Among PV cases, the main symptoms present at diagnosis were fatigue with fever reported by 31.2% of cases followed by headache (26.6%), joint pain (24.2%), splenomegaly (14.2%), hepatosplenomegaly and thrombotic complications. In ET, 43.4% of the cases complained about headache followed by fatigue associated with fever, joint pain, splenomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly. None of ET cases presented bleeding or thrombotic complications. In PMF cases, the main symptoms were fatigue with fever (19%) followed by joint pain, headache, fever, bleeding, thrombotic complication, splenomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly.

Conclusion: The current study showed that in Sudan, MPNs affects a younger population and PV was more prevalent than ET and PMF. The findings also revealed that headache, fatigue and joint pain were the most frequent symptoms.

Clinical Manifestations of Philadelphia-negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in Sudan (2) (1)

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Vol.4 No.2 – 1 : Protective Effects of α-lipoic acid on Biological changes Induced by α-cypermethrin in Testis Rats

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By : A. Sedky and A. Ali

 

Abstract

α-cypermethrin is one of the most potent insecticide used worldwide.This study was planned to evaluate the possible role of α-lipoic acid in α-cypermethrin induced toxicity in rats. The treated groups were;the control, α-cypermethrin, α-lipoic acid and α-cypermethrin and α-lipoic acid groups. Our results showed that administration of α-cypermethrin caused significant decrease in RBC count, PCV and Hb content and an increase of WBC count. Also, α- cypermethrin caused significant increase in the levels of cholesterol, TGs, LDL-Cand VLDL-C, while the HDL-C was decreased.In addition, α-cypermethrin caused reduction in serum testosterone, FSH, and LH levels in intoxicated rats. Furthermore, the co-administration of α-lipoic acid mitigated the toxicity of α-cypermethrin by partially normalizing these biochemical parameters. Our results were supported by histopathological observations of testis. Our data suggest that α-lipoic acid may have a protective role against α-cypermethrin induced toxicity in rats.

cyp testis 3 corrected

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Vol.4 No.1 – 4 : Impact of environmental pollutants and parasites on the ultrastructure of the Nile bolti, Oreochromis auruis

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By :Eman Hashem Radwan , Amel Abd El Rahman Hassan  , Gehan Hassan Fahmy, Salma Sameh El Shewemi and Sherine Abdel Salam

 

Abstract

Environmental variability has great impact on processes of ecological organization. Local variation probably accounts within population variation in death rate. Marine parasites are of great importance. Incorporating environmental variation into theories of life histories for a better understanding of how environmental factors influence physiology, and the resulting histories of individuals. Adult Oreochromis auruis were collected from, El Behiara, Egypt. Concentration of Pb, Cu and Cd have been detected in the biota samples collected from El Behara, Egypt. The plenty of heavy metal concentration in the fish samples was found in the order Cu > Pb > Cd. A significant correlation (p<0.05) were found for each of Cu, Cd and Pb in Oreochromis auruis . The mean level of Pb is highly positively correlated with mean concentration level of the activity of GPx and the mean level of the total protein as r= 0.51 and r= 0.61; while Cu is highly positively correlated with Cd, S‰ and the total protein as r=0.75, r=0.65 and r=0.74; respectively. Cd is only highly significantly correlated with the total protein as r= 0.64.The salinity was highly correlated with both pH and the total protein as r=-0.64 and r=0.6; respectively. The mean value of pH is highly negatively correlated with both GPx and with the total protein as r= – 0.50 and r=-0.52; respectively. The activity of GPx is highly correlated with only the activity of the SOD as r=- 0.701.

(final2) salma, shirin, eman, gehan,amal.docx,2018.docx7-4-2018 (1)

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Vol.4 No.1 – 3 : The possible anti-inflammatory role of the blue green algae ,Aphanizomenon flos-aquae on skin of adult male rats

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By :Hemmat Mansour Abdelhafez and Rasha Mohammed Ibrahim

Abstract

Aphanizomenon flose-aquae (AFA) is a fresh water unicellular blue green microalgae like Spirulina, but most AFA is harvested from the wild in volcanic regions leading to high levels of trace minerals. It has been traditionally used for over 25 years for its health-enhancing properties.
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae is an important source of the blue photosynthetic pigment phycocyanin (PC), which has been described as a strong antioxidant and antiinflammatory agent. Aim of the study: this study aimed to examine the possible anti-inflammatory effect of AFA against the inflammation induced by carrageenan injection on skin of adult male rats using histpathological and histochemical studies.Matrerial and methods: the current experiment was carried out on 48 adult male albino rats (Rattus rattus). Rats were randomly and equally categorized into four groups: 1) Control group (C): rats
were left without treatment; 2) Carr group: rats were injected with carrageenan and left for 21 days ; 3) AFA group: rats were orally administrated Aphanizomenon flos- aquae (AFA) extract (94.5 mg/kg body weight /day) for 21 days and 4) AFA+ Carr Group: rats were injected with carrageenan and treated with 94.5 mg/kg body weight AFA extract daily after six hours of carrageenan injection for 21 days. The experimental rats were sacrificed after 5 and 21 days post– treatment. Results: Examination of skin tissue of rats five and twenty one day’s post-carrageenan injection revealed many histopathological and
histochemical changes such as marked destructed epidermal and dermal layers. The epidermal layer showed undetectable cellular structure, thickened keratin layer. Signs of fibrosis and absence of hair follicles were detected in some areas, in addition to the presence of debris of degenerated cells in the dermal layer. Hair follicles were distorted with numerous fibroblasts in the dermal layer, some of them were hypertrophied, in addition to the presence of large granulomatous area in the dermal layer, discontinuous and faintly stained skeletal muscle fibres were noticed. Most of them showed decreased staining affinity of nuclei of mycocytes (karyolysis) with signs of fatty degeneration. Highly increased collagen fibres and fibrotic areas were detected in the epidermal and dermal layers.
Skin tissues examined five and twenty one days following AFA administration showed normal appearance of the epidermal and dermal layers, highly increased and well developed hair follicles with their sebaceous glands were detected with normal distribution to some extent, of collagen fibres.
Skin tissues of rats administrated with AFA for twenty one days post-carrageenan injection and examined after five and twenty one days showed striking recovery as compared to the skin of carrageenan group only, but increased collagen fibres in the dermal layer were detected after five days while normal distribution of collagen fibres were demonstrated after twenty one days. The quantitative histochemical measurements recorded a significant increase in PAS+ve materials , total protein and amyloid β -protein in the carrageenan injected group while supplementation with AFA alone or AFA post
carrageenan injection showed a trend toward lowering incidence of skin histochemical changes induced by carrageenan injection. Skin tissues of carrageenan group showed a significant increase in mast cells count in the dermal layer after five and twenty one days post-treatment. AFA treated group exhibited non-significant increase of mast cells in the dermal layer all over the experimental periods, while rats administrated AFA post-carrageenan injection exhibited a significant increase in count of mast
cells after five days and non-significant increase after twenty one days Conclusion: using Aphanizomenon flos- aquae as a natural agent exerted a marked antiinflammatory role against the histopathological and histochemical lesions induced by carrageenan injection.

The possible anti-inflammatory role of the blue green

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Vol.4 No.1 – 2 : Moringa oleifera leaf Extract: A Potent Ameliorator of Cyclophosphamide Induced liver Toxicity in Rat Model

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By :  Ahmed Abdulzahra Habeeb

Abstract

Moringa oleifera leaf is a pharmacologically active with documented antioxidant activity. In the current study protective effect of ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MLE) was investigated in rats against cyclophosphamide (CYP) induced liver injuries. Twenty eight Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups, as follows: 1) control group – received vehicle used for MLE and CYP for 14 days; 2) MLE group – rats were administered orally at a dose 200.0 mg kg -1 b.wt. for 14 consecutive days; 3) CYP group – cyclophosphamide at a dose of 150 mg/kg was given through i.p. to rats as a single dose at day 7; 4) MLE + CYP group – MLE was given for 14 days  plus a single dose of CYP was given on hour after MLE administration. Catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), the level of lipid peroxidation thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), DNA and RNA concentration were analyzed in liver tissue. In addition, serum total protein, albumin, cholesterol and triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) values were evaluated. AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, triglycerides and total cholesterol in serum were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in CYP group, compared to control group, while protein and albumin were decreased. Compared with the control group, significantly high levels of liver TBARS and the low antioxidant defenses, like free radical scavenging enzyme viz., catalase activity as well as GSH concentration in CYP-treated group. In rats supplemented with MLE as well as treated with CYP, hepatic specific marker enzymes were restored to normalcy which otherwise was lowered in the CYP-treated rats. In conclusion, MLE exhibited antioxidant activity by the presence of free radical quenching constituents.

vol4 No1-2 Ahmed Habib

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Vol.4 No.1 – 1 : Histological and histochemical changes in liver of gamma-irradiated rats and the possible protective role of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA)

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By : Hemmat Mansour Abdelhafez and Heba Ahmed Mohamed Kandeal

Abstract

Exposure to ionizing radiation represents a genuine increasing threat to mankind and our environment. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is a blue-green microalgal species which has antioxidant properties. The Aim of the work: this study aimed to elucidate the possible radioprotective effect of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) on liver of irradiated adult male rats using biochemical parameters, histopathology and quantitative histochemistry. Matrerial and methods: the current experiment was carried out on 48 adult male albino rats (Rattus rattus). Rats were randomly and equally categorized into four groups: 1) Group C: control rats left without treatment; 2) Group R: rats were exposed to 4Gy of gamma-radiation as a single dose; 3) Group AFA: rats were treated orally with 94.5mg/kg body weight/ day AFA for 3 weeks and 4) Group AFA+R: rats were administrated AFA for a period of one week before and three weeks after irradiation. The experimental rats were sacrificed after 5 and 21 days post-irradiation. Results: exposed to gamma radiation showed many biochemical changes which included a significant increase in serum ALAT, ASAT ,ALP activities and MDA in the liver tissues . Many histopathological and histochemical changes were observed in the liver tissue, such as corrugated and ruptured endothelial lining of the central vein which contained hemolysed blood cells, numerous vacuolated hepatocytes with increased signs of karyolysis and pyknosis in nuclei of hepatocytes, highly dilated and congested hepatic portal vein, numerous hemorrhagic areas and distorted bile ducts. Highly increased collagen fibers were also observed after gamma irradiation in the liver tissue. In addition, irradiated group induced a significant increase in amyloid β-protein, while a significant decrease in PAS+ve materials, total protein  and total DNA content was detected. Supplementation with AFA showed a trend toward lowering incidence of hepatic histopathological and histochemical changes induced by γ-radiation.

Conclusion: according to the results obtained in the current study using Aphanizomenon flos- aquae as a natural agent showed a strong radioprotective role.

Microsoft Word - hemmat research+heba - Copy _Repaired جديد_

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Vol.3 No.4 – 11: Nephroprotective Effect of Melatonin against Aluminum Phosphide Induced Renal Tissue Damage in Rats

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By: Mohamed SA. El-Gerbed

Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damenhour University, Damenhour, Egypt

Abstract

Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is a cheap, effective and commonly used agricultural pesticide. The present experiment was undertaken to investigate the effect of melatonin against aluminum phosphide -induced renal toxicity in rats. Forty male rats were divided into four groups.  group I: rats maintained as control, group II: rats received melatonin, group III: rats received AlP, group IV: rats received AlP and melatonin with same previous doses. Data showed that AlP “GIII” treatment resulted in a significant increase in serum creatinine and urea level. Also, a markedly significant increase in lipid peroxidation (MDA). On the other hand, the administration of AlP causes a significant decrease in enzymatic antioxidants activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase) in the kidney. The histopathological examination of the kidney of AlP -treated group rats, revealed kidney injury with necrotic changes, enlargement of many glomeruli, tubular dilatation and leukocytic infiltration. Electron micrographs of the renal corpuscle showed obvious signs of injury, focal segmental thickening, and podocyte changes, mesangial cells appeared highly deteriorated. Also, proximal convoluted tubules lining cells revealed tremendous alterations and abnormalities in architectural features, an increasing number of the irregular shape of mitochondria with fragmented cristae. Moreover, kidney tissues showed markedly higher p53 induction.  Additionally, treatment with melatonin alleviates the nephrotoxicity of AlP by significantly renormalize the Serum enzymatic and biochemical parameters. The biochemical results were supported by histopathological and ultrastructural observations of the kidney. Moreover, inhibition of p53 with melatonin was seen. From these results, it could suggest that the melatonin might be useful for preventing nephrotoxicity caused by aluminum phosphide through ameliorative effects on (especially parameters) biochemical indices, oxidative stress, histological and ultrastructural changes.

Nephroprotective-Effect-of-Melatonin-Against-Aluminium-Phosphide-Induced-Renal-Tissue-Damage-in-Rats-converted-1

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Vol.3 No.4 – 10 :Morphological and molecular characterization of some olive (Olea europaea) cultivars in El-Arish, Egypt

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BY: Amina Abdel Hamid Mohamed 1*, Mohamed A. Nagaty 2,  Manal M. S. El-Baghdady1  , Khaled H. Radwan 1, 3

1 Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza -12619, Egypt.

2 Plant Production Department, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, El-Arish, North Sinai, Egypt.

3 National Biotechnology Network for Expertise- Egypt.

Abstract

Morphological characters, along with three different random PCR based markers, (ISSR, SCoT and RAMP) were used to characterize and to assess the genetic diversity among the main nine olive cultivars in El-Arish, Egypt. Analyses of 16 morphological characters revealed the existence of a recorded genetic variability among the studied cultivars. Moreover, 12 ISSR primers, 13 SCoT primers and 11 RAMP primer combinations (PCs) produced 197, 242 and 172 of total loc with 163, 236 and 140 of them being polymorphic respectively. Average polymorphism information content (PIC value) of 0.26, 0.31 and 0.26 detected for ISSR, SCoT and RAMP markers respectively.  Based on morphological and the selected molecular markers, the nine olive cultivars were grouped in two distinct clusters. The highest genetic similarity observed was that between Teffahi and Ageezi, while the least similarity was that recorded between Ageezi Shami and Koroneiki.

The tested marker systems would serve as a complementary tool to provide a more complete understanding of the diversity available in olive populations in Egypt.

Morphological-and-molecular-characterization-of-some-olive-Olea-europaea-cultivars-in-El-_Arish-Egypt-converted

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Vol.3 No.4 – 9 : The Validity of Haematuria and Proteinuria by chemical reagent strip for diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium infection

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By : Ahmed Abdelhalim Yameny

Society of Pathological Biochemistry and Hematology, Egypt

Ahmed A. Yameny (Email: dr.ahmedyameny@yahoo.com)

Abstract

Background : Urinary schistosomiasis is a chronic water-borne disease that affect the life of millions of people globally especially the rural areas of developing countries, Microscopic examination can quantify the intensity of the S.haematobium infection, however it is relatively insensitive especially in situations involving low level infections. Hematuria and proteinuria have been considered as alternatives for microscopic testing of urine to diagnose S.haematobium infection, and as a single tool in large-scale control programs. Subjects and methods : This study is a cross-sectional study designed to evaluate haematuria and proteinuria by chemical reagent strip for determine urinary schistosomiasis in the study population, to overall sample was 1000 patients of different ages in addition, urine microscopic examination was done for detection of S.haematobium eggs by sedimentation centrifugation and nuclepore filteration techniques. Results : The results showed that haematuria by chemical reagent strips had a sensitivity of 27.8% and specificity of 63.4%. When proteinuria was considered, sensitivity increased to 67.1% also specificity increased to 80.7%. When both haematuria and proteinuria was considered, sensitivity was 45.2% and specificity 85.9%. sensitivity in between the previous results. PPVs ranged between 6.13% and 22.9% whereas NPVs ranged between 91.1% and 96.6%. As for diagnostic efficiency, it was best for both haematuria and proteinuria (83.1%) followed by proteinuria 79.6% and least for haematuria (60.7%), where the area under the curve (AUC) was sufficient for both haematuria and proteinuria 0.61 and good for proteinuria( 0.71),where it was not useful for haematuria (0.48). Conclusion and Recommendations : Most previous studies showed blood in urine or microhaematuria is more important than protein and used chemical reagent strips to detect microhaematuria and not protein. While this study showed detect of protein by chemical reagent strip is more important than microhaematuria by chemical reagent strip, and statistical parameters tested were higher with proteinuria than haematuria .The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, likelihood ratio for positive results, diagnostic efficiency and area under the curve all were higher in proteinuria than haematuria. The sum of proteinuria and haematuria had more specificity . In this study we demonstrate that the use of urine reagent strips for both proteinuria and haematuria might be considered for the diagnosis of S. haematobium where microscopy is unavailable.

The Validity of Haematuria and Proteinuria by chemical reagent strip for diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium infection

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