Vol.3 No.4 – 8: The validity of the Questionnaire to identify 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: Schistosomiasis is considered the most important water-based disease, Estimation of S.haematobium infection has been recognized in Egypt since ancient times, hematuria known as AAA disease. One of the symptoms of urinary schistosomiasis is visible blood in urine, since this is normally well recognized by children, the assessment of urinary schistosomiasis can be undertaken rapidly and accurately by using a simple questionnaire. This study was done to test the validity of self-reported blood in urine by questionnaire compared to parasitological methods. Subjects and methods: Across -sectional study was carried. To overall total sample was 1000 patients of different ages, data about the history of recent symptoms of schistosomiasis as haematuria and dysuria were collected. Also, urine microscopic examination was done for the detection of S.haematobium eggs by sedimentation centrifugation and nuclepore filtration techniques. Results: The results showed that haematuria by questionnaire had a sensitivity of 54.4% and specificity of 90.8%. When dysuria was considered, sensitivity increased to 75.95% but specificity decreased to 51.2%. When both self-reported haematuria and dysuria were considered, sensitivity was 68.3% and specificity 85%, in between the previous results. PPVs ranged between 11.8% and 33.6% whereas NPVs ranged between 95.9% and 96.1%. As for diagnostic efficiency, it was best for haematuria (87.9%).

Conclusion: questionnaire has a moderate sensitivity, a simple questionnaire asking “Did you have blood in urine during the last month?” and “Did you suffer from schistosomiasis during the last months?” is a validated tool that allows for a decision to be taken, a questionnaire was shown to have a very high negative predictive value 96%, so that it is safe to use it to identify communities with a low prevalence so that they can be excluded from the first phases of a control program, but microscopic examination is better and not expensive for diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis infection.

The-validity-of-the-Questionnaire-to-identify-Schistosoma-haematobium-infection-converted.pdf

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Vol.3 No.4 – 7 : Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Spermatogonial Stem Cells in Nile Tilapia

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By :  Heba Allah M. Elbaghdady1, Sayed K. Areida1, Hany E. S. Marei2,3, Hamada S. Salem1

1 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

2 Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha

3 Cytology and Histology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

 

Abstract

The identification and isolation of spermatogonial stem cells in Nile tilapia is crucial to the development of high-quality transplantation techniques as well as to understand the regulation of spermatogonia in vivo. However, specific molecular markers for spermatogonial stem cells have not yet been studied in detail. Taking advantage of this species as a good experimental fish model, we investigated the isolation and culture of spermatogonial stem cells from tilapia testis. In addition, the expression of Gfra1, Notch1, and CD44 as molecular markers were studied using real-time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry analysis. The result showed that enzymatic digestion, percoll gradient, and differential adhesion are suitable for isolation of an enriched population of spermatogonial stem cells from tilapia´s testis. Moreover, the isolated spermatogonia expressed Gfra1, Notch1, and CD44 in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, Gfra1, Notch1, and CD44 can be considered as good markers for spermatogonial stem cells in fish which may be effective to characterize and isolate spermatogonial stem cells from the Nile tilapia.

Stem cells Tilpia

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Vol.3 No.4 – 6: Schistosomiasis haematobium Prevalence and Risk factors in EL-Fayoum Governorate, Egypt

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By : Ahmed Abdelhalim Yameny

Society of Pathological Biochemistry and Hematology, Egypt

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

Abstract

Schistosoma haematobium infection is an important water-borne disease in Egypt, its prevalence decreased to less than 0.2 % (2016). There are more than 300 villages in Egypt with a prevalence of more than 3%, especially among school children, Which require prolonged treatment and continuous examinations, The Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt has announced the start of a campaign to confirm the final elimination of schistosomiasis by 2020, this study was conducted to detect the prevalence of  Schistosoma haematobium and risk factors among 1000 patients attending Ministry of Health Laboratory Centers, in El-Fayoum Governorate by microscopic examination in rural and urban areas, the prevalence among study patients was 7.9%, an interview questionnaire was designed to obtain demographic data and risk factors, such as residential status, age,  water contact activity, occupation, and education level, the higher percentage of infection was 10.3% among 11-21 years group, infection among males was higher than that among females (9.0% vs.6. 8% respectively). The percentage of infection was 11.2 % for rural residence compared to 2.4% for urban residence, regarding occupation the higher percentage of infection was 27.6% among farmers and /or fishermen. According to contact with canal water, the percentage of infection among those who had water contact was 16.9% and only 0.9% for people with no water contact. This study, therefore, recommended that a schistosomiasis control program in these infected areas should be done to educate the population on risk factors that predispose an individual to urinary schistosomiasis and the need for proper control of snails the intermediate host besides treatment of infected people.

<strong>Schistosomiasis-haematobium-Prevalence-and-Risk-factors-converted</strong>

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Vol.3 No.4 – 5 : Effect of discharged sewage water on accumulation of heavy metals in three plant species Zygophyllum album L. Suaeda aegyptiaca and Cyprus rotundus

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By : Al-Zahrani Saeed, AL-Hasawi zaki

 

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate pollution  caused  by  Jeddah City sewage water discharge on the Red Sea coastal soil and the accumulation of heavy metals in the naturally growing plants : Suaeda aegyptiaca Forssk. , Zygophyllum album L. and Cypersus jeminicus Rottb. Metal accumulation in the polluted water , soil and plants was compared with those parameters in an unpolluted coastal site ,30 km south of Jeddah City . The results indicated significantly high accumulation of metals in sea water, soil and plants of the polluted site compared to the unpolluted site. Macro – elements Ca , Na , Mg , K and P , and micro – elements ( heavy and toxic metal ) specially Fe , Al , Zn , and Mn were significantly high dominating all other elements . The three species differed in the elements they accumulated, and  all of them accumulated more than one element . The different plant parts ( leaves , stems , roots ) differed in the magnitude of the metals they accumulated . Suaeda  aegyptiaca Forssk. accumulated 7 elements Zn , Cu , Mn , Cr , Ni , Ba , Al  ,  and Zygophyllum album L. accumulated 9 elements , Zn , Mn , Cu , Ag , Co , Al , Ba , Ni , and Cr , while Cyperus jeminicus Rottb. accumulated only 3 elements , Zn , Mn and Ag . These three species may be considered hyperaccumulators to Zn , Ni and Al metals . According to this study these three species can be used as phytoremidation  to soils polluted with heavy metals.

zaki 1

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Vol.3 No.4 – 4 : green synthesis and characterizaton of iron-oxide nanoparticles by guava aqueous leaves extract for doxorubicin drug loading

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By : Moustafa Hussein Moustafa, Rasha shams Al Din

 

Abstract

A green biosynthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 Nps) was carried out in one step. An aqueous extract of orange peels, green tea, and guava leaves were utilizes as precipitating agent for metal precursors. The guava leaves extract was the most powerful one. The shape and size of (Fe2O3 Nps) were monitored by transmission electron microscopy. The existence of iron in the yield was studied by UV-visible spectroscopy. The stability of the particles was estimated by hydrogen peroxide reaction. The (Fe3O4 Nps) were incubated with human red blood cells(R BCs).the osmotic fragility test for (R BCs) showed no significant shifting from the control. The loading of doxorubicin cytotoxic drug was primitively monitored by scanning electron microscopy for further study plan

Ferric oxide paper (2)

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Vol.3 No.4 – 3: Clinical and microbiological efficacy of medicinal maggots in the treatment of pressure ulcers in Egypt

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By : Tarek I. Tantawi, Yousry M. Gohar, Soheir G. William, Mamdouh M. Kotb, Nesreen A. Abou Zeid

Abstract

Pressure ulcers are a significant public health problem, especially for patients in long term care facilities. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and microbiological efficacy of maggot therapy in the treatment of pressure ulcers. The study was conducted on 14 bed-bound patients with 14 pressure ulcers at Alexandria Main University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt. The blow fly Lucilia sericata was used for maggot therapy. Each ulcer was treated by one maggot cycle of 3 days per week. The ulcers were investigated weekly for changes in their size, the size of necrotic tissue, and the bacterial burden before and after each maggot cycle. Of the 14 ulcers treated with maggot therapy, three ulcers were completely debrided of which one ulcer needed only one cycle and two ulcers were debrided by two cycles. Nine ulcers had > 50% of their size occupied by a red healthy granulation tissue during a mean period of 2.14 weeks. The mean of initial bacterial burden of ulcers was significantly decreased from 4.86 ´ 108 CFU/ml exudate to 1.92 ´ 104 CFU/ml exudate (p=0.01814) below the 105 threshold of natural healing after the first maggot cycle. The clinical and microbiological outcomes demonstrate that maggot therapy is a rapid, simple, efficient, and cost-effective tool for treating pressure ulcers which do not respond to conventional treatment and surgical intervention.

Tantawi MT NEW MS

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Vol.3 No.4 – 2: miRNA-122 from Laboratory biomarker to the treatment of HCV

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By : Ahmed Abdelhalim Yameny

Abstract

     Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important human pathogen that infects as many as 185 million persons worldwide, In the long-term, this can lead to advanced liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma HCC, there is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C. About 15–45% of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus within 6 months of infection without any treatment, miRNAs are endogenous short single-stranded noncoding RNAs and they are post-transcriptional negative regulators of gene expression, about18-22 nucleotides long, and play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression. Now there are over 2500  mature potential human microRNAs recorded in miRBase (version 20, accessed January 2014), 84 miRNAs in serum and plasma of HCV-infected patients to identify miRNAs that correlated with different stages histologically assessed liver disease severity and during HCV infection, miRNA-122 is the most abundant in the liver,miRNA-122 is responsible, for liver homeostasis, several studies showed that miRNA-122 is required for HCV replication in infected cells, it can use as a serum biomarker over alanine leucine transaminase(ALT) in predicting the presence of chronic HCV infection, miR-122 also plays a crucial role in the regulation of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism in the adult liver, and was identified as a regulator for systematic iron homeostasis, therapies that target it could present an effective approach for the development of new HCV antiviral drugs, Recently, the development of the anti-miR122 therapeutic miravirsen. Miravirsen (formerly SPC3649) is a 15-base oligonucleotide that is complementary to part of miR-122 and is the first miRNA-targeting agent administered to patients. Miravirsen has demonstrated in vitro antiviral activity against all HCV genotypes, Miravirsen interferes with the functions of miR-122 both in viral proliferation and in cholesterol homeostasis, miravirsen has demonstrated broad antiviral activity and a relatively high genetic barrier to resistance.

miRNA-122-from-Laboratory-diagnosis-to-treatment-of-HCV-converted

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Vol.3 No.4 – 1: Ecophysiological and Histopathological Impacts of Organic Pollution on Two Freshwater Fish Species, Mansoura City, Egypt.

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By : Sherif H. Abdeen, Abeer E. Abdrabouh, Mohamed I. Mashaly, Ahmed E. Hagras, Ali A. Al-halany

Abstract

Organic pollution is one of environmental hazards, especially in aquatic ecosystems. This study was focusing on levels of total organic carbon (TOC%) in sediment of two freshwater habitats different in quality, as well as tissues including; muscles and gonads of two fish species inhabiting both sites during four seasons of one year of study. Ammar drain as a polluted site showed significantly higher levels of TOC% in both sediment and fish tissues comparing to River Nile as a reference site. Data also illustrated that, fish from polluted site showed remarkable decrease in blood indices; RBCs count, Hb content and Hct%, while WBCs count was mostly elevated, especially during autumn. Accompanying to these results, antioxidant enzymes as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were generally decreased during most seasons in fish samples from Ammar drain. Also, histopathological changes in muscles and gonads were observed, where sever deteriorations in these tissues were more discriminating in fish species from Ammar drain compared to River Nile locality. From the obtained results, polluted water drains affect general health and structure of their inhabiting fish species.

Dr.Abeer Dec 2017

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Vol.3 No.3 – 4: Gene-Behavior Theory: Relation between behavioral deviation and satellite DNA causing increased selective disease susceptibility within communities

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By : Seif Salah-Eldin Mohammed

Abstract

The regional differences in the mix of cancers and diseases provoke many questions regarding the causes that control the susceptibility, in this work, it is proven that the behavioral deviance is the main cause for the increased selective disease susceptibility through cross-sectional studies. Theoretically, it is suggested that human leucocyte antigens is a marker for a deviated ancestors, and satellite DNA is an expression to the common-sense and reflects the behavior, causing increased disease susceptibility if deviated. The conformity approach which used in the human-community theory explain many social and genetic mechanisms, especially, how human-human interactions affect the genetic damage/repair.

JBAAR 2017-9 Issue 3 (The Gene-Behavior Theory)

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Vol.3 No.3 – 3: The Antioxidant defense Responses of Sea cucumber Holothuriapolii Against Rickettsia-like organism (RLOs) Infection and Heavy Metal Pollution in Alexandria coast

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By : Mohamed M. Elghazaly and Aml Z. Ghoneim

Abstract

Holothuriapolii, the common black sea cucumber (Echinodermata, Holothuroidea), is abundant in Mediterranean Sea alongAlexandria coast. This species was given the great valued commercially and for human consumption.The present study was objective to assess the biological effect of marine pollution on the sea cucumber,Holothuriapolii collected from two locations in Alexandria coast; Abo-Qir station as an industrial area compared with Miami station as a reference area, using the oxidative stress biomarkers approach, heavy metals bio-accumulation, and Rickettsia-like organism (RLOs) infection. Sea cucumber samples were collected from bothstations in Alexandria, during two seasons; winter (January) and summer (July) 2016. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to detect Zn, Mn, pb, Cu and Cd in the body wall of the animal as wellas in water samples.
The resultsshowed a significant decrease in the antioxidant parameters; catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione reductase (GSH), and Glutathione transferase(GST) activities, while theMalondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly increased in the body wall tissue of sea cucumber collected from Abo-Qir station as compared with Miami station.The concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Mn, Pb, Cu and Cd) in body wall of sea cucumber and sea water samples at the two stations differed significantly, showed increasing in the industrial area (Abo-Qir station) compared with Miami station. As parasites areubiquitous in the marine pollutant environment, so thepresent study proved that the sea cucumber samples collected from Abo-Qir station were infected by Rickettsia-like organism (RLOs), found inthe digestive tract and the respiratory tree of this marine animal. The present results of pollutant biomarkers indicated that, the degree of pollution increased in summer as compared with winter season in the two locations.

This study alsosuggestedthat the sea cucumberwas anideal bioindicator animal for marine pollution. The suppression of antioxidant biomarkers inthe tissue of sea cucumber compared with high values of MDA confirmed the presence of anthropogenic contaminants in Abo-Qir station, which essentially due to the industrial rejections. Also,Rickettsia-like organism (RLOs) infection and the bio-accumulation of theheavy metalsin the tissues of sea cucumber obstructed the antioxidant defense responses in the animal.

The Antioxidant defense Responses of Sea cucumber Holothuria polii Against Rickettsia-like organism (RLOs) Infection and Heavy Metal Pollution in Alexandria coast-converted

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