Vol.5 No.2 – 4 : Suitability Assessment of Groundwater for Irrigation in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia: A Case Study of Combined Influence of Landfills and Saltwater Intrusion

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By: Najla Mohsen Ali Al Ahmadi1,2, Furat Ahmed Mahmood Al-Faraj2,3, Nassir S. Alamri1,4,5

1General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection

2School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, University of Bolton, United Kingdom

3School of Computing, Science and Engineering, Civil Engineering Research Group, The University of Salford, Newton Building, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, United Kingdom

4Hydrology and Water Resources Management, King Abdulaziz University-Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

5Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This research assessed the combined influence of permitted landfills and unlicensed dumps coupled with salt water intrusion on the suitability of groundwater in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia for irrigation purposes. Fourteen water samples were analyzed for physiochemical parameters, major ions and heavy metals. Quality assessment of groundwater for irrigation purposes was conducted on basis of sodium percentage (Na %), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), magnesium hazard (MH), permeability index (PI), total hardness (TH), Kelley’s ratio (KR), and soluble sodium percentage (SSP), Wilcox and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) standard limits. Results showed that the domination of ions is in the order Na>Ca>Mg>K and Cl>SO4>HCO3 for cations and anions, respectively. Elevated concentration of Na and Cl coupled with very strong relationships between Na and Cl (r = 0.994), Na and EC (r = 0.995) and between Cl and EC (r = 0.999) indicates a strong influence of Red Sea saltwater intrusion. According to Wilcox and the FAO classifications of salinity (Electrical conductivity (EC)) in irrigation water, it can be concluded that the groundwater in the investigated area of Rabigh is undesirable for irrigation purposes. Based on Freeze and Cherry classification of total dissolved solids (TDS), the groundwater samples fall in the brackish to saline categories. However, saline water was recognized in the majority of the samples (64%). Concerning the FAO classification, 86% of the samples can be classified in the severe restriction category. According to the categorization of irrigation water based on sodium percentage, two-thirds of the water samples can be classified in the doubtful to unsuitable categories. The very high electrical conductivity values obtained in the groundwater samples near the landfill sites are an indication of the combined effect of leachate and Red Sea saltwater intrusion. Severe restriction is associated to 65% of groundwater samples according to the FAO classification of SAR. Nearly two-thirds of the groundwater samples fall in the medium to high sodium hazard categories. According to Kelley’s ratio and soluble sodium percent, the majority of the groundwater samples (86%) show that the groundwater is undesirable for irrigation purposes. The analytical results of SSP conclude that the majority of groundwater samples (86%) are undesirable for irrigated agriculture. Samples of some groundwater wells show that the concentration of some heavy metals such as Aluminum (Al), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Vanadium (V), and Zinc (Zn), are higher than the corresponding FAO permissible limits.

Suitability Assessment of Groundwater for Irrigation in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia A Case Study of Combined Influence of Landfills and Saltwater Intrusion

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Vol.5 No.2 – 3 : Efficiency of collagen III, metalloproteinase 1, carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19.9 for colon cancer diagnosis

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By; Abdelfattah M. Attallah1, Mohamed A. El-Far2, Mohamed M. Omran3, Mohamed A. Abdelrazek 1, Kareem  A. Attallah1, Mohamed S. Elbendary1, Sara A. Soliman1, Rehab A. Atwa1

1Research & Development Department, Biotechnology Research Center, New Damietta City, Egypt

2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Currently, blood markers are noninvasive methods for diagnosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We evaluated four biomarkers (Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA19.9), collagen III and metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1)) and their combination as substitute method to enhance diagnosis of CRC. Subjects and methods: one hundred ninety five patients had undergone colonoscopy examination were inclusive in the study (135 CRC and 60 benign growths). In addition, 45 healthy individuals were included.  Multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were applied for evaluation the diagnostic power of single and their combination. Results:  levels of collagen III, CEA and CA 19.9 increased while MMP-1 decreased with  progression of CRC  (stages, positive lymph node invasion, distant organ metastasis and high grades)  with a significant difference (P <0.01- P < 0.0001). Combination of MMP-1, CEA, CA 19-9 and Collagen III yielded MC3 index had diagnostic power greater than each single marker could achieve alone. When differentiate colon cancer from benign growth, AUC of MC3 index was 0.91 yielded 85.2% sensitivity and 86.7% specificity. Moreover, MC3 index for patients with late stages, lymph node invasion, organ metastasis and high-grade had AUC = 0.81, 0.82, 0.80 and 0.80 higher than CEA and CA19.9.Conclusion:  MC3 index is a can be used as an effective index for early detection of CRC.

Efficiency of collagen III, metalloproteinase 1, carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19.9 for colon cancer diagnosis

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Vol.5 No.2 – 2 : Using starchy waste as a promising raw material for bioethanol production with consequence purification using chitosan / sodium alginate polymeric membrane

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By: Tarek H. Taha1*, M. A. Abu-Saied2*, Elsayed M. Elnaggar3, Ranya A. Amer4, Ahmed E. Mansy4, Gamal M. Elkady3

1Environmental Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt.

2Polymer Materials Research Department, Advanced Technology and New Materials Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt.

3Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, 11884.

4Environment and Natural Materials Research Institute (ENMRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

Current study is concerned by using environmental wastes as raw materials for bio-ethanol production. Alpha amylase enzyme has been used to convert the starch molecules of kitchen waste into simple units of glucose which subsequently fermented into bioethanol. The obtained results showed that 40% substrate and 100 µl of α-amylase were the optimum concentration to produce the highest glucose units at 417.9 and 482.5 milligram/deciliter (mg/dl), respectively. The highest bioethanol production of 423.5 mg/dl was obtained after anaerobic fermentation of free yeast cells at 30oC without shaking. Both of bio-ethanol and 25% ethanol were separated by using amicon cell ultra-filtration system integrated with chitosan or sodium alginate membranes under nitrogen pressure. Each membrane was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Ion Exchange Capacity (IEC); while, the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity was investigated using contact angle. The whole system succeeded to elevate the ethanol concentration in a range of 47-50%, which could be increased with more polymeric modifications.

Using starchy waste as a promising raw material for bioethanol production with consequence purification using chitosan sodium alginate polymeric membrane

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Vol.5 No.2 – 1 : A Heavy Metal Exposure Risk assessment Model to Migratory Birds and Human in Burullus Lake, Egypt

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By: Basma M. Sheta1, Muhammad A. El-Alfy2 and Hazem T. Abd El-Hamid2

1 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, PO Box 819, 34517 New Damietta, Damietta, Egypt.

2 Marine pollution Department, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

Studying migratory birds wintering stopover areas has a global concern. The contamination with heavy metals is one of the serious threats to birds in wetland ecosystem. In the present study, heavy metal exposure risk to birds in Burullus Lake was assessed. The concentrations of Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Co in water, plant and fish were determined in 10 bird habitats. A heavy metals’ exposure risk assessment model to migratory birds in Burullus Lake had been done. It showed that small waders, represented by dunlin, are exposed to higher doses and risk than the waterfowls, represented by mallard. Evaluation of this risk to migratory birds could not be done using water exposure doses only, but food exposure including plant and fish must be included. It is a priority to perform more efforts to reduce the serious contamination with Co and Ni. The risk for fish feeders can be summarized according to the following order: Co > Ni > Cd > Pb > Cr, while the risk for plant feeders is: Co > Ni > Cr > Cd > Pb. Health risk of heavy metal exposures was calculated using Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard index (HI). Results showed that THQs for all metals were below the standard (<1), while HI values were lower than one except for Co and Cd. HI for these two metals are considered an appreciable hazard risk to human health. Therefore, it is recommended to analyze the heavy metal risk on a temporal basis.

A Heavy Metal Exposure Risk assessment Model to Migratory Birds and Human in Burullus Lake, Egypt

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Vol.5 No.1 – 12 : Gelatin-coated magnetic nanoparticles-based DNA isolation method: A comparison with commercial DNA isolation kits from whole blood

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By: Kelly S Levano1,2, Luis Jaramillo-Valverde1,2, Elizabeth Delgado1,2, Heinner Guio1,2*

1INBIOMEDIC Research and Technological Center, Lima, Peru;

 2ALBIOTEC, Lima, Peru;

Abstract

DNA isolation is the first step for most molecular tests, thus indicating the importance of using a reliable and suitable method for this procedure. The use of magnetic nanoparticles for blood DNA isolation offers several advantages including: subjecting little mechanical stress to your sample, obtaining higher quality and quantity of DNA and non-laborious procedures. In this study, we isolate genomic DNA using gelatin-coated magnetic nanoparticles from blood samples and test its use compare with three commercial blood DNA isolation kits.  DNA purity and yield were assessed by measuring absorbance at A260/A280 and by agarose gel electrophoresis. The suitability of the isolated DNA for downstream applications was analyzed by end-point PCR and Sanger sequencing. In this study, gelatin-coated magnetite particles for genomic DNA isolation provide an efficient, simple, and inexpensive method that does not require the use of commercial blood DNA Isolation Kit.

Gelatin-coated magnetic nanoparticles-based DNA isolation method A comparison with commercial DNA isolation kits from whole blood

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Vol.5 No.1 – 11 : Assessment of cell-free DNA for early detection of ovarian cancer in women

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By: Waleed M Fathy,1 Sabah Farouk,2 Gamalat Elgedawy,3 Ayman Abd-Elhakim Abd-Elghany, 4 Amira Ahmed2

1Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menufia University, Egypt

2Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, Sadat City University Egypt

3Biochemistry Department, National Liver Institute, Menufia University, Egypt

4Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, General Organization of Teaching Hospital, Egypt

Abstract

Objectives: To assess circulating cell-free DNA’s diagnostic potential in Egyptian women with ovarian cancer. Background: Ovarian cancer (OC), one of the most common cancers worldwide, is the most lethal form of gynecological cancer, but the early detection of ovarian cancer would significantly decrease its mortality rate. Circulating plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is nucleic acids in peripheral blood that originate from cell death caused by injury, apoptosis, and necrosis. Circulating cfDNA is normally found in small amounts in the blood of healthy individuals, although increased cfDNA levels have been reported in patients with various clinical conditions, including infection, inflammation, malignancy, connective tissue diseases, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, pregnancy-associated disorders, and hemodialysis. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 50 patients with OC, 25 patients with benign ovary disease (BOD), and 25 apparently healthy women used as a control group. All participants were tested for AFP, HCG, CA125, LDH, and circulating cfDNA, which were measured using real-time quantitative Polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: Circulation cfDNA rises more dramatically between OC cases than in both BOD cases and healthy controls, and the results indicate that circulating cfDNA was significantly higher in the OC group (p < 0.001) than both the BOD and control groups. The receiver operator of characteristics (ROC) curve analysis of circulating cfDNA revealed that, at a cut-off value of > 4.13 (fold expression), the sensitivity and specificity for differentiation of OC cases from non-cancer subjects were 97.3% and 92%, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between circulating cfDNA and CA 125.Conclusion: Circulating CfDNA might be a biomarker for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.


Assessment of cell-free DNA for early detection of ovarian cancer in women. (1)


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Vol.5 No.1 – 10 : Clonal Diversity and High Prevalence of Oxa-23 among Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates in Egypt

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By : Nevine Fam1, Doaa Gamal1, *Dalia Salem1, Heba Dahroug1, Reham M. Wasfy1, Myriam M. Morcos2.

1Department of Microbiology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI), Giza, Egypt.

2Naval Medical Research Laboratories (NAMRU-3). Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Background and Aim: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is becoming a global threat especially to hospitalized patients. We aimed to address the magnitude of CRAB causing healthcare-associated infections in patients admitted to a tertiary healthcare hospital in Egypt and to study their genetic and epidemiologic diversity. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six CRAB isolates representing 48% of all Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) isolated in the study period were identified by microbiological culture methods and verified by presence of bla-oxa51. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by disc diffusion and MIC was determined by VITEK2 compact system. Phenotypic expression of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) was determined by MBL IP/IPI E-test. Carbapenemase encoding genes were identified by PCR and clonal relatedness was studied by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using Apa1 and PulseNet protocol. Results: All A. baumannii isolates were multi-drug resistant (MDR). Colistin and minocycline showed the highest sensitivities of 100% and 61.1%respectively. MBLs were phenotypically detected in 20/26 (76.9%) of the isolates while blaOXA-23-like was the main carbapenem resistance gene recorded in 61.5% followed by blaNDM-1-like (26.9%) and blaGES-like (7.7%).  PFGE typing showed high diversity as most of the isolates were < 80% similar. Conclusion: Carbapenem resistance among A. baumannii isolates is increasing dramatically in our geographic region. BlaOXA-23-likeis the most common gene in CRAB isolates in our hospital setting. In addition, blaNDM-1-like and blaGES-like harboring A. baumannii isolates are exhibiting a considerable spread in hospital environment in Egypt. The clonal diversity of our CRAB isolates suggests that it could be due to horizontal dissemination of mobile genetic elements rather than propagation of a certain clone.

Clonal-Diversity-and-High-Prevalence-of-Oxa-23-among-Carbapenem-Resistant-Acinetobacter-baumannii-Isolates-in-Egypt

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Vol.5 No.1 – 9 : Oxidative stress and DNA damage in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as biomarkers of aquatic pollution

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By: EL-Hassan Mokhamer, Eman H. Radwan and Moataz Elsaka

Zoologlogy Department, Faculty of science, Damanhour university,Egypt

 (Email: elhassan.gaber@sci.dmu.edu.eg)

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Cd) aquatic pollution of EL-Mahmoudeyia canal on the antioxidant enzymatic activities, GSH content and lipid peroxidation levels (MDA) in Oreochromis. niloticus muscles tissues collected from two areas EL-Mahmoudeyia canal as Polluted area and  Rosetta branch of river Nile as reference area in summer 2018 and winter 2019 as well as DNA damage was assessed in fish gills(erythrocytes) samples by applying comet assay. EL-Mahmoudeyia canal exposed to excessive of industrial effluents which impact the living organisms especially fish. The herein results showed that higher concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Cd) were detected in water and fish samples collected from the polluted area in comparison with the reference area, especially in winter.  The accumulation patterns of heavy metals in muscles of O. niloticus, were in the following order: Fe > Zn >Pb> Cu and Cd.The antioxidant enzymatic activities of (SOD, CAT, GPx and GST) and the lipid peroxidation biomarker MDA levels in muscles of O. niloticus collected from the polluted area were found to be significantly increased compared to that of the reference area.Meanwhile, there was a significant decrease in the GSH content levelin muscles of O. niloticus collected from the polluted area compared to that of the reference area. A significant elevation in DNA damage frequencies was observed in fish collected from the polluted areas compared with those from the reference area.These noticeable alterations in the selected antioxidant enzymatic activities in muscles of the O. niloticus go in parallel with the remarkable elevation in the levels of the detected heavy metals in water from EL Mahmoudeyia canal, as a result of pollution in these areas. This study explored the utility of the DNA damage, the altered antioxidant enzymatic activities, GSH content and MDA level as biomarkers of aquatic pollution.

 

Oxidative-stress-and-DNA-damage-in-Nile-Tilapia-Oreochromis-niloticus-as-biomark

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Vol.5 No.1 – 8 : Optimization of Microwave technique conditions for Shrimp chitin deacetylation by response surface methodology

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By : Samar Mohamed Mahdy

Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

E-mail: samar_mahdy@yahoo.com

Abstract

The objective of this study was to optimize chitosan production conditions from shrimp waste using the response surface methodology corresponding to the degree of deacetylation. The influence of alkaline concentration, microwave power, time and chitin concentration on the N-deacetylation of shrimp wastes chitin by microwave irradiation was investigated. Experimental conditions varied from 30 to 50% NaOH, 1125 to 2450 MHz, 6 to 18 min and 4.76 to 8.30% chitin concentration. The degree of deacetylation increased significantly with increasing time, NaOH conc. , microwave power and decreasing chitin conc. response surface analysis indicated the maximal degree of deacetylation to occur at 50% NaOH, 2400 MHz, 4.76% chitin conc. and 13 min to obtain chitosan with DDA 90.2%. 

The utility of biomarkers in the discrimination of acute coronary syndrome patients

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Vol.5 No.1 – 7 : The utility of biomarkers in the discrimination of acute coronary syndrome patients

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By : Mohamed M. Omrana*, Faten M. Zahranb, Mohamed Kadryc,

Arafa A. M. Belal c, Hesham S. Abd Alsamied 

a Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science,  Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt;

b Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt;

c Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt;

d Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, New Damietta, Al-Azhar University, Egypt;

Abstract

Background: The assessment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) provides useful data not only for identification but also for therapeutic decisions. Objective: To develop a score based on cardiac biomarker for the early diagnosis of ACS patients. Methods: Serum concentrations of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) beside cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) were measured in a total 200 chest pain patients represented in two groups (estimation and validation). The diagnostics value of biomarkers for discriminating ACS patients was evaluated by area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC). Multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA) was used to create a predictive score. Results: A novel score depends on combination of cTnI, CK-MB, MPO and MCP-1 produces AUCs of 0.93 for discriminating ACS patients and 0.90 for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This score correctly classified 95% of ACS patients and 93% of AMI patients with good efficiencies were 88.3% and 81%; respectively. This score had similar results in the validation study. Conclusion: Four biomarkers in combination yield a novel score help in the early and safe prediction of ACS and AMI.

Optimization of Microwave technique conditions for shrimp chitin deacetylation by response surface methodology

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