Suez Canal University
  • Ismailia, Egypt
Recent publications
Introduction: Female genital self-image (FGSI) refers to one's perception of the external and internal appearance of female genitalia. FGSI is a multidisciplinary research area influenced by psychological, sociocultural, and clinical factors, influencing sexual satisfaction, desire, self-perception, and partner perception. Objectives: The review aims to improve doctors' understanding of genital self-image by incorporating psychological and sociocultural perspectives, thereby promoting a comprehensive and holistic approach. Methods: A comprehensive search technique was used to obtain research papers from the following databases: PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Web of Science. Google Scholar was also manually searched. The search results were imported into Rayyan reference management and assessed using the established inclusion criteria. The quality of the articles was assessed using the appropriate JBI checklist (ie, according to the study design), and the JBI grades of recommendation were used to grade the evidence. Results: Psychological theories like self-schema, body image, and female personal harm view offer insights into FGSI, but none provide a comprehensive explanation of subjective body image dissatisfaction. Research indicates women often experience anxiety about discussing genitalia and accepting sexual attention, but limited literature on negative self-image causes. Interventions include sexological counseling, therapy, educational programs, and public statements. Understanding FGSI is crucial for effective pre-surgical counseling, incorporating online portrayals, attitudes, and reasons for cosmetic surgery, and addressing psychological and sociocultural factors. This text delves into the intricate psychological and sociocultural factors that shape FGSI, presenting a model of intra-and interpersonal dynamics. The link between FGSI and negativism is unclear, but it is linked to women's confidence and subjectivity, with positive self-perceptions predicting higher sexual satisfaction and mental health. Conclusions: FGSI has an imperative role in healthy female sexual function. The study suggests an interdisciplinary approach to managing FGSI, integrating psychological and sociological approaches, to better understand women's anatomy and address gendered distress.
Background Anxiety may be induced in the dental clinics, which is an essential learning environment for undergraduate dental students. This could have a negative impact on clinical performance. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of clinical anxiety among a sample of Dental students and to determine possible precipitating factors for clinical anxiety among them. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among 3rd and 4th year dental students at King Salman International University using the modified 34 items of Moss and McManus clinical anxiety questionnaire. Results 263 students participated. Dental students reported higher incidence of clinical anxiety (60.8%), particularly with different dental treatment plan procedures related clinical situations fulfilling 31.2 out of mean score of anxiety all (74.0 ). Females had higher anxiety score in all domains than males, the same trend noticed in students who reported dental phobia and previous bad dental experiences (P < 0.001, P 0.016, P 0.003 respectively). Participants rated the clinical anxiety precipitating situations in a descending order as follows: extracting wrong tooth (39.5%), giving wrong treatment (37.6%), tearing of the cheek/lips due to catching on a dental burr (35.7%), fracturing a tooth (34.4%), wrong diagnosis (28.1%), inadvertently hurting the patient (22.1%), inability to meet requirements before exams (19.1%), dealing with a fainting patient during dental treatment (18.7%). Two clinical anxiety precipitating situations had almost the same score including restoration failure/recurrent caries and endodontic retreatment procedures 14.8% and 14.4% respectively. Also, extracting tooth and arresting postoperative bleeding had the same score of 13.7%, while the rest of other clinical situations ranged from 11.8 to 1.1%. Conclusions dental students had a comparatively high level of anxiety during clinical classes especially females and those with dental phobia and previous bad dental experiences. Dental students may benefit from stress management classes, mentorship programs, and improved clinical supervision in order to reduce clinical anxiety and build resilience.
Phytochemicals and essential oils have been widely used as growth promoters in aquaculture. However, the optimal dose of a blend of essential oils for promoting the growth and health of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) remains largely unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the dose-response effects of dietary supplementation with a blend of clove and peppermint oils (CPO) on growth indices, feed utilization, physio-metabolic responses, immunity, and organ histology in African catfish. Catfish (105.1 ± 0.5 g) were fed diets containing 0.0 (control; CPO0), 1.0 (CPO1), 2.0 (CPO2), or 3.0 mL CPO/kg diet for two months. The results displayed that fish performance and feed intake significantly improved with increasing CPO levels in a linear manner (P < 0.01). Additionally, the specific growth rate and hemoglobin (R² = 84.6%) levels showed quadratic improvements with the optimal doses at 1.12 mL and 1.6 mL/kg diet, respectively. The inclusion of dietary CPO linearly affected aspartate aminotransferase (AST; R² = 93.1%), alanine aminotransferase (ALT; R² = 97.7%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP; R² = 97.0%), and glucose (R² = 85.9%) levels in the plasma of catfish (P < 0.001). Increasing the concentrations of dietary CPO led to a quadratic decrease in creatinine (R² = 98.7%), uric acid (R² = 94.8%), and cortisol (R² = 87.1%; P < 0.001), with optimal doses confirmed at 1.75, 2.7, and 1.3-mL CPO per kg of diet, respectively. Dietary CPO has a significant modulatory impact on immune-antioxidant variables in African catfish in a dose-dependent manner. Increasing CPO in the fish diets resulted in a quadratic increase in the levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG; R² = 98.8%), lysozyme activity (R² = 93.9%), and total antioxidant capacity (R² = 84.9%). The corresponding dose–response curves displayed that the optimal doses were at 1.85, 2.1, and 1.8 mL/kg of diet. Furthermore, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly improved in all CPO-treated groups in a quadratic manner, with optimal doses at 1.25 mL (R² = 90.6%) and 1.55 mL (R² = 89.7%) per kg of diet. Catfish fed diets supplemented with CPO showed gradual improvements in hepatocytes (HP), and blood vessels (BV) with an increased number of binucleated cells. Moreover, catfish fed diets containing CPO had improvement in the tubular epithelium, Bowman’s capsule, and a few melanomacrophage areas. This study revealed that CPO supplementation at an optimal dose of 1–2 mL/kg of diet significantly improved growth performance, feed utilization, metabolic processes, and immune and antioxidant functions in African catfish.
Developing an effective vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a key global health concern, especially with the increased reports of multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. aureus strains. Previous attempts for S. aureus vaccine development were unsuccessful. In this study, Manganese transport protein C (MABC) B cell epitopes, Nickel ABC transporter (NABC) B cell & T cell epitopes, and Phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase (PIc) B cell & T cell epitopes were used as a vaccine in mice skin infection model. Mice immunized with peptide mixture and MABC peptide group showed the best skin lesion healing results. The protection level was correlated with the highest IgG level, highest levels of interferon-gamma (INF γ), and lowest levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2). The peptide mixture group also showed the highest count of CD4/ CD8 cells. Results demonstrated that the inclusion of B cell and T cell epitopes of multiple genes improved both the humoral and cellular immunity and resulted in the best outcome in the skin infection mice model. A more expanded in-vivo study in different mice models is recommended for testing MABC, NABC, and PIc B cells and T cells peptides cocktail as promising S. aureus vaccine.
The geological environment of the Gulf of Suez region is one of the most suitable structural conditions for the formation of geothermal energy, where the Gulf’s eastern and western coasts include several hot springs. Results of the geophysical data indicated that the Gulf of Suez region is affected by deep-seated regional faults in the NE-SW and NW-SE directions, forming horst and graben-like structures. Hot springs emerge on the surface of the ground as a result of the groundwater being heated by the shallowly raised basement blocks. Natural hot springs along the eastern coast of the Gulf, including Hammam Faroun, Ayoun Mousa, and Hammam Mousa, are created by the major subsurface faults acting as conduits for the lateral and vertical circulation of the thermal groundwater. Moreover, the estimated depths of the Curie Point all over the Gulf vary between 14 and 24 km, where the relatively shallow depths support the occurrence of geothermal energy. Along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Suez, three new prospective geothermal sites were discovered by combining the geophysical and remote-sensing data. These sites are namely Ras-Matarma, Abu-Durba, and around El-Tor city, which must be studied in detail.
Introduction Priapism is an emergency condition treated by emergency medicine (EM) physicians and urologists/andrologists. EM physicians are the first-line healthcare providers for this condition, and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding priapism remain unclear. Aim The aim of this study was to understand emergency physicians’ perspectives regarding priapism to help re-structure EM programs. Methods This cross-sectional study on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) surveyed emergency physicians from a university and other hospitals in the Ismailia governorate, Egypt. A validated questionnaire was sent via an online e-survey following the CHEERIES guidelines. Bivariate analysis of demographic characteristics and KAP was performed using by odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Spearman’s rho was used to measure the correlation between knowledge, attitude, and practice. A P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Main Outcome Measure Emergency physicians completed an e-survey of their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding priapism. Results A total of 149 participants were surveyed. 140 (93%) of EM physicians believed priapism was a medical emergency. 139 (93%) respondents were aware of the long-term complications of priapism. Further, 136 (91.3%) respondents strongly supported the multidisciplinary approach. Of these, 79 (53%) gave intra-cavernous sympathomimetic therapy and 75 (50.3%) did aspiration with irrigation. EM physicians <30 years of age had significantly better knowledge about priapism (OR = 2.47 (1.23-4.96); P = 0.01). Similarly, young physicians had better attitudes (OR = 3.24 (1.31-8.02); P = 0.01) and female physicians demonstrated better practice (OR = 3.36 (1.65-6.82); P = 0.001) toward priapism. A significant positive correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.487), and knowledge and practice (r = 0.281) at P <0.001. Clinical Implications EM physicians agreed that EM-based therapy is appropriate for straightforward cases of acute ischemic priapism. Existing educational programs for EM physicians may not adequately equip them in handling priapism in practice. Strengths and Limitations This study is the first to investigate EM knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) for priapism handling. The study identified areas for improvement in this regard. However, the cross-sectional design, single governorate setting, and self-administered questionnaire limit its generalizability. Conclusion Despite the satisfactory knowledge and attitudes of EM physicians regarding priapism and infection control, this study identified potential areas for improvement in the use of guidelines on invasive treatment.
Background Elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) may have peculiar findings compared to juvenile-onset RA (JORA). The aim of the work was to present and compare the clinical characteristics of RA patients with JORA and elderly-onset EORA to a group of cases with adult-onset (AORA) and to contrast the findings worldwide. Methods The study included 1100 adult RA patients: 209 JORA and 329 EORA, compared with 562 AORA extracted from a big data national study on 10,364 RA patients. Clinical characteristics, laboratory investigations, medications received, and co-morbidities were recorded. The disease activity index (DAS28) and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were estimated. Results The JORA cases represented 19% and EORA 29.9% of the included cohort. The mean age at onset for JORA, EORA, and AORA were 15.1 ± 2.1, 64 ± 4.2, and 36.4 ± 10 years ( p < 0.0001), and the female-male ratio was 6.2:1, 2.7:1, and 7.3:1 ( p < 0.0001), respectively. In EORA, body mass index (28.8 ± 5.8) and frequencies of smokers (11.6%), diabetes (12.2%), hypertension (19.8%), and osteoporosis (5.2%) were significantly higher than in JORA (26.02 ± 5; 5.3%, 2.9%, 3.8%, and 1%) and AORA (27.6 ± 5.6; 3%, 8.4%, 14.9%, and 2.3%, p = 0.016) ( p < 0.0001, p = 0.001, p < 0.0001, and p = 0.009, respectively). In JORA, oral ulcers were significantly more frequent ( p = 0.04); in EORA, cardiovascular manifestations ( p < 0.0001) and hypothyroidism ( p = 0.039) were more frequent; and DAS28 ( p = 0.01) and HAQ ( p = 0.038) were higher. Fibromyalgia and methotrexate administration were significantly more frequent in AORA ( p < 0.0001 and p = 0.04, respectively). Rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, and double seropositivity were significantly more frequent in EORA ( p < 0.0001, p = 0.008, and p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion Comorbidities, cardiovascular manifestations, hypothyroidism, higher disease activity, and functional disability are more common in EORA patients. Key Points • Juvenile-onset and elderly-onset RA patients have notable differences compared to the adult-onset cases. • Co-morbidities and certain manifestations, including cardiovascular disease and hypothyroidism, as well as higher disease activity and functional disability, are more common in elderly-onset patients. • Fibromyalgia remains more frequent in adult-onset cases.
Estimating parameters in solar cell models is crucial for simulating and designing photovoltaic systems. The single-diode, double-diode, and three-diode models represent these systems. Parameter estimation can be viewed as an optimization problem to minimize the difference between measured and estimated data. This study presents PV parameter estimation using the enhanced Sinh Cosh Optimizer (I_SCHO), incorporating trigonometric operators from the Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA). This integration improves the algorithm’s ability to navigate complex search spaces, avoid local optima, and expedite convergence. Assessment criteria include runtime, convergence behaviour, minimum RMSE, and system reliability measured by SD. Results show that I_SCHO consistently delivers superior accuracy and reliability compared to other methods. Experiments were conducted on five solar cells: RTC France, Photowatt-PWP201, Kyocera KC200GT, Ultra 85-P, and STM6-40/36 module. The study also includes a comparative analysis using state-of-the-art algorithms, demonstrating I_SCHO’s efficiency through RMSE, Power Voltage (P-V) and Current Voltage (I-V) curves.
The engineering of the architecture of the quantum wires has shown a real challenge in the scientific community owing to their fascinating and auspicious application potential in the field of optoelectronics. The modulation of the morphology and structure of the quantum wires may give rise to the modulation of the energy levels and band offset positions to enhance the charge carriers transfer through any electronic device and improve the overall performance for the future application in the field of spintronics and photonics. Here, we proposed, for the first time, a novel rectangular architecture based Al x Ga 1-x As and Ga x In 1-x As quantum wires to engineer the electron energy spectrum according to a wide range of applications in electronics and optical devices. The electron energy levels in rectangular Al x Ga 1-x As and Ga x In 1-x As quantum wires with infinite potential barrier were calculated at different x values and different cross-section areas to explore the role of dopant and compared with the cylindrical shape. The calculations of the electron confinement energy in the first and second energy levels indicate that the energy value in cylindrical quantum wire is less than its value in rectangular one while for E 3 the energy value in cylindrical quantum wire is larger than its value in rectangular one for all values of x . The confinement energy was found to be inversely proportional to the ratio of the doped material. The electron energy dispersion in Al x Ga 1-x As and Ga x In 1-x As quantum wires of 100 nm ² cross-section area, x = 0.4 for E 1 , E 2 and E 3 with the wave vector value has been investigated. The calculations of the first and second energy levels indicated that the energy value in cylindrical quantum wire is less than its value in rectangular one for E 1 and E 2 while for E 3 the energy value in cylindrical quantum wire is larger than its value in rectangular with a distinct value for each wave vector value for all x values. These unique features of the proposed novel architecture may open a new avenue for the future applications in photonics, spintronics and waveguides.
Background This study aimed to evaluate the effects of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and/or vitamin E (VE) on the growth, body composition, metabolic parameters, histopathology, and resistance of Nile tilapia to Aspergillus flavus. Results Monosex Nile tilapia fingerlings were sourced from the Bazina farm and hatchery in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, where the experiment was also conducted. The fish were acclimatized for 15 days before the trial. A total of 240 fingerlings (average weight 46 ± 3.0 g/fish) were divided equally across 12 concrete tanks (1 × 1 × 1.2 m, 1 m³ capacity), with 20 fish per tank. The fish were fed a control diet (T0), which was a basal diet with no supplementation, or one of three experimental diets for 60 days: T1 (1 mg SeNPs/kg), T2 (100 mg VE/kg), and T3 (1 mg SeNPs + 100 mg VE/kg). The experiment followed a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates per treatment. The combination of SeNPs and VE (T3) resulted in the best feed conversion ratio. A slight but significant increase (P < 0.05) in whole-body composition was observed in all treatment groups compared to the control. Biochemical parameters, serum digestive enzyme activity, and antioxidant levels improved significantly with dietary supplementation. Histopathological analysis revealed somewhat lacerated gill arches in fish fed SeNPs, VE, or their combination, but the overall gill structure remained normal. The SeNPs + VE group exhibited improved villi length and normal morphology of portal veins and hepatic sinusoids, though some vacuolated hepatocytes were noted. Fish in the SeNPs + VE group had the lowest mortality rates and the highest resistance to A. flavus. Conclusion Supplementing diets with SeNPs and/or VE enhances growth, body composition, biochemical parameters, and histopathology in Nile tilapia. The combination of 1 mg SeNPs + 100 mg VE/kg improves immune response and growth, offering a promising strategy to enhance Tilapia health and productivity.
The potential use of feed supplements as immune-stimulant and growth-promoting agents in fish diets has drawn much attention. The current research investigated the effects of feeding Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) on white poplar (Populus alba L.) (WP) leaves powder as a dietary supplement on the growth, digestive functions, immune, and oxidant-antioxidant parameters. In addition, the fish resistance against the Aeromonas sobria (A. sobria) challenge was investigated. For 60 days, fish (n = 160; 34.61 ± 0.16 g) were divided equally into four groups, each had four replicates. Fish were fed on four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets supplemented with varying levels of WP; 0 g/kg (WP0, crude protein (CP) = 37.18%; crude lipid (CL) = 9.98%), 2 g/kg (WP2, CP = 37.22%; CL = 9.56%), 4 g/kg (WP4, CP = 36.95%; CL = 9.47%), and 6 g/kg (WP6, CP = 36.88%; CL = 9.33%), where WP0 was the control diet. The results revealed that WP diets substantially boosted the growth (final body weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate) with an improvement of feed conversion ratio of Nile tilapia in a level-dependent manner with the WP6 group attaining the best outcomes. WP diets improved the amylase (4–6 g/kg level) and lipase (2–6 g/kg level) activity and the intestinal morphometric measures (2–6 g/kg level), where the WP6 group recorded the highest values. WP diets increased the growth hormone (2–6 g/kg level) and reduced leptin hormone and glucose levels (2–6 g/kg level). WP diets boosted the immune-antioxidant indices (total protein, albumin, globulin, complement 3, lysozyme, nitric oxide, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase) in a level-dependent manner and the WP6 group attained the highest values. All experimental groups exhibited 100% survival at the end of the feeding trial. During the A. sobria challenge, the survival of fish was improved in a level-dependent manner (2–6 g/kg) (80%, 85%, 95%, respectively) compared to the control (70%), where the WP6 group recorded the highest survival. Noteworthy, WP diets especially at a level of 6 g/kg can be used as a feed supplement for improving the health, growth, immune-antioxidant functions, and disease resistance of Nile tilapia.
Across diverse cultures, herbal remedies have been used to alleviate oral discomfort and maintain dental hygiene. This review presents studies on herbal remedies with remarkable antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, anticaries, analgesic, and healing properties. The manuscripts demonstrate the depth of scientific inquiry into herbal remedies used for the management of various oral and dental health conditions. These include gingivitis, oral ulcers, mucositis, periodontitis, oral pathogens, carcinoma, xerostomia, and dental caries. Researchers have investigated the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of plant-derived compounds and their extracts evaluated their interactions with oral pathogens and inflammatory processes. The convergence of traditional knowledge and rigorous scientific investigation offers a compelling narrative, fostering a deeper understanding of herbal remedies as viable alternatives to conventional dental interventions. This work has the potential to provide patients with access to gentle, yet effective solutions, and simultaneously offer dental health professionals the opportunity to enrich their knowledge, and ability to provide personalized, holistic care. This review highlights the symbiotic relationship between herbal medicine and scientific understanding, emphasizing the importance of disseminating this knowledge to benefit both practitioners and patients, enabling evidence-based decision-making in dental care. The exploration of herbal remedies offers a promising alternative, potentially mitigating some of these side effects while promoting oral health in a more natural and holistic manner.
Considering the widespread availability of certain medicines, there is still a critical need for potent anti-cancer agents. It is owing to numerous negative impacts and non-functionality of current drugs, particularly during the late stages of illness. To accomplish this, the new array of 1,2,3-triazole-benzothiazole molecular conjugates tethering hydrazone/thiosemicarbazone linkage 8a–l have been successfully synthesized via the efficient copper-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the appropriate un/substituted benzothiazole azides 4a–c with several O-propargylated benzylidene derivatives 7a–d. The newly established 1,2,3-triazole structural hybrids were thoroughly characterized using appropriate spectroscopic techniques (IR, ¹H, ¹³C-NMR & CHN analysis). The cytotoxic features of the investigated triazole hybrids were assessed against three human cancer cell lines, A549, T47-D, and HCT-116 cancer cells, using the MTT assay. Based on the findings, the breast cancer cell line T47D displayed promising results with IC50 values of 13, 17, and 19 μM for the synthesized molecules 8a–c, respectively. Furthermore, the safety assessment of these compounds on normal cell lines revealed a relatively low risk to normal cells, as indicated by their IC50 values exceeding 500 μM, suggesting a reasonable safety margin. Interestingly, the most relevant derivatives 8a, 8b, and 8c, exhibited IC50 values of 0.69, 1.16, and 4.82 μM, respectively, causing inhibition of 98.5%, 96.8%, and 92.3%, compared to Erlotinib (IC50 = 1.3 μM, 98.2% inhibition). Molecular docking results exhibited a good binding affinity of compounds 8a and 8b towards the EGFR active site. Accordingly, these compounds can be further developed as target-oriented EGFR chemotherapeutics against cancer.
This study evaluated the effects of dietary organic acid (OA) blend on hemato-immunological responses, reproduction capacity, gene expression, and histological features of red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. mossambicus) broodstock. Four diets were formulated, containing 0 (control), 2, 3, and 4 g OAs kg⁻¹. The diets were fed to triplicate groups (n = 3) of red tilapia broodstock (75 ± 5.56 g( (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) stocked in 10-m³ concrete tanks at a male to female ratio of 1:3, to satiation, twice a day, for 8 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, fish in each tank were collected, counted, and weighed. Blood samples were collected from five fish from each tank and used for the determination of hematological and biochemical parameters. The fish were then dissected to study the reproductive performance and reproduction-related genes. The red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV%), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and lysozyme activity were significantly increased (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary OAs to 4 g kg⁻¹. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), white blood cells (WBCs), total protein, albumin, and globulin), and digestive enzyme activity values leveled off or slightly decreased (P > 0.05) at OA levels above 3 g kg⁻¹. Optimum liver enzyme activity was obtained at 2 g kg⁻¹ OA. The reproductive hormones: testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (Prog), organo-somatic index (GSI), reproductive performance, and the expression of reproductive genes (vasa, nanos1a, nanos2, dnd1, pum1, amh, and VTG) exhibited dose-dependent responses (P < 0.05), suggesting that 4 g OA kg⁻¹ boosted the optimum reproductive performance. In conclusion, about 2–3 g OA kg⁻¹ diet can improve the hemato-biochemical parameters, immune response, antioxidant status, and digestive enzyme activity in red tilapia broodstock, whereas 4 g kg⁻¹ could accelerate their reproductive performance through upregulation of reproductive genes.
Background Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic bacteria associated primarily with hospital-acquired infections. Its tendency to acquire or donate resistance genes to neighboring bacteria is a major concern. Tetracyclines have shown promise in treating A. baumannii infections, but tetracycline resistance is growing globally in A. baumannii isolates. Objectives The study aimed to study (1) the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii infections at Suez Canal University Hospitals, (2) the distribution of efflux pump genes AdeA &B, TetA, and TetB, and (3) the effect of efflux pump inhibitor (CCCP) on tetracycline-resistant isolates. Methods Clinical samples (457) were collected (blood, urine, sputum, ETA, pus, and pleural fluid), followed by A. baumannii isolation and identification, PCR detection of efflux pump genes, and detection of tetracycline susceptibility and its MIC before and after treatment with the efflux pump inhibitor (CCCP). Results A total of 31 A. baumannii isolates were recovered (6.78%). The highest rate of isolation was from the ICU (48.3%) from the ET aspirate samples (48.3%). The efflux system AdeA and TetB genes were distributed in 100% of isolates, whereas AdeB was found in 93.5% of isolates and the TetA gene in 87.1% of isolates. All A. baumannii isolates were MDR showing resistance to three or more classes of antibiotics. 45% of the isolates showed a 4-fold reduction of MIC and 12.9% showed a 2-fold reduction in the MIC. Conclusions Efflux pump is an important mechanism for tetracycline resistance among A. baumannii isolates.
Paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic drug, induces sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy. Carvedilol, a nonselective β-adrenoreceptor blocker, has been shown to exert antioxidant activity. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has supra-physiological levels of growth factors (GFs), enhances biosynthesis of antioxidant enzymes, and suppresses oxidative stress. This study compared the ameliorative effects of carvedilol and PRP on paclitaxel-induced femoral neuropathy. Eighty-eight adult male albino rats were equally randomized into four groups: group I served as the control; group II received paclitaxel (16 mg/kg intraperitoneally, weekly); group III received carvedilol (10 mg/kg daily, orally) concomitant with paclitaxel; and group IV received PRP (0.5 mL/kg subcutaneously, twice weekly) concomitant with paclitaxel. After 5 weeks, femoral nerve conduction velocity was measured, and blood samples were collected to assess catalase and superoxide dismutase levels. All animals were sacrificed, and gene expression of miR-21 was quantified. Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue. Then, the ultrathin sections were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Both carvedilol and PRP reversed paclitaxel-induced changes in the peripheral nerve, but PRP demonstrated a stronger antioxidant effect and a more pronounced presence of GFs, as evidenced by electron microscopy. PRP may represent a promising therapeutic approach for paclitaxel-induced neuropathy.
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4,575 members
Tariq Elemam Awad
  • Department of Neurosurgery
Fadia M Attia
  • Department of Clinical Pathology
Salah Abdalla
  • Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Gouda Ellabban
  • Faculty of Medicine-EGYPT
Mohamed A. Abdel Rahman
  • Faculty of Science (University of Suez)
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Ismailia, Egypt