The Effect of Neonicotinoids Exposure on Oreochromis niloticus Histopathological Alterations and Genotoxicity

This study aimed to examine the side effects of selected neonicotinoids (Acetamiprid, Aceta, and Imidacloprid, Imid) on Oreochromis niloticus juveniles. The acute toxicity, Probit method, revealed an LC₅₀ of 195.81 and 150.76 ppm for Aceta/96 h and Imid/72 h respectively. The fish were divided into three groups that were exposed, for 21 days (n?=?5/replicate), to 1/10 of the LC₅₀ of either neonicotinoids, however, the third was an unexposed control group. Results of erythrocytic micronucleus (MN), and nuclear abnormalities (NA) showed that Aceta and Imid exposure caused a significant (p?<?0.05) increase in MN by?~?2.2 and?~?10 folds, respectively relative to control. NAs occurred at the order of kidney-shaped?>?budding?>?binucleated in Aceta, however, budding?>?binucleated?>?kidney-shaped was noticed in the Imid group. Histopathological changes in gills, liver, and muscles were observed significantly in both exposed groups with more severity in the Imid group. Collectively, Aceta and Imid have potential genotoxicity and histopathological alterations in O. niloticus.

     

Molecular detection of spotted fever group rickettsiae associated with ixodid ticks in Egypt

Tick-borne diseases comprise a complex epidemiological and ecological network that connects the vectors, pathogens, and a group of host species. The aim of this study was to identify bacteria from the genus Rickettsia associated with ixodid ticks infesting camels and cows in Egypt. Ticks were collected from 6 different localities: Qina, Giza, Qalet El Nakhl, New Valley, El Arish, and Minufia, from July to October 2008. Species were identified using PCR, followed by sequencing. The gltA and rOmpA genes were used for the initial detection of Rickettsia spp. Further characterization of positive samples utilized primers targeting rOmpB, sca4, and intergenic spacers (mppA-purC, dksA-xerC, and rpmE-tRNA(fMet)). Cows were infested with Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum and Boophilus annulatus. Camels were infested with Hyalomma dromedarii, H. impeltatum, and H. marginatum marginatum. Approximately 57.1% of H. dromedarii ticks collected from Qalet El Nakhl were infected with Rickettsia africae, exhibiting 99.1-100% identity to reference strains. Within H. impeltatum, 26.7% and 73.3% of ticks from El Arish were infected with R. africae and R. aeschlimannii, with 98.3-100% and 97.9-100% identity, respectively. Furthermore, 33.3% of H. marginatum marginatum ticks in Qalet El Nakhl were infected with the same two species as H. impeltatum, demonstrating 99.1-100% and 99.3-100% identity, respectively. By comparing percent identities and phylogenetic relationships, R. africae is identified for the first time in Egypt, in addition to R. aeschlimannii, which exhibits 100% identity with the Stavropol strain in GenBank. In conclusion, the obtained data underscore the medical and veterinary importance of tick-borne rickettsioses, which necessitate further investigation by authorities in Egypt. Moreover, additional characterization of these rickettsial isolates should be performed to designate their strains, using a polyphasic strategy combining genotypic and phenotypic tests, to facilitate their deposition in the rickettsial collection of the WHO and/or ATCC.     

Preoperative peritonsillar infiltration of dexamethasone and levobupivacaine reduces pediatric post-tonsillectomy pain: a double-blind prospective randomized clinical trial

Background

Preoperative corticosteroids reduce post-tonsillectomy morbidities. The present study was performed to compare the effect of peritonsillar dexamethasone infiltration to intravenous injection together with peritonsillar levobupivacaine infiltration before tonsillectomy on postoperative pain in children.

Methods

One hundred twenty children, ASA I–II, aged 6–12 years, scheduled for adenotonsillectomy were enrolled in the study. They were randomized equally into two equal groups; 60 children each. Group A received peritonsillar infiltration with dexamethasone and levobupivacaine, and group B received i.v. dexamethasone and peritonsillar levobupivacaine infiltration. Rest and swallowing pain in the first postoperative day using a visual analogue scale, time to first rescue analgesia, cumulative paracetamol dose, vomiting, and adverse effects related to both interventions during the first postoperative day were recorded. Children care givers were asked to score pain using a verbal rating scale and to disclose complications as halitosis, headache, fever and otalgia during the first postoperative week.

Results

Time to first rescue analgesia was significantly longer in group A. Rest and swallowing pain in the first postoperative day, cumulative paracetamol dose, pain in the second and third postoperative days, and otalgia were significantly lower in group A. None of children developed postoperative bleeding, or complications related to dexamethasone or levobupivacaine infiltration. There was no significant difference in postoperative emesis, fever and halitosis between the groups.

Conclusion

Addition of dexamethasone to levobupivacaine for preoperative peritonsillar infiltration has better postoperative analgesic effects than i.v. dexamethasone combined with peritonsillar levobupivacaine infiltration in children.     

Modified subpectoral biceps tenodesis

Purpose

The proximal part of the long head of the biceps muscle has become a recognized cause of significant shoulder pain. Tenodesis of the long head of the biceps has been advocated as a treatment for pain resulting from biceps tendonopathy, biceps instability, and biceps tendon tears. All of these pathologies may be encountered during rotator cuff, SLAP or Bankart surgery, or in isolation. Several techniques have been described for this tenodesis, including various arthroscopic and subpectoral methods.

Methods

We present a modified bone bridge technique of Mazzocca et al., for subpectoral biceps tenodesis. In this technique we tenodese the tendon through two bone tunnels back over the muscle itself without implants.

Results

Application of this technique on 30 patients (ages 25–48 years) with short-term follow-up of 12–18 months showed statistically significant improvement (P value < 0.05) of the mean Constant and Oxford shoulder scores (pre-operative mean scores were 39.03 and 21.3, respectively, while postoperative mean scores were 76.43 and 44.8, respectively).

Conclusion

This technique has potential advantages as it allows the possibility of adjusting the tension of the biceps tendon before final suturing, in addition to quicker soft tissue healing.     

Is sofosbuvir/ledipasvir safe for the hearts of children with hepatitis C virus?

Background

Symptomatic bradycardia has been reported in adults treated for chronic hepatitis C using sofosbuvir based regimens.

Assessment and upgrading of Alexandria University nursing students' knowledge and attitudes about genetic counseling

The aim of this study was to study the effect of a teaching unit on upgrading university-nursing students' knowledge and attitudes about genetic counseling. The study used pre- test, posttest with no control group design. All nursing students (100) who accepted to participate in the study and enrolled in the Maternity and Gynecological-nursing course, during the second semester of the third academic year 1999-2000, at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, were involved in the study. A self-administered questionnaire sheet was used to assess nursing students' knowledge about genetic counseling, while a 3-point Likert-like scale was used to assess their attitudes towards it. The content of six-hours' teaching unit -about genetic counseling was taught to students by the researchers based on their needs. The study revealed a general lack of knowledge among nursing students regarding basic information about genetic counseling, where poor total score of knowledge was obtained by all of them in the pre-test. In addition, the pre-test revealed that negative attitude was found in about half of the nursing students. The teaching unit had an obvious effect on the nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding genetic counseling, as the total score of their knowledge and attitudes had improved after implementation of the teaching unit. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between nursing students' knowledge and attitudes towards genetic counseling before and after implementation of the teaching unit. Therefore, a negative attitude was found with poor total score of knowledge in the pre-test and positive attitude was found with good total score of knowledge in the post-test. So, there is a need to improve knowledge and change attitude of nursing students about genetic counseling. As well as genetic counseling should be included in the university-nursing curriculum and should be reviewed periodically to accommodate the relevant fast change in the science and technology of genetics. Moreover, nursing students must be informed about the different community resources, which offer the genetic counseling services.     

Low-dose ethanol predisposes elderly fasted patients with type 2 diabetes to sulfonylurea-induced low blood glucose

OBJECTIVE: It has previously been demonstrated that the risk of hypoglycemia is low among otherwise healthy elderly fasted patients with type 2 diabetes taking oral sulfonylurea medications. Nevertheless, these agents do cause hypoglycemia in clinical practice, suggesting that accompanying factors must typically be present for hypoglycemia to occur. Ethanol is one putative risk factor that has not been evaluated as a mechanism for low blood glucose among sulfonylurea users. We hypothesized that low concentrations of ethanol would reduce blood glucose concentrations in elderly type 2 diabetic patients receiving sulfonylureas during a short-term fast. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 10 type 2 diabetic patients, aged 68 +/- 3 years and receiving 20 mg glyburide daily, participated in a prospective double-blind placebo-controlled in-patient study consisting of two 24-h fasts at least 1 week apart. During hours 14 and 15 of the fasting studies, subjects received intravenous infusions of either 4.35 mmol.kg-1.h-1 ethanol (equivalent to one or two alcoholic beverages) or saline placebo in random order. Ethanol, plasma glucose, insulin, and counterregulatory hormones were assessed very 30-60 min during the final 10 h of the fast. RESULTS: Blood ethanol levels peaked at 17 +/- 2 mmol/l (the lower legal limit of intoxication in New Mexico) during the ethanol study. Plasma glucose concentrations did not differ at baseline (placebo 8.5 +/- 1.8 vs. ethanol 8.7 +/- 1.7 mmol/l; P = 0.50), but nadir plasma glucose was lower after the ethanol infusion compared with placebo (4.4 +/- 1.2 vs. 5.0 +/- 1.4 mmol/l; P = 0.01), and the absolute decline in plasma glucose was also greater during the ethanol study than the placebo study (4.7 +/- 0.9 vs. 3.6 +/- 1.2 mmol/l; P = 0.01). Counterregulatory hormone levels were increased during the ethanol study and nonesterified fatty acid concentrations were suppressed compared with the placebo study. CONCLUSIONS: Low doses of ethanol predispose fasted elderly type 2 diabetic patients to low blood glucose during a short-term fast. This may be one of several mechanisms by which sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia occurs in elderly patients.