Seasonal fluctuations of aquatic fungi recovered from Egyptian soil (Delta Region)

One hundred and eleven identified and seven unidentified species in addition to 5 varieties belonging to forty-three aquatic fungal genera were recovered from 452 soil samples collected randomly from different localities in Nile Delta and Suez canal regions including eleven governorates. The investigated soil samples were collected seasonally during the period from autumn 1990 to summer 1991 (113 samples each season). The richest season (85 identified and 5 unidentified species in addition to 2 varieties) in aquatic fungi was the winter season (10.0-15.5°C) whereas the poorest (32 identified and 5 unidentified species in addition to one variety) was summer (24.0-27.5°C). The richest soil samples in aquatic fungi were those of low or moderate temperature seasons, high contents of organic matter and considerably poor in total soluble salts. The pH value did not show any regular seasonal variation and did not exhibit any considerable influence on fungal populations. Some aquatic fungal genera and species were disappeared completely in certain seasons and vice versa. The most dominant aquatic fungal genera were Pythium, Allomyces, Aqualinderella and Nowa-kowskiella. The commonest aquatic fungal species were Allomyces anomalus, Aqualinderella fermentans, Nowakowskiella elegans, Blastocladiopsis parva and Dictyuchus sterilis.     

A Three-Year Analysis of the Impact of a Student-Run Gynecology Clinic on Access to Reproductive Health Care for Uninsured Women in East Harlem

Journal of Community Health - The East Harlem Health Outreach Partnership (EHHOP) is a medical student-run and attending-supervised clinic that provides primary care to predominantly...     

Heavy metals and parasitological infection associated with oxidative stress and histopathological alteration in the Clarias gariepinus

Ecotoxicology - The goal of this study was to assess the harmful effects of heavy metal accumulation on Clarias gariepinus (catfish) in two different polluted areas in the Al Sharkia governorate...     

Factors associated with the frequency of antihypertensive drug adjustments in chronic kidney disease patients: a multicentre, 2-year retrospective study

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy - Background Optimum antihypertensive drug effect in chronic kidney disease is important to mitigate disease progression. As frequent adjustments to...     

Night work and breast cancer: A population‐based case–control study in France (the CECILE study)

Night work involving disruption of circadian rhythm was suggested as a possible cause of breast cancer. We examined the role of night work in a large population‐based case‐control study carried out in France between 2005 and 2008. Lifetime occupational history including work schedules of each night work period was elicited in 1,232 cases of breast cancer and 1,317 population controls. Thirteen percent of the cases and 11% of the controls had ever worked on night shifts (OR = 1.27 [95% confidence interval = 0.99–1.64]). Odds ratios were 1.35 [1.01–1.80] in women who worked on overnight shifts, 1.40 [1.01–1.92] in women who had worked at night for 4.5 or more years, and 1.43 [1.01–2.03] in those who worked less than three nights per week on average. The odds ratio was 1.95 [1.13–3.35] in women employed in night work for >4 years before their first full‐term pregnancy, a period where mammary gland cells are incompletely differentiated and possibly more susceptible to circadian disruption effects. Our results support the hypothesis that night work plays a role in breast cancer, particularly in women who started working at night before first full‐term pregnancy.     

The Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity of Inorganic Manganese Compounds: A Synthesis of The Evidence

Manganese (Mn), a naturally occurring element present in many foodstuffs, is an essential trace element with many biological functions. In industry, inorganic Mn compounds have a range of different applications, although the majority of Mn is used to make alloys and steel. For the general population, the major source of exposure to Mn is dietary, although drinking water may constitute an additional source in some regions. However, in occupationally exposed humans, inhalation of Mn is likely to be an important additional route. In general, Mn and its inorganic compounds are considered to possess low mutagenic or carcinogenic potential compared with some heavy metals. In this review, an up-to-date analysis of the available published studies on the carcinogenic and genotoxic potential of inorganic Mn is provided (organic Mn compounds are not considered). The current literature indicates that Mn may be weakly mutagenic in vitro and possibly clastogenic in vivo, with unknown genotoxic effects in humans; the possible mechanisms underlying these effects are discussed. The experimental evidence on carcinogenicity (quantitative increase in incidence of thyroid tumors in mice but not rats) does not provide any clear evidence, while the available occupational and environmental epidemiological evidence is equivocal as to whether exposure to inorganic Mn is associated with a significant cancer risk. Hence, it is concluded that there is insufficient evidence to indicate that inorganic Mn exposure produces cancer in animals or humans.     

A socioeconomic survey of kidney vendors in Pakistan

In recent years, Pakistan has emerged as one of the largest centres for commerce and tourism in renal transplantation. Kidney vendors belong to Punjab in eastern Pakistan, the agricultural heartland, where 34% people live below poverty line. We report results of a socioeconomic and health survey of 239 kidney vendors. The mean age was 33.6 +/- 7.2 years (M:F 3.5:1). Mean nephrectomy period was 4.8 +/- 2.3 years. Ninety per cent of the vendors were illiterate. Sixty-nine per cent were bonded labourers who were virtual slaves to landlords, labourers 12%, housewives 8.5% and unemployed 11%. Monthly income was $US15.4 +/- 8.9 with 2-11 dependents per family. Majority (93%), vended for debt repayment with mean debt of $1311.4 +/- 819. The mean agreed sale price was $1737 +/- 262. However, they received $1377 +/- 196 after deduction for hospital and travel expenses. Postvending 88% had no economic improvement in their lives and 98% reported deterioration in general health status. Future vending was encouraged by 35% to pay off debts and freedom from bondage. This study gives a snapshot of kidney vendors from Pakistan. These impoverished people, many in bondage, are examples of modern day slavery. They will remain exploited until law against bondage is implemented and new laws are introduced to ban commerce and transplant tourism in Pakistan.