Effects of a neem seed extract (MiteStop®) on mallophages (featherlings) of chicken: in vivo and in vitro studies

Mallophages of birds (featherlings) are mostly very tiny and can even as adults better be recognized by their movements than by their elongate body shape when using just the naked eye. Since some species (e.g., the “shaft louse” Menopon gallinae, the elongate feather louse Lipeurus caponis, or Columbicola sp.) may pierce the pulp of feathers or the skin by their biting or scratching mandibles and thus lick the excreted blood, they may be extremely dangerous especially to young birds, even if they only feed by nibbling along the feather surface and/or eat epidermal debris. The present paper reports on the successful treatment of different races of fowls being severely infested with both above cited species. This in vivo treatment was done either by a short dipping of the whole fowl into the 1:33 dilution (with tap water) of a neem seed extract (MiteStop®) or by spraying them with the freshly diluted product. It was seen that the dead mallophages dropped down from the feathers as soon as they were dry again. As a precaution, a second treatment was done by some owners 1 week after the first one in order to eliminate all stages, which eventually might have hatched from untouched nits during the time interval between the two treatments. When controlling the treated fowls 4 weeks after the treatment, in no case (treated once or twice), living motile stages were diagnosed indicating the high efficacy of this nontoxic neem seed extract. When treating in vitro cutoff feathers contaminated with L. caponis, it was seen under the stereomicroscope, that the mallophages tried to run away from the 1:33 water-diluted active compound indicating that there is also a repellent effect. Treated L. caponis stopped leg movements within 3 min and died on their feathers within 1–20 min. Then, the last slight trembling movements of their legs and convulsions of their intestine stopped finally.     

First record of Lecithochirium grandiporum (Digenea: Hemiuridae) infecting the lizard fish Saurida tumbil from the Red Sea

The present study was the first investigation of digenetic trematode parasites of Saurida tumbil, a commercially important fish species of the Red Sea, during the period from January to December 2011. Thirty-nine out of 103 (37.8?%) of the examined fish were found to harbor the digenetic trematode Lecithochirium grandiporum (family: Hemiuridae) infecting the pyloric portion of stomach and middle part of intestines of the lizard fish. The morphology and morphometric characterizations of this digenetic trematode were described by light and scanning electron microscopy. The parasite possessed a body which was elongated and rounded anteriorly, but truncated posteriorly, and its body measured 1.63?±?0.20 (1.2?C1.93) mm (invaginated ecsoma), 2.11?±?0.20 (1.83?C2.35) mm (evaginated ecsoma) in length with a maximum width of 0.4?±?0.02 (0.31?C0.52) mm at ovarian level. They were characterized by a subterminal oral sucker which measured 0.15?±?0.02 (0.12?C0.18) mm in diameter and was smaller than the ventral sucker which was circular and large with a wide aperture, hence the specific name grandiporum. A multilobated digitiform vitellarium which was a distinctive feature for this species was also observed. The number of parasite per fish was one to six. Prevalence and intensity of infection were positively correlated with host size (increasing with host size increasing). Host sex does not seem to affect the prevalence of infection. The present study was considered as a first record from the Red Sea in Egypt.     

Evaluation of biological and chemical insect repellents and their potential adverse effects

Plant extracts, particularly plant oils, had been used and were still in use as repellents against mosquitoes. Some of them (e.g., lavender, geraniol, and citriodiol) have been notified by the European Commission as active substances to be used in repellents, which are categorized as biocides in product type 19. In the literature, it is known that these substances must be added to repellent products in high concentrations (e.g., 20 % and more) in order to reach repellent efficacy. Therefore, the question arose whether they also have repellent effects if they were added as fragrances at low concentrations of 0.25 or 1 % to registered active substances in order to obtain a better scent of this product. In the present study, the repellent effects of 0.25 and 1 % additions of 15 plant extracts (citronellol, cinerol, citral, menthol, linalyl acetate, Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus globulus, Cymbopogon nardus, lilac, sandalwood, Vitex agnus castus, rosewood, lavender, geraniol, and paramenthan diol) when exposed on skin to hungry Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These experiments showed that there was no repellent effect in any of these compounds even when the test was done already 10 min after distributing any of the compounds onto the hands of volunteers. These experiments have proven that these 15 compounds do not produce repellent effects as long as they are used in low concentrations of 0.25 or 1 % as fragrances to ameliorate the odor of a notified repellent that is brought onto the skin.     

Clinico-pathological study and treatment results of 1009 operable breast cancer cases： Experience of NCI Cairo University, Egypt

Objective  

This retrospective study was designed to evaluate clinico-pathological data including stage, results of treatment, and prognostic factors which affect the overall survival &; disease free survival.     

Contribution of interleukin 27 serum level to pathogenesis and prognosis in children with immune thrombocytopenia

Concepts surrounding the mechanisms of thrombocytopenia in ITP have shifted from the traditional view of autoantibody mediated platelet destruction to more complex mechanisms in which impaired platelet production, T-cell-mediated effects, and disturbed cytokine profiles play a role. Interleukin 27 (IL-27) plays pleiotropic roles in immunomodulation and autoimmune diseases.We aimed to determine the level of IL-27 in patients with ITP and its relationship to patient and disease characteristics as well as disease chronicity and response to treatment.Sixty childrens with primary immune thrombocytopenia were consequetively enrolled in this study as well as 20 age and sex matched healthy controls.ITP patients had significantly higher levels of IL-27 than controls (770.6 and 373.8 pg/ml, respectively). Patients with acute ITP had the highest levels of IL-27 among patient groups, while patients in remission had the lowest IL-27 levels (860.1and 622.9 pg/ml, respectively). Patients who received IVIG and combined steroids plus IVIG had significantly higher IL-27 levels than others. Patients who received Eltrombopag had significantly lower IL-27 levels than others.IL-27 seems to play a role in pathogenesis of childhood ITP. IL-27 can be used as a predictor for disease occurrence as well as responsiveness to treatment.     

Heterocyclic synthesis with nitriles: New routes for synthesis of pyridazines,pyridines and their fused derivatives

Phenylazocyanothioacetamide 1 reacts with malononitrile to afford the pyridinethione 4 which reacts with phenacylbromide to yield the pyridine-S-phenacyl derivative 6. 1 reacts with ethyl cyanoacetate to yield the pyridazine derivative, 8, and with phenacyl bromide to afford the N-phenacyl derivative 11, instead of the thiazole 10. Compound 11 afforded the pyrazolopyridine 13 on reaction with malononitrile while 10 was obtained on coupling of the thiazole 14 with diazotised aniline. Compound 10 reacts with malononitrile to afford the thiazolyl pyridazine 15. Compound 1 reacts with malononitrile dimer to afford the pyridopyridazine derivative 17a. 1 reacts also with active methylene heterocycles to afford the pyrazolo and thiazolo-fused pyridazines 20 and 23 respectively.     

Potential of biologically active plant oils to control mosquito larvae (Culex pipiens, Diptera: Culicidae) from an Egyptian locality

The insecticidal effect of six commercially available plant oils was tested against 4th larval instars of Culex pipiens. Larvae were originally collected from Meit El-Attar, Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, and then reared in the laboratory until F1 generation. The LC50 values were 32.42, 47.17, 71.37, 83.36, 86.06, and 152.94 ppm for fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-grecum), earth almond (Cyperus esculentus), mustard (Brassica compestris), olibanum (Boswellia serrata), rocket (Eruca sativa), and parsley (Carum ptroselinum), respectively. The tested oils altered some biological aspects of C. pipiens, for instance, developmental periods, pupation rates, and adult emergences. The lowest concentrations of olibanum and fenugreek oils caused remarkable prolongation of larval and pupal durations. Data also showed that the increase of concentrations was directly proportional to reduction in pupation rates and adult emergences. Remarkable decrease in pupation rate was achieved by mustard oil at 1000 ppm. Adult emergence was suppressed by earth almond and fenugreek oils at 25 ppm. In addition, the tested plant oils exhibited various morphological abnormalities on larvae, pupae, and adult stages. Consequently, fenugreek was the most potent oil and the major cause of malformation of both larval and pupal stages. Potency of the applied plant oils provided an excellent potential for controlling C. pipiens.     

Caudate Lobe Resection with Major Hepatectomy for Central Cholangiocarcinoma: Is it of Value?

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of concomitant caudate lobe resection in the course of major hepatectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Methodology: During the period between January 1995 and December 2010, 159 patients were subjected to major hepatectomy with or without total caudate lobe resection at the Gastroenterology Centre, Mansoura University. These patients were divided in two groups: 1) a caudate lobe preservation (CLP) group (79 patients) and 2) a caudate lobe resection (CLR) group (80 patients). All patient data were retrospectively reviewed. Results: This study included 94 men and 65 women with a mean age of 53.5±0 years without operative mortality. No differences were observed between groups regarding operative time, blood loss or the development of any individual postoperative complication. There were 23 (28.8%) margin-positive resections in the CLR group and 49 (62%) margin-positive resections in the CLP group (p≤0.001). Recurrence was confirmed in 53 (67.1%) and in 41(51.3%) patients in the CLP and CLR groups, respectively (p=0.031). The median survival of the CLR group was 36 months with a 5-year survival rate of 28%, while the median survival of the CLP group was 22 months with a 5-year survival rate of 5% (p≤0.001). Conclusions: Caudate lobe resection in combination with major hepatectomy did not affect operative or postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, it led to higher rates of margin-negative resections and significantly improved survival.