Abstract: Background and Objective: Biomphalaria species widely distributed all over the Egyptian Governorates considered as an the intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni. This study aimed to investigate the interspecific variations between two Biomphalaria species that collected from five different governorates namely; Gharbia, Beni Suef, Giza, Menoufia and Qalyubia by the amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) then comparing using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Materials and Methods: All wild Biomphalaria snails were collected from the terminal irrigation canals. Laboratory well identified B. alexandrina and B. glabrata were obtained from Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI) to be used as a reference snails. The DNA of wild and laboratory snails were extracted and ITS region was amplified using PCR, then comparing using the restriction enzyme Dde I. Results: The present study showed that the amplification of ITS region revealed the appearance of single band with 1100 bp in both wild and laboratory Biomphalaria species. After RFLP profile, three bands of 480, 260 and 100 bp were detected in snails that collected from Giza and Beni Suef governorates. These bands were similar to bands obtained in laboratory B. glabrata. While Gharbia, Menoufia and Qalyubia snails’ expressed two bands (480 and 100 bp) only which were similar to laboratory B. alexandrina. Conclusion: Biomphalaria species collected from Giza and Beni Suef governorates were identical to B. glabrata and species that collected from the other governorates were identical to B. alexandrina. PubDate: 30 June, 2022
Abstract: Background and Objective: Indoor radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking, according to the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) study. The soil under the house or the building is the main source of indoor radon in the homes, buildings and other residential objects. Other sources are construction materials, groundwater and natural gas. The present work aimed to assess the radon concentration in student residence buildings and their impact on health. Materials and Methods: In this study, the indoor radon concentration in the student residence was measured using the digital radon detector air things of Corentium in fourteen buildings. Results: The long-term concentration of radon in university residences varies from 2-9 Bq m–3 at Patte d’Oie, from 4-15 Bq m–3 at KOSSODO, from 10-19 Bq m–3 at IDS, from 14-191 Bq m–3 at UTS and 4-11 Bq m–3 at BOBO. The results show a higher concentration of radon in the buildings of the university residences were measured at UTS with average values of 65.86 Bq m–3 for the long term and 53.90 Bq m–3 for the short term. The radon effective dose equivalent in building 2 at UTS student residence (8.249 mSv/year) was slightly larger than the limit of the recommended action level (3-10 mSv/year) as reported by the ICRP-1993. The RRLC range was from 1.003-1.126 with an average of 1.02 is almost negligible. Conclusion: Results concluded that the relative risk of lung cancer in the student residence building varied from 1.003 to 1.126 with an average of 1.02. PubDate: 18 October, 2022
Abstract: Background and Objective: Osteoporosis is the most common disease, particularly among old-age women. This study aims to examine the potential role of PrebiotinTM macromolecule on the treatment of osteoporotic female rats induced by ovariectomy and compare its effect with estradiol benzoate drug. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 g PrebiotinTM/kg diet/day was added to an experimental ovariectomy female rat diet and estradiol benzoate drug was injected subcutaneously to another osteoporotic group at a dose of 30 g kg–1 b.wt. Bone mineral density, bone mineral content and bone ash mineral contents were estimated for the examined rats. Also, serum ALP, RANKL, OPG and osteocalcin levels were determined. Moreover, histopathological, body and uterus weight alterations were detected among different studied groups. Results: Supplementing an ovariectomized rat model with PrebiotinTM could significantly restore the reduced minerals absorption, bone mineral contents and densities, bone histological features and bone chemical composition, with a simultaneous increase in serum OPG level and decrease in serum RANKL, ALP and osteocalcin levels that resulted in regaining the balance of bone remodelling and turnover process. Conclusion: PrebiotinTM was a safe agent that had a therapeutic capacity against ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in a female rat model and can be used as an adjunct for calcium supplementation to reduce bone loss in old age people. PubDate: 13 August, 2022
Abstract: Background and Objective: Smokeless tobacco (snuff) use has been associated with many oral disease processes but there is a paucity of scientific information on its effects on dealers who process and package the substance for sales. The present study, therefore, investigated cytomorphometric changes in the exfoliated epithelial cells from the oral mucosa of snuff dealers. Materials and Methods: Study groups comprised 40 individuals (20 snuff dealers and 20 controls). Oral cytology smears were obtained using a wooden spatula and smeared on a microscope slide. Smears were fixed in 95% alcohol and stained with Giemsa stain for microscopical examination. Twenty cells were assessed for each of the participants and the cytoplasmic diameter (CD) and nuclear diameter (ND) were measured using AmScope Software. The ratios of nuclear diameter to cytoplasmic diameter (N/CR) were thereafter determined. The effect of age, sex, length of working experience (years of occupational exposure), snuff use, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking habit on the parameters were also determined. Results: No significant difference was observed in CD, ND and N/CR of snuff dealers when compared to control (p>0.05). However, variations were only observed based on length of working experience and alcohol drinking habit (p PubDate: 12 September, 2022
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