Food and feeding habits of Labeo niloticus (Pisces,Cyprinidae) in Jebel Aulia Reservoir,Sudan

Basic knowledge on the feeding ecology of one of the common and commercially important fish species in Jebel Aulia Reservoir is provided.The structure of the feeding apparatus indicates that Labeo niloticus is a bottom feeder, depending on soft and decayed vegetation, organic debris and whatever small organisms found within. However, juveniles and fry are prone to explore all layers and depths of the river selectively for plankton. There is little evidence of seasonal selection of food. Changes in diet quality are governed by the availability of type of food. Variability of feeding activity is connected with climate and breeding season.     

Direct molecular analysis of the fragile X syndrome in a sample of Egyptian and German patients using non-radioactive PCR and Southern blot followed by chemiluminescent detection

Molecular genetic analysis of individuals from 6 Egyptian and 33 German families with fragile X syndrome and 240 further patients with mental retardation was performed applying a completely non-radioactive system. The aim of our study was the development of a non-radioactive detection method and its implementation in molecular diagnosis of the fragile X syndrome. Furthermore, we wanted to assess differences in the mutation sizes between Egyptian and German patients and between Egyptian and German carriers of a premutation. Using non-radioactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), agarose gel electrophoresis and blotting of the PCR products, followed by hybridisation with a digoxigenin-labelled oligonucleotide probe (CGG)₅ and chemiluminescent detection, we identified the fragile X full mutation (amplification of a CGG repeat in the FMR-1 gene ranging from several hundred to several thousand repeat units) in all patients. We observed no differences in the length of the CGG repeat between the Egyptian and German patients and carriers, respectively. However, in one prenatal diagnosis, we detected only one normal sized allele in a female fetus using the PCR-agarose assay, whereas Southern blot analysis with the digoxigenin labelled probe StB 12.3 revealed presence of a full mutation. Our newly established nonradioactive genomic blotting method is based on the conventional radioactive Southern blot analysis. Labelling of the probe StB 12.3 with digoxigenin via PCR allowed the detection of normal, premutated and fully mutated alleles. For exact sizing of small premutated or large normal alleles, we separated digoxigenin labelled PCR products through denaturing poly-acrylamide gelelectrophoresis (PAGE) and transfered them to a nylon membrane using a gel dryer. The blotted PCR-fragments can easily be detected with alkaline phosphate-labelled anti-digoxigenin antibody. The number of trinucleotide repeat units can be determined by scoring the detected bands against a digoxigenated M13 sequencing ladder. Our newly developed digoxigenin/chemiluminescence approach using PCR and Southern blot analysis provides reliable results for routine detection of full fragile X mutations and premutations.     

The life experience of leprosy families in maintaining interaction patterns in the family to support healing in leprosy patients in Indonesian society. A phenomenological qualitative study

BackgroundFamily involvement in overcoming the severity of leprosy is very important in the life of leprosy sufferers in communities who experience the clinical and, psychological, social and behavioral consequences of the disease. However, this need, psychosocial, is felt to be not optimal. This study is to identify how the experiences of family members as caregivers provide assistance to individuals with leprosy in improving healing and maintaining patterns of interaction in the family.MethodsThe design uses qualitative research with in-depth, face-to-face interviews with family members in a semi-structured manner with the hope of obtaining complete data. Using purposive sampling with Participatory Interpretative Phenomenology analysis, there are 12 families with 15 family members consisting of 4 men and 11 women.ResultsThis study produced a family theme that tried to follow what would happen to individuals with leprosy, with four sub-categories: 1) Using various coping alternatives to recognize the disease, 2) Family members in the shadow of leprosy, 3) Trying to empathize with other family members. sick, 4) Caring for the emotional response of the family and seeking support.ConclusionsThis analysis shows that deficiency in cognitive aspects can be closed by maintaining a lifestyle in the family through efforts to understand, support, establish communication, increase maximum involvement in restoring self-confidence, especially in individuals with leprosy with psychosocial problems in the family. The results of this study can be used as psychosocial support in maintaining communication between family members to support treatment programs and accelerate the recovery of leprosy.     

Physiological and biochemical studies on Egyptian fresh water algae

Summary Comparative study of the different methods of extraction and estimation of the algal nitrogenous constituents mainly proteins of an Egyptian strain ofChlorella ellipsoidea had been carried out. This study also involves the assay of the different fractions of the soluble nitrogenous compounds.     

Artonin E Induces Apoptosis via Mitochondrial Dysregulation in SKOV-3 Ovarian Cancer Cells

Artonin E is a prenylated flavonoid isolated from the stem bark of Artocarpus elasticus Reinw.(Moraceae). This study aimed to investigate the apoptotic mechanisms induced by artonin E in a metastatic human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3 in vitro. MTT assay, clonogenic assay, acridine orange and propidium iodide double staining, cell cycle and annexin V analyses were performed to explore the mode of artonin E-induced cell death at different time points. DNA laddering, activation of caspases-3, -8, and -9, multi-parametric cytotoxicity-3analysis by high-content screening, measurement of reactive oxygen species generation, and Western blot were employed to study the pathways involved in the apoptosis. MTT results showed that artonin E inhibited the growth of SKOV-3 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 6.5±0.5μg/mL after 72 h treatment, and showed less toxicity toward a normal human ovarian cell lineT1074, with IC₅₀ value of 32.5±0.5μg/mL. Results showed that artonin E induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the S phase. This compound also promoted the activation of caspases-3, -8, and -9. Further investigation into the depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c revealed that artonin E treatment induced apoptosis via regulation of the expression of pro-survival and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members. The expression levels of survivin and HSP70 proteins were also down regulated in SKOV-3 cells treated with artonin E. We propose that artonin E induced an antiproliferative effect that led to S phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through dysregulation of mitochondrial pathways, particularly the pro- and anti-apoptosis signaling pathways.     

First Report of Rhizoctonia solani AG‐7 on Cotton in Egypt

Eighty‐two isolates of Rhizoctonia solani were recorded from roots of naturally‐infected seedlings of the Egyptian cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.). Anastomosis groups (AGs) of the isolates were determined by using 13 different AGs testers. Three (3.7%) of the isolates were identified as R. solani AG7, while the remaining isolates were belonging to the AG 2‐1, AG4 and AG5. The identification of the three isolates was based on the frequency of the C2 reaction with the AG7 tester isolate. No fusion was observed between AG7 and isolates representing the other 13 AGs. Colonies of AG7 isolates grown on potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt yeast agar (MYA) and melt peptone agar (MPA) were brown to dark brown with aerial mycelium and sclerotia. The isolates had pitted sclerotial clusters and brownish exudates after 21 days of culturing on PDA, but without clear zonation. Pathogenicity test under greenhouse conditions revealed that AG7 caused the common symptoms of damping–off, which included seed rot, lesions on the hypocotyls and root rot.     

Changes in serum leptin levels in strenuous exercise and its relation to zinc deficiency in rats

This study aimed to investigate the possible changes in serum leptin concentration caused by acute exercise and the effects of zinc deficiency on these changes. Forty male rats were divided into control-control, control-elercise, zinc-deficient-control, and zinc-deficient-exercise groups (10 rats in each). Control-exercise and zinc-deficient-exercise groups performed exercisse at 6 m/min speed on a rodent treadmill for 60 min or until exhaustion. All rats were decapitated 48h after the exercise, and blood samples were collected to determine serum leptin and zinc levels. Serum leptin levels in the zinc-deficient-control group were lower than in the control-control group. The mean exercise time of control-exercise group was significantly longer than the zinc-deficient-exercise group. We conclude that serum leptin levels significantly decrease both 48 h after strenuous exercise and in the zinc-deficient rats, and there is a further decrease in leptin levels when rats fed on a zinc-deficient diet performed exercise.     

Human C-reactive protein gene polymorphism and metabolic syndrome are associated with premature coronary artery disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) gene polymorphism and metabolic syndrome (MetS) with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD). 116 patients with PCAD (58 with MetS and 58 without MetS) and 119 controls were included in the study. CRP gene + 1059 G>C polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Serum hs-CRP was measured using high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Carriers of C allele of the CRP + 1059 G>C polymorphism had 3.37 fold increased risk to develop MetS in patients with PCAD. In addition CRP gene and hs-CRP levels were independent risk factors for PCAD and MetS. The present study provides new evidence that the presence of CRP + 1059 G>C polymorphism and hs-CRP levels are independent determinants of PCAD and MetS in Egyptians. The results of our study suggest a synergistic effect of CRP C allele with classical risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia and MetS.     

Reconfigurable Multi-beam On-Chip Patch Antenna Using Plasmonics Parasitic Graphene Strip Array

Plasmonics - This paper introduces on-chip patch antenna with electronic beam switching using graphene strip array for wireless communications at 415 GHz. The on-chip patch antenna is...