The aim of this study was to characterize the socioeconomic features, as well as disease activity and functional status, treatment use, and quality of life in a cohort of Egyptian population. All are measured by standard instruments. This is a descriptive multicenter; cross-sectional study included consecutive patients with spondyloarthritis (SpAs) diagnosed according to the European spondyloarthritis study group criteria. Four Egyptian centers participated (one from the Upper Egypt, one from the Delta, and two from the West Coast), all adopted the same criteria for patient assessment, and data were collected in the same data base over a 12-month duration. A total of 75 patients were included in the study. The series consisted of 34 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients (64%), 23 patients with psoriatic arthritis (45.3%), 15 patients with Juvenile onset AS (18.7%), 2 patients with reactive arthritis (2.7%), and one with inflammatory bowel disease-related arthritis (1.3%). There was predominance of male patients (84%). All were Caucasians; 13% from the Upper Egypt, and 87% from the Delta and West coast Egypt. Their mean age was 37.44 ± 12.8 years; mean disease duration was 11.85 ± 9.27 years. Pure axial disease was reported by 24% of the patients, and pure peripheral involvement was observed in 4%, while the mixed pattern (axial, peripheral, and entheseal) was observed in 34%. Dactylitis was detected in 9.3%, tarsitis in 8%, and enthesitis in 29.3%. The most common extra-articular manifestation was anterior uveitis, reported by 5.3% of patients. Human leukocytic antigen B27 (HLA-B27) was positive in 58.7% of the tested patients (n = 29). Mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease activity Index (BASDAI) score was 4.16 ± 2.12, of which 22 patients had a score more than 4; mean Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index 5.12 ± 2.40, mean BASMI 4.17 ± 2.95, mean BAS-GI 5.92 ± 2.00, and mean Health assessment questionnaire 1.10 ± 0.65. In addition, patients with AS showed a higher incapacity for work, felt more pain and presented more axial affection than others. The most utilized treatments were the conventional drugs including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, followed by sulfasalazine (50%), methotrexate (14%), and steroids (6%). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors were received by 7 patients (14%), mostly in the form of Infliximab (85.7%) and were used by only 38.7% of patients with BASDAI of 4 or more. This registry provides the first clinical and demographic data of SpA patients in Egypt upon which a large-scale database registration can be initiated. The most frequently diagnosed SpA in Egyptian patients was AS, with mainly combined axial and peripheral involvement. The clinical spectrum of SpAs seen among Egyptians is similar to most other registries; however, Egyptian AS patients showed some differences in the clinical manifestations. The low frequency of HLA-B27 and the clinical variations in AS may be due to different genetic and/or environmental factors in Egypt.

Exposure of male rabbits to heat stress during summer adversely affects their fertility, leading to major production losses. A total of 16 male rabbits were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups exposed to temperatures ranging from a high of 30.3 to a low of 27.3 °C. Animals from first to fourth groups were fed diets containing 0, 1.5, 3.0, or 4.5% pomegranate peel (PP) to evaluate the ability of PP feeding to enhance bucks' reproductive status. Pomegranate peel treatments significantly increased ejaculate volume by 19, 18 and 12%, increased seminal plasma fructose by 7, 18, and 24%, improved sperm motility by 28, 34 and 49%, increased sperm total output by 37, 69 and 102% and reduced dead sperm by 24, 32 and 64% with diets containing 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% of PP compared to the heat stressed control animals. Seminal plasma total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides increased while alkaline phosphatase decreased with PP treatments. Seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity increased to reach 126, 143 and 191% with diets containing 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5% of PP, while lipid peroxide (malondialdehyde) levels decreased significantly to reach around 54% of the heat stressed bucks' value with the three PP dietary doses used. It was concluded that supplementations of PP in the diet of bucks during summer season in Egypt can improve their semen characteristics, probably due to their antioxidant actions.

Purpose: To determine the effect of an emulsion formulation of fenugreek (Trigonella Foneum-Graecum L) seed extract on some mechanical parameters of the skin of healthy human volunteers Methods: A water-in-oil emulsion cream base without fenugreek seed extract which served as control, and a similar formulation containing 4 %w/v of the extract in the internal (aqueous) phase were prepared. Each of the formulations was applied to the cheeks of 10 human volunteers for a period of 4 weeks and some mechanical parameters (R0, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9) of the skin were measured weekly using Cutometer MPA 580. Results: The results indicate that the effects of the creams on skin mechanical properties were significant (p < 0.05) with respect to time, except for R4 and R9. The extract-containing cream substantially increased skin elasticity, hydration and the ability of skin to resist photo-aging when compared to the base. Conclusion: Both the cream base and the cream containing fenugreek extract demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) improvement in all mechanical parameters related to skin elasticity, ageing, hydration and fatigue but the effect of the extract cream was more pronounced in some cases.

Longitudinal studies of the nutritional status of 60 lactating Bangladeshi mothers from an underprivileged, periurban community and of the quantity and composition of their milk were completed to determine the relationships between maternal nutritional status and lactational capacity. Daily milk production was estimated by 24-hour test-weighing; the nitrogen, fat, lactose, and total energy concentrations of extracted milk samples were analyzed at various stages of lactation to estimate total milk nutrient production. Although the mothers were poorly nourished compared with international reference populations, their lactational capacity was not severely impaired. Average milk production peaked at 750 g/d when the infants were between 5 and 7 months of age. Nitrogen and fat concentrations declined with (log) infant age; lactose concentration increased with (log) infant age (P &lt; .001). Average concentrations of milk nutrients when the infants were 3 months of age were: nitrogen, 0.161 g/dL; fat, 2.804 g/dL; lactose, 7.92 g/dL; energy, 61.0 kcal/dL. Fat and energy concentrations were significantly greater, and fat and energy amounts tended to be greater, for mothers with larger triceps skinfold thickness or arm circumference. Changes in nutritional status within individual women were also significantly related to the amount and composition of their milk: within-woman increases in triceps skinfold thickness were associated with increases in fat and energy concentrations (P &lt; .01) and within-woman increases in body weight were associated with increases in the amounts of milk and all major nutrients (P &lt; .01). Milk production declined significantly during certain months of the year, just before the major harvest period. The findings suggest that, despite their remarkably good lactational capacity, the mothers' milk production was limited to some extent by their nutritional status and may, therefore, be further increased with nutritional improvment.

Essential oils (EOs) and their active components are attracting a lot of attention as sustainable feed additives due to their known antimicrobial properties against a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. They also have biological therapeutic, antioxidant, and flavor properties. They can be used for modifying the rumen environment and improving animal productivity. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of supplementation with 2.5 and 5 g/head/day of an essential oils blend (EOB) of clove, oregano, and juniper in equal proportions on milk production and quality, and physiological status of early lactating Holstein dairy cows for 8 weeks of treatment followed by 8 weeks of posttreatment. The results revealed an improvement in milk yield (p ≤ 0.02) and feed efficiency (p ≤ 0.001) with EOB at a dose of 2.5 g/head/day. The percentages of milk protein and lactose were increased (p ≤ 0.03) with a high dose of EOB inclusion during the treatment period as compared with the control group. Milk fat percentage, fat-corrected milk, and energy-corrected milk were not significantly affected by EOB supplementation. The supplementation of EOB tended to decrease milk total bacterial and somatic cell counts when compared to the control group. The supplementation of EOB at both doses increased serum total protein (p ≤ 0.02) and globulin (p ≤ 0.05), and decreased cholesterol level (p ≤ 0.001) and creatinine (p ≤ 0.001) as compared to the control group. Furthermore, the results show that the low dose of EOB had more desirable effects on milk yield, milk total bacterial count, milk somatic cell count, and feed efficiency than the high dose, suggesting that lower doses may not inhibit rumen microbial populations. Moreover, the low doses of EOB could be used as sustainable natural alternatives to antibiotics in livestock diets.

In the era of multimodal management of liver metastases, surgical resection remains the only curative option, with open approach still being referred to as the standard of care. Currently, the feasibility and benefits of the laparoscopic approach for liver resection have been largely demonstrated. However, its oncologic adequacy remains to be confirmed. The aim of this study is to report the oncological results of laparoscopic liver resection for metastatic disease in a single-centre experience. A single-centre database of 413 laparoscopic liver resections was reviewed and procedures for liver metastases were selected. The assessment of oncologic outcomes included analysis of minimal tumour-free margin, R1 resection rate and 3-year survival. The feasibility and safety of the procedures were also evaluated through analysis of perioperative outcomes. The study comprised 209 patients (294 procedures). Colorectal liver metastases were the commonest indication (67.9%). Fourteen patients had conversion (6.7%) and oncological concern was the commonest reason for conversion (42.8%). Median tumour-free margin was 10 mm and complete radical resections were achieved in 211 of 218 curative-intent procedures (96.7%). For patients affected by colorectal liver metastases, 1- and 3-year OS resulted 85.9 and 66.7%. For patients affected by neuroendocrine liver metastases, 1- and 3-year OS resulted 93 and 77.8%. Among the patients with metastases from other primaries, 1- and 3-year OS were 83.3 and 70.5%. The laparoscopic approach is a safe and valid option in the treatment of patients with metastatic liver disease undergoing curative resection. It does offer significant perioperative benefits without compromise of oncologic outcomes.

No abstract

In a block randomized design, fifty-one Barki ewes weighing 38.0 kg in average and 2-4 years old, were used to study the effect of pre-and post-lambing dietary crude protein level (CP) of concentrates on the milk yield, milk composition and weight of ewes, and performance of their lambs. The treatments comprised supplementary concentrate containing (g/kg dry matter (DM)): (1) 110 CP (low), (2) 130 CP (medium) and (3) 150 CP (high), while Egyptian berseem hay (Trifiolium alexandrinum) was the basal diet. Ewes were weighed individually biweekly, and the number of lambs dropped and nursed by ewes was recorded within 24 h after birth and biweekly subsequently. Newborn lambs were left to suckle their dams freely, except for the period when milk yield was recorded by weighing lambs before and after suckling. Milk yield was estimated once a week. Ewes were fed the experimental diets during the last two months of pregnancy and throughout the lactation period. Ewes fed 110 g CP/kg DM attained peak of milk yield earlier than those fed 130 and 150 g CP/kg DM. Total milk yield, milk fat and milk total solids, and weaning weight, average daily gain and relative growth rate of lambs were higher (P < 0.05) for ewes fed medium and high protein levels compared to those fed low protein level. Suckled milk was affected by protein level (P < 0.05); the rank order was: 110 CP < 130 CP < 150 CP. Milk protein and extractable milk were higher (P < 0.05) for high protein level compared to low protein level but solids-not-fat (SNF) and lamb birth weight were not affected (P > 0.05) by protein level. Lamb sex, and parity and weight at lambing of ewes had no effect (P > 0.05) on suckled milk, extractable milk and milk yield. Whereas lamb sex and parity of ewe had no effect (P > 0.05) on milk composition, ewe lambing weight affected (P < 0.05) milk fat and SNF but not milk protein and total solids (P > 0.05). Weights of ewes during gestation, after lambing (post-partum weight loss) and during lactation were not affected (P > 0.05) by protein level, except at the 3rd month of lactation. Lamb sex, parity and lambing weight had pronounced (P < 0.05) effects on lamb birth weight and weaning weight. It is concluded that 150 g CP/kg DM level pre-and post-partum could be used for improved performance of ewes and their lambs while parity and weight of ewe at lambing should also be given consideration.