The aim of this research was to evaluate the possible contamination by heavy metals of 30 random samples of raw milk and four other dairy products (pasteurized milk, white cheese, yellow cheese, and yoghurt), that were purchased from the three different regions in Alexandria, Egypt namely; (Eastern, Central and Western Alexandria). Each sample was homogenized, powdered, and mineralized in a microwave oven. Quantitative analyses of Al, Se, Zn, Cd, Cu and Pb were performed using an inductively coupled plasma-mass (ICP-MS) spectrometry. Western Alexandria samples had the highest recorded levels in Pb, Cd and Cu (7.421 ppm, and 0.673 ppm, and 5.013 ppm) consecutively. Highest levels detected for Al and Se were detected in samples collected from Eastern Alexandria (2.74 ppm and 0.093 ppm) successively. Zn (31.64 ppm) showed the highest concentration in a sample purchased from Central Alexandria. Further investigations of the levels of metals in bigger number of milk samples from different zones of Alexandria, Egypt are necessary, both to examine this problem from the toxicological, clinical, and epidemiological point of view and, to assess the exposure risk.

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine measures policies increased Internet usage, leading to technological hazards as technology facilitated sexual violence (TFSV). Aim The current work aimed to assess TFSV among working and non-working Egyptian females before and during COVID-19. Methods The current work is a cross-sectional observational comparative study using an anonymous online questionnaire distributed through social platforms among working and non-working Egyptian females. Results TFSV was reported by 50.3% of the participants; however, regarding some forms of digital sexual violence, there was a significant decrease during COVID-19 lockdown than before it, considering; threatened creation form (7.8%, 12.0%; p = 0.017); non-consensual pornography (31.4%, 51.9%; p < 0.001) and online sexual harassment and cyber-stalking types (80.9%, 89.4%; p < 0.001). Only 17.3% of the study participants knew the identity of the perpetrator. TFSV led 6.4% to abstain from social media, and 3.9% reported the incident to a law agency. Conclusions The current study revealed that almost half of women experienced TFSV. Although time spent on the Internet by the whole participants during the pandemic was significantly higher than before, there was a significant decrease in some types of TFSV. The current study revealed that divorced females working in non-governmental sectors experienced harassment more significantly than others. There is crucial importance to set laws and penalties against perpetrators of TFSV to provide a safe technological environment for women.

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In this study we describe the transfer of a new and fully automated workflow for the cost effective drug screening of large populations based on the dried blood spot (DBS) technology. The method was installed at a routine poison control center and applied for DBS and dried urine spot (DUS) samples. A fast method focusing on the high interest drugs and an extended screening method were developed on the automated platform. The dried cards were integrated into the automated workflow, in which the cards were checked in a camera recognition system, spiked with deuterated standards via an in-built spraying module and directly extracted. The extract was transferred online to an analytical LC column and then to the electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry system. The target compounds were analyzed in positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. Before each sample batch or analysis day, calibration samples were measured to balance inter day variations and to avoid false negative samples. An internal standard was integrated prior the sample extraction to allow in process control. 28 target compounds were analyzed and directly extracted within 5 minutes per sample. This fast screening method was then extended to 20 minutes, enabling the usage of a Forensic Toxicology Database to screen over 1200 drugs. The method gives confident positive/negative results for all tested drugs at their individual cutoff concentration. Good precision (+/-15 %, respectively +/-20 % at LOQ) and correlation within the calibration range from 5 to 1000 ng/ml was obtained. The method was finally applied to real cases from the lab and cross checked with the existing methodologies.

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