Background:  The present study investigated the effects of Nigella sativa aqueous extract and oil, as well as thymoquinone, on serum insulin and glucose concentrations in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. Methods:  Rats were divided into five experimental groups (control, untreated STZ‐diabetic, and aqueous extract‐, oil‐, or thymoquinone‐treated diabetic rats). Treated rats received 2 mL/kg, i.p., 5%N. sativa extract, 0.2 mL/kg, i.p., N. sativa oil, or 3 mg/mL, i.p., thymoquinone 6 days/week for 30 days. Serum insulin and glucose concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and pancreatic tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. Electron microscopy was used to identify any subcellular changes. Results:  Diabetes increased tissue MDA and serum glucose levels and decreased insulin and SOD levels. Treatment of rats with N. sativa extract and oil, as well as thymoquinone, significantly decreased the diabetes‐induced increases in tissue MDA and serum glucose and significantly increased serum insulin and tissue SOD. Ultrastructurally, thymoquinone ameliorated most of the toxic effects of STZ, including segregated nucleoli, heterochromatin aggregates (indicating DNA damage), and mitochondrial vacuolization and fragmentation. The aqueous extract of N. sativa also reversed these effects of STZ, but to a lesser extent. The N. sativa oil restored normal insulin levels, but failed to decrease serum glucose concentrations to normal. Conclusions:  The biochemical and ultrastructural findings suggest that N. sativa extract and thymoquinone have therapeutic and protect against STZ‐diabetes by decreasing oxidative stress, thus preserving pancreatic β‐cell integrity. The hypoglycemic effect observed could be due to amelioration of β‐cell ultrastructure, thus leading to increased insulin levels. Consequently, N. sativa and thymoquinone may prove clinically useful in the treatment of diabetics and in the protection of β‐cells against oxidative stress.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are diverse pathogens that express heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable (ST) enterotoxins, yet little is known about whether epidemiologic patterns of pediatric ETEC diarrhea vary by the expressed ETEC toxin phenotype. In total, 242 Egyptian children aged !3 years were prospectively followed in 1993-1995. ETEC episodes were detected during twice-weekly home visits, and asymptomatic ETEC excretion was identified from monthly cross-sectional surveys. ETEC episodes were 0.6 per child-year. ST-only ETEC was 2.6 times ( ) more common in warmer than cooler months, while LT-only P ! .001 ETEC showed no seasonal variation. Ownership of a household sanitary latrine, but not breast-feeding, was associated with a lower risk of both enterotoxin phenotypes. Coexpression of a colonization factor by LT-or ST-only ETEC strengthened the association with diarrhea. These findings indicate that the epidemiologic patterns of LT-only and ST-only ETEC are not identical and that disease interventions should include improved household sanitation.It has been estimated that enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) causes nearly 400 million diarrheal episodes and 700,000 deaths annually among children !5 years old [1]. Even

A large number of the studied children had low seroprevalence rates against pertussis, varicella, and mumps. Studies are needed to explore whether modifying the national immunization programme could improve these low seroprevalence estimates.

The questionnaire yielded a risk of TB exposure of 50%, however the LTBI prevalence, as defined by the IGRA, was low (0.45%).

BackgroundYoung children are at increased risk of severe influenza disease and, thus, are good candidates for receiving annual vaccination. Nevertheless, the influenza vaccine is infrequently given to children in our region. The primary objectives of this study are to monitor the serologic immunities against influenza A and B viruses, and provide pediatric data that support the need for influenza vaccination in the community.MethodsInfluenza A and B virus-specific IgG antibodies were measured in 294 children (median age 4.1 years; range 1.9–12.5 years) between July 2014 and September 2015.ResultsThe percentage of children who were seropositive for influenza A IgG was 15.8%, equivocal 7.4%, and negative 76.8%. The corresponding values for influenza B IgG were 31.3, 9.6, and 59.1%, respectively. There was a higher seropositivity rate for influenza B than for influenza A in all age groups. The percentage of children who were seropositive for either influenza A or B IgG was 27.9% and for both was only 2.7%.ConclusionsMost of the studied children are serologically naïve and, thus, are likely to acquire primary influenza disease. A national policy that endorses childhood influenza vaccination is highly advisable.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Theileria annulata, Theileria mutans, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale antibodies among cattle in the Sudan. A total of 600 serum samples were collected from indigenous (zebu) and crossbred cattle (zebu x Friesian) of both sex and different age groups. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assess antibodies against tick-borne diseases in apparently healthy cattle. The overall prevalence rates of T. annulata, T. mutans, B. bigemina, and A. marginale antibodies were found to be 30.8%, 6.1%, 10.7%, and 38.9%, respectively. The highest seroprevalence of T. annulata was reported in Atbara and El Damer, Northern Sudan. There were no significant associations for the seroprevalence of all tick-borne diseases reported among different age groups. Although there were no significant differences between the two breeds of cattle examined for T. annulata, T. mutans, and B. bigemina antibodies, there was a significant difference for prevalence of antibodies against A. marginale, with highest percentages of antibodies in indigenous cattle. Six different combinations of mixed infection were detected. This is the first report in which antibodies against A. marginale among cattle in Northern Sudan is reported. The findings imply that antibodies to tick-borne infections are widely distributed in the region. The need for further investigations using more advanced techniques is recommended.

Suite aux clefs récemment présentées à la Société Linnéenne, il nous semble utile de publier aussi les localités de capture des spécimens qui se trouvent actuellement conservés dans les collections égyptiennes, ou qui ont été signalés dans la littérature, car de nombreux changements sont intervenus dans la systématique de ces espèces. Deux d'entre elles, Merodon equestris Fabricius et Chrysogaster brevicornis Loew, sont signalées pour la première fois en Egypte. D'autres avaient été mal déterminées.

IntroductionRespiratory infections have significant effects on childhood asthma. Viral respiratory infections, such as rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus are likely to be important in the development and exacerbation of asthma. In this study, we investigated the nasopharyngeal colonization in children with asthma to determine the prevalence of pathogens and their contribution to respiratory symptoms and airway resistance during winter.MethodsFrom December 2016 to March 2017, 50 nasopharyngeal specimens were collected from 18 patients (age, 5.0±1.1 years) with asthma and 9 specimens from 9 control children (age, 4.9±1.0 years). Samples were tested for 19 viruses and 7 bacteria, using multiplex real-time PCR. Respiratory disease markers included the Global Asthma Network Questionnaire, the Common-Cold Questionnaire, the Global Initiative for Asthma assessment of asthma control, and the airway resistance at 5 Hz by forced-oscillation technique.ResultsThe most commonly isolated organisms in both groups (patients and controls) were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and rhinovirus. Most patients had multiple isolates (median, 3.5; range, 1–5), which changed during the study period. Types of isolates were 4 bacteria (S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, Bordetella pertussis, and Bordetella parapertussis) and 6 viruses (rhinovirus, enterovirus, metapneumovirus, adenovirus, coronaviruses, and parainfluenza viruses). Similar isolates, including influenza A-H3 virus and bocavirus, were detected in the controls. Of the 9 patients with “wheezing disturbing sleep ≥1 per week”, 6 had rhinovirus, 2 coronaviruses, and 1 no detectable viruses. Patients with mild common cold symptoms had significantly higher airway resistance at 5 Hz z-score (P=0.025).ConclusionMultiple respiratory pathogens were isolated from many patients with asthma, which appeared to contribute to disease symptoms and airway resistance. Minimizing children’s exposure to respiratory pathogens might be beneficial, especially during winter.