1.Effect of fluazifop-P-butyl herbicide on growth, pigment, and ultrastructure of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa and Raphidocelis subcapitata
Manal Mohamed Mostafa EL-ABASY ; Mohamed Saad ABDEL-KAREEM ; Khaled Yassin ABDEL-HALIM ; Soad Mohamed Mohy EL-DIN ; Elsayed Mohamed IBRAHIM
Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 2025;40(4):e2025029-
The terrible intensification in global food demand predictably results in an increase in agricultural practices, with a focus on the usage of herbicides. Hence, a deeper understanding of the impact of this herbicide on aquatic ecosystems is required. The characterization of nano-emulsion of fluazifop-P-butyl (FL) and the toxic effects in both traditional and nanoforms on the growth, pigmentation and ultrastructure of the freshwater microalgae: Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa and Raphidocelis subcapitata were studied. The prepared nano-emulsion has a particle size of 52-94 nm by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Zeta potential recorded (38.5 mV) and polydispersity index recorded (0.394). Traditional fluazifop-P-butyl (TFL) in the case of A. pyrenoidosa exhibited median effective concentration (EC50) (10.909 ± 3.635 mg/L) (P= 0.235), while nano fluazifop-P-butyl (NFL) recorded EC50 (14.281 ± 6.251 mg/L) (P= 0.205). In the case of R. subcapitata, TFL recorded EC50 (1.174 ± 0.501 mg/L) (P= 0.105), while NFL exhibited EC50 (4.757 ± 1.755 mg/L) (P= 0.150). Exposure of R. subcapitata cells to 0.117 mg/L of TFL significantly decreased chlorophyll a level by (-)15.51% (P= 0.002) relative to control. Also, chlorophyll b content in A. pyrenoidosa cells significantly decreased upon treatment with 1.43 mg/L of NFL by (-)67.16% (P= 0.001). Carotenoid content in A. pyrenoidosa cells significantly increased after exposure to 1.09 mg/L of TFL by 108.88% (P= 0.001) compared to the control. Likewise, exposure of R. subcapitata cells to 0.117 mg/L of TFL elevated carotenoid levels by 200.57% (P < 0.001). Destroyed chloroplasts and compacted cell walls were observed through TEM when A. pyrenoidosa was exposed to 1.09 mg/L of TFL and 1.43 mg/L of NFL. Likewise, R. subcapitata cells were exposed to 0.117 mg/L of TFL and 0.476 mg/L of NFL. This study demonstrates that both conventional and nano-forms of FL endanger the integrity of the ecosystem and have adverse impacts on non-target organisms. Thus, it's crucial to follow biosafety protocols concerning non-target species before deciding to use this herbicide.
2.Efficacy of Cerebellar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Treating Essential Tremor: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial
Ahmad Farag Ibrahim EL-ADAWY ; Mohamed Al-Bahay M. G. REDA ; Ali Mahmoud AHMED ; Mohamed Hamed RASHAD ; Mohamed Ahmed ZAKI ; Mohie-eldin Tharwat MOHAMED ; Mohammad Ali Saeed HASSAN ; Mohammad Fathi ABDULSALAM ; Abdelmonem M HASSAN ; Ahmed Fathy MOHAMED ; Abdel-Ghaffar Ismail FAYED ; Mostafa MESHREF ; Fathy Mahmoud MANSOUR ; Ahmed E. SARHAN ; Ahmed Hassan ELSHESHINY ; Elsayed ABED
Journal of Clinical Neurology 2024;20(4):378-384
Background:
and Purpose Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the cerebellar hemisphere represents a new option in treating essential tremor (ET) patients. We aimed to determine the efficacy of cerebellar rTMS in treating ET using different protocols regarding the number of sessions, exposure duration, and follow-up duration.
Methods:
A randomized sham-controlled trial was conducted, in which 45 recruit patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups. The first (active group) comprised 23 patients who were exposed to 12 sessions of active rTMS with 900 pulses of 1-Hz rTMS at 90% of the resting motor threshold daily on each side of the cerebellar hemispheres over 4 weeks. The second group (sham group) comprised 22 patients who were exposed to 12 sessions of sham rTMS. Both groups were reassessed at baseline and after 1 day, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin tremor-rating scale (FTM).
Results:
Demographic characteristics did no differ between the two groups. There were significant reductions both in FTM subscores A and B and in the FTM total score in the active-rTMS group during the period of assessment and after 3 months (p=0.031 and 0.011, respectively).However, subscore C did not change significantly from baseline when assessed at 2 and 3 months (p=0.073 and 0.236, respectively). Furthermore, the global assessment score was significantly higher in the active-rTMS group (p>0.001).
Conclusions
Low-frequency rTMS over the cerebellar cortex for 1 month showed relative safety and long-lasting efficacy in patients with ET. Further large-sample clinical trials are needed that include different sites of stimulation and longer follow-ups.
3.Effectiveness of community and school-based sanitation interventions in improving latrine coverage: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled interventions.
Satoshi IGAKI ; Nguyen Tran Minh DUC ; Nguyen Hai NAM ; Tran Thi Tuyet NGA ; Parshal BHANDARI ; Amr ELHAMAMSY ; Caroline Ibrahim LOTIFY ; Mostafa Elsayed HEWALLA ; Gehad Mohamed TAWFIK ; Peterson Gitonga MATHENGE ; Masahiro HASHIZUME ; Nguyen Tien HUY
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2021;26(1):26-26
INTRODUCTION:
Approximately 1000 children die each year due to preventable water and sanitation-related diarrheal diseases. Six in 10 people lacked access to safely managed sanitation facilities in 2015. Numerous community- and school-based approaches have been implemented to eradicate open defecation practices, promote latrine ownership, improve situation sanitation, and reduce waterborne disease.
OBJECTIVE:
Given that current evidence for sanitation interventions seem promising, the aim of this study was to systematically summarize existing research on the effectiveness of community- and school-based randomized controlled sanitation intervention in improving (1) free open defecation (safe feces disposal), (2) latrine usage, (3) latrine coverage or access, and (4) improved latrine coverage or access.
METHODS:
Eight electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, WHO Global Health Library (GHL), Virtual Health Library (VHL), POPLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar up to 26 April 2019. Original randomized clinical trials addressing community-based or school-based intervention that reported feces disposal and latrine coverage were deemed eligible. More than two researchers independently contributed to screening of papers, data extraction, and bias assessment. We conducted a meta-analysis by random-effects model. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool.
RESULTS:
Eighteen papers that matched all criteria and 16 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. Compared to the control, the sanitation intervention significantly increased safe feces disposal (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.51-3.19, p < 0.05, I
CONCLUSION
Our study showed strong evidence for both community- and school-based sanitation interventions as effective for the safe disposal of human excreta. The finding suggests major implications for health policy and design of future intervention in developing countries.
Community Participation/statistics & numerical data*
;
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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Sanitation/instrumentation*
;
School Health Services/statistics & numerical data*
;
Toilet Facilities/statistics & numerical data*
4.Reduced Fertility and Fecundity among Patients with Bipolar I Disorder and Schizophrenia in Egypt.
Hader MANSOUR ; Kareem KANDIL ; Joel WOOD ; Warda FATHI ; Mai ELASSY ; Ibtihal IBRAHIM ; Hala SALAH ; Amal YASSIN ; Hanan ELSAYED ; Salwa TOBAR ; Hala EL-BORAIE ; Ahmed EISSA ; Mohamed ELHADIDY ; Nahed E IBRAHIM ; Wafaa EL-BAHAEI ; Vishwajit L NIMGAONKAR
Psychiatry Investigation 2011;8(3):214-220
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate reproduction among patients with bipolar I disorder (BP1) or schizophrenia (SZ) in Egypt. METHODS: BP1 patients (n=113) were compared with community based, demographically balanced controls (n=124) and SZ patients (n=79, DSM-IV). All participants were evaluated using structured interviews and corroborative data were obtained from relatives. Standard indices of procreation were included in multivariate analyses that incorporated key demographic variables. RESULTS: Control individuals were significantly more likely to have children than BP1 or SZ patients (controls 46.8%, BP1 15.9%, SZ 17.7%), but the BP1-SZ differences were non-significant. The average number of children for BP1 patients (0.37+/-0.9) and SZ patients (0.38+/-0.9) was significantly lower than for controls (1.04+/-1.48) (BP1 vs controls, p<0.001; SZ vs controls, p<0.001). The frequency of marriages among BP1 patients was nominally higher than the SZ group, but was significantly lower than controls (BP1: 31.9% SZ: 27.8% control: 57.3%). Even among married individuals, BP1 (but not SZ) patients were childless more often than controls (p=0.001). The marital fertility, i.e., the average number of children among patients with conjugal relationships for controls (1.8+/-1.57) was significantly higher than BP1 patients (1.14+/-1.31, p=0.02), but not significantly different from SZ patients (1.36+/-1.32, p=0.2). CONCLUSION: Selected reproductive measures are significantly and substantially reduced among Egyptian BP1 patients. The reproductive indices are similar among BP1 and SZ patients, suggesting a role for general illness related variables. Regardless of the cause/s, the impairment constitutes important, under-investigated disability.
Bipolar Disorder
;
Child
;
Egypt
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Fertility
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Humans
;
Marriage
;
Multivariate Analysis
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Reproduction
;
Schizophrenia

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