Ashraf Abu-Seida

Our objective was to assess and rank different pharmacological interventions for relieving endometriosis-related pain. We conducted an online bibliographic search in different databases from their inception until March 2019. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed different medical therapies in the management of endometriosis-related pain. We applied this network meta-analysis (NMA) based on the frequentist approach using statistical package "netmeta" (version 1.0-1) in R software. Our main outcomes were the change in severity of pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea score, non-menstrual pelvic pain score, and dyspareunia score. Overall, 36 RCTs were included in this study (patients no. = 7942). Dienogest (0.94), combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) (0.782), and elagolix (0.38) were the highest-ranked interventions for reducing the severity of pelvic pain at three months, while at six months, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues (0.75), levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) (0.73), and dienogest (0.65) were linked to more reduction in pelvic pain. The ranking p-score showed that GnRH analogues was the highest-ranked treatment for reducing dysmenorrhea at 3 months (1.00), while CHCs were the highest-ranked treatment at 6 months (0.97), followed by GnRH analogues (0.89). GnRH analogues (0.63) and elagolix (0.54) at three months while desogestrel (0.94) and CHCs (0.91) at six months were the highest-ranked treatment to reduce non-menstrual pelvic pain. GnRH analogues and elagolix were the highest-ranked pharmacologic therapies for reducing dyspareunia. In conclusion, CHCs, GnRH analogues, progesterone, and elagolix were the best approaches in reducing the pain of endometriosis.

Plants of the genus Pulicaria (family: Asteraceae) are widely used in central Asia and the Middle East for treatment of different human diseases. Ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) was utilized to establish the metabolic profiles of two Pulicaria species: P. crispa and P. incisa. 122 metabolites were identified including flavonoids (37), phenolic acids (22), sesquiterpenes (17), diterpenes (7), and fatty acids (27), with enrichment in methoxylated flavonoids (20), caffeoylquinic acid conjugates (14) xanthane sesquiterpenes (9) and hydroxylated fatty acids (20) in both Pulicaria species. The metabolite profile of P. incisa was characterized by the presence of tri- and tetra-methoxylated flavonoids while xanthane sesquiterpenes were the main chemical markers of P. crispa. Additionally, a novel sesquiterpene acid (dihydropulicaric acid) was annotated in both species based on its MS fragments. Antioxidant activity for P. crispa and P. incisa methanol extracts was assessed in vitro based on DPPH and ABTS assays and further in vivo using chlorpromazine intoxicated rat model. Results revealed that P. incisa extract was more effective in inhibiting both DPPH and ABTS free radicals (IC50 0.36 and 0.52 mg/mL, respectively) than P. crispa (IC50 0.51 and 0.73 mg/mL). In the animal model, antioxidant activity of P. incisa (20 mg/kg/day) was also slightly higher causing a 55 % reduction in MDA levels and 65 % increase in GSH activity compared to untreated animals. Furthermore, both extracts showed a hepatoprotective effect as revealed by improvement in levels of serum biomarkers of liver functions: total bilirubin, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) comparable to silymarin at 25 mg/kg/day. These findings were also supported by the preserved integrity of the hepatic tissues of animals receiving either extracts at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.wt. The present study reveals for the potential antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects for Pulicaria in relation to its bioactive metabolites.

This review presents an account of the microbial biodiscovery methodology developed and applied in our laboratory at The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, with examples drawn from our experiences studying natural products produced by Australian marine-derived (and terrestrial) fungi and bacteria.

Any extrinsic agent that exerts a negative effect on plants’ physiology is usually defined as stress. Crop plants in a given habitat encounter myriads of non-biotic pressures such as high light intensity, salt, metal/metalloid, heat, drought, and/or ultraviolet or a combination of these stresses and biotic ones such as pathogens, weeds, and insect predation. In a natural environment, plants encounter these stresses simultaneously and respond and adapt to these environmental pressures by the regulatory circuitry networks involving various growth regulating signaling molecules. Stress induces too much production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In order to acclimate/adapt to stress conditions, in current times, plants’ acclamatory and defense responses are being regulated by various exogenous phytoprotectants such as supplements of exogenous plant growth regulators (PGRs) that mediate the redox balance under dynamic environment. The use of exogenous PRGs to impart abiotic stress tolerance is an emerging and burgeoning topic. PGRs are signaling elicitors that regulate growth and development under optimal and stress conditions. However, the critical tolerance trade-off of methyl jasmonate (MeJ) and brassinosteroids (BRs) in inducing abiotic stress tolerance has received little attention. Therefore, in this present chapter, we present the role of these two selected PGRs and their crosstalk with other signaling molecules in improving abiotic stress in different crop plants.

The methacholine challenge test is considered to be the gold standard bronchoprovocation test used to diagnose asthma, and this test is always performed in pulmonary function labs or doctors’ offices. Methacholine (MCH) acts by inducing airway tightening/bronchoconstriction, and more importantly, MCH is hydrolyzed by cholinesterase enzyme (ChE). Recently, the American Thoracic Society raised concerns about pulmonary function testing during the COVID-19 pandemic due to recently reported correlation between cholinesterase and COVID-19 pneumonia severity/mortality, and it was shown that cholinesterase levels are reduced in the acute phase of severe COVID-19 pneumonia. This work describes the microfabrication of potentiometric sensors using copper as the substrate and chemically polymerized graphene nanocomposites as the transducing layer for tracking the kinetics of MCH enzymatic degradation in real blood samples. The in-vitro estimation of the characteristic parameters of the MCH metabolism [Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) and reaction velocity (Vmax)] were found to be 241.041 μM and 56.8 μM/min, respectively. The proposed sensor is designed to be used as a companion diagnostic device that can (i) answer questions about patient eligibility to perform methacholine challenge tests, (ii) individualize/personalize medical dosing of methacholine, (iii) provide portable and inexpensive devices allowing automated readouts without the need for operator intervention (iv) recommend therapeutic interventions including intensive care during early stages and reflecting the disease state of COVID-19 pneumonia. We hope that this methacholine electrochemical sensor will help in assaying ChE activity in a “timely” manner and predict the severity and prognosis of COVID-19 to improve treatment outcomes and decrease mortality.

This study harnesses the power of mobile data in developing a spatial model for predicting black carbon (BC) concentrations within one of the most heavily populated regions in the Middle East and North Africa MENA region, Greater Cairo Region (GCR) in Egypt. A mobile data collection campaign was conducted in GCR to collect BC measurements along specific travel routes. In total, 3,300 km were travelled across a widespread 525 km of routes. Reported average BC values were around 20 µg/m3, announcing an alarming order of magnitude value when compared to the maximum reported values in similar studies. A bi-directional stepwise land use regression (LUR) model was developed to select the best combination of explanatory variables and generate an exposure surface for BC, in addition to a number of machine learning models (random forest gradient boost, light gradient boost model (LightGBM), Keras neural network (NN)). Data from 7 air quality (AQ) stations were compared—in terms of mean square error (MSE) and mean absolute error (MAE)—with predictions from the LUR and the NN model. The NN model estimated higher BC concentrations in the downtown areas, while lower concentrations are estimated for the peripheral area at the east side of the city. Such results shed light on the credibility of the LUR models in generating a general spatial trend of BC concentrations while the superiority of NN in BC accuracy estimation (0.023 vs 0.241 in terms of MSE and 0.12 vs 0.389 in terms of MAE; of NN vs LUR respectively).

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“PROF. KASSAS is the very embodiment of all that is good in a human being. His life is his message. He has stood for achieving harmony between humankind and nature as well as peace and harmony among nations.” M. S. Swaminathan*Professor Mohamed Abdel Fattah Al-Kassas (July 6, 1921 - March 21, 2012) was one of the most extraordinary scientific luminaries in Egypt, he is among the pioneers who have warned the world against the hazards of desertification and has played an important role in designing and implementing a number of UNESCO programs such as Man and the Biosphere.He was professor emeritus for the Botany University of Cairo, Egyptian botanist and conservationist, a specialist in the ecology of desert plants, his environmental and botanical work over many decades cut a broad and fertile swath in areas of desert ecology and environmental changes over time, especially in relation to desertification – a process he is held to have brought to both public and scientific attention and was among the first to publish on the topic of desertification. He studied at the University of Cairo, where he received a B.Sc. in 1944 and an M.Sc. in 1947, and at the University of Cambridge (Ph.D. in 1950). He was a member of the Egyptian Academy of Science and the Institute of Egypt. Prof. Kassas was an advisory member of the United Nations Environment Programme from its beginning, He was also the notable President (1978-1984) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Science, the World Academy of Art and Science, and an honorary member of the Club of Rome.

The current study aimed to investigate the most common pathogenic bacteria that are naturally infecting wild marine fishes collected at different localities along the coastline zone of Hurghada City, Egypt. A total of 300 samples of marbled spine foot Siganus rivulatus and the Haffara Seabream Rhabdosargus haffara were subjected to clinical and bacteriological examinations. The examined fishes showed the characteristic clinical signs and postmortem lesions of vibriosis and photobacteriosis. Based on the morpho-chemical characterization, bacterial isolates retrieved from the naturally infected fishes were identified as Vibrio spp. and Photobacterium spp. Through sequencing 16S rRNA genes, the identities of bacterial isolates were confirmed as V. alginolyticus, V. vulnificus, P. damselae subsp. damselae and P. damselae subsp < em> piscicida. Vibrio alginolyticus was the most frequent isolated bacterial pathogen and represented 54.4% and 46.7% of the total isolates recovered from S. rivulatus and R. haffara, respectively. Thus, the current study confirmed that Vibrio and Photobacterium species remain the most prevalent bacterial pathogens infecting Egyptian Red Sea fishes.  From food safety perspective, these types of infections could pose potential public health hazards.

The current study aimed to investigate the most common pathogenic bacteria that are naturally infecting wild marine fishes collected at different localities along the coastline zone of Hurghada City, Egypt. A total of 300 samples of marbled spine foot Siganus rivulatus and the Haffara Seabream Rhabdosargus haffara were subjected to clinical and bacteriological examinations. The examined fishes showed the characteristic clinical signs and postmortem lesions of vibriosis and photobacteriosis. Based on the morpho-chemical characterization, bacterial isolates retrieved from the naturally infected fishes were identified as Vibrio spp. and Photobacterium spp. Through sequencing 16S rRNA genes, the identities of bacterial isolates were confirmed as V. alginolyticus, V. vulnificus, P. damselae subsp. damselae and P. damselae subsp < em> piscicida. Vibrio alginolyticus was the most frequent isolated bacterial pathogen and represented 54.4% and 46.7% of the total isolates recovered from S. rivulatus and R. haffara, respectively. Thus, the current study confirmed that Vibrio and Photobacterium species remain the most prevalent bacterial pathogens infecting Egyptian Red Sea fishes.  From food safety perspective, these types of infections could pose potential public health hazards.

Molecular and immunological aspects of heterophyid infections in mullets are scanty. This study was initiated to identify heterophyid encysted metacercariae infecting gray mullet Mugil cephalus by morphological and molecular assays and to evaluate its immunological effects on infected mullets. Both farmed fish, from a private farm nearby Lake Manzala in Damietta, Egypt, and wild-caught fish, from the Mediterranean Sea in Alexandria, were investigated. The presence of heterophyid encysted metacercariae was significantly higher (80%) in wild than in farmed fish (30%). Morphological identification of metacercariae showed characteristic features of H. heterophyes. The result of sequences of 28S and ITS2 rDNA regions of Heterophyes EMC was consistent with the morphological data. The gene expression analysis of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in tissues of infected fish qRT-PCR showed a significant increase (p < 0.05). Encysted metacercariae were detected microscopically in sections of infected fish with variable histopathological lesions.

This study aimed to identify and characterize the most common Anisakis larvae infecting Atlantic horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in the South Mediterranean basin; based on morphological and advanced molecular characterization. Also, the linkage between the prevalence of Anisakis spp. larvae and some biological variables including Mackerel age and sex were also investigated. Moreover, the clinical intensity of larvae infection in different organs of infected Mackerel was assessed. Atlantic horse mackerel collected from the southern Mediterranean shores were found to be infected with third stages larvae (L3) of Anisakis species. The Anisakis larvae were found encapsulated as coiled tightly in different fish organs and uncoiled freely in the abdominal cavity of infected T. trachurus. These larvae were categorized into 3 types of Anisakis spp. as A. simplex type1; A. pegreffii; Anisakis simplex / pegreffii hybrid based on their morphological and molecular characterizations. Subsequently, the phylogenetic analysis of ITS region of different investigated larvae confirmed the identification of collected Anisakis spp. The remarkably high intensity of Anisakis spp. larvae in Mackerel gonads warns of possible future deleterious impacts on the growth, development and sustainability of Mackerel fisheries at the south Mediterranean coasts.

Abstract Trichodiniasis is one of the most serious ectoparasitic diseases disturbing tilapia aquaculture worldwide, causing deleterious effects and significant economic losses. This study aimed to characterize two Trichodina species concomitantly infecting farmed Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus based on integrated morphological, molecular, and immunological approaches. One hundred and eighty of 250 examined Nile tilapia were found to be infected with trichodinids belonging to the family Trichodinidae, with an overall prevalence rate of 72%. The morphological characterization of trichodinids fixed on Giemsa-stained smears revealed that fish were concomitantly infected with Trichodina heterodentata and T. centrostrigeata. Subsequently, the phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rRNA gene of the two investigated trichodinids confirmed the detected species? identities. The gene expression levels of MHCII? and CD4 gens were increased during the trichodinid infection. Furthermore, potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide chemicals, which have well-known records for treating ectoparasites infections in farmed fish, were successfully verified to control trichodiniasis in a small-scale trial.

SummaryBackground
Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality.
Methods
We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis.
Findings
We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality.
Interpretation
Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030.
Funding
Wellcome Trust.

Applications of discrete orthogonal polynomials (DOPs) in image processing have been recently emerging. In particular, Krawtchouk, Chebyshev, and Charlier DOPs have been applied as bases for image analysis in the frequency domain. However, fast realizations and fractional-type generalizations of DOP-based discrete transforms have been rarely addressed. In this paper, we introduce families of multiparameter discrete fractional transforms via orthogonal spectral decomposition based on Krawtchouk, Chebyshev, and Charlier DOPs. The eigenvalues are chosen arbitrarily in both unitary and non-unitary settings. All families of transforms, for varieties of eigenvalues, are applied in image watermarking. We also exploit recently introduced fast techniques to reduce complexity for the Krawtchouk case. Experimental results show the robustness of the proposed transforms against watermarking attacks.

SARS-CoV-2 has been emerged in December 2019 in China, causing deadly (5% mortality) pandemic pneumonia, termed COVID-19. More than one host-cell receptor is reported to be recognized by the viral spike protein, among them is the cell-surface Heat Shock Protein A5 (HSPA5), also termed GRP78 or BiP. Upon viral infection, HSPA5 is upregulated, then translocating to the cell membrane where it is subjected to be recognized by the SARS-CoV-2 spike. In this study, some natural product compounds are tested against the HSPA5 substrate-binding domain β (SBDβ), which reported to be the recognition site for the SARS-CoV-2 spike. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations are used to test some natural compounds binding to HSPA5 SBDβ. The results show high to a moderate binding affinity for the phytoestrogens (Diadiazin, Genistein, Formontein, and Biochanin A), chlorogenic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, hydroxytyrosol, cis-p-Coumaric acid, cinnamaldehyde, thymoquinone, and some physiological hormones such as estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, and cholesterol to the HSPA5 SBDβ. Based on its binding affinities, the phytoestrogens and estrogens are the best in binding HSPA5, hence may interfere with SARS-CoV-2 attachment to the stressed cells. These compounds can be successful as anti-COVID-19 agents for people with a high risk of cell stress like elders, cancer patients, and front-line medical staff. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

We report on the chemical analysis of a mud dauber wasp nest-associated fungus, Penicillium sp. CMB-MD22, leading to the discovery and structure elucidation of three known (1-3) and two new (4 and 5) anthrones, and a family of new and known bianthrones, neobulgarones 6-23. Detection and structure elucidation of 1-23 was supported by detailed spectroscopic analysis, as well as chemical (thermal) transformations, and global natural products social (GNPS) molecular networking. An empirical approach using HPLC retention times was effective at differentiating anti from syn bianthrone isomers, while a facile thermal equilibration was shown to favor anti over syn isomers. The neobulgarones 6-23 are natural products, and a crude extract rich in 6-23 exhibits selective antifungal activity against a co-isolated mud dauber wasp nest-associated fungus, suggestive of a possible ecological role as an antifungal chemical defense.