Hb Winnipeg [α75(EF4)Asp→Tyr (α2); HBA2: c.226G>T (or HBA1)] is a stable α-globin chain variant described in a few articles. The majority of reported cases in older articles were clustered in Canada. It can occur on both α1- and α2-globin genes and in different populations. In this study, eight cases of Hb Winnipeg were characterized by DNA sequencing during a wide-spectrum study of suspected α-globin gene variants collected in the United Kingdom. All cases detected peaked in the S window between 4.4 and 4.54 min. on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The isoelectric focusing (IEF) averaged at 6.21 below Hb A. All the mutations were detected on the α1-globin gene except in one case. The ethnic origin of the majority of the patients was Canadian. Only one case was associated with the common polymorphism HBA2: c.-24C>G (or HBA1) [Cap +14 (C>G)] on both α-globin genes without any …

Background

Avian tuberculosis is a chronic and zoonotic disease that affects a wide variety of birds, mammals, and humans. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium in some domestic birds based on molecular diagnosis, antibiogram profile, and PCR-based detection of inhA, rpoB, rpsL, and otrB antibiotic resistance-related genes.

Methods

A total of 120 fecal samples were collected from small flocks of house-reared domestic birds at Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. The collected samples were processed and subjected to the bacteriological examination. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the recovered isolates was performed using the broth microdilution method for the detection of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The genetic detection of the IS901confirmatory gene, inhA, rpoB, rpsL, and otrB genes was carried out using PCR.

Results

The frequency of M. avium subsp. avium was 4.1% (5/120); 10% (4/40) in ducks, and 2.5% (1/10) in geese. The identification of the recovered isolates was confirmed using PCR, where all the tested isolates were positive for IS901confirmatory gene. The results of the broth microdilution method revealed that most of the recovered isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR) to isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin, oxytetracycline, and doxycycline, and harbored the inhA, rpoB, rpsL, and otrB genes.

Conclusion

In brief, to the best of our knowledge this is the first report that emphasized the emergence of avian tuberculosis in house-reared domestic birds in Egypt. The emergence of MDR- M. avium subsp. avium is considered a public health threat. Emerging MDR-M. avium subsp. avium in domestic birds are commonly harbored the IS901, inhA, rpoB, rpsL, and otrB genes. Azithromycin and clofazimine revealed a promising in-vitro antibacterial activity against M. avium subsp. avium.

Objectives: sleep deprivation is a significant problem among adult men. It is considered to be a risk factor that contributes to several disease. It has been proposed that reactive oxygen species and the resulting oxidative stress may be responsible for some of the effects of sleep deprivation. The present study was performed to determine the impact of sleep deprivation for different periods on serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, corticosterone and whether sleep deprivation causes oxidative stress indicated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) level in testicular tissue as a direct evidence of cellular damage and measuring glutathione (GSH) in testicular tissue to determine possibility of reversible nature of oxidative stress by scavenger antioxidant system. We studied also if sleep recovery after sleep loss could relieve these effects or not. Material and methods: 42 adult male albino rats aged 12 weeks weighing about 200-250 gm were used in this study. They were divided into seven groups, six animals in each group, a control group and six experimental groups. Three experimental groups were used as sleep deprivation (SD) groups and another three experimental groups were used as sleep recovery (SR) groups. The SR groups were also sleep deprived and then returned to home-cages and were allowed to undisturbed and spontaneous sleep. Group I: served as a control group. Group II: rats were subjected to sleep deprivation for one day. Group III: rats were subjected to sleep deprivation for three days. Group IV: rats were subjected to sleep deprivation for five days. Group V: rats were subjected to sleep deprivation for three days followed by a period of sleep recovery for one day. Group VI: rats were subjected to sleep deprivation for three days followed by a period of sleep recovery for three days. Group VII: rats were subjected to sleep deprivation for three days followed by a period of sleep recovery for five days. After each planned SD and SR period, blood samples were collected for hormonal assay. The rats were decapitated and the testes were dissected out and used for the study of malondialdehyde and glutathione. The parameters were measured then analyzed by using Student's t-test. Results: serum testosterone level and luteinizing hormone (LH) showed significant decrease after three days of deprivation. Serum corticosterone level increased significantly from the first day of deprivation in comparison with the control group. After five days of sleep recovery, serum testosterone level and corticosterone returned to the level of the control group. Serum LH level improved after three days of sleep recovery. Sleep deprivation increased the testicular tissue MDA significantly and GSH was significantly decreased after three day of sleep deprivation when comparing with the control. Sleep recovery decreased testicular tissue MDA significantly and significant increase in GSH after the fifth day as non-significant change noticed on comparing their levels on that day with the control. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated the sleep deprivation effects on testosterone, luteinizing hormone, corticosterone levels in serum, malondialdehyde and glutathione in testicular tissue of rat. Sleep recovery was associated with restoration of the serum hormone levels. Also with sleep recovery MDA level was decreased and GSH content was improved in testicular tissue.

Oxytocin (OT) is well known for its role in reproduction. However, evidence has emerged suggesting a role in cardiovascular system but less is known about the role of this hormone in the injured heart. We elucidate oxytocin cardioprotective effects against myocardial infarction (MI). Male rats were divided into six groups: control without surgery, sham without occlusion, MI, OT pretreated then MI, combined OT and L-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor) then MI and combined OT and indomethacin (cyclooxygenase blocker) then MI. Twenty-four hours post-MI induction, hemodynamics parameters, inflammation markers, oxidative stress markers, apoptotic gene expression, brain naturitic peptide (BNP), and histopathological assessment were carried out. When compared to MI model group, OT significantly reduced LVEDP and increased LVSP and ± dP/dt.Also, it significantly decreased serum levels of BNP, TNF-α, IL-6, and TBARS with an increase in the activities of SOD and GPx. Furthermore, BAX and p53 mRNA were decreased. Interestingly, no significant improvement in any of the markers was detectable when we administrated OT with L-NAME. While the same results observed when we treated the rat with OT and indomethacin. We conclude that OT protected against the sequelae of myocardial infarction. These findings provide new insight into therapeutic strategies for myocardial infarction.