Mohamed Ramadan - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Mohamed Ramadan
As the Textile Industry is the second largest industry in Egypt and as small and medium-sized ent... more As the Textile Industry is the second largest industry in Egypt and as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up a great portion of this industry therein it is essential to apply the concept of Cleaner Production for the purpose of reducing pollution. In order to achieve this goal, a case study concerned with ecofriendly stone-washing of jeans-garments was investigated. A raw material-substitution option was adopted whereby the toxic potassium permanganate and sodium sulfide were replaced by the environmentally compatible hydrogen peroxide and glucose respectively where the concentrations of both replaced chemicals together with the operating time were optimized. In addition, a process-rationalization option involving four additional processes was investigated. By means of criteria such as product quality, effluent analysis, mass and heat balance; and cost analysis with the aid of a statistical model, a process optimization treatment revealed that the superior process optima...
Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 2018
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease that commonly infects goat in Egypt. For its diagnosis, sera ... more Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease that commonly infects goat in Egypt. For its diagnosis, sera form 48 pregnant does were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies through indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT) and modified agglutination test (MAT). Samples were collected between the periods extended from November 2006 to March 2007. The seropositive rate of pregnant does (Meet Kenana, Kalubyia Governorate, Egypt) was 35.42% (17/48). After using MAT test against T. gondii-IgM, 11 sera (22.9%) were found positive. The older animals were more frequently infected (50%) than the younger goats (26.3%). Higher prevalence in aged does was confirmed by MAT. Total T.gondii antibodies and IgM were gradually increased with the development of pregnancy. Two months post treatment with sulfademidine 33.3 %, for 5 successive days at a dose of 200 mg/kg, resulted in not only reduction of T.gondii total antibodies and IgM in all treated does, but re-modulation of T.gondii antibody titres moderately toward the mild titres, and prevention of congenital infection and abortion as well. Whereas IgM was not recorded in treated does, it was detected in the untreated ones. No abortion was recorded in all treated does, but an untreated doe delivered two dead fetuses. The delivered kids belonged to treated does were seropositive for T. gondii antibodies by using IHAT, yet they were seronegative for T.gondii-IgM by using MAT. In contrast, kids belonged to untreated does were seropositive by using both IHAT and MAT. Adequate management might be useful and essential to control toxoplasmosis in the goat herds of Kalubyia Governorate.
BMC pregnancy and childbirth, Jan 6, 2018
Magnesium sulfate is the preferred pharmacological intervention for the prevention and treatment ... more Magnesium sulfate is the preferred pharmacological intervention for the prevention and treatment of eclamptic seizures in pregnancy. Pain associated with intramuscular injections and the need for an electronic infusion pump for use intravenously represent significant barriers to broader utilization. We hypothesize that an alternative regimen based on serial intravenous (IV) boluses can produce serum concentrations comparable to those produced by a continuous infusion. An open-label randomized trial was performed at two hospitals in Egypt. Women with severe preeclampsia were eligible and enrolled between January 2015 and February 2016. Two hundred subjects were randomized by random numbers generated centrally in distinct blocks and stratified by study site. They were assigned to a continuous infusion arm, (4 g loading dose with 1 g/hr. continuous infusion) or a serial IV bolus arm, (6 g loading dose with 2 g bolus every 2 h using a Springfusor® pump). Sparsely sampled magnesium serum...
Pharmaceutical Biology, 2017
Context: Cold-pressed oils (CPO) are commercially available in the market and characterized by th... more Context: Cold-pressed oils (CPO) are commercially available in the market and characterized by their health-promoting properties. Objective: Clove oil (CLO), coriander seed oil (COO) and black cumin oil (BCO) were evaluated for their bioactive lipids. Pharmacological screening was performed to evaluate acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic effects as well as histopathological changes in tissues of albino rats fed with CPO. Materials and methods: Fatty acids, tocols and total phenolics were analyzed. The acute toxicity test for each CPO was estimated during 14 d. Carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema was used for assessment of anti-inflammatory activity of CPO. Animals were fasted overnight, and via oral gavage given indomethacin (10 mg/kg) or CPO (400 mg/kg) to investigate ulcerogenecity. Histopathological changes in liver, kidney, heart, spleen and stomach were screened. Results: Amounts of a-, b-, cand d-tocopherols in CLO were 1495, 58, 4177 and 177 mg/kg oil, respectively. In COO, a, b, c and d-tocopherols were 10.0, 18.2, 5.1 and 34.8%, respectively. In BCO, b-tocotrienol was the main constituent. CLO, COO and BCO contained 4.6, 4.2 and 3.6 mg GAE/g, respectively. Acute toxicity test determined that 400 mg/kg of CPO to be used. In the carrageenan model of inflammation, pretreatment of rats with indomethacin (10 mg/kg) or CLO (400 mg/kg) induced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction by 31.3 and 27.4%, respectively, in rat paw oedema as compared with the carrageenan-treated group. Indomethacin induced a significant ulcerogenic effect with an ulcer index of 19. Oral treatment of CPO showed no ulcerogenic effect, wherein no histopathological changes were observed. Conclusions: CPO, particularly CLO, could minimize acute inflammation.
Journal of oleo science, 2016
Potato tuber is a highly nutritious, wherein genotype and environmental differences are known to ... more Potato tuber is a highly nutritious, wherein genotype and environmental differences are known to exist in the shape, size and nutritional value of potatoes. Owing to its high consumption, potato could be an ideal carrier of health-promoting phytochemicals. Potato cultivars contain many bioactive lipidic compounds such as fatty acids, glycolipids, phospholipids, sterols, tocols and carotenoids, which are highly desirable in diet because of their health-promoting effects. In the scientific literature, information on the content and profile of bioactive lipidic compounds in potato cultivars are few. The concentration and stability of bioactive lipids are affected by many factors such as genotype, agronomic factors, postharvest storage, cooking and processing conditions. In this review levels and composition of bioactive lipids in terms of lipid classes, fatty acids, phytosterols, tocopherols, and caroteinoids distribution in different potato cultivars including genetically modified pot...
Science advances, 2015
We demonstrate the additive manufacturing of complex three-dimensional (3D) biological structures... more We demonstrate the additive manufacturing of complex three-dimensional (3D) biological structures using soft protein and polysaccharide hydrogels that are challenging or impossible to create using traditional fabrication approaches. These structures are built by embedding the printed hydrogel within a secondary hydrogel that serves as a temporary, thermoreversible, and biocompatible support. This process, termed freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels, enables 3D printing of hydrated materials with an elastic modulus <500 kPa including alginate, collagen, and fibrin. Computer-aided design models of 3D optical, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging data were 3D printed at a resolution of ~200 μm and at low cost by leveraging open-source hardware and software tools. Proof-of-concept structures based on femurs, branched coronary arteries, trabeculated embryonic hearts, and human brains were mechanically robust and recreated complex 3D internal and external...
International Food Research Journal
Impact of adding chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) flour to wheat flour on the rheological properties... more Impact of adding chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) flour to wheat flour on the rheological properties of toast bread Abstract: Legume flours, due to their amino acid composition and fibre content, are ideal ingredients for improving the nutritional value of bread and bakery products. In this study, the influence of the total or partial replacement of wheat flour by chickpea flour on the quality characteristics of toast bread was analyzed. Chickpea flour was added to medium strength wheat flour to replace 15 and 30% w/w of wheat flour. The effects of chickpea flour supplementation on dough physical properties, such as water absorption capacity, dough development time, dough stability, crumb, porosity and toast bread structure as well as quality characteristics were studied. Chickpea flour at 15 and 30% substitution levels increased the stability and the tolerance index of the dough. The volumes of the breads decreased as the level of chickpea flour increased due to the dilution of the gluten structure by added protein. Nevertheless, substitution at 15 and 30%, gives parameter values at least as good as the control sample and produces an acceptable toast bread, in terms of weight, volume, texture and crumb structure.
Journal of Environmental Protection, 2011
The main source of water in Gaza Strip is the shallow coastal aquifer. It is extremely deteriorat... more The main source of water in Gaza Strip is the shallow coastal aquifer. It is extremely deteriorated in terms of salinity which influenced by many variables. Studying the relation between these variables and salinity is often a complex and nonlinear process, making it suitable to model by Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Initially, it is assumed that the salinity (represented by chloride concentration, mg/l) may be affected by some variables as: recharge rate, abstraction, abstraction average rate, life time and aquifer thickness. Data were extracted from 56 municipal wells, covering the area of Gaza Strip. After a number of modeling trials, the best neural network was determined to be Multilayer Perceptron network (MLP) with four layers: an input layer of 6 neurons, first hidden layer with 10 neurons, second hidden layer with 7 neurons and the output layer with 1 neuron which gives the final chloride concentration. The ANN model generated very good results depending on the high correlation between the observed and simulated values of chloride concentration. The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.9848. The high value of (r) showed that the simulated chloride concentration values using the ANN model were in very good agreement with the observed chloride concentration which mean that ANN model is useful and applicable for groundwater salinity modeling. ANN model was successfully utilized as analytical tool to study influence of the input variables on chloride concentration. It proved that chloride concentration in groundwater is reduced by decreasing abstraction, abstraction average rate and life time. Furthermore, it is reduced by increasing recharge rate and aquifer thickness.
Potencial antioxidante total de zumos, bebidas y bebidas calientes consumidas en Egipto determina... more Potencial antioxidante total de zumos, bebidas y bebidas calientes consumidas en Egipto determinadas mediante ensayo in vitro con DPPH.
Grasas y Aceites, 2008
Comparación entre el efecto de la γ γ-irradiación y el horneado en el perfil y en la actividad an... more Comparación entre el efecto de la γ γ-irradiación y el horneado en el perfil y en la actividad antioxidante de los lípidos del germen de trigo. Se estudió el efecto de la γ-irradiación (dosis de irradiación de 1 / 4 , 1 / 2 y 1 kGy) y del horneado (160 °C durante 20 min) en los componentes lipídicos del germen de trigo, un subproducto rico en nutrientes de la industria harinera. Ninguno de los tratamientos empleados tuvo un efecto significativo ni en el total de los lípidos recuperados ni en su composición en ácidos grasos. Los ácidos grasos mayoritarios fueron el ácido linoleico, seguido de los ácidos oleico y palmítico. Un aumento del contenido de ácidos grasos libres caracterizó el perfil lipídico de las muestras irradiadas. Las propiedades antiradicalarias de los lípidos de las muestras irradiadas y horneadas fueron estudiadas analizando el blanqueo del radical estable 1,1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazilo. Los lípidos de las muestras irradiadas exhibieron un potencial antiradicalario superior a los lípidos del germen de trigo horneado. Estos resultados sugieren que la γ-irradiación puede ser aplicada a la estabilización del germen de trigo, si bien la irradiación empleada podría estar limitada a 1 / 4 kGy. PALABRAS-CLAVE: Ácidos grasos-Actividad antiradicalaria-Horneado-γ-Irradiación-Germen de trigo-Tocoferoles-Triricum aestivum. SUMMARY Comparison between the effect of γ γ-irradiation and roasting on the profile and antioxidant activity of wheat germ lipids. In order to utilize wheat germ, a nutrient-dense byproduct of the wheat milling industry, in various food products, different treatments are used to investigate and stabilize its influence on lipid characteristics. However, there are no reports on the effect of γ-irradiation on the lipid profile of wheat germ. In this study, the impact of γ-irradiation (at radiation doses 1 / 4 , 1 / 2 and 1 kGy) and roasting at (160 °C for 20 min) on the lipid constituents of wheat germ was examined. Both thermal and irradiation treatments did not have a significant effect on the total lipid recovery or the fatty acid composition of wheat germ lipids. The fatty acid profile was found to be made up of linoleic followed by oleic and palmitic as the major fatty acids. An increase in the content of free fatty acids characterized the lipid profile of the irradiated wheat germ samples. Antiradical properties of lipids from roasted and irradiated samples were analyzed using the bleaching of the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Lipids from irradiated samples exhibited relatively stronger radical scavenging potential than lipids from roasted wheat germ. It has been concluded that γirradiation could be applied for wheat germ preservation, where it might be limited to a dose of 1/4 kGy in the processing.
Grasas y Aceites, 2011
Apricot and pumpkin oils reduce plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations in rats fed... more Apricot and pumpkin oils reduce plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations in rats fed a high-fat diet. Non-conventional oilseeds are being taken into greater consideration because their constituents have unique chemical
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease, 2013
Objective: To study the protective effects of the ethanolic extract of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.... more Objective: To study the protective effects of the ethanolic extract of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia) leaves against the toxicity caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) in reproductive system of rats. Methods: Lettuce leaves were dried and extracted with ethanol (plant: solvent, 1:10, w/v). The extract was filtered and evaporated to yield dried lettuce extract. Animals were divided into seven groups and treated with CCl 4 and different concentrations of lettuce extract. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and blood was collected and centrifuged for serum separation. Body weights, testis size, histopathology of testis and liver, catalase (CAT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitrite level, and serum hormones were determined. Results: Oxidative stress induced by CCl 4 (2 mL/kg body weight) in rat decreases the increase in body weight and relative testis weight. It also markedly increases the level of TBARS and nitrites along with corresponding decrease in reduced glutathione and various antioxidant enzymes in testis (i.e., CAT, POD, SOD and GSH-Px). Serum level of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone was decreased while estradiol and prolactin were increased during CCl 4 treatment. Histopathology of CCl 4-treated rats indicated the partial degeneration of germ and leydig cells along with deformities in spermatogenesis. Supplementation of lettuce extract (100, 150, 200 mg/kg body weight orally) once a week for 10 weeks results in decrease of TBARS and nitrite, while increase in antioxidant enzymes; CAT, POD, SOD, GSH-Px and GSH contents. Serum level of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, prolactin, histology, body weight and relative testis weight was also concomitantly restored to near normal level by lettuce extract supplementation to CCl 4-intoxicated rat. Conclusions: The results clearly demonstrate that lettuce extract treatment augments the antioxidants defense mechanism against CCl 4-induced toxicity and provides evidence that it may have a therapeutic role in free radical mediated diseases.
Grasas y Aceites, 2008
Agronomic performance and chemical response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to some organic n... more Agronomic performance and chemical response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to some organic nitrogen sources and conventional nitrogen fertilizers under sandy soil conditions. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an option for oilseed production, particularly in dry land areas due to good root system development. In this study, two field experiments were performed in the El-Khattara region (Sharkia Governorate, Egypt) during the 2005 season. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of organicnitrogen (ON) sources and their combinations as well as to compare the effect of ON and ammonium sulfate (AS) as a conventional fertilizer added individually or in combination on growth, yield components, oil percentage and the uptake of some macronutrients by sunflowers grown on sandy soil. The treatments of chicken manure (CM) and a mixture of farmyard manure (FYM) with CM were superior to the other treatments and gave the highest yield, dry matter yield, NPK uptake by plants at all growth stages along with seed yield at the mature stage. The effect of the different ON on crop yield and its components may follow the order; CM> palma residues (PR)> FYM. This was more emphasized when the materials were mixed with AS at a ratio of 3:1 and 1:1. The uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) by plants was affected by the addition of different N sources and treatments. The highest nutrient content and uptake by straw were obtained when treated with CM followed by PR at all growth stages, while it was PR followed by CM for seeds. Oil recovery was shown to respond to the N supply and the changes in individual fatty acids were not statistically different. However, it seems that the application of organic fertilizers resulted in an increase in total unsaturated fatty acids compared to the control.
Hepatology international, Jan 19, 2010
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide, including Egypt. In the recen... more Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide, including Egypt. In the recent past, HCC has become the second most prevalent cancer among men in Egypt. Since HCC has not been well studied in the rural population of Egypt, this case-control study was conducted to investigate the epidemiologic risk factors of HCC in the predominantly rural region of Gharbiah, Egypt. A total of 150 cases and 150 controls matched to cases on age (±5 years) and sex were recruited from the Gharbiah Cancer Society and Tanta Cancer Center. Exposure data were collected by an interviewer-administered standardized questionnaire about epidemiologic, occupational, medical and family history of HCC. Conditional logistic regression was utilized to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The effect modification of HCC risk between viral infection and environmental risk factors was also assessed. Being an industrial worker was an independent risk fo...
Biomatter
Burns, chronic wounds, osteoarthritis, and uveitis are examples of conditions characterized by lo... more Burns, chronic wounds, osteoarthritis, and uveitis are examples of conditions characterized by local, intense inflammatory responses that can impede healing or even further tissue degradation. The most powerful anti-inflammatory drugs available are often administered systemically, but these carry significant side effects and are not compatible for patients that have underlying complications associated with their condition. Conjugation of monoclonal antibodies that neutralize pro-inflammatory cytokines to high molecular weight hydrophilic polymers has been shown to be an effective strategy for local control of inflammation. Lead formulations are based on antibody inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-α conjugated to hyaluronic acid having molecular weight greater than 1 MDa. This review will discuss fundamental aspects of medical conditions that could be treated with these conjugates and design principles for preparing these cytokine-neutralizing polymer conjugates. Results demonstrati...
Oral Oncology, 2010
Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) has been studied in different regions of the world but little is known... more Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) has been studied in different regions of the world but little is known about its incidence patterns in the Middle East and Egypt. In this study from Egypt's only population-based registry, we analyzed data from 1999-2006, to estimate incidence, incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) categorized by age, district and subsites. Overall urban incidence of HNC was twice or more that of rural incidence for both males (IRR = 2.59; 95% CI = 2.26, 2.97) and females (IRR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.64, 2.43). Highest urban-rural difference for males was seen in 40-49 years (IRR = 2.79; 95% CI = 1.92, 4.05) and for females in 30-39 years (IRR = 2.94; 95% CI = 1.60, 5.40). Among subsites, highest incidence among males was for larynx (1.53/10 5) and among females for gum and mouth (0.48/10 5). Maximum urbanrural difference in males was for paranasal sinus (IRR = 4.66; 95% CI = 1.88, 11.54) and in females for lip (IRR = 8.91; 95% CI = 1.89, 41.98). The study underscores the patterns of HNC incidence in Egypt while indicating the need for future analytical studies investigating specific risk factors of HNC in this population.
The Lancet, 2010
Background Oxytocin, the standard of care for treatment of post-partum haemorrhage, is not availa... more Background Oxytocin, the standard of care for treatment of post-partum haemorrhage, is not available in all settings because of refrigeration requirements and the need for intravenous administration. Misoprostol, an effective uterotonic agent with several advantages for resource-poor settings, has been investigated as an alternative. This trial established whether sublingual misoprostol was similarly efficacious to intravenous oxytocin for treatment of post-partum haemorrhage in women not exposed to oxytocin during labour. Methods In this double-blind, non-inferiority trial, 9348 women not exposed to prophylactic oxytocin had blood loss measured after vaginal delivery at four hospitals in Ecuador, Egypt, and Vietnam (one secondary-level and three tertiary-level facilities). 978 (10%) women were diagnosed with primary post-partum haemorrhage and were randomly assigned to receive 800 μg misoprostol (n=488) or 40 IU intravenous oxytocin (n=490). Providers and women were masked to treatment assignment. Primary endpoints were cessation of active bleeding within 20 min and additional blood loss of 300 mL or more after treatment. Clinical equivalence of misoprostol would be accepted if the upper bound of the 97•5% CI fell below the predefined non-inferiority margin of 6%. All outcomes were assessed from the time of initial treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00116350. Findings All randomly assigned participants were analysed. Active bleeding was controlled within 20 min with study treatment alone for 440 (90%) women given misoprostol and 468 (96%) given oxytocin (relative risk [RR] 0•94, 95% CI 0•91-0•98; crude difference 5•3%, 95% CI 2•6-8•6). Additional blood loss of 300 mL or greater after treatment occurred for 147 (30%) of women receiving misoprostol and 83 (17%) receiving oxytocin (RR 1•78, 95% CI 1•40-2•26). Shivering (229 [47%] vs 82 [17%]; RR 2•80, 95% CI 2•25-3•49) and fever (217 [44%] vs 27 [6%]; 8•07, 5•52-11•8) were significantly more common with misoprostol than with oxytocin. No women had hysterectomies or died. Interpretation In settings in which use of oxytocin is not feasible, misoprostol might be a suitable first-line treatment alternative for post-partum haemorrhage. Funding The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Journal of the Textile Institute, 2010
The effect of bioscouring on printability of cotton fabric using a reactive dye has been studied ... more The effect of bioscouring on printability of cotton fabric using a reactive dye has been studied and the results are compared with the conventional scouring to obtain most appropriate bioscouring conditions for optimal printability. Parameters affecting the bioscouring process, such as concentration of alkaline pectinase enzyme in single use and in admixture with cellulase enzyme, and duration of treatment as well as pretreatment with β-cyclodextrin at different concentrations are studied. Fabrics processed using the appropriate condition of bioscouring exhibit overall printing characteristics which are comparable with, if not superior than, those of the conventional scouring, irrespective of the effect due to the replacement of the harsh chemicals with ecofriendly biodegradable enzymes.
Journal of Mathematics and Statistics, 2007
A structured model of bioreactor for an activated sludge process was presented. The stability and... more A structured model of bioreactor for an activated sludge process was presented. The stability and bifurcation characteristics of the model are investigated, the bifurcation analysis of the model shows static and complex dynamic behavior (periodic and complex) over a wide range of the model parameters. The model exhibits a new interesting behavior (in some range of parameters) including four static limit points (turning points) and two Hopf points, that cause different kinds and rich of stability characteristics ranging from asymptotically stable and hysteresis to periodic and complex behavior.
Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2011
In vitro antioxidant activities and protective effects of sesame cake extract in stabilising sunf... more In vitro antioxidant activities and protective effects of sesame cake extract in stabilising sunflower and soybean oils were tested. Total phenolic, flavonoid and flavonol contents in the extract of sesame cake were 1.94± 0.02 (mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g −1 dry weight (DW)), 0.88±0.02 (mg quercetin equivalent (QE) g −1 DW), and 0.40±0.02 (mg QE g −1 DW), respectively. Protective effects of sesame cake extract in stabilizing sunflower and soybean oils were tested, compared to synthetic antioxidants, by measuring their peroxide values (PV), conjugated dienes (CD), conjugated trienes (CT), and p-anisidine value during accelerated storage. Results indicated that sesame cake extract exhibited stronger antioxidant activity than BHT and BHA. However, its antioxidant activity was less than that of TBHQ.
As the Textile Industry is the second largest industry in Egypt and as small and medium-sized ent... more As the Textile Industry is the second largest industry in Egypt and as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up a great portion of this industry therein it is essential to apply the concept of Cleaner Production for the purpose of reducing pollution. In order to achieve this goal, a case study concerned with ecofriendly stone-washing of jeans-garments was investigated. A raw material-substitution option was adopted whereby the toxic potassium permanganate and sodium sulfide were replaced by the environmentally compatible hydrogen peroxide and glucose respectively where the concentrations of both replaced chemicals together with the operating time were optimized. In addition, a process-rationalization option involving four additional processes was investigated. By means of criteria such as product quality, effluent analysis, mass and heat balance; and cost analysis with the aid of a statistical model, a process optimization treatment revealed that the superior process optima...
Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 2018
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease that commonly infects goat in Egypt. For its diagnosis, sera ... more Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease that commonly infects goat in Egypt. For its diagnosis, sera form 48 pregnant does were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies through indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT) and modified agglutination test (MAT). Samples were collected between the periods extended from November 2006 to March 2007. The seropositive rate of pregnant does (Meet Kenana, Kalubyia Governorate, Egypt) was 35.42% (17/48). After using MAT test against T. gondii-IgM, 11 sera (22.9%) were found positive. The older animals were more frequently infected (50%) than the younger goats (26.3%). Higher prevalence in aged does was confirmed by MAT. Total T.gondii antibodies and IgM were gradually increased with the development of pregnancy. Two months post treatment with sulfademidine 33.3 %, for 5 successive days at a dose of 200 mg/kg, resulted in not only reduction of T.gondii total antibodies and IgM in all treated does, but re-modulation of T.gondii antibody titres moderately toward the mild titres, and prevention of congenital infection and abortion as well. Whereas IgM was not recorded in treated does, it was detected in the untreated ones. No abortion was recorded in all treated does, but an untreated doe delivered two dead fetuses. The delivered kids belonged to treated does were seropositive for T. gondii antibodies by using IHAT, yet they were seronegative for T.gondii-IgM by using MAT. In contrast, kids belonged to untreated does were seropositive by using both IHAT and MAT. Adequate management might be useful and essential to control toxoplasmosis in the goat herds of Kalubyia Governorate.
BMC pregnancy and childbirth, Jan 6, 2018
Magnesium sulfate is the preferred pharmacological intervention for the prevention and treatment ... more Magnesium sulfate is the preferred pharmacological intervention for the prevention and treatment of eclamptic seizures in pregnancy. Pain associated with intramuscular injections and the need for an electronic infusion pump for use intravenously represent significant barriers to broader utilization. We hypothesize that an alternative regimen based on serial intravenous (IV) boluses can produce serum concentrations comparable to those produced by a continuous infusion. An open-label randomized trial was performed at two hospitals in Egypt. Women with severe preeclampsia were eligible and enrolled between January 2015 and February 2016. Two hundred subjects were randomized by random numbers generated centrally in distinct blocks and stratified by study site. They were assigned to a continuous infusion arm, (4 g loading dose with 1 g/hr. continuous infusion) or a serial IV bolus arm, (6 g loading dose with 2 g bolus every 2 h using a Springfusor® pump). Sparsely sampled magnesium serum...
Pharmaceutical Biology, 2017
Context: Cold-pressed oils (CPO) are commercially available in the market and characterized by th... more Context: Cold-pressed oils (CPO) are commercially available in the market and characterized by their health-promoting properties. Objective: Clove oil (CLO), coriander seed oil (COO) and black cumin oil (BCO) were evaluated for their bioactive lipids. Pharmacological screening was performed to evaluate acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic effects as well as histopathological changes in tissues of albino rats fed with CPO. Materials and methods: Fatty acids, tocols and total phenolics were analyzed. The acute toxicity test for each CPO was estimated during 14 d. Carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema was used for assessment of anti-inflammatory activity of CPO. Animals were fasted overnight, and via oral gavage given indomethacin (10 mg/kg) or CPO (400 mg/kg) to investigate ulcerogenecity. Histopathological changes in liver, kidney, heart, spleen and stomach were screened. Results: Amounts of a-, b-, cand d-tocopherols in CLO were 1495, 58, 4177 and 177 mg/kg oil, respectively. In COO, a, b, c and d-tocopherols were 10.0, 18.2, 5.1 and 34.8%, respectively. In BCO, b-tocotrienol was the main constituent. CLO, COO and BCO contained 4.6, 4.2 and 3.6 mg GAE/g, respectively. Acute toxicity test determined that 400 mg/kg of CPO to be used. In the carrageenan model of inflammation, pretreatment of rats with indomethacin (10 mg/kg) or CLO (400 mg/kg) induced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction by 31.3 and 27.4%, respectively, in rat paw oedema as compared with the carrageenan-treated group. Indomethacin induced a significant ulcerogenic effect with an ulcer index of 19. Oral treatment of CPO showed no ulcerogenic effect, wherein no histopathological changes were observed. Conclusions: CPO, particularly CLO, could minimize acute inflammation.
Journal of oleo science, 2016
Potato tuber is a highly nutritious, wherein genotype and environmental differences are known to ... more Potato tuber is a highly nutritious, wherein genotype and environmental differences are known to exist in the shape, size and nutritional value of potatoes. Owing to its high consumption, potato could be an ideal carrier of health-promoting phytochemicals. Potato cultivars contain many bioactive lipidic compounds such as fatty acids, glycolipids, phospholipids, sterols, tocols and carotenoids, which are highly desirable in diet because of their health-promoting effects. In the scientific literature, information on the content and profile of bioactive lipidic compounds in potato cultivars are few. The concentration and stability of bioactive lipids are affected by many factors such as genotype, agronomic factors, postharvest storage, cooking and processing conditions. In this review levels and composition of bioactive lipids in terms of lipid classes, fatty acids, phytosterols, tocopherols, and caroteinoids distribution in different potato cultivars including genetically modified pot...
Science advances, 2015
We demonstrate the additive manufacturing of complex three-dimensional (3D) biological structures... more We demonstrate the additive manufacturing of complex three-dimensional (3D) biological structures using soft protein and polysaccharide hydrogels that are challenging or impossible to create using traditional fabrication approaches. These structures are built by embedding the printed hydrogel within a secondary hydrogel that serves as a temporary, thermoreversible, and biocompatible support. This process, termed freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels, enables 3D printing of hydrated materials with an elastic modulus <500 kPa including alginate, collagen, and fibrin. Computer-aided design models of 3D optical, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging data were 3D printed at a resolution of ~200 μm and at low cost by leveraging open-source hardware and software tools. Proof-of-concept structures based on femurs, branched coronary arteries, trabeculated embryonic hearts, and human brains were mechanically robust and recreated complex 3D internal and external...
International Food Research Journal
Impact of adding chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) flour to wheat flour on the rheological properties... more Impact of adding chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) flour to wheat flour on the rheological properties of toast bread Abstract: Legume flours, due to their amino acid composition and fibre content, are ideal ingredients for improving the nutritional value of bread and bakery products. In this study, the influence of the total or partial replacement of wheat flour by chickpea flour on the quality characteristics of toast bread was analyzed. Chickpea flour was added to medium strength wheat flour to replace 15 and 30% w/w of wheat flour. The effects of chickpea flour supplementation on dough physical properties, such as water absorption capacity, dough development time, dough stability, crumb, porosity and toast bread structure as well as quality characteristics were studied. Chickpea flour at 15 and 30% substitution levels increased the stability and the tolerance index of the dough. The volumes of the breads decreased as the level of chickpea flour increased due to the dilution of the gluten structure by added protein. Nevertheless, substitution at 15 and 30%, gives parameter values at least as good as the control sample and produces an acceptable toast bread, in terms of weight, volume, texture and crumb structure.
Journal of Environmental Protection, 2011
The main source of water in Gaza Strip is the shallow coastal aquifer. It is extremely deteriorat... more The main source of water in Gaza Strip is the shallow coastal aquifer. It is extremely deteriorated in terms of salinity which influenced by many variables. Studying the relation between these variables and salinity is often a complex and nonlinear process, making it suitable to model by Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Initially, it is assumed that the salinity (represented by chloride concentration, mg/l) may be affected by some variables as: recharge rate, abstraction, abstraction average rate, life time and aquifer thickness. Data were extracted from 56 municipal wells, covering the area of Gaza Strip. After a number of modeling trials, the best neural network was determined to be Multilayer Perceptron network (MLP) with four layers: an input layer of 6 neurons, first hidden layer with 10 neurons, second hidden layer with 7 neurons and the output layer with 1 neuron which gives the final chloride concentration. The ANN model generated very good results depending on the high correlation between the observed and simulated values of chloride concentration. The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.9848. The high value of (r) showed that the simulated chloride concentration values using the ANN model were in very good agreement with the observed chloride concentration which mean that ANN model is useful and applicable for groundwater salinity modeling. ANN model was successfully utilized as analytical tool to study influence of the input variables on chloride concentration. It proved that chloride concentration in groundwater is reduced by decreasing abstraction, abstraction average rate and life time. Furthermore, it is reduced by increasing recharge rate and aquifer thickness.
Potencial antioxidante total de zumos, bebidas y bebidas calientes consumidas en Egipto determina... more Potencial antioxidante total de zumos, bebidas y bebidas calientes consumidas en Egipto determinadas mediante ensayo in vitro con DPPH.
Grasas y Aceites, 2008
Comparación entre el efecto de la γ γ-irradiación y el horneado en el perfil y en la actividad an... more Comparación entre el efecto de la γ γ-irradiación y el horneado en el perfil y en la actividad antioxidante de los lípidos del germen de trigo. Se estudió el efecto de la γ-irradiación (dosis de irradiación de 1 / 4 , 1 / 2 y 1 kGy) y del horneado (160 °C durante 20 min) en los componentes lipídicos del germen de trigo, un subproducto rico en nutrientes de la industria harinera. Ninguno de los tratamientos empleados tuvo un efecto significativo ni en el total de los lípidos recuperados ni en su composición en ácidos grasos. Los ácidos grasos mayoritarios fueron el ácido linoleico, seguido de los ácidos oleico y palmítico. Un aumento del contenido de ácidos grasos libres caracterizó el perfil lipídico de las muestras irradiadas. Las propiedades antiradicalarias de los lípidos de las muestras irradiadas y horneadas fueron estudiadas analizando el blanqueo del radical estable 1,1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazilo. Los lípidos de las muestras irradiadas exhibieron un potencial antiradicalario superior a los lípidos del germen de trigo horneado. Estos resultados sugieren que la γ-irradiación puede ser aplicada a la estabilización del germen de trigo, si bien la irradiación empleada podría estar limitada a 1 / 4 kGy. PALABRAS-CLAVE: Ácidos grasos-Actividad antiradicalaria-Horneado-γ-Irradiación-Germen de trigo-Tocoferoles-Triricum aestivum. SUMMARY Comparison between the effect of γ γ-irradiation and roasting on the profile and antioxidant activity of wheat germ lipids. In order to utilize wheat germ, a nutrient-dense byproduct of the wheat milling industry, in various food products, different treatments are used to investigate and stabilize its influence on lipid characteristics. However, there are no reports on the effect of γ-irradiation on the lipid profile of wheat germ. In this study, the impact of γ-irradiation (at radiation doses 1 / 4 , 1 / 2 and 1 kGy) and roasting at (160 °C for 20 min) on the lipid constituents of wheat germ was examined. Both thermal and irradiation treatments did not have a significant effect on the total lipid recovery or the fatty acid composition of wheat germ lipids. The fatty acid profile was found to be made up of linoleic followed by oleic and palmitic as the major fatty acids. An increase in the content of free fatty acids characterized the lipid profile of the irradiated wheat germ samples. Antiradical properties of lipids from roasted and irradiated samples were analyzed using the bleaching of the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Lipids from irradiated samples exhibited relatively stronger radical scavenging potential than lipids from roasted wheat germ. It has been concluded that γirradiation could be applied for wheat germ preservation, where it might be limited to a dose of 1/4 kGy in the processing.
Grasas y Aceites, 2011
Apricot and pumpkin oils reduce plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations in rats fed... more Apricot and pumpkin oils reduce plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations in rats fed a high-fat diet. Non-conventional oilseeds are being taken into greater consideration because their constituents have unique chemical
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease, 2013
Objective: To study the protective effects of the ethanolic extract of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.... more Objective: To study the protective effects of the ethanolic extract of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia) leaves against the toxicity caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) in reproductive system of rats. Methods: Lettuce leaves were dried and extracted with ethanol (plant: solvent, 1:10, w/v). The extract was filtered and evaporated to yield dried lettuce extract. Animals were divided into seven groups and treated with CCl 4 and different concentrations of lettuce extract. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and blood was collected and centrifuged for serum separation. Body weights, testis size, histopathology of testis and liver, catalase (CAT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitrite level, and serum hormones were determined. Results: Oxidative stress induced by CCl 4 (2 mL/kg body weight) in rat decreases the increase in body weight and relative testis weight. It also markedly increases the level of TBARS and nitrites along with corresponding decrease in reduced glutathione and various antioxidant enzymes in testis (i.e., CAT, POD, SOD and GSH-Px). Serum level of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone was decreased while estradiol and prolactin were increased during CCl 4 treatment. Histopathology of CCl 4-treated rats indicated the partial degeneration of germ and leydig cells along with deformities in spermatogenesis. Supplementation of lettuce extract (100, 150, 200 mg/kg body weight orally) once a week for 10 weeks results in decrease of TBARS and nitrite, while increase in antioxidant enzymes; CAT, POD, SOD, GSH-Px and GSH contents. Serum level of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, prolactin, histology, body weight and relative testis weight was also concomitantly restored to near normal level by lettuce extract supplementation to CCl 4-intoxicated rat. Conclusions: The results clearly demonstrate that lettuce extract treatment augments the antioxidants defense mechanism against CCl 4-induced toxicity and provides evidence that it may have a therapeutic role in free radical mediated diseases.
Grasas y Aceites, 2008
Agronomic performance and chemical response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to some organic n... more Agronomic performance and chemical response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to some organic nitrogen sources and conventional nitrogen fertilizers under sandy soil conditions. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an option for oilseed production, particularly in dry land areas due to good root system development. In this study, two field experiments were performed in the El-Khattara region (Sharkia Governorate, Egypt) during the 2005 season. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of organicnitrogen (ON) sources and their combinations as well as to compare the effect of ON and ammonium sulfate (AS) as a conventional fertilizer added individually or in combination on growth, yield components, oil percentage and the uptake of some macronutrients by sunflowers grown on sandy soil. The treatments of chicken manure (CM) and a mixture of farmyard manure (FYM) with CM were superior to the other treatments and gave the highest yield, dry matter yield, NPK uptake by plants at all growth stages along with seed yield at the mature stage. The effect of the different ON on crop yield and its components may follow the order; CM> palma residues (PR)> FYM. This was more emphasized when the materials were mixed with AS at a ratio of 3:1 and 1:1. The uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) by plants was affected by the addition of different N sources and treatments. The highest nutrient content and uptake by straw were obtained when treated with CM followed by PR at all growth stages, while it was PR followed by CM for seeds. Oil recovery was shown to respond to the N supply and the changes in individual fatty acids were not statistically different. However, it seems that the application of organic fertilizers resulted in an increase in total unsaturated fatty acids compared to the control.
Hepatology international, Jan 19, 2010
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide, including Egypt. In the recen... more Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide, including Egypt. In the recent past, HCC has become the second most prevalent cancer among men in Egypt. Since HCC has not been well studied in the rural population of Egypt, this case-control study was conducted to investigate the epidemiologic risk factors of HCC in the predominantly rural region of Gharbiah, Egypt. A total of 150 cases and 150 controls matched to cases on age (±5 years) and sex were recruited from the Gharbiah Cancer Society and Tanta Cancer Center. Exposure data were collected by an interviewer-administered standardized questionnaire about epidemiologic, occupational, medical and family history of HCC. Conditional logistic regression was utilized to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The effect modification of HCC risk between viral infection and environmental risk factors was also assessed. Being an industrial worker was an independent risk fo...
Biomatter
Burns, chronic wounds, osteoarthritis, and uveitis are examples of conditions characterized by lo... more Burns, chronic wounds, osteoarthritis, and uveitis are examples of conditions characterized by local, intense inflammatory responses that can impede healing or even further tissue degradation. The most powerful anti-inflammatory drugs available are often administered systemically, but these carry significant side effects and are not compatible for patients that have underlying complications associated with their condition. Conjugation of monoclonal antibodies that neutralize pro-inflammatory cytokines to high molecular weight hydrophilic polymers has been shown to be an effective strategy for local control of inflammation. Lead formulations are based on antibody inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-α conjugated to hyaluronic acid having molecular weight greater than 1 MDa. This review will discuss fundamental aspects of medical conditions that could be treated with these conjugates and design principles for preparing these cytokine-neutralizing polymer conjugates. Results demonstrati...
Oral Oncology, 2010
Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) has been studied in different regions of the world but little is known... more Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) has been studied in different regions of the world but little is known about its incidence patterns in the Middle East and Egypt. In this study from Egypt's only population-based registry, we analyzed data from 1999-2006, to estimate incidence, incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) categorized by age, district and subsites. Overall urban incidence of HNC was twice or more that of rural incidence for both males (IRR = 2.59; 95% CI = 2.26, 2.97) and females (IRR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.64, 2.43). Highest urban-rural difference for males was seen in 40-49 years (IRR = 2.79; 95% CI = 1.92, 4.05) and for females in 30-39 years (IRR = 2.94; 95% CI = 1.60, 5.40). Among subsites, highest incidence among males was for larynx (1.53/10 5) and among females for gum and mouth (0.48/10 5). Maximum urbanrural difference in males was for paranasal sinus (IRR = 4.66; 95% CI = 1.88, 11.54) and in females for lip (IRR = 8.91; 95% CI = 1.89, 41.98). The study underscores the patterns of HNC incidence in Egypt while indicating the need for future analytical studies investigating specific risk factors of HNC in this population.
The Lancet, 2010
Background Oxytocin, the standard of care for treatment of post-partum haemorrhage, is not availa... more Background Oxytocin, the standard of care for treatment of post-partum haemorrhage, is not available in all settings because of refrigeration requirements and the need for intravenous administration. Misoprostol, an effective uterotonic agent with several advantages for resource-poor settings, has been investigated as an alternative. This trial established whether sublingual misoprostol was similarly efficacious to intravenous oxytocin for treatment of post-partum haemorrhage in women not exposed to oxytocin during labour. Methods In this double-blind, non-inferiority trial, 9348 women not exposed to prophylactic oxytocin had blood loss measured after vaginal delivery at four hospitals in Ecuador, Egypt, and Vietnam (one secondary-level and three tertiary-level facilities). 978 (10%) women were diagnosed with primary post-partum haemorrhage and were randomly assigned to receive 800 μg misoprostol (n=488) or 40 IU intravenous oxytocin (n=490). Providers and women were masked to treatment assignment. Primary endpoints were cessation of active bleeding within 20 min and additional blood loss of 300 mL or more after treatment. Clinical equivalence of misoprostol would be accepted if the upper bound of the 97•5% CI fell below the predefined non-inferiority margin of 6%. All outcomes were assessed from the time of initial treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00116350. Findings All randomly assigned participants were analysed. Active bleeding was controlled within 20 min with study treatment alone for 440 (90%) women given misoprostol and 468 (96%) given oxytocin (relative risk [RR] 0•94, 95% CI 0•91-0•98; crude difference 5•3%, 95% CI 2•6-8•6). Additional blood loss of 300 mL or greater after treatment occurred for 147 (30%) of women receiving misoprostol and 83 (17%) receiving oxytocin (RR 1•78, 95% CI 1•40-2•26). Shivering (229 [47%] vs 82 [17%]; RR 2•80, 95% CI 2•25-3•49) and fever (217 [44%] vs 27 [6%]; 8•07, 5•52-11•8) were significantly more common with misoprostol than with oxytocin. No women had hysterectomies or died. Interpretation In settings in which use of oxytocin is not feasible, misoprostol might be a suitable first-line treatment alternative for post-partum haemorrhage. Funding The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Journal of the Textile Institute, 2010
The effect of bioscouring on printability of cotton fabric using a reactive dye has been studied ... more The effect of bioscouring on printability of cotton fabric using a reactive dye has been studied and the results are compared with the conventional scouring to obtain most appropriate bioscouring conditions for optimal printability. Parameters affecting the bioscouring process, such as concentration of alkaline pectinase enzyme in single use and in admixture with cellulase enzyme, and duration of treatment as well as pretreatment with β-cyclodextrin at different concentrations are studied. Fabrics processed using the appropriate condition of bioscouring exhibit overall printing characteristics which are comparable with, if not superior than, those of the conventional scouring, irrespective of the effect due to the replacement of the harsh chemicals with ecofriendly biodegradable enzymes.
Journal of Mathematics and Statistics, 2007
A structured model of bioreactor for an activated sludge process was presented. The stability and... more A structured model of bioreactor for an activated sludge process was presented. The stability and bifurcation characteristics of the model are investigated, the bifurcation analysis of the model shows static and complex dynamic behavior (periodic and complex) over a wide range of the model parameters. The model exhibits a new interesting behavior (in some range of parameters) including four static limit points (turning points) and two Hopf points, that cause different kinds and rich of stability characteristics ranging from asymptotically stable and hysteresis to periodic and complex behavior.
Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2011
In vitro antioxidant activities and protective effects of sesame cake extract in stabilising sunf... more In vitro antioxidant activities and protective effects of sesame cake extract in stabilising sunflower and soybean oils were tested. Total phenolic, flavonoid and flavonol contents in the extract of sesame cake were 1.94± 0.02 (mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g −1 dry weight (DW)), 0.88±0.02 (mg quercetin equivalent (QE) g −1 DW), and 0.40±0.02 (mg QE g −1 DW), respectively. Protective effects of sesame cake extract in stabilizing sunflower and soybean oils were tested, compared to synthetic antioxidants, by measuring their peroxide values (PV), conjugated dienes (CD), conjugated trienes (CT), and p-anisidine value during accelerated storage. Results indicated that sesame cake extract exhibited stronger antioxidant activity than BHT and BHA. However, its antioxidant activity was less than that of TBHQ.