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Methotrexate injections intralesionally as a treatment for psoriatic nails proved to be effective in large-scale studies as well as individual case reports, but the process is painful and time-consuming. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of combined fractional CO2 laser (Fr. CO2) 10,600 nm and methotrexate gel versus methotrexate 1% gel alone in treatment of nail psoriasis. In this intra-patient randomized comparative study, 36 patients were treated for finger nail psoriasis. One hand was randomly selected to be treated with a Fr. CO2 laser at 10,600 nm in monthly sessions in addition to the daily application of methotrexate 1% gel for 4 months (Fr. CO2 group) . The other hand was treated with daily application of methotrexate 1% gel alone for the same period (non-laser group) . Evaluation was done at the end of 4 months treatment and 3 months after treatment both clinically and dermoscopically. In addition, histopathological evaluation was done 3 months after treatment. At the end of treatment, both hands experienced significant improvement in total nail psoriasis severity index (NAPSI) ( P  = 0.001,for each hand) with no significant difference between both ( p  = 0.593). Three months after treatment, the improvement in NAPSI score in Fr. CO2 group was significantly greater than that in non-laser group ( p  = 0.001). The dermoscopic evaluation showed significant improvement in both hands at the end of treatment and 3 months after treatment. Regarding microscopic examination of nail psoriatic, the mean value of nail plate thickness and subungual thickness significantly decreased, three months after treatment in both groups with significant higher improvement in Fr. CO2 group compared with non-laser group ( p  = 0.011, 0.000), respectively. Nail plate serous lake, subungual serous lake, parakeratosis and Munro’s abscess significantly improved 3 months after treatment. with no significant difference between both sides. Although minimal pain during the session was in 20% and erythema in 37.1% of patients that last less than 24 h were noticed in Fr. CO2 group, patient satisfaction was still higher among patients in this group ( p  = 0.02). It is concluded that topical methotrexate 1% gel is an effective topical treatment for nail psoriasis. However, Fr. CO2 laser-assisted delivery of methotrexate 1% gel is superior to unassisted methotrexate 1% gel application.

The present study investigated the protective effects of dietary Allium cepa against Saprolegnia parasitica infections and the amelioration of cadmium-induced immunosuppression in Oreochromis niloticus. Saprolegnia isolates were recovered during an outbreak of saprolegniasis in farmed O. niloticus raised in a poor aquatic environment. Isolates were identified phenotypically as S. parasitica. Results were confirmed further by ITS gene sequencing. Four fish groups were kept in water with cadmium (1.5 mg/L) and fed for 30 days on a diet supplemented with crude or alcoholic extracts of A. cepa using two concentrations (0.5% or 1%). Positive (with Cd) and negative (without Cd) control fish groups were given the basal diet. The 96 h LC50 value of Cd in tilapia was (15.1 mg/L Cd). Fish exposed to Cd showed poor growth performance parameters, abnormal biochemical measurements, impaired immunological responses, and high oxidative stress indicators. Feeding tilapia on A. cepa-supplemented diets enhanced their growth performance (WG, SGR) and improved the nonspecific immune responses (WBCs, total protein, globulins, lysozyme, myeloperoxidase, and antiproteases). The inclusion of A. cepa in the diets reduced the oxidative stress (GST, SOD) and significantly decreased fish mortality after the challenge with S. parasitica. Dietary supplementation with A. cepa reduced cadmium accumulation in fish organs and up-regulated IL-1β and IFNɣ levels. The most favorable benefits were obtained by the addition of 0.5% A. cepa extract. Our results highlight the immunostimulatory properties of A. cepa dietary supplementation for farmed tilapia and recommend its use prophylactically to control saprolegniasis and mitigate cadmium adverse effects.

: Background Peer training has been identified as a useful tool for delivering undergraduate training in basic life support (BLS) which is fundamental as an initial response in cases of emergency. This study aimed to (1) Evaluate the efficacy of peer-led model in basic life support training among medical students in their first three years of study, compared to professional-led training and (2) To assess the efficacy of the course program and students’ satisfaction of peer-led training. Methods A randomized controlled trial with blinded assessors was conducted on 72 medical students from the pre-clinical years (1st to 3rd years in Syria) at Syrian Private University. Students were randomly assigned to peer-led or to professional-led training group for one-day-course of basic life support skills. Sixty-four students who underwent checklist based assessment using objective structured clinical examination design (OSCE) (practical assessment of BLS skills) and answered BLS knowledge checkpoint-questionnaire were included in the analysis. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in delivering BLS skills to medical students in practical ( P  = 0.850) and BLS knowledge questionnaire outcomes ( P  = 0.900). Both groups showed statistically significant improvement from pre- to post-course assessment with significant statistical difference in both practical skills and theoretical knowledge ( P -Value < 0.001). Students were satisfied with the peer model of training. Conclusion Peer-led training of basic life support for medical students was beneficial and it provided a quality of education which was as effective as training conducted by professionals. This method is applicable and desirable especially in poor-resource countries and in crisis situation.

Applications of nanotechnology in fish cultures have participated in getting over various difficulties that hinder fish productivity. They can achieve growth performance after adding some important minerals and vitamins in the form of nano-feed supplements like selenium, zinc, iron, and vitamin C. Also, they have an important role in reproduction, and fish medicine as antimicrobial, drug delivery, nano-vaccination, and rapid disease diagnosis. Moreover, their roles in water remediation and purification, and fish packaging are documented. On the other hand, some nanoparticles exhibit toxic effects on living organisms, which return to their tiny size, high reactivity, and permeability. They can alter many physiological functions and cause cytotoxicity, DNA damage, and histopathological changes. Also, nanotechnology applications cause new secondary pollutants to be introduced into the environment that can negatively affect fish health and the surrounding living organisms. So, in spite of the promising applications of nanotechnology to fulfill high growth performance and pathogen-free fish, there are a lot of debates about the potential toxicity of nanomaterials, their reactivity with the surrounding environment, and bioaccumulation. The present review aims to elucidate and discuss various advantages and challenges of nanotechnology applications in fish cultures. Also, it points to green nanotechnology as a promising alternative to chemical ones.

The purpose of this study was to assess metal concentrations (Al, Cd, Pb, Hg and Ni) in Sabal drainage canal (Al-Menoufiya Province, River Nile Delta, Egypt) water as well as their accumulation in some selected organs (skin, muscles and kidneys) of Oreochromis niloticus fish to evaluate their hazard levels in relation to the maximum residual limits for human consumption. Drainage canal water was found to be heavily polluted with metals which far exceeded the permissible limits. It was found that metals accumulated in organs of O. niloticus in concentrations higher than those of canal water. Kidneys of O. niloticus contained the highest concentrations of the detected metals, while skin appeared to be the least preferred site for the bioaccumulation of metals as the lowest metals concentrations were detected in this tissue. The present study shows that fish organs contained high levels of metals exceeding the permissible limits values. Metals in muscle of fish were higher than the maximum permissible concentrations for human consumption. Thus, consuming fish caught from drainage canals is harmful to the consumers.

For 12 weeks, from October 15, 2022, to January 7, 2023, researchers at Al-Muthanna University’s Agricultural Research and Experiment Station examined the impact of different methods for administering red ginseng root on a selection of laying hens’ blood parameters. Sixty 43-week-old ISA Brown laying hens were split into four treatments, each with fifteen hens. Each treatment’s pens were three metres by three metres, and each pen was divided into thirds so that each third included five hens. The following procedures were used: In T1 (the placebo group), the regular diet was served without any alterations. T2: Combine 1 gramme of alcoholic extract with 1 litre of water. T3: The diet included 1 gramme of powdered red ginseng root per kilogramme of feed. T4: Ten millilitres of red ginseng root aqueous extract per one litre of water was added to the supply. The results show that compared to the control treatment, all treatments in which ginseng root powder was administered significantly increased the egg production ratio, egg weight, egg mass, and feed conversion factor of the laying hens tested. The best outcomes, by a wide margin, were achieved with the addition of alcoholic extract to drinking water.