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Background: Somalia has long been in a state of humanitarian crisis; trauma-related mental health needs are extremely high. Access to state-of-the-art mental health care is limited. Islamic Trauma Healing (ITH) is a manualized mosque-based, lay-led group intervention aimed at healing the individual and communal mental wounds of war and refugee trauma. The 6-session intervention combines Islamic principles with empirically-supported exposure and cognitive restructuring principles for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ITH reduces training time, uses a train the trainers (TTT) model, and relies on local partnerships embedded within the strong communal mosque infrastructure. Methods: We will conduct a hybrid effectiveness-implementation randomized control trial (RCT) in the Somaliland, with implementation in the cities of Hargeisa, Borama, and Burao. In this study, a lay-led, mosque-based intervention, Islamic Trauma Healing (ITH), to promote mental health and reconciliation will be examined in 200 participants, randomizing mosques to either immediate ITH or a delayed (waitlist; WL) ITH conditions. Participants will be assessed by assessors masked to condition at pre, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3-month follow-up. Primary outcome will be assessor-rated posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSD), with secondary outcomes of depression, somatic symptoms, and well-being. A TTT model will be tested, examining the implementation outcomes. Additional measures include potential mechanisms of change and cost effectiveness. Conclusion: This trial has the potential to provide effectiveness and implementation data for an empirically-based principle trauma healing program for the larger Islamic community who may not seek mental health care or does not have access to such care. Clinical trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05890482. World health organization trial registration data set information: See Supplemental Appendix 1.

OBJECTIVE: Some studies have shown that metformin inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer (BC) cells via multiple ways. One of these mechanisms is through the indirect control of the IGF-route mediated via the activation of the AMPK-LKB1 pathway in the liver, which leads to a decrease in blood glucose and insulin levels. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of metformin as adjuvant to chemotherapy on IGF levels in female patients with progressive and non-progressive metastatic BC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this trial, 107 women receiving chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) were divided into two groups: the metformin group received 500 mg of metformin twice daily, whereas the control group did not receive any metformin. All patients received chemotherapy according to the South Egypt Cancer Institute’s (SECI) established regimen. The level of IGF-1 was determined in the blood at the initiation of therapy (baseline) and at six months post treatment. RESULTS: No substantial differences were noted regarding IGF-1 levels in both groups at baseline (IGF-1 average level was 40.74 ± 36.16 vs. 32.06 ± 20.00 in the metformin and the placebo group, respectively, p = 0.462). While after six months, the mean IGF-1 level was 37.62 ± 31.35 vs. 39.12 ± 2 5.93 in the metformin and placebo groups, respectively, (p = 0.170). CONCLUSIONS: Metformin as an adjuvant to chemotherapy in MBC patients had no significant effect on reducing IGF-l levels which promotes the inhibition of the proliferation of BC cells in MBC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of different mating ratios; (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5 male to females, respectively) and cages types:(individual and colony) on the fertility and hatchability rate of Japanese quail from 16-32 weeks of age. A total number of 260 sexed Japanese quails (65 males &195 females) at 16 weeks of age were used. All birds were randomly divided into two experimental groups according to two cage types (individually & colony cages); 160 birds for colony cage and 100 birds for individually cage. Each group was divided into five treatments of mating ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5 male to females, respectively), each treatment of individual cages divided into five replicates, while the colony cages was one replicate for each. The results showed that fertility rate and hatchability rate for eggs produced from quails which reared in individual cages was significantly higher (P=0.05) than those in colony cages. Also, the mating ratios of (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 male to females) had higher (P=0.05) fertility and hatchability rates as compared with those of (1:4 and 1:5 male to females).However, data indicated that cages type and different mating ratios had no significant effect on chick weight at hatch (absolute & percentage).From these results, it could be concluded that individual cages had better fertility and hatchability rate as compared with those which reared in colony cages. Also, the mating ratios of (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 male to females, respectively) are considered the best for rearing adult Japanese quail to obtain the high fertility and hatchability rates compared with others (1:4 and 1:5 male to females, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study was designed (2 x 3) to evaluate the effects of different housing systems; (floor pens and battery cages) and stocking density (20, 30 and 60 birds/m2) from 4-16 weeks of age on the productive, reproductive performance and egg quality of Japanese quail. A total number of 220 chicks sexed Japanese quail (72 males & 148 females) at four weeks of age with 182 g average body weight were used. The chicks were randomly divided into two equal experimental groups according to housing systems (110 birds in each group which were 36 males and 74 females). The 1st chicks group were housed on a partitions litter floor (100×50 cm) provided with deep litter chopped wheat straw (3 cm), while the 2nd chicks group were housed in battery cages (100×50×40 cm). Each group was randomly divided into three densities of 20, 30 and 60 birds/ m2 with two replicates. The results showed highly significant differences (p≤0.05) between floor pens and battery cages on daily feed intake, FCR at (12-16 weeks of age), age and body weight at sexual maturity, egg surface area, fertility rate and hatchability percentage. Birds in low density of 20 birds/m2 significantly (p≤0.05) increased all productive traits except the age at sexual maturity, and yolk percentage were significantly (p≤0.05) decreased. From these results, it could be concluded that housing system of litter floor pens had significant positive effects on the productive, reproductive traits and egg quality traits of Japanese quail as compared to battery cages. Also, quails at low density (20 birds/m2 ) had better performance than those at high density (30 and 60 birds/m2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in the Poultry Experimental Farm of Animal production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Egypt. It amid to study the effect of continuous and intermittent high ambient temperature on growing males of Gimmizah and Golden-Montazah chickens performance from 4 up to 16 weeks of age. A total of 96 male chicks 4 weeks old, were randomly classified to three equal groups each of them 16 Golden-Montazah and 16 Gimmizah. The chicks in the first group (control) were daily exposed to normal conditions. The chicks in the second and third groups were daily exposed to continuous and intermittent high temperatures (35°C) for 5 hours, respectively. All chicks were housed on a partition of floor pens and reared under normal environmental poultry house and daily exposed to 16 continuous lighting hours. All chicks were fed ad-libitum on a commercial standard starter diet. The obtained results revealed that the Golden-Montazah was significantly higher body weight (p<0.05) compared to Gimmizah. Whereas, daily weight gain between both strains were not differed. Body weight and body weight gain for chicks exposed to intermittent heat cyclic decreased significantly as compared with control and continuous heat cyclic. Daily feed consumption was significantly (p<0.05) affected by strain, heat cyclic and their interactions, while feed conversion ratio was insignificantly by strain and heat cyclic just during the periods from 4-12 and 12-16 weeks of age. Carcass cutup parts and hematological parameters were not affected by strain, heat cyclic and their interaction. Liver and testes percentages were significantly affected by strain, while heart and thymus were significantly affected by heat cyclic. The total protein, GPT, T3 and T4 concentrations were significantly affected by strain, heat cyclic and their interaction. Phosphorous, T3 and T4 concentrations were significantly increased in Golden-Montazah compared with Gimmizah. Thus, it could be concluded that the Golden-Montazah more tolerant to high temperature compared to Gimmizah under Upper Egypt climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are used as safe and new control measures for combating agricultural lepidopteran insect pests instead of using synthetic insecticides. Thus, the current study was designed to determine fecundity and fertility of the cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) when 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar larvae treated with Bt (LC40) and NPV (LC40), as single treatment and with a mixture of LC20 Bt and LC20 NPV, as combined treatment. Results showed that both single and combined treatments significantly decreased the fecundity and fertility of the pest and with highest effect in case of the combined treatment. Third instar larvae were the most resistance towards Bt and NPV. Several deformities in larvae, pupae and moths appeared as effects of the infection with both bio-agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]