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In ancient times, botanical extracts were essential complementary method for microbial control. This study has been carried out to assess the antibacterial activities of methanol, acetone, and aqueous leaf extracts of Libyan Juniperus phoenicea L. against multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, S. haemolyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis) using the agar well diffusion method. Based on the inhibition zone's diameter or appearance, the tested MDR bacteria were identified as susceptible, intermediate, or resistant using the standard criteria. The current study's findings showed that the concentration, type of solvent and bacterial species had a significant impact on the effectiveness of the plant extracts. Results of the study revealed that the methanol and acetone extracts demonstrated moderate to excellent antibacterial properties against all tested bacteria at all predefined concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100%), with the zone of inhibition ranging from 15.66 to 27.66 mm. Among the tested solvents, the aqueous extract of J. phoenicea was the least effective against the clinical bacterial isolates. Further, the plant's leaf extracts were more effective against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Most importantly, neither the aqueous extract nor the standard antibiotics inhibited P. aeruginosa, while the methanol and acetone extracts displayed remarkable inhibition zones against all tested bacteria. Consequently, the plant extracts (acetone and methanol) in this study may provide insightful information about the potential use of J. phoenicea leaves as a natural antibacterial agent, which could be used to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The prevalence of sarcopenia with osteoporosis results in a higher risk of falling and fractures. It was noted that patients who had completed their planned 5-year denosumab therapy course as treatment for these conditions started to sustain falls. To assess (a) whether denosumab has a unique dual effect on both bone and muscle in comparison to other anti-resorptive agents and (b) its effectiveness in the follow-up period post-treatment completion compared to other anti-resorptive agents. One hundred thirty-five patients diagnosed to have postmenopausal/senile osteoporosis and who were prescribed denosumab were compared to a control group of 272 patients stratified into 2 subgroups - 136 prescribed alendronate and 136 prescribed zoledronate. All patients were assessed for: BMD (DXA), falls risk (FRAS), fracture risk (FRAX), and sarcopenia measures. All were re-assessed after 5 years of denosumab/alendronate therapy and 3 years of zoledronate and 1 year after stopping the osteoporosis therapy. No significant baseline demographic differences between the 3 groups. On completion of the 5-year denosumab therapy, there was significant decrease in falls risk (P = 0.001) and significant improvements in all sarcopenia measures (P = 0.01). One-year post-discontinuation of denosumab, a significant worsening of both falls risk and sarcopenia measures (P = 0.01) noticed. Denosumab displayed positive impact and significant improvements in BMD and sarcopenia measures. It also enhanced multidirectional agility as depicted by Timed Up and Go (TUG). Collectively, this would explain the reduction of falls risk which got worse on stopping the medication. Key points • The coexistence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia has been recently considered in some groups as a syndrome termed 'osteosarcopenia'. • Bone and muscle closely interact with each other not only anatomically, but also at the chemical and metabolic levels. • Denosumab displayed positive impact and significant improvements in all sarcopenia measures, and enhanced multidirectional agility with consequent reduction in falls risk. • Denosumab can be considered as a first osteoporosis therapeutic option in this group of patients presenting with osteosarcopenia manifestations.

Background: Hepatitis is a common and severe health problem. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is the most common cause of viral hepatitis. The incidence of infection has a strong relation with sanitary and environmental conditions and the socioeconomic level. Most infections occur between 5 –15 years of age. Aim: To assess knowledge and attitudes of primary schools teachers toward viral hepatitis A in Assiut City. This study is a descriptive cross-sectional design and was carried out in primary schools in Assiut City. The sample of this study consisted of 245 primary school teachers. Tools: - Two tools were used in this study included a self-administrated questionnaire sheet. The first tool: to assess the teacher''s knowledge about viral hepatitis A. The second tool: to assess the teacher''s attitudes toward viral hepatitis A. The results of this study showed a generally poor level of knowledge (67.8%) and a positive attitude (72.2%) toward viral hepatitis A as reported by teachers. Conclusion: based on these findings of the present study it was concluded that teachers had poor knowledge and positive attitudes toward viral hepatitis A. Recommendations: Educational programs are necessary to upgrade the level of knowledge of the teachers toward viral hepatitis A in primary schools at Assiut City.

Background: Pesticide poisoning is a global public health problem. With growing population and rapid industrialisation in Qatar, there has been a natural increase in pesticide usage and hence, exposure amongst the workers handling them. It is therefore vital to understand existing knowledge, attitudes and practices about handling pesticides. Methods: 100 municipality employees in Qatar who work with pesticides, were interviewed in person by trained bilingual staff using a structured questionnaire model. Results: The mean age of the workers was 37.4 (SD-9.9) Of the interviewed workers, 81% did not know the contents or the name of the pesticides they were handling at work. Unsafe behaviours such as preparation of pesticides at the site of its usage rather than in a specified preparation room (29.6%), non-compliance with wearing protective clothing (38.8%), handling of drinking water (22%) and food (10%) on site where pesticides are used and not washing clothes every day after work (45.9%) were observed. Workers who received training in pesticides usage were more likely to be aware of its effects on the environment (61.6%) (OR-3.9), less likely to eat or drink while handling pesticides (83.6%) (OR-4.3) and more likely to give household members appropriate instructions prior to application of pesticides (90.4%) (OR-5.0). Workers who did not wear special protective clothes at work were found to be, more than twice as likely to visit hospitals per year, than those who wore (RR-2.2). Conclusion: Unsafe practices were found to be significantly common amongst the personnel using pesticides. Workers who received prior training handled pesticides in a safer way.

Awassi is the most widespread sheep breed of non-European origin. The breed adapts to a wide range of environmental conditions from the steppe to the highly intensive system. Performance of the breed varies according to production environment and strain, the Israeli Improved Awassi being the heaviest and producing the highest amount of milk among all Awassi populations. Efforts to genetically improve milk production yielded positive results. In Israel the phenotypic average of lactation milk production increased from 297 kg in the 1940's to over 500 kg in the 1990's, while in Syria a selection program succeeded to increase it from 128 kg in 1974-1976 to 335 kg in 2005. In Turkey, the mean milked yield of ewes increased from 67 kg to 152 kg in a selection/outcrossing program that lasted for seven years. Although Awassi is best known for its high milk production, the breed is often used as a triple purpose sheep in most of the countries of its origin in the Middle East. Heritability estimates in different traits are within those for other populations of sheep but recent estimates for milk yield in the Improved Awassi indicated lower heritability and higher contribution of non-additive genetic effects. The Awassi sheep have been exported from its origin in east of the Mediterranean to more than 30 countries in all continents of the world. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.