Background: Different bacterial isolates were obtained from a much-polluted lake (Lake Mariout) in Alexandria, Egypt. They were tested to bio-remove different heavy metal ions (Cu 2+ , Pb 2+ , Cd 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Zn 2+ , Mn 2+ , and Fe 3+ ). In addition, this study was aimed to create a fixed bed column to enhance the metal removal from some polluted wastewater samples. Results: The potent bacterium was selected and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the 16SrRNA gene sequence. The effect of some physicochemical parameters on the bio-removal process was studied in batch cultures; it was found the efficiency % of metal removal was increased on using pH 7.5 and bacterial biomass of 750 mg/l. Also, the use of the fixed bed column led to an increase in the removal efficiency % to 100% for the Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , and Cd 2+ ions and decrease the consuming time from 48 to 24 h under using the optimum incubation conditions, while the removal of Fe 3+ and Pb 2+ showed 62% and 47%, respectively, with a 20% increase compared to the batch system. Conclusion:It was confirmed the use of fixed bed bioreactors was able to increase the efficiency towards the metal removal in polluted environmental samples while decreasing the exhaustion time. Also, Pseudomonas sp. showed great ability to get rid of many harmful health hazard substances.

Background: Medical professionals around the world are tasked with the responsibility of graduating well-educated and competent graduate medical student. This desired outcome can be achieved by ensuring satisfactory academic performance and academic success. Aim: is to assess the relationship between academic problems and academic performance among the new integrated system students at Benha Faculty of Medicine. Method: an observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 318 medical students at Benha Faculty of Medicine, using a self-administered questionnaire that consists of sociodemographic, the academic problems facing students and the reasons for the attendance or absence of students' theoretical and practical lecture. Results: Among the academic problems, there were highly statistical significant differences between the studied groups at 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th levels-regarding academic problems related to professor and academic problems related to courses (P=0.001). Also, there were statistical significant differences between the studied groups at different levels regarding practical part (P=0.003) and academic problems related to equipment (P=0.03). There were highly statistical significant differences between the studied groups achieved different academic performance (GPA) regarding academic problems related to professor (P=0.001), courses (P=0.002) and exams (P=0.01). Regarding the correlation between lecture attendance and academic performance (GPA), there was statistical significant strong positive relationship between theoretical and practical lecture, attendance and academic performance (GPA) (p=0.001). Conclusions: There was statistical significant strong positive relationship between theoretical and practical lecture, attendance and academic performance (GPA).

Diagnosis of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is done traditionally by detecting carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level. However, the severity of clinical manifestations is unrelated to the absolute levels of COHb. Netrin-1 (Net-1) is a protein with anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties while asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an oxidative stress indicator. This study aimed at assessing and comparing between Net-1, ADMA and COHb as biomarkers in CO poisoning. This cross-sectional clinical study was carried out on 30 acutely CO poisoned adults admitted to Benha Poisoning Control Unit, Benha University Hospitals; 30 chronic CO exposed workers at four different car service centres, plus 30 healthy controls. Results showed a positive correlation between serum levels of Net-1 and ADMA and the severity of acute CO poisoning both on admission, and after oxygen therapy. There was a positive correlation between COHb level and both serum levels of Net-1 and ADMA in chronic cases. In conclusion: COHb level can only support the initial diagnosis of acute CO poisoning. Both ADMA and Net-1 are better biomarkers in assessing the severity of acute CO poisoning, where ADMA is better than Net-1. In diagnosis of chronic CO poisoning, both ADMA and Net-1 are as dependable as COHb.

Background: Drug abuse is one of the world's most serious and rapidly rising problems, causing a wide variety of health issues with significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to explore the association between part-time work and substance abuse among vocational students.Design and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study that included all part-time working male students from five vocational male schools, and we used a standardized pretested questionnaire after obtaining written informed consent.  A One-Step Multi-Drug Screen Test was used to assess the substances that were abused.Results: A total of 316 out of the 400 invited students participated in our study. Of the total screened subjects, 26.6 % were abusing substances. Twenty-five (36.2%) day working adolescents, nine (14.0%) night working adolescents, and forty (36.0%) day and night working adolescents were abusers.Tobacco was the most widely abused drug (68%) in the form of smoking, followed by cannabis (24%), marijuana (16.4%), alcohol (10%), and opioid (6.3%). Night workers had significantly lower rates of smoking, cannabis, Marijuana, alcohol, or opioids abuse, and Logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effects of the work schedule on the likelihood that participants have substance abuse; Night workers were 7.14 times less likely to have substance abuse than day workers, while day and night work did not differ from day work.Conclusions: The prevalence of drug abuse in vocational students is considered high and a serious problem that damages the youth and the community.