Predictor factors of sustained virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with current direct-acting antiviral drugs

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and predictors of treatment response of chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 Egyptian patients with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, with or without ribavirin.Methods: This prospective study enrolled 200 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 infection who received sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir for 12 weeks, with the addition of ribavirin for treating cirrhotic patients. Immunological parameters such as natural killer (NK) cell percentage, phenotype, and serum C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) were evaluated prior to treatment and at the end of the treatment.Results: Overall, 92.5 % of the patients achieved sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12), where the non-cirrhotic group had 96.29 % SVR12, while the cirrhotic group had 84.61 % SVR12. Nonresponders had lower pretreatment platelet count, higher CXCL10 levels, and lower baseline frequencies of NK cells and NK subgroup CD56- CD16+.Conclusion: Based on these results, the use of sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir with or without ribavirin for 12 weeks, is an effective regimen in the treatment of Egyptian patients infected with genotype 4 HCV. The predictors of non-response are advanced age, liver cirrhosis, lower pretreatment platelet count, higher level of CXCL10, lower baseline NK cells frequency and percentage of the dysfunctional subset CD56- CD16+. Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, Genotype 4, Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir, Sustained virological respons

Malaysian government dentists' experience, willingness and barriers in providing domiciliary care for elderly people

ObjectiveTo assess Malaysian government dentists' experience, willingness and barriers in providing domiciliary care for elderly people. Material and methodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered postal questionnaire targeting government dentists working in the Ministry of Health in Peninsular Malaysia. ResultsSeven hundred and eleven out of 962 dentists responded with a response rate of 74.0%. Only 36.1% of the dentists had experience in providing domiciliary care for elderly people in the past 2years with mean number of visit per year of 1. Younger dentists below the age of 30 and those with confidence in providing the service were the most willing to undertake domiciliary care for elderly patients (OR=13.5, p<0.05). The 3 most reported barriers were patient's complex medical history (74.1%), patient's poor attitude towards oral health service (67.5%), and dentist's unfavourable working condition (64.4%). ConclusionThe majority of Malaysian government dentists had not been involved in providing domiciliary care for elderly patients. Apart from overcoming the barriers, other recommendations include improving undergraduate dental education, education for elderly people and carers, improving dentist's working condition, and introducing domiciliary financial incentive for dentist

Optical Routers based on Microring Resonator for Optical Networks-on-chip

Optical technology has boosted the revolution of Optical Networks-on-Chip (ONoC). In this paper, a passive microring resonator (MRR) semiconductor switching element is proposed. The design of a resonator router based on high-order of microring resonators is demonstrated in Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI). The suitability of the MRR as the basic building block for ONoC applications was investigated based on the insertion loss, extinction ratio (ER) and FSR. This model was designed on the silicon and modeled using COMSOL software. The result shows that excellent performance was achieved with huge FSR, low insertion loss, 3-dB bandwidth of less than 2nm and high extinction ratio

New approach of hidden data in the portable executable file without change the size of carrier file using statistical technique

The rapid development of multimedia and internet allows for wide distribution of digital media data. It becomes much easier to edit, modify and duplicate digital information. In additional, digital document is also easy to copy and distribute, therefore it may face many threats. It became necessary to find an appropriate protection due to the significance, accuracy and sensitivity of the information. The strength of the hiding science is due to the non-existence of standard algorithms to be used in hiding secret messages. Also there is randomness in hiding methods such as combining several media (covers) with different methods to pass a secret message. Furthermore, there is no formal method to be followed to discover a hidden data. In this paper, a new information hiding system is presented. The aim of the proposed system is to hide information (data file) in an execution file (EXE) without change the size of execution file. The new proposed system is able to embed information in an execution file without change the size of execution file. Meanwhile, since the cover file might be used to identify hiding information, the proposed system considers overcoming this dilemma by using the execution file as a cover file

Low Noise Amplifier For Front End Transceiver At 5.8 GHz

This paper presents the design of 5.8 GHz front end Low Noise Amplifier application for IEEE standard 802.11 systems for WLAN application. Revolution and demand of WLAN technology have urged development of low cost, low power and small size transceiver by using microstrip technology [1]. This paper is present design and simulation of single stage LNA circuits. This paper is focusing on development of Low Noise Amplifier operating at 5.75-5.85GHz (5GHz upper U-NII band) for WLAN application. The amplifier design used FHX76LP Low noise SuperHEMT from Eudyna Device USA Inc. The design circuit uses lumped elements to implement the matching networks. The purpose single stage of input and output matching network is to produces 50Ω impedance at the input and output port of the LNA. The matching network is used at both sides of the transistor [2],[3]. The target simulation are gain (S21)with >10dB, noise figure with <10dB and input and output return loss <-10dB at 5.8 GHz. A single stage LNA has successfully designed with 15.924 dB forward gain , 0.552 dB noise figure, -11.182 dB output return loss(S22) and -13.246 dB input return loss(S11) by using ADS software

Stages of change and health-related quality of life among employees of an institution

Background Transtheoretical Model of change has been used successfully in promoting behaviour change. Objective To examine the relationships between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores with the stages of change of adequate physical activity and fruit and vegetables intake. Design This was a cross-sectional study conducted among employees of the main campus and Engineering campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) during October 2009 and March 2010. Main variables studied: Data on physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake was collected using the WHO STEPS instrument for chronic disease risk factors surveillance. The Short Form-12 health survey (SF-12) was used to gather information on participants' HRQoL. The current stages of change are measured using the measures developed by the Pro-Change Behaviour Systems Incorporation. Statistical analysis: One way ANOVA and its non-parametric equivalent Kruskal-Wallis were used to compare the differences between SF-12 scores with the stages of change. Results A total of 144 employees were included in this analysis. A large proportion of the participants reported inadequate fruits and vegetable intake (92.3%) and physical activity (84.6%). Mean physical and mental component scores of SF-12 were 50.39 (SD = 7.69) and 49.73 (SD = 8.64) respectively. Overall, there was no statistical significant difference in the SF-12 domains scores with regards to the stages of change for both the risk factors. Conclusions There were some evidence of positive relationship between stages of change of physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake with SF-12 scores. Further studies need to be conducted to confirm this association.Scopu

The Effect of Metal Complexes of DL – Methionine on Some Biochemical Parameters

Abstract :The donor properties of the amino acid Methionine CH3 SCH2 CH2 CH (NH2) COOH (HMt), were investigated for a number of transition Metal Ions , Co(ذ ) , Ni(ذ ) , Cu(ذ), Zn( ذ ) , Cd(ذ ) , Hg( ذ) , Pb (ذ ) .Methionine behaves as on anionic ligand (Mt)and generally forms neutral complexes , M" Mt2 the metal attains its usual higher coordination number by linking with the( N) atom of – NH2 group and with one or both the(O) atom of the – COO- group .In these complexes the ( S) atom of the –S CH2 group is still available for coordination. To help in the structural study of Methionine complexes a number of complexes were prepared and investigated .The effect of Methionine with detoxic (Pb, Hg, Cd ) on Glutathione s- Transfers and MDA were investigated

EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial

More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369

An Evaluation of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Perceived Social Distancing Policies in Relation to Planning, Selecting, and Preparing Healthy Meals: An Observational Study in 38 Countries Worldwide

Objectives: To examine changes in planning, selecting, and preparing healthy foods in relation to personal factors (time, money, stress) and social distancing policies during the COVID-19 crisis. Methods: Using cross-sectional online surveys collected in 38 countries worldwide in April-June 2020 (N = 37,207, Mage 36.7 SD 14.8, 77% women), we compared changes in food literacy behaviors to changes in personal factors and social distancing policies, using hierarchical multiple regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic variables. Results: Increases in planning (4.7 SD 1.3, 4.9 SD 1.3), selecting (3.6 SD 1.7, 3.7 SD 1.7), and preparing (4.6 SD 1.2, 4.7 SD 1.3) healthy foods were found for women and men, and positively related to perceived time availability and stay-at-home policies. Psychological distress was a barrier for women, and an enabler for men. Financial stress was a barrier and enabler depending on various sociodemographic variables (all p < 0.01). Conclusion: Stay-at-home policies and feelings of having more time during COVID-19 seem to have improved food literacy. Stress and other social distancing policies relate to food literacy in more complex ways, highlighting the necessity of a health equity lens. Copyright 2021 De Backer, Teunissen, Cuykx, Decorte, Pabian, Gerritsen, Matthys, Al Sabbah, Van Royen and the Corona Cooking Survey Study Group.This research was funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (G047518N) and Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HBC.2018.0397). These funding sources had no role in the design of the study, the analysis and interpretation of the data or the writing of, nor the decision to publish the manuscript.Scopu