Trends of Energy and Macronutrients Intakes in Jordan as Obtained by Household Expenditure and Income Surveys

Jordan has encountered changes in demographic and food consumption patterns during the last few decades as a result of the nutrition transition and westernized food habits. This paper aims to evaluate the trends in energy and macronutrient intakes in Jordan based on the data of Jordan Household Expenditure and Income Surveys (JHEIS) 1992-2010. The amounts of consumed food items were analyzed to estimate the intakes of energy and macronutrients for different governorates using (Food Processor SQL Nutrition and Fitness Software, 2010). The average estimated annual per capita intake (kg) for different food groups in the 2010 survey was the lowest since 1992 for legumes and oils and fats, whereas it was the highest for dairy products and eggs. The 2010 percentage of energy contribution of the food groups was the highest for meat and poultry, fish, and dairy products and eggs; whereas it was the lowest for grains, legumes, and fruits and vegetables. Additionally, there was a trend of increased energy intake in 2010 in comparison with previous JHEIS data. Energy intake of Jordanians has increased in 2010 as compared with average energy intake obtained in previous JHEIS surveys since 1992. In addition, the consumption of foods of animal-origin was increased, whereas the consumption of foods of plant-origin was decreased.The authors thank the Jordanian Department of Statistics for providing the JHIES data and The University of Jordan for financial support, by offering sabbatical leave for one of the authors (HRT)

Diagnostic value of portal venous pulsatility index in patients with high-risk nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Background: As commonest form among liver diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) presents no symptoms. It is possible to use regular ultrasound scanning, which are always available in medical care centers everywhere, to quickly and quantitatively assess portal vein pulsatility. Objective: To evaluate the value of the portal venous pulsatility index for noninvasively diagnosing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease who are at high risk.Patients and Methods: The trial was a comparative cross-sectional trial involving 145 NAFLD patients, conducted in Radiodiagnosis Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University Hospitals. Abdominal ultrasound fibroscan, and Doppler US examinations of portal venous system were done to all patients.Results: Basal lab features, triphasic right hepatic vein flow pattern, and Doppler flow characteristics differed significantly between the two groups. Except for the BARD score, there was a high statistically significant difference between the two groups for venous pulsatility index values as well as all clinical risk scores. VPI, NAFLD-FS, and FIB-4 odds ratios all showed high significant differences between the two groups. Optimism-Corrected ROC AUC of VPI +NAFLD FS was 0.89, VPI + FIB-4 was 0.90, VPI+BARD score was 0.86 and VPI + APRI was 0.85. There was a high significant difference regarding VPI +NAFLD FS & VPI + FIB-4.Conclusion: High-risk NAFLD can be predicted using VPI and this could improve the effectiveness of frequently used clinical predictor tools

3D City Model Generation Using Aerial Ortho-Rectified Imagery and LIDAR Data Fusion in Semi-Automatic Way

One of the most interesting research topics in the last decade is generating 3 Dimensions (3D) city model, nevertheless representing a suitable method to achieve the required rapid, automatic, accurate extraction of realistic model for large urban area used for GIS applications and photogrammetry is still a challenging issue. Consequently, a new technique and strategy that increase the efficiency for the 3D city modeling is required. The aim of this research is to develop a simple and efficient semi-automatic approach to generate a 3D city model for urban area using the fusion of LiDAR data and Ortho-rectified imagery. This integration of these data sources provides its efficiency for 3D building extraction that represents the main item in the 3D city model. This approach use both LiDAR data and imagery as the primary cue to delineate building outlines, based on pixel based classification. The third dimension is obtained automatically from normalized digital surface model nDSM, and then the 3D model is generated using multi-Faceted patch The accuracy assessment for both height and building outlines is conducted using the referring to the ground truth. The results of the accuracy assessment stage illustrated by means of the well-known statistical methods.  It is experimentally validated that the proposed approach can successfully detect different types of buildings from simple rectangle to circular –shape, when assessed in terms of different quantitative statistics criteria and visual inspection

Diagnostic value of ascitic fluid homocysteine and calprotectin in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Background and study aim: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is mainly diagnosed by ascitic polymorphonuclear (PMNL) leukocyte greater than 250/mm3. We intended to assess ascitic homocysteine and calprotectin for SBP diagnosis.Materials and methods: In our study, we collected ascitic fluids from 70 patients with liver cirrhosis (46 SBP plus 24 non-SBP according to PMNL>250 cells/mm3). Complete blood count, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, serum albumin, total bilirubin, prothrombin time, INR, and serum creatinine were measured. Ascitic fluid sample was taken for chemical analysis, homocysteine was calculated in ascites by human homocysteine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) kits and calprotectin was measured in the ascitic fluids using available human calprotectin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) kits.Results: SBP patients had considerably greater ascitic homocysteine levels than non-SBP (5.66± 7.15 vs. 2.97±.61 μmol/l) P=0.001. Homocysteine at a cut-off of 3.6 μmol/l had 91.7% specificity, 69.9% sensitivity, PPV 94.1% and NPV 61.1% for SBP diagnosis (area under the curve: 0. 754). SBP patients had considerably greater ascitic calprotectin than the non-SBP (182.98± 76.27 vs. 118.1± 27 ng/mL) P=0.000. Using a cut-off 142 ng/mL, calprotectin had 91.7% specificity, 71.7% sensitivity, PPV 94.2% and NPV 62.9% for SBP diagnosis (area under the curve: 0.768).Conclusion: We found that ascitic homocysteine and calprotectin can be suitable diagnostic markers for SBP diagnosis

Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy Versus Bioptron on Psoriasis

Purpose: The current study was carried-out to examine the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy versus bioptron on psoriasis. Subjects and Methods: 60 patients of both sexes with psoriasis contributed in this study and they were aged from 30 to 60 years. They were randomized into two groups of the same number (A and B). Group (A) were given low level laser therapy (LLLT) and medical care, while group (B) were given bioptron light therapy (BLT) and the same medical care that received in group (A). The variables included Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and Dermoscopic finding were measured pre and post intervention program on psoriatic patients in both groups. Both groups were given treatment program 3 sessions a week for 8 weeks. Results: following 8 consecutive weeks, both groups showed statistically significant improvement in all outcome measures, however there was a significant difference between them post treatment, favoring group (A). Conclusion: Low level laser therapy and bioptron were beneficial treatment modalities in psoriatic patients and LLLT may be more effective in treating psoriasis

Fermented Camel (Camelus dromedarius) and Bovine Milk Attenuate Azoxymethane-induced Colonic Aberrant Crypt Foci in Fischer 344 Rats

Abstract: Background and Objective: Camel milk is a folk remedy that includes valuable nutrients and bioactive zoochemicals. However, the chemopreventive potential of camel milk against colon carcinogenesis is poorly understood. This study was conducted to investigate the chemopreventive potential of camel (Camelus dromedarius) and bovine milk as well as the impact of fermenting these milks with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus against early colon carcinogenesis as measured by the reduction of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in azoxymethane (AOM)-treated Fischer 344 rats. Methodology: Each of 60 weanling male rats was assigned to one of 6 experimental diet groups: Fermented and unfermented camel milk with AOM, fermented and unfermented bovine milk with AOM and positive (PC, AOM only) and negative (NC, saline vehicle only) control groups. The animals were fed the corresponding diets for 3 weeks and then received two subcutaneous injections of AOM or vehicle for 2 consecutive weeks and they were then placed on the corresponding diets for 11 weeks. At termination, all rats were euthanized, colons were harvested and the ACF counts were determined for all tested groups. Immunohistochemical testing was then performed to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis in the camel milk groups. Results: Significant reductions (p<0.05) (48.4-62.1%) in the total ACF count were observed in the colons of the rats fed all milk diets compared with rats fed on PC. However, significant differences were not observed in the total ACF between the camel and bovine milk diets or between the fermented and unfermented milk diets. In addition, significant changes were not observed in the apoptotic index for the camel milk diet compared with the index values for PC and β-catenin was generally localized to the membrane in all examined specimens. Conclusion: By virtue of its bioactive components, camel milk exhibited a chemopreventive potential against early colon carcinogenesis, however, fermentation did not improve its chemopreventive potential

A New Combination Formula for Treatment of Fungal Keratitis: An Experimental Study

Objective. To formulate and evaluate slow release ketoconazole and ketorolac to treat fungal keratitis and associated inflammation. Methods. Experimental study with the following outcome measures. Pharmaceutical Evaluation. Mucoadhesive gels containing ketoconazole and ketorolac were used. Microbiological in vitro evaluation was performed using cup method. In vivo evaluation was performed on 24 rabbits divided into 2 groups, 12 rabbits each, group A (fast release formula; 6 times daily) and group B (slow release formula; 3 times daily). Each group was divided into two subgroups (6 rabbits each). Both eyes of rabbits were inoculated with Candida albicans. The left eye of all rabbits received the combination formulae. The right eye for one subgroup received ketoconazole as control 1 while the other subgroup received placebo as control 2. Clinical follow-up was done and, finally, the corneas were used for microbiological and pathological evaluation. Results. Gels containing high polymer concentration showed both high viscosity and mucoadhesion properties with slower drug release. The infected eyes treated with slow release formula containing both drugs showed better curing of the cornea and pathologically less inflammation than eyes treated with fast release formula. Conclusion. Slow release formula containing ketoconazole and ketorolac showed higher activity than fast release formula against fungal keratitis and associated inflammation

Hepatic venous outflow obstruction after living donor liver transplantation managed with ectopic placement of a foley catheter: A case report

AbstractIntroductionThe early hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO) is a rare but serious complication after liver transplantation, which may result in graft loss. We report a case of early HVOO after living donor liver transplantation, which was managed by ectopic placement of foley catheter.PresentationA 51 years old male patient with end stage liver disease received a right hemi-liver graft. On the first postoperative day the patient developed impairment of the liver functions. Doppler ultrasound (US) showed absence of blood flow in the right hepatic vein without thrombosis. The decision was to re-explore the patient, which showed torsion of the graft upward and to the right side causing HVOO. This was managed by ectopic placement of a foley catheter between the graft and the diaphragm and the chest wall. Gradual deflation of the catheter was gradually done guided by Doppler US and the patient was discharged without complications.DiscussionMechanical HVOO results from kinking or twisting of the venous anastomosis due to anatomical mismatch between the graft and the recipient abdomen. It should be managed surgically by repositioning of the graft or redo of venous anastomosis. Several ideas had been suggested for repositioning and fixation of the graft by the use of Sengstaken–Blakemore tubes, tissue expanders, and surgical glove expander.ConclusionWe report the use of foley catheter to temporary fix the graft and correct the HVOO. It is a simple and safe way, and could be easily monitored and removed under Doppler US without any complications

High Gain UWB Antenna Element Design for Cognitive Radio Systems using Low Cost FR4 Substrate

In cognitive radio (CR) and Ultra Wideband (UWB) communication systems, one of the keys issues is designing a compact antenna while providing wideband characteristic over the entire operating band. In these systems, printed wide slot antennas have received much attention owing to their wideband matching characteristics and omnidirectional radiation patterns. In addition they present really appealing physical features, such as simple structure, small size and low cost. In this paper, a small antenna with circular radiating patch and defected ground structure for UWB applications is proposed. The proposed antenna provides a wideband frequency range from 1.17 GHz to more than 12 GHz. But, its maximum allowable gain is low and equals . In order to increase the antenna gain while maintaining the same impedance matching characteristics, a plane reflector is placed beneath the antenna at a specific distance . The plane reflector reflects the backward radiated power again towards the antenna to be constructively added to the forward radiated power. In this case, the modified antenna radiated power is significantly increased and the maximum allowable antenna gain is also increased up to  which is  times greater than the gain of the antenna without reflector.  In addition, the modified antenna exhibits  to  radiation efficiency over the operating frequency range. Good return loss and radiation pattern characteristics are obtained in the frequency band of interest. The antenna is designed using the CST Microwave Studio software using low cost FR4 (lossy) substrate with and . Simulated and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effective performance of the proposed antenna