A convenient synthesis and preparation of the derivatives of ethyl-6-(8-hydroxyquinolin-5-yl)-3-methylpyridazine-4-carboxylate as antimicrobial agents

Synthesis of ethyl 6-(8-hydroxyquinolin-5-yl)-3-methylpyridazin-4-carboxylate (4) via one-pot three component reaction of ethyl acetoacetate with (8-hydroxyquinolin-5-yl)(oxo) acetaldehyde (2) in the presence of hydrazine hydrate at room temperature in water was described. A new series of heterocyclic moieties such as oxadiazoles, triazoles, pyrazoles and Schiff bases were prepared and characterized. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were established by elemental and spectral data. The antimicrobial activity of some of the synthesized compounds was examined against two Gram‐positive bacteria, two Gram‐negative bacteria and four fungi. The results showed that the tested compounds exhibited significant to moderate antimicrobial

Clinical Utility of Intestinal Ultrasound in Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Advances in the field of therapeutics in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have raised the expectation with mucosal healing (MH) is the current target of medical management of IBD and was proven to decrease clinical relapse rate, hospitalization and surgery. Intestinal ultrasound (IUS), usually performed by gastroenterologists as a point-of-care examination, is a radiation-free, non-invasive, well tolerated, cost-effective, easily accessible, accurate and reproducible imaging technique, and allows transmural assessment of the bowel wall. The use of IUS in ulcerative colitis (UC) is often questioned. This is because UC is essentially a mucosal disease, with its involvement starting distally in the rectum, easily reachable by sigmoidoscope. However, several recent studies showed significant IUS findings in UC with bowel wall thickness (BWT) to be the most relevant measure. IUS has been shown to have advantages in UC diagnosis, disease severity assessment, disease extent delineation, and therapy response prediction

Predictors of mortality in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage who underwent endoscopy and confirmed to have variceal hemorrhage

Background: Variceal hemorrhage (VH) is a major complication of chronic liver disease. Several factors have been validated for the prediction of the outcome of an acute VH. The clinical risk characteristics reported in developed countries may be different from developing countries.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of mortality in patients admitted to our hospital with acute upper gastrointestinal (UGI) hemorrhage who underwent endoscopy and confirmed to have VH.Patients and methods: This was a cross sectional hospital based study performed over a seven-year period between January 2006 and January 2013.Results: A total of 224 patients were analyzed. Nineteen patients (8%) died within the first two weeks of their hospital admission. Eighteen variables were studied and included in a multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model. Five variables were predictors of death. Hemodynamic instability at admission (AOR= 5.5, 95% CI= 22.3 + 1.4, P = 0.017), Child class C (AOR =5.9, 95% CI =24 + 1.5, P =0.013), blood in upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract at the index endoscopy (AOR =12.8, 95% CI= 126.5+ 1.3, P = 0.03), rebleeding within five days of endoscopy (AOR =25.4, 95% CI =109.2 + 5.9, P = 0.000), and in-hospital  complications (AOR= 23.4, 95% CI= 122.5+ 4.5, P = 0.000) were independent predictors of mortality after the acute VH episode.Conclusion: Patients with acute VH and hemodynamic instability at admission, Child class C, blood in UGI tract at the index endoscopy, rebleeding within five days of endoscopy and in-hospital complications are at an increased risk of mortality after the acute VH episode. Rebleeding within five days of endoscopy and in-hospital complications are the most significant independent predictors of mortality

Encapsulated polycaprolactone with triazole derivatives and selenium nanoparticles as promising antiproliferative and anticancer agents

Background and purpose Polycaprolactone nanocapsules incorporated with triazole derivatives in the presence and absence of selenium nanoparticles were prepared and evaluated as antiproliferative and anticancer agents. Polycaprolactone nanoparticles were prepared using the emulsion technique. Experimental approach The prepared capsules were characterized using FT-IR, TEM and DLS measurements. The synthesized triazolopyrimidine derivative in the presence and absence of selenium nanoparticles encapsulated in polycaprolactone was tested for its in vitro antiproliferative efficiency towards human breast cancer cell line (MCF7) and murine fibroblast normal cell line (BALB/3T3) in comparison to doxorubicin as a standard anticancer drug. Key results The results indicated that encapsulated polycaprolactone with selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and triazole-SeNPs were the most potent samples against the tested breast cancer cell line (MCF7). On the other hand, all compounds showed weak or moderate activities towards the tested murine fibroblast normal cell line (BALB/3T3). Conclusion As the safety index (SI) was higher than 1.0, it expanded the way for newly synthesized compounds to express antiproliferative efficacy against tumour cells. Hence, these compounds may be considered promising ones. However, they should be examined through further in-vivo and pharmacokinetic studies

Endoscopy audit over 10 years in a community hospital in Egypt

Background: Practice variation is likely to have an important impact on the effectiveness of endoscopy. Performing regular quality audits allows identification of potential underperformance and consequently can result in significant improvement in endoscopy quality. An annual audit was conducted in a community hospital in Egypt.Aim: The aim of the study was to determine if practice and performance of endoscopy is influenced by a consistent audit process by looking for improvement in completeness of procedures over a 10-year period.Patients and methods: A total of 3736 consecutive procedures were prospectively assessed between years 2004 and 2014.Results: The completion rates improved consistently. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) completion rate was 99.9% in 2004–2008 and 99% in 2009–2013 (P = 0.5). Initial hemostasis of EGDgastrointestinal bleed increased from 82% in 2004–2008 to 86% in 2009–2013 (P = 0.04). Adequate bowel cleansing increased from 60% in 2004–2008 to 67% in 2009–2013 (P = 0.13). Crude completion rates increased from 66% in 2004–2008 to 79% in 2009–2013 (P = 0.007). Adjusted completion rates increased from 80% in 2004–2008 to 95% in 2009–2013 (P = 0.0001). Ileoscopy rates in patients with chronic diarrhea increased from 79% in 2004–2008 to 97% in 2009–2013 (P = 0.01). Endoscopic polypectomy rates increased from 65% in 2004–2008 to 94% in 2009–2013 (P = 0.0004). Complete polyp removal rates increased from 77% in 2004–2008 to 87% in 2009–2013 (P = 0.19). Complete polyp retrieval rates increased from 85% in 2004–2008 to 89% in 2009–2013 (P = 0.34).Conclusion: Continuous audit over 10 years can enhance endoscopy performance, improve the quality of endoscopic procedures and lead to better outcomes.Keywords: Endoscopy, Audit, Quality, Egyp

Solar cells: Types, Modules, and Applications–A Review

The basic operating principle of photovoltaic (PV) devices is the conversion of solar irradiation into electricity. There are various applications of this principle in many countries such as Egypt, Nigeria and Denmark. Most of the solar PV projects are designed for street lighting, water pumping and water desalination. However, we hope about wide range of using the appropriate components and best technical procedures, standard PV projects with maximum performance output. The present systems now provide 20% to 40% only of the community's heat or lightness on annual basic needs. These include innovative and alternative ways to reduce material uses and module degradation, and opportunities to reuse and recycle PV panels at the end of their lifetime because of the installations of photovoltaic solar modules which are growing extremely very fast.   Keywords: Solar cells; renewable energy; photovoltaic; free energy; solar panel cost; solar battery

Evaluation of Trunk Muscle Endurance in Chronic Ankle Instability

Background: Testing the association between trunk muscle endurance and chronic ankle instability (CAI) is very important to recognize risk factors related to CAI. This facilitates prevention of injury and management of the associated musculoskeletal deficits of CAI. Objective:  to assess endurance of trunk muscles in females with CAI. Methods: This study consisted of 62 females, allocated into two equal groups of 31; the experimental group (A) included females with CAI and the healthy control (Group B) included healthy females. McGill core endurance tests (prone-bridge, right side-bridge, left side-bridge, trunk flexion and horizontal back extension) were administered to assess trunk muscle endurance. Results: Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in trunk muscle endurance between the two tested groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Although, the results indicated higher values of trunk endurance in the CAI group compared with their healthy controls, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups. This denotes the compensatory mechanism that altered ankle-hip strategy

Actinokineospora spheciospongiae sp. nov., isolated from the marine sponge Spheciospongia vagabunda

A Gram-positive staining, aerobic organism, isolated from the the Red Sea sponge Spheciospongia vagabunda was investigated for its taxonomic position. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis strain EG49T was most closely related to Actinokineospora cibodasensis and Actinokineospora baliensis (both 97.3%) and Actinokineospora diospyrosas and Actinokineospora auranticolor (both 97.0%). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to all other Actinokineospora species was < 97.0 %. The quinone system of strain EG49T contains the menaqinone MK-9(H4), (47%), MK-9(H6), (27%) and MK-9(H2), (15%) in major amounts. Minor amounts of MK-7(H4), (2%), MK-9(H0), (1%), MK-9(H8) (3%) and MK-10(H4) (3%) were detected as well in addition to MK-8(H4), MK-8(H6), MK-10(H2) and MK-10(H6) (all <1%). The diagnostic diaminoacid of the peptidoglycan is meso-diaminopimelic acid. In the polar lipid profile, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and hydroxyl-phosphatidylethanolamine are predominant. Phosphatidylinositol-mannoside, two unidentified phospholipids and two glycoglipids as well as one aminoglycolipid, one aminolipid and one unidentified lipid are found in addition. Fatty acid profile composed of mainly iso-branched fatty acids: iso-C16:0, iso-C14:0, iso-C15:0, and iso-C16:1 H. All these data clearly supported the allocation of the strain to the genus Actinokineospora. In addition, the results of physiological and biochemical tests also allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain EG49T from the most closely related Actinokineospora species. Strain EG49T represents a new species of the genus Actinokineospora, for which we propose the name Actinokineospora spheciospongiae sp. nov., with strain EG49T (= DSM 45935T = CCM 8480T = LMG 27700T) as the type strain

Sphenopalatine ganglion block for treatment of post dural puncture headache: Review article

Background: Post-Dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a consequence of spinal and epidural anesthesia. The gold standard for its treatment is epidural blood patch. Sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) has been proposed as a non-invasive intervention with minimal adverse effect. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of sphenopalatine ganglion block for treatment of post-dural puncture headache. Methods: The databases were searched for articles published in English in 3 data bases [PubMed – Google scholar and Egyptian bank of knowledge] and Boolean operators had been used such as [Sphenopalatine ganglion block and post dural puncture headache] and in reviewed articles. Conclusion: SPGB is an effective initial modality for managing severe headache in patients with PDPH

Theories, Hypothesis and Rules for Morphology Transition Engineering of 1D, 2D and 3D Nanomaterials

Most of the chemical and physical properties of nanomaterials vary remarkably according to their size, shape, and structure. Thus morphology is a crucial parameter that controls the properties and functionality of materials. On the basis of Abdelmohsen et al.’s theories and hypothesis, which are theory for morphology transition engineering (ATMTE), theory for morphology engineering of solid compounds (ATMESC), and hypothesis for engineering of micro- and nanostructures (AHEMNS), novel approach was modified for fabricating one-, two-, and three-dimensional hybrid nanomaterials, such as hybrid ZnO nanosheets (38–150 nm), hybrid ZnO nanorods, hybrid nanocomposites, and hierarchical hybrid Cu2O nanostructures. In addition, by the help of this novel method, the fabrication of metal-oxidene (one/few atoms thick layer of metal oxides) is assumed and hybrid ZnO thin film that is expected to have extraordinary physicochemical properties. A series of selection rules and morphology engineering rules are discussed. Throughout this chapter, we will come across this novel approach as a promising technique for nanofabrication and discuss the suggested mechanisms for the evolution process during fabrication of nanomaterials. By the help of this method, we have fabricated 1D, 2D and 3D nanomaterials that are expected to have potential use for energy, catalysis, biomedical, and other applications