C-reactive protein as a screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus in first-trimester of pregnancy: a prospective cohort study

Background: The current study aims to determine if increased inflammation identified by increased C-reactive protein (CRP) level is associated with the subsequent development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods: A prospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary University Hospital included 496 booking for their antenatal care visit between 10-12 weeks of gestation. They were tested for presence of CRP in blood. All women without a history of antenatal type 1 or type 2 diabetes undergo routine GDM screening with the 50-g oral glucose-loading test (GLT) between 24 and 28 weeks 'gestation. Women whose 1-h post-loading plasma glucose level >7.8 mmol/l (>140 mg/dl) undergo a diagnostic, fasting, 100-g, 3-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) within 1-2 weeks following the GLT.Results: Among these 496 women, a total of 27 women (5.4%) were diagnosed as GDM and 10 women (2.0%) were diagnosed as IGT at week 24-28. The CRP was positive and higher in the GDM diagnosed group (p=0.000) compared to those who did not develop GDM. CRP was positively correlated with diagnosis of GDM (r=0.438, p=0.012).Conclusions: There is an association between first-trimester inflammation, marked by increased CRP levels and subsequent risk of GDM

Placental pouch closure: a novel, safe and effective surgical procedure for conservative management of placenta accreta

Background: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) has become a global problem secondary to the high rate of cesarean delivery (CD). The current study presents an effective surgical procedure (placental pouch closure) for uterine preservation in patients with PAS. Methods: We applied this procedure in sixty cases at a tertiary university hospital between September 2017 and January 2019. We included women who were diagnosed as PAS based on preoperative ultrasound and Doppler evaluation, and who had the desire for uterine preservation. Results: The procedure was successful in almost all cases; the uterus was conserved 98.33 % of participants, with no associated severe maternal morbidities or mortality. In all cases, no additional surgical procedures were needed. The mean blood loss was 1263 ml, and the mean number of units of blood required for transfusion was 2.31 units. Conclusion: Identifying and meticulously closing the placental pouch is a novel surgical procedure for conservative management of PAS. In well-selected cases with the availability of facilities and expertise, the technique could have a place as a safe and effective surgical technique in women presenting with placenta accreta who desire uterine preservation. Trial registration number: NCT03241849. Registered on August 8, 201

The protective effects of adenosine deaminase inhibitor and ouercetin against hepatocellular carcinoma induced by thioacetamide in male rats via downregulation of iNOS, Ki67 and Pan-CK

The liver is the largest and most vulnerable organ in the body, several factors can cause liver cirrhosis and the onset of hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aims to investigate the possibility for adenosine deaminase inhibitor (EHNA) which reduces liver injury, neutrophil infiltration and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and also it is considering as a target of liver cirrhosis and beginning of hepatocellular carcinoma protective, quercetin which is one of the most common flavonoids has an antioxidant, antitumor and chemopreventive effect on the liver-induced preneoplastic lesions and their combination against thioacetamide as a hepatotoxic and a carcinogenic compound. Biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical studies were carried out on male albino rats model to evaluate this possibility. Thioacetamide-treated rats showed a significant increase in liver function tests, alpha-fetoprotein level, expression of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthesis (iNOS), Ki67 and Pan-Cytokeratin (Pan-CK) in hepatic tissue of rats. The results of the present study show that treatment with quercetin, EHNA or their combination attenuated changes in liver functions, histopathological changes, reduced collagen deposition and decreased the expression of iNOS, Ki67 and Pan-CK induced by thioacetamide

The social uses of livestock among pastoralists in Sudan : food systems, stores of value, wealth, power, and authority

Abdel Ghaffar M. Ahme

Comparative study of dynamic response of earth dam

Full-scale experimentally determined dynamic characteristics of an earth dam determined from imposed dynamic forces are compared with those estimated from earthquake responses. The measured frequencies and modes of upstream-downstream vibrations are compared with those predicted by an existing two-dimensional shear-beam model. Shear strains and shear moduli were estimated from the full-scale tests and were plotted along with those estimated from the earthquake response analysis. The same procedure was followed for damping versus shear strain at different levels. Then the combined results were interpolated and extrapolated. The dynamic properties of the dam’s constituent materials estimated from low-strain full-scale tests are consistent with those determined from relatively large strains induced by the two earthquakes. Also the tests revealed substantial change in the dynamic properties of the dam; the behavior is typical of a yielding dynamic system

Shear Moduli and Damping Factors of Earth Dam

In this study of an earth dam, a rational procedure is developed to estimate its dynamic soil properties, such as the shear moduli and damping factors, from its measured response to real earthquakes; the measured response includes strong-motion records from the crest and the base of the dam. The procedure permits study of nonlinear behavior by using the variation of stiffness and damping properties with strain levels. The Santa Felicia Dam, located in Southern California, was chosen for the analysis because it had been subjected to strong shaking during two earthquakes (with M_L=6.3 and 4.7), and was equipped with strong-motion instruments that yielded data on the structural response as well as the input ground motion at the site. The investigation is limited to the upstream-downstream response since existing analytical techniques for earth dams are restricted to horizontal shear deformation in that direction