IgA Nephropathy Improved by a New Modality: MAM14 Immunotherapy: A Case Report in Kuwait

A 45 Year-old- Kuwaiti female with a case of IgA nephropathy (IgA N) was studied from 2002 to 2014 at Mubarak Hospital. The chief complaint was hematuria. In the first year she was given a conventional corticosteroid regimen. Her parameters at this stage are used as controls for the remainder of the study. She was treated with FK506 immunosuppressant capsules in the second year and vaccinated with allogeneic peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in the third year. This study includes the following parameters: serum creatinine, serum albumin, IgA level, and 24-hour urine protein. In the first year the patient was only on corticosteroid, in the second year only FK506, and in the third year was treated only with PBL vaccination. A booster dose of vaccine was administered after approximately 5 years. The patient’s significant improvements after PBL vaccination have persisted for 9 years. The mechanism postulated for this kind of immunotherapy is induction of novel therapeutic antigens, including heat shock protein (HSP), that interact with autoreactive T or B cells in the recipient. The result is T regulatory cells (T-reg) claimed to be responsible for shifting T-cell detrimental function to regulatory function, hence preventing the pathological production and deposition of IgA in the kidney. Data accumulated from our lab, but not yet published, demonstrates that MAM14 immunotherapy ameliorates symptoms and signs of certain autoimmune disorders

Overview and Technical Evaluation of Dynamic Conductive Road Charging Technologies

The concept of dynamic conductive power transfer (DCPT) is well-established and has been extensively employed in railway systems for several decades. However, the adaptation of DCPT for road traffic encounters significant challenges, particularly in the creation of practical, safe, and reliable mechanical interfaces that seamlessly integrate into both vehicles and road infrastructure. Consequently, the development of conductive Electric Road System (ERS) solutions has primarily been driven by industry efforts, resulting in limited information regarding detailed design procedures and optimisation methods for the electrical and mechanical components involved in dynamic power transfer. This paper reviews and evaluates the available ERS technologies

MAM14 Immunotherapy Protocol: The Dream of Ophthalmologist, Became at Your Door. This Protocol Can Treat Autoimmune Uveitis.

Uveitis doesn't have to involve a lifelong treatment course (C Stephen Foster). In this article we replaced conventional steroid and other immunosuppressant treatment by safe and new immunomodulation called MAM14 immunotherapy protocol, designed to treat uveitis. Our objective is to replace steroid and other immunosuppresant with safe effective immunomodulation method.   As a first trial to study this protocol, we choose one hundred twelve female uveitis patients called: experimental group; their age range between 13-15 years old, treated by MAM14 immunotherapy, which is briefly, paternal stressed allogeneic lymphocyte vaccination given subcutaneously to their daughters. Compared to 120 female control group uveitis patients age range between 12-16 years old received routine prednisone eye drops (Pred Forte). Results for the Slit lamp microscope showed that the experimental group demonstrates remarkable improvement duration of treatment four to nine months. Improvement lasted for ten years. No side effect noted during experiment and until this writing compared to control. Pachymeter showed no degradation of cornea and slit lamp showed no lymphocyte infiltration. On the other hand, symptoms and signs of control group patients is up and down. Lymphocyte infiltration is variable and degradation of cornea is prominent. As a conclusion we can say that it is time for autoimmune uveitis attack to be controlled immunologically

Stress Induced Lipids Accumulation in Naviculoid Marine Diatoms for Bioenergy Application

Microalgae are expected to play promising role in the production of biofuel in current research. Two of marine diatoms, Navicula sp. and Amphora sp. were isolated and their growth rate was also studied. Total lipid content was analyzed in stationary growth state under normal conditions. By the two stage process, both the diatoms were subjected to nitrogen and silicon undersupplied for five days and the total lipid accumulation in the diatoms were found to be increased during nutrient deficiency period. The nutrient deficit conditions prone to increased total lipid content and also altered the fatty acid profile in diatom. The total lipid content of Navicula sp. and Amphora sp. were found to be 34.93% DCW and 41.10% DCW under normal conditions and in nitrogen deficiency conditions it has been increased to 60.71% DCW and 64.72% DCW respectively. The major fatty acids were found to be cis-10-Heptadecanoic acid (27.54%) and stearic acid (24.57%). The level of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were found to be high in both the diatoms. The presence of low level of polyunsaturated fatty acids indicated that these two organisms could find future application in bioenergy production

Load analysis of ground-powering systems for electric vehicles

Dynamic conductive road charging involves the transfer of power into moving Electric Vehicles (EVs) using sliding contacts. The power transfer mechanism can be either installed from the top of the car using overhead conductors, conducting rails installed along the road-side or ground-level systems embedded in the road surface. The ground-level power system is the preferred option as it minimizes aerodynamic resistance compared to the other two as well as being designed for operation with vehicles of various sizes. In addition, existing technologies used in trams can be modified to provide ground-level EV charging systems. This paper investigates a ground-level system for EVs driving at high-speed on a motorway. It is based on the Tracked Electric Vehicle (TEV) project where EVs drive autonomously in a platoon with short inter-vehicle distance to reduce the overall air drag coefficient of the platoon. The paper investigates the optimum length and distance for the ground-level system. A Simulink model is developed for platoons of 10 EVs powered from a converter. It is shown that, for a platoon of 10 EVs driving with an inter-platoon distance of 50 m, a conducting-bar section100 m in length is the most efficient in terms of load variation and voltage stability

Facile and Novel Strategy for Methods of Extraction of Biofuel Grade Lipids from Microalgae- an Experimental Report

The structural features of microalgal cell make it too difficult to extract the total lipid content of the cell as such. Thus, the cell disruption before lipid extraction becomes mandatory and has to be cost-effective. In the present study various methods and combination of few methods were adopted for effective extraction in order to choose the most effective cell disruption method for the complete extraction of lipids from a selected indigenous freshwater isolate, Scenedesmus sp. NTEB03. Interestingly, we found that grinding and bead-beating method showed two fold increased lipid productivity (23.2%) than the other methods tested. Biomass and lipid productivity of Scenedesmus sp., was found to be 0.0418 g L-1 d-1 and 4.3 mg L-1 d-1 respectively. Fatty acid profiles revealed that oleic (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2) content being higher in the lipids, which are most appropriate for the biodiesel production. A novel strategy for most effective, simple method for cell disruption in Scenedesmus sp., was grinding/bead-beating, which is the most suitable method for complete extraction of biofuel grade lipids

Assessing Secondary School Curricula in the Light of Developing Quality of Life Standards of High School Students

This study assessed curricula of secondary schools given requirements to enhance the quality of life of students. The components of quality of life were described to build a list of standards and indicators. A questionnaire assessing the dimensions of mental (cognitive and emotional), physical, digital, and social health, and environmental awareness was prepared. A descriptive-analytical approach was used on a sample of 258 teachers and educational supervisors in Tabuk. The results indicated shortcomings in the secondary school curricula regarding developing standards and indicators of components of quality of life. Results also indicated that secondary school curricula incorporated few practices to improve students’ quality of life. No significant differences were found regarding core subject, job, gender, and years of experience

Impact of Aspiration in the Assessing Process of Pediatric Lung Disease

This study aimed at analyzing the impact of Aspiration in the assessing process of pediatric lung disease, as the affected children will frequently encounter a situation where swallowing is insecure and aspiration is likely. Besides analyzing the Aspiration of foreign matter into the airways and lungs that can cause a wide spectrum of pulmonary disorders with various presentations. And discussing the type of syndrome resulting from aspiration depends on the quantity and nature of the aspirated material, the chronicity, and the host responses. Considering that Aspiration is most likely to occur in subjects with a decreased level of consciousness, compromised airway defense mechanisms, dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux, and recurrent vomiting

Perception and satisfaction of stakeholders regarding the patient care area pharmacist initiative in a military hospital in Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To explore the perceptions and satisfaction of stakeholders (physicians, nurses, and pharmacists) regarding services provided by the patient care area pharmacist (PCAP) initiative. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC). The questionnaire was hand-delivered to a random sample of stakeholder groups (including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists) in three different areas of the hospital: the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), high dependency unit (HDU), and pediatric nephrology. The questionnaire consisted of three sections. The first section collected demographic information of the participants, and the other sections collected anonymous opinions regarding services provided by the PCAP. Results: Ninety-nine participants, comprising physicians (n = 27; 27.27 %), nurses (n = 55; 55.55%), inpatient pharmacists (n = 13; 13.13%), and PCAPs (n = 4; 4.04%), participated in the survey. A majority of the respondents (92.3 %) were satisfied with the PCAP services, and all respondents recommended expansion of the PCAP service to cover all wards. Conclusion: The findings show that all participants have a positive perception of the PCAP service; PCAPs were seen by the participants as drug experts, and their recommendations were perceived as clinically relevant. All stakeholders sought to continue working with the PCAP. Keywords: Patient care, PCAP, Attitude, Satisfaction, Pharmac

Head and Neck Surgery: A Differential Diagnosis in Otolaryngology

Introduction: In otolaryngology of the head and neck surgery; differential diagnosis is a practical and comprehensive guide that is organized uniquely by signs and symptoms instead of by diseases. Aim: This study will describe the keys to diagnostic evaluation and differential diagnosis of presenting symptoms for problems affecting each otolaryngology organ system.Methods: Each symptom opens with the patient’s presentation followed by an easily accessible list of potential diagnoses and supplementary data on the features of the different diseases to help correctly identify the problem. And identify features labeled by signs and symptoms, not by disease, and then enable quick clinical reference In-depth coverage of the diagnostic and treatment evaluation of all ENT disorders.