Comparison of serum cystatin C and creatinine based methods in detection of early renal dysfunction in critically ill patients

Early detection of renal dysfunction is of importance inthe care of critically ill patients. Cystatin C was proposedto be superior to serum creatinine in estimation of renal function. This work aimed to compare serum cystatin Cto serum creatinine and creatinine based formulae indetection of early decline in renal function at a singlepoint in critically ill patients. Fifty critically ill patientsadmitted to Cairo University Hospitals ICUs - Egypt wereincluded. Patients with chronic renal disease,thyroid disease, malignancy, patients receivingcorticosteroid therapy, with serum creatinine > 1.4 mg/dland patients receiving diuretics or large volumes of IVfluids were excluded. Serum creatinine, serum cystatinC, adjusted creatinine clearance (Adj Ccr), estimatedGFR (eGFR) by modification of diet in renal disease(MDRD), abbreviated MDRD (abb MDRD) andCockcroft-Gault (CG) formulae were measured. Patientswith renal dysfunction (adj Ccr < 80 ml/min/1.73m2)were 26 (52%) in number. Patients with renaldysfunction and high serum creatinine were 12/26(46.2%) while those with high cystatin C were 23/26(88.5%). Cystatin C was found to be significantlycorrelated with serum creatinine, adj Ccr and eGFR by all studied formulae. Using receiver operatingcharacteristic (ROC) analysis; AUC for Cystatin C(0.976) was more than that for eGFR by abb MDRD(AUC=0.839), MDRD (AUC=0.822), CG formulae(AUC=0.808) and serum creatinine (AUC=0.710)respectively. In conclusion; cystatin C was found to bebetter than serum creatinine, eGFR by abb MDRD,MDRD and CG formulae in detection of early renaldysfunction at a single point in critically ill patients

Correlation between Biofilm Formation, Multi-Drug Resistance and AlgD Gene among Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates

الخلفية: الزوائف الزنجارية هي عبارة عن بكتريا انتهازية مسببة للامراض التي ترتبط بالإصابة بالعدوى المستمرة التي يصعب استئصالها.الهدف: تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى تحديد قدرة تكوين الغشاء الحيوي في الزوائف الزنجارية وارتباطه بمقاومة المضادات الحيوية وعلاقتها بوجود جين ال  AlgD.المرضى وطريقة العمل: أجريت الدراسة الحالية في مستشفى أزادي التعليمي العام في مدينة كركوك خلال الفترة من أغسطس 2017 حتى مايو 2018 ، تم الحصول على 100 عزلة من الزائفة الزنجارية من 1260 عينة سريرية مختلفة. تم تحديد الحساسية للمضادات الحيوية بواسطة طريقة كيربي باور، تم تحليل تكوين الغشاء الحيوي بطريقة الميكروتايتر بليت ، جين AlgD تم الكشف عنه بواسطة تفاعل البلمرة المتسلسل.النتائج: اقل مقاومة للمضادات الحيوية وجد ضد: ببراسلين/ تازوباكتام (5%) , سيفيبيم (24%), سيفتازيديم (26%), بينما كانت النسبة الاكبر مقاومة ضد: الاموكسيسيلين/ حامض الكلافيولانك (98%) و ترايميثوبريم/ سلفامثوكزازول (97%).وكانت (60%) من هذه العزلات مقاومة للعديد من الأدوية. وجد أن (98%) من العزلات كانت لها قابلية تكوين الغشاء الحيوي. تم الكشف عن وجود جين AlgDبواسطة تفاعل البلمرة المتسلسل حيث وجد أن  (98%) من العزلات حاملة للجين, مع جود هذا الجين AlgD في العزلات المكونة للغشاء الحيوي فقط. الاستنتاجات: كان الإرتباط معنويا بين قابلية تكوين الغشاء الحيوي ومقاومة المضادات الحيوية, ووجد ان هنالك علاقة قوية بين وجود AlgD جين و تكوين الغشاء الحيويBackground: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium that associated with persistent infections that are difficult to eradicate. Objective: This study aims to determine biofilm forming potential of P. aeruginosa and its correlation with antibiotics resistance and presence of AlgD gene. Materilals and Methods: The present study carried out in Azady teaching general hospital in Kirkuk city during the period from August 2017 to May 2018, one hundred isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa had been obtained from (1260) different clinical specimens. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by Kirby-Bauer method, biofilm formation analyzed by Microtiter plate quantitative method, and AlgD gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results: A lower percentage of antibiotic resistance was against piperacillin/tazobactam (5%), cefepime (24%), and ceftazidime (26%) while, higher resistance percentage was seen against amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (98%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (97%), multi-drug resistance (MDR) formed (60%) of total isolates. Biofilm formation found in (98%) of total isolates. AlgD gene detected by PCR technique found in (98%) of total isolates, AlgD gene was found only in biofilm former isolates. Conclusions: Significant correlation found between biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Strong correlation observed between presence of AlgD gene and biofilm formation

Comparison between Modified Weighted Pareto Distribution and Many other Distributions

  In 2020 one of the researchers in this paper, in his first research, tried to find out the Modified Weighted Pareto Distribution of Type I by using the Azzalini method for weighted distributions, which contain three parameters, two of them for scale while the third for shape.This research compared the distribution with two other distributions from the same family; the Standard Pareto Distribution of Type I and the Generalized Pareto Distribution by using the Maximum likelihood estimator which was derived by the researchers for Modified Weighted Pareto Distribution of Type I, then the Mont Carlo method was used–that is one of the simulation manners for generating random samples data in different sizes ( n= 10,30,50), and in different initial values for each Pareto distribution family being used in the research. A comparison was done by using Akaike Information Criteria, Corrected Akaike Information Criteria, and Bayesian Information Criteri

Effect of global postural correction exercises on stress urinary incontinence during pregnancy: A randomized controlled trial

Background: One of the many consequences of pregnancy that may negatively affect a woman’s quality of life is stress urinary incontinence caused by activities of daily living especially those associated with increased intraabdominal pressure. Objective: This research aimed to explore the impact of global postural correction exercises on stress urinary incontinence among pregnant women. Participants and Methodology: Forty primigravida female at their third trimester (aged between 26–36 years), with a single fetus, diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence take part in the research. Participants were assigned randomly into two groups: Study group (group A; n = 20) and control group (group B; n = 20). The participants were tested twice, before and after a 12-week period, during which group A received global postural correction exercises in addition to Kegel exercises, while group B performed only Kegel exercises. A perineometer was used to evaluate the change in vaginal squeeze pressure both before and after conducting the study. UDI-6 was utilized to assess changes in incontinence severity symptoms. Results: Findings revealed a significant increase in the mean value of vaginal squeeze pressure (p < .05) in the post-test condition in comparison to the pre-test in both groups A and B. Additionally, there was a main decrease (p < .05) in the mean value of UDI-6 in both groups. Moreover, findings showed a significant negative (inverse) correlation (p < .05) between the difference in vaginal squeeze pressure and the UDI-6 in all patients. Conclusions: Postural correction exercises in addition to Kegel exercises are effective in reducing urine leakage in women with stress urinary incontinence and should be an integral part of the management of such condition

Role of Vitamin D in Childhood Epilepsy

Background:Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and also considered a steroid hormone, that plays an important role in the proper functioning of many organs of the body.Adequate vitamin D status plays a very important role in terms of appropriate brain development and function .Regarding vitamin D,it's participation in the central nervous system's function is corroborated by the presence of the enzyme 25(OH)D3-1alpha-hydroxylase, which form of the active form of vitaminD, and the presence of receptors of vitamin D (VDR) in the brain tissue , mostly in the hypothalamus and substantia nigra. The aim of this review: is to evaluate the roleof vitamin D in childhood epilepsy and to study the vitamin D –antiepleptic drugs interactions among epileptic children. Conclusion: vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are highly prevalent among children with epilepsy.A lot of antiepileptic drugs lower vitamin D level and lead to more seizures specially enzyme inducers' drugs

Design and synthesis of new thiazolidinone/uracil derivatives as antiproliferative agents targeting EGFR and/or BRAFV600E^{V600E}

Thiourea derivatives of uracil were efficiently synthesized via the reaction of 5-aminouracil with isothiocyanates. Then, we prepared uracil-containing thiazoles via condensation of thioureas with diethyl/dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylates. The structures of the products were confirmed by a combination of spectral techniques including infra-red (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS) and elemental analyses. A rationale for the formation of the products is presented. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against four cancer cell lines. The compounds tested showed promising antiproliferative activity, with GI$_{50}$ values ranging from 1.10 µM to 10.00 µM. Compounds 3c, 5b, 5c, 5h, 5i, and 5j were the most potent derivatives, with GI$_{50}$ values ranging from 1.10 µM to 1.80 µM. Compound 5b showed potent inhibitory activity against EGFR and BRAF$^{V600E}$ with IC$_{50}$ of 91 ± 07 and 93 ± 08 nM, respectively, indicating that this compound could serve as a dual inhibitor of EGFR and BRAF$^{V600E}$ with promising antiproliferative properties. Docking computations revealed the great potency of compounds 5b and 5j towards EGFR and BRAF$^{V600E}$ with docking scores of −8.3 and −9.7 kcal/mol and −8.2 and −9.3 kcal/mol, respectively

Design, synthesis, docking and mechanistic studies of new thiazolyl/thiazolidinylpyrimidine-2,4-dione antiproliferative agents

In this article, we display on the synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of thiazolylpyrimidine 3a-l and thiazolidinylpyrimidine derivatives 5a-e. The structures of the new compounds were confirmed by using different spectral techniques including NMR, IR, mass spectroscopy in addition to elemental analyses. The cell viability of the new compounds was assessed against normal human mammary gland epithelial (MCF-10A) cell line. Data revealed that none of the compounds examined exhibited cytotoxic effects, and the cell viability for the compounds examined at 50 µM was greater than 87%. The antiproliferative activity of 3a-l and 5a-e was evaluated against four human cancer cell lines where the compounds showed promising activity. The most potent derivatives were compounds 3a, 3c, 3f, 3i, and 5b with GI$_{50}$ values ranging from 0.90 µM to 1.70 µM against the four cancer cell lines in comparison to doxorubicin (GI$_{50}$ = 1.10 µM). Compounds 3a, 3c and 3i showed potent antiproliferative activity with dual inhibitory action against EGFR and BRAF$^{V600E}$. Compounds 3a, 3c, and 3i demonstrated promising AutoDock scores towards EGFR and BRAF$^{V600E}$ with values of − 9.1 and − 8.6, −9.0 and − 8.5, and − 8.4 and − 8.0 kcal/mol, respectively. The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic characteristics of 3a, 3c, and 3i were anticipated, demonstrating their oral bioavailability

Novel 1,3-Thiazole Analogues with Potent Activity against Breast Cancer: A Design, Synthesis, In Vitro, and In Silico Study

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, responsible for over half a million deaths in 2020. Almost 75% of FDA-approved drugs are mainly nitrogen- and sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds, implying the importance of such compounds in drug discovery. Among heterocycles, thiazole-based heterocyclic compounds have demonstrated a broad range of pharmacological activities. In the present study, a novel set of 1,3-thiazole derivatives was designed and synthesized based on the coupling of acetophenone derivatives, and phenacyl bromide was substituted as a key reaction step. The activity of synthesized compounds was screened against the proliferation of two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Almost all compounds exhibited a considerable antiproliferative activity toward the breast cancer cells as compared to staurosporine, with no significant cytotoxicity toward the epithelial cells. Among the synthesized compounds, compound 4 exhibited the most potent antiproliferative activity, with an IC50 of 5.73 and 12.15 µM toward MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively, compared to staurosporine (IC50 = 6.77 and 7.03 µM, respectively). Exploring the mechanistic insights responsible for the antiproliferative activity of compound 4 revealed that compound 4 possesses a significant inhibitory activity toward the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) with (IC50 = 0.093 µM) compared to Sorafenib (IC50 = 0.059 µM). Further, compound 4 showed the ability to induce programmed cell death by triggering apoptosis and necrosis in MCF-7 cells and to induce cell cycle arrest on MCF-7 cells at the G1 stage while decreasing the cellular population in the G2/M phase. Finally, detailed in silico molecular docking studies affirmed that this class of compounds possesses a considerable binding affinity toward VEGFR2 proteins. Overall, these results indicate that compound 4 could be a promising lead compound for developing potent anti-breast cancer compounds.Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, and Faculty of Science, Port Said University, EgyptPrincess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers SupportingTaif University Researcher

Improving influenza vaccination rate among primary healthcareworkers in Qatar

The purpose of this study was to improve influenza vaccination, and determine factors influencing vaccine declination among health care workers (HCW) in Qatar. We launched an influenza vaccination campaign to vaccinate around 4700 HCW in 22 Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) centers in Qatar between 1st and 15th of November, 2015. Our target was to vaccinate 60% of all HCW. Vaccine was offered free of charge at all centers, and information about the campaign and the importance of influenza vaccination was provided to employees through direct communication, emails, and social media networks. Staff were reported as vaccinated or non-vaccinated using a declination form that included their occupation, place of work and reasons for declining the vaccine. Survey responses were summarized as proportional outcomes. We exceeded our goal, and vaccinated 77% of the target population. Only 9% declined to take the vaccine, and the remaining 14% were either on leave or had already been vaccinated. Vaccine uptake was highest among aides (98.1%), followed by technicians (95.2%), and was lowest amongst pharmacists (73.2%), preceded by physicians (84%). Of those that declined the vaccine, 34% provided no reason, 18% declined it due to behavioral issues, and 21% declined it due to medical reasons. Uptake of influenza vaccine significantly increased during the 2015 immunization campaign. This is attributed to good planning, preparation, a high level of communication, and providing awareness and training to HCW with proper supervision and monitoring. 1 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Acknowledgments: We would like to thank all staff for participation in the 2015 influenza vaccination campaign at the PHCC. Members of the Health protection at MoPH and PHCC communicable disease control team are highly acknowledged for assistance with implementation. This Study was funded by the Ministry of Public Health.Scopu