Evaluation of Mortality Rates for Children under the Age Group (1-3) Years in Babil Governorate for (2010-2017) by Using Linear Regression Model

تشكل ظاهرة وفيات الاطفال احد اهم الظواهر المجتمعية التي تحظى بدراسات و عمليات بحث وتقييم من قبل عدد كبير من الاحصائيين والباحثين الأكاديميين فضلا عن المنظمات الصحية العالمية التي تعني بالطفولة على وجه الخصوص و بصحة المجتمع على وجه العموم [1]. هذه الظاهرة شهدت تغييرات في معدلاتها عبر العقود الماضية نظرا لعدة ظروف مرتبطة بها مثل غياب التوعية الصحية و برامج الرعاية الصحية و الصحة الاسرية وغيرها . وان نقص التغذية  و الحروب و الهجرة و عوامل الخصوبة و الاوبئة و غيرها كلها عوامل و تأثيرات من شأنها ان تساهم بنمو ظاهرة الوفيات للأطفال لا سيما الفئات العمرية التي هي ما دون الخمس سنوات [9][10]. لقد شهدت السنوات الاخيرة و على الصعيد العالمي  تقدم كبير في خفض معدلات الوفيات للأطفال للفئة دون الخامسة حيث انخفض الى 5.6 (5.4, 6.0) مليون في العام 2016  بعد ان كان 12.6 (12.4, 12.8) في العام 1990 .اي انه وصل الى 15000  وفاة في اليوم لعام 2016 مقارنة مع 35000 وفاة في اليوم عام 1990 .اي ما يقارب (39-44) وفاة لكل 1000مولود حي في العام 2016 بعد ان كان بحدود (92-95) لكل 1000 مولود حي في العام 1990 .  وشهد معدل وفيات المواليد الجدد انخفاضا بنسبة %49 لعام 2016 مقارنة بالعام  1990. ان نصف مجموع وفيات الاطفال في العالم تمثلها جمهوريات : الهند و باكستان و نيجيريا و جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية و اثيوبيا [14]. اما في العراق فالحال لا يختلف كثيرا عن تلك الدول التي تشهد معدلات الوفيات فيها ارتفاعا ملحوظا  نظرا للظروف الصحية و البيئية و الحصار الاقتصادي الذي امتد من 1990-2003 و ما خلفه من نقص الاغذية و المستلزمات الطبية الاساسية والحروب التي خلفت الكثير من الاوبئة و الامراض و كذلك انعدام الاستقرار السياسي و الامني الذي امتد منذ الغزو الامريكي للعراق عام 2003 و لحد الان كل تلك العوامل كان لها تأثير واضح في نمو ظاهرة وفيات الاطفال لذا كان لابد من وضع دراسة عميقة لتحليل هذه الظاهرة على اسس علمية و إحصائية تمكن السلطات الصحية  و المنظمات المعنية بحماية الطفولة من اعتماد منهجية و خطط للحد من تلك الظاهرة  حفاظا على مستقبل اجيالنا و للنهوض بواقع صحي لبناء مجتمع سليم [11]. سيتم في هذا البحث استخدام نماذج الانحدار الخطي (البسيط والتربيعي والتكعيبي) في تحليل بيانات الوفيات و اجراء مقارنة بين معدلات الوفيات للفئات العمرية قيد الدراسة عبر مؤشرات الارتفاع و القوة التفسيرية و مدى مقبولية كل نموذج في تفسير ظاهرة الوفيات.        The phenomenon of child mortality is one of the most important societal phenomena that have been studied, evaluated and evaluated by a large number of statisticians and academic researchers, as well as by international health organizations that concern children in particular and the health of society in general[1]. This phenomenon has witnessed changes in rates over the past decades due to several related conditions such as lack of health awareness, health care programs, family health and others. Undernourishment, wars, migration, fertility, epidemics, etc. are all factors that can contribute to the growth of child mortality, especially those under five years of age [9] [10]. In recent years, globally, there has been significant progress in reducing child mortality rates for the under-5 population, falling to 5.6 (6.0, 6.0) million in 2016 from 12.6 (12.4, 12.8) in 1990. It has reached 15,000 deaths On the day of 2016, compared with 35,000 deaths per day in 1990. Approximately 39-44 deaths per 1000 live births in 2016, up from 92-95 per 1,000 live births in 1990. The neonatal mortality rate was 49% lower in 2016 than in 1990. Half of all child deaths in the world are represented by the Republics: India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia. In Iraq, however, the situation is not very different from those countries where mortality rates have increased significantly due to the health and environmental conditions and the economic embargo that lasted from 1990 to 2003 and the consequent lack of food and basic medical supplies and wars that left many epidemics and diseases and As well as the political and security instability since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 till the recent time. All these factors have had a clear effect on the growth of children mortality. Therefore, there was necessary to study deeply to analyze this phenomenon on scientific and statistical basis, enabling the health authorities and organizations concerned with children Protection to adopt a methodology and plans to reduce this phenomenon in order to preserve the future of our generations and to promote a healthy reality to build a healthy society[11]. In this study, linear regression models (simple, quadratic and cubic) will be used to analyze mortality data and to compare the mortality rates of the age groups under study with height and explanatory power indicates and the acceptability of each model in the interpretation of mortality

Reduced L-Selectin Expression with Increased Anti-Apoptotic Protein in the Lymphocytes of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the synovium with uncertain pathogenesis. A number of phenotypic and functional T-cell defects have been described in rheumatoid arthritis. Objective: To evaluate the cellular expression L-selectin (CD62-L) protein in the peripheral blood lymphocytes, L-selectin cellular expressions with the disease activity. And correlate it with the expression of Bcl-2 and P53 oncoproteins. Patients and Methods: This study involved forty-six rheumatoid arthritis patients 42 female and 4 male, ages ranged from 30-60 years collected from AL-Kadhemia teaching hospital were examined and compared with 17 healthy control individuals of similar ages. Lymphocytes were separated from peripheral blood samples, the assessment of their cellular expression of cluster of differentiation 3, L-selectin, P53 and Bcl-2 by immunocytochemistry staining method. Results: The results showed abundant accumulation of CD3 T lymphocytes in the peripheral circulation of rheumatoid arthritis patients in comparison with controls; that associated with decreased L-selectin expression in rheumatoid arthritis group. And a highly significant increase in the expression of Bcl-2 in the lymphocytes of rheumatoid arthritis patients as compared with the control group (p<0.001), however there was no significant difference in the expression of P53 between rheumatoid arthritis patients and controls (P= 0.278). The expression of L-selectin is negatively correlated with that of Bcl-2 (r= 0.401), while there was no significant correlation with P53 expression (r=0.144). Conclusion: This study showed an increase in the peripheral blood T lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis that could be resulted from loss of homing receptor, and increase in anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2)

Emergence of pandrug-resistant carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in dogs and cats: a cross-sectional study in Egypt

One of the most important emerging health problems is the increasing role of animals in the rapid global rise in resistance to last-resort antibiotics, such as carbapenems. However, there is limited information on the role of pet animals in harboring and spreading pandrug-resistant (PDR) carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), especially in Egypt. This cross-sectional study was conducted to screen for CPE in healthy and diseased pets using phenotypic and molecular methods and the NG-Test CARBA 5 immunochromatographic assay. Rectal swabs were collected from 62 dogs and 48 cats, incubated overnight in tryptic soy broth containing 10 μg of meropenem disc and subsequently cultured on MacConkey agar supplemented with meropenem (1 mg/L). Sixty-six isolates (60.6%), including 56 Klebsiella pneumoniae, seven Escherichia coli, and three K. oxytoca isolates, were confirmed to be carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) by the disc diffusion method, broth microdilution test, CNPt-direct, and PCR assay targeting carbapenemase genes. Forty-three (65.2%) dogs and 23 (34.8%) cats carried CPE. Of these, 35 (70.0%) were healthy (including 27 dogs and 8 cats) and 31 (52.5%) were diseased (including 16 dogs and 15 cats). blaOXA-181 was the most common gene detected (42/66, 63.6%), followed by blaIMP (40/66, 60.6%), blaOXA−48−like (29/66, 43.9%), blaKPC and blaVIM (20/66, 30.3% each), and blaNDM (17/66, 25.8%). The identified genotypes were blaKPC-2, blaIMP-1, blaVIM-1, blaNDM-1, and blaNDM-5. The CARBA 5 assay showed higher sensitivity and specificity for the detection of NDM, OXA and KPC than that for VIM and IMP genes. Antimicrobial resistance profiles of CRE isolates revealed 20 PDR, 30 extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and 16 multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes. This study provides evidence of colonization with PDR CPE in dogs and cats. To manage the infection or colonization of pets in veterinary clinical settings, extended surveillance systems should be considered, and the use of critical antibiotics should be strictly controlled

My Principle is to Unveil the Mind

The Cairo Review speaks to Nawal El Saadawi about her writing and the status of women in Egypt and the Arab World

The Plasminogen&ndash;Activator Plasmin System in Physiological and Pathophysiological Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a process associated with the migration and proliferation of endothelial cells (EC) to form new blood vessels. It is involved in various physiological and pathophysiological conditions and is controlled by a wide range of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic molecules. The plasminogen activator&ndash;plasmin system plays a major role in the extracellular matrix remodeling process necessary for angiogenesis. Urokinase/tissue-type plasminogen activators (uPA/tPA) convert plasminogen into the active enzyme plasmin, which in turn activates matrix metalloproteinases and degrades the extracellular matrix releasing growth factors and proangiogenic molecules such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A). The plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is the main inhibitor of uPA and tPA, thereby an inhibitor of pericellular proteolysis and intravascular fibrinolysis, respectively. Paradoxically, PAI-1, which is expressed by EC during angiogenesis, is elevated in several cancers and is found to promote angiogenesis by regulating plasmin-mediated proteolysis and by promoting cellular migration through vitronectin. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) also induces EC cellular migration during angiogenesis via interacting with signaling partners. Understanding the molecular functions of the plasminogen activator plasmin system and targeting angiogenesis via blocking serine proteases or their interactions with other molecules is one of the major therapeutic strategies scientists have been attracted to in controlling tumor growth and other pathological conditions characterized by neovascularization

Study of pharmacotherapy role in smoking cessation giving an insight into the frequency of smoking among Zagazig University Hospitals’ staff in 2013

Background: “Smoking is the main avoidable cause of death around the world”. It’s prevalence is about one billion smokers in the global adult population. “The most cost effective and well-documented methods for smoking cessation are professional advice combined with the nicotine replacement therapy”. So the main aim of hospital staff must be to give advices about smoking cessation and the ways to it. The aim of this work was to study the pharmacotherapy role in smoking cessation giving an insight into the frequency of smoking among Zagazig University Hospitals’ staff in 2013. Subjects and methods: This epidemiological, observational and prospective study was carried out at Zagazig University Hospitals from the period January 2013 to December 2013. Subjects: 150 of those current smokers agreed to answer the study questionnaire and share in this study. The included subjects were 144 males and 6 females with a mean age of 39.48 ± 11.95 years. Methods: The studied subjects were subjected to the following: (1) personal history including: smoking history and family history, (2) routine investigations and (3) plain X-ray. The studied subjects (150) were divided into 2 groups according to their agreement for taking pharmacotherapy: group I: included 111 subjects treated by behavioral therapy alone for 3 months. Group II: included 39 subjects treated by behavioral therapy plus pharmacotherapy (Bupropion SR tablet) for 3 months. Results: A statistically highly significant percentage of subjects who did previous trial of quitting was found in group II than that in group I. Also, there was a statistically highly significant percentage of subjects who are less nicotine dependent in group II than that in group I, but the reverse was present in highly nicotine dependent subjects according to Fagerstrom score. The final outcome of quitting trial with a successful cessation rate was 48%, while the failed cessation rate was 52% and there was a statistically significant higher successful rate in group II (69.3%) than that in group I (40.5%). As regards occupation, the physicians had statistically highly significant higher levels of successful rate than para-medicals who had high levels of failed cessation rate. A statistically highly significant increase in the percentage of other smoker family member was found in failed cessation group than that in successful cessation one. Regarding Fagerstrom score, there were statistically significant increases in percentage of subjects who were less nicotine dependent in successful cessation group than that in failed cessation one and also in percentage of subjects who were highly nicotine dependent in failed cessation group than that in successful one. Conclusion: (1) Programs promoting smoking cessation including behavioral therapy in addition to the complementary role of pharmacotherapy (Bubropion SR) enhanced the chance of success in smoking cessation. (2) This pilot study (regarding the number of the studied individuals) pointed to the smoking dilemma in a locality where smoking behavior should be brought to a minimum especially among physicians

Consumer protection from false and misleading advertising

غدت الاعلانات التجارية المتحدث الرسمي عن نشاط الشركات والافراد ووسيلة مناسبة للمستهلكين يحصلون من خلالها على معلومات وبيانات السلع والخدمات ومن اهم وسائل تسويق المنتجات، ولكن يلاحظ ان المستهلك أصبح فريسة سهلة لمروجي الاعلانات الكاذبة والمضللة، وهذا ما يشكل خطرا على امن وسلامة المستهلك من جهة وتختلط الحقيقة بالمبالغة والكذب وتتأثر تبعا لذلك اختيارات المستهلك فيصبح رضائه في الاقبال على التعاقد معيبا وغير سلم من جهة اخرى. لذلك كانت الحاجة من التحقق من مدى كفاية قانون حماية المستهلك الفلسطيني لتحقيق حماية فاعلة للمستهلك من الاعلانات التجارية الكاذبة والمضللة لما تنتجه من الاضرار، لا سيما وأن التشريعات في الدول المتقدمة قد قامت بتخصيص الاعلان التجاري بتنظيمات مستقلة في ضوء تعاظم الحاجة إلى حماية المستهلك من اضراره متى تجاوز اهدافه، واعطت للقضاء السلطة التقديرية في مسألة تقدير ما إذا كان الاعلان كاذب أو مضلل من عدمه مع الاستعانة بالخبراء، وبمعيار موضوعي وذلك بالنظر إلى موضوع الرسالة الاعلانية دون الاهتمام بشخصية المتلقي للإعلان وظروفه الشخصية. لذلك اتبعت في هذه الدراسة المنهج التحليلي والمقارن من خلال التطرق للتشريع الفلسطيني الخاص بحماية المستهلك بالإضافة إلى القواعد القانونية التي تخص حماية المستهلك في مجلة الاحكام العدلية وقانون المواصفات والمقاييس الفلسطيني بالإضافة للقوانين والقرارات واللوائح ذات العلاقة في التشريع الفلسطيني ومقارنتها مع التشريعات محل المقارنة، وذلك لقياس مدى الحماية القانونية للمستهلك من الاعلان التجاري والرقابة عليه، وتجريم أي اعلان تجاري كاذب أو مضلل للمستهلك وحماية من وقع تحت تأثير الخداع الإعلاني وغير ذلك.The commercial advertisements have become the official representatives of companies and individuals, serving as an appropriate means for consumers to obtain information and data about goods and services. They are a crucial marketing tool, but it is noticeable that consumers have become easy targets for promoters of false and misleading advertisements, posing a risk to consumer safety and satisfaction. As a result, their choices become flawed and unsatisfactory. Therefore, there is a need to assess the adequacy of the Palestinian Consumer Protection Law to effectively safeguard consumers from false and misleading commercial advertisements and the damages they can cause. Advanced countries have established separate regulations for commercial advertisements due to the growing necessity to protect consumers from their harmful effects. They have granted the judiciary discretionary powers to determine whether an advertisement is false or misleading, seeking the assistance of experts and adopting objective criteria, without considering the personal circumstances of the ad recipient. To address this issue, this study follows an analytical and comparative methodology, delving into Palestinian legislation concerning consumer protection, as well as the legal principles relating to consumer safeguarding found in the Journal of Judicial Decisions and the Palestinian Standards and Metrology Law. Additionally, it compares these laws, regulations, and decisions with those of the countries under examination. The aim is to evaluate the extent of legal protection provided to consumers regarding commercial advertisements and their oversight. The study also advocates for the criminalization of any false or misleading commercial advertisement that deceives consumers, thereby protecting them from falling victim to deceptive advertising and related consequences

The 14-Kilodalton Human Growth Hormone Fragment a Potent Inhibitor of Angiogenesis and Tumor Metastasis.

peer reviewedThe 14-kilodalton human growth hormone (14 kDa hGH) N-terminal fragment derived from the proteolytic cleavage of its full-length counterpart has been shown to sustain antiangiogenic potentials. This study investigated the antitumoral and antimetastatic effects of 14 kDa hGH on B16-F10 murine melanoma cells. B16-F10 murine melanoma cells transfected with 14 kDa hGH expression vectors showed a significant reduction in cellular proliferation and migration associated with an increase in cell apoptosis in vitro. In vivo, 14 kDa hGH mitigated tumor growth and metastasis of B16-F10 cells and was associated with a significant reduction in tumor angiogenesis. Similarly, 14 kDa hGH expression reduced human brain microvascular endothelial (HBME) cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation abilities and triggered apoptosis in vitro. The antiangiogenic effects of 14 kDa hGH on HBME cells were abolished when we stably downregulated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in vitro. In this study, we showed the potential anticancer role of 14 kDa hGH, its ability to inhibit primary tumor growth and metastasis establishment, and the possible involvement of PAI-1 in promoting its antiangiogenic effects. Therefore, these results suggest that the 14 kDa hGH fragment can be used as a therapeutic molecule to inhibit angiogenesis and cancer progression