Shrinkage of natural plaster materials for straw bale buildings affected by reinforcement fibers and drying

This study was carried out to determine the shrinkage percentage of natural plaster materials consisted of soil, sand and different fibers.  Straw was used as a reinforcement fiber for plaster and three types of fibers.  The plaster materials were put under drying temperatures of 30℃, 50℃ and 70℃.  The results revealed that the highest shrinkage was for plaster reinforced by wood shavings fibers, while the lowest shrinkage was for plaster reinforced by barley straw fibers for treatments A, B and C.  Also, the plaster without reinforcement fibers had a lot of cracks and problems that destroyed plaster.  The reinforcement fiber had a greater effect on the drying shrinkage than sand.  The study indicates that drying the plaster at 30℃ with a lot of straw can decrease the shrinkage and cracks.Keywords: shrinkage percentage, drying temperature, earth plaster, sand, straw, straw bale buildings Citation: Ashour, T., and A. Derbala.  Shrinkage of natural plaster materials for straw bale buildings affected by reinforcement fibers and drying.  Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 2010, 12(1): 55-62

Demographics and Epidemiology of Hepatitis B in the State of Qatar: A Five-Year Surveillance-Based Incidence Study

Background: Expatriates represent >80% of Qatar’s population, mostly arriving from countries in Africa and Asia that are endemic with many diseases. This increases the risk for introducing new pathogens into the country and provides a platform for maintenance of endemic pathogen circulation. Here, we report on the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B in Qatar between 2010 and 2014. Methods: We performed a retrospective epidemiological data analysis using the data available at the surveillance system of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in Qatar. Data were collected from distinctive public and private incorporates around the nation. Reported cases of hepatitis B patients represent those who met the stringent case definition as per World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and eventually reported to MOPH. Results: The annual incidence rates of hepatitis B cases were 30.0, 34.2, 30.5, 39.4, and 19.8 per 100,000 population in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. There was no specific trend or seasonality for the reported cases. The incidence rates were higher in females compared to males between 2010 and 2012, but similar in 2013 and 2014. The highest incidence rates were reported among individuals between 25 and 34 years of age. No cases were reported in children younger than five years in 2013 and 2014. Rates of hepatitis B cases declined dramatically in 2014, in both Qataris and non-Qataris, as compared to the previous years. Conclusion: Our results indicate a dramatic decline of hepatitis B cases in Qatar but mandate improved surveillance and vaccination efforts in expatriates in the nation. View Full-TextMOP

Management of hepatitis C virus genotype 4: recommendations of an international expert panel.

HCV has been classified into no fewer than six major genotypes and a series of subtypes. Each HCV genotype is unique with respect to its nucleotide sequence, geographic distribution, and response to therapy. Genotypes 1, 2, and 3 are common throughout North America and Europe. HCV genotype 4 (HCV-4) is common in the Middle East and in Africa, where it is responsible for more than 80% of HCV infections. It has recently spread to several European countries. HCV-4 is considered a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation in these regions. Although HCV-4 is the cause of approximately 20% of the 170 million cases of chronic hepatitis C in the world, it has not been the subject of widespread research. Therefore, this document, drafted by a panel of international experts, aimed to review current knowledge on the epidemiology, natural history, clinical, histological features, and treatment of HCV-4 infections

Impact of Safety-Related Dose Reductions or Discontinuations on Sustained Virologic Response in HCV-Infected Patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. METHODS: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. RESULTS: SVR24 rates were 46.1% (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1, 2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced ≥1 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with ≥1 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not ≥5. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin.This study was sponsored by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland. Support for third-party writing assistance for this manuscript, furnished by Blair Jarvis MSc, ELS, of Health Interactions, was provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland

Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort

Background: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. Methods: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. Results: SVR24 rates were 46.1 % (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1,2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655. Conclusions: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginter-feron alfa-2a/ribavirin

The Evolution of the Major Hepatitis C Genotypes Correlates with Clinical Response to Interferon Therapy

Patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) require significantly different durations of therapy and achieve substantially different sustained virologic response rates to interferon-based therapies, depending on the HCV genotype with which they are infected. There currently exists no systematic framework that explains these genotype-specific response rates. Since humans are the only known natural hosts for HCV-a virus that is at least hundreds of years old-one possibility is that over the time frame of this relationship, HCV accumulated adaptive mutations that confer increasing resistance to the human immune system. Given that interferon therapy functions by triggering an immune response, we hypothesized that clinical response rates are a reflection of viral evolutionary adaptations to the immune system.We have performed the first phylogenetic analysis to include all available full-length HCV genomic sequences (n = 345). This resulted in a new cladogram of HCV. This tree establishes for the first time the relative evolutionary ages of the major HCV genotypes. The outcome data from prospective clinical trials that studied interferon and ribavirin therapy was then mapped onto this new tree. This mapping revealed a correlation between genotype-specific responses to therapy and respective genotype age. This correlation allows us to predict that genotypes 5 and 6, for which there currently are no published prospective trials, will likely have intermediate response rates, similar to genotype 3. Ancestral protein sequence reconstruction was also performed, which identified the HCV proteins E2 and NS5A as potential determinants of genotype-specific clinical outcome. Biochemical studies have independently identified these same two proteins as having genotype-specific abilities to inhibit the innate immune factor double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR).An evolutionary analysis of all available HCV genomes supports the hypothesis that immune selection was a significant driving force in the divergence of the major HCV genotypes and that viral factors that acquired the ability to inhibit the immune response may play a role in determining genotype-specific response rates to interferon therapy

ANTIPROLIFERATIVE AND ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS OF ERUCA SATIVA (JARJEER) LEAVES EXTRACT ON CARCINOMA OF WOMEN’S BREAST

Objective: This work aims to investigate the influence of Eruca sativa leaves extract on the cell viability of the breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7). Methods: In vitro, breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) treated by E. sativa leaves extract for 48 h. The cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed using colorimetric (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, flow cytometric technique, and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase [CAT]) measurement. Results: This study demonstrated that the incubation of MGF-7 cells with E. sativa for 48 h caused a significative reduction in cell viability and proliferation of MGF-7 cell line. In parallel, E. sativa treatment induces a significant increase in apoptosis of MGF-7 cells compared to control. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the inhibition of MGF-7 cell proliferation existed at the G2 and M phase in the cell-division cycle. Finally, the intracellular antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT activities were significantly increased in the administered cells compared with unadministered MCF-7 cells. Conclusions: Taken together, E. sativa treatment reduces cell viability and proliferation concomitant with enhanced antioxidant enzymes expression and apoptosis of breast cancer cell line MGF-7. This may help in protection from breast cancer or preclinical recommendation

Pegylated interferon-alpha 2b-ribavirin combination in Egyptian patients with genotype 4 chronic hepatitis

Egypt has a high prevalence rate of hepatitis C (HCV) infection and as much as 90% is genotype 4. Response to interferon (IFN) varies with viral genotype and degree of fibrosis. Genotype 4 is poorly sensitive to standard IFN and IFN-ribavirin combination. We evaluated pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-alpha 2b in our patients. Sixty-one patients with compensated chronic HCV genotype 4 were enrolled in two groups: group A (31 patients) received IFN-alpha 2b 3 MU three times per week and group B (30 patients) received 1.5 mu g/kg PEG-IFN-alpha 2b once weekly. Ribavirin was added to each regimen in a dose of 800-1200 mg based on body weight. Patients were followed up for 24 weeks to assess the sustained response (SR). End-of-treatment response (ETR) was achieved in 11 of 31 patients (35.48%) in group A, and 13 of 30 patients (43.33%) in group B (P < 0.05). Only eight patients in group A and 10 in group (B) achieved a sustained virological response (25.8 and 33.3%, respectively) (P < 0.05). By computing ETR, SR or relapse and pretreatment baseline data (pretreatment, viral load, alanine transaminases, necroinflammatory and hepatic fibrosis), both inter- and intragroup, no significant correlations could be detected. In terms of safety and tolerability, PEG-IFN-alpha 2b and IFN-alpha 2b were comparable. In spite of mild insignificant increase in ETR and SR with the pegylated form, the poor response of genotype 4 in Egypt (genotype 4a) to different forms of IFNs may be related to an intrinsic resistance to the direct antiviral effect of IFN

The dilemma of ischemic heart failure; how FDG-PET can guide therapy and improve outcomes? Case report

Patients with ischemic LV dysfunction are at increasing risk of adverse cardiac events including sudden cardiac death. Proper revascularization of viable ischemic myocardium (compared to medical treatment alone) is associated with improvement of LV systolic function, less cardiac morbidities & mortalities and better functional capacity and well-being. Many diagnostic tools are used in clinical practice for assessment of myocardial viability. Dobutamine stress Echocardiography (DSE) is the most widely used technique, while delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) and Flourine-18-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) are considered the standard of care for assessment of myocardial viability. Our case report illustrates how FDG PET myocardial viability assessment can guide therapy and improve outcomes in a difficult clinical and angiographic situation

Effect of Cryopreservation on Arabian Stallion Semen After Adding INRA96 and DMF Based Extenders

Cryopreservation is very important technique in AI centers of stallions, it preserves sperms for long period and spread the superior genetic merits between different animal’s breeds. However, using of cryopreserved sperms lead to decreasing the fertility between animals, due to lethal damage of sperms during preservation process; so, this study aimed to use the two different freezing media with decreasing post thawing sperm damage. A total of 54 ejaculates were collected from nine pure fertile Egyptian Stallions (6 ejaculates per stallion), individually housed at a Veterinary Clinic in Giza Government. Semen sample was collected by Missouri AV on a regular basis (two collections ⁄ week) during the 2021 breeding season in presence of teaser mare. The collected ejaculates were sent to the laboratory immediately for evaluation by CASA (total concentration, progressive motility, static motility, and sperm abnormalities). Ejaculates were filtrated for removal gel fraction; filtrated ejaculates were diluted by EDTA-glucose media for centrifugation and the resulting sperm pellets were split into 2 equal aliquots and then extended in freezing media. INRA96 Milk-based Extender with glycerol and Egg yolk- based Extender with DMF (dimethylformamide) were used in this study as freezing extenders. Diluted semen was packaged into 0.5 ml straw then cooling at 4 ◦C and freezing by vapor of liquid nitrogen and after that preserved by freezing in liquid nitrogen container at -196⁰ C. After keeping the frozen straws in liquid nitrogen for one week, at least 2 straws were taken for thawing and evaluating post thawing-freezing motility. Finally thawed-frozen semen was inseminated inside fertile mares for calculation the conception rate after one month. Post thawing motility were evaluated in extended semen by two different extenders. The obtained results showed a change in the motility by decreasing in INRA-diluted semen compared to DMF-diluted semen. Conception rate was recorded after insemination and showed a high significant in DMF-diluted semen than INRA diluted semen. We concluded that the frozen semen with DMF based diluent did not decrease the motility of sperms after thawing and achieved high conception rate when compared with INRA based glycerol diluent.