QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF PATIENTS REFERRAL LETTERS

This study is a descriptive undertaking aiming at assessing the quality of referral letters submitted to departments of seven selected Medani Hospitals from different levels of health institutions.   Required data was collected by observation and by a check list with a scoring system. Indirectly relevant data was extracted from historical data sources. METHOD:  The total number of the collected referral letters was 412 of which 206 were randomly and systematically sampled out and studied. The letters were checked for items that should be included in a good referral letter. Results and interpretation were obtained manually and with the aid of SPSS. RESULTS: It was found that 171 (83%) letters were of poor quality. Factors that lead to this were: bad handwriting, writing on slips of paper 69 (33.5%), senders poor perception of the importance of mentioning the negative as well as positive findings, improper utilization of health units pharmacies and laboratory facilities and lastly referring of cases without trying to manage first at the site of origin. Recommendations suggested were: training of GPs and health auxiliaries on writing good referral letters as well as having continuous medical education to improve their knowledge and skills on managing cases before instantly referring them. Design a standardized "fill-in- space" form and provide facilities for typing

First principles investigation of ferroelectricity in epitaxially strained Pb2_2TiO4_4

The structure and polarization of the as-yet hypothetical Ruddlesden-Popper compound Pb$_2$TiO$_4$ are investigated within density-functional theory. Zone enter phonons of the high-symmetry K$_2$NiF$_4$-type reference structure, space group $I4/mmm$, were calculated. At the theoretical ground-state lattice constants, there is one unstable infrared-active phonon. This phonon freezes in to give the $I2mm$ ferroelectric state. As a function of epitaxial strain, two additional ferroelectric phases are found, with space groups $I4mm$ and $F2mm$ at compressive and tensile strains, respectively.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

ROLE OF BIO-FERTILIZERS IN IMPROVEMENT ROSEMARY PRODUCTIVITY UNDER WATER-DEFICIT CONDITION

This study was carried out during the two successive growing seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 at the Farm of Ali Mubarak, South Tahrir, El-Bahira Governorate, Horticulture Research Station. Egypt, aiming to study the impact of some bio-fertilizers (Mycorrhiza, Algae, and PGPR) combined with 3 levels of irrigation (800, 1200, and 1600m3/fed treatments and their interactions on vegetative growth, essential oil %, essential oil components, N, P, K%, and proline content of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) plant grown in a sandy soil. The obtained results could be summarized as follows; a significant increase in plant height, number of branches, and fresh and dry weights per plant were recorded with irrigation at 1200 m3/fed. On the other hand, the highest oil percentages and oil yield/ plant resulted under the effect of irrigation at 800 m3/fed biofertilizer treatments also, increased vegetative growth parameters i.e., plant height, number of branches, herb fresh and dry weights/ plant and oil percentage, and yield/ plant. Irrigation at the rate of 1200 m3/fed, and PGPR alone or their combination resulted in the highest values of the above-mentioned traits (plant growth, parameters). However, the combination between irrigation at 800 m3/fed and PGPR showed the highest values of oil percentage and oil yield/plant. The N, P and K% in dried herb recorded their higher values with medium irrigation, i.e., at the rate 1200 m3 in both cuts. Also, the results showed that there was a steady significant increase in proline content due to decreasing the irrigation rate. This investigation supports the application of naturally-occurring plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and microorganism to advance plant development and sustainable option for farmers under deficit water to maximize the yield of rosemary plan

A Retrospective Study of Acute Poisoning in Children under 5 Years Old Admitted to Alexandria Poison Center in Egypt

Abstract Childhood poisoning represents a major public health preventable problem worldwide. It has been identified that unintentional poisoning is the most common circumstances of poisoning in young children. Various drugs and chemical compounds have been implicated such as kerosene being the most common household agent. Aim: The current study aimed to retrospectively study acute poisoning in children less than 5 years old admitted to Alexandria Poison Center (APC) at Alexandria Main University hospital as regards; pattern of childhood poisoning (incidence and prevalence), risk factors related to poisoning accidents and the outcome. Subjects and Methods: All patients aged less than 5 years with acute poisoning admitted to Alexandria Poison Center at Alexandria Main University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, during the period of 8 months started from 1st January to 31st August 2012 were included in the study. Results: This retrospective study involved 620 intoxicated children which represented 20.7% of total poisoning cases admitted to APC at that period of time. The incidence of poisoning was found to be highest in children aged between 3 to 5 years old and constituted 49.1% and 39.6% of males and females respectively. The mode of poisoning was found to be accidental with no reported cases of neither homicidal nor suicidal poisonings. The most common agent of toxicity in children was found to be kerosene, followed by chlorine and cholinesterase inhibitor insecticide. The outcome of most of cases (84.5%) was recovery and discharge, with 10.5% being admitted to (Intensive Care Unit) ICU and 5% mortality rate. Conclusion: Risk factors for unintentional poisoning in children involve accessibility to hazardous chemicals and medicines caused by unsafe storage, aggressive child's behavior, unsafe storage of kerosene oil and petrol, low socioeconomic status as well as low educational level of the mother

Novel Green Synthesis and Characterization of Nanopolymer Porous Gold Oxide Nanoparticles

Purpose: To develop a novel approach to green synthesis of nano-polymer porous gold oxide nanoparticles, and examine the effects of the temperatures on their surface.Methods: Green synthesis of nano-polymer porous gold oxide nanoparticles (GONPs) using cetyle trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant with a mixture of Olea europaea fruit and Acacia Nilotica extracts, was performed using sol-gel method. The nanoporous particles were characterized by UV (ultraviolet (UV) visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) while a zetasizer was applied to determine their average particle size. Their surface morphology and shape were assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning election microscopy (SEM) while surface area was measured using nitrogen gas adsorption method.Results: TEM and SEM images showed a smooth, cylindrical or spherical, and cluster shapes, and porous surface morphology. Increase in calcination temperature resulted in increase in surface area and pore volume of nanoparticles. This feature yielded GONPs that were unique with a high surface area of 146.706 m2/g.Conclusion: The approach used in this study constitutes a new and rapid green synthesis of porous nanoparticles of gold oxide under simple conditions. Furthermore, increase in GONPs surface area is enhanced by increase in calcination temperature.Keywords: Gold oxide, Nanoporous, Green synthesis, Olea europaea, Acacia Nilotica, Surface area, Nanopolymer, Surface morpholog

What doesn't kill you makes you stranger: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (CD26) proteolysis differentially modulates the activity of many peptide hormones and cytokines generating novel cryptic bioactive ligands

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) is an exopeptidase found either on cell surfaces where it is highly regulated in terms of its expression and surface availability (CD26) or in a free/circulating soluble constitutively available and intrinsically active form. It is responsible for proteolytic cleavage of many peptide substrates. In this review we discuss the idea that DPP4-cleaved peptides are not necessarily inactivated, but rather can possess either a modified receptor selectivity, modified bioactivity, new antagonistic activity, or even a novel activity relative to the intact parent ligand. We examine in detail five different major DPP4 substrates: glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY), and neuropeptide Y (NPY), and stromal derived factor 1 (SDF-1 aka CXCL12). We note that discussion of the cleaved forms of these five peptides are underrepresented in the research literature, and are both poorly investigated and poorly understood, representing a serious research literature gap. We believe they are understudied and misinterpreted as inactive due to several factors. This includes lack of accurate and specific quantification methods, sample collection techniques that are inherently inaccurate and inappropriate, and a general perception that DPP4 cleavage inactivates its ligand substrates. Increasing evidence points towards many DPP4-cleaved ligands having their own bioactivity. For example, GLP-1 can work through a different receptor than GLP-1R, DPP4-cleaved GIP can function as a GIP receptor antagonist at high doses, and DPP4-cleaved PYY, NPY, and CXCL12 can have different receptor selectivity, or can bind novel, previously unrecognized receptors to their intact ligands, resulting in altered signaling and functionality. We believe that more rigorous research in this area could lead to a better understanding of DPP4’s role and the biological importance of the generation of novel cryptic ligands. This will also significantly impact our understanding of the clinical effects and side effects of DPP4-inhibitors as a class of anti-diabetic drugs that potentially have an expanding clinical relevance. This will be specifically relevant in targeting DPP4 substrate ligands involved in a variety of other major clinical acute and chronic injury/disease areas including inflammation, immunology, cardiology, stroke, musculoskeletal disease and injury, as well as cancer biology and tissue maintenance in aging

Fighting the Progress of COVID-19 by Enhancing Immunity: A Review of Traditional Sudanese Natural Products Containing Immune-Boosting Elements

The World Health Organization has classified the coronavirus disease outbreak as a worldwide pandemic as a result of the COVID-19 expansion. According to medical professionals, individuals with strong immunity often outlive infections more frequently than those with poor immunity. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the need for novel approaches to treating the illness and its symptoms. Natural products from plants are increasingly being seen favorably in comparison to synthetic ones in the fight against diseases. As a result, in order to avoid contracting any unanticipated illnesses, individuals must increase their immunity by eating more dietary supplements and by taking drugs that have immune-boosting properties. This review aimed to give a general overview of some traditional Sudanese foods and drinks that are rich in immune-boosting elements, and accordingly, they could be safely recommended as an adjuvant dietary supplement to improve the immune system\u27s ability to fight such infections as COVID-19. Also, this review aims to bring attention to the fact that immune boosters may be found in natural sources, which will help pharmaceutical companies by taking some of the load off of them. Electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, and the Web of Science, were searched for relevant material. The selected articles underwent independent eligibility and information extraction reviews. The review focused on certain traditional Sudanese herbs and their derivatives that are rich in immune-stimulating vitamins and minerals and therefore could possibly be recommended as immune-boosting dietary supplements to help fight COVID-19. This review highlights the fact that the pharmaceutical sector, especially community and hospital pharmacists, could play a vital role in supporting the healthcare system by encouraging their communities to add plants and their products that are rich in immune-boosting vitamins and minerals to their diet

Comportamiento de Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) en el Centro Chaqueño Argentino con pastoreo rotativo intensivo y cortes

El trabajo tuvo por objetivo evaluar el comportamiento de cultivares de alfalfa en el Chaco (Argentina), bajo pastoreo racional intensivo y cortes. Se evaluaron durante dos años cuatro cultivares comerciales de los grupos 5 (Magnum III), 8 (DK 184 y DK 187) y 9 (DK 192), con latencia intermedia o sin latencia. Se compararon con un testigo local (CUF 101), en una superficie de 7 has. Se realizaron dos cortes de limpieza, a los 20 y 40 días. Luego de un descanso de 80 días comenzó a ser pastoreado. Se complementó con campo natural (21 has). Se usaron novillos Brangus media sangre de 300 kg PV inicial. Los cortes para evaluar rendimiento de MS se realizaron sobre transectas fijas, cortando cuatro repeticiones de 1 m2 en forma manual. El diseño experimental fue bloques completos al azar, en arreglo factorial 2x5 para análisis de rendimiento anual total. La producción estacional se analizó en bloques al azar sin comparar entre años. Se utilizó el test de Tukey para probar diferencias entre medias. La producción total de forraje de los cultivares comerciales superó al testigo en el segundo año. La evolución del número de plantas indicó que a pesar de la disminución, todos los cultivares podrían usarse por 3 o 4 años, excepto el testigo. Los cortes de verano permitieron hacer en promedio 6 rollos/ha en el primer año y 4 en el segundo. La ganancia diaria de peso fue 925 g y 847 g durante el primer y segundo año respectivamente. La utilización de alfalfa para pastoreo y para reservas es una alternativa viable para empresas agrícolas ganaderas en áreas marginales