Assessment of left ventricular function by global longitudinal strain in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction: Comparative study with conventional method

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a strong prognostic parameter in patients with heart disease. The assessment of global longitudinal strain (GLS) from speckle-tracking analysis of 2-dimensional echocardiography has become a clinically feasible alternative to LVEF for the measurement of myocardial function.Objective: The aim of the current work was to compare between GLS speckle tracking echocardiography and Simpson’s biplane methods for assessment of left ventricular function in non-STEMI patients.Patients and methods: This study was carried out in Cardiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University on 44 non‐ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients scheduled for assessment of Left ventricular function by GLS and biplane Simpson method.Result: Mean systolic blood pressure was 122.05±18.37 mmHg. No statistically significant difference in systolic blood pressure was found across GLS groups (P= 0.17). Mean diastolic blood pressure was 73.41±12.00 mmHg. No statistically significant difference in diastolic blood pressure was found across GLS groups (P= 0.35). Mean heart rate was 68.84±7.13 bpm, and a statistically significant difference was found in heart rate across GLS groups (P= 0.039).Conclusion: It could be concluded that GLS speckle tracking echocardiography and Simpson’s biplane methods can be used as alternative different parameters for assessment of left ventricular function in non-STEMI patients

Treatment of Multiple Common Warts by Intralesional Immunotherapy: Review Article

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent cause of warts on the skin and mucous membranes of the human body. With the aid of a variety of destructive and immunotherapeutic methods, wart therapy remains a major difficulty. Antigen immunotherapy by intralesional technique uses the immune system's ability to recognize viral, bacterial, and fungal antigens that elicit a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, not only to the antigen but also to the wart virus, which in turn boosts the immune system's ability to recognize and remove HPV. All lesions on the body, not just the injected one, could be destroyed by this boosted immune response. Different antigens, including Candida and pure protein derivative (PPD), have been shown to be useful in the treatment of various wart forms. Objective: Intralesional immunotherapy for numerous common warts is to be evaluated for its effectiveness. Conclusion: There has been substantial research into the use of intralesional vaccinations and organic antigens to treat warts, with good results of effectiveness

Health Related Quality of Life in Egyptian Children and Adolescents with Epilepsy

Background: Childhood epilepsy is one of the most significant and prevalent neurological condition in the developing years. The aim of the study was to explore the current status of health related quality of life (HR-QOL) in Egyptian children and adolescents with epilepsy using (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Patients and Methods: This case control study was carried out in Pediatric Neurology Unit and Outpatient Clinic in Department of Pediatrics  at Zagazig University Children's Hospital on 110 children, divided into 2 groups, case group included 55 children with epilepsy and control group included 55 apparently healthy children without epilepsy of matched age, sex and social class. All the children were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and assessment of QOL. Results: There was a significant decrease in all domains and total score of WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire in the case group. There was a significant  –ve correlation between age and psychological domain score, also between number of school failure  and both psychological and environmental  domain. Disease duration and treatment duration were negatively significantly correlated with all QOL domains. A significant +ve correlation was  found between social class score and  both general and environmental domain. There was a significant decrease in general and environmental  domain score  between cases with generalized and partial seizers compared to cases with absent seizers. Conclusion: Diminished  QOL is common in children with epilepsy than other children. Patients with epilepsy had lower mean scores of all domains of QOL, especially those with frequent fits, those with long duration, and in patients with generalized fits

Serum levels of lead and copper in a group of Egyptian children with bronchial asthma

Background: Copper and lead are trace elements required for the activity of antioxidant enzymes and changes in their levels may lead to reduction in antioxidant activities in asthma.Objective: Our study aims to investigate the serum levels of copper and lead in asthmatic children in correlation to disease severity to anticipate their role as oxidant defenders in this disease.Methods: We enrolled 45 children who were divided into two groups: group 1 included 30 asthmatic children during disease quiescence and group 2 included 15 clinically healthy children matched for age and sex as a control group. Patients were subjected to: history taking, clinical examination, spirometry before and after bronchodilator therapy, complete blood counting, and measurement of serum levels of total IgE, copper and lead (in patients and controls).Results: Patients’ group had significantly higher serum levels of lead (mean 8.2±3.1 μg/dl) and copper (122±31.5 μg/dl) in comparison to controls (mean 5.7±2.3 μg/dl and103.3±21.1 μg/dl respectively). Serum lead and copper levels were higher among patients with moderate persistent asthma than those with mild asthma. Serum total IgE levels correlated positively with serum lead levels among the asthmatic children. However, serum lead and copper levels did not correlate with any of the measured pulmonary function parameters tested.Conclusion: Increased serum level of lead and copper were high in a group of children with bronchial asthma in children and this was more evident in moderate than mild cases.Keywords: children; trace elements; lead; copper; spirometry; bronchial asthma; antioxidants; severit

Self-healing mortar using different types, content, and concentrations of bacteria to repair cracks.

The creation of cracks, which are the most common cause of structural failure, has a significant impact on the structure's strength and durability. As a result, effective repair and maintenance are vital and unavoidable for treating any of these issues. Self-healing mortar holds promising benefits for reducing the cost of repair as cracks are autonomously repaired without any human intervention. This study investigated the effect of bacteria type, bacteria content, bacteria concentration, and nutrient type on the properties of the self-healing mortar. Three types of bacteria, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus Megaterium, and Bacillus subtilis encapsulated in calcium alginate beads, were introduced into the mortar. Two concentrations of bacteria, 2× 108 and   2× 109 Colony Forming Units per milliliter, and different percentages of bacteria of cement weight were selected for the study. In addition, calcium lactate and calcium acetate were used at 0.5% of cement weight as nutrition for bacteria. Tests were performed for compressive strength, bending strength, SEM, EDX, and TGA/DTG. The results show a significant development in the mechanical behaviour of mortar, especially with Bacillus Megaterium using a 2.5% bacterial proportion with a concentration 2× 109 CFU/ml. This can be related to the filling of voids and cracks in microbial mortar by calcite, which was confirmed by SEM and EDX

Serum and Circulatory Omentin mRNA Gene Expression as Predictive Markers of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity and Lupus Nephritis

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) affects 50% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). LN often leads to renal failure. Thus, early diagnosis of LN is mandatory for the prevention of complications. Objective: We aimed to evaluate serum and relative omentin mRNA gene expression levels as a noninvasive diagnostic test of LN and to assess their correlations with disease activity, clinical and laboratory features of SLE.Patients and Methods: Case-control study included 104 subjects, 60 patients with SLE were stratified into two subgroups LN group (n=25) and the non-LN group (n=35). Disease activity was assessed by the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Measurement of serum omentin was done by ELISA and investigation of omentin mRNA relative expression was done by real-time PCR.Results: Our results detected that serum omentin levels were significantly lower in the LN group and non-LN group compared to controls. Intriguingly, omentin mRNA relative expression levels were significantly lower in the LN group and non-LN group compared to controls. Among the LN group, there were significant negative correlations between serum and relative omentin mRNA expression with SLEDAI, clinical, and laboratory features of LN. Moreover, SLEDAI, proteinuria, and serum creatinine were independently correlated with them. The sensitivities and the specificities of serum omentin were 91% and 65.5% respectively. While the relative omentin mRNA expression diagnostic power showed sensitivities and specificities of 93% and 68.8% respectively.Conclusion: LN group had significantly lower values of serum and relative omentin mRNA expression compared to non-LN and control groups. Additionally, it was negatively correlated with SLEDAI, clinical and laboratory features of LN. Thus, they could be used as non-invasive predictive markers of LN

Last Guidelines Overview of Consecutive Esotropia Management: Review Article

Background: Consecutive esotropia (ET) is persistent esodeviation for 24 weeks afterward bilateral lateral rectus recession (BLRR) for correcting exotropia (XT) with or without diplopia. Some patients may have limited eye movement; amblyopia and loss of binocularity can result. Early postoperative overcorrection has been recommended in surgical treatment of intermittent XT due to tendency towards postoperative exotropic drift. ET with small angles (within 15 PD) vanishes naturally over time, whereas bigger angles are more likely to be present at the start. Patients who have ET that has persisted for at least 24 weeks after BLRR and has been present for more than 15 postoperative days should have surgery. Objective: Hallmark the updated lines of management of consecutive esotropia. Conclusion: For the purpose of maintaining one MR muscle for a future intervention, several research have shown that ET can be performed consecutively after BLR recession by advancement of LR muscle previously recessed and MR muscle recession in the more deviating eye. Studies in recent years have sought to determine the effectiveness of the use of lateral rectus advancement in the treatment of consecutive ET