THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT POWERS OF LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY ON WOUND HEALING OF DIABETIC RATS- A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Tissue healing is a complex process involving local and systemic responses. Inadequate of inappropriate wound healing is a headache to many surgeons especially in compromised patients. Several technologies have been tested for their effect on improving and enhancing wound healing. The use of low-level laser therapy for example has been shown to be effective in modulating both local and systemic response healing responses. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effect of different powers of low-level laser therapy on wound healing in diabetic rats. Methodology: Streptozotocin (45 mg/kg body weight) was intraperitoneally applied for diabetes induction. A full-thickness skin wound (2 × 2 cm2) was aseptically created with a scalpel in diabetic rats on the shaved back of the animals. The wounded diabetic rats were treated with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for 14 days. The wound closure percent was calculated during the course of the experiment on days 1, 7, and 14. Results: Clinical observation of skin lesion samples of the animals showed that skin lesions of the group (A) (control) exhibited an early-phase tissue repair pattern, with the formation of a whitish crust, with slightly elevated rims and a reddish core, group (B) and (C) wounds, which were showed complete tissue repair, showing scars with evident rims and a central portion slightly unleveled, These results suggest that LLLT is an efficacious method of tissue repair modulation, significantly contributing to more rapid and organized healing of tissues

Right mini-thoracotomy versus median sternotomy for mitral valve replacement

Background: The advantages of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery over the conventional approach is still debated. This study aimed to evaluate early outcomes after mitral valve replacement (MVR) using the right mini-thoracotomy (RMT) versus median sternotomy (MS). Methods: We prospectively included 60 patients who had MVR from May 2015 to June 2017. We classified patients into two groups; Group A (n= 30) had RMT, and Group B (n= 30) had MS. Postoperative pain score, wound satisfaction, and clinical and echocardiographic outcomes were compared between both groups. Results: The mean age was 39.90 ± 12.34 years in Group A and 45.75 ± 13.10 years in Group B (p= 0.08). Preoperative and echocardiographic data showed no statistical significance difference between the groups. Group A had longer aortic cross-clamp (118.85 ± 40.56 vs. 70.75 ± 24.81 minutes, p<0.001) and cardiopulmonary bypass times (186.70 ± 67.44 vs. 104.65 ± 42.60 minutes, p<0.001).  Group B had more blood loss (565 ± 344.3 vs. 241.5 ±89.16 ml/24 hours, p<0.001). The median pain score was 1 (range: 1- 3) in Group A and 4 (2- 8) in Group B (p<0.001), and the median wound satisfaction was 1.5 (1- 4) in Group A and 4 (1- 7) in Group B (p<0.001).  Wound infection occurred in 1 (3.3%) patient in Group A and 6 (20%) patients in Group B (p=0.04). Conclusion: Mitral valve replacement through the right mini-thoracotomy could be a safe alternative to median sternotomy. The right mini-thoracotomy was associated with longer operative times but better pain and wound satisfaction scores and lower wound infection

Developing monitoring system for long-distance pipeline leakage incorporating fusion of conflicting evidences

When transporting petroleum products, the use of long-distance pipelines have become commonplace, due to their inherent efficiency and economy. However, such pipe systems often leak due to corrosion, natural destruction, and, natural aging and weathering, causing harm to the environment, fire etc. The ability to detect leakage with certainty and quickly is therefore very important. In this work, leakage is detected using a combination of a hydraulic method and Dezert-Smarandache theory

Utility of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in assessment of liver fibrosis

Objectives: hepatic fibrosis occurs due to chronic liver injury. Early fibrosis can be reversed by treatment with specific antifibrotic therapy in addition to removal of the cause if possible, that is why, identification of the early liver fibrosis is important. MRI DWI is a non-invasive non-contrast imaging technique which help in diagnosis of different stages of hepatic fibrosis.Aim of the work: was to study the predictive value of diffusion weighted MRI for assessing liver fibrosis in comparison to liver biopsy in chronic hepatitis C virus patients.Methods: all the studied cases were subjected to the followings: (1) History and laboratory examination (PCR for HCV and liver function tests). (2) MRI DWI and post processing ADC map. (3) Percutaneous liver biopsy in cases with HCV for histopathological examination to assess the stage of fibrosis.Results: this study was carried out on 75 subjects, divided into two group, 50 cases and 25 controls, the mean age in the two studied groups was 36.5 ± 9.32 and 35.8 ± 6.75 respectively in patients and control. ADC of both liver and spleen showed a highly significant increase in the control than in the cases with mean liver ADC in the control group = 2.3 ± 0.25. There was a significant negative correlation between the mean ADC of the liver, spleen and the stage of liver fibrosis

Hydrographical conditions and benthic assemblages in the Suez Gulf, Egypt

The coastal development and human activities along the Suez Gulf leading to sedimentation, degrade the quality of water, disturbing the natural structure and functions of aquatic communities. The Suez Gulf is a large semi-closed area with a 346 km long coastline on the western beach side. The prevailing physicochemical parameters in shallow intertidal waters were measured seasonally over the year. Benthic faunas in the sampling sites were studied indicating their regional distribution in relation to the impact of different environmental parameters in the intertidal region. The concentration of copper in seawater reached high level at St. IV (4.57 ug/1), which is exposed to sewage and petroleum hydrocarbons. The grain size of the sediment is a determining factor for the organic carbon concentration and the sandy substrate enhances organic matter degradation processes. A large number of oil fields are present along the western coast of the Suez Gulf, therefore, cadmium and organic matter appeared to be high. The values of pH did not vary greatly among the different sampling sites. It was high at EI-Ein, El-Sukhna and Ras-Shukeir due to the disposal of mainly acidic sewage and industrial effluents of the two stations Adabiya and Ras-Gharib respectively. The macrobenthos included 71 species embraced mainly from Mollusca (53.5% Gastropoda and 12.7% Bivalvia) and the other invertebrates included 7 groups namely, Rhizostoma, Polychaeta, Cirripedia, Amphipoda, Isopoda, Decapoda and Echinodermata. The distribution of benthos is affected by the temperature and salinity of seawater. The concentration of organic matter in seawater and in sediments in shallow waters shows high values in the central part of the Gulf of Suez

Revolutionizing Global Food Security: Empowering Resilience through Integrated AI Foundation Models and Data-Driven Solutions

Food security, a global concern, necessitates precise and diverse data-driven solutions to address its multifaceted challenges. This paper explores the integration of AI foundation models across various food security applications, leveraging distinct data types, to overcome the limitations of current deep and machine learning methods. Specifically, we investigate their utilization in crop type mapping, cropland mapping, field delineation and crop yield prediction. By capitalizing on multispectral imagery, meteorological data, soil properties, historical records, and high-resolution satellite imagery, AI foundation models offer a versatile approach. The study demonstrates that AI foundation models enhance food security initiatives by providing accurate predictions, improving resource allocation, and supporting informed decision-making. These models serve as a transformative force in addressing global food security limitations, marking a significant leap toward a sustainable and secure food future

Impacts of environmental conditions on macrobenthic distribution along the Suez Gulf, Egypt

Increases in coastal development and human activities leading to sedimentation degrade the quality of water; disturb the natural structure and functions of aquatic communities. The Suez Gulf is a large semi-closed area (~625 km long coastline).The assemblages of bottom fauna were studied qualitatively and quantitatively in the shallow intertidal waters along the western coast of the Suez Gulf. The quality of seawater and sediment structures were analyzed. The distribution of macro-benthos included a total of 38 species of Gastropoda and 9 Bivalvia; and 25 species from the other invertebrates included 7 groups namely, Rhizostoma, Polychaeta, Cirripedia, Amphipoda, Isopoda, Decapoda and Echinodermata. The most dominant group among invertebrate groups was the Polychaeta which included 4 species: Hydroides elegans, Perinereis cultilifera, Perinereis nuntia and Ophelina acuminata. The Cirripedia were represented by 3 species namely, Balanus amphitrite, Chithamalus challengeri and Tetraclita squamosa. The variations in the numerical abundance and biomass of bottom fauna studied between the observation periods and at sampling sites. There was a marked increase in benthos biomass at St. IV (Ras Gharib) yielding an average of 318.8 g/m² in which the gastropod community represented the dominant species in collected samples reaching 270.28 g/m² (84.4% of the total biomass) and numerically numbered 116 ind./m². Veliger larvae of bivalves and gastropods appeared to be present in the plankton for long periods and their production seems to be continuous throughout the year. In the intertidal zone of the Suez Gulf, the values of pH varied within narrow limits. Water temperature and salinity seemed to be important in the distribution and abundance of the macro-benthos communities in the study areas. The organic content in shallow intertidal waters and sediments indicated high values in the central part of the Gulf of Suez