Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Tongue: a Single Institution Retrospective Cohort Study From Mansoura University Hospital

Background: Egyptian hospital–based statistics showed that head & neck carcinomas represent 18% of all cancers and mostly diagnosed at advanced stages. Our Clinical Oncology & Nuclear Medicine Department of Mansoura Faculty of Medicine serves a large rural area of the Delta region of Egypt. There is no previous study in our institution that focused on oral tongue carcinoma alone. This study aims in establishing the demographics, treatment outcome and prognostic factors of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of 50 cases with oral tongue SCC treated in our department from January 2014 to December 2016 to evaluate the demography, pathological characteristics, and therapeutic modalities. We estimated the survival rates during the entire follow-up period by the Kaplan–Meier method. The univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis were performed for prognostic factors determination. Results: The median follow-up was 30 months (range: 4-45 months). The 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 68% and 60% respectively. By univariate analysis, both advanced stages (III, IVA) and depth of invasion >0.5 cm were statistically significant as prognostic factors for 3-year DFS and OS rates. DFS rates were 34% vs. 98% for stage III and IVA vs. stage I and II respectively (p = 0.001); 52% vs. 78% for >0.5 cm vs. ≤0.5 cm depth of invasion (p = 0.003). OS rates were 36% vs. 99% for stage III and IVA vs. stage I and II respectively (p = 0.002); 52% vs. 80% for >0.5 cm vs. ≤0.5 cm depth of invasion (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors affecting 3-year DFS and OS rates confirmed the statistical significance of the same 2 factors. Conclusions: The majority of our patients were males below 60 years. Tumors were mainly found at stage III and were moderately differentiated. Vascular invasion and lymphatic permeation were uncommon. Staging and tumor invasion depth significantly affected the outcome. The 3-year OS and DFS were 68% and 60% respectively

Evaluation of ZigBee Topology Effect on Throughput and End to End Delay Due to Different Transmission Bands for IoT Applications

ZigBee is widely used in wireless network in Internet of Things (IoT) applications to remotely sensing and automation due to its unique characteristics compared to other wireless networks. According to ZigBee classification of IEEE 802.15.4 standard, the network consists of four layers. The ZigBee topology is represented in second layer. Furthermore, the ZigBee topology consists of three topologies, star, tree and mesh. Also there are many transmission bands allowed in physical layer, such as 2.4 GHz, 915 MHz, 868 MHz. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of ZigBee topologies on End to End delay and throughput for different transmission bands. Riverbed Modeler is used to simulate multiple ZigBee proposed scenarios and collect the results. The results of the study recommend which topology should be used at each transmission band to provide lowest End to End delay or obtain maximum throughput, which is case sensitive in some IoT applications that required for example minimum delay time or sending high amount of data

An empirical study of the systemic and technical migration towards microservices

Context: As many organizations modernize their software architecture and transition to the cloud, migrations towards microservices become more popular. Even though such migrations help to achieve organizational agility and effectiveness in software development, they are also highly complex, long-running, and multi-faceted. Objective: In this study we aim to comprehensively map the journey towards microservices and describe in detail what such a migration entails. In particular, we aim to discuss not only the technical migration, but also the long-term journey of change, on a systemic level. Method: Our research method is an inductive, qualitative study on two data sources. Two main methodological steps take place – interviews and analysis of discussions from StackOverflow. The analysis of both, the 19 interviews and 215 StackOverflow discussions, is based on techniques found in grounded theory. Results: Our results depict the migration journey, as it materializes within the migrating organization, from structural changes to specific technical changes that take place in the work of engineers. We provide an overview of how microservices migrations take place as well as a deconstruction of high level modes of change to specific solution outcomes. Our theory contains 2 modes of change taking place in migration iterations, 14 activities and 53 solution outcomes of engineers. One of our findings is on the architectural change that is iterative and needs both a long and short term perspective, including both business and technical understanding. In addition, we found that a big proportion of the technical migration has to do with setting up supporting artifacts and changing the paradigm that software is developed

Estimating the viral loads of SARS-CoV-2 in the oral cavity when complicated with periapical lesions

Background: The oral cavity represents a main entrance of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) are essential for the entry of SARS-CoV-2 to the host cells. Both ACE-2 and NRP-1 receptors and TMPRSS2 have been identified in the oral cavity. However, there is limited knowledge about the impact of periapical lesions and their metabolites on the expression of these critical genes. This study aims to measure the impact of periapical lesions and their unique fatty acids (FAs) metabolites on the expression of the aforementioned genes, in addition to interleukin 6 (IL-6) gene and hence SARS-CoV-2 infection loads can be estimated. Methods: Gene expression of ACE-2, NRP-1, TMPRSS2, and IL-6 was performed in periapical lesions in comparison to healthy oral cavity. Since FAs are important immunomodulators required for the lipid synthesis essential for receptors synthesis and viral replication, comparative FAs profiling was determined in oral lesions and healthy pulp tissues using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The effect of major identified and unique FAs was tested on mammalian cells known to express ACE-2, NRP-1, and TMPRSS2 genes. Results: Gene expression analysis indicated that ACE-2, NRP-1, and TMPRSS2 were significantly upregulated in healthy clinical samples compared to oral lesions, while the reverse was true with IL-6 gene expression. Saturated and monounsaturated FAs were the major identified shared and unique FAs, respectively. Major shared FAs included palmitic, stearic and myristic acids with the highest percentage in the healthy oral cavity, while unique FAs included 17-octadecynoic acid in periapical abscess, petroselinic acid and l-lactic acid in periapical granuloma, and 1-nonadecene in the radicular cyst. Computational prediction showed that the binding affinity of identified FAs to ACE-2, TMPRSS2 and S protein were insignificant. Further, FA-treated mammalian cells showed significant overexpression of ACE-2, NRP-1 and TMPRSS2 genes except with l-lactic acid and oleic acid caused downregulation of NRP-1 gene, while 17-octadecynoic acid caused insignificant effect. Conclusion: Collectively, a healthy oral cavity is more susceptible to viral infection when compared to that complicated with periapical lesions. FAs play important role in viral infection and their balance can affect the viral loads. Shifting the balance towards higher levels of palmitic, stearic and 1-nonadecene caused significant upregulation of the aforementioned genes and hence higher viral loads. On the other hand, there is a reverse correlation between inflammation and expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors. Therefore, a mouth preparation that can reduce the levels of palmitic, stearic and 1-nonadecene, while maintaining an immunomodulatory effect can be employed as a future protection strategy against viral infection

Epoxy-cross-linked Polyamine CO2 Sorbents Enhanced via Hydrophobic Functionalization

Optimizing sorption capacity and amine efficiency are among the major challenges in developing solid carbon dioxide sorbents. Such materials frequently feature polyamines impregnated onto supports adding weight to the sorbents. This work presents the cross-linking of polyethyleneimine (PEI) by the industrially available epoxy resin, bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether (DER) to form support-free sorbent materials. Prior to cross-linking, the polyamine chain is functionalized with hydrophobic additives; one material modified with the branched chain hydrocarbon 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether displays CO2 uptake of 0.195 g/g, 4.43 mmol CO2/g (1 atm single component CO2, 90 °C). The additive loading affects the cross-linking, with the lesser cross-linked materials showing more favorable sorption capacities and higher amine efficiencies. The type of additive also influences sorption, with the larger, longer and bulkier additives better able to free the amine from their hydrogen bonding network, generally promoting better sorption. As well as increasing CO2 uptake, the additives also reduce the optimum sorption temperature, offering a handle to tune sorbents for specific working conditions. The best performing material shows high selectivity for CO2 sorption, and under sorption cycles in a 10% CO2/90% N2 mixture, utilizing temperature swing desorption, demonstrates a good working capacity of 9.5% CO2 uptake over the course of 29 cycles. Furthermore, humidity has been found to promote CO2 sorption at lower temperatures with a CO2 uptake of 0.235 g/g, 5.34 mmol/g (1 atm single component CO2, 25 °C) using a pre-hydrated sample. Overall, these findings confirm the value of our approach where cross-linking emerges as a valid and practical alternative to loading polyamines onto solid supports. This work demonstrates the versatility of these types of materials and their potential for use in large scale carbon capture systems

Hallucinations Are Real to Patients With Dementia

In this case study, we present a patient with preexistent posttraumatic stress disorder and psychosis who has been recently diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies. He is experiencing vivid hallucinations. What went wrong between him and his wife as a result of these hallucinations is presented. Alternative actions that could have been used are suggested

Renoprotective effect of red grape (Vitis vinifera L.) juice and dark raisins against hypercholesterolaemia-induced tubular renal affection in albino rats

Background: Red grape juice (RGJ) and dark raisins (DR) are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of RGJ and DR in protec- ting the renal tubules against hypercholesteraemic-induced pathological changes.  Materials and methods: Forty albino rats divided into four groups (n = 10) were utilised in this study. They included the control, high cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed, HCD+RGJ-fed, and HCD+DR-fed groups. Body weight gain, food and water in- take, blood and insulin levels, lipid profile and kidney functions were assessed at the start of the experiment and after 12 weeks. The right kidney was dissected out and processed for both light and electron microscopic examination. Desmin and cytokeratin antibodies were utilised as histologic markers to assess the integrity of the proximal (PTs) and distal tubules (DTs) of the kidney.  Results: Administration of HCD resulted in hypercholesterolaemia in rats as evi- denced by the lipid profile. The PTs of hypercholesteraemic rats appeared dilated with hyaline casts and mitochondria in most of the tubular cells were affected. Immunohistochemical assessment revealed affection of both PTs and DTs. Both RGJ and DR, when administered along with the HCD for 12 weeks, improved the lipid profile, kidney functions as well as the histologic and cellular changes-induced by hypercholesterolaemia in the rats. The effect of raisins was superior to RGJ which might be due to its high contents of fibres and proteins.  Conclusions: This study highlighted the importance of supplementation of red grape and raisins in protection against the harmful effects induced by deposition of fat on the renal tubules’ structure and function.

Detection of circulating prostate-specific antigen-positive cells in patients with prostate cancer by flow cytometry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

The presence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-positive cells has previously been demonstrated in the peripheral blood of prostate cancer patients by flow cytometry (FC), but the identity of these cells has not been established. In this study, the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was compared with analytical FC in an attempt to detect and characterise these cells. Peripheral blood was obtained from 12 patients with newly diagnosed and untreated prostate cancer and five controls. Nine of the 12 patients with prostate cancer (75%) had circulating PSA-positive cells as shown by FC. Only one of those patients (11.1%) was found to express PSA mRNA by RT-PCR. The absence of PSA mRNA in the majority of samples showing PSA-positive cells suggests that they do not represent haematogenous micrometastases. PSA-positive cells in the blood could represent monocytes that express PSA, either following binding/phagocytosis of free serum PSA or phagocytosis of tumour cells