Effect of progressive prone plank exercise program on diastasis of rectus abdominis muscle in postpartum women: A randomized controlled trial

Diastasis of Rectus Abdominis (DRA) muscle is a concerning health issue that commonly affects female within pregnancy and postpartum time, persistent lower back pain and pelvic instability are common consequences to DRA. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the effect of progressive prone plank exercises on narrowing the inter-Rectus distance (IRD) in postpartum women diagnosed with (DRA). A prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled trial was conducted at the Faculty of Physical Therapy Clinic of Beni-Suef University. Fifty postpartum women presented with (DRA) of at least 2 finger widths assigned into 2 equal groups (A&B). A Toshiba Xario100, 8–12 MHz ultrasonography was used to accurately measure IRD before and after 8 weeks of the exercise program. Group (A), received progressive prone plank exercise program and advice relevant to DRA as well as wore abdominal binder, while group (B) continued their ordinary lifestyle after receiving advice and wearing abdominal binder as group (A).The study results revealed a statistical significant decrease within each group and between groups in IRD (p < .05) above and below the umbilicus both at rest and during Rectus Abdominis (RA) contraction, with a significantly narrower IRD in favoured of participants of group (A) (p < .05). To sum it up, progressive prone plank exercise program is very effective in decreasing IRD in postpartum women presented with DRA

STR-994: INVESTIGATION OF L-SHAPED LOW-RISE AND HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS RESPONSE TO NBCC 2005 AND 2010 SEISMIC LOADS

The current study builds on a previous study conducted by the authors that investigated the seismic provisions of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) 2005 and 2010, pertaining to the loading and analysis of irregular L-shaped buildings. The study uses low-rise and high-rise L-shaped buildings as case studies. Three-dimensional finite element models of the two irregular L-shaped buildings were developed and discussed in the previous study. The lateral resisting system of the low-rise buildings consists of concrete shear walls, while the high-rise building consists of a combination of concrete shear walls and concrete rigid frames. Low and high-rise concrete buildings are modelled with the assumption of fully rigid floor diaphragms for computational efficiency. In the current the study, the effect of using rigid and semi-rigid diaphragms to simulate structural floors on the structure response to lateral loads is investigated. Significant change in the dynamic response and lateral force distribution along both buildings’ height due to the use of semi-rigid diaphragms is noticed. In addition, a negligible contribution due to the effective inertia, due to cracking of concrete shear walls on the overall dynamic response of both buildings is observed. The study shows that the variation of post-cracking stiffness for concrete slabs significantly affect the stiffness and the natural frequency of the buildings

Clinical and histopathological responses to bee venom phonophoresis in treating venous and diabetic ulcers: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

IntroductionChronic venous and diabetic ulcers are hard to treat that cause patients long time of suffering as well as significant healthcare and financial costs.PurposeThe conducted study was to evaluate the efficacy of bee venom (BV) phonophoresis on the healing of chronic unhealed venous and/or diabetic foot ulcers Also, to compare the healing rate of diabetic and venous ulcers.MethodologyThe study included 100 patients (71 males and 29 females) with an age range of 40-60 years' old who had chronic unhealed venous leg ulcers of grade I, grade II, or diabetic foot ulcers with type II diabetes mellitus. They randomly assigned into four equal groups of 25: Group A (diabetic foot ulcer study group) and group C (venous ulcer study group) who both received conservative treatment of medical ulcer care and phonophoresis with BV gel, in addition to group B (diabetic foot ulcer control group) and group D (venous ulcer control group) who both received conservative treatment of medical ulcer care and received ultrasound sessions only without BV gel. Wound surface area (WSA) and ulcer volume measurement (UVM) were used to assess the ulcer healing pre-application (P0), post-6 weeks of treatment (P1), and after 12 weeks of treatment (P2). In addition to Ki-67 immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the cell proliferative in the granulation tissue of ulcers pre-application (P0) and after 12 weeks of treatment (P2) for all groups.ResultsThis research revealed a statistical significance improvement (p ≤ 0.0) in the WSA, and UVM with no significant difference between study groups after treatment. Regarding Ki-67 immunohistochemistry showed higher post treatment values in the venous ulcer group in comparison to the diabetic foot ulcer group.ConclusionBee venom (BV) provided by phonophoresis is effective adjuvant treatment in accelerating venous and diabetic foot ulcer healing with higher proliferative effect on venous ulcer.Clinical trial registrationwww.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05285930

Nematocidal and Bactericidal Activities of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Mediated by \u3ci\u3eFicus sycomorus\u3c/i\u3e Leaf Extract

Nanoparticles effectively control most plant pathogens, although research has focused more on their antimicrobial than their nematocidal properties. This study synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) through a green biosynthesis method using an aqueous extract of Ficus sycomorus leaves (FS-Ag-NPs). The nanoparticles were characterized using SEM, TEM, EDX, zeta sizer, and FTIR. The TEM results showed that the synthesized NPs were nanoscale and had an average particle size of 33 ± 1 nm. The elemental silver signal at 3 keV confirmed the formation of Ag-NPs from an aqueous leaf extract of F. sycomorus. The FTIR analysis revealed the existence of several functional groups in the prepared Ag-NPs. The strong-broad band detected at 3430 cm-1 indicated the stretching vibration of -OH (hydroxyl) and -NH2 (amine) groups. The nematocidal activity of biosynthesized FS-Ag-NPs has been evaluated in vitro against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita at 24, 48, and 72 h. The FS-Ag-NPs at a 200 μg/mL concentration applied for 48 h showed the highest effectiveness, with 57.62% nematode mortality. Moreover, the biosynthesized FS-Ag-NPs were also tested for their antibacterial activity against Pectobacterium carotovorum, P. atrosepticum, and Ralstonia solanacearum. With the application of nanoparticles, the reduction in bacterial growth gradually increased. The most potent activity at all concentrations was found in R. solanacearum, with values of 14.00 ± 2.16, 17.33 ± 2.05, 19.00 ± 1.41, 24.00 ± 1.41, and 26.00 ± 2.83 at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 μg/mL, respectively, when compared with the positive control (Amoxicillin 25 μg) with a value of 16.33 ± 0.94. At the same time, the nanoparticles showed the lowest reduction values against P. atrosepticum when compared to the control. This study is the first report on the nematocidal activity of Ag-NPs using F. sycomorus aqueous extract, which could be a recommended treatment for managing plant-parasitic nematodes due to its simplicity, stability, cost-effectiveness, and environmentally safe nature

An integrated assessment approach for fossil groundwater quality and crop water requirements in the El-Kharga Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Study region: The El-Kharga Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt is selected as the study area due to its hyberarid climate condition and water scarcity. In this region, the fossil groundwater is the main water source; therefore, preserving groundwater quality and quantity is mandatory. Study focus: This study evaluated groundwater suitability for irrigation purposes and assessed the water requirements of cultivated crops to optimize the water supply in hyperarid climate regions. In total, 79 deep groundwater samples were hydrochemically tested to determine the suitability for irrigation by assessing the key water quality parameters. Spatial distribution maps of all chemical parameters, such as pH, EC, SAR, RSC, SSP, TDS, total hardness, Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg++, Fe, Mn, Cl-, and SO4—, were developed. The FAO CROPWAT 8.0 model, based on the Penman–Monteith equation, was used to forecast agricultural water requirements for three years, 2010, 2011, and 2012. New hydrological insights for the region: The groundwater had medium salinity and low sodium in 84% of the cases. In comparison, high salinity was found in 16% of the samples, indicating that groundwater can be used for many soil types with a low risk of exchangeable sodium. Except for 15 of the 79 wells, all groundwater samples had chloride concentrations less than 100 mg/l. The sulfate ion distribution map showed a low sulfate ion content in the extreme western south. The total annual irrigation water requirements of all crops for 2010, 2011 and 2012 were 199.4, 215.1, and 231.7 million m3/year, respectively, reflecting a gradual increase of approximately 16.57 million m3/total area/year due to the expansion of the cultivated area. The analysis showed that modern irrigation systems reduced the amount of irrigation water by 32% and increased the cultivated area by 45% compared to conventional irrigation methods. Severe groundwater depletion occurred during the dry season from March to July, which exacerbated the water stress in the study region. The results confirmed that the region is under water stress. Accordingly, water conservation is urgently recommended

Novel Pyridinium Based Ionic Liquid Promoter for Aqueous Knoevenagel Condensation: Green and Efficient Synthesis of New Derivatives with Their Anticancer Evaluation

Herein, a distinctive dihydroxy ionic liquid ([Py-2OH]OAc) was straightforwardly assembled from the sonication of pyridine with 2-chloropropane-1,3-diol by employing sodium acetate as an ion exchanger. The efficiency of the ([Py-2OH]OAc as a promoter for the sono-synthesis of a novel library of condensed products through DABCO-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation process of adequate active cyclic methylenes and ninhydrin was next investigated using ultimate greener conditions. All of the reactions studied went cleanly and smoothly, and the resulting Knoevenagel condensation compounds were recovered in high yields without detecting the aldol intermediates in the end products. Compared to traditional strategies, the suggested approach has numerous advantages including mild reaction conditions with no by-products, eco-friendly solvent, outstanding performance in many green metrics, and usability in gram-scale synthesis. The reusability of the ionic liquid was also studied, with an overall retrieved yield of around 97% for seven consecutive runs without any substantial reduction in the performance. The novel obtained compounds were further assessed for their in vitro antitumor potential toward three human tumor cell lines: Colo-205 (colon cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer), and A549 (lung cancer) by employing the MTT assay, and the findings were evaluated with the reference Doxorubicin. The results demonstrated that the majority of the developed products had potent activities at very low doses. Compounds comprising rhodanine (5) or chromane (12) moieties exhibited the most promising cytotoxic effects toward three cell lines, particularly rhodanine carboxylic acid derivative (5c), showing superior cytotoxic effects against the investigated cell lines compared to the reference drug. Furthermore, automated docking simulation studies were also performed to support the results obtained

High-Pressure Metal-Free Catalyzed One-Pot Two-Component Synthetic Approach for New 5-Arylazopyrazolo[3,4-b]Pyridine Derivatives

An appropriate and efficient Q-tube-assisted ammonium acetate-mediated protocol for the assembly of the hitherto unreported 5-arylazopyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines was demonstrated. This methodology comprises the cyclocondensation reaction of 5-amino-2-phenyl-4H-pyrazol-3-one with an assortment of arylhydrazonals in an NH$_4$OAc/AcOH buffer solution operating a Q-tube reactor. This versatile protocol exhibited several outstanding merits: easy work-up, mild conditions, scalability, broad substrate scope, safety (the Q-tube kit is simply for pressing and sealing), and a high atom economy. Consequently, performing such reactions under elevated pressures and utilizing the Q-tube reactor seemed preferable for achieving the required products in comparison to the conventional conditions. Diverse spectroscopic methods and X-ray single-crystal techniques were applied to confirm the proposed structure of the targeted compounds

Pars Plana Vitrectomy with Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling in Traumatic Macular Hole: 14% Perfluoropropane (C 3

Purpose. To evaluate the outcome of 23 G PPV and ILM peeling with 14% C3F8 compared with silicone oil tamponade in cases of TMHs without spontaneous closure. Methods. A retrospective comparative study included 33 eyes with TMHs; 7 eyes healed spontaneously, and the remaining 26 eyes have been treated with PPV and ILM peeling. Silicone oil was used as a tamponade for children or adults who refused to adopt face-down position (10 cases). In all other cases (16 cases), 14% C3F8 was used. These cases were followed up for 6 months postoperatively. Results. 26 cases (22 males and 4 females) were reviewed, including 10 cases treated with silicone oil and 16 cases treated with 14% C3F8. Patients’ age ranged from 9 to 54 years. The success rate was 90% in the silicone-filled (9/10) and 94% in the gas-filled (15/16) eyes. At 6 months, the mean BCVA was 0.3 ± 0.25 in the silicone group and 0.2 ± 0.13 in the gas group (p<0.05). Conclusions. Cases of TMHs should be observed for spontaneous closure. PPV with ILM peeling should be conducted for nonclosing cases. Gas and silicone oil tamponades are equally successful in anatomical and visual outcomes. This trial is registered with CTRI/2017/06/008765

Foliar Applications of Bacillus subtilis HA1 Culture Filtrate Enhance Tomato Growth and Induce Systemic Resistance Against Tobacco mosaic virus Infection

The application of microbial products as natural biocontrol agents for inducing systemic resistance against plant viral infections represents a promising strategy for sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural applications. Under greenhouse conditions, the efficacy of the culture filtrate of Bacillus subtilis strain HA1 (Acc# OM286889) for protecting tomato plants from Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infection was assessed. The results showed that the dual foliar application of this culture filtrate (HA1-CF) 24 h before and 24 h after TMV inoculation was the most effective treatment for enhancing tomato plant development, with substantial improvements in shoot and root parameters. Furthermore, compared to non-treated plants, HA1-CF-treated tomato had a significant increase in total phenolic and flavonoid contents of up to 27% and 50%, respectively. In addition, a considerable increase in the activities of reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes (PPO, SOD, and POX) and a significant decrease in non-enzymatic oxidative stress markers (H2O2 and MDA) were reported. In comparison to untreated control plants, all HA1-CF-treated plants showed a significant reduction in TMV accumulation in systemically infected tomato leaves, up to a 91% reduction at 15 dpi. The qRT-PCR results confirmed that HA1-CF stimulated the transcription of several defense-related tomato genes (PR-1, PAL, CHS, and HQT), pointing to their potential role in induced resistance against TMV. GC&ndash;MS analysis showed that phenol, 2,4-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl)-, Pyrrolo [1,2-a] pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexahydro-3-(2-methylpropyl)- and eicosane are the primary ingredient compounds in the HA1-CF ethyl acetate extract, suggesting that these molecules take part in stimulating induced systemic resistance in tomato plants. Our results imply that HA1-CF is a potential resistance inducer to control plant viral infections, a plant growth promoter, and a source of bioactive compounds for sustainable disease management