Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and steroids: benefit or harm

Background: Corticosteroids are being widely used in conditions related to allergy and inflammation. There are great species differences in the responses to glucocorticoids that mean a “steroid resistant” species. Steroids have profound effect on inflammatory response by way of vasoconstriction, decreased chemotaxis and interference with macrophages. There still are enormous gaps in our knowledge of the action of glucocorticosteroids in patients of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).Methods: This study was done in the department of general medicine at SKIMS, Srinagar from December 2017 to December 2018 on patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A total number of 100 patients were enrolled for the study but 20 patients, 10 from each group lost their follow up. To see the effect of steroids on pulmonary function tests, patients were divided into case and control group. Patients in case group were given prednisolone 30 mg orally for two week (tapering dose). Patients in control group were given placebo for the same duration of two weeks. Steroid response was defined as 15% improvement in baseline forced expiratory volume (FEV).Results: Steroid response was defined as 15% increase in forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) after receiving tapering dose of prednisone 30 mg for 2 weeks, no patients in case group showed increase in FEV1/FVC of 15%. The change in pulmonary function tests was comparable in each group (p>0.5).Conclusions: The change in pulmonary function tests were comparable in each group (p>0.5). So, steroids in stable patients of COPD are best to be avoided

Properties Improvement of Cast Stone Produced Using Recycled Glass Waste and Lightweight Aggregates

حجر الصب أو الحجر الصناعي هو نوع من انواع الخرسانه مسبقه الصب الواسعه الاستخدام في التطبيقات المعماريه لغرض الديكور و تغليف واجهات المباني بدل الحجر الطبيعي نظرآ لمواصفاته المتميزه. الدراسه الحاليه هي محاوله في استخدام مواد محليه مثل الركام خفيف الوزن كبديل عن نسبه من الركام الخشن, و مخلفات الزجاج كبديل عن نسبه من الركام الناعم في خلطات حجر الصب التقليديه مع الاسمنت البيض و الملدنات. حجر الصب المنتج من الخلطه المرجعية تم معالجته بعد 24 ساعه من الصب باستخدام طريقتين مختلفتين: المعالجه بالماء (عند 23مᵒ لثلاثه ايام) و المعالجه بالبخار (عند 60مᵒ لمده 14 ساعه). تم توصيف منتجات حجر الصب باختبارات مقاومه الانضغاط, الكثافه, الامتصاصيه, مقاومه الانحناء, و التقلص الجاف الخطي. تمت اضافه المواد البديله بنظام الخلطات التجريبيه (M0-M3) باستخدام 3 مجاميع (A,B وC) تبعآ للمعايير. مجموعه A: تصميم الخلطه المرجعيه لحجر الصب مع مقاومه انضغاط 46.3 مغا باسكال و امتصاصيه 6.19%, مجموعه B: تصميم خلطات تحتوي على 50% من الركام الخفيف الوزن وكان أخف وزنا بنسبة 16٪ من حجر المجموعة A مع مقاومة انضغاط 43.6 ميجا باسكال وتحسن 11٪ في الامتصاص, مجموعه C: تصميم خلطات تحتوي 50% و 75% مخلفات الزجاج مع مقاومه انضغاط (47.5-44.3 مغا باسكال) و امتصاصيه (5.3-4.7%), على التوالي. إن عملية المعالجة بالبخار المعدلة (المعالجة بعد الصب 24 ساعة) التي أجريت في هذه الدراسة قد اثبتت فعاليتها في تحقيق مقاومة الانضغاط المطلوبة بالمقارنة مع العملية العادية (المعالجة المباشرة بعد الصب) نتيجة لتأثير هذه العملية في توفير توزيع أكثر انتظام لعجينه الاسمنت مع الخصائص الفيزيائية جيدة. اثبتت نتائج اختبار قوة الانحناء تحقيق المستويات المطلوبة (6.9 - 6.3 عند 50 - 75٪ من إضافة النفايات الزجاجية) المسجلة في المعايير المعتمده.Cast stone (CS) is a form of pre-cast concrete widely, used in architectural applications for decorating and building face in place of natural stone due its superior features. The present study was an attempt in using of local lightweight aggregate materials (LWAM) as an alternative to percentage of coarse aggregate, and glass wastes as alternatives to percentages of fine aggregate in cast stone normal mixtures with white cement and plasticizer admixture. The CS products were cured after 24 hrs using of two different processes: water curing (at 23 C° for 3 days) and steam curing (at 60 C° for 14 hrs). Then the products were characterized by tests of compressive strength, design, absorption, flexure strength and liner drying shrinkage. The addition of alternative materials was done by trial mixes (M0-M3) through 3 groups (A, B, and C) according to standards. Group A: design of reference mixtures of CS with compressive strength of 46.3 MPa and the absorption of 6.19%, Group B: design of mixtures containing 50% LWA were 16% lighter than those of Group A with compressive strength of 43.6 MPa and 11% improvement in the absorption, Group C: design of mixtures containing (50 and 75%) glass waste with compressive strength of (47.5-44.3 MPa) and the absorption of (5.3-4.7%), respectively. The modified steam curing process (curing after 24 hrs casting) done in this study could prove its effectiveness in the achievement of the required compressive strength in comparison with the normal process (direct curing after casting) due to the effect of such new process in providing the more uniform distribution of the cement gel with good physical properties. Results from the flexural strength test could prove the achievement of the required levels (6.9 – 6.3 at 50 – 75% glass waste addition) recorded in the standard

Study the Photodegradation of Hydroxypropyl Cellulose in Presence and Absence of Benzophenone and Eosine Dye

The induced photodegradation of poly hydroxypropyl cellulose films  in air was investigated (for 350 hrs.) in presence and absence of benzophenone and eosine dye (photosensitizer) by accelerated weathering tester. The addition of (0.1wt %) of benzophenone and eosine dye to poly hydroxypropyl cellulose films (25µm in thickness) enhanced the photodegradation of the polymer films. The photodegradation rate was followed by increase in carbonyl absorbance of polymers using infrared (I.R.) and UV-visible. spectra respectively and viscosity. The concluded from this work the eosine dye enhance degradation of polymer more than benzophenone. According to the spectra results, the induced photodegradation mechanisms of polymer films were suggested under the experimental conditions employed using UV-radiation at ? = 313 nm , light intensity 3.49*10-5 einsteins.dm-3.S-1 at temperature 45 oC. Key words: photodegradation, hydroxypropyl cellulos

Formation of chitosan nanoparticles to encapsulate krill oil (Euphausia superba) for application as a dietary supplement

Encapsulation of krill oil (KO), a rich source of eicosapentanoic (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) was carried out in chitosan-TPP (tripolyphosphate) nanoparticles using a newly developed two-step process (i.e, formation of emulsion and later electrostatic interaction of chitosan with TPP). The encapsulation of KO in chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) was confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Loading capacity (LC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of the obtained particles were about 9 – 25 and 33 – 59 % respectively, when the initial KO content was in the ratio of 0.25 – 1.25 g/g of Chitosan. Bulk KO showed less protection to oxidation and showed more formation of hydroperoxides during first week as noted by FTIR. However, KO loaded CSNPs showed better prevention of KO towards oxidation with less hydroperoxide formation even after two weeks of storage at elevated temperature (45 oC). The obtained KO-loaded CSNPs were irregular in shape with an average particle diameter of < 130 nm as observed by SEM. The results obtained confirmed the suitability of the emulsion and later electrostatic interaction of CS with TPP for the formation of KO loaded CSNPs with greater EE & LC, which will enhance their usage in the Food and Pharmaceutical industrie

Focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) in blunt paediatric abdominal trauma

Objective: To evaluate the role of focussed abdominal sonography for trauma in blunt paediatric abdominal trauma patients, and to see if the role of computed tomography scan could be limited to only those cases in which sonography was positive.Methods: The retrospective study covered 10 years, from January 1,2000 to December 31,2009, and was conducted at the Department of Radiology and Department of Emergency Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. It comprised cases of 174 children from birth to 14 years who had presented with blunt abdominal trauma and had focussed abdominal sonography for trauma done at the hospital. The findings were correlated with computed tomography scan of the abdomen and clinical follow-up. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of focussed abdominal sonography for trauma were calculated for blunt abdominal trauma. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analysis.Results: Of the total 174 cases, 31 (17.81%) were later confirmed by abdominal scan. Of these 31 children, sonography had been positive in 29 (93.54%) children. In 21 (67.74%) of the 31 children, sonograpy had been true positive; 8 (25%) (8/31) were false positive; and 2 (6%) (2/31) were false negative. There were 6 (19.3%) children in which sonography was positive and converted to laparotomy. There was no significant difference on account of gender (p\u3e0.356). Focussed abdominal sonography for trauma in the study had sensitivity of 91%, specificity of 95%, positive predictive value of 73%, and negative predictive value of 73% with accuracy of 94%. All patients who had negative sonography were discharged later, and had no complication on clinical follow-up.Conclusions: Focussed abdominal sonography for trauma is a fairly reliable mode to assess blunt abdominal trauma in children. It is a useful tool to pick high-grade solid and hollow viscous injury. The results suggest that the role of computed tomography scan can be limited to those cases in which focussed sonography is positive

Technique of the Closed and Open Working on the Structure of the Contemporary

إن اتساع ميدان الثقافة الأدبية المسرحية في صيرورة إثر تطور النتاجات الأدبية وتنوع مذاهبها وتزايد مبدعيها وتوالد مناهجها النقدية وانبثاق اشكالياتها النقدية والتي غالباً ما كانت تنغلق على على وفق رؤية ثقافية في زمن معين ثم تنفتح جدلية اشكاليتها على على وفق مناقضة الرؤية الماضية ومفارقتها للكشف عن مفاهيم اشكاليتها وحقائقها من منظور ثقافي واسع. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; إن جدلية النص المغلق والمفتوح تكتنز إشكالية فكرية ثقافية [الانفصال والتداخل - الحضور والغياب - الهوية وتهميشها. 296 &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; تخصصت هذه الدراسة للكشف عن مميزات بنية النص المسرحي المغلق والمفتوح وآلية الانغلاق والانفتاح في الأدب المسرحي العراقي المعاصر. وهي دراسة اتسع ميدان البحث فيها لتكون دراسة موضوعية شاملة تحصد نتائج موضوعية. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; إن مدارات المنغلق والمنفتح في ميدان النصوص المسرحية لم يخضع لحل الإشكالية الجدلية. فتساءلت الدراسة حول جدلية المغلق والمفتوح لتكشف مشكلة البحث بالتساؤل الآتي: ما آليات اشتغال المغلق والمفتوح في بنية النص المسرحي المعاصر؟ ضمت الدراسة أربعة فصول احتوى الفصل الأول على منهجية البحث والتي شملت مشكلة البحث المذكورة أعلاه وأهميته وأهدافه. وحدوده ومصطلحاته وهدف البحث هو: الكشف عن آليات اشتغال النص المغلق والمفتوح في بنية النص المسرحي المعاصر؟ &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; أما حدوده: فقد تحدد الحد الزماني في (1992) أما الحد المكاني فهو العراقي. أما الفصل الثاني فقد تضمن الإطار النظري ومؤشراته واحتوى عدة محاور وهي دراسة (العنوان – الحبكة – الشخصية – اللغة – المكان – الزمن). وتضمن الفصل الرابع النتائج و الاستنتاجات والتوصيات والمقترحات وقائمة المصادر والمراجع.The expansion of the field of literary culture in the process of the evolution of literary productions and diversity of doctrines and the growing creators and the birth of monetary methods and the emergence of monetary forms, which often were closed according to a cultural vision at a certain time and then open the dialectic problematic in accordance with the contradiction of the past vision and its paradox to reveal the concepts of problematic And their facts from a broad cultural perspective. The dialectic of closed and open text is a cultural intellectual problem [separation, overlap, presence, absence of identity and marginalization]. This study is devoted to uncovering the advantages of the structure of the closed and open theater text and the mechanism of closure and openness in contemporary Iraqi theater literature. A study whose field of research has broadened to be a comprehensive objective study that produces objective results. The closed and open orbits in the field of theatrical texts did not solve the dialectical problem. The study asked about the closed and open argument to reveal the problem of research by asking the following: What mechanisms of open and open operation in the structure of contemporary theater text ? The study included four chapters, which included the first chapter on the research methodology, which included the problem of the above research and its importance and objectives. Its objectives and objectives are: Disclosure of closed and open text mechanisms in the structure of contemporary theater text ? Its limits: The temporal limit is set in (1992) and the spatial limit is Iraqi. The second chapter includes the theoretical framework and its indicators and contains several axes: &nbsp;study (title - plot - personal - language - place - time). Chapter IV also contains conclusions, recommendations, proposals and a list of sources and references

Protecting asylum-seekers prior to determination of refugee status: reinterpreting the refugee convention and assessing contemporary state practice on non-refoulement

The present decade is confronted with unprecedented refugee crises, dwarfing all similar refugee crises ever witnessed by mankind before. The plight of asylum-seekers, particularly prior to the determination of their refugee status by the host country, is of great concern to the UNHCR and the international community, as this is the time when they are most vulnerable. The sad situation of these asylum-seekers, their sufferings on small boats being packed like sardines on angry seas, and their pain in the hands of cruel human traffickers, beg the crucial question of whether they are protected in any way by international refugee law or left unprotected. With a view to answering this question, the present study applies the legal doctrinal method and attempts a holistic interpretation of articles 1A(2), 31(1) and 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention. The study finds that the term ‘refugee’ in these articles is in effect referring to ‘asylum-seekers’ who fulfil the constituent elements of a refugee under the Convention and that these asylum-seekers cum refugees are protected by the Convention even before the regularisation of their refugee status. The key protection stems from the principle of non-refoulement. State practice nevertheless is not encouraging and potential States of refuge are very weak in honouring this principle, which is a corner stone of international refugee law. The study concludes with suggestions for resolving this core issue

Assessment of Growth Inhibition of Eugenol-Loaded Nano-Emulsions against Beneficial Bifidobacterium sp. along with Resistant Escherichia coli Using Flow Cytometry

The intestinal tract microbiota influences many aspects of the dietary components on colon health and during enteric infections, thus, playing a pivotal role in the colon health. Therefore, the eugenol (EU) nano-emulsion effective concentration reported in our previous study against cancer cells should be explored for safety against beneficial microbes. We evaluated the sensitivity of Bifidobacterium breve and B. adolescentis against EU-loaded nano-emulsions at 0, 300, 600 and 900 µm, which were effective against colon and liver cancer cells. Both B. breve and B. adolescentis showed comparable growth ranges to the control group at 300 and 600 µm, as evident from the plate count experimental results. However, at 900 µm, a slight growth variation was revealed with respect to the control group. The real-time inhibition determination through flow cytometry showed B. breve viable, sublethal cells (99.49 and 0.51%) and B. adolescentis (95.59 and 0.15%) at 900 µm, suggesting slight inhibition even at the highest tested concentration. Flow cytometry proved to be a suitable quantitative approach that has revealed separate live, dead, and susceptible cells upon treatment with EU nano-emulsion against Escherichia coli. Similarly, in the case of B. breve and B. adolescentis, the cells showed only live cells that qualitatively suggest EU nano-emulsion safety. To judge the viability of these sublethal populations of B. breve and B. adolescentis, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy was carried out, revealing no peak shift for proteins, lipids, DNA and carbohydrates at 900 µm EU nano-emulsion compared to the control. On the other hand, EU-loaded nano-emulsions (900 µm)-treated E. coli showed a clear peak shift for a membrane protein, lipids, DNA and carbohydrates. This study provides insights to utilize plant phenols as safe medicines as well as dietary supplements

The Measurement of Radionuclides Level in Different Iraqi Building Material Samples from Baghdad City

Measurement of naturally and artificial radionuclide concentrations deposited in Iraqi building materials used in housing construction in the Baghdad city. Six samples from different sites have chosen. (Soil, Gipson, Cement, Brick, Sand, Gravel). The high purity Germanium detector (HpGe) have been used to measure the concentration of gamma emitter radionuclides from both uranium – radium and thorium series, 40K and 137Cs. The spectra for each sample were analyzed for (7200 sec). The percentage errors were calculated. The range of specific activities for studied radionuclides were as follows: The average concentrations of 238U is between (13-70) Bq/kg, 232Th is (2-34) Bq/kg, 40K is (39-880) Bq/kg, and 137Cs is (0.2-6) Bq/kg

Cold-Active Enzymes and Their Potential Industrial Applications—A Review

More than 70% of our planet is covered by extremely cold environments, nourishing a broad diversity of microbial life. Temperature is the most significant parameter that plays a key role in the distribution of microorganisms on our planet. Psychrophilic microorganisms are the most prominent inhabitants of the cold ecosystems, and they possess potential cold-active enzymes with diverse uses in the research and commercial sectors. Psychrophiles are modified to nurture, replicate, and retain their active metabolic activities in low temperatures. Their enzymes possess characteristics of maximal activity at low to adequate temperatures; this feature makes them more appealing and attractive in biotechnology. The high enzymatic activity of psychrozymes at low temperatures implies an important feature for energy saving. These enzymes have proven more advantageous than their mesophilic and thermophilic counterparts. Therefore, it is very important to explore the efficiency and utility of different psychrozymes in food processing, pharmaceuticals, brewing, bioremediation, and molecular biology. In this review, we focused on the properties of cold-active enzymes and their diverse uses in different industries and research areas. This review will provide insight into the areas and characteristics to be improved in cold-active enzymes so that potential and desired enzymes can be made available for commercial purposes