Evaluation of drug promotional literature directed to consumers and physicians

Background: The present study aims at analysing promotional brochures and direct-to-consumer advertisements using the criteria for ethical medicinal drug promotion compiled by World Health Organization.Methods: Using World Health Organization criteria for ethical medicinal drug promotion, thirty brochures were evaluated for their fulfilment of the criteria and claims they are making. Also eight Direct to Consumer (DTC) TV advertisements were coded for their claimed indications and the factors used to attract consumers. An overview of what impact does drug promotion has provided through reviewing the published literature.Results: Brochures and advertisements directed to physicians were found to lack information with regard to generic (17.2%), brand (0%), indication (13.8%), dosage regimen (27.5%), safety information (62%), references (10.3%), manufacture (3.4%), safety (24.1%), efficacy (34.5%), suitability (20.6%), pharmacokinetics (3.4%) pharmaceutical property (3.4%) and extravagant emotional claims (3.4%). Information lacking in DTC TV advertisements include, risk factors (62.5%), alternative treatment (62.5%), indications (37.5%), side effects (75%), contraindications\precautions (50%), and sources for more information about the promoted drug (25%).Conclusions: Drug advertisements presented to physicians or directed to consumers did not fully satisfy the WHO criteria and their lack of essential information may lead to medication misuse

Design and implement a smart traffic light controlled by internet of things

The rise of the population produces an increase in the number of vehicles on the road, which creates heavy traffic in the roads and that causes many issues for the citizens and traffic cops an extra two emergency instances so it’s necessary with developing technology to solve this problem. in this research, we used the Arduino UNO microcontroller board to build a new smart traffic light controller (STLC). Signal lights produce traffic congestion, and the system makes every attempt to alleviate it. In this paper, we designed a smart traffic control system by using Arduino to solve the problem of congestion at the intersection of the Dor al Moalemen in Wasit city , working to prevent traffic jam and reduce time, Using Arduino mega, ultrasonic sensor, and a camera esp32, the suggested technique analyses and manages everyday traffic at a three-line intersection. Furthermore, the suggested system achieves three-line intersection sync and implements a balance between the number of vehicles on each side and the green light. when Traffic violation the camera will capture the car number and send it to the database by using telegram

Impact of Tactile Stimulation on Neurobehavioral Development of Premature Infants in Assiut City

Objective: To assess impact of tactile stimulation on neurobehavioral development of premature infants in Assiut City. Design: Quasi-experimental research design. Setting: The study was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Assiut University Children Hospital, Assiut General Hospital, Health Insurance Hospital (El-Mabarah Hospital) and El-Eyman for Gynecology and Obstetric Hospital. Subjects: The study subjects included a convenient sample of 50 premature infants divided into study or control groups and they were matched with gestational age and birth weight. Tool: Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale is used to assess neurobehavioral development of infants from birth to two months of age. Method: Premature infants divided into two groups; (a) study group who receiving tactile stimulation (b) control group who receiving routine hospital care only. Neurobehavioral development using Brazelton’s Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (NBAS) was assessed at initial contact and after 5 days of intervention and on discharge. Results: showed that the premature infants of the study had better neurobehavioral development than those in the control group with statistical significant differences were found between the study and the control groups Conclusion: It was concluded from the findings of the current study that premature infants who received tactile stimulation had better neurobehavioral development than those who didn’t receive it and had only the hospital routine care. Keywords: Tactile stimulation, neurobehavioral development, premature infant

Control of tomato early blight and wilt using aqueous extract of neem leaves

The effect of neem (Azadiracta indica) leaf extract against Alternaria solani and Fusarium oxysporum, the causal agents of early blight and wilt of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) respectively, was studied. Concentrations (5, 10 and 20%) of aqueous neem extract suppressed mycelial growth of both pathogenic fungi and the degree of suppression gradually increased with increasing concentration. A concentration of 20% aqueous neem leaf extract sprayed on tomato plants lowered the incidence of Alternaria early blight from 53.2 to 42.5% after two weeks and from 100 to 79.2% after 4 weeks. Spraying plus irrigation with the same extract lowered the severity of Alternaria early blight from 26.8 to 11.4% after 2 weeks and from 61.7 to 17.9% after 4 weeks (control ratio of 43.71% after 4 weeks). For F. oxysporum wilt, germination of tomato seeds was highest in pots containing the negative control (soil free of pathogen) and in pots irrigated with the aqueous neem extract. The lowest disease incidence (19.04%) was obtained in pots treated with the pathogen and irrigated with aqueous neem extract, where an 81% control of Fusarium wilt was achieved. Growth parameters of tomato (shoot and root length, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots) were studied 4, 6 and 8 weeks after sowing in the presence of the pathogens. There was a significant gradual increase in growth parameters when the plants were sprayed and irrigated with aqueous neem extract with the greatest improvement recorded 8 weeks after sowing

A cross sectional study of maternal ‘near-miss’ cases in major public hospitals in Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria

The maternal near-miss approach has been increasingly used as a tool to evaluate and improve the quality of care in maternal health. We report findings from the formative stage of a World Health Organization (WHO) funded implementation research study that was undertaken to collect primary data at the facility level on the prevalence, characteristics, and management of maternal near-miss cases in four major public referral hospitals - one each in Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and SyriaWHO Alliance grant (Implementation Research Protocol ID A65770)

Farnesol attenuates cadmium-induced kidney injury by mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation and necroptosis and upregulating cytoglobin and PPARγ in rats

Heavy metals are environmental pollutants that can harm animals and humans even at low concentrations. Cadmium (Cd) is known for its serious health effects on different organs and its toxicity is associated with oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. Farnesol (FAR), a sesquiterpene alcohol found in many vegetables and fruits, possesses promising anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the effect of FAR on Cd-induced kidney injury, pinpointing its effect of the redox status, inflammation, fibrosis and necroptosis. Rats in this study received FAR for 14 days and Cd on day 7. Elevated serum creatinine, urea and uric acid, and several kidney histopathological alterations were observed in Cd-administered rats. Cd increased MDA, decreased antioxidants, downregulated PPARγ and upregulated NF-κB p65, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Necroptosis mediators (RIP1, RIP3, MLKL, and caspase-8) and α-SMA were upregulated, and collagen deposition was increased in Cd-administered rats. FAR ameliorated kidney injury markers and tissue damage, attenuated OS, suppressed NF-κB and inflammatory mediators, and enhanced antioxidants. In addition, FAR suppressed RIP1, RIP3, MLKL, caspase-8, and α-SMA, and enhanced kidney cytoglobin and PPARγ. In conclusion, FAR protects against Cd nephrotoxicity by suppressing OS, inflammatory response and necroptosis, effects associated with enhanced antioxidants, cytoglobin, and PPARγ

Aflibercept or ranibizumab for diabetic macular edema

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the primary substance involved in retinal barrier breach. VEGF overexpression may cause diabetic macular edema (DME). Laser photocoagulation of the macula is the standard treatment for DME; however, recently, intravitreal anti-VEGF injections have surpassed laser treatment. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal injections of aflibercept or ranibizumab for managing treatment-naive DME.   Methods: This single-center, retrospective, interventional, comparative study included eyes with visual impairment due to treatment-naive DME that underwent intravitreal injection of either aflibercept 2 mg/0.05 mL or ranibizumab 0.5 mg/0.05 mL at Al-Azhar University Hospitals, Egypt between March 2023 and January 2024. Demographic data and full ophthalmological examination results at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months post-injection were collected, including the best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) notation, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated fundoscopy, and central subfield thickness (CST) measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.   Results: Overall, the 96 eyes of 96 patients with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 57 (10) (range: 20–74) years and a male-to-female ratio of 1:2.7 were allocated to one of two groups with comparable age, sex, diabetes mellitus duration, and presence of other comorbidities (all P >0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in baseline diabetic retinopathy status or DME type between groups (both P >0.05). In both groups, the median (IQR) BCDVA significantly improved from 0.7 (0.8) logMAR at baseline to 0.4 (0.1) logMAR at 6 months post-injection (both P = 0.001), with no statistically significant difference between groups at all follow-up visits (all P >0.05). The median (IQR) CST significantly decreased in the aflibercept group from 347 (166) µm at baseline to 180 (233) µm at 6 months post-injection, and it decreased in the ranibizumab group from 360 (180) µm at baseline to 190 (224) µm at 6 months post-injection (both P = 0.001), with no statistically significant differences between groups at all follow-up visits (all P >0.05). No serious adverse effects were documented in either group.   Conclusions: Ranibizumab and aflibercept were equally effective in achieving the desired anatomical and functional results in patients with treatment-naive DME in short-term follow-up without significant differences in injection counts between both drugs. Larger prospective, randomized, double-blinded trials with longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm our preliminary results.&nbsp

Non-penetrating deep sclerectomy versus combined trabeculotomy–trabeculectomy in primary congenital glaucoma

Background: The primary mode of therapy in children with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) and mild or no corneal edema is goniotomy, which has a high success rate. However, in developing countries, the diagnosis of PCG is usually delayed, and corneal cloudiness interferes with goniotomy. Therefore, trabeculotomy may be the best choice in such eyes. We compared the short-term efficacy and safety of primary combined trabeculotomy–trabeculectomy (primary CTT) with that of non-penetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS) in managing PCG. Methods: This prospective, randomized, comparative study included patients with PCG referred to Al-Azhar University Hospitals within a 1-year period. Eyes were randomly allocated to one of two groups: eyes in NPDS group underwent NPDS, and those in primary CTT group underwent primary CTT. Baseline and frequent postoperative assessments of intraocular pressure (IOP), cup-to-disc ratio (C/D ratio), corneal diameter, and axial length were performed for up to 6 months. The success rates were recorded in both groups. Results: Forty eyes of 26 patients were included, with 20 eyes allocated to each group. The mean (standard deviation) age of all patients was 12.9 (9.5) months, with comparable ages and sex ratios between groups (both P > 0.05). Both groups demonstrated a significant reduction in IOP and C/D ratio at each postoperative visit compared to the baseline visit (all P < 0.001), with no significant difference detected between the groups (all P > 0.05), except for a significantly lower IOP in NPDS group at 1 month (P < 0.05). The corneal diameter and axial length were comparable between groups at baseline and remained unchanged at all postoperative visits (all P > 0.05). The groups had comparable success rates (P > 0.05). No serious complications were detected. Conclusions: CTT and NPDS both yielded reasonable IOP control and reversal of cupping in eyes with PCG. We observed equal effectiveness of the surgical procedures without major safety concerns. Further large-scale clinical trials with longer follow-up periods are needed to verify our preliminary findings

Diallyl Disulfide Mitigates Cadmium Hepatotoxicity by Attenuating Oxidative Stress and TLR-4/NF-κB Signaling and Upregulating PPARγ

Background: Heavy metals can cause serious health problems that affect different organs. Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental contaminant known for its toxicological consequences on different organs. Hepatotoxicity is a serious effect of exposure to Cd with oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation playing a central role. Diallyl disulfide (DADS), an organo-sulfur compound found in garlic, is known for its cytoprotective and antioxidant effects. In this study, the effect of DADS on Cd-induced inflammation, oxidative stress and liver injury was investigated. Methods: DADS was supplemented for 14 days via oral gavage, and a single intraperitoneal dose of Cd (1.2 mg/kg body weight) was administered to rats on day 7. Blood and liver samples were collected at the end of the experiment for analyses. Results: Cd administration resulted in remarkable hepatic dysfunction, degenerative changes, necrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells, collagen deposition and other histopathological alterations. Cd increased liver malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) (p < 0.001), upregulated toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), pro-inflammatory mediators, and caspase-3 (p < 0.001) whereas decreased glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes (p < 0.001). Cd downregulated peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a transcription factor involved in inflammation and OS suppression (p < 0.001). DADS ameliorated liver injury and tissue alterations, attenuated OS and apoptosis, suppressed TLR-4/NF-κB signaling, and enhanced antioxidants. In addition, DADS upregulated PPARγ in the liver of Cd-administered rats. Conclusions: DADS is effective against Cd-induced hepatotoxicity and its beneficial effects are linked to suppression of inflammation, OS and apoptosis and upregulation of PPARγ. DADS could be valuable to protect the liver in individuals at risk of Cd exposure, pending further studies to elucidate other underlying mechanism(s)

Work stress, work-family conflict, and psychological distress among resort employees: a JD-R model and spillover theory perspectives

The hospitality industry is well-known for its challenging and high-pressure work settings. In this context, employees commonly face a multitude of stressors originating from their roles and job responsibilities, which can significantly impact their psychological wellbeing. Hence, based on the job demands-resources (JD-R) model and the spillover theory, this study aims to empirically explore the direct and indirect effect of work stress (assessed by role overload, ambiguity, and conflict) on psychological distress among frontline employees in 3- and 4-star Egyptian resorts while considering the mediating influence of work-family conflict (WFC). Four hypotheses were put to the test through the application of the PLS-SEM 4.0 version (4.0.9.9). Based on the findings from 563 frontline employees who participated in this research, the study supports the four hypotheses affirming that work-related stressors significantly contributed to employees' psychological distress. Further, the findings highlighted that these stressors significantly spill over into employees' family lives, generating conflicts between work and family roles. In addition, the results emphasized the significance of WFC as a contributing factor to employees' psychological distress. Finally, the study concluded that WFC partially mediates the link between work stress and employees' psychological distress. Based on these findings, some theoretical and practical implications for hospitality scholars, resort management, and policymakers were suggested to enhance the employees' wellbeing and mitigate psychological distress in this vital sector