Profiling the factors affecting the entrepreneurial intention of the egyptian universities students

Students intentions toward being an entrepreneur is considered as a good way for economic growth; this can be done by creating new businesses and new jobs which in turn will solve one major problem in Egypt, which is the unemployment problem. Therefore, it is important to make sure that university students are qualified and have the required and needed skills, characteristics and competencies. These qualifications make them being able to start and manage their own businesses in the future as different studies show the role of entrepreneurship education on increasing the entrepreneurial intention among university students. According to the Egyptian context, the paper aims to provide different propositions about the effect of entrepreneurship education on increasing the intentions of Egyptian universities students, the main psychological characteristics that an entrepreneur must possess, and testing the appropriateness of the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen 1991) in explaining the intention. The paper relies on exploratory methodology to reach testable research propositions through review of relevant literature, analysis of secondary data and qualitative research conducted with concerned parties

Influence of genistein and diadizine on regularity of estrous cycle in cyclic female Wistar rat: interaction with estradiol receptors and vascular endothelial growth factor

Background: Isoflavones are estrogenic compounds that exist in soy, clover, and peanuts. They are selective estrogen receptor modulators. Aim: The study was planned to explain the interactions of isoflavones with estrogen receptors alpha (ERα), beta (ERβ), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions in ovarian and uterine tissues during different stages of the estrous cycle of regular cyclic female Wistar rats. Methods: Thirty-two regular cyclic females were divided equally into control group: fed casein-based diet and isoflavones group: fed casein-based diet and gavaged 50 mg/kg/day soy isoflavones extract 40%. The regularity of estrus cycles was monitored. Final body weight (FBW), weight gain (BWG), and ovarian and uterine weights were estimated. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry for ERα, Erβ, and VEGF in ovarian and uterine tissues were performed. Results: All females (100%, n = 16) in control group showed regularity in estrous cycle compared to 62.5% (n = 10) in isoflavones group. Estrus and diestrus phases revealed prolongation and shortening in isoflavones rats than control, respectively. Nonsignificant variation was noted in the duration of the whole cycle of both groups. FBW and BWG significantly decreased however, ovarian and uterine weights increased significantly in all estrous phases of isoflavones group than control. Histopathology demonstrated an increase in number of follicles/ovaries besides, hyperplasia and proliferation of luminal epithelium with hydropic degeneration in the isoflavones group. Also, uterine connective tissue stroma showed edema in the isoflavones group during all estrous phases. Immunostaining percentages of ERα, Erβ, and VEGF protein expression were significantly elevated in the isoflavones group during all estrous phases. Conclusion: Isoflavones induced irregularity of the estrous cycle that was encountered by increased and altered ERα, Erβ, and VEGF expressions in ovarian and uterine tissues

TAXONOMICAL STUDIES ON CERTAIN STREPTOMYCETES EXHIBITING ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY ISOLATED FROM EGYPTIAN SOILS

The easy access and appropriate use of antimicrobials led to selection and spread of resistant microorganisms strains. It is imperative to search and screen for new and more effective antimicrobials from microorganisms found in the environment. The objective of this work is to isolate streptomycetes from soil of Kalubiya Governorate in order to screen them for antimicrobial activity against reference Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria as well as unicellular and filamentous fungi. A total of 500 strains of streptomycetes were isolated. Sixty strains (12 %) showed antimicrobial activity. The morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical characters were studied for identification of the isolates at species level. The obtain-ed results revealed that the dominant group was Streptomyces lydicus

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Thyrotoxic burden in the ICU and the value of bedside thyroid ultrasound in the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis and thyrotoxic cardiac emergencies in critically-ill patients

Background: Thyrotoxicois is not uncommonly suspected in many ICU patients. There are many clinical and laboratory fallacies that may hinder the rapid diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis in ICU patients especially those presenting with cardiac emergencies. Aim: First, to estimate the thyrotoxic burden in the ICU. Second, to assess the usefulness of thyroid ultrasound in early evaluation of suspected thyroid disease in critically ill patients especially those with life threatening cardiac emergencies. Patients and methods: 854 patients admitted in 2 general intensive care units from Jan to November 2011 were evaluated. All patients suspected to have thyrotoxicosis were assessed by thyroid ultrasound and by measurement of serum levels of Ft3,Ft4,TSH, echocardiography and continuous ECG monitoring. Radioisotope scanning was done in selected cases. Results: Out of 854 admitted patients, 113 (13.2%) were suspected to have thyrotoxicosis. Thyrotoxicosis was proved in 28 patients (24.7% of suspected cases and 3.3% of all admitted cases): 15% of all suspected cases had Graves’ disease and 9.7% had toxic nodules. Most diagnosed patients (No: 16, 59.3%) had masked thyrotoxicosis. Seventy-six patients (67.3% of suspected patients) were admitted as critically ill cardiac patients and presented mainly by cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, acute chest pain and malignant hypertension and 21 of these patients (27.6%) were proved to be thyrotoxic. Conclusion: Thyrotoxicosis and thyrotoxic cardiac emergencies are not uncommon in the ICU and should be thoroughly investigated as most cases are clinically masked. Thyroid ultrasound is a feasible, rapid and accurate bedside diagnostic tool for suspected thyrotoxic emergencies in ICU

Role Of Peroxisome Proliferator- Activated Receptor Gamma2 (Ppar-γG2) Gene Polymorphism In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To find out the relation between Pro 12 Ala polymorphism of peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor gamma2 (PPAR-g2) gene with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the possible role of this gene polymorphism as a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects and Methods: Subjects of this study were classified into 3 groups: (15) Apparently healthy lean individuals (Group I), (15) obese non diabetic individuals (group II) and (24) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (group III). This group divided into: Diabetic non obese patients (12 patients) (Group IIIa) and: Diabetic obese patients (12 patients) (Group IIIb). The subjects were subjected to clinical examination, serum insulin level and estimation of PPAR-g2 gene polymorphism by Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Frequency of Pro allele was significant increase in diabetic non obese patients& diabetic non obese patients when compared to control group (P= 0.048 and 0.003, respectively). However, there was no difference between obese non diabetic group and control group as regard the allelic frequencies (p= 0.462). While diabetic non obese patients had higher Pro allele frequency (p= 0.003) than in diabetic obese patients (p= 0.048). Insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) was significantly increased in Pro/Pro carriers in group II and group III when compared to that of Pro/Ala plus Ala/Ala carriers (p= 0.004 and 0.023; respectively). Conclusion: Pro12 allele of PPAR-g2 gene could be a genetic risk factor for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Incidence and risk factors of retinopathy in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin

SummaryBackgroundData are scarce on ocular complications in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the development of retinal lesions induced by interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.MethodsWe prospectively analyzed 84 patients with chronic hepatitis C (total 168 eyes), who underwent combination pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy for 48 weeks. Visual acuity, color vision, and visual field were measured, and a fundus assessment was made at baseline, at 12, 24, and 48 weeks post the commencement of treatment, and at follow-up, 1 month after treatment. Past medical and ocular histories, visual symptoms, and the results of a full ophthalmologic assessment were recorded for each patient.ResultsTwenty-two patients (26%) developed retinopathy. Retinal hemorrhage was observed in eight patients. Four patients complained of visual disturbance. Retinopathy disappeared in 16 patients (73%) despite the continuation of combination therapy. However, retinopathy persisted in six patients with retinal hemorrhage and three of them stopped treatment. A comparison of the clinical backgrounds between the patients with and without retinopathy showed no significant differences with regard to gender, HCV RNA level, white blood cell count, platelet count, hemoglobin level, or fibrosis score. However patients with retinopathy were of older age, had a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and more often did not respond to therapy. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension and diabetes were factors predicting retinopathy.ConclusionRetinopathy associated with interferon α-2a and ribavirin combination therapy tends to develop in patients of older age with hypertension and diabetes