Stromal Stem Cells: Nature, Biology and Potential Therapeutic Applications

Stromal cells are connective tissue cells of any organ. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), are multipotent progenitors, which were first described by Caplan and colleagues in 1991. MSCs hold great potential for regenerative medicine because of their ability for self-renewal and differentiation into tissue-specific cells such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. Recent studies indicate that MSCs resemble pericytes and emerge from the peripheral stromal region surrounding blood vessels, thus clarifying their broad regenerative potential in adult tissues. The development of uniform protocols for both preparation and characterization of MSCs, including standardized functional assays for evaluation of their biological potential, are critical factors contributing to their clinical utility. Nowadays, due to the capacity of modulating immunological responses, supporting hematopoiesis and repairing tissues, MSCs have been widely used to treat immune-based disorders, such as Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Based on animal experiments and clinical studies, the most successful clinical application of MSCs is in the field of hematological disease

Effect of Cognitive Rehabilitation on Improving Cognitive Function and Activities of Daily Living among Elderly Patients With Stroke at Assiut University Hospital

Cognitive impairment is a frequent consequence of stroke. The study aimed to measure the effect of cognitive rehabilitation of elderly patients with stroke on their cognitive function and activities of daily living. Quasi experimental research design were used in this study. This study was conducted at neuropsychiatric, physical medicine and rehabilitation departments at Assiut University hospital, their number were 70 elderly stroke patients aged 60 years and above, (study group, 35, control group, 35) . Six tools were utilized ,tool 1: Socio- demographic characteristics and questions about stroke tool II: Mini-Mental State Examination tool III: Digit Span tool IV: Logical memory tool V: Geriatric Depression Scale. Tool VI:  Barthel Index scale. The rehabilitation program: consist of five practical session about spatial memory, attention and concentration, visual attention, fish face task and N400 task and three theoretical session about health education for diabetes mellitus, hypertension and prevention of recurrent stroke. The main result of the present study revealed that a significant statistical difference was existed between both studied groups in relation to Min Mental State Examination  (P-value = 0.000*). Conclusion: Application of training program about cognitive impairment  of stroke elderly patients have significant therapeutic effect on cognitive function, and on activities of daily living. Recommendation: Routine use of screening assessment of cognitive impairment in every stroke patient for early detection, and Health education to the elderly patients and caregivers about the possible ways of prevention of recurrent stroke and ways for controlling of diabetes and hypertension Keywords: Cognitive rehabilitation, Elderly, Stroke patient

Rising Food Prices and Their Implications for Education in Africa

Using cross sectional data of Sub-Saharan African countries from 2006-2009, this paper studies the relationship between food crisis, and child education outcomes. Although the study finds a significant and negative direct impact of food crisis on primary completion rates in the region, the same cannot be said for primary enrolment rate, and gender disparities. Even the highest food inflation countries have achieved a slowly progress in primary enrolment in the food crisis period. The results show that children enter schools, but parents may find it so costly to send them, and never complete the primary level. The paper also finds that other factors such as per capita income, student expenditure, and government expenditure can be helpful in explaining the child education outcomes in the region. At the same time, our findings are sobering: In sub-Saharan African countries, international educational goals are unlikely to be reached by 2015, and poor child education outcomes are frequently widespread, in the context of tight government budgets, there is an urgent increase in international financial support needed to help the region to attain quantum and quality of human capital

Assessment of Self-Care Practice of Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis at Cairo University Hospitals

Modalities of renal replacement therapy (RRT), hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation, mean an important challenge for the patient's own disease management. By focusing on regaining and promoting self-care, patients with ESRD are encouraged to use their potential for personal development and to increase their responsibility for their health and well-being. Aim: the current study was carried out to assess self care practice of patients on maintenance hemodialysis at teaching hospital. Research questions: Q. How do patients on maintenance hemodialysis care of themselves? Design: A descriptive correlational research design was utilized to achieve the aim of the study. Sample: 56 adult male and female patients on maintenance hemodialysis for more than one year were study subjects. Setting: The study was conducted at King Fahd Unit, university hospital; Cairo. Tools: For the purpose of this study, an interviewing questionnaire of assessing self care practices of patients on maintenance hemodialysis was utilized. Results: The subjects' mean age (40.83±14.17) years; More than half of the subjects were females (51.8%). (53.6%) were married, 2/3 (66.1%) need  help, the duration of being treated with hemodialysis (37.5%) was between 3->6 years, (64.3%) having co-morbid diseases and other health problems such as hypertension, diabetes and systemic lupus; (73.2%) have the shunt in left arm, (92.9%) are scheduled for three times a week, (91.1%) practice and achieve their activities independently, almost all of the subjects provide care for shunt site most of the days , and (94.6 %) drinking more than the allowed amount of fluid/ day. Keywords: self care practice, assessment, and hemodialysi

Quality of Life Among of Menopausal Women

Background: The transition through menopause is a life event that can profoundly affect quality of life. More than 80% of women report physical and psychological symptoms that commonly accompany menopause, with varying degrees of severity and life disruption. Studies find that most women experience at least one or more of these symptoms as they transition through the postmenopausal stage of life. The aim of this study was to assess the menopause related symptoms and their impact on the women’s quality of life. Subjects and methods: A descriptive design was carried out in Obstetrics and Gynecological department at maternity and children hospital in Makkah Al Mukkarrmah..  Convenient sample composed of 90 women at range of from 40-60years were recruited in the study. Interviewing sheet that was designed by the investigators and Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) were used to collect the data. Results: The present study showed that the most severe symptoms in vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual domains were, hot flushes (29%), experiencing poor memory (48.3%), being dissatisfied with their personal life (44.8%), Low backache (41.9%), and change in your sexual desire (36.8%). The overall scores of menopausal quality of life for each MENQOL domain are indicated that the highest mean score in sexual domain (3.19± 1.99), following by psychosocial (2.94± 1.45) then vasomotor (2.55± 1.53) and finally physical symptoms (2.28± .749). Conclusion: The present study concluded that most severe symptoms in vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual domains were, hot flushes, experiencing poor memory, being dissatisfied with their personal life, low backache, and change in your sexual desire. The mean scores of physical and vasomotor domain were significantly more in postmenopausal (PM) group then menopausal transition MT group. While the mean scores of each domain suggest that menopausal symptoms were associated with decrease in women quality of life. The current study recommended that: Health care providers need to play a more visible and instrumental role in continuously assessing menopausal women's needs as well as implement appropriate health educational programs. Also further research addressing women's health needs is also essential for improving the quality of life of menopausal women in Saudi Arabia Keywords: Menopause – Menopausal symptoms- Quality of life - MENQOL

The Impact of Food Crisis on Government Debt in the Arab Region

This study explores the Impact of Food Prices Crisis on budget deficits in the Arab region. Panel data is used for the period of 2000 to 2012 in sixteen countries in the region. We run multi regression models which are used to estimate the Impact of food crisis on government debt in high, middle and low income countries before and after the food crisis period in 2006. The analysis reveals that the changes in food prices have a negative and significant impact only on the low and middle income countries' government debt before the crisis. We also found that the slow growth in GDP after the global economic and food crisis period, political instability, lagged deficits, real interest rates, and unemployment were also important determinants of government debt in most of the models estimated

The Impact of Food Crisis on Government Debt in the Arab Region

This study explores the Impact of Food Prices Crisis on budget deficits in the Arab region. Panel data is used for the period of 2000 to 2012 in sixteen countries in the region. We run multi regression models which are used to estimate the Impact of food crisis on government debt in high, middle and low income countries before and after the food crisis period in 2006. The analysis reveals that the changes in food prices have a negative and significant impact only on the low and middle income countries' government debt before the crisis. We also found that the slow growth in GDP after the global economic and food crisis period, political instability, lagged deficits, real interest rates, and unemployment were also important determinants of government debt in most of the models estimated

Universities, Industrial Clusters, and Economic Development in Egypt

This paper explores the role of industrial clusters in the development of the Egyptian universities & research institutes (URIs), and economic performance. The study hypothesizes that the large industrial clusters in Egypt are old and traditional, and have weak impact on URIs, and economic performance. To this end, we examine Egypt regions where that contain long-existing and traditional industrial clusters are compared to all other regions. The analysis is conducted separately for seven industries, and by using a Mann-Whitney U test and a spearman correlation we find that the more recent and technical industrial clusters in Egypt have a positive and significant impact on URIs , but they have a weak impact on economic performance. The Egyptian experience suggests that the most important contribution of clusters to URIS is one in which corporations contribute money to universities, or enter in to informal consulting arrangements with a professor, neither of which typically of professional patent applications or even through the mobility of university graduates

Employment Status, Income Equality, and Poverty in Egypt

The present study examines trends in employment status in Egypt in an important era of democratic transition. It examines determinants of different labor force participation by gender. The empirical analysis is based on the World Values Survey of the fifth wave (2005-2008). A comparative descriptive approach is used to analyze the difference between males' and females' employment status. The study uses logistic regression analysis to examine the determinants of different labor force participation, and to examine the impact of different labor force practices and income equality on poverty. Empirical findings support a gender gap with respect to accessibility to full time paid work, only young females, regardless their computer skills, education attainment, marital status are more likely to be engaged in full time work, while those in middle age are more properly engaged in unpaid employment. The study also finds a gender gap in job search intensity. We also conclude that there is no linkage between employment status and poverty, however we find a positive and significant impact of females 'perception regarding the importance of having more equal distribution of income and their perception regarding the importance of poverty problem. These results show that women in Egypt are less engaged in decent jobs because they are less educated, having lower skills, more affected by income inequality and poverty. Social security should be reformed to cover all women, reforms are also needed for pensions, and unemployment insurance, to cover all retired, old age, care –giving, and unemployed individual