Early outcome of pediatric pyeloplasty in kidneys with split renal function less than 10%: A prospective study of 25 cases

Objectives: To detect the outcome of pyeloplasty in kidneys with split renal function (SRF) less than 10% in the pediatric age group.Subjects and methods: We prospectively analyzed the data from 25 cases of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) candidate for pyeloplasty with SRF less than 10%. Abdominopelvic ultrasonography and diuretic renogram using technetium-99 m diethylenetriamine Penta acetic acid (DTPA) were done in all cases. We studied the improvement in pelvic anteroposterior diameter (APD) postoperatively. We compared pre and postoperative SRF after six months and one year.Results: The median age was 24 months (3 months–11 years), male to female 2:1. The median preoperative SRF was 5% (range: 0%–10%) and the median APD of the renal pelvis was 3 cm (range: 2.2–5). There was significant improvement of median APD 0.8 cm (range: 0.5–1.9) (P value <0.05). There was a significant postoperative improvement in the median SRF (P-value <0.05) as the median SRF after 6 months and 1 year were 21% and 20%, respectively but there was no significant difference between SRF at six months and one year (P value 0.174).Conclusion: Pyeloplasty provides high rates of functional success even in very poorly functioning kidneys with SRF ≤10% by DTPA renogram in pediatric age group

CD56 expression in breast cancer induces sensitivity to natural killer-mediated cytotoxicity by enhancing the formation of cytotoxic immunological synapse

We examined the potential value of the natural killer (NK) cell line; NK-92, as immunotherapy tool for breast cancer (BC) treatment and searched for biomarker(s) of sensitivity to NK-92-mediated cytotoxicity. The cytotoxic activity of NK-92 cells towards one breast precancerous and nine BC cell lines was analyzed using calcein-AM and degranulation assays. The molecules associated with NK-92-responsiveness were determined by differential gene expression analysis using RNA-sequencing and validated by RT-PCR, immunostaining and flow cytometry. NK-target interactions and immunological synapse formation were assessed by fluorescence microscopy. Potential biomarker expression was determined by IHC in 99 patient-derived BC tissues and 10 normal mammary epithelial tissues. Most (8/9) BC cell lines were resistant while only one BC and the precancerous cell lines were effectively killed by NK-92 lymphocytes. NK-92-sensitive target cells specifically expressed CD56, which ectopic expression in CD56-negative BC cells induced their sensitivity to NK-92-mediated killing, suggesting that CD56 is not only a biomarker of responsiveness but actively regulates NK function. CD56 adhesion molecules which are also expressed on NK cells accumulate at the immunological synapse enhancing NK-target interactions, cytotoxic granzyme B transfer from NK-92 to CD56-expressing target cells and induction of caspase 3 activation in targets. Interestingly, CD56 expression was found to be reduced in breast tumor tissues (36%) with strong inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity in comparison to normal breast tissues (80%). CD56 is a potential predictive biomarker for BC responsiveness to NK-92-cell based immunotherapy and loss of CD56 expression might be a mechanism of escape from NK-immunity. - 2019, The Author(s).We would like to thank Ms Khaoula Errafii, Dr Kumaran Mande and Dr Richard Thompson for technical support in RNA sequencing. This work was supported by the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Qatar Foundation.Scopu

Study of 9Be+12C elastic scattering at energies near the Coulomb barrier

In this work, angular distribution measurements for the elastic channel were performed for the 9Be+12C reaction at the energies ELab=13.0, 14.5, 17.3, 19.0 and 21.0 MeV, near the Coulomb barrier. The data have been analyzed in the framework of the double folding S\~ao Paulo potential. The experimental elastic scattering angular distributions were well described by the optical potential at forward angles for all measured energies. However, for the three highest energies, an enhancement was observed for intermediate and backward angles. This can be explained by the elastic transfer mechanism. Keywords: 9Be+12C, Elastic Scattering, S\~aoo Paulo Potential

Reaction mechanisms in the 6Li+59Co system

The reactions induced by the weakly bound 6Li projectile interacting with the intermediate mass target 59Co were investigated. Light charged particles singles and $\alpha$-$d$ coincidence measurements were performed at the near barrier energies E_lab = 17.4, 21.5, 25.5 and 29.6 MeV. The main contributions of the different competing mechanisms are discussed. A statistical model analysis, Continuum-Discretized Coupled-Channels calculations and two-body kinematics were used as tools to provide information to disentangle the main components of these mechanisms. A significant contribution of the direct breakup was observed through the difference between the experimental sequential breakup cross section and the CDCC prediction for the non-capture breakup cross section.Comment: 30 pages, 8 figure

Preparation, characterization, in vitro drug release and anti-inflammatory of thymoquinone-loaded chitosan nanocomposite

In this study, we formulated Thymoquinone-loaded nanocomposites (TQ-NCs) using high-pressure homogenizer without sodium tripolyphosphate. The TQ-NCs were characterized and their anti-inflammatory determined by the response of the LPS-stimulated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β. The physicochemical properties of TQ-NC were determined using different machines. TQ was fully incorporated in the highly thermal stable nanoparticles. The nanoparticles showed rapid release of TQ in the acidic medium of the gastric juice. In medium of pH 6.8, TQ-NC exhibited sustained release of TQ over a period of 100 h. The results suggest that TQ-NC nanoparticles have potential application as parenterally administered therapeutic compound. TQ-NC effectively reduce production of inflammatory cytokines by the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, indicating that they have anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, TQ-NC nanoparticles have the characteristics of efficient carrier for TQ and an effective anti-inflammatory therapeutic compound.The publication of this article was funded by the Qatar National Library

Chronic respiratory disease surveys in adults in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review of methodological approaches and outcomes

Background Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) contribute significantly towards the global burden of disease, but the true prevalence and burden of these conditions in adults is unknown in the majority of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to identify strategies - in particular the definitions, study designs, sampling frames, instruments, and outcomes - used to conduct prevalence surveys for CRDs in LMICs. The findings will inform a future RESPIRE Four Country ChrOnic Respiratory Disease (4CCORD) study, which will estimate CRD prevalence, including disease burden, in adults in LMICs.Methods We conducted a scoping review to map prevalence surveys conducted in LMICs published between 1995 and 2018. We followed Arksey and O'Malley's six-step framework. The search was conducted in OVID Medline, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, Global Health, WHO Global Index Medicus and included three domains: CRDs, prevalence and LMICs. After an initial title sift, eight trained reviewers undertook duplicate study selection and data extraction. We charted: country and populations, random sampling strategies, CRD definitions/phenotypes, survey procedure (questionnaires, spirometry, tests), outcomes and assessment of individual, societal and health service burden of disease.Results Of 36 872 citations, 281 articles were included: 132 from Asia (41 from China). Study designs were cross-sectional surveys (n = 260), cohort studies (n = 11) and secondary data analysis (n= 10). The number of respondents in these studies ranged from 50 to 512 891. Asthma was studied in 144 studies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 112. Most studies (100/144) based identification of asthma on symptom-based questionnaires. In contrast, COPD diagnosis was typically based on spirometry findings (94/112); 65 used fixed-ratio thresholds, 29 reported fixed-ratio and lower-limit-of-normal values. Only five articles used the term `phenotype'. Most studies used questionnaires derived from validated surveys, most commonly the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (n = 47). The burden/impact of CRD was reported in 33 articles (most commonly activity limitation).Conclusion Surveys remain the most practical approach for estimating prevalence of CRD but there is a need to identify the most predictive questions for diagnosing asthma and to standardise diagnostic criteria.Public Health and primary carePrevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 84.7%) were from low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 62.8%), followed by strabismus (n = 429 10.2%) and proptosis (n = 309 7.4%). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 95% CI, 12.94-24.80, and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 95% CI, 4.30-7.68). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs. © 2020 American Medical Association. All rights reserved

The dynamic interaction of twin tunnels embedded in a homogeneous half-space

Vibration generated by underground railways can be a major source of disturbance to occupants of nearby buildings. The numerical prediction of ground-borne vibration is a complicated problem that has received extensive research attention in the past decades. However, simplifying assumptions are always required in state-of-the-art numerical models in order to reduce computational effort and resources. A common simplifying assumption is to neglect the presence of a neighbouring tunnel, despite the fact that many underground railway lines around the world consist of two tunnels. This paper investigates the dynamic interaction of two parallel tunnels embedded in a homogeneous half-space. Two different methods are used to tackle the problem. The first is a fully coupled approach, where two cavities are generated in the halfspace to which the tunnels are coupled. The second adopts a superposition approach, where two sub-models each consisting of a single tunnel are superposed to calculate the vibration response of the twin tunnels. In both modelling approaches, the tunnel wall is modelled using the thick-shell theory, while the boundary element method is used to simulate the half-space of the ground. The vibration response of the twin-tunnel system on the ground surface due to a harmonic point load at one tunnel invert is studied and compared to that of a single tunnel. The efficacy of the superposition method in modelling the dynamic interaction of the twin tunnels is assessed against the fully coupled approach at different points on the surface. The results reveal the significance of the interaction between the twin tunnels and also demonstrate the accuracy of the superposition method. The feasibility of the superposition method in modelling the dynamic interaction between tunnels and piled-foundations is also highlighted

Effect of ultrasound-enhanced bee venom on selected post inguinal hernioplasty complications: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: Bee venom (BV) phonophoresis has been recommended as a non-invasive treatment for a variety of inflammatory conditions and for reducing post-operative pain. This study aimed at evaluating the impact of bee venom phonophoresis around incisions and on selected acupuncture points for the treatment of pain, inflammation, and mobility of the hip following inguinal hernioplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six male patients who had acute pain and decreased mobility of the hip after having an indirect unilateral inguinal hernioplasty with a mesh participated in this study. Patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups of 33. The bee venom phonophoresis group (Group A) received low-intensity pulsed ultrasound using BV gel, and the control group (Group B) received low-intensity pulsed ultrasound using only plain gel without BV gel. Both groups received the same regular medical care and 5 minutes of therapy each, three times a week, for three weeks postoperative. The visual analogue scale (VAS), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and hip ROM measurements were used to assess the acute pain, inflammation, and ROM pre-application (pre-treatment) and post-3 weeks of treatment (post-treatment) for both groups. RESULTS: The findings have exhibited an extremely significant difference in VAS, CRP, and hip ROM measurements in the BV phonophoresis group compared to that of the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BV delivered by phonophoresis around incisions and on selected acupuncture points has a beneficial effect in the treatment of pain, inflammation, and mobility of the hip following inguinal hernioplasty with mesh