الدبلوماسية الرسمية الرقمية وأثرها في العالقات الدولية

تعد الدبلوماسية الرقمية واحدة من أكثر وسائل تنفيذ السياسة الخارجية تأثيرا في وقتنا الحالي، ويظهر ذلك ً جليا بعدم ً مجاراة القوى الكبرى المتحكمة في النظام الدولي لتأثيرات اإلعالم ومحاوالت السيطرة عليه، وعليه دخل اإلعالم الرقمي في ميادين تنفيذ السياسات الخارجية للدول فأضحت العبا جديداَ ال يمكن تجاهل تأثيراته بحكم انتشار القنوات ً الفضائية وشبكات التواصل االجتماعي ومنتديات الحوار اإللكتروني وغيرها من انواع اإلعالم اإللكتروني الجديد. اال أن ما يهمنا فى هذا الشأن هو تأثير التحول الرقمى والتطور التكنولوجي على العمل الدبلوماسى الرسمى فى زمن المعلومات واالتصال حتى نستطيع الحديث عن الدبلوماسية الرسمية الرقمية ومحاولة استيعابها. ويمكن القول بان تأثير اإلعالم الرقمي في مجال العالقات الدولية يبرز بشكل واضح في مدى قدرة الوسائل اإلعالمية في تقديم الخبر الخارجي عبر تقنيات دمج محتوى الخبر مع تقنيات الصورة وتقديمه بصورة سلسة ومن دون تكلف بحيث يكون تمازج الصورة المعروضة منسجما مع الخبر ً المعروض عبر وسيلة اإلعال

Reno-Protective Effects of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Hypertensive Rodent Models: A systematic review.

Background and objective: Essential hypertension is a leading risk factor for chronic kidney disease, yet there is no conclusive evidence that lowering blood pressure alone improves renal outcome measures. Angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs) proposed to have renal-protective effects independent of their antihypertensive effect. This systematic review of animal studies aims to collect available information from the published literature about the ARBs' consequences in murine models and analyze it in a structured way to provide a pre-clinical baseline for future analysis of similar clinical investigations. Methods: Following the PRISMA checklist, we conducted a systematic review for quasi non-randomized controlled studies using PubMed, Embase, Science-Direct, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar to determine the effects of ARBs on kidney functions. Eligible articles report the ARBs' effect on proteinuria, albuminuria, and glomerular filtration rate in murine models of hypertension. Outcomes were present as Mean ± Standard Error of Mean (SEM) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: This preliminary analysis includes ten out of 56 total eligible articles after quality assessment, reporting twelve renal outcome measures. Two studies showed improvement in CrCl versus one study showing no difference. Four out of five studies showed a reduction in proteinuria compared to the control group. All three studies showed a significant reduction in albuminuria compared to control and other antihypertensives. A study Evaluating BUN showed no difference. Nine outcomes supported the reno-protective effect of ARBs on different hypertensive models with various ARBs and different follow-up durations. Low dose valsartan 10mg/kg was showing no significant effect across two different studies. Conclusion: Preliminary results are encouraging. ARBs contribute to improvement in renal biomarkers in different hypertensive models regardless of their BP-lowering effect

Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy Versus Bioptron on Psoriasis

Purpose: The current study was carried-out to examine the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy versus bioptron on psoriasis. Subjects and Methods: 60 patients of both sexes with psoriasis contributed in this study and they were aged from 30 to 60 years. They were randomized into two groups of the same number (A and B). Group (A) were given low level laser therapy (LLLT) and medical care, while group (B) were given bioptron light therapy (BLT) and the same medical care that received in group (A). The variables included Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and Dermoscopic finding were measured pre and post intervention program on psoriatic patients in both groups. Both groups were given treatment program 3 sessions a week for 8 weeks. Results: following 8 consecutive weeks, both groups showed statistically significant improvement in all outcome measures, however there was a significant difference between them post treatment, favoring group (A). Conclusion: Low level laser therapy and bioptron were beneficial treatment modalities in psoriatic patients and LLLT may be more effective in treating psoriasis

Photometric and Spectroscopic Analysis of the SX Phe Star BL Cam

In the present paper, we report the photometric and spectroscopic observations obtained by the 1.88 m telescope at the Kottamia astronomical observatory of the pulsating star BL Cam. Fourier analysis of the light curves reveals that the fundamental mode has two harmonics. The O-C method is used to establish the period changes. So far, the analysis has been very successful in mapping the pulsation amplitude of the star across the instability strip. By using the formalism of Eddington and Plakidis (1929), we found significant results and strong indications of the evolutionary period change. A total of 55 new maximum light timings are reported. New values of (1/P) dP/dt are estimated using the O-C diagram based on all newly obtained times of maximum light combined with those taken from the literature, assuming the periods are decreasing and changing smoothly. To compute the effective temperature and surface gravity of the star, we performed model atmosphere analysis on its spectra. The physical parameters of the star are calculated and compared with the evolutionary models

Smart Touch Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation versus Cryoballoon Ablation of Pulmonary Veins in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

AIM: Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of pulmonary veins isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) using two new different technologies, cryoballoon (CB) ablation and radiofrequency ablation with contact force (CF)-sensing catheters. METHODS: Prospective single-center evaluation, carried out from January 2016 to June 2018 in Critical Care Medicine Department – Cairo University, comparing CF radiofrequency (Thermocool® SmartTouch, Biosense Webster, Inc.) (CF group) with CB ablation (Arctic Front Advance 28 mm CB, Medtronic, Inc.) (CB group), in regards to procedural safety and efficacy, as well as recurrence at 12 months. Overall, 50 consecutive patients were enrolled (25 in each group). RESULTS: The characteristics of patients of both the groups were similar (46.9 ± 11.2 years, the proportion of women 36%, mean documented AF duration 3 ± 2.3 years, mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 1.4 ± 1.3, and mean HAS-BLED 1.4 ± 0.6). Duration of the procedure was significantly lower in the CB group (171.7 ± 15.24 vs. 199.3 ± 18.94 min, p = 0.002), with a longer duration of fluoroscopy and X-ray exposure in the CB group than the CF group but statistically non-significant difference (58.60 ± 11.57 vs. 48.7 ± 13.86 min and 6273 ± 4934 cGy cm² vs. 6853 ± 5069 cGy cm², p = 0.1 and p = 0.2, respectively). Overall complication rate was similar in both groups: 2 (8%) in each group. At 12 months, AF recurrence occurred in 7 patients (28%) in the CF group and in 9 patients (36%) in the CB group (log rank p = 0.682). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary vein isolation using CF-guided RF and second-generation CB leads to comparable single-procedure arrhythmia-free survival at up to 12 months with similar overall complication rate

Diffusion-weighted images and its application in the clinical diagnostic testing of endometrial focal lesions

Background: Numerous endometrial disorders can create several difficulties for the radiologist due to the overlapping of imaging characteristics and diverse endometrial pathologies. The most frequently utilized imaging tool for diagnosing and characterizing endometrial focal lesions is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion weighted images (DWI).Objective: We conducted this study to determine the efficacy of MRI with DWI in improving the diagnostic accuracy of endometrial focal lesions, especially in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant focal endometrial masses.Patients and Methods: This study recruited 36 women (21 postmenopausal and 15 premenopausal) who experienced vaginal bleeding and had endometrial thickness and focal endometrial lesions with a distinct echo pattern on ultrasound (US) examination. The age of patients was between 27 to 85 years, with an average of 45.2 years. Ethics Committee approval was obtained in addition to written informed consent from all included patients.Results: The 36 patients included in this study, were classified according to their lesions histopathological results; Benign group (15 lesions; 41.67%) and malignant group (21 lesions; 58.33%). The most common benign lesion was endometrial polyp (9/15) while the most common malignant lesion was endometrial carcinoma (21/21). In the current study MRI with diffusion could correctly diagnose 33 lesions out of 36 lesions, achieving (91.6%) sensitivity, (100%) specificity, (100%) positive predictive value (PPV), (95.6%) negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy (97.05 %).Conclusion: Integrating DWI and ADC mapping at a high b value in pelvic MRI examination improves the sensitivity, specificity, and precision of diagnosing endometrial focal lesions

Induction, immobilization, modification and natural inhibitors of α-glucosidase from Penicillum chrysogenum

α-glucosidase (EC: 3.2.1.20) was isolated from Penicillum chrysogenum. The enzyme was enhanced by plant growth regulators such as gibberellic acid (GA3), benzylaminopurine (BAP) and kinetin. Dansyl chloride inhibited the enzyme at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mM with T0.5 67, 52.2, 34.4 and 23.3 min, respectively. The substrate offered partial protection for the enzyme against dansyl chloride inhibition. The enzyme was activated by Ca2+ and Mg2+. However, Pb2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Ni2+ and Hg2+ inhibited α-glucosidase activity. The enzyme was immobilized on Ca alginate and the optimal concentration for 3% w/v. The optimal concentration of CaCl2 was recorded at 3 mM. The optimal CaCl2 concentration and the optimum time for immobilization was 3mM and 4hr. The enzyme was inhibited by aqueous extracts of Datura stramonium, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Hyoscymus muticus and Cynodon dactylon. The IC50 values for the four extracts were 59.1, 73.6, 68.5 and 77.1 µg ml-1, respectively

Impact of body mass index on the incidence and severity of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis

Background: Pancreatitis is a potential major complication after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (post-ERCP pancreatitis; PEP). Obesity has been associated with increased severity of acute pancreatitis. However, the correlation between obesity and PEP is controversial. Therefore, our study aimed to clarify the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the incidence and severity of PEP. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to elucidate the relationship between BMI and PEP in all patients who underwent ERCP in a tertiary referral center between January 2009 and October 2016. Patient characteristics and procedure details were collected. PEP was defined by consensus criteria. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association between BMI and PEP. Results: The analysis included 2236 patients whose BMI was recorded and had adequate follow up (921 with BMI≥30 kg/m2, 1315 with BMI<30 kg/m2). PEP was diagnosed in 107 (4.8%) patients. PEP was seen in 49 obese patients (5.3%) and 58 non-obese patients (4.4%). In the univariate and multivariate analysis BMI≥30 kg/m2 was not associated with PEP (odds ratio 1.2, 95%CI 0.8-1.8; P=0.32). A subgroup analysis of different BMI subcategories found that BMI was not associated with the incidence or severity of PEP. Conclusion: In the largest study to date, neither obesity nor low body weight increased the incidence or severity of PEP

Three Dimensional (3D) Echocardiography as a Tool of Left Ventricular Assessment in Children with Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Comparison to Cardiac MRI

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) is Strong prognostic indicators for DCM. Cardiac MRI (CMRI) is a preferred technique for LV volumes and EF assessment due to high spatial resolution and complete volumetric datasets. Three-dimensional echocardiography is a promising new technique under investigations. AIM: Evaluate 3D echocardiography as a tool in LV assessment in DCM children about CMRI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 20 DCM children (LVdiastolic diameter &lt; 2 Z score, LVEF &lt; 35%) at Children s Hospital, Ain-Shams University (gp1) (mean age 6.6 years) were compared to 20 age and sex-matched children as controls (gp2). Patients were subjected to: clinical examination, conventional echocardiography, automated 3D LV quantification, 3D speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) (VIVID E9 Vingmed, Norway) and CMRI (Philips Achieva Nova, 1.5 Tesla scanner) for LV end systolic volume (LVESV), LVend diastolic volume (LVEDV) that were indexed to body surface area, EF% and wall motion abnormalities assessment. RESUTS: No statistically significant difference was found between automated 3D LV quantification echocardiography, 3D-STE, and CMRI in ESV/BSA and EDV/BSA assessment (p = 1, 0.99 respectively), between automated LV quantification echocardiography and CMRI in EF% assessment (p = 0.99) and between CMRI and 3D-STE in LV Global hypokinesia detection (P = 0.255). As for segmental hypokinesia CMRI was more sensitive [45% of patients vs. 40%, (P = 0,036), basal septal hypokinesia 85% vs. 75%, (p = 0.045), mid septal hypokinesia 80% vs. 65%, (p = 0.012) and lateral wall hypokinesia 75% vs. 65%, (p = 0.028)]. CONCLUSION: Automated 3D LV quantification echocardiography and 3D-STE are reliable tools in LV volumetric and systolic function assessment about CMRIas a standard method. 3D speckle echocardiography is comparable to CMRI in global wall hypokinesia detection but less sensitive in segmental wall hypokinesia which mandates further studies