Data management tools for NFFA-EUROPE project

This thesis discusses and presents some developments toward new data services within the EU NFFAEUROPE project. The work performed originates by the need to rationalize and organize large scientific data-sets using a FAIR approach. The activity leverages on results obtained in previous MHPC work and tackle some of the issues about FAIR principle that are coming out due to an increase in size of variety of the original datasets. More specifically the overall goal of the thesis is to setup well organized data services to manage all the SEM images coming from different sources and partner within the NFFA-EUROPE project. The specific goals within this thesis are the following; \u2022 Creation of python application to collect and enrich metadata for SEM images coming from different sources. \u2022 Develop a massive parallel processing approach to be able to reduce time in collecting metadata on a large amount of images. \u2022 Plan and develop of an easy to setup and portable computational ecosystem to accomplish the above goal based on Kubernetes and Spark, with the idea to easily deploy in on different computational infrastructure. \u2022 Measure performance on different computational infrastructure of the massive data processing

Video-assisted Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery versus Conventional Mitral Surgery in Rheumatic Patients

Background: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery became an attractive option because of its cosmetic advantages over the conventional approach. The superiority of the minimally invasive approach regarding other aspects is still debatable. The aim of our study was to determine the potential benefits of minimally invasive mitral valve replacement with intraoperative video assistance over conventional surgery. Methods: This is a single-center prospective cohort study that included 60 patients with rheumatic heart disease who underwent mitral valve replacement. Patients were divided into two groups: group (A) included patients who had conventional sternotomy (n= 30), and group (B) included patients who had video-assisted minimally invasive mitral valve replacement (n= 30). Intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared between both groups. Results: Mortality occurred in one patient in the group (A). Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 118.93 ± 29.84 minutes vs. 64.73 ± 19.16 minutes in group B and A respectively (p< 0.001), and ischemic time was 102.27 ± 30.03 minutes vs. 53.67± 18.46 minutes in group B and A respectively (P < 0.001). Ventilation time was 2.77± 2.27 vs. 6.28 ± 4.48 hours in group B and A respectively (p< 0.001) and blood transfusion was 0.50 ± 0.63 vs. 2.83 ± 1.34 units in group B and A respectively (p< 0.001).  ICU stay was 1.73 ± 0.64 days in the group (B) vs. 4.47 ± 0.94 days in group A (p< 0.001). Postoperative bleeding was 353.33 ± 146.77 ml in the group (B) vs. 841.67 ± 302.03 ml in group A (p <0.001). No conversion to full sternotomy was reported in group B. In group (B), two cases (6.6%) required re-exploration for bleeding vs. four cases (13.2%) in group (A) (p=0.67). The hospital stay was 6.13 ± 1.59 days in the group (B) vs. 13.27 ± 7.62 days in group A (p< 0.001). Four cases (13.3%) developed mediastinitis in group A and in the group (B), there was one case of acute right lower limb embolic ischemia. Conclusion: Video-assisted minimally invasive mitral operations could be a safe alternative to conventional sternotomy with the potential of lesser morbidity and earlier hospital discharge

Joint Coding for Proactive Caching with Changing File Popularities

Proactive caching is a promising technique used to minimize peak traffic rates by storing popular data, in advance, at different nodes in the network. We study a cellular network with one base station (BS) communicating with multiple mobile units (MUs). The BS has a number of cached files to be delivered to the MUs upon demand, and the popularities of these files are changing over time. We show that proactively and constantly updating the MU finite caches and jointly encoding the delivery of different demanded files to the MUs over different time slots minimize the delivery sum rate. We propose two different schemes for a two different scenarios, where the file popularities over time can be either arbitrary increasing or decreasing for the first scheme and decreases with demand for the second scheme. Numerical results show the benefits of the proposed schemes, over conventional caching schemes, in terms of reducing the delivery sum rate. 2017 IEEE.This work is supported by NSERC discovery grant. The research work of Tamer Khattab was made possible by grant number NPRP 7-923-2-344 from Qatar National Research Fund, QNRF (a member of the Qatar Foundation, QF). The statements made herein are the sole responsibilityScopu

Absence of Typical Haversian System from the Compact Bone of Some Reptile and Bird Species

Background and Objective: Mammalian compact bone is composed mostly of Haversian system. Although there are many studies describing the typical Haversian system in mammals, there are few studies conducted on bones from non-mammalian species. The objective of the current study was to investigate the existence of the typical Haversian system in compact bones from reptiles and birds. Materials and Methods: Femora were collected from geckos, Nile monitors, sparrows, ducks and geese. Samples were then, fixed in 10% paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or Von Kossa and then examined using light microscopy. Results: The current study showed different histological structures of compact bones from studied species and an absence of the typical Haversian system seen in mammals. The compact bone of geckos was mostly avascular, while Nile monitor bone was highly vascular. Sparrow bone showed one side vascular and the other side avascular. The vascularity was represented by primary vascular canals surrounded by a few irregularly arranged osteocytes inside their lacunae forming primary osteons. Bone tissue from ducks and geese were similar and were composed mostly of dense Haversian tissue, while some areas had primary osteons. Conclusion: The compact bone microstructure in some reptile and bird species lack the typical Haversian system described in mammals. This will be of a great importance in developing a better understanding of long bone anatomy and physiology in different species

The influence of ABO blood groups on sensitization of potential kidney transplant recipients

In this study 50 chronic renal failurepatients were tested for blood ABO groups and forthe presence of lymphocytotoxic antibodies against apanel of 20 donor lymphocytes (of known HLAtypes) using microcytotoxicity assay. The influenceof other factors affecting sensitization, such asnumber of blood transfusions, pregnancies andprevious graft rejections were analyzed too. Theresults showed that41.2 % of blood group 0 patients,61.1 % of group A I, 90% of group B, and 80% ofgroup A IB are sensitized (PRA> 10%).These results pointed to higher incidence ofsensitization in patients with blood groups B andA IB as compared to groups A I and 0.Our data suggest an impact of the ABO system on thesensitization phenomenon

EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCES FOR THE PROMISING HERAPEUTIC ROLE OF VITIS VINIFERA SEED EXTRACT AGAINST NONALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS

Objective: The present study was planned to investigate the possible therapeutic effect of methanolic extract of Vitis vinifera seeds on high fat diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in forty adult female Wistar rats.Methods: The animals were divided into four groups, (G1)was served as healthy control group and the other three groups received high fat diet for 32 weeks for induction of NASH were assigned as follow: (G2) in which the animals bearing NASH were left untreated, (G3) in which the animals bearing NASH were treated with Vitis vinifera seed extract in a dose of 0.28g/kg b. wt (GSH) and (G4) in which the animals bearing NASH were treated with Vitis vinifera seed extract in a dose of 0.14g/kg b. wt (GSL).Results: The results revealed significant increase in serum ALT activity, plasma glucose, insulin levels, serum resist in, NF-κB, TNF-α, HGF levels, hepatic TNF-α and HGF gene expression levels. While, serum albumin, adiponectin levels and hepatic adiponectin gene expression level were decreased significantly in NASH group. Conversely, treatment of NASH groups with GSH or GSL resulted in significant decrease in serum ALT activity, plasma glucose, insulin levels, serum resist in, NF-κB, TNF-α, HGF levels, hepatic TNF-α and HGF gene expression levels. However, serum albumin, adiponectin levels and hepatic adiponectin gene expression level were increased significantly as a consequence of treatment with GSH or GSL.Conclusions: The efficacy of Vitis vinifera extract against NASH might be attributed to its strong hepatoprotective potential and powerful anti-inflammatory activity in addition to its potent role in ameliorating insulin resistance indices.Â

Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter species infection among neonatal sepsis

Background: Neonatal septicemia is regarded as one of the leading causes of mortality as well as morbidity globally. There is emerging evidence that multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) and mortality are linked in the scientific literature.Objective: It was the goal of this work to improve the prognosis of neonates with Acinetobacter species through early detection of infection and risk factors associated with increased mortality and effective management.Patients and Methods: Our study was done on 60 neonates who were suspected to having sepsis at Zagazig University Hospitals, Pediatric Department. All neonatal blood samples were taken aseptically and the bacteria that caused septicemia were identified. Acinetobacter species were identified. Drug sensitivity tests were performed on a variety of risk variables.Results: Only nine patients had Acinetobacter infection (15% of all patients) and two thirds of them had multi drug resistance (resistant for ≥3 antimicrobials). Gestational age more than or equal 36 weeks was protective factor against getting infection with MDR-Acinetobacter among the studied patients. Acinetobacter was most sensitive to ciprofloxacin and tigecycline antibiotic, while it was most resistant to sulphamethoxazole /trimethoprim antibioticsConclusion: Neonatal MDR Acinetobacter septicemia is on the rise, and it's connected with high morbidity as well as mortality rates. There must be an infection control policy in place at every neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in order to control Acinetobacter infection and enhance outcomes

Cerebral sinus thrombosis secondary to epidural anaesthesia

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is an uncommon, and yet potentially fatal, condition; we present a rare case of CVST as a complication of epidural anaesthesia used for caesarean section, we review different aspects of CVST in terms of epidemiology, aetiology, investigations, and treatment, as well as most acceptable theory explaining the pathogenesis in our case repor