Online privacy issues: Awareness, attitudes, and perceptions amongst internet users in Egypt

This study gauges the level of awareness, attitudes towards, and perceptions of online privacy policies for Internet users in Egypt. It examines how demographics as in age, gender, and education may affect the level of Internet users’awareness, attitudes, and perceptions of online privacy issues. Further, it surveys what personal information Internet users in Egypt perceive as private and accept to share with web providers, search engines or third parties. The theory of Communication Privacy Management (CPM), which was developed by Sandra Petronio, poised that Internet users choose and manage the usage of privacy policies and rules based on their cultural values, gender differences, motivations, risks and related impact. This proposition is very important for this research since it will assist in assessing the level of users’ awareness, attitudes towards, and perceptions of online privacy policies against different variables such as gender, age, and education differences

EXAMINATION OF ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF LEBANESE EXTERNAL AUDITORS

This article proposes to analyze the ethical reasoning of Lebanese external auditors with regard to the extent of their compliance with the code of professional conduct. As part of a positivist epistemological format, a quantitative methodology was employed. The data were collected using semi-directive survey that was sent to 250 Lebanese external auditors. The final sample consisted of 207 Lebanese external auditors for which we used correlation and logistic regression. The results reveal that because of an economic dependance on their clients, Lebanese external auditors demonstrate an inability to remain independent. This limits compliance with the code of professional conduct and thus negatively affects the quality of audit work. This study adds to the sparse literature found in developing countries that highlight the behavior of Lebanese external auditors with respect to professional conduct, which has always been considered sensitive and complex

Peri-implantitis Microbiota

Dental implant surgery has been a successful therapeutic option for the rehabilitation of partially or completely edentulous jaws for many years. However, evidence regarding the causative factors of peri-implant disease is still lacking. Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease affecting the soft and hard tissues surrounding osseointegrated implant associated with the formation of a bacterial biofilm on the implant surface close to the marginal tissues. The aim of this chapter is to summarize the knowledge regarding the microbiota associated with peri-implant infection and to review the different microbial diagnostic tests to understand the peri-implant microbiota, as well as summarize the present knowledge regarding management of peri-implantitis and propose further recommendations for future studies. This chapter shows that the scientific data regarding the microbiota responsible for peri-implantitis initiation and progression are still inconclusive. A microbiological test may thus be one diagnostic method to be used to understand the complexity of microbiota associated with the peri-implant sulcus. However, in order to resolve inflammation and arrest disease progression, the understanding of the biofilm development is essential

Adaptations of International Standards on Educational Leadership Preparation in Egypt

This paper is a case study of one leadership preparation program, utilizing US school leadership standards and practices, offered in Egypt. This case study illuminates how cultural and policy distinctions impact differing necessities of educational leadership, and how those necessities conflict or concur with the international standards and assumed best practices. In particular, it serves as an exploration of policy borrowing, considering that leadership preparation in developed countries has been, on some levels, an issue of occupational field professionalization

The use of antibiotic prophylaxis in implant dentistry : a microbiological and clinical perspective

The current development of antibiotic resistance calls for prudent use of antibiotic prescription. Methods of investigating antibiotic overconsumption, include identifying areas of misuse or overuse, as well as implementing recommendations and guidelines. The efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental implant surgery is debated. However, the rationale for restrictive antibiotic prophylaxis is often based on tradition rather than actual knowledge of negative consequences. Therefore, the general aim of this thesis is to investigate the rationale for restrictive antibiotic prophylaxis in implant dentistry and to determine actual prescription behavior. Study I: The aim of Study I was to investigate the microbiological consequences on oral microflora in terms of selection for resistance extent, and to determine the ecological disturbance after a single dose of 2 g amoxicillin. Thirty-three healthy participants were given a single dose of 2 g amoxicillin. Saliva was collected prior to administration of antibiotics (day 1), and on days 2, 5, 10, 17 and 24. A large ecological disturbance among oral aerobic microflora was observed. The proportion of viridians streptococci with reduced susceptibility to amoxicillin was significantly increased on days 2 and 5 (P = 0.00 and P = 0.04, respectively). Study II: The aim of Study II was to investigate antibiotic prophylaxis prescription behaviors among dentists placing dental implants, and to check the influence of scientific reviews published in 2010. Questionnaires were distributed during two time periods (2008 and 2012). The questionnaires were sent to eligible dentists (120 in 2008, 161 in 2012) in the Stockholm region, Sweden. In 2008, 88% of the dentists routinely prescribed antibiotic prophylaxis during implant surgical procedures, while in 2012 this dropped to 74% (P = 0.01). There was a significant change in dentists’ prescription patterns with 65% prescribing a single dose prophylaxis in 2012, compared to 49% in 2008 (P = 0.04). Study III: The aim of Study III was to investigate the effect of antibiotics on the outcome of bone augmentation in conjunction with dental implant placement. This was a complex systematic review combining the recommended quality assessment methods for systematic reviews and primary studies. Selected primary studies were reviewed using a protocol for assessment of randomized studies, while scientific evidence was graded according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) (Balshem, et al. 2011). The results showed that no relevant systematic reviews pertaining to the topic of this study where found. For primary studies, only two studies were regarded as a moderate risk of bias. Study IV: The aim of Study IV was to determine antibiotic prescription behavior among dentists performing bone-augmentation procedures prior to, or in conjunction with dental implant surgery, and to check the influence of national recommendations published in 2012. In addition, this study also investigated the occurrence of postoperative infection following these bone-augmentation procedures. A multi-center retrospective study was performed. Four hundred patients’ medical charts were investigated during two time periods (2010-2011 and 2014-2015). The results showed that, on comparing the two time periods, there was a significant reduction in the number of patients treated according to national recommendations (P = 0.02). Moreover, a significant reduction in the duration of antibiotic treatment was also seen (P = 0.03). The number of patients not given antibiotic prophylaxis significantly increased (p = 0.00). In addition, the rate of postoperative infections was low and without significant difference between both time points (3.5% in 2010-2011 and 7% in 2014-2015). In conclusion, single dose of prophylactic antibiotics induces a significant selection of resistant strains among oral microflora and causes a large ecological disturbance. There is a wide variation in the type, dose and duration of prophylactic antibiotic treatment prior to simple or complicated implant surgery. Knowledge regarding the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for reducing the risk of infection with bone augmentation procedure in conjunction with dental implant placement is lacking. The results of these four studies support a restrictive approach to antibiotic prophylaxis and warrant a thorough revisiting of indications for antibiotic prophylaxis. In addition, safety aspects pertaining to refraining from single antibiotic use need to be fully investigated. There is a need for strict guidelines based on solid scientific evidence to promote the rationale for antibiotic usage

Antibiotics in Implant Dentistry

Antibiotics have been recommended either as an extended treatment for several days or as a single antibiotic prophylaxis dose since the development of dental implant osseointegration technique in the 1970s. It is also performed as part of surgical protocol during the peri-operative phase in the treatment of peri-implantitis. To date, there is a lack of scientific evidence regarding the additive effect of antibiotics in the treatment of dental implant. This has thus left the clinician with inconclusive recommendations, leading to increase antibiotic prescription. With this increase, the development of antibiotic resistance is becoming a threat to modern healthcare that requires revisiting of current indications and implementation of rational treatment strategies. Therefore, more studies are needed to assess the benefit of antibiotic prescription and whether it is safe to refrain from its use

Correlation of Indicators of Development in the Insurance Market in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and the EU Average

In 2004 the Czech and Slovak Republics became part of the European Union, which brought many changes influencing the financial markets, including the insurance industry. Czech, Slovak, and European markets are constantly evolving, and they respond to the changes in the environment in which they operate. Given these facts, the paper focuses on analysing the interdependence of the insurance market in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and the EU insurance market (the EU average) and on identifying the conditions of this dependence. The successfully functioning financial sector has a significant positive impact on economic growth; for this reason, the paper will pay attention to the issue of how insurance influences economic growth. To capture the insurance market, many insurance indicators can be used, among which are, in particular, gross premiums written, insurance penetration and density. In comparing the development of the insurance market in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and other European countries or the EU average, it is necessary to select the appropriate indicator given. The development of the global insurance market and the individual insurance markets is influenced not only by events in the world economy (economic development, development of the financial markets, the impact of economic or financial crisis), but it is also influenced by many factors that can be divided into two groups according to how on the insurance market act. In our article, we will focus mainly on extrinsic factors. Data for the analyses were drawn from SwissRe (Sigma journal), Eurostat and OECD databases

Is sdLDL a valuable screening tool for cardiovascular disease in patients with metabolic syndrome?

Many patients with cardiovascular disease have their low density lipoprotein cholesterol within normal range. This raises the question about the most important lipoprotein to use as a marker of atherogenecity. In fact, small dense low density lipoprotein has recently been suggested as a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease. Among high risk patients, those with metabolic syndrome represent an important target population. Different methods of small dense low density lipoprotein measurement were developed. Accordingly, two phenotypes of low density lipoprotein are recognized: Phenotype A (predominance of large buoyant low density lipoprotein) & phenotype B (predominance of small dense low density lipoprotein). However, none of the methods has been yet considered as a gold standard one. A lot of studies confirmed the role of small dense low density lipoprotein in the development of cardiovascular disease through atherogenic properties & clinical trials. However, others failed to do so. These discrepancies may be due to different sample sizes, different populations, different age groups, different methods of measurement & other possible confounding factors. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of small dense low density lipoprotein as a valuable screening/ preventive tool of cardiovascular disease in patients with metabolic syndrome

High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Assay for the Simultaneous Determination of Posaconazole and Vincristine in Rat Plasma

Purpose. Developing a validated HPLC-DAD method for simultaneous determination of posaconazole (PSZ) and vincristine (VCR) in rat plasma. Methods. PSZ, VCR, and itraconazole (ITZ) were extracted from 200 μL plasma using diethyl ether in the presence of 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution. The organic layer was evaporated in vacuo and dried residue was reconstituted and injected through HC-C18 (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 μm) column. In the mobile phase, acetonitrile and 0.015 M potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate (30 : 70 to 80 : 20, linear gradient over 7 minutes) pumped at 1.5 mL/min. VCR and PSZ were measured at 220 and 262 nm, respectively. Two Sprague Dawley rats were orally dosed PSZ followed by iv dosing of VCR and serial blood sampling was performed. Results. VCR, PSZ, and ITZ were successfully separated within 11 min. Calibration curves were linear over the range of 50–5000 ng/mL for both drugs. The CV% and % error of the mean were ≤18% and limit of quantitation was 50 ng/mL for both drugs. Rat plasma concentrations of PSZ and VCR were simultaneously measured up to 72 h and their calculated pharmacokinetics parameters were comparable to the literature. Conclusion. The assay was validated as per ICH guidelines and is appropriate for pharmacokinetics drug-drug interaction studies