Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diagnosis of pleural effusion of different origins

AbstractBackgroundThe undiagnosed pleural effusions are an important clinical problem so scientists spent much effort and time in searching for a new parameter to help in the diagnosis of pleural effusions. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) helps in differentiation between malignant and inflammatory pleural effusions and might play an important role in tumor progression and the formation of malignant effusions.Aim of the workTo determine the level of pleural fluid VEGF in order to evaluate its value as a marker for differentiation between different types of pleural effusions.Subjects and methodsThe present study was conducted on 73 patients with pleural effusion, admitted to Kasr Elaini Hospital (Chest Department) during the period from August 2011 to October 2012, after having their written consent. All patients were subjected basically to full history taking, thorough clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, plain chest radiography thoracentesis. Medical thoracoscopy was carried out for cases with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion (n=46).ResultsPleural fluid VEGF, and pleural fluid VEGF/serum VEGF ratio both are highest in malignant pleural effusion with statistically high significance (p<0.001), followed by infectious effusion then tuberculous one. Using ROC curve analysis, the cut-off used for VEGF in pleural fluid in discriminating malignant from other groups is 1800pg/ml with sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 96%.ConclusionVEGF is highest in malignant pleural effusion. The differential diagnosis of effusions might be further improved by including vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations into the diagnostic armentarium available to the clinician

Finite element modelling of damage fracture and fretting fatigue

This paper summarises the research carried out to develop Finite Element (FE) modelling and predictive techniques for damage, fracture, fatigue and fretting fatigue problems. A damage model is developed based on Continuum Damage Mechanics and integrated within FE code. It is then used to predict the number of cycles to crack initiation in adhesively bonded joints. Furthermore, crack propagation algorithm is programmed within FE code using the principles of Fracture Mechanics and Paris law. The effect of mode mixity on crack propagation is taken into account using a Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) test specimen. Moreover, FE model of fretting fatigue aluminium test specimen is carried out in order to study the stress distribution and predict the crack propagation fatigue lifetime. Fretting fatigue problems involve two types of analyses; namely contact mechanics analysis and damage/fracture mechanics analysis. Both analyses are performed in FE code and the stress distribution along the contact surface between the two bodies is obtained and analysed. Furthermore, crack propagation analysis under fretting fatigue condition is presented. In most cases, the numerical results are compared to experimental ones

Studies with Arylhydrazono-3-oxopropanals:A novel route to synthesis of substituted pyrazoles, oxoalkanonitrile and glyoxalonitrile containing sulfa drug moieties

Coupling of enaminones 1 with diazonium salts gave thehydrazonopropanals 3a-h. Compound 3 react with ω-bromoacetophenone or α-chloroacetanilide to yield 5 and 8. These compounds were cyclized smoothly into 6 and 9 respectively. Reactions of 3 with phenylhydrazine gave diphenylhydrazones 10 which cyclized into arylazopyrazoles 11 in refluxing pyridine. However reaction of 3c-f with hydrazine hydrate afforded pyrazoles 12.Reactions of 3 with phenylhydrazine hydrochloride afforded 11. Finally, reactions of 3c with hydroxylamine hydrochloride afforded the aldoxime 14 that on refluxing in pyridine gave 15 not 16

Effects of irregular antenatal care attendance in primiparas on the perinatal outcomes: a cross sectional study

Aim: Antenatal care (ANC) is a key strategy for reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates because adequate utilization of antenatal health care services is associated with improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The current study aims to identify the factors causing lack of regular attendance at ANC clinics in primiparas and to determine the effects of lack of antenatal care on perinatal outcomes. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out at Assiut Women\u27s Health Hospital, Egypt between October 2015 and September 2016. Estimated sample size of 516 primiparous women were divided into two groups according to number of attendance to ANC clinics; women who came four visits or more were considered regular and those who came to less than four visits were considered irregular. Data was collected via a structured interview questionnaire that included personal data, obstetrical, data about current pregnancy and labor. The researcher interviewed the women within 24 hours postpartum. Results: The majority of the study sample (74.8%) had regular ANC visits while only (25.2%) had \u3c4 antenatal visits. Financial problems (44.6%) or lack of awareness about the importance of ANC (20%) were the most common reasons for irregular ANC visits. The incidence of preeclampsia and eclampsia is significantly higher in the irregular attendants (p=0.000). Similarly, preterm birth, stillbirth and low birth weight were significantly more common among irregular attendants (p=0000). Conclusion: Women with irregular antenatal care attendance are much more prone to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, eclampsia and anemia besides higher adverse birth outcomes including preterm birth, low birth weight and stillbirth

New Fused Pyrimidines of Potential Biosignificant Interest. Syntheses and Molecular Modelling Studies

Abstract New derivatives of thieno [3,2-d]pyrimidine and thieno [2,3-b]pyrrole 5a,b and 6a,b, respectively, were obtained from the corresponding thiophene-2-carboxamides 4a,b. On the basis of compounds 5b, 6a and 6b, two novel series of tricyclic-and tetracyclic-condensed pyrimidines 8-15 and 16-19, respectively, were synthesized by the application of the cyclization reactions of 5b and 6a,b with a variety of commercially available reactants. Geometry optimization of selected structures, using the AM1 semiemperical method, revealed a smaller ionization potential and a lower degree of conformational freedom for the tetracyclic pyrimidine derivatives relative to their tricyclic counterparts. Interestingly, computation of the solvation free energies of the lowest energy conformers at physiological conditions indicated that the series is highly soluble under these conditions. The trend in solubility as implied by the relative magnitudes of the solvation free energies is suggestive of a greater contribution of higher moments of charge distribution in modulating the interaction of the structures with the biological environment which could be detrimental for the binding modes of these structures to their putative receptor sites

Reduction of helium permeation in microfabricated cells using aluminosilicate glass substrates and Al2_2O3_3 coatings

The stability and accuracy of atomic devices can be degraded by the evolution of their cell inner atmosphere. Hence, the undesired entrance or leakage of background or buffer gas, respectively, that can permeate through the cell walls, should be slowed down. In this work, we investigate helium permeation in microfabricated alkali vapor cells filled with He and whose windows are made of borosilicate glass (BSG) or aluminosilicate glass (ASG). The permeation is then derived from routine measurements of the pressure-shifted hyperfine transition frequency of an atomic clock. We first confirm that ASG reduces He permeation rate by more than two orders of magnitude, in comparison with BSG. In addition, we demonstrate that Al$_2$O$_3$ thin-film coatings, known to avoid alkali consumption in vapor cells, can also significantly reduce He permeation. The permeation through BSG is thereby reduced by a factor 110 whereas the one through ASG is decreased by a factor up to 5.8 compared to uncoated substrates. These results may contribute to the development of miniaturized atomic clocks and sensors with improved long-term stability or sensitivity.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Surface modification of starch based blends using potassium permanganate-nitric acid system and its effect on the adherence and proliferation of osteoblastic-like cells

The surface modification of three starch based polymeric biomaterials, using a KMnO4/NHO3 oxidizing system, and the effect of that modification on the osteoblastic cell adhesion has been investigated. The rationale of this work is as follows—starch based polymers have been proposed for use as tissue engineering scaffolds in several publications. It is known that in biodegradable systems it is quite difficult to have both cell adhesion and proliferation. Starch based polymers have shown to perform better than poly-lactic acid based materials but there is still room for improvement. This particular work is aimed at enhancing cell adhesion and proliferation on the surface of several starch based polymer blends that are being proposed as tissue engineering scaffolds. The surface of the polymeric biomaterials was chemically modified using a KMnO4/HNO3 system. This treatment resulted in more hydrophilic surfaces, which was confirmed by contact angle measurements. The effect of the treatment on the bioactivity of the surface modified biomaterials was also studied. The bioactivity tests, performed in simulated body fluid after biomimetic coating, showed that a dense film of calcium phosphate was formed after 30 days. Finally, human osteoblast-like cells were cultured on unmodified (control) and modified materials in order to observe the effect of the presence of higher numbers of polar groups on the adhesion and proliferation of those cells. Two of the modified polymers presented changes in the adhesion behavior and a significant increase in the proliferation rate kinetics when compared to the unmodified controls.FCT (Portugal) for providing the postdoctoral grant (BPD/8491/2002)

Guidelines for developing optical clocks with 10−1810^{-18} fractional frequency uncertainty

There has been tremendous progress in the performance of optical frequency standards since the first proposals to carry out precision spectroscopy on trapped, single ions in the 1970s. The estimated fractional frequency uncertainty of today's leading optical standards is currently in the $10^{-18}$ range, approximately two orders of magnitude better than that of the best caesium primary frequency standards. This exceptional accuracy and stability is resulting in a growing number of research groups developing optical clocks. While good review papers covering the topic already exist, more practical guidelines are needed as a complement. The purpose of this document is therefore to provide technical guidance for researchers starting in the field of optical clocks. The target audience includes national metrology institutes (NMIs) wanting to set up optical clocks (or subsystems thereof) and PhD students and postdocs entering the field. Another potential audience is academic groups with experience in atomic physics and atom or ion trapping, but with less experience of time and frequency metrology and optical clock requirements. These guidelines have arisen from the scope of the EMPIR project "Optical clocks with $1 imes 10^{-18}$ uncertainty" (OC18). Therefore, the examples are from European laboratories even though similar work is carried out all over the world. The goal of OC18 was to push the development of optical clocks by improving each of the necessary subsystems: ultrastable lasers, neutral-atom and single-ion traps, and interrogation techniques. This document shares the knowledge acquired by the OC18 project consortium and gives practical guidance on each of these aspects