The role of losartan and enalapril in the protection against stress-induced gastric mucosal ulceration in rats

Background: Angiotensin II (ANG II) is a stress hormone and its level dramatically increases in the stomach during stress. In addition, it generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) with cellular damage and inflammation. So the aim of this study is to evaluate the mechanism of losartan and enalapril in the prevention of stress-induced gastric ulcer through their action on mucosal prostaglandin (PGs) and antioxidant enzymes and compare between them.Methods: Thirty- six adult male wistar albino rats weighing 180-200 g were divided into 6 groups; n= 6. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were received saline (normal control), losartan (3 mg/kg/day) and enalapril (10 mg/kg/day) i.p respectively for 4 weeks. Groups 4, 5, and 6 were pretreated with saline (ulcer control), losartan (3 mg/kg/day) and enalapril (10 mg/kg/day) i.p respectively for 4 weeks duration. On 29th day, group 4, 5 and 6 were submitted to gastric ulcer by water immersion method, then animals of all groups were sacrificed, stomachs were excised for gross and microscopic examination and determination of the mucosal levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO) and catalase (CAT).Results: Stress produced gastric ulcer and a significant decrease in all measured gastric parameters compared to normal control group. Pre-treatment of rats with losartan or enalapril decreased the stress-induced alterations in mucosal parameters, but only losartan caused a significant increase in CAT activity in addition.Conclusions: Antagonize the action of ANG II by losartan and enalapril have preventive advantages in stress-induced gastric ulcer and losartan has better influence as it has an additional effect on CAT activity

Investigation of the nanocrytalline SnO2 Synthesized by Homogeneous Precipitation

Nanocrystalline tin dioxide synthesized by the homogeneous pre cipitation method using the reaction of tin tetrachloride pentahydrate and urea solutions has been investigated. The nanocrystalline powder has been traced at different calcination temperatures (300ºC-1050ºC), and then characterized by using   Thermogravemetric analysis, differential thermal analysis and x-ray diffraction. The microstructure of the obtained nanoparticles has been examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The average crystallite size, determined by x-ray diffraction, was found to be in the range of 3 –30 nm. The analysis exhibited a tetragonal phase.  Optical properties were investigated by a UV–vis absorption spectrophotometer. The calculated optical band gap lies between 4.47–3.71 eV as a result of increasing the calcination temperatures and crystallite size. Surface area and porosity of SnO2 nanoparticles are measured. Specific surface area which is related to pore volume and decreases from 155 m2/g at 100ºC to 3.3 m2/g at 1050ºC.Â

Electrical and Optical Properties of Flexible Transparent Silver Nanowires electrodes

AgNWs were produced by the one-pot polyol method, and it had been produced by reduction of AgNO3 by ethylene glycol in presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and KCl at high temperature of about 160 oC. AgNWs suspension were purified by centrifuging at 3000 rpm for three times then re-depressed in deionized water with a concentration of 1%. The purified suspension was diluted to different concentrations (2-5) mg. mL-1 using 1% of hydroxy methylcellulose to design different AgNWs transparent conductive films (AgNWs-TCFs). AgNWs suspension inks were coated on the glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. Different AgNWs diameters were obtained by changing the synthesis conditions. It has been observed that the wire diameter will greatly affect both the optical and electrical properties of the obtained AgNWs-TCFs. The best obtained AgNWs-TCFs had high transparency of about 91.5 %, small sheet resistance of about 14 .03 Ω and optical haze less than 2%, which met the requirements for the manufacture of optoelectronic and sensor equipment. Keywords: Silver nanowires, transparent conductive electrode, flexible electrodes, polyol method, AgNWs size control, AgNWs size-dependent and one-pot synthesis

Evaluation of serological test in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori and risk factors associated with the infection

Background: Serological testing has been widely used for the diagnosis of H. pylori. This study aimed to evaluate the serological test and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the test in the diagnosis of H. pylori. The study also aimed to address if there are risk factors like blood grouping, Smoking, Age, gender, and residence of the patients associated with H. pylori infection.Methods: A prospective cross‑sectional study was performed among 100 symptomatic patients attending Dr. Suliman dispensary, Elnehoud city in west Kordofan state-Sudan, from March to September 2016. H. pylori were detected on plasma by using Healgen immunochromatography test cards from Xiamen Boson Biotech Co., Ltd (China), and identified from a stool by using monoclonal antigen detection from the same trademarked company. Data for the risk factors associated with the infection were assessed in a participant interview.Results: The serological test showed significant differences when compared to the stool antigen test p-value = 0.000. The statistical analysis showed moderate sensitivity and high specificity of the serological test compared to the stool antigen detection test. The study also showed that smoking [odds ratio (OR): 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.24-4.02) and blood grouping (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: (1.08-1.60) were risk factors for H. pylori infection.Conclusions: The serological test showed high specificity and moderate sensitivity in comparison to the stool antigen test. The increased risk of H. pylori infection associated with smoking and blood grouping

Comparative analysis of chromogenic vs clot based CDC modified, Nijmegen-Bethesda assay for detection of factor viii inhibitor titre

Background:-Inhibitors to infused factor VIII are the most significant complication of hemophilia treatment. These inhibitors are usually IgG antibodies, that react with FVIII in a time and temperature dependent manner. Coagulation factor VIII inhibitors can be detected by Chromogenic, clot based and immunological assays. However, there is lack of consensus as to what constitutes a positive inhibitor, including the appropriate cut-off for inhibitor measurement The main objective of this study is to compare the sensitivity and specificity of chromogenic Nijmegen Bethesda assay (CNBA) with Centre for disease control modified Nijmegen Bethesda (CDC-NBA) assay against the Reference control method (RCM).Materials and Methods: The Coagulometer used for inhibitor titre  quantification is Sysmex CS-5100. APTT reagent used isPathromtin SL supplied by seimensSeimens. All data were expressed as Mean ± SD. Statistical formulae were used for sensitivity and specificity calculations. Unpaired students t test was used whereever necessary and a P value of <0.05 is considered as statistical significanceResults: A total of 150 cases were tested for inhibitor titre using CNBA vs CDC-NBA. For low titre Inhibitor (<2 NBU), CNBA has 92% and 86% and CDC-NBA has 80 and 60% sensitivity and specificity respectively. These results show that CDC-NBA shows false positive results at low inhibitor titre. For High titre Inhibitor ( >2 NBU) CNBA has 88% and 80% and CDC-NBA has 85 and 70 % sensitivity and specificity respectively.Conclusion :- These results shows that CNBA is more sensitive and specific than CDC-NBA at both low and high inhibitor titre. Moreover chromogenic assays can differentiate factor specific inhibitor from nonspecific inhibitors like lupus anticoagulant and unfractionated heparin therapy.Keywords: Hemophilia, Bethesda assay, ELISA, Factor VIII, Inhibitor, Mixing studyAbbrevations: APLA- Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, CDC:NBA- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Nijmegen-BethesdaAssay, CNBA:- chromogenic Nijmegen Bethesda assa

Extraneous terms to local dialects in contemporary Arab societies

The extraneous terms that have invaded some local dialects in Arab societies has caused the extinction of a large arsenal of Standard Arabic words and expressions, which were until recently common and circulating, and as a result, some people need language dictionaries to understand their meaning. The problem with this article lies in the common use of extraneous terms in local dialects in Arab societies, and the way they are used is not from one community to another, but even from one city to another, which must be studied. This study aims to highlight the fields that use extraneous words and reveal the subtleties of their meanings while highlighting a sample of these used words, as well as revealing the different purposes of the extraneous vocabulary on the local dialect of these societies; The article will follow the inductive and analytical approaches, in the method of collecting and investigating words and indicating their meanings and destinations, in addition to comparing their letters in their original language and highlighting what has been localized; This article concluded the following results, namely, highlighting the change in the structure of terms introduced by Arabic speakers, and analyzing how they deal with the techniques of integrating those words in the context of their daily communication, with the possibility of using linguistic controls in dealing with foreign terms in the local dialects subject of the article

Validity of procalcitonin as diagnostic biomarker for infective endocarditis

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still a fatal infection with high morbidity and mortality. Successful patient outcomes depend on prompt diagnosis and effective therapy. Blood cultures are usually time consuming and sometimes echocardiography is falsely negative. Thus, a straightforward blood test may assist early diagnosis of IE. Multiple studies have revealed that procalcitonin (PCT) was highly associated with bacteremia - the main diagnostic criteria for endocarditis - in patients with fever. Objectives: We aimed to assess the diagnostic significance of procalcitonin concentration in suspected patients of IE. Patients and methods: Twenty-two patients admitted to Assiut University Heart Hospital with a suspicion of IE were enrolled in a prospective study. Based on clinical, microbiological, and echocardiographic findings, Modified duke criteria were applied to the cases to confirm their diagnosis as definite, possible, or rejected IE cases before testing for procalcitonin was done. The study also included fifteen healthy volunteers for comparison with IE patients. Results: Procalcitonin was significantly higher (P-value <0.05) in patients diagnosed as definite and possible IE than with healthy volunteers. The area under the ROC curve was 0.705. At cutoff value of 0.425 ng/ml, the procalcitonin test's sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive values were 47.6%, 93.3%, 56%, and 90.9%, respectively. Conclusion: This study implies that procalcitonin may be a valuable supplementary diagnostic marker in IE diagnosis. A threshold value of 0.425 ng/ml should be used for ruling out endocarditis in routine clinical practice and the diagnosis of IE can be strongly excluded below this value

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-Adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2017 : A systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study

Importance: Cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now widely recognized as a threat to global development. The latest United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs reaffirmed this observation and also highlighted the slow progress in meeting the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the third Sustainable Development Goal. Lack of situational analyses, priority setting, and budgeting have been identified as major obstacles in achieving these goals. All of these have in common that they require information on the local cancer epidemiology. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is uniquely poised to provide these crucial data. Objective: To describe cancer burden for 29 cancer groups in 195 countries from 1990 through 2017 to provide data needed for cancer control planning. Evidence Review: We used the GBD study estimation methods to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-Adjusted life-years (DALYs). Results are presented at the national level as well as by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and total fertility rate. We also analyzed the influence of the epidemiological vs the demographic transition on cancer incidence. Findings: In 2017, there were 24.5 million incident cancer cases worldwide (16.8 million without nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) and 9.6 million cancer deaths. The majority of cancer DALYs came from years of life lost (97%), and only 3% came from years lived with disability. The odds of developing cancer were the lowest in the low SDI quintile (1 in 7) and the highest in the high SDI quintile (1 in 2) for both sexes. In 2017, the most common incident cancers in men were NMSC (4.3 million incident cases); tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer (1.5 million incident cases); and prostate cancer (1.3 million incident cases). The most common causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for men were TBL cancer (1.3 million deaths and 28.4 million DALYs), liver cancer (572000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs), and stomach cancer (542000 deaths and 12.2 million DALYs). For women in 2017, the most common incident cancers were NMSC (3.3 million incident cases), breast cancer (1.9 million incident cases), and colorectal cancer (819000 incident cases). The leading causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for women were breast cancer (601000 deaths and 17.4 million DALYs), TBL cancer (596000 deaths and 12.6 million DALYs), and colorectal cancer (414000 deaths and 8.3 million DALYs). Conclusions and Relevance: The national epidemiological profiles of cancer burden in the GBD study show large heterogeneities, which are a reflection of different exposures to risk factors, economic settings, lifestyles, and access to care and screening. The GBD study can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to develop and improve national and local cancer control in order to achieve the global targets and improve equity in cancer care. © 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality for 282 causes of death in 195 countries and territories, 1980-2017 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Global development goals increasingly rely on country-specific estimates for benchmarking a nation's progress. To meet this need, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2016 estimated global, regional, national, and, for selected locations, subnational cause-specific mortality beginning in the year 1980. Here we report an update to that study, making use of newly available data and improved methods. GBD 2017 provides a comprehensive assessment of cause-specific mortality for 282 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1980 to 2017. Methods The causes of death database is composed of vital registration (VR), verbal autopsy (VA), registry, survey, police, and surveillance data. GBD 2017 added ten VA studies, 127 country-years of VR data, 502 cancer-registry country-years, and an additional surveillance country-year. Expansions of the GBD cause of death hierarchy resulted in 18 additional causes estimated for GBD 2017. Newly available data led to subnational estimates for five additional countries Ethiopia, Iran, New Zealand, Norway, and Russia. Deaths assigned International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes for non-specific, implausible, or intermediate causes of death were reassigned to underlying causes by redistribution algorithms that were incorporated into uncertainty estimation. We used statistical modelling tools developed for GBD, including the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODErn), to generate cause fractions and cause specific death rates for each location, year, age, and sex. Instead of using UN estimates as in previous versions, GBD 2017 independently estimated population size and fertility rate for all locations. Years of life lost (YLLs) were then calculated as the sum of each death multiplied by the standard life expectancy at each age. All rates reported here are age-standardised. Findings At the broadest grouping of causes of death (Level 1), non-communicable diseases (NC Ds) comprised the greatest fraction of deaths, contributing to 73.4% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 72.5-74.1) of total deaths in 2017, while communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional (CMNN) causes accounted for 186% (17.9-19.6), and injuries 8.0% (7.7-8.2). Total numbers of deaths from NCD causes increased from 2007 to 2017 by 22.7% (21.5-23.9), representing an additional 7.61 million (7. 20-8.01) deaths estimated in 2017 versus 2007. The death rate from NCDs decreased globally by 7.9% (7.08.8). The number of deaths for CMNN causes decreased by 222% (20.0-24.0) and the death rate by 31.8% (30.1-33.3). Total deaths from injuries increased by 2.3% (0-5-4-0) between 2007 and 2017, and the death rate from injuries decreased by 13.7% (12.2-15.1) to 57.9 deaths (55.9-59.2) per 100 000 in 2017. Deaths from substance use disorders also increased, rising from 284 000 deaths (268 000-289 000) globally in 2007 to 352 000 (334 000-363 000) in 2017. Between 2007 and 2017, total deaths from conflict and terrorism increased by 118.0% (88.8-148.6). A greater reduction in total deaths and death rates was observed for some CMNN causes among children younger than 5 years than for older adults, such as a 36.4% (32.2-40.6) reduction in deaths from lower respiratory infections for children younger than 5 years compared with a 33.6% (31.2-36.1) increase in adults older than 70 years. Globally, the number of deaths was greater for men than for women at most ages in 2017, except at ages older than 85 years. Trends in global YLLs reflect an epidemiological transition, with decreases in total YLLs from enteric infections, respirator}, infections and tuberculosis, and maternal and neonatal disorders between 1990 and 2017; these were generally greater in magnitude at the lowest levels of the Socio-demographic Index (SDI). At the same time, there were large increases in YLLs from neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases. YLL rates decreased across the five leading Level 2 causes in all SDI quintiles. The leading causes of YLLs in 1990 neonatal disorders, lower respiratory infections, and diarrhoeal diseases were ranked second, fourth, and fifth, in 2017. Meanwhile, estimated YLLs increased for ischaemic heart disease (ranked first in 2017) and stroke (ranked third), even though YLL rates decreased. Population growth contributed to increased total deaths across the 20 leading Level 2 causes of mortality between 2007 and 2017. Decreases in the cause-specific mortality rate reduced the effect of population growth for all but three causes: substance use disorders, neurological disorders, and skin and subcutaneous diseases. Interpretation Improvements in global health have been unevenly distributed among populations. Deaths due to injuries, substance use disorders, armed conflict and terrorism, neoplasms, and cardiovascular disease are expanding threats to global health. For causes of death such as lower respiratory and enteric infections, more rapid progress occurred for children than for the oldest adults, and there is continuing disparity in mortality rates by sex across age groups. Reductions in the death rate of some common diseases are themselves slowing or have ceased, primarily for NCDs, and the death rate for selected causes has increased in the past decade. Copyright (C) 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe