Characterization and Lethality of Endotoxic Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Salmonellae

Salmonellae Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) could be extracted from different serovars in amounts varying from 1.5% to 5% of bacterial weight. No clear influence of motility on the amount of extracted LPS was detected. These LPS were studied by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and all of them gave one major band representing the core antigen with a molecular weight varying from 4 to 12 while some of them showed extra minor bands. The LD50 of different LPS preparations varied from 150 to 300 µg. The highest value was obtained by motile and non-motile Salmonella Dublin (300 µg each). Sensitization of mice at time of LPS injection by galactosamine resulted in the exaggeration of lethality induced by LPS preparation for up to 300 times. Keywords: Lipopolysaccharide – LPS – Salmonella– SDS-PAGE – electrophoresis

Evaluation of serum levels of Interleukin-4 in Egyptian patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is defined as bothersome symptoms and/or complications caused by the reflux of stomach contents. About 40–50% of patients develop refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (R-GERD), with poor improvement of symptoms with treatment. Many pathogenic mechanisms share in development of R-GERD, among which is the important role of T-helper 1 and T-helper 2 response mediated by cytokines. The interleukin-4 is a cytokine known of its anti-inflammatory effect. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the level of interleukin-4 in Egyptian patients with R-GERD versus those with GERD. PATIENTS AND Methods: Our study included 25 patients with reflux symptoms who received PPIs for less than 8 weeks with improvement of symptoms, versus 25 patients with refractory reflux symptoms who received PPIs for more than 8 weeks without improvement of symptoms. Interleukin-4 levels were assessed in both groups by ELISA. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups as regard interleukin-4 levels (p < 0.012) which was higher in the patients with (R-GERD), the mean level of IL-4 was 37.31 ± 56.07 in GERD group while in R-GERD group, it was 102.78 ± 112.29. The diagnostic accuracy of interleukin-4 revealed a sensitivity of 56% and specificity of 76% at cutoff value >58.25 pg/ml, with an acceptable accuracy of 0.6. Conclusions: The present study concluded that IL-4 is significantly higher in patients with R GERD with cut off value > 58.25 pg/ml. Therapeutic strategies that modulate the production of IL-4 may provide a good solution for treatment of R GERD

The Impact of Aspect Ratio, Characteristic Strength and Compression Rebars on the Shear Capacity of Shallow RC Beams

This paper investigates the impact of the aspect ratio, the characteristics strength of the concrete, and the compression steel ratio on the shear capacity of wide-shallow beams. An experimental program consists of seven specimens, including a control specimen, all tested under a three-point load test. Three specimens were considered for each parameter (the control specimen was included in all three variables). The experimental results were compared to the theoretical values of six different codes of practice; they were also analyzed to determine the ductility, stiffness, and dissipated energy of each specimen. The results indicated that the shear reinforcement was fully functioning until it yielded, with a minimum contribution of 55% of the total shear capacity of the specimens. The aspect ratio and the characteristic strength had a notable impact on the shear capacity of the specimens, while the compression steel ratio had a minor effect on the shear capacity, but it improved the stiffness and the ductility of the beams. Theoretical concrete shear strengths from design codes ranged between 77 and 163% of the experimental values; EN-1992 was the closest code to the experimental results. A comparison between the experimental results and predicted values using GP and EPR methods from previous research showed accuracies of 72% and 81%, respectively. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-09-012 Full Text: PD

Pregnancy outcome in rheumatic mitral stenosis patients with and without surgical correction: a prospective cohort study

Background: The aim of the current study is to assess the maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant females with and without surgically corrected mitral stenosis (MS).Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out at Assiut Women's Health Hospital, Egypt between February 2016 and December 2016. All pregnant women diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease attending the antenatal care clinic were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups according to previous surgical correction of MS or not. All women were followed up during pregnancy till the end of puerperium. The primary outcome of the study was the difference in the rate of maternal cardiac complications during pregnancy between both groups.Results: The study included 48 patients (39%) with surgically corrected MS and 75 patients (61%) with uncorrected MS. All cardiac complications were significantly higher in the uncorrected MS group (p <0.05). No difference between both groups in the mode of delivery (p=0.52). Postpartum hemorrhage is more common with the corrected MS group than the uncorrected group (25% vs. 9.3% respectively, p=0.003), while the need for postpartum admission to ICU was significantly higher in the uncorrected group (p=0.006). The mean birth weight was higher in the corrected MS group (p=0.000). The percentage of stillbirths and the rate of admission to PCU was higher in the uncorrected MS group (p=0.003).Conclusions: Surgical correction of MS significantly improves the maternal and fetal outcomes of rheumatic heart pregnant females with MS

Comparison between two different regimens of anticoagulants for pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves

Background: The current study aims to assess the maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant females with prosthetic heart valves receiving oral anticoagulants only versus the sequential regimen of heparin and OA throughout pregnancy.Methods: An observational was carried out at Assiut Women's Health Hospital, Egypt between February and December 2016. All pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves attending the emergency department during the study period were enrolled in the study. All included patients were classified into two groups; women who receive low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) during the first trimester then shift to warfarin till 36 weeks of gestation then continue on LMWH till delivery (Group I) and those who continue the all period of pregnancy on warfarin (Group II). The primary outcome of the study was the difference in the rate of maternal cardiac complications during labor between both groups.Results: The study included 72 patients have prosthetic valve replacement and on anticoagulants. Twenty-one were on oral anticoagulant; warfarin (Group II) and 51 pregnant women were on sequential regimen. Both groups were comparable in their basic and clinical data on admission. No difference between both groups in the mode of delivery (p=0.52), postpartum hemorrhage (0.09), sub rectal hematomas (p=0.08), the need for postpartum admission to ICU (p=0.93) and the duration of hospital stay (p=0.47). Additionally, no statistical significant difference between both groups as regard the mean birth weight (p=0.97), Apgar score (p=0.62), fetal sex (p=0.92) and congenital anomalies (p=0.08).Conclusions: The use of sequential LMWH and oral anticoagulants appears to be a safe option for those women although there is no difference in maternal and fetal outcomes with the use of continuous oral anticoagulants throughout the pregnancy

Management Of Subtrochanteric Femoral Fractures Using Proximal Femoral Nail

Background: Fractures of the proximal femur are a big challenge in traumatology. Rapid strides in implant and instrumentations in quest of ideal fixation of subtrochanteric femoral fractures have made various options available. Objective: The present study aims to study the role of standard proximal femoral nail (PFN) in the management of these fractures. This study aimed to evaluate the results of treatment of subtrochanteric femoral fractures using PFN. Patients and methods: This prospective study conducted at Orthopedic Department, Zagazig University Hospital, from November 2020 to July 2021. It included 24 patients, complaining of closed subtrochanteric fractures treated with PFN (Gamma intramedullary nail). The age ranged from 23 to 87 years (with mean 54.21 years), 13 of them were males and 11 females. Road traffic accident (RTA) represented the most common mechanism of injury in 10 patients (41.7%) while fall down represented (37.5%) in 9 patients, and fall from height in 5 patients (20.8%). Results: there was statistically significant difference in HHS among patients with different age groups, mechanism of injury and presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) as associated condition. Statistically there was significant correlation between type of reduction and diabetes mellitus with Harris hip score. Conclusion: This study concluded that the Gamma nail is an excellent choice in treatment of subtrochanteric fractures as it has many advantages as allowing for early functional exercise and full weight-bearing of the affected limb, shortening the duration of operation, high rotation stability, small wounds and minimizing blood loss along with risk of infectio

Protective effect of camel milk as anti-diabetic supplement: biochemical, molecular and immunohistochemical study

Background: Diabetes is a serious disease affects human health. Diabetes in advanced stages is accompanied by general weakness and alteration in fats and carbohydrates metabolism. Recently there are some scientific trends about the usage of camel milk (CM) in the treatment of diabetes and its associated alterations. CM contains vital active particles with insulin like action that cure diabetes and its complications but how these effects occur, still unclear.Materials and Methods: Seventy-five adult male rats of the albino type divided into five equal groups. Group 1 served as a negative control (C). Group 2 was supplemented with camel milk (CM). Diabetes was induced in the remaining groups (3, 4 and 5). Group 3 served as positive diabetic control (D). Group 4 served as diabetic and administered metformin (D+MET). Group 5 served as diabetes and supplemented with camel milk (D+CM). Camel milk was supplemented for two consecutive months. Serum glucose, leptin, insulin, liver, kidney, antioxidants, MDA and lipid profiles were assayed. Tissues from liver and adipose tissues were examined using RT-PCR analysis for the changes in mRNA expression of genes of carbohydrates and lipid metabolism. Pancreas and liver were used for immunohistochemical examination using specific antibodies.Results: Camel milk supplementation ameliorated serum biochemical measurements that altered after diabetes induction. CM supplementation up-regulated mRNA expression of IRS-2, PK, and FASN genes, while down-regulated the expression of CPT-1 to control mRNA expression level. CM did not affect the expression of PEPCK gene. On the other hand, metformin failed to reduce the expression of CPT-1 compared to camel milk administered rats. Immunohistochemical findings revealed that CM administration restored the immunostaining reactivity of insulin and GLUT-4 in the pancreas of diabetic rats.Conclusion: CM administration is of medical importance and helps physicians in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.Keywords: Camel milk, Diabetes, Gene expression, Immunohistochemistr

Maximum power point tracking techniques for photovoltaic systems: a comparative study

Photovoltaic systems (PV) are one of the most important renewable energy resources (RER). It has limited energy efficiency leading to increasing the number of PV units required for certain input power i.e. to higher initial cost. To overcome this problem, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controllers are used. This work introduces a comparative study of seven MPPT classical, artificial intelligence (AI), and bio-inspired (BI) techniques: perturb and observe (P&O), modified perturb and observe (M-P&O), incremental conductance (INC), fuzzy logic controller (FLC), artificial neural network (ANN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and cuckoo search (CS). Under the same climatic conditions, a comparison between these techniques in view of some criteria’s: efficiencies, tracking response, implementation cost, and others, will be performed. Simulation results, obtained using MATLAB/SIMULINK program, show that the MPPT techniques improve the lowest efficiency resulted without control. ANFIS is the highest efficiency, but it requires more sensors. CS and ANN produce the best performance, but CS provided significant advantages over others in view of low implementation cost, and fast computing time. P&O has the highest oscillation, but this drawback is eliminated using M-P&O. FLC has the longest computing time due to software complexity, but INC has the longest tracking time

Four-leg active power filter control with SUI-PI controller

Four-leg active power filter is considered one of the greatest vital active filters that are frequently used in industrial applications, especially those that need to be controlled in each individual phase. Also, to control the neutral current that created because of a lot of unbalanced and non-linear loads. In this paper, the used active filter was controlled by a proposed control method which can achieve simplicity and intelligence at the same time. The novelty of this paper is using the proposed controller with Four-leg active power filter. This controller relies on instantaneous reactive power theory, which used to create the required currents that are injected into the network via the used active filter to remove the problems created by unbalanced and non-linear loads. It is also maintained that the current source a pure sinusoidal wave. The system is implemented on MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results proved the preference of the proposed controller than the conventional proportional-integration controller, where it reduced the percentage of total harmonic distortion for the current source