Estimating the Number of Patents in the World Using Count Panel Data Models

In this paper, we review some estimators of count regression (Poisson and negative binomial) models in panel data modeling. These estimators based on the type of the panel data model (the model with fixed or random effects). Moreover, we study and compare the performance of these estimators based on a real dataset application. In our application, we study the effect of some economic variables on the number of patents for seventeen high-income countries in the world over the period from 2005 to 2016. The results indicate that the negative binomial model with fixed effects is the better and suitable for data, and the important (statistically significant) variables that effect on the number of patents in high-income countries are research and development (R&D) expenditures and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita

Opportunistic salpingectomy during hysterectomy for benign indications in women at low and high risk for ovarian cancer: a cross-sectional study

Objective Our study aims to evaluate the role of pathology evaluation of fallopian tubesduring hysterectomy for benign indications for the purpose ofearly detection of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) in women at high and low risk for ovarian cancer. Material and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at Minia Maternity University Hospital, Egypt, between June 2015 and December 2017. Our study included all women undergoing hysterectomy for benign conditions in the genital tract. Appropriate histories were taken, as well as physical exams, and laboratory and ultrasound evaluations were done prior to scheduling surgery. Abdominal hysterectomies including opportunistic salpingectomies were performed and the whole specimens including the tubal fimbria were sent to the pathology lab for histo-pathological examination. Results A total of 526 patients met inclusion criteria for this study. The mean age of the study participants was 49.75±8.95 years, the mean parity was 3.91±1.62 and the mean BMI was 24.21±2.38 Kg/m2. The most common surgical indications for hysterectomy were postmenopausal bleeding (34.6%), a clinically benign adnexal/pelvic mass (31.7%), and menorrhagia (24.7%). The fallopian tubes were found to have either no pathology or benign conditions in 500 out of the 526 patients. Among these patients, 56% had no pathologic abnormality. The most common benign conditions were paratubal cysts (25%), endometriosis (9%), torsion (2%) and hydrosalpinx (1%). STIC was identified in the fallopian tubes of 8 out of 526 patients. Conclusions Microscopic examination of the entire fimbriae from all patients regardless of the clinical context represents a novel method of early detection of sporadic tubal carcinoma, a putative precursor to advanced-stage pelvic cancer

Role of calcium and magnesium on dramatic physiological and anatomical responses in tomato plants

Minerals are the fundamental source of nutrients for plant functions such as photosynthesis, ATP currency, cellular respiration, metabolic activities, defense mechanisms, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stressors. Minerals are the most significant component of plant nutrition and applying these minerals supplements can increase fruit output. The study’s main aim was to make agricultural farming easier by foliar applying newly created nutrients like Lebosol-calcium and Magnesium. The four treatments: To (Control), T1 (Lebosol-Mg-Plus, 3 ml/L), T2 (Lebosol-Ca-Forte, 3 ml/L), and T3 (Lebosol-Mg-Plus and Lebosol-Ca-Forte, 3 ml/L) was applied as foliar spray to the seedlings of tomato. It was found that T3 substantially enhanced tomato’s morphological features and yield. The treatment T3 significantly increased total soluble protein, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Furthermore, the foliar application of T3 considerably improved phenolic and ascorbic acid contents. The general anatomical features of the leaf, stem, and roots of tomato were qualitatively affected by the treatments. Application of Lebosol-Ca provided the highest total thickness of lamina, number of vessel elements, total phloem area, chlorenchyma layer, total area of vessel elements, xylem ratio, and increased palisade layer thickness, vessel diameter. Furthermore, T3 treatment showed a diverse impact on the internal structure of tomato organs, with palisade and spongy parenchyma growing to maximum values and vessel diameters expanding. T3 had also posed remarkable alterations in morpho-physiological, biochemical, and anatomical aspects in tested plants

Isolation of avian influenza H5N1 virus from vaccinated commercial layer flock in Egypt

Uninterrupted transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 of clade 2.2.1 in Egypt since 2006 resulted in establishment of two main genetic clusters. The 2.2.1/C group where all recent human and majority of backyard origin viruses clustered together, meanwhile the majority of viruses derived from vaccinated poultry in commercial farms grouped in 2.2.1.1 clade. In the present investigation, an HPAIV H5N1 was isolated from twenty weeks old layers chickens that were vaccinated with a homologous H5N1 vaccine at 1, 7 and 16 weeks old. At twenty weeks of age, birds showed cyanosis of comb and wattle, decrease in egg production and up to 27% mortality. Examined serum samples showed low antibody titer in HI test (Log2 3.2 ± 4.2). The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the isolated virus were closely related to viruses in 2.2.1/C group isolated from poultry in live bird market (LBM) and backyards or from infected people. Conspicuous mutations in the HA and NA genes including a deletion within the receptor binding domain in the HA globular head region were observed. Despite repeated vaccination of layer chickens using a homologous H5N1 vaccine, infection with HPAIV H5N1 resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. In endemic countries like Egypt, rigorous control measures including enforcement of biosecurity, culling of infected birds and constant update of vaccine virus strains are highly required to prevent circulation of HPAIV H5N1 between backyard birds, commercial poultry, LBM and humans

Results of Radial Head Prosthetic Replacement in Management of Radial Head Fracture in Terrible Triad Injury of the Elbow

Background: The “terrible triad injury of the elbow” is complex fracture dislocation injury comprising a notorious combination of elbow dislocation and fractures of the coronoid process and radial head. Objectives: The work aimed to demonstrate the results of radial head prosthetic replacement in management of fracture head of radius in terrible triad injury of the elbow in terms of clinical and radiological outcomes. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study that includes 20 patients that fulfilled inclusion criteria, presented with terrible triad injury of the elbow to Qena University Hospital trauma unit in the period between July 2018 and August 2022, managed with prosthetic replacement of the radial head using non-modular metal spacer and reconstruction of elbow ligaments. Results: We found that most patients (18 patients, 90%) reported return to previous work and daily activity, at least14 patients (70%) reported good functional ROM in their last follow-up with mean MEPS and QuickDASH scores 76 and 37.09 points, respectively. On the other hand, there was a high rate of complications. Most significantly, two patients (10%) experienced residual valgus instability. Another two (10%) patients demonstrated heterotrophic calcification. Four (20%) patients suffered nerve injury. Conclusion: Current surgical protocols made it possible to achieve acceptable outcome and regain the joint function using economically affordable, cost-effective, non-modular prosthesis. However, there is still significant risk of long-term disability and high rate of complications

Far-Lateral Cervical Approach as a Minimally Invasive Technique for Excision of Upper Cervical Anterolateral and Anterior Meningiomas and Dumbbell Schwannomas: Technical Report and Case Series

Objective To demonstrate the details of the far-lateral approach (FLA) as a minimally invasive technique for the excision of the upper cervical anterolateral and anterior meningiomas and dumbbell schwannomas, and to assess the clinical and radiological outcomes. Methods In this technical report and case series we report the FLA technique and patients who underwent the FLA for C1-C4 anterolateral and anterior meningiomas and dumbbell schwannomas between June 2007 and June 2020. All patients’ relative preoperative demographic, clinical, radiographic, operative, histopathological, and perioperative complications and follow-up clinical and radiographic data were reported. Results A total of 19 patients including 12 females and 7 males with a mean age 56.7±17.6 years and mean duration of symptoms 12.8±12.3 months were reported. 9 patients with anterolateral meningiomas, 5 with anterior meningiomas, and 5 with dumbbell schwannomas underwent uneventful FLA procedures. Gross total resection of tumors was reported in 17 patients (89.5%). Preoperative JOA score was normal in ten, grade-I in five, and grade-II in 4 patients, while at the last follow-up it improved to normal in seventeen and grade-I in two patients. Reported postoperative JOA scores at 6 months and at the last follow-up showed that all patients improved at least one grade on JOA scores. There was CSF leak in three patients and superficial wound infection in one. Conclusion Our results advocate the far-lateral cervical approach as a minimally invasive technique in the resection of the upper cervical anterolateral and anterior meningiomas and dumbbell schwannomas as a safe and effective technique

Fahmy's four quadrant sutures: a new technique for control of blood loss during cesarean delivery for placenta previa

Background: The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of Fahmy's four quadrant suture technique (FFQS) in controlling blood loss during cesarean delivery for placenta previa (PP).Methods: The study was carried out in a tertiary University Hospital between January 2017 to December 2017 involved 12 women with heavy bleeding occurred after removal of the placenta from the lower section during cesarean delivery for PP. The FFQS technique consisted of two sutures to ligate the uterine branches on both sides and two sutures on the anterior and posterior wall of the lower uterine segment. Details regarding the management and maternal outcomes were recorded.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 29.58±5.29 years and the mean parity was 2.25±1.14. The mean gestational age at termination of pregnancy was 36.91±1.38 weeks.  The mean duration of the whole surgery was 78.75±43.28 minutes, while the mean duration of FFQS technique was only 10±2.09 minutes. The technique was exclusively effective in 8 out of 12 cases (66.67%) while 2 cases needed bilateral internal iliac artery ligation and 2 cases needed hysterectomy. The mean amount of blood loss in all cases was 2433.33±833.76 ml. the mean amount of transfused packed RBCs was 3.92±1.68 units and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) was 3.42±1.44 units. All cases had uneventful postoperative course and no mortality cases in present series.Conclusions: The new technique; FFQS represents a rapid, effective, and inexpensive opportunity for women with bleeding from the lower segment of uterus due to PP. This simple procedure should be attempted before other complex measures to achieve good hemostasis

Aflibercept or ranibizumab for diabetic macular edema

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the primary substance involved in retinal barrier breach. VEGF overexpression may cause diabetic macular edema (DME). Laser photocoagulation of the macula is the standard treatment for DME; however, recently, intravitreal anti-VEGF injections have surpassed laser treatment. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal injections of aflibercept or ranibizumab for managing treatment-naive DME.   Methods: This single-center, retrospective, interventional, comparative study included eyes with visual impairment due to treatment-naive DME that underwent intravitreal injection of either aflibercept 2 mg/0.05 mL or ranibizumab 0.5 mg/0.05 mL at Al-Azhar University Hospitals, Egypt between March 2023 and January 2024. Demographic data and full ophthalmological examination results at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months post-injection were collected, including the best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) notation, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated fundoscopy, and central subfield thickness (CST) measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.   Results: Overall, the 96 eyes of 96 patients with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 57 (10) (range: 20–74) years and a male-to-female ratio of 1:2.7 were allocated to one of two groups with comparable age, sex, diabetes mellitus duration, and presence of other comorbidities (all P >0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in baseline diabetic retinopathy status or DME type between groups (both P >0.05). In both groups, the median (IQR) BCDVA significantly improved from 0.7 (0.8) logMAR at baseline to 0.4 (0.1) logMAR at 6 months post-injection (both P = 0.001), with no statistically significant difference between groups at all follow-up visits (all P >0.05). The median (IQR) CST significantly decreased in the aflibercept group from 347 (166) µm at baseline to 180 (233) µm at 6 months post-injection, and it decreased in the ranibizumab group from 360 (180) µm at baseline to 190 (224) µm at 6 months post-injection (both P = 0.001), with no statistically significant differences between groups at all follow-up visits (all P >0.05). No serious adverse effects were documented in either group.   Conclusions: Ranibizumab and aflibercept were equally effective in achieving the desired anatomical and functional results in patients with treatment-naive DME in short-term follow-up without significant differences in injection counts between both drugs. Larger prospective, randomized, double-blinded trials with longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm our preliminary results.&nbsp