Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of Health Care Workers Regarding Continuous Professional Development Programs, Alexandria, Egypt

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) refers to the educational pursuits that professionals make after completing their basic education and continues throughout their professional working lives in order to improve their knowledge, proficiency, and personal skills. CPD programs are crucial for enhancing the abilities of healthcare professionals and allowing them to provide patients with better care. However, few studies have discussed on this issue in Egypt. We conducted the current study to assess the knowledge and attitude of health care workers regarding CPD programs in a tertiary care hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Sporting Tertiary Care Hospital, Alexandria after the acceptance from Ethical Committee. The data were collected by interviewing questionnaire from a purposive sample of thirty-two healthcare workers who are representative of stakeholder groups to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding continuous professional programs. The questionnaire consists of three divisions, the first one is concerned with personal data, second one covers the knowledge assessment, and the last one embraces the attitude evaluation section. The study lasted 3 months. Data were analyzed by using a suitable statistical software. We found that majority of the participants had good knowledge level (96.9%) and strongly positive attitude (75%) regarding CPD programs. In conclusion, the study findings demonstrated a significant level of knowledge and attitude of the participants regarding continuous professional programs which opens the way for further research that assess the implementation and standardization of CPD programs in the future

The influence of ABO blood groups on sensitization of potential kidney transplant recipients

In this study 50 chronic renal failurepatients were tested for blood ABO groups and forthe presence of lymphocytotoxic antibodies against apanel of 20 donor lymphocytes (of known HLAtypes) using microcytotoxicity assay. The influenceof other factors affecting sensitization, such asnumber of blood transfusions, pregnancies andprevious graft rejections were analyzed too. Theresults showed that41.2 % of blood group 0 patients,61.1 % of group A I, 90% of group B, and 80% ofgroup A IB are sensitized (PRA> 10%).These results pointed to higher incidence ofsensitization in patients with blood groups B andA IB as compared to groups A I and 0.Our data suggest an impact of the ABO system on thesensitization phenomenon

Various characteristics of Ni and Pt–Al2O3 nanocatalysts prepared by microwave method to be applied in some petrochemical processes

AbstractAlumina-supported metal nanocatalysts were prepared via the microwave method, by loading nano Ni particles (at 1, 3 and 5wt%) or nano Pt particles (at 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9wt%). Structural and adsorption features of the nano catalysts were revealed through XRD, DSC-DTA, TEM, H2-chemisorption and N2-physisorption. N2-adsorption–desorption isotherms of type IV were related typically to mesoporous materials with H2 class of hysteresis loops characterizing ink bottle type of pores. The well dispersed nano-sized metal particles were evidenced in the studied catalytic systems, exhibiting marked thermal stability up to 800°C. The catalytic performances of different catalyst samples were assessed during cyclohexane, normal hexane and ethanol conversions, using the micro-catalytic pulse technique at different operating conditions. The 5% Ni–γ–Al2O3 sample was found to be the most active in dehydration of ethanol to produce ethylene, as well as in n-hexane cracking. However, the 1% Ni–Al2O3 sample showed the highest dehydrogenation activity for selective production of benzene from cyclohexane. On the other hand, the 0.9% Pt–γ–Al2O3 sample exhibited the highest activity in the dehydration of ethanol and in the dehydrogenation of cyclohexane. The 0.3% Pt–γ–Al2O3 sample was the most active in the dehydrocyclization of normal hexane, as compared to the other catalyst samples under study

Fluctuations conjoncturelles et croissance tendancielle de l’économie Marocaine

This paper estimates the smoothed-GDP of Moroccan economy since 1958. We use advanced techniques, as in the public and private international organizations, such the Hodrick-smoothing Presscott and Beveridge-Nelson decomposition. The results identified and quantified, in addition to an economic, monetary and fiscal reading-grids greatly expanded around six business cycles. These cycles show significant effects of the government policy and the climate hazards. This latter seems to amplify the extent of the cycles. The GDP-Cycles, apart the agricultural sector, appear to be relatively more sensitive to the economic conjuncture and the international environment especially of the main partners

Influence of Magnesium as a Major Contributor of Water Hardness on Some Cardiac Disease Risk Factors

Various ecological studies report a reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality risk with increasing magnesium levels in drinking water. Most of the studies done in this field were epidemiologic studies.The aim of the present study was to examine whether magnesium addition to drinking water can affect risks of cardiac disease. The study included five groups of male albino rats. The rats received either tap water or water containing 5, 10, 20 g of magnesium sulfate per liter. During the whole experiment, all the groups received hypercholesterolemic diet except for the normal control which received normal basal diet. At the end of the experiment, blood was drawn for the determination of plasma magnesium, lipid profile and liver function. In addition, the extent of obesity was determined using the body mass index (BMI). In all groups magnesium addition was associated with higher levels of plasma magnesium. The blood analysis showed a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL- cholesterol and VLDL- cholesterol, while there was a significant increase in HDL- cholesterol in groups received magnesium sulfate in drinking water, compared with the hypercholesterolemic group received tap water. GOT, GPT and ALP followed the same trend. The addition of MgSO4 to the drinking water results in significant decrease in BMI of the magnesium treated groups relative to the hypercholesterolemic control. These results showed that high magnesium concentration in drinking water is capable of decreasing some cardiac disease risk factors in male albino rats. Keywords: Cardiac disease, hypercholesterolemia, Magnesium, Risk factors, Water

Hypogonadism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: relationship with airflow limitation, muscle weakness and systemic inflammation

AbstractObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of hypogonadism in male patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), and to study its impact on skeletal muscle dysfunction and assess the effect of systemic markers of inflammation on testosterone level and muscle function. The study included 50 stable male COPD patients and 30 controls.MethodsBoth groups were subjected to the following measurements; inflammatory markers levels (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin – 6 (IL-6)), sex hormones including; serum total (T) and free testosterone (FT), sex hormone binding globulins (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and 17β estradiol levels (E2), the exercise capacity (6-minute walk distance (6MWT)) and quadriceps muscle force (One repetition maximum (1RM) and EMG). COPD patients underwent spirometry.ResultsThere was a higher prevalence of hypogonadism in COPD patients than the controls (62% versus 17%). There was a significant negative correlation between serum testosterone levels (T and FT) and the severity of airway obstruction. Quadriceps muscle force and the exercise capacity were significantly lower in COPD patients than controls but they showed no correlation with the testosterone level. Inflammatory markers were significantly higher in COPD patients compared to controls and showed a significant correlation with the severity of airflow obstruction. The higher inflammatory markers levels were related to more muscle weakness as hs-CRP was inversely correlated with the quadriceps strength and exercise capacity, while IL-6 was inversely correlated to quadriceps strength only.ConclusionHypogonadism is highly prevalent in clinically stable COPD patients and is particularly related to the severity of the airway obstruction. Systemic inflammation is present in stable COPD patients and its intensity is related to the severity of the underlying disease and it predisposes to skeletal muscle weakness and exercise intolerance. However, we failed to find a significant association between hypogonadism and muscle weakness or systemic inflammation

Evaluation of Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) Sensitivity Compared to PCR for Diagnosing Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major healthcare burden in Sudan and other developing countries, it is considered the second most common cause of death from infectious diseases after those due to AIDS. In Sudan, TB lymphadenitis (TBLA) remains one of the major health problems. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Medical Sciences and Technology (UMST) and Total Labcare Diagnostic Center (TDC). The study aims to compare the sensitivity of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) smears with that of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of TBLA. Materials and Methods: Fifty-five dry smears were obtained using fine-needle aspiration (FNA) from an enlarged lymph node. PCR was applied to detect the target gene (IS6110). May-Grunwald-Giemsa (MGG) or Diff quick stains were used. Results: Two (4%) patients with TBLA were non-necrotic, while fifty-three of them (96%) were necrotic. Moreover, 17 (30%) fine-needle lymph node aspiration specimens were confirmed by PCR to be positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB complex) while 38 (70%) of them were negative. Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the sensitivity of PCR and that of FNAC (P-value = 0.33)

Effects of sun-drying and exogenous enzymes on nutrients intake, digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep fed Atriplex halimus foliages

This study was conducted to assess effects of sun-drying and/or addition of an exogenous enzyme (ENZ) preparation on intake, digestibility of nutrients and recovery values of secondary metabolites (SM) in the gastrointestinal tract of sheep fed Atriplex halimus (AH) foliages. A randomized block design for 28 d was used for four experimental treatments based on either fresh (AH-F) or sun-dried (AH-S) A. halimus foliages in the absence (−ENZ) or presence (+ENZ) of 10 g/sheep/d of the exogenous of ZADO® enzyme preparation. Three adult sheep weighing 51 ± 2.7 kg were fed for each experimental treatment. The ENZ was added daily with a small amount of concentrate to help balance the dietary metabolizable energy concentration. Nutrient intake and digestibility, N balance and recovery of SM (i.e., total phenolics (TP), saponins (SP), alkaloids (AK), aqueous fraction (AF)) in the gastrointestinal tract were determined. Levels of most nutrients did not differ between AH-F and AH-S foliages, but the AH-S contained less than half of the SM in AH-F. Drying of A. halimus and ENZ addition increased (P=0.001) intake as well as OM and NDFom digestibility (P=0.02). Feed intake and digestibility were higher (P=0.01) in AH-S with ENZ addition. Intake of N by sheep fed the treatment diets depended on DM intake as the dietary concentration of N in the diets was similar. Thus AH-S sheep supplemented with ENZ had higher (P=0.001) N intake. Digestibility of N was similar to DM and OM digestibility, and was higher (P=0.03) in AH-S sheep supplemented with ENZ. Drying and ENZ addition to the diet increased (P=0.004) recovery of all SM. The fate of these compounds in the rumen needs to be evaluated considering that SM have been implicated in fiber and protein degradation in the rumen. The study showed that there are beneficial impacts of sun-drying and/or dietary exogenous enzyme addition for sheep fed A. halimus

Optimization of Extracellular Keratinase Production by Aspergillus terreus Isolated from Chicken's Litter

In this current study 45 fungal isolates were isolated from chicken's litter on Feather Agar Medium (FAM) were screened for determining the potent keratinase producing isolates. Out of these fungal isolates, twelve species and one species variety exhibited various degrees of keratinolytic activities from which A. terreus showed the highest keratinase production (12.6U/ml). The optimum temperature and initial pH for keratinase production by A. terreus were 40°C and 8, respectively. The highest keratinase production was observed for a period 25 days. The optimum ionic strength for the enzyme production was 80mM NaCl. Deprivation of K+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Ca2+ or Zn2+ from the culture medium drastically reduced the keratinase production by A. terreus. In contrast, sulfur deprivation did not significantly affect the keratinase production. The Km and Vmax values for A. terreus keratinase were 8.64mg keratin and 56.7U/mg proteins, respectively. The optimum temperature, pH and ionic strength for keratinase activity were 35°C, 7.8 and 80-100mM NaCl, respectively