The Egyptian revolution of January 25, 2011 as an anti-systemic movement

Purpose – This paper aims to analyze the Egyptian revolution as an anti-systemic movement. It illustrates how Egypt’s position in the world-economy has affected its political economy orientation and led to the marginalization of critical masses, who launched the revolution. Design/methodology/approach – The paper follows Wallerstein’s world-system analysis focusing on the anti-systemic movement concept. The paper analyzes the Egyptian case based on Annales school’s longue durée concept, which is a perspective to study developments of social relations historically. Findings – The Egyptian revolution was not only against the autocratic regime but also against the power structure resulting from the neoliberal economic policies, introduced as a response to the capitalism crisis. It represented the voice of the forgotten. The revolution was one of the anti-systemic movements resisting the manifestations of the capitalist world-economy. Originality/value – This paper aims at proving that the Egyptian revolution was an anti-systemic movement; which will continue to spread as a rejection to the world-system and to aspire a more democratic and egalitarian world. The current COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the crisis of the world-system

Does obesity affect the plasma level of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1? And does CO2 pneumoperitoneum affect it?

AbstractBackgroundThis prospective controlled study was designed to evaluate the effect of obesity on the plasma level of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and also to evaluate the effect of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on the plasma level of PAI-1 in patients underwent laparoscopic surgery.MethodsThe study included two groups; first group (non obese) included 30 patients with normal average BMI underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy while the second group included 30 obese patients with BMI>30kg/m2 underwent laparoscopic band ligation or fundoplication surgery. Five ml of venous blood was collected from each patient in the non obese group once before induction of anesthesia while three venous blood samples (5ml) were collected from each patient in the obese group as follows: first sample was taken before induction of anesthesia to compare it with the non obese group, second sample was taken after 1h of CO2 insufflations (to know the effect of CO2 insufflations on PAI-1 level) and third sample was taken 1week after surgery (to know the remaining effect in the postoperative period).ResultsThe level of PAI-1 was significantly high (5.423±2.5ng/ml) in the obese patients compared to non obese patients (1.4±0.641ng/ml) (P value=0.001). The level of PAI-1 was significantly high after CO2 insufflations compared to baseline level (6.396±2.542ng/ml vs. 5.423±2.5ng/ml) in obese group (P value=0.001). And this level also showed significant increase up to 1week (6.01±2.492ng/ml vs. 5.423±2.5ng/ml) (P value=0.028) in the obese group.ConclusionThe PAI-1 level was higher in obese patients when compared to non obese patients. PAI-1 level was elevated after CO2 insufflations and this elevation did not reach base line level up to 1week after laparoscopic surgery

The Effectiveness of a Program Based on Flipped Learning in Developing Habits of Mind Among Kindergarten Students

Education aims to more than the transfer of knowledge and facts, but also to instill abilities and tendencies, we hope that students will not only gain the ability, but we aspire to instill the tendency or habit they have to do so, and therefore the current research aimed to identify the effectiveness of a program that uses the flipped learning style in developing some habits of mind among a sample of kindergarten students. Following the semi-experimental approach, because it is appropriate for its subject, the research was applied to a sample of (84) students, who were divided into (2) groups, the first control group numbering (40) students, and the second experimental (44) students. Research tools have been developed and applied: a measure of some habits of mind, and a program that uses the flipped learning pattern. The results found that there were statistically significant differences between the average scores of the students of the two study groups on the scale of habits of mind after applying the program, and the differences in favour of the students of the experimental group. And the existence of statistically significant differences between the degrees of the pre- and post-application of the experimental group students on the scale of habits of mind, and the differences in favour of the post-application

SYNTHESIS OF NEW PYRIMIDINE DERIVATIVES AND EVALUATION OF THEIR ANTICANCER AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES

ABSTRACTObjectives: The objective of this work is to synthesize new pyrimidine derivatives starting from ethyl 2,4-dioxo-4-(thiophen-2-yl)butanoate.Several oxadiazole, triazole, and thiadiazole moieties were incorporated into the pyrimidine backbone. The structure of the novel compounds wascharacterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods.Methods: Synthesis of the target compounds was materialized starting from 2-oxo-6-(thiophen-2-yl)-2,3-dihydropyrimidine-4-carbohydrazide (4)which was prepared from the appropriate ethyl 2-oxo-6-(thiophen-2-yl)-2,3 dihydropyrimidine-4-carboxylate (2). Several synthetic pathways wereused for the preparation of the targets. Some of the newly synthesized compounds were subjected to in vitro cytotoxic screening against breastcarcinoma and colon carcinoma cell lines. On the other hand, the antimicrobial activity evaluation of some newly prepared compounds was performedusing cup plate diffusion method.Results: It was observed that the oxadiazole derivative 7b was the most potent compound against breast carcinoma cell line (IC=7.6 μg/ml). However,pyrimidine carrying substituted 1,2,4-triazole-2-thione moiety at position 6, 11 showed the highest cytotoxic activity against colon carcinoma cellline (IC50=4.7 μg/ml). On the other hand, compound 5c was the most active broad spectrum antimicrobial agent against the chosen microbial strains.Conclusion: From the observed results, further investigations recommended for the synthesis of heterocycles incorporated to pyrimidine backboneas cytotoxic as well as broad spectrum antimicrobial agents.Keywords: Pyrimidine, Oxadiazole, Triazole, Thiadiazole, In vitro anticancer study, Antimicrobial study.5

A novel method for the synthesis of 1-aryltetrahydroisoquinolines

Carbenium ions generated from substituted benzhydryls using acid catalysis undergo smooth intramolecular trapping by pendant sulfonamide groups to provide excellent yields of 1-aryltetrahydroisoquinolines

Synthesis and biological evaluation of phthalimide dithiocarbamate and dithioate derivatives as anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic agents-I

A facile synthesis of new phthalimide dithiocarbamate and dithioate analogs 8a-j, 9a-e and 9g-j were achieved by the reaction of N-chloromethyl and N-bromoethylphthalimide with carbon disulfide (CS2) and various amines. The structures of the synthesized analogs were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR, and ESI-HRMS techniques. The antiproliferative activity of the newly synthesized compounds was also evaluated against various human cancer cell lines. The compound 9e and 9i exhibited the highest activity against human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 and hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Compound 8f showed better antiproliferative effect against colon carcinoma HCT-116 and cervical carcinoma HeLa compared to thalidomide. The binding affinity to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) of some compounds was assessed in addition to molecular docking study. Compounds 9e and 9i showed high docking score values and they significantly declined the concentration of VEGFR

Comparative Molecular Transporter Properties of Cyclic Peptides Containing Tryptophan and Arginine Residues Formed through Disulfide Cyclization

We have previously reported cyclic cell-penetrating peptides [WR]5 and [WR]4 as molecular transporters. To optimize further the utility of our developed peptides for targeted therapy in cancer cells using the redox condition, we designed a new generation of peptides and evaluated their cytotoxicity as well as uptake behavior against different cancer cell lines. Thus, cyclic [C(WR)xC] and linear counterparts (C(WR)xC), where x = 4–5, were synthesized using Fmoc/tBu solid-phase peptide synthesis, purified, and characterized. The compounds did not show any significant cytotoxicity (at 25 µM) against ovarian (SK-OV-3), leukemia (CCRF-CEM), gastric adenocarcinoma (CRL-1739), breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231), and normal kidney (LLCPK) cells after 24 and 72 h incubation. Both cyclic [C(WR)5C] and linear (C(WR)5C) demonstrated comparable molecular transporter properties versus [WR]5 in the delivery of a phosphopeptide (F′-GpYEEI) in CCRF-CEM cells. The uptake of F′-GpYEEI in the presence of 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT) as the reducing agent was significantly improved in case of l(C(WR)5C), while it was not changed by [C(WR)5C]. Fluorescence microscopy also demonstrated a significant uptake of F′-GpYEEI in the presence of l(C(WR)5C). Cyclic [C(WR)5C] improved the uptake of the fluorescent-labeled anti-HIV drugs F′-d4T, F′-3TC, and F′-FTC by 3.0–4.9-fold. These data indicate that both [C(WR)5C] and linear (C(WR)5C) peptides can act as molecular transporters

Immune responses to killed reassorted influenza virus supplemented with natural adjuvants

In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of a supplemented killed influenza virus (V) by Echinacea purpurea (E) and Nigella sativa (N) extracts and effect of changing the route of immunization from intramuscular (IM) to intraperitoneal (IP). At the 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-week post-IM immunizations (WPIMI), the supplemented V with N (VN) induced the most significant IgM response unlike N alone. At the 2nd WPIMI, V or VN induced the highest significant IgG levels. At the 2nd-week post-IP immunization (WPIPI), E and VN induced the most significant IgG levels. Both at the 3rd and 4th WPIMI or WPIPI, various treatments induced significant increases in IgG. At the 4th WPIMI, E, V, and V with E (VE) induced significant increases in the CD4+ thymocytes while all IP treatments caused significant increase in their counts. V and VN induced the most significant IM induction of CD8+ thymocytes while their best IP stimulation was induced by N, VE, and VN. At the 4th WPIMI, various treatments caused significant increases in the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) CD4+, CD8+ counts. WPIPI with V or VE caused significant increases in both the CD4+- and CD8+ MLN cells, whereas VN significantly induced CD8+ MLN cells only. WPIPI with various treatments caused significant increases in the B-cell counts and the peak was obtained by VN

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication