Combined umbilical cord patching with amniotic membrane graft for corneal surface reconstruction

Background: Umbilical cord patch (UCP) grafts have been successfully used for glaucoma shunt tube coverage and conjunctival surface reconstruction. In recent years, the technique has emerged as a novel alternative for the reconstruction of corneal perforation and descemetocele. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combined UCP grafting and human amniotic membrane (HAM) transplantation for the management of corneal perforation or descemetocele. Methods: This prospective, non-comparative, interventional case series included nine eyes of nine patients with corneal descemetoceles and 28 eyes of 28 patients with corneal perforations, all in a clinically quiescent state. UCP grafting and HAM transplantation were combined to treat all patients. We re-examined the patients daily throughout the first week, weekly for 1 month, and then monthly for the first 6 months using slit-lamp examination and anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Results: We included 37 eyes with descemetocele or corneal perforation in a clinically quiescent state. The mean (standard deviation) ages of patients with corneal descemetocele and corneal perforation were 56.3 (18.8) years and 54.3 (18.1) years, respectively. The male-to-female ratios in patients with corneal descemetocele and corneal perforation were 56% to 44% and 61% to 39%, respectively. Postoperative corneal thickness increased significantly in eyes with descemetocele compared to preoperative values (P < 0.001). Postoperative best-corrected distance visual acuity improved significantly compared to preoperative values in eyes with descemetocele or corneal perforation (both P < 0.001), with relief of accompanying ocular symptoms. We did not observe any recurrence or complications such as rejection, infection, suture-related problems, or severe inflammation and all had a formed anterior chamber up to the final follow-up visit. Conclusions: Combined UCP grafting and HAM transplantation could be a promising alternative treatment for corneal perforation or descemetocele in clinically quiescent eyes, providing satisfactory reconstruction and functional outcomes. Further studies with robust designs, larger sample sizes, and longer follow-up are needed to verify the efficacy and safety of this modified surgical technique in enhancing vision and restoring anterior segment anatomical integrity in compromised corneas

Comparison between Sigma metrics in four accredited Egyptian medical laboratories in some biochemical tests: an initiative towards sigma calculation harmonization

Introduction: Analytical quality is an essential requirement for best practice in any medical laboratory. Lack of a harmonized approach for sigma calculation is considered an obstacle in the objective comparability of analytical performance among laboratories adopting sigma metrics. It is urgently needed that all laboratory professionals interested in the analytical quality to work hard towards harmonization protocol for sigma calculation in order to properly select their analytical goals. This study aims at harmonization of Sigma metrics calculation in four accredited Egyptian laboratories. Materials and methods: This observational cross sectional study compared the sigma levels for certain biochemical parameters in the four participating laboratories. Results: Coefficient of variation (CV) and bias were determined for some biochemical analytes, data assayed by different automated analysers in the four different accredited laboratories. The sigma level for the four medical laboratories was calculated for each biomedical parameter with changed sigma level after total allowable error (Tea) unification among participating laboratories. Conclusion: Each laboratory should select the TEa goal based on clear standardized criteria of selection without any subjective preferences as either under or over estimation of Sigma metrics will affect the patient centred care negatively if laboratories use quality control procedures wrongly based on incorrect Sigma metrics calculation with subsequent misleading medical decisions

Association between the polymorphisms of angiotensin converting enzyme (Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A) INDEL mutation (I/D) and Angiotensin II type I receptor (A1166C) and breast cancer among post menopausal Egyptian females

Renin angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis. Angiotensin (Ang II) is converted from angiotensin I via angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Ang II exerts its effects by binding to two types of receptors; AT1R and AT2R. Ang II effect on AT1R promotes proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis in breast tissues. ACE (I/D) polymorphism is an insertion/deletion of a 287 bp DNA fragment within intron 16 of ACE gene. A1166C is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3′-UTR of AT1R gene. Both (D) and (C) alleles were found to be related to RAS overactivation. Subjects and methods: One hundred and twenty postmenopausal Egyptian females were included in the present study and were divided into control group (fifty apparently healthy women) and patients group (seventy breast cancer patients). Detailed history taking was done with stress on age, family history, menstrual, obstetric, medical and drug history. Physical examination including body mass index calculation was done. Histopathological examination was done for tumor grading and staging. Detection of ACE gene (I/D) polymorphism by PCR and AT1R A1166C SNP using PCR/RFLP were done. Results: A statistically significant difference in AT1R A1166C SNP genotype frequencies was found among the studied groups. The patients group showed higher frequency of “CC” (2.9% vs 0%) and “AC” (44.3% vs 24%) and lower frequency of “AA” genotype (52.9% vs 76%) than controls. The patients also showed significant higher frequency of allele “C” (25% vs 12%) which was associated with increased breast cancer risk with an Odds ratio of 2.4444 (95% CI: 1.1967–4.9931). Testing the dominant model of inheritance revealed a statistically higher frequency of exposed genotypes “AC and CC” among the patients group (47.1% vs 24%, respectively; p = 0.013) with substantial increase in breast cancer risk among the exposed genotypes with an Odds ratio of 2.8243 (95% CI: 1.2679–6.2913). The present study demonstrated that (AC and CC) genotypes of AT1R A1166C SNP and increased BMI can be considered as predictors for breast cancer risk among post menopausal Egyptian females. Results also revealed that A1166C SNP of AT1R gene and ACE/ID polymorphism could not be considered as predictors for breast cancer prognosis

Efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants over TiO2 nanoparticles modified with nitrogen and MoS2 under visible light irradiation

Abstract Investigate the use of visible light to improve photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. Nitrogen-doped titania and molybdenum sulfide nanocomposites (NTM NCs) with different weight ratios of MoS2 (1, 2, and 3 wt.%) synthesized by a solid state method applied to the photodegradation of methylene blue(MB) under visible light irradiation. The synthesized NTM composites were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR, UV–Vis, DRS and PL spectroscopy. The results showed enhanced activity of NTM hybrid nanocrystals in oxidizing MB in water under visible light irradiation compared to pure TiO2. The photocatalytic performance of NTM samples increased with MoS2 content. The results show that the photodegradation efficiency of the TiO2 compound improved from 13 to 82% in the presence of N-TiO2 and to 99% in the presence of MoS2 containing N-TiO2, which is 7.61 times higher than that of TiO2. Optical characterization results show enhanced nanocomposite absorption in the visible region with long lifetimes between e/h+ at optimal N-TiO2/MoS2 (NTM2) ratio. Reusable experiments indicated that the prepared NTM NCs photocatalysts were stable during MB photodegradation and had practical applications for environmental remediation

A Practical Study For a New Measuring Tool For EHV Bus Bar Fault Detection

Mdash This paper introduces both theoretical and practical application of the Cos-Sin fault detection technique with EHV busbars. A digital relay with multiple operating criteria is being implemented based on the Cos-Sin technique. The relay is being theoretically tested on the 500 KV unified Egyptian network where the grid simulation is done using ATP whereas the technique was programmed by the Matlab. On the other hand, the relay is being practically tested against different fault cases on a constructed lab model of a simple network with typical parameters to the actual grid while the protection mechanism was loaded on the LabVIEW. The simulation results indicate the capability of the Cos-Sin based relay for the detection and discrimination of all types of busbar faults besides differentiating between close up faults and bus ones

Outcomes of bimanual microincision cataract surgery and 2.2-mm coaxial phacoemulsification

Purpose To compare the efficacy and safety outcomes of bimanual microincision cataract surgery (B-MICS) versus 2.2-mm coaxial phacoemulsification (C-MICS). Patients and methods This prospective, interventional, randomized, comparative clinical study was carried out on 60 cataractous eyes. Thirty patients were managed surgically by C-MICS through a 2.2 mm mean incision and 30 patients were managed surgically by B-MICS through a 1.2–1.4 mm trapezoidal incision. The main outcomes measures were postoperative best-corrected distant visual acuity, postoperative spherical equivalent, higher-order aberrations, corneal thickness, corneal endothelial cell loss (ECL), and complications during and after surgery. Both groups were compared for all variables preoperatively. Results The visual rehabilitation in group B was faster than that in group A (nonsignificant). There were nonstatistically significant differences, in the best-corrected visual acuity, between both groups throughout the postoperative period. The mean ECL was statistically significantly higher in group A (221.2±44.1) compared with group B (167.5±67.9) (P<0.001). The mean central corneal thickness change was significantly greater in group A than group B (P=0.01). The surgically induced astigmatism was statistically significantly improved in B-MICS (group B) than C-MICS (group A) (P=0.001). For the other corneal aberrations, there were nonsignificant differences between the two groups. No differences were found in the complications during surgeries between the two groups of cataract surgery. Conclusion The two techniques are reliable, functional, effective, and yield good visual outcomes and low complication rates. B-MICS with the smallest incision induces less astigmatism (surgically induced astigmatism), less ECL, fewer central corneal thickness changes, and enables earlier visual rehabilitation

Renalase gene polymorphisms (rs2576178 and rs10887800) in Egyptian hypertensive end stage renal disease patients

Background: The highly polymorphic gene encoding human renalase (RNLS) is a 311,000 bp gene located on chromosome 10. Aim: This study aimed at studying the possible association of the two RNLS gene polymorphisms rs2576178 and rs10887800 with chronic kidney disease in general or specifically with hypertensive nephropathy in Egyptian end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Subjects and method: This case control study was conducted on two hundred and eighty one individuals, divided equally into two groups; an end stage renal disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis with/without hypertension and healthy matching individuals as a control group. Full clinical examination, Biochemical analysis and Molecular genetic testing were performed to detect single nucleotide polymorphism using restriction fraction length polymorphism (RFLP) for RNLS rs2576178 and rs1088780. Results: The results of this study demonstrated that the risk of developing ESRD was increased among carriers of AA genotype for the rs10887800 (3.05 times) p = 0.001, OR = 3.05, CI95% (1.558–5.971) and GG genotype for the rs2576178 p = 0.047, OR = 1.949, CI95% (1.028–3.694). Conclusion: Our study revealed that the risk of developing end stage renal diseases was increased among carriers of AA genotype for the rs10887800 polymorphism and GG genotype for the rs2576178 polymorphism

Effect of Nano-Fertilizers on Alfalfa Plants Grown under Different Salt Stresses in Hydroponic System

In light of climate change and the ever-increasing population, salt stress has become a critical issue for agriculture and food security. The use of nano-fertilizers in agriculture is a promising application for salt stress management. Therefore, we investigated a hydroponic experiment to evaluate the effect of different nano-fertilizers: macro-nutrient (K2SO4) and micro-nutrient (ZnO and SiO2) on two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes: (Susceptible: Bulldog 505, and tolerant: Mesa-Sirsa) grown with different salt concentrations (6 and10 dS m&minus;1) in split-split design. The results demonstrated that nano-K2SO4 enhanced shoot dry weight, plant height, number of flowers, number of tillers, root length, root fresh weight, and root dry weight under both salt levels. Addition of nano-K2SO4 enhanced plant relative water contents and electrolyte leakage with both genotypes under different salt levels. Nano-SiO2 promoted proline and SOD production with high salinity with values of (0.78 and 1.06 &micro;mol g&minus;1 FW) and 191.15 and 143.46 U. g&minus;1 FW under Bulldog and Mesa-Sirsa, respectively. The application of nano-ZnO promoted plant micro-elements under 6 dS m&minus;1 with both genotypes. The incorporation of nano-fertilizers into hydroponic systems provides a promising strategy, especially in regions with low water quality