Intraocular Metastasis as the Presenting Symptom of NSCLC and the Role of Bevacizumab: A Case Report

Introduction: Metastasis to the eye is a rare clinical entity accounting for about 2-9% ocular malignancies. Clinical awareness can lead to prompt diagnosis and appropriate management.Case presentation: We here present a case of a 60-year-old patient who visited to several ophthalmologists with the complaint of blurry vision in his left eye. He was diagnosed with anterior uveitis and elevated intraocular pressure. A masquerade syndrome was suspected, and anterior chamber paracentesis was performed, which revealed metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). CT chest revealed a left lung mass with right paratracheal lymphadenopathy. No other evidence of metastatic disease was found on PET/CT scan and MRI of the brain. He received treatment for stage IV lung cancer with carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab. The intraocular tumor cell infiltration was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab that resulted in subjective and objective improvement.Conclusion: Metastasis to the eye may present in a masquerade-like fashion as intraocular inflammation. Tumor specific therapy directed locally within the eye may be a component of an overall treatment plan.

Modification of Some Solution Techniques of Combinatorial Optimization Problems to Analyze the Transposition Cipher

In this paper we attempt to use a new direction in cryptanalysis of classical crypto systems. The new direction represented by considering some of classical crypto systems, like transposition cipher problem (TCP), as a combinatorial optimization problem (COP), then using the known solving methods of COP, with some modification, to cryptanalysis the TCP. In this work we investigate to use Branch and Bound (BAB) and one of swarm algorithms as a local search method. The main aim of the research presented in this paper is to investigate the use of some optimization methods in the fields of cryptanalysis and cryptographic function generation. These techniques were found to provide a successful method of automated cryptanalysis of a variety of the classical ciphers. Keywords: cryptography, cryptanalysis, Classical Ciphers, Transposition Cipher, Branch and Bound, Swarm Intelligence, Bees Algorithm

Lorcaserin vs. Phentermine among non-surgical and surgical obese patients: Anthropometric, glycemic, lipid, safety and cost outcomes

Background To evaluate effectiveness, safety, and costs of Lorcaserin vs. phentermine among obese non–surgical and surgical patients (post bariatric surgery). Methods This retrospective study retrieved charts of all patients (January 2013–June 2016) who received Lorcaserin or phentermine for 3 months. The study assessed anthropometric, glycemic, and lipid changes, as well as side effects and cost of medications among overweight and obese non-surgical (n = 83) and surgical patients (n = 46). These two patient groups were compared using Chi-square (χ2) and unpaired‘t’ test for qualitative and quantitative variables respectively. Results At 3 months, among the non-surgical group, Phentermine patients had greater percentage of total weight loss (TWL%) (7.65 ± 8.26 vs. 2.99 ± 3.72%, P = 0.003), and greater BMI reduction (−3.16 ± 3.63 vs. −1.15 ± 1.53 kg/m2, P = 0.003) than Lorcaserin. Within the surgical group, Lorcaserin patients had significantly smaller TWL% (1.86 ± 5.06 vs. 7.62 ± 9.80%, P = 0.012), and smaller BMI reduction (−0.74 ± 1.80 vs. −3.06 ± 4.08 kg/m2, P = 0.012) than Phentermine. Lorcaserin exhibited significant total cholesterol and LDL improvements only among surgical patients with significant weight reduction (≥5% TW). Both medications were not associated with glycemic improvements among non-surgical and surgical groups. Phentermine had slightly more side effects but was less expensive. Conclusions Among both patient groups, phentermine was more effective in achieving weight loss. Lorcaserin showed dyslipidemia improvements only among surgical patients who achieved significant weight reduction. Anti-obesity medications as part of weight management programs can result in weight loss among non-surgical and surgical patients, or halt weight regain among surgical patients. This is the first study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two anti-obesity medications (lorcaserin vs. phentermine) among two distinct obese patient groups, non-surgical and surgical patients

Useing the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Fuzzy Cluster Analysis Methods for Classification of Some Hospitals in Basra

تكمن اهمية اسلوب التحليل العنقودي بشكل عام في البحث عن تعنقد البيانات المتعددة والمتجانسة لغرض تجميع العناصر في مجاميع متجانسة فيما بينها (داخل المجموعة الواحدة) ومختلفة عن المجاميع الاخرى اعتماداً على العديد من المتغيرات ويستعمل في تقليص حجم البيانات وتوليد الفرضيات واختبارها وفي التنبؤ و مطابقة النماذج. وان البحث يهدف الى معرفة التحليل العنقودي المضبب وهو حالة خاصة من التحليل العنقودي فضلاً عن المفاضلة بين الاسلوبين ، ونظراً للدور الهام للمستشفيات وما له من علاقة وثيقة بصحة الانسان فقد تم تخصيص موضوع البحث لعنقدة المستشفيات الحكومية والاهلية لعينة من 288 مريض من المرضى الراقدين في 10 مستشفيات بناءاً على مدى تماثلها في تقديم الخدمات الصحية للمرضى الراقدين فيها حسب معايير جودة الخدمات الصحية في ظل ظروف مضببة ( حالة عدم التأكد لآراء المرضى الراقدين في تقييم الخدمات الصحية المقدمة لهم والتي مثلت بمجموعة من المعايير و قيست على شكل مقياس ليكرت الخماسي)  وتلك المعايير نظمت في استمارة استبانة تضمنت 31 فقرة. وقد توصل البحث الى مجموعة من الاستنتاجات اهمها ان كلا اسلوبي التحليل العنقودي الهرمي والتحليل العنقودي المضبب صنف مستشفيات عينة البحث الى عنقودين كل عنقود يضم مجموعة من المستشفيات وان التحليل العنقودي المضبب اكثر ملائمة لتصنيف عينة البحث من التحليل العنقودي الهرمي نتيجة افتراضه ان المستشفى تنتمي لكلا العنقودين بدرجات انتماء متفاوتة في تطبيقها لمعايير جودة الخدمات الصحية بينما التحليل العنقودي الهرمي قد صنف المستشفيات اما تنتمي او لا تنتمي للعنقود اي افترض ان تلك المستشفيات في العنقود الاول مختلفة كليا" عن مستشفيات العنقود الثاني في تطبيقها لمعايير جودة الخدمات الصحية وهذا غير ممكنIn general, the importance of cluster analysis is that one can evaluate elements by clustering multiple homogeneous data; the main objective of this analysis is to collect the elements of a single, homogeneous group into different divisions, depending on many variables. This method of analysis is used to reduce data, generate hypotheses and test them, as well as predict and match models. The research aims to evaluate the fuzzy cluster analysis, which is a special case of cluster analysis, as well as to compare the two methods—classical and fuzzy cluster analysis. The research topic has been allocated to the government and private hospitals. The sampling for this research was comprised of 288 patients being treated in 10 hospitals. As the similarity between hospitals of the study sample was measured according to the standards of quality of health services under fuzzy conditions (a case of uncertainty of the opinions of patients who were in the evaluation of health services provided to them, which was represented by a set of criteria and was measured in the form of a Likert five-point scale). Moreover, those criteria were organized into a questionnaire containing 31 items. The research found a number of conclusions, the most important is that both methods of hierarchical cluster analysis and fuzzy cluster analysis, classify the hospitals of the research sample into two clusters, each cluster comprises a group of hospitals that depend on applying health quality service standards. The second important conclusion is that the fuzzy cluster analysis is more suitable for the classification of the research sample compared to hierarchical cluster analysis

The Effect of Organic Matter Application on Phosphorus Status in the Calcareous Soil

A field experiment is conducted to study the effect of different levels of peat (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 Mg ha-1 to uncropped and cropped soil to wheat. Soil samples are taken in different period of time (0, 3, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 days after cultivation to determine (NaHCO3-Exteractable P at 3 different depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm). Field Experiment is conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. Wheat, Al-Rasheed variety, is cultivated as a testing crop. The entire field is equally dived in two divisions. One of the two divisions is cultivated to wheat and the second is left uncropped. The effect of five levels of peat namely 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 Mg ha-1 is investigated. Soils are fully analyzed to determine its physical and chemical characteristics. The soil samples are collected after 3, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 days for determining essential parameters and indicators that reflect the effect of the level of peat applications. Sodium bicarbonate - extractable P in uncropped and cropped soils at all depths, markedly decreases with time after peat application which has been attributed to plant uptake and rapid reaction of P with soil constituents. Sodium bicarbonate - extractable P with time in soil receiving 50 Mg ha-1 in both uncropped and cropped soil linearly decreases with the time of cultivatio

IJRTP Volume 10(iv) Table of Contents

Special Issue : Pilgrimage as a Multi-Faceted Diamond, containing papers from Sacred Journeys 9th Global Conference at the University of Primorska’s Department of Tourism, in Portoroz and Piran, Slovenia, from July 6-8, 202

Effect of gravistimulation on amino acid profile of pea, rice, corn, wheat during early growth stages

AbstractThe amino acids are one of the major cellular components of plants, which are involved in different metabolic pathways. In present study, effect of artificial gravistimulation on amino acid profiles of pea, rice, corn, wheat during early growth stages was investigated. One-axis clinostat was used for gravistimulation application, which was applied at embryonic stage. Amino acid profile was measured in 10-days old seedlings of pea, rice, corn and wheat cultivars. The effect of clinostat rotation was also evaluated under salt stress and MS medium supplement. Germinated pea, rice, corn and wheat seedlings were grown under the gravity condition for specific time interval. Corn and wheat seeds showed slow germination as compared to pea and rice cultivars. The rate of amino acid formation under gravity condition was significantly higher than control (un-treated seedling). The variation in amino acid profile of pea, rice, corn and wheat cultivars vary deferentially. Results revealed that gravistimulation applied through clinostat has positive effect on amino acid profile in plant tissue and future studies should be focused on growth, biochemical, physiological at lateral stages of growth

Model Predictive Control of Blood Pressure and Urine Production Rate for a Physiological Patient Model

The research proposes the design of a model predictive control (MPC) for automatic drug dosing to regulate high blood pressure and urine production rate in an elderly patient. Combining hydrochlorothiazide and oxybutynin is commonly used for regulation of blood pressure in elderly patients. The patient’s model tries to captures the responses to the drugs as the blood pressure and urine production rates attains their various set-points. Hence, this research aims at improving the control scheme which ensured that these two physiological variables are regulated. Simulation was done in MATLAB/Simulink environment with the use of MPC Toolbox, and the controlled variables were constrained to operate at 80mmHg for blood pressure and between 24-49 ml/kg/hr for urine production rate respectively while the manipulated variables remained unconstrained. From the simulation results, the MPC controller achieved good set-point tracking and disturbance rejection, which is an indication of a healthy level of regulation within acceptable tolerances