Evaluating tools to support a new practical classification of diabetes: excellent control may represent misdiagnosis and omission from disease registers is associated with worse control.

To conduct a service evaluation of usability and utility on-line clinical audit tools developed as part of a UK Classification of Diabetes project to improve the categorisation and ultimately management of diabetes

Measuring the effect of customer relationship management (CRM) components on the non financial performance of commercial banks: Egypt case

This paper presents customer relationship management (CRM) components as applied on the Egyptian Commercial Banks, examined from the bankers' point of view. Then, it intends to measure their effect on the level of customer satisfaction and loyalty from the customers’ point of view as examples of the non financial performance measures. The paper is quantitative in nature and consists of two different structured questionnaires using convenience/quota sampling. The first involved 180 employees in order to measure CRM applicability, and the second involved 270 customers to measure the level of customer satisfaction and loyalty and their effect on the Egyptian Commercial Banks' financial performance The findings show that the selected banks apply CRM components but the level of application differs from one bank to another. The results showed a significant positive relationship between CRM and customer satisfaction in the Egyptian Commercial Banks, when applying them together and not separately. In addition, there is a strong positive effect between customer satisfaction and loyalty which was reflected on the Commercial Banks' financial performance. The findings confirm the importance of studying and implementing CRM to achieve customer loyalty and improve the Egyptian Commercial Banks financial performance. Banks wishing to improve their relationships with customers need to focus on the CRM components to develop relevant and effective marketing strategies and tactics. The paper measures the CRM as a multidimensional construct as applied on the Egyptian Commercial Banks and relate it to the achievement of the ultimate goal of retaining customers to gaining a sustainable competitive advantage and achieve more profits

The Spatial Identity of Historic Cairo, Part one: Typology, Geometry, and Geographic Distribution

It is fundamental to maintain the local places’ identity, character and trajectory of evolution in order to create a sustainable process of urbanization.This study introduces a quantitative inventory of urban spaces in Cairo, in the early 19th century, extracted from historic maps and indexes. Urban spaces are classified in terms of geometric typology (linear and central), geometric regularity of their footprints, sizes and geographical distribution.The extracted information highlighted the quantitative domination of linear spaces and of irregularity in space footprint. It also showed a noticeable insignificant value of central spaces. However, the insignificant value of central spaces presented spatial identity of power demonstration in historic Cairo; irregularity and linearity presented sociocultural and economic identities

Impact of Removable Partial Denture Type on Patient Satisfaction and Abutment Survival Rate-RCT

BACKGROUND: Patient’s satisfaction and the preservation of abutments is the most important outcomes that the clinician seeks during fabrication of any dental treatment, especially when it is concerned with removable prosthodontic rehabilitation. AIM: The present study evaluates three different Removable Partial Denture (RPD) types restoring mandibular class II modification I edentulous cases with regards to patient’s satisfaction and abutments survival. METHODS: Forty-two partially edentulous patients were divided into three groups (Group I rehabilitated with Vitallium RPD, Group II rehabilitated with Vitallium RPD where the modification area restored with the surveyed bridge, Group III rehabilitated with Thermopress RPD). The patients were followed up for twenty-four months. Using a questionnaire, prosthodontic maintenance required was documented at the delivery and after 3 months. RESULTS: There was a significant difference regarding patient satisfaction for group III (P-value <0.05) while for groups I and II there was a non-significant difference (P-value >0.05). Regarding the survival rate, there was a non-significant difference between the three groups (P-value >0.05) at the end of twenty-four months of follow up. CONCLUSION: Patient satisfaction and abutment survival were better with Thermopress RPD than conventional Vitallium RPD or Vitallium RPD with a surveyed bridge restoring the modification area. Although a non-statistically significant difference was found in the survival rate of abutments between groups, a clinically important result was revealed as no abutments failures were reported in the Thermopress group

MANAGEMENT’S PERCEPTION OF STOCK DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION IN AN EMERGING CAPITAL MARKET: THE CASE OF KUWAIT

The purpose of this study is to investigate perceptions of top managers of Kuwaiti companies regarding factors the affect their companies’ decision to distribute stock dividend ( SD ). A questionnaire listing 32 reasons that could explain companies’ decisions to declare SDs was distributed to a sample of 120 randomly selected top managers from 100 Kuwaiti companies and 73 responses were received (representing a 61% response rate ). Participants were classified according to: ( 1 )business sector ( investment, real estate, banking, service, and industrial ) and ( 2 ) size of SDs ( small ( less than 25% ) and large ( 25% or more )). Nonparametric statistical tests were employed to analyze the data.Stock Dividends, Importance Ratings, Trading Liquidity, Institutional Investors

The protective role of melatonin on L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis in adult male albino rats

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease that has an increasing incidence worldwide. AP is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates ranging 15–40% in its severe form. Oxidative stress plays an important role in pancreatic acinar cell injury in case of AP. Melatonin (Mel) is proven to have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of the work was to investigate the protective role of Mel against L-arginine (L-arg)-induced AP in adult male albino rats. Materials and methods: Thirty-six adult male albino rats were used in this study. Animals were divided into four groups; Control group (Group A; n = 6), Mel group (Group B; n = 6), L-arg group (Group C; n = 12) receiving two doses of L-arg injection with 1 h interval in-between, and L-arg+Mel group (Group D; n = 12) receiving Mel 1 h after each L-arg injection. 24 h after the second L-arg injection, the serum levels of amylase (AM), lipase (LP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined. Then, pancreatic specimens were processed for histological and immunohistochemical staining with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the area percentage of VEGF and collagen content were measured by digital image analysis. Results: Microscopic examination revealed that animals received L-arg only (Group C) showed loss of the pancreatic lobular architecture with marked fibrosis, acinar degeneration, inflammatory reaction and marked oedema with vascular congestion. Also, L-arg-induced AP caused a significant elevation of the serum levels of AM, LP, IL-6. All these histo-pathological and serological parameters were markedly improved by Mel administration. Conclusions: Melatonin exhibits strong therapeutic effects in the course of AP. Hence, the use of Mel as adjuvant treatment in AP is recommended.