Daily contact with a patient and poor housing affordability as determinants of pulmonary tuberculosis in urban Pakistan

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) among individuals aged 15years or more in urban Karachi, Pakistan.DESIGN AND SETTING: A case-control design was implemented in three major tertiary-care hospitals to select cases (n=342) with active pulmonary TB (i.e. two sputum smears positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis with clinical and radiographic evidence of current pulmonary TB and diagnosed between August 2002 and October 2003. Selected controls (n=342) were surgery patients from the same hospitals at time of recruitment of the cases, without clinical and radiographic evidence of pulmonary TB.Results: Multivariable logistic regression model showed that daily contact with a pulmonary TB patient (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj])=5.07; 95% CI: 3.31, 7.78), and poor housing affordability (i.e. rented vs. owned) (ORadj=1.59; 95% CI: 1.13, 2.26) were significantly associated with pulmonary TB status. The overall adjusted summary population attributable risk (%) for both the risk factors together was 38.7.CONCLUSION: Reaching out to underprivileged TB patients for delivery of DOTS and focused education of patients and their contacts about M. tuberculosis transmission mode may substantially minimize pulmonary TB risk in this and similar settings

An analytical study of some biomechanical variables on the short, medium and long-distance treadmill for Iraqi heroes

Kinetic analysis is considered an important science, which mainly depends on the use of laws and foundations used in biomechanics for the purpose of studying movement anatomically and mechanically. This research provides an overview of the various tasks involved in analysing movement of the human body. which relates to the analysis of the movement of athletes and their tracking to understand the most general behaviours of the athlete during jogging, it is noted that there are many mechanical variables that play a great role in achieving achievement for the athlete during the race including the length, frequency and time of the step as well as the maximum force of the exerts on the field the amount of pressure applied to the foot by the athlete during the racing stages. The researcher used the descriptive analytical method to process data and information related to the nature of the problem and the researcher chose a sample consisting of six Iraqi champions in a competition (100 m, 1500 m, 5000 m) in a deliberate way, two for each competition. For the time period from 9/11/2018 to 1/12/2018 in the biomechanical laboratory in the University of Kufa, using a scanner (gait analysis) and a time and length variable was chosen because it has A major role in the sports movement and its effectiveness during the race. the researcher concluded that the running rhythm for time and step length will be distributed in a balanced and according to the requirements of the race

Effect of Feeding Pellets Containing Different Concentrate to wheat Straw Ratios on the Rumen Fermentation Characteristics of Awassi Lambs

اجريت الدراسة في منطقة السياحي- محافظة بابل للتحري عن تأثير تغذية نسب مختلفة من العلف المركز الى تبن الحنطة على خصائص تخمرات الكرش. حضرت خمسة علائق خليطة كلية تضمن تركيبها 30:70 و40:60 و 50:50 و 60:40 و 70:30 من العلف المركز الى تبن الحنطة كبست بصورة مكعبات وقدمت بصورة حرة الى الحملان العواسية. اظهرت النتائج ان زيادة نسبة العلف المركز الى الخشن قد ارتبطت بانخفاض معنوي (P<0.01) في الاس الهيدروجيني في سائل الكرش وسجلت اقل القيم,  6.60و 6.50 و 6.53 في النماذج المسحوبة من مجموعة الحملان المغذاة على المكعبات الحاوية على العلف المركز الى التبن بنسبة 50:50 و 60:40 و 70:30 على التوالي. كما تميزت تلك النماذج باقل (P<0.01) تركيز نيتروجين الامونيا,  4.85و 4.45 و 4.35 ملغم/100  مل, وأعلى (P<0.01) تركيز للأحماض الدهنية الطيارة الكلية.This study was carried out in Alsiyahii area– Babylon Province to investigate the effect of feeding Awassi lambs different ratios of concentrate: wheat straw (C: R) on rumen fermentation characteristics. Five pellets of total mixed rations (TMR) containing 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40 and 70:30 of C: R ratios were prepared and offered to lambs ad libitum. Results revealed that increasing C: R ratio was associated with a significant (P<0.01) reduction in pH, lower values of 6.60, 6.50 and 6.53 were recorded in samples of rumen liquor collected from lambs fed pellets containing C: R ratios of 50:50, 60:40 and 70:30, respectively. Those samples were also characterized with lower (P<0.01) concentration of ammonia nitrogen, 4.85, 4.45 and 4.38 mg/100 ml, and higher (P<0.01) concentration of total volatile fatty acids.&nbsp

Effect of Feeding Pellets Containing Different Concentrate to Wheat Straw Ratios on the Blood Parameters of Awassi Lambs

اجريت الدراسة للتحري عن تأثير تغذية الحملان العواسية على نسب مختلفة من العلف المركز الى تبن الحنطة على معايير الدم. حضرت مكعبات خمسة علائق خليطة كلية تضمن تركيبها 30:70 و40:60 و 50:50 و 60:40 و 70:30 من العلف المركز الى تبن الحنطة وقدمت بصورة حرة الى الحملان. اظهرت النتائج ان زيادة نسبة العلف المركز الى الخشن ادت الى حصول زيادة معنوية ((P<0.01 في تركيز الكلوكوز وسجلت اعلى القيم, 75.38 و 75.59 ملغم/100 مل في نماذج الدم المسحوبة من الحملان المغذاة على المكعبات الحاوية على العلف المركز الى التبن بنسبة 40:60 و 30:70 على التوالي. كما تميزت تلك النماذج بأعلى ((P<0.01 تركيز للبروتين الكلي والكليسريدات الثلاثية في الدم. اما تركيز نيتروجين اليوريا فقد سجلت اعلى ((P<0.01 القيم, 44.15 و 42.68 و 44.98 ملغم/100 مل في نماذج الدم المسحوبة من الحملان المغذاة على المكعبات الحاوية على العلف المركز الى التبن بنسبة 50:50 و 40:60 و 30:70 على التوالي.This study was carried out to investigate the effect of feeding Awassi lambs different ratios of concentrate: wheat straw (C: R) on blood parameters. Five pellets of total mixed rations (TMR) containing 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40 and 70:30 of C: R ratios were prepared and offered to lambs ad libitum. The results showed that increasing the C: R ratio significantly (P<0.01) increased the blood glucose. Higher concentration, 75.38 and 75.59 mg/100 ml were recorded in blood samples withdrawn from lambs fed on pellets containing 60:40 and 70:30 of C: R ratios respectively. similarly, those blood samples were characterized with higher (P<0.01) concentrations of total protein and triglycerides. With regard to urea nitrogen, higher (P<0.01) concentration, 44.15, 42.68 and 44.98 mg/100 ml were detected in blood samples withdrawn from lambs fed pellets containing 50:50, 60:40 and 70:30, respectively

Short-course versus long-course antibiotic therapy for non-severe community-acquired pneumonia in children aged 2 months to 59 months

Background: Pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality in children under five years of age. Treatment of pneumonia requires an effective antibiotic used in adequate doses for an appropriate duration. Recommended duration of treatment ranges between 7 and 14 days, but this is not based on any empirical evidence. Shorter duration of therapy, if found to be effective, could be particularly important in resource-poor settings where there is a high risk of death, poor access to medicines and health care, and limited budgets for medicines.Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of short- course versus long-course therapy with the same antibiotic for non-severe community-acquired pneumonia in children aged 2 to 59 months. Search strategy: We searched The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials ( CENTRAL), the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects ( DARE) ( The Cochrane Library, 2007, Issue 3), MEDLINE ( OVID) ( January 1966 to September 2007), EMBASE ( Embase. com) ( 1974 to September 2007), and LILACS ( 1982 to September 2007).Selection criteria: All randomized controlled trials ( RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of short- course versus long-course therapy using the same antibiotic for non- severe community-acquired pneumonia in children.Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted the data.Main results: Three studies ( 5763 children) were included. Analysis of three days versus five days of treatment with the same antibiotic for non-severe pneumonia in children showed non-significant differences in rates of clinical cure at the end of treatment (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.01), treatment failure at the end of treatment ( RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.25) and relapse rate after seven days of clinical cure ( RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.42). Subgroup analysis evaluating the impact of different antibiotics showed non- significant differences for these outcomes with different durations of therapy. Authors\u27 conclusions: The evidence of this review suggests that a short course ( three days) of antibiotic therapy is as effective as a longer treatment ( five days) for non- severe pneumonia in children under five years of age. However, there is a need for more well-designed RCTs to support our review findings

In situ Polymerization of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Nylon-6 Nanocomposites and Their Electrospun Nanofibers

Multiwalled carbon nanotube/nylon-6 nanocomposites (MWNT/nylon-6) were prepared by in situ polymerization, whereby functionalized MWNTs (F-MWNTs) and pristine MWNTs (P-MWNTs) were used as reinforcing materials. The F-MWNTs were functionalized by Friedel-Crafts acylation, which introduced aromatic amine (COC6H4-NH2) groups onto the side wall. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images obtained from the fractured surfaces of the nanocomposites showed that the F-MWNTs in the nylon-6 matrix were well dispersed as compared to those of the P-MWNTs. Both nanocomposites could be electrospun into nanofibers in which the MWNTs were embedded and oriented along the nanofiber axis, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The specific strength and modulus of the MWNTs-reinforced nanofibers increased as compared to those of the neat nylon-6 nanofibers. The crystal structure of the nylon-6 in the MWNT/nylon-6 nanofibers was mostly γ-phase, although that of the MWNT/nylon-6 films, which were prepared by hot-pressing the pellets between two aluminum plates and then quenching them in icy water, was mostly α-phase, indicating that the shear force during electrospinning might favor the γ-phase, similarly to the conventional fiber spinning

SURVIVAL OUTCOMES IN EARLY GLOTTIC CARCINOMA; A SINGLE INSTITUTION EXPERIENCE

Purpose: Laryngeal cancers are amongst the most common cancers affecting head and neck region. In this study, we analyse the overall survival (OS) following hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) in early stage glottic carcinoma treated at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore. Methods: Between October 2003 and June 2009, 87 patients with early stage glottic carcinoma were treated with hypofractionated RT. All patients were included in the study. The ratio of male: female is 94%:6%. Mean age was 62 years (range 31–83 years). 66% of the patients were smokers. AJCC stage was T1a in 76%, T1b 20% and T2 in 4% of the patients. Histological distribution was; squamous cell carcinoma 97%, verrucous carcinoma 2% and squamous cell spindle variant 1%. Median follow-up time was 59 months (range 4–122 months). RT dose was 55 Gy in 20 fractions over a period of 4 weeks. Median RT treatment time was 28 days (range 23–35 days). Patients that lost to follow-up were contacted through telephone. Results: The 10-year OS was 83%. Patterns of failure was 7 local and 1 distant while 1 patient had persistent disease. 15 patients were dead at the time of study. Cause of death; 13 patients died due to Ischemic heart disease and 2 due to primary disease. Conclusion: Hypofractionated RT 55 Gy in 20 fractions seems to achieve good OS while offering potential for optimizing resources usage. Key words: Glottic carcinoma, hypofractionated, overall survival, radiotherapy

Text Hiding Using Artificial Neural Networks

The growth of information technology and data transfer led to increase the data attacks, so that information security becomes an important issue to keep the data saved during information exchanges in computer networks. Steganography techniques used to protect the information from being detected. The art of steganography will hide secret information into cover data, which will be sending without any change so the attack does not recognize any change into cover image. This paper use the Steganography and artificial neural networks to presents an information hiding procedure for hiding text in cover image, the secret text will be converted to binary code, also the cover image will be converted to the binary data in form of vectors. The supervised learning of neural networks will use binary patterns of hidden text as set of input values, and the corresponding cover image data as target that used as teacher signal to neural network. The generated weights from neural network and the coordinate of data block of cover image have been saved and then used to extract hidden text data