P-selectin in preterm infants suffering necrotizing enterocolitis

Background: Platelet selectin (P-selectin), an adhesion molecule expressed by activated endothelial cells, mediates the early phases of leukocyte adherence to the endothelium. Expression of P-selectin has been shown to be crucial to neutrophil recruitment in many human inflammatory processes as well as in animal models of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion, intestinal transplantation, and sepsis, but its role in NEC is unknown. Objective: To study P-selectin, a possible cause of NEC, in the blood of preterm infants. Study design: Twenty-four consecutive preterms, clinically suspected or proven to have NEC, were enrolled in this pilot study. Their weight ranged from 1 to 2.3 Kg (mean ±SD: 1.7±0.5 Kg), age ranged from 2 to 21 days (mean ±SD: 12±3.5 days) and their gestational age (GA) ranged from 29 to 33 weeks (mean ±SD: 31±3 weeks). In addition, 12 age- and weight-matched apparently healthy preterm infants served as a control group. Written consents were obtained from the parents of infants included in the study. All neonates were subjected to perinatal history, clinical examination, routine investigations (CBC, plain X-ray and abdominal ultrasonography (US), arterial blood gases and serum bicarbonate, serum sodium, CRP and blood culture), and measurement of blood P-selectin by direct immunofluorescent staining. Results: Infants with NEC clinically presented with significant PROM, gastric residual, abdominal distensions, hypoperfusion, hematochezia and evidence of NEC in abdominal X-ray and/or US, compared to control infants. Significant abnormal laboratory investigations in NEC cases included high CRP, hyponatremia, bandemia, thrombocytopenia, metabolic acidosis, and blood culture-proven neonatal sepsis. Abnormal blood P-selectin (>20 units) was detected in 21 (87.5%) infants with NEC, with a mean level of 51±12.4 units that was significantly higher than that of control infants, P < 0.001. A strong significant negative correlation was observed between blood P-selectin and each of GA, body weight, platelet count, arterial blood pH and bicarbonate, while it was a significant positive correlation with each of CRP and band cell count. Conclusion: P-selectin may have a role in the pathogenesis of NEC in preterm infants and may be used as a diagnostic tool. Keywords: Prematurity -abdominal distension-hematocheziaEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010;8(2):61-6

Seasonal effects on semen quality in Black Baladi and White New Zealand rabbit

[EN] A total of 32 sexually mature rabbit bucks (at 6th month of age) were used in this experiment to study the effects of breed (Black Baladi -BB- vs. White New Zealand -WNZ-) and season (summer vs. winter) on libido and seminal parameters. The experimental design was completely random with four groups arranged factorially (two breeds and two seasons) with eight rabbits in each group and three months per season. The results obtained from this study indicated that, libido (14.5 vs. 21.9 sec) and physical semen characteristics represented by the volume of semen per ejaculate without gel fractions (0.70 vs. 0.49 mL), sperm-cell concentration (703 vs. 597¿106/mL), total sperm output (513 vs. 293¿106/ejaculate), sperm abnormalities (11.6 vs. 14.0%), acrosomal damages (8.6 vs. 11.5%), dead spermatozoa (13.9 vs. 16.0%), and advanced sperm motility (63.2 vs. 57.1%) were signifi cantly (P<0.01) better on BB rabbit bucks than on WNZ breed. In addition, these parameters proved to be signifi cantly (P<0.01) better in winter season (15.8 sec, 0.68 mL, 702¿106/mL, 487¿106/ejaculate, 10.7%, 8.4%, 12.7%, and 65.6%, respectively) than in summer (20.6 sec, 0.52 mL, 598¿106/mL, 319¿106/ejaculate, 15.0%, 11.7%, 17.3%, and 54.7%, respectively). Following the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) at 75 mOsmol/L during incubation at 37oC for 20 min, the percentages of sperm motility, swollen spermatozoa, and spermatozoa with coiled tails were higher for BB bucks (16.98, 44.08, and 39.13) than for the WNZ breed (7.2, 32.3, and 26.0). This was also the case in the winter season (14.4, 42.7, and 38.5) when compared to summer (9.8, 33.7, and 26.6), respectively. We concluded that, under Egyptian conditions, both libido and semen quality in BB bucks seems to be better than those displayed by the WNZ bucks. Nevertheless, overall semen characteristics were better in winter than in the summer season.Safaa, H.; Emarah, M.; Saleh, N. (2010). Seasonal effects on semen quality in Black Baladi and White New Zealand rabbit. World Rabbit Science. 16(1). doi:10.4995/wrs.2008.64016

Facies Analysis and Depositional Environment of the Rus and Jil Formations (l- Eocene) in Najaf and Samawa Areas, Southern Iraq

This research deals with study of facies and depositional environment of the lower Eocene Rus and Jil Formations at Najaf and Samawa Governorates, Southern Iraq. Two major lithofacies are recognized in the studied sections, namely carbonate and evaporite lithofacies. The carbonate lithofacies is divided into five microfacies whereas the evaporite lithofacies is divided into three Sublithofacies.From facies analysis the Rus and Jil Formations, in the study area, represent deposition in a shallow carbonate rimmed platform. The Rus Formation consists of two shallowing upward successions each of them represents peritidal environment, i.e., beginning with subtidal followed by intertidal and culminated with supratidal setting. The Jil Formation consists of two shallowing upwards successions representing shelf to peritidal environments. The Jil Formation grades from open marine to sabkha, i.e., beginning open marine followed by shoal, subtidal, intertidal and culminates with supratidal setting. The abundance of evaporites indicates that the climate during their depositions is arid to semi-arid. Keywords: Facies, depositional environment, Rus Formation, Jil Formation, Sabkha

USING MOBILE AUGMENTED REALITY TECHNOLOGIES IN ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION

Effective applied research is based on close collaboration between research and industry. The teaching and learning methods used for decades in Architectural learning process should be reviewed taking into account habits of learning and the existing challenges provided by contemporary information technologies for a new generation of students. This paper introduces a pilot study based on using Augmented Reality (AR) as a new tool in architectural learning process. AR is an emerging technology which enables participants to interact with digital information embedded within the physical environment. Egyptian educational architectural institutions today are largely unaware of new concepts such as Augmented Reality opportunities for architectural practice, and the prototypes that are being developed by researchers worldwide. The paper goal is to present how it is very helpful to use such new advanced technology in architectural learning process. Testing its possibilities for graphical and spatial capabilities and recognition improvements for the first year architectural students in the Building Construction course, at the Department of Architecture, Menoufia University, Egypt. The case study was applied at the first semester of the academic year of 2015-2016

Validated Stability-indicating HPTLC Determination of Baclofen in Bulk Drug, Pharmaceutical Formulations and Real Human Urine and Plasma.

A simple, highly selective and stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method was developed and validated for the analysis of baclofen in bulk powder, pharmaceutical formulations and human urine and in and real human plasma. The method employed TLC aluminum plates precoated with silica gel 60 F254 as the stationary phase. The solvent system consisted of butanol–acetic acid–water (3.0: 0.5: 0.5, v/v/v). This system was found to give compact spots for baclofen (Rf value of 0.54). Densitometric analysis was carried out in the absorbance mode at 238 nm. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plot showed good linear relationship (r2 = 0.9983) in the concentration range 1.5-7.5 µg per spot. The analytical performance of the method was fully validated, and the results were satisfactory. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.31 and 1.03 µg per spot, respectively. Baclofen was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, oxidation and photodegradation. The degraded product was well separated from the pure drug. Results indicate that the drug is stable against light and basic conditions. However, additional peaks were observed at Rf value of 0.65 and at Rf value of 0.14 with hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid respectively, indicating that the drug is susceptible to oxidation and acid degradation. The method was applied for the analysis of baclofen in commercial tablets and the results were similar to those obtained using the reference method. As the method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation product, it can be employed as a stability-indicating one. The high sensitivity of the proposed method allowed determination of baclofen in real human urine and plasma

The role of social networks in combating extremism among youth (A field study from the point of view of undergraduate students at the Hashemite University 2021)

The study aimed at identifying the role of social networks in combating extremism for young people from the perspective of university students, given that they are the most widely used group for these sites in society which will help in presenting a vision on employing these sites to combat extremism. To achieve this goal, the study used the quantitative descriptive approach based on a social survey, the study sample consisted of (6,831) undergraduate students at the Hashemite University in Zarqa in Jordan. The study concluded that (96.8%) of the study sample possesses knowledge of the concept of extremism at a level of (good, very good and excellent), (85%) of the study sample believes that extremism is dangerous and must be confronted. The study also found that the most important reasons motivate young people to use social networks are to increase their level of culture and knowledge, follow the news and the latest developments, and communicate with relatives and friends, fill free time and entertainment, curiosity and knowledge of the cultures and customs of other peoples. The study also found that there is a correlation between the motives for using social networks and the means of combating extremism through social networking sites, amounting to (51.3%), which is a positive medium correlation. In light of the results that have been reached, it was recommended to activate the role of religious institutions on social networks due to their impact on developing the concepts of tolerance, moderation among various groups of society, and to activate the role of social media in combating moral decay, by monitoring the clips and images that is published through social networks

Re-admissions to hospital and patient satisfaction among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after telemedicine video consultation - a retrospective pilot study

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of acute hospital admissions. The main object of our study was to evaluate the effects of telemedicine video-consultation (TVC) on the frequency of hospital re-admissions due to COPD exacerbations. Our secondary aim was to assess the impact of TVC on the length of re-admission stays within 6 and 12 months follow up after TVC. Patient satisfaction was also evaluated. Methods: The study was a retrospective observational study of COPD patients who after hospital discharge or during outpatient treatment for acute COPD exacerbations, were monitored for 2 weeks by TVC at home by a specialist nurse at the hospital during a pilot project period. Retrospectively, we compared the frequencies (chi-square test) and durations of hospital re-admissions (paired t-test) due to COPD exacerbations within 6 and 12 months follow up after TVC to comparable events 6 and 12 months prior to TVC. Results: Among 99 patients followed for 6 months after TVC, 56 were followed for totally 12 months. The number of patients re-admitted and the number of re-admissions due to COPD exacerbations were not reduced within 6 or 12 months post-TVC, as compared to 6 and 12 months pre-TVC. The mean length of re-admission stays within 12 months post-TVC was markedly reduced as compared to pre-TVC. Patients hospitalised the last 6 and 12 months pre-TVC, had significantly shorter re-admission stays, p = 0.033 and p = 0.001, respectively. Patient satisfaction was high. Conclusion: Despite the failure to demonstrate reduced frequency of re-admissions within 6 and 12 months post-TVC, the re-admission length within 12 months post-TVC was markedly reduced as compared to pre-TVC. The patient satisfaction was high. Future prospective, randomised, controlled trials must be performed before TVC can be recommended in COPD management.publishedVersio

The value of cervical length to predict preterm birth.

Purpose: To study the value of cervical length measured by vaginal ultrasound in 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy in predicting preterm birth. Setting: Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, Syria. Methods: We measured the cervical length of 308 pregnant "pregnancy age between 24-34 weeks" by vaginal ultrasound. We followed them till birth. Results: In the study sample the preterm birth rate was 10.08%. The rate of preterm birth declined as the cervical length increased (preterm birth rate was 55.56% for cervical length between 20-24 mm and 9.43% for cervical length between 30-34 mm). The rate of preterm birth was lower for the longer cutoff value. The sensitivity of cutoff value "25 mm" was poor, but with good specificity (16.13%, 98.56% respectively). Conclusion: The cervical length is a good predictor for preterm birth. The cutoff value (≤25 mm) has good specificity and negative predictive value. دور طول عنق الرحم بالتنبؤ بالولادات الباكرة هدف الدراسة: دراسة قيمة طول عنق الرحم من خلال التصوير بالامواج فوق الصوتية عبر المهبل في الثلث الثاني والثالث الحملي للتنبؤ بالولادة الباكرة. المكان: مشفى تشرين الجامعي، اللاذقية، سوريا. الطرائق: تمت قياس طول عنق الرحم بالإيكو المهبلي لدى 308 حوامل "كان العمر الحملي بين 24-34 أسبوع"، وتمت متابعتهن حتى الولادة. النتائج: كان معدل الولادة الباكرة في عينة الدراسة 10.08%. كان هناك انخفاض في النسبة المئوية لحدوث الولادة الباكرة كلما كان طول عنق الرحم أكبر (بلغت نسبة الولادة الباكرة 55.56% في حالة عنق رحم بين 20-24ملم، بينما بلغت 9.43% بالنسبة لطول عنق رحم 30-34ملم)، كما كانت النسبة أخفض كلما كانت القيمة الحدية المدروسة أكبر. كانت الحساسية للقيمة الحدية 25 ملم سيئة، ولكن مع نوعية جيدة (16.13%، 98.56% على الترتيب). الخلاصة: قياس طول عنق الرحم منبئ جيد للولادة الباكرة، إن القيمة الحدية (≤25 ملم) تملك نوعية وقيمة تنبؤية سلبية جيدة

Health Related Quality of Life in Egyptian Children and Adolescents with Epilepsy

Background: Childhood epilepsy is one of the most significant and prevalent neurological condition in the developing years. The aim of the study was to explore the current status of health related quality of life (HR-QOL) in Egyptian children and adolescents with epilepsy using (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Patients and Methods: This case control study was carried out in Pediatric Neurology Unit and Outpatient Clinic in Department of Pediatrics&nbsp; at Zagazig University Children's Hospital on 110 children, divided into 2 groups, case group included 55 children with epilepsy and control group included 55 apparently healthy children without epilepsy of matched age, sex and social class. All the children were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and assessment of QOL. Results: There was a significant decrease in all domains and total score of WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire in the case group. There was a significant&nbsp; –ve correlation between age and psychological domain score, also between number of school failure&nbsp; and both psychological and environmental&nbsp; domain. Disease duration and treatment duration were negatively significantly correlated with all QOL domains. A significant +ve correlation was&nbsp; found between social class score and&nbsp; both general and environmental domain. There was a significant decrease in general and environmental&nbsp; domain score&nbsp; between cases with generalized and partial seizers compared to cases with absent seizers. Conclusion: Diminished&nbsp; QOL is common in children with epilepsy than other children. Patients with epilepsy had lower mean scores of all domains of QOL, especially those with frequent fits, those with long duration, and in patients with generalized fits

Assessment of plasma and urinary transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in children with lupus nephritis

Background: Kidney disease is one of the most serious manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Despite the improvement in the medical care of SLE in the past two decades, the prognosis of lupus nephritis remains unsatisfactory. Transforming growth factor- β1 (TGF-β1) is an immunosuppressive cytokine, as it inhibits T and B cell proliferation and NK cell cytotoxic activity . Objective: The aim of this study was to assess serum and urinary TGF- β1 levels in children with SLE and their possible role in the renal involvement and activity of the disease. Study design: This cross sectional study was conducted in Nephrology Unit of Pediatric Department, plus Outpatient Clinic of Rheumatology Department, Zagazig University Hospital during the year of 2010. Methods: Twenty-five pediatric patients with SLE were randomly selected and classified according to into 2 groups: Group (Ι): included 13 patients presented with urinary abnormalities and/or disturbed renal function(active nephritis): 5 males, 8 females. Their mean age was 9.7±2.53 years and the mean disease duration was 2.46±1.4 years. Group (ΙΙ): included 12 patients presented by lupus without nephritis : 5 males,7 females. Their mean age was 9.9±2.1 years and the mean disease duration was 2.41±0.9 years. Control group(group ΙΙΙ): Twenty healthy children of matched age and sex served as a control group included 8 males ,12 females. Their mean age was 10.0±2.3 years. Results: There was no significant difference among studied patients groups regarding age, sex , disease duration and lupus therapy (p&gt;0.05). There was a significant difference between both groups regarding urinary albumin and serum creatinine (2.76±0.97 and 1.96±0.84 mg/dl respectively), while there was a high significant difference between them regarding C3 (47.3±12.5 and 76.6±6.6 mg/ml respectively) and anti double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) (80.7±32.8 and 26.8±4.5 IU/ml respectively). Plasma TGF- β1 showed significantly lower levels in patients with active nephritis relative to other groups, while urinary TGF- β1 levels were significantly high in SLE patients either with active or silent nephritis when compared with the control group. Plasma TGF- β1 showed a highly significant positive correlation with C3 and a highly significant negative correlation with serum creatinine, urinary albumin, anti dsDNA and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score. While, urinary TGF- β1 had a significant negative correlation with C3 and a high significant positive correlation with anti-dsDNA and SLEDAI score. Conclusion: Low plasma TGF β1 level and increased urinary TGF β1 excretion denotes active renal affection in children with SLE.Keywords: SLE , nephritis , TGF- β1Egypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011;9(1):21-2