Weight bearing aerobic exercises versus whole body vibration on bone mineral density post thyroidectomy

One of the health problems occurring post thyroidectomy is osteoporosis which has a greater impact on the patients' lives as it affects the strength and quality of bone and increases the fracture risk. This study was conducted to identify the beneficial therapeutic effect of weight bearing aerobic exercises and whole-body vibration training on bone mineral density post thyroidectomy and also to compare between their effects. In this study, forty-five patients of both sexes underwent thyroidectomy and had osteoporosis were included. Fifteen patients performed weight bearing aerobic exercises in addition to their routine medications and fifteen patients were trained on whole body vibration in addition to their routine medications, while remaining fifteen cases received only their routine medications. Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) is used to evaluate the bone mineral density before and after six months of treatment (28 weeks) for all groups. The mean values of BMD of lumbar spine and neck of femur in all groups were significantly increased. The percentages of bone mineral density improvement for lumbar spine and femoral neck in the weight bearing exercise group were 18.63% and 19.82%, in the whole-body vibration group were 22.17% and 29.82%, while in the control group were 7.47% and 3.63%. So, it can be concluded that the weight bearing aerobic exercises and WBV training have a therapeutic beneficial effect on improving the bone mineral density in patient underwent thyroidectomy, but the whole-body vibration was more effective than weight bearing aerobic exercises

Thermal Analysis of a Hybrid Air Conditioning System with Geothermal Energy

Hybrid air conditioning systems can allow significant energy saving and emissions reductions with respect to conventional air-conditioning systems. Thermal analysis of a desiccant wheel, a heat exchanger, a ground source circulation system, and a solar collector for a hybrid air conditioning system is performed in this study. The effects of these parameters have been studied: Inlet air temperature, Inlet air humidity ratio, wheel speed, regeneration temperature, regeneration mass flowrate, heat exchanger effectiveness, ground source circulation effectiveness, and solar radiation on the behavior of the outlet air temperature and the outlet air humidity ratio from the desiccant wheel, the area of solar air collector, the solar collector efficiency, the cooling coil load, and the coefficient of performance. The hybrid system is more efficient than the vapor compression system. The hybrid system significantly decreases the cooling coil load, the cooling coil load of the hybrid system is approximately 48 % lower than the vapor compression system

Investigating the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis in Egypt: The Role of Renewable Energy and Trade in Mitigating GHGs

  This paper aims to investigate the existence of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for Egypt during the period 1971−2012. Also, it attempts to examine the potential role of renewable energy and trade in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in Egypt. Accordingly, the study examines the dynamic relationship between the GHG emissions, economic growth (real gross domestic product [GDP] per capita), renewable energy consumption (% of total), and trade openness. Using Autoregressive Distributed Lag bounds testing approach, the empirical evidence of the EKC hypothesis is analyzed. The main findings of the analysis, concerning the validity of EKC, reveal that the EKC hypothesis does not exist for GHG emissions in Egypt for both short - and long-term. In addition, the empirical results indicate the potential significant role of renewable energy to reduce GHG emissions. However, it has been found that trade openness has insignificant impact on GHG emissions. Keywords: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Environmental Kuznets Curve, Renewable Energy, Egypt JEL Classifications: C32, O55, Q43, Q

Suboptimal correction of low anorectal anomalies: a possible cause for intractable constipation in children

Background Constipation is a common problem among patients following the repair of low anorectal anomalies. We present our experience in managing constipation in a group of these patients with reoperation to correct residual anterior anal misplacement.Patients and methods The study included pediatric patients presenting with significant constipation following the repair of low anorectal anomalies. Patients with evidence of residual anterior anal misplacement (either clinically, by means of MRI, or using electrical muscle stimulation) were offered a reoperation to bring their ani backward to an orthotropic position.Results Thirteen patients were included in the study between September 2009 and June 2015. Their ages ranged from 1.5 to 10 years. The primary anomaly was rectoperineal fistula in 10 (seven boys and three girls) and rectovestibular in three girls. Two types of reoperations were performed: a posterior anoplasty with posterior sphincterotomy (five cases), and a limited sagittal anorectoplasty (eight cases). Straining at defecation was relieved in all patients. Of the 13 patients, nine were relieved from their constipation (69%) and had regular bowel movements without medications. The remaining four (31%) showed partial improvement.Conclusion Among patients with low anorectal anomalies, suboptimal correction with residual anterior anal misplacement represents one correctable cause for persistence of constipation

Biocontrol of cantaloupe damping-off disease caused by Fusarium semitectum by using formulations of antagonistic fungi

oai:ojs.ppmj.net:article/2Antagonistic capability of 19 isolates of fungi isolated from rizosphere of cantaloupe plants was tested in vitro against growth of Fusarium semitectum isolate the causal pathogen of damping- off of cantaloupe. Trichoderma viride (isolate no. 17), T. harzianum (isolate no. 19) and Fusarium concolar  (isolate no.4) showed  significant  percentage of inhibition  against  to  F. semitectum. The effect of carrier formulations of antagonistic fungi (talc based powder and rice bran) on damping-off of cantaloupe were tested under greenhouse and field conditions.  In greenhouse experiments, application of antagonistic fungi with rice bran formulation two weeks before planting caused the highest percentage of survival plants in pre and post damping-off (83.33 and 75%, respectively), whereas application of talc based powder formulation significantly increased percentage of plant survival at the time of planting in pre and post damping-off (91.67 and 75%, respectively). In field experiments, application of tested formulations of antagonistic fungi to infested soil with F. semitectum two weeks before planting resulted in higher percentage of plant survival in pre and post damping-off in both teste

CYTOTOXICITY OF IMIDACLOPRID AND MYCLOBUTANIL PESTICIDES ON THREE CANCER CELL LINES

Three cancer cell lines, i.e. HEpG-2 (human liver carcinoma), MCF-7 (human breast adeno-carcinoma), and PC3 (Prostatic Small Cell Carcinoma) were used to determine the cytotoxic effects of the neonicotinoid insecticide (imidacloprid) and conazole fungicide (myclobutanil). Cytotoxicity was measured by neutral red incorporation (NRI) assay. The lowest concentration of the tested pesticides (0.5 μg/ml) was toxic. With the increase of the concentration up to 80 μg/ml, the Department of plant protection, Faculty of Agric., Ain Shams University, shoubra  Elkheima, Cairo, Egypt Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agric., Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt damage degree of the cellular form and size was more serious. The midpoint cytotoxicity value, (NRI50) for imidacloprid and myclobutanil for HEpG-2, MCF-7, and PC3 cancer cell lines were 110.5, 67.7 and 67.6 μg/ml and 38.12, 41 and 27.5 μg/ml, respectively. In general, myclobutanil was very toxic in the three cancer cell lines compared with imidacloprid

Role of interleukin-6 in diagnosis of pleural effusion

AbstractObjectivesTo determine the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in both serum and pleural fluid in order to evaluate the diagnostic utility of IL-6 in differentiation between different types of pleural effusion.BackgroundPleural effusion is a relatively common clinical condition. It is often diagnostic dilemma for the physician. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has multiple functions on various cells and tissues. It is often used as a marker for systemic activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.MethodsThis study was conducted on 40 patients of pleural effusion, they were selected from Al-Mahalla Chest Hospital in the period between October 2012 and May 2013. All patients were subjected to detailed clinical history, thorough clinical examination, plain chest-X-ray (postero-anterior and lateral views), blood sample for: Complete blood picture (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), liver functions, renal functions and serum and pleural fluid (LDH, protein and IL-6) by ELISA.ResultsSerum and effusion IL-6 could differentiate between exudate transudate as it increased in exudate than transudate. In the present study there was higher concentration of IL-6 in the serum and pleural effusion of parapneumonic effusion than malignant and tuberculous exudative pleural effusion and higher concentration in malignant than tuberculous effusion.ConclusionEffusion IL-6 could be used to differentiate between exudate and transudate and serum IL-6 could be used as an alternative non invasive method for differentiation between exudates and transudate as there was a significant positive correlation between serum IL-6 and effusion IL-6

Erythropoietin mitigated thioacetamide-induced renal injury via JAK2/STAT5 and AMPK pathway

The kidney flushes out toxic substances and metabolic waste products, and homeostasis is maintained owing to the kidney efforts. Unfortunately, kidney disease is one of the illnesses with a poor prognosis and a high death rate. The current investigation was set out to assess erythropoietin (EPO) potential therapeutic benefits against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced kidney injury in rats. EPO treatment improved kidney functions, ameliorated serum urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde, increased renal levels of reduced glutathione, and slowed the rise of JAK2, STAT5, AMPK, and their phosphorylated forms induced by TAA. EPO treatment also greatly suppressed JAK2, Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases, and The Protein Kinase R-like ER Kinase gene expressions and mitigated the histopathological alterations brought on by TAA toxicity. EPO antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties protected TAA-damaged kidneys. EPO regulates AMPK, JAK2/STAT5, and pro-inflammatory mediator synthesis

Acaricidal activity of tea tree and lemon oil nanoemulsions against Rhipicephalus annulatus

Tick infestation is a serious problem in many countries since it has an impact on the health of animals used for food production and pets, and frequently affects humans. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the acaricidal effects of nanoemulsions of essential oils o

Beneficial Effects of Hesperidin against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in Rats

Abstract: Cisplatin has been frequently used for treatment of wide variety of tumors. The use of cisplatin is associated with severe cytotoxicity such as nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and spermiotoxicity which radically limits its clinical use. The present study aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of multiple doses of hesperidin against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity induced by single i.p injection of cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg). Hesperidin was given to rats at two different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg p.o) for 7 days starting one day before cisplatin injection. Blood samples were collected for determination of serum creatinine and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) levels. Kidneys were used for the determination of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH) and total nitrate and nitrite contents. Liver samples were also used for histopathological examination. Results showed that hesperidin significantly reduced cisplatin-induced elevations in serum creatinine and BUN levels. It also significantly reduced kidney MDA and NO content and elevated GSH content. In conclusion, hesperidin greatly protected kidney against cisplatin-induced toxicity in a dose-dependent manner