Impact of Designed Teaching Program for Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes on Maternal outcomes

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with an onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Aim of this research: was to examine the impact of designed teaching program for pregnant women with gestational diabetes on maternal outcomes. Subjects & Methods:- Design: quasi experimental pre-post one group design was utilized for the current study. Setting: The study was carried out at Antenatal outpatient clinic at El-Manial Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Sample: A convenient sample of 100 gestational diabetic women was recruited for the study. Data collection: different tools were used to collect the data; (1) Structured Interviewing Schedule; (2) Physical assessment sheet; (3) Pretest for assessing knowledge; (4) Follow up tool to asses women's compliance to the given instructions; (5) Post test for assessing knowledge, and Post partum questionnaire. Results: revealed that, the mean post-test knowledge score (18.45) was significantly higher than the mean pre-test knowledge score, there was weak positive relationship between the mean post-test knowledge score and maternal compliance to the given instructions (r = 0.304), no statistically significant relationship were found in relation to post test knowledge score and blood glucose level in the current pregnancy (P=0.37), Moreover, there was high statistically significant relationship between the mean posttest knowledge score and mode of the current delivery (P =0.016). All over there was high statistically significant relationship between post-test knowledge score and maternal outcomes  (P < 0.001). In conclusion:  participating of designed teaching program for gestational diabetic women lead to increase knowledge score about the disease and increase women's awareness of how to decrease its complications. This research recommended that: Raise pregnant mother's awareness regarding Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, definition, diagnosis, symptoms and signs , frequency of antenatal visits, and ways to adopting healthy life style as follow dietary program and practice exercises. Keywords: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Women compliance, , Postpartum questionnair

Piezoelastic PVDF/TPU nanofibrous composite membrane: Fabrication and characterization

Poly (vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers (PVDF NFs) have been extensively used in energy harvesting applications due to their promising piezoresponse characteristics. However, the mechanical properties of the generated fibers are still lacking. Therefore, we are presenting in this work a promising improvement in the elasticity properties of PVDF nanofibrous membrane through thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) additives. Morphological, physical, and mechanical analyses were performed for membranes developed from different blend ratios. Then, the impact of added weight ratio of TPU on the piezoelectric response of the formed nanofibrous composite membranes was studied. The piezoelectric characteristics were studied through impulse loading testing where the electric voltage had been detected under applied mass weights. Piezoelectric characteristics were investigated further through a pressure mode test the developed nanofibrous composite membranes were found to be mechanically deformed under applied electric potential. This work introduces promising high elastic piezoelectric materials that can be used in a wide variety of applications including energy harvesting, wearable electronics, self-cleaning filters, and motion/vibration sensors. - 2019 by the authors.The project was funded “partially” by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences under project code: PN17-35EE-02

Structure and inhibitor specificity of the PCTAIRE-family kinase CDK16

CDK16 (also known as PCTAIRE1 or PCTK1) is an atypical member of the cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) family that has emerged as a key regulator of neurite outgrowth, vesicle trafficking and cancer cell proliferation. CDK16 is activated through binding to cyclin Y via a phosphorylation-dependent 14-3-3 interaction and has an unique consensus substrate phosphorylation motif compared to conventional CDKs. To elucidate the structure and inhibitor binding properties of this atypical CDK we screened the CDK16 kinase domain against different inhibitor libraries and determined the co-structures of identified hits. We discovered that the ATP-binding pocket of CDK16 can accommodate both type I and type II kinase inhibitors. The most potent CDK16 inhibitors revealed by cell-free and cell-based assays were the multi-targeted cancer drugs dabrafenib and rebastinib. An inactive DFG-out binding conformation was confirmed by the first crystal structures of CDK16 in separate complexes with the inhibitors indirubin E804 and rebastinib, respectively. The structures revealed considerable conformational plasticity suggesting that the isolated CDK16 kinase domain was relatively unstable in the absence of a cyclin partner. The unusual structural features and chemical scaffolds identified here hold promise for the development of more selective CDK16 inhibitors and provide opportunity to better characterise the role of CDK16 and its related CDK family members in various physiological and pathological contexts

Study of Optical and Structural Characteristics of Ceria Nanoparticles Doped with Negative and Positive Association Lanthanide Elements

This paper studies the effect of adding lanthanides with negative association energy, such as holmium and erbium, to ceria nanoparticles doped with positive association energy lanthanides, such as neodymium and samarium. That is what we called mixed doped ceria nanoparticles (MDC NPs). In MDC NPs of grain size range around 6 nm, it is proved qualitatively that the conversion rate from Ce 4+ to Ce 3+ is reduced, compared to ceria doped only with positive association energy lanthanides. There are many pieces of evidence which confirm the obtained conclusion. These indications are an increase in the allowed direct band gap which is calculated from the absorbance dispersion measurements, a decrease in the emitted fluorescence intensity, and an increase in the size of nanoparticles, which is measured using both techniques: transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). That gives a novel conclusion that there are some trivalent dopants, such as holmium and erbium, which can suppress Ce 3+ ionization states in ceria and consequently act as scavengers for active O-vacancies in MDC. This promising concept can develop applications which depend on the defects in ceria such as biomedicine, electronic devices, and gas sensors

Biocompatibility and application of carbon fibres in heart valve tissue engineering

The success of tissue engineered heart valves relies on a balance between polymer degradation, appropriate cell repopulation and ECM deposition, in order for the valves to continue their vital function. However, the process of remodelling is highly dynamic and species dependent. Carbon fibres have been well used in the construction industry for their high tensile strength and flexibility, and therefore might be relevant to support tissue engineered hearts valve during this transition in the mechanically demanding environment of the circulation. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of carbon fibres to be incorporated into tissue engineered heart valves, with respect to optimising their cellular interaction and mechanical flexibility during valve opening and closure. The morphology and surface oxidation of the carbon fibres was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Their ability to interact with human adipose derived stem cells (hADSCs) was assessed with respect to cell attachment and phenotypic changes. hADSCs attached and maintained their expression of stem cell markers with negligible differentiation to other lineages. Incorporation of carbon fibres into a stand-alone tissue engineered aortic root, comprised of jet-sprayed poly-caprolactone aligned fibres had no negative effects on the opening and closure characteristics of the valve when simulated in a pulsatile bioreactor. In conclusion, carbon fibres were found to be conducive to hADSC attachment and maintaining their phenotype. Carbon fibres were sufficiently flexible for full motion of valvular opening and closure. This study provides a proof of concept for the incorporation of carbon fibres into tissue engineered heart valves to continue their vital function during scaffold degradation

Outcome predictors for maternal red blood cell alloimmunisation with anti-K and anti-D managed with intrauterine blood transfusion

Red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunisation with anti-D and anti-K comprise the majority of cases of fetal haemolytic disease requiring intrauterine red cell transfusion (IUT). Few studies have investigated which haematological parameters can predict adverse fetal or neonatal outcomes. The aim of the present study was to identify predictors of adverse outcome, including preterm birth, intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD), neonatal death (NND) and/or neonatal transfusion. We reviewed the records of all pregnancies alloimmunised with anti-K and anti-D, requiring IUT over 27 years at a quaternary fetal centre. We reviewed data for 128 pregnancies in 116 women undergoing 425 IUTs. The median gestational age (GA) at first IUT was significantly earlier for anti-K than for anti-D (24·3 vs. 28·7 weeks, P = 0·004). Women with anti-K required more IUTs than women with anti-D (3·84 vs. 3·12 mean IUTs, P = 0·036) and the fetal haemoglobin (Hb) at first IUT was significantly lower (51.0 vs. 70.5 g/l, P = 0·001). The mean estimated daily decrease in Hb did not differ between the two groups. A greater number of IUTs and a slower daily decrease in Hb (g/l/day) between first and second IUTs were predictive of a longer period in utero. Earlier GA at first IUT and a shorter interval from the first IUT until delivery predicted IUFD/NND. Earlier GA and lower Hb at first IUT significantly predicted need for phototherapy and/or blood product use in the neonate. In the anti-K group, a greater number of IUTs was required in women with a higher titre. Furthermore, the higher the titre, the earlier the GA at which an IUT was required in both groups. The rate of fall in fetal Hb between IUTs decreased, as the number of transfusions increased. Our present study identified pregnancies at considerable risk of an unfavourable outcome with anti-D and anti-K RBC alloimmunisation. Identifying such patients can guide pregnancy management, facilitates patient counselling, and can optimise resource use. Prospective studies can also incorporate these characteristics, in addition to laboratory markers, to further identify and improve the outcomes of these pregnancies

Population-based study of acquired cerebellar ataxia in Al-Kharga district, New Valley, Egypt

Wafaa MA Farghaly1, Hamdy N El-Tallawy1, Ghaydaa A Shehata1, Tarek A Rageh1, Nabil Abdel Hakeem2, Noha M Abo-Elfetoh11Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 2Al Azhar University, Assiut Branch, EgyptBackground: The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence and etiology of acquired ataxia in Al-Kharga district, New Valley, Egypt.Methods: A population-based study of acquired ataxia was conducted in a defined geographical region with a total population of 62,583. A door-to-door survey was used to identify cases of acquired cerebellar ataxia. Patients with acquired cerebellar ataxia at any age and of both genders were included. Cases of known inherited cerebellar ataxia, acquired neurological disorders with ataxia as a minor feature, or pure acquired sensory ataxia, were excluded.Results: We identified 17 cases of acquired ataxia, of which eight were vascular, six were an ataxic cerebral palsy subtype, and three involved postencephalitic ataxia. The crude prevalence rate for acquired ataxia was 27.16/100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.3–40.1). The mean age of the patients at interview was 31.8 (range 4–72) years, with a male to female ratio of 2.1:1. The most frequent presenting complaint was disturbance of gait (90.7%). The majority (92%) were ambulatory, but only 9.3% were independently self-caring.Conclusion: This population-based study provides an insight into acquired cerebellar ataxia within a defined region, and may inform decisions about the rational use of health care resources for patients with acquired cerebellar ataxia. The most common causes of acquired cerebellar ataxia in this region were cerebrovascular injury and cerebral palsy.Keywords: acquired cerebellar ataxia, prevalence, subtypes, Egyp