MR exponential image in ischemic stroke: A preliminary evaluation

AbstractBackground and purposeMagnetic resonance (MR) diffusion images, including both the diffusion-weighted image (DWI) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), allow detection of cerebral ischemic lesions within minutes of onset, and the contrast within the image is based on microscopic motion of the water. A third type of diffusion image can be created, “the exponential image”. Our goals were to evaluate the ability of exponential image in reflecting the changes in both DWI and ADC and whether it can replace these two sets of images in cerebral infarction patients.Patients and methodsA total of 51 patients were enrolled in the study, 47 were included in the analysis, and four were excluded from the study. Conventional and DW MRI were performed in 47 patients. For each patient DWI, ADC maps, and exponential images were reviewed and the change in signal intensity of the lesion compared with the contralateral normal side was measured (rSI) as well as the changes in (rADC).ResultsThere was a significant change in the rSIDW and rSIExp in late subacute and chronic stages (p<.001), however, rADC showed a significant decrease (p<.001) in hyperacute and acute stages, followed by a significant increase (p<.001) in the late subacute and chronic stages. rSIExp was highly correlated with the change in the rADC values in different stages of infarction (r=.72, p<.001). However, the changes in the rSIDW correlated less closely with the change in the rADC values (r=.35, (p<.05)).ConclusionExponential image offers a simple, more accurate replacement for both sets (DWI and ADC), by combining the advantages of both sets

Anatomic variations of intrahepatic bile ducts in the general adult Egyptian population: 3.0-T MR cholangiography and clinical importance

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the anatomical variations occurring in intrahepatic bile ducts (IHDs) and their frequencies in general adult Egyptian population using 3.0-T MR cholangiography (MRC) as well as its clinical importance to reduce the biliary complications of hepatobiliary surgery.Materials and methodsMRC was applied to a study group of 106 subjects (26 potential liver donors and 80 volunteers). Anatomical variations in IHDs were classified based on the variable insertion of right posterior hepatic bile duct (RPHD) using Huang classification.ResultsAccording to this classification, the frequencies of each type were as follows: Huang A1 (typical pattern): 63.2% (n=67), Huang A2: 10.4% (n=11), Huang A3: 17% (n=18), Huang A4, 7.5% (n=8), and Huang A5: 1.9% (n=2). Total frequency for atypical types (i.e. A2, A3, A4 and A5) was 36.8%. No significant difference was detected in the distance between RPHD insertion to the junction of right and left hepatic duct in-between these Huang types. This distance was short (<1cm) in 21 of subjects under Huang A classification. Twenty-one donors underwent intraoperative cholangiograms, of which twenty (95.2%) had similar classification in both intraoperative and MRC findings.ConclusionThe incidence of variant biliary anatomy in general Egyptian population (36.8%) as well as the presence of Huang type A with short distance (<1cm) between RPHD insertion and junction of right and left hepatic duct (19.8%) enhance the importance of MRC as a pre-operative tool before hepato-biliary surgical procedures to reduce post-operative biliary complications

Diffusion-weighted MRI in liver fibrosis staging: Added value of normalized ADC using spleen and renal cortex as reference organs

AbstractAimTo evaluate the potential value of the spleen and renal cortex as a reference organ to improve the performance of DWI in the assessment of liver fibrosis.Material and methods44 subjects were included: 30 patients with chronic viral hepatitis and 14 age matched volunteers. They were subjected to diffusion weighted MRI (DWI). Liver ADC, normalized ADC (ratio between ADC of liver to spleen (S-ADC) and renal cortex (R-ADC)) was calculated. Data was analyzed and ROC was used to evaluate the performance of ADC, S-ADC and R-ADC.ResultsNo significant difference between spleen ADC and renal ADC values between patient group and control group or in-betweens different fibrosis stages. The mean liver ADC was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients than control group (1.59±0.024 versus 1.55±0.036×10−3mm2/s, P=0.009) with some overlap in different fibrosis grades.With exception to stage 1 fibrosis, the mean S-ADC value was significantly lower in patients with different hepatic fibrosis stages in comparison to control group (P 0.02–<0.001). Significant negative correlation was noted between S-ADC value and fibrosis stage (r=−0.75, p<0.001). It had significant difference between stage 0 compared to stage 2, 3, and 4 as well as between stage 4 in comparison to stage 1, 2 and 3. S-ADC had a significant ability to differentiate between stages 0–1 Vs stage 2–4, stage 0–2 Vs stage 3–4 as well as stage 0–3 Vs stage 4.Significant negative correlation was noted between R-ADC value and fibrosis stage (r=−0.68, p<0.001). The mean R-ADC value was lower in patients with liver fibrosis compared to volunteers with significant difference between stage 0 and 3 and between stage 0 and 4 (P<0.001). It had significant difference between stage 0 compared to stage 3, and 4 as well as in stage 4 in comparison to stage 1 and 2. R-ADC has a significant ability to differentiate between stages 0–1 Vs stage 2–4, stage 0–2 Vs stage 3–4 as well as stage 0–3 Vs stage 4.ROC analysis showed higher performance using S-ADC in comparison to liver ADC and R-ADC while R-ADC had higher performance in comparison to liver ADC. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and k-value for detection of fibrotic stages ⩾2 (0.85, 95.8%, 60%, 74%, 92% and 0.85 for S-ADC Vs 0.68, 66.7%, 60%, 66%, 60% and 0.28 for ADC and 0.85, 95.8%, 50%, 69%, 91% and 0.47 for R-ADC). and in detection of fibrotic stages ⩾3 was (0.86, 100%, 52%, 61%, 100% and 0.48 for S-ADC Vs 0.63, 63%, 52%, 50%, 65% and 0.14 for ADC and 0.88, 100%, 44%, 57%, 100% and 0.40 for R-ADC) while for fibrosis stage 4, the corresponding values was (1, 100%, 100%, 100%, 100% and 1 for S-ADC Vs 0.7, 81%, 54%, 37%, 90% and 0.26 for ADC and 0.65, 100%, 65%, 45%, 100% and 0.43 for R-ADC) respectively.ConclusionNormalized liver ADC using the spleen and kidney increases the performance of ADC in the evaluation of liver fibrosis which is highest in spleen normalized ADC

Corruption, Innovation and Firm Growth: Firm-level Evidence from Egypt and Tunisia

Using recently collected firm-level data from Egypt and Tunisia, this paper explores the effect of institutional obstacles and corruption on the innovative behavior of firms and their effect on firms’ employment growth. We estimate the micro-level interactions between corruption and institutional obstacles and test the hypothesis that corruption ‘greases the wheels’ of firm performance when bureaucratic procedures are more severe and hampering innovation. Accounting for endogeneity and simultaneity, the paper uses a conditional recursive mixed-process model (CMP). The results show that corruption has a direct negative effect on the likelihood that a firm is an innovator, but a positive effect when interacted with institutional obstacles. This provides support for the hypothesis that corruption serves as a mechanism to bypass the bureaucratic obstacles related to obtaining the necessary business permits and licenses for product innovation. These effects also resonate into firm growth, through their effect on product innovation

MicroRNA expression analysis in endometriotic serum treated mesenchymal stem cells

Endometriosis is defined by presence of endometrial-like-tissue outside the uterus. Recently, ectopic endometriotic lesions have been suggested to originate by abnormal differentiation of endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. Through a PCR array approach, we aimed to assess the differential expression of microRNAs in human eMSC treated in culture with sera derived from women with severe endometriosis. Sera were collected from five patients with severe endometriosis and three control women and added individually in the culture medium to conduct experimental and control eMSC sets, respectively. Regular microscopic follow-up for cell morphology was performed. SYBR Green based real-time PCR array was used to assess the expression of 84 miRNAs. Bioinformatics analysis was done to predict the target genes of the significantly dysregulated miRNAs and their enriched biological processes and pathways. Thirty-two miRNAs were found significantly dysregulated in experimental cultures. Functional enrichment analysis revealed several endometriosis associated biological processes and pathways were enriched by target genes of these miRNAs. In conclusion, treatment of human eMSCs with sera of severe endometriosis cases affects the expression of certain miRNAs and their target genes. This may result in altering cell functions and consequently, endometriosis development

Use of dispersion modelling for Environmental Impact Assessment of biological air pollution from composting: Progress, problems and prospects

© 2017 The Authors With the increase in composting as a sustainable waste management option, biological air pollution (bioaerosols) from composting facilities have become a cause of increasing concern due to their potential health impacts. Estimating community exposure to bioaerosols is problematic due to limitations in current monitoring methods. Atmospheric dispersion modelling can be used to estimate exposure concentrations, however several issues arise from the lack of appropriate bioaerosol data to use as inputs into models, and the complexity of the emission sources at composting facilities. This paper analyses current progress in using dispersion models for bioaerosols, examines the remaining problems and provides recommendations for future prospects in this area. A key finding is the urgent need for guidance for model users to ensure consistent bioaerosol modelling practices

Fetal Biometric Charts and Reference Equations for Pregnant Women Living in Port Said and Ismailia Governorates in Egypt

AIM: To construct new fetal biometric charts and equations for some fetal biometric parameters for women between 12th and 41st  weeks living in Ismailia and Port Said Governorates in Egypt.MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 656 Egyptian women (from Ismailia and Port Said governorates) with an uncomplicated pregnancy, and all were sure of their dates. The selected group was between the 12th and 41st weeks of gestation, recruited from the district general hospital in Ismailia and Port Said to measure ultrasonographically biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL), then for each measurement separate regression models were fitted to estimate both the mean and the Standard deviation at each gestational age.RESULTS: New Egyptian charts were reported for BPD, HC, AC, and FL. Reference equations for the dating of pregnancy were presented. The mean of the previous measurements at 12th and 41st weeks were as follows: (23.37, 98.72), (83.05, 336.12), (67.85, 332.57) and (12.50, 74.92) respectively.CONCLUSION: New fetal biometric charts and regression equations for pregnant women living in Port Said &amp; Ismailia governorates in Egypt

Selenium and Nano-Selenium Biofortification for Human Health

Selenium is an essential micronutrient required for the health of humans and lower plants, but its importance for higher plants is still being investigated. The biological functions of Se related to human health revolve around its presence in 25 known selenoproteins (e.g., selenocysteine or the 21st amino acid). Humans may receive their required Se through plant uptake of soil Se, foods enriched in Se, or Se dietary supplements. Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) have been applied to biofortified foods and feeds. Due to low toxicity and high e ciency, Se-NPs are used in applications such as cancer therapy and nano-medicines. Selenium and nano-selenium may be able to support and enhance the productivity of cultivated plants and animals under stressful conditions because they are antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic agents, with antioxidant capacity and immune-modulatory efficacy. Thus, nano-selenium could be inserted in the feeds of fish and livestock to improvise stress resilience and productivity. This review offers new insights in Se and Se-NPs biofortification for edible plants and farm animals under stressful environments. Further, extensive research on Se-NPs is required to identify possible adverse effects on humans and their cytotoxicity.Peer Reviewe

Size fractionation of bioaerosol emissions from green-waste composting

Particle size is a significant factor in determining the dispersal and inhalation risk from bioaerosols. Green-waste composting is a significant source of bioaerosols (including pathogens), but little is known about the distribution of specific taxa across size fractions. To characterise size fractionated bioaerosol emissions from a compost facility, we used a Spectral Intensity Bioaerosol Sensor (SIBS) to quantify total bioaerosols and qPCR and metabarcoding to quantify microbial bioaerosols. Overall, sub-micron bioaerosols predominated, but molecular analysis showed that most (>75%) of the airborne microorganisms were associated with the larger size fractions (>3.3 µm da). The microbial taxa varied significantly by size, with Bacilli dominating the larger, and Actinobacteria the smaller, size fractions. The human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus dominated the intermediate size fractions (>50% da 1.1–4.7 µm), indicating that it has the potential to disperse widely and once inhaled may penetrate deep into the respiratory system. The abundance of Actinobacteria (>60% at da < 2.1 µm) and other sub-micron bioaerosols suggest that the main health effects from composting bioaerosols may come from allergenic respiratory sensitisation rather than directly via infection. These results emphasise the need to better understand the size distributions of bioaerosols across all taxa in order to model their dispersal and to inform risk assessments of human health related to composting facilities

Search for new particles in events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A search is presented for new particles produced at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV, using events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb(-1), collected in 2017-2018 with the CMS detector. Machine learning techniques are used to define separate categories for events with narrow jets from initial-state radiation and events with large-radius jets consistent with a hadronic decay of a W or Z boson. A statistical combination is made with an earlier search based on a data sample of 36 fb(-1), collected in 2016. No significant excess of events is observed with respect to the standard model background expectation determined from control samples in data. The results are interpreted in terms of limits on the branching fraction of an invisible decay of the Higgs boson, as well as constraints on simplified models of dark matter, on first-generation scalar leptoquarks decaying to quarks and neutrinos, and on models with large extra dimensions. Several of the new limits, specifically for spin-1 dark matter mediators, pseudoscalar mediators, colored mediators, and leptoquarks, are the most restrictive to date.Peer reviewe