Effect of Dry Needling on Post Natal Low Back Pain

Background: Low back pain is considered one of the most common problems which occurs during pregnancy and may be persistent for months after delivery. It can be disabling and can limit function of mother after delivery.  Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of dry needling on post-natal low back pain. Methods: This study included 50 multiparous women who had experienced low back discomfort (for at least 3 months) after giving birth. Their body mass index did not exceed 30 kg/m2, the parity ranged from 2 to 4 times, while the type of birth was normal labor. Their ages ranged from 25 to 35 years old. After being randomly distributed into two groups of similar size, The study group: which included 25 patients, received dry needling on the lower back for 20 minutes, three times per week for six weeks, Additionally, each patient completed an exercise program consisting of abdominal, back, and pelvic floor strengthening exercises as well as postural correction exercises for 60 minutes, three times weekly for a period of six weeks. The control group: which included 25 patients, only completed an exercise program for 60 minutes, three times weekly for a period of six weeks. The pain levels of all women in both groups were assessed using a pressure algometry device and a visual analogue scale before as well as after treatment program. Results: there was a statistically highly significant decrease in visual analogue scale and significant increase in pressure algometry in the study group when comparing both groups (A&B) together. Conclusion: dry needling was an effective method to alleviate post-natal low back pain

In vitro assessment of antiprotozoal and antimicrobial activities of fractions and isolated compounds from Pallenis hierochuntica

The antiprotozoal and antimicrobial properties of the extract and fractions of the whole plant of Pallenis hierochuntica were investigated against a panel of pathogenic organisms. Fractionation of the methanol extract of the whole plant of Pallenis hierochuntica using reverse-phase chromatography gave 28 fractions and led to the isolation of 2 new bisabolone hydroperoxides, 6,10 β,11-trihydroxy-bisabol-2-ene-1-one (1a), 6,10 α,11-trihydroxy-bisabol-2-ene-1-one (1b) and also 6,10 β-dihydroxy-bisabol-2,11-diene-1-one (2). They were characterised by extensive spectrometric analysis. Anti-infective investigations of the fractions revealed that 22 to 26 possessed significant antimalarial activity against the D6 and W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 = 7.62 – 9.91 µg/mL and 5.49 – 6.08 µg/mL, respectively, and SI>6.0 on average. Fractions 7, 16 to 24 exhibited good activity against Leishmania donovani promastigotes (IC50 = 6.71 – 18.77 µg/mL). Fractions 25 to 28 were active against T. brucei trypomastigotes, 25 being the most potent (IC50 = 4.13 µg/mL). Only 11 to 13 were active against Aspergillus fumigatus (IC50 = 13.406 µg/mL). 1a and 2 were not promising against the organisms tested. 1a and 1b were characterised for the first time

Invasive fungal infections and patients with malignancies in upper Egypt

The incidence of invasive fungal infections has increased considerably in recent years. The aim of this study was to present a suitable early diagnostic procedure in immune compromised patients, using detection of fungal infection of urine samples collected from 33 patients with malignancies (from 2-89 years old), during the period from December 2012 to February 2014, from South Egypt. Fifty-three fungal species representing 14 genera were collected during this investigation from urine samples on Sabouraoud’s Dextrose Chloramphenicol Agar (46 species and 12 genera) and Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol Agar media (41 species and 11 genera). Aspergillus (16 species), Penicillium (14 species), Yeasts (5 species) and Cladosporium (5 species) contributed the broadest spectra of species in all samples tested on two types of media used. Other species were represented by 13 species belonging to 10 genera. The results indicate that immune compromised patient is a suitable habitat for the growth and sporulation of different groups of fungi, both saprophytic and pathogenic. A variety of types of filamentous fungi were obtained from malignancies patients. Immunosuppressant patient’s exposure for fungal infection so should be in especial care from food, drinking and air. Published by the International journal of Microbiology and Mycology (IJMM

Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Egyptian Obese Women with Insulin Resistance

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major factor in the development of several sub-clinical anomalies. Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with obesity. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a significant role in inflammation and vascular neogenesis. However the precise relationships of its levels with clinical, lipid, and metabolic profiles are unknown. AIM: This study aimed to examine the association between serum VEGF concentrations with IR risk and metabolic and lipid parameters in obese women. METHODS: Serum VEGF, metabolic biomarkers and anthropometry were measured in 83 obese women with IR and 50 healthy women. Fat distributions in the abdominal, subcutaneous and visceral area were assessed. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. For analytical purposes, VEGF levels were categorised into three tertiles groups. RESULTS: Obese women with IR showed significantly higher levels of serum VEGF as compared with the control group. Moreover, obese women in the highest VEGF tertile had significantly higher values of obesity indices, visceral fat index, abnormal lipid levels and HOMA-IR compared to with those in the lower tertile. CONCLUSION: Elevated VEGF levels are associated with IR and high visceral fat index in obese women which in turn increased the risk for metabolic complications

Reduction of olive oil mill waste water phenolic compounds and COD using Paecilomyces variotii

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to shed light upon the role of microorganisms in biological treatment of phenolic compounds as a one of the widespread pollutants in Egypt. The ability of twenty six different indigenous isolates which isolated from the olive oil mill waste water (OOMW), for growth in media containing 10% and 25% OOMW as sole carbon source was tested. Paecilomyces variotii was the most potent isolate among all isolates as it degraded 10.40 % of the phenolic compounds. These isolate was selected to examine its biodegradation activity under different conditions. The maximum degradation of phenolic compounds and chemical oxygen demand (COD) decrease percentage was (68.14 and 59.12, respectively) obtained at 50% dilution of OOMW. The best environmental conditions for phenolic compound biodegradation and COD reduction, in shacked flasks at 150 rpm were, pH 6.0, temperature 37±1˚C and incubation period 12 days, with the supplementation of the degradation media with 150 mg/l sucrose, 2.5 g/l yeast extract and 0.070 mmol/l CuSO4, and 4ml inoculums size. In addition, low dose of gamma radiation (0.25 kGy) enhanced the fungal biodegradation activity, and led to increase the phenolic compounds biodegradation percent 8.7% than the optimum conditions previously mentioned. Finally, the biotreated OOMW was lower toxicity to environment than untreated one. Citation: Abd EL-Aziz ABE-D, Awad AAE-N and Zaki GH (2015). Reduction of olive oil mill waste water phenolic compounds and COD usin

Geochemical Evaluation of Heavy Metals (Cd, Cr, Fe, and Mn) in Sediment of Shatt Al-Basrah, Iraq

In this study, the sediment of Shatt Al-Basrah canal, was evaluated to illustrate the distribution of 4 heavy metals Cd, Cr, Fe and Mn in sediments collected from 5 sites. The assessment of heavy metals was conducted using three indices; the geoaccumulation index (I-geo), the enrichment factor (E.F.) and Pollution Index (PI). According to I-geo, the sediments collected from all sampling locations were unpolluted by Cd, Cr and Fe, where their values are less than 0 (<0), except Mn ranged between 0.98 to 1.37, the Igeo values for Mn show that sediments of Shatt Al-Basrah are unpolluted to moderately polluted for all sampling locations. Based on The enrichment factor, the sediment of Shatt Al-Basrah canal are classified as followed; significant enrichment for Cd, moderate enrichment to significant enrichment for Cr and deficiency to minimal enrichment for Mn. PI, which is based on individual metal Concentrations, shows that all sampling sites have no pollution effect for Cd, Cr and Mn, except Fe, which cause Slightly pollution affect in all site

Association of statin use in older people primary prevention group with risk of cardiovascular events and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Background: Current evidence from randomized controlled trials on statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older people, especially those aged &gt; 75 years, is still lacking. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to extend the current evidence about the association of statin use in older people primary prevention group with risk of CVD and mortality. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Embase were searched from inception until March 18, 2021. We included observational studies (cohort or nested case-control) that compared statin use vs non-use for primary prevention of CVD in older people aged ≥ 65 years; provided that each of them reported the risk estimate on at least one of the following primary outcomes: all cause-mortality, CVD death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. Risk estimates of each relevant outcome were pooled as a hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random-effects meta-analysis model. The quality of the evidence was rated using the GRADE approach. Results: Ten observational studies (9 cohorts and one case-control study; n = 815,667) fulfilled our criteria. The overall combined estimate suggested that statin therapy was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.86 [95% CI 0.79 to 0.93]), CVD death (HR: 0.80 [95% CI 0.78 to 0.81]), and stroke (HR: 0.85 [95% CI 0.76 to 0.94]) and a non-significant association with risk of MI (HR 0.74 [95% CI 0.53 to 1.02]). The beneficial association of statins with the risk of all-cause mortality remained significant even at higher ages (&gt; 75 years old; HR 0.88 [95% CI 0.81 to 0.96]) and in both men (HR: 0.75 [95% CI: 0.74 to 0.76]) and women (HR 0.85 [95% CI 0.72 to 0.99]). However, this association with the risk of all-cause mortality remained significant only in those with diabetes mellitus (DM) (HR 0.82 [95% CI 0.68 to 0.98]) but not in those without DM. The level of evidence of all the primary outcomes was rated as "very low." Conclusions: Statin therapy in older people (aged ≥ 65 years) without CVD was associated with a 14%, 20%, and 15% lower risk of all-cause mortality, CVD death, and stroke, respectively. The beneficial association with the risk of all-cause mortality remained significant even at higher ages (&gt; 75 years old), in both men and women, and in individuals with DM, but not in those without DM. These observational findings support the need for trials to test the benefits of statins in those above 75 years of age

Association of statin use in older people primary prevention group with risk of cardiovascular events and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Background Current evidence from randomized controlled trials on statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older people, especially those aged > 75 years, is still lacking. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to extend the current evidence about the association of statin use in older people primary prevention group with risk of CVD and mortality. Methods PubMed, Scopus, and Embase were searched from inception until March 18, 2021. We included observational studies (cohort or nested case-control) that compared statin use vs non-use for primary prevention of CVD in older people aged >= 65 years; provided that each of them reported the risk estimate on at least one of the following primary outcomes: all cause-mortality, CVD death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. Risk estimates of each relevant outcome were pooled as a hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random-effects meta-analysis model. The quality of the evidence was rated using the GRADE approach. Results Ten observational studies (9 cohorts and one case-control study; n = 815,667) fulfilled our criteria. The overall combined estimate suggested that statin therapy was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.86 [95% CI 0.79 to 0.93]), CVD death (HR: 0.80 [95% CI 0.78 to 0.81]), and stroke (HR: 0.85 [95% CI 0.76 to 0.94]) and a non-significant association with risk of MI (HR 0.74 [95% CI 0.53 to 1.02]). The beneficial association of statins with the risk of all-cause mortality remained significant even at higher ages (> 75 years old; HR 0.88 [95% CI 0.81 to 0.96]) and in both men (HR: 0.75 [95% CI: 0.74 to 0.76]) and women (HR 0.85 [95% CI 0.72 to 0.99]). However, this association with the risk of all-cause mortality remained significant only in those with diabetes mellitus (DM) (HR 0.82 [95% CI 0.68 to 0.98]) but not in those without DM. The level of evidence of all the primary outcomes was rated as "very low." Conclusions Statin therapy in older people (aged >= 65 years) without CVD was associated with a 14%, 20%, and 15% lower risk of all-cause mortality, CVD death, and stroke, respectively. The beneficial association with the risk of all-cause mortality remained significant even at higher ages (> 75 years old), in both men and women, and in individuals with DM, but not in those without DM. These observational findings support the need for trials to test the benefits of statins in those above 75 years of age.Cardiolog

Association of statin use in older people primary prevention group with risk of cardiovascular events and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

BackgroundCurrent evidence from randomized controlled trials on statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older people, especially those aged > 75 years, is still lacking. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to extend the current evidence about the association of statin use in older people primary prevention group with risk of CVD and mortality.MethodsPubMed, Scopus, and Embase were searched from inception until March 18, 2021. We included observational studies (cohort or nested case-control) that compared statin use vs non-use for primary prevention of CVD in older people aged ≥ 65 years; provided that each of them reported the risk estimate on at least one of the following primary outcomes: all cause-mortality, CVD death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. Risk estimates of each relevant outcome were pooled as a hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random-effects meta-analysis model. The quality of the evidence was rated using the GRADE approach.ResultsTen observational studies (9 cohorts and one case-control study; n = 815,667) fulfilled our criteria. The overall combined estimate suggested that statin therapy was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.86 [95% CI 0.79 to 0.93]), CVD death (HR: 0.80 [95% CI 0.78 to 0.81]), and stroke (HR: 0.85 [95% CI 0.76 to 0.94]) and a non-significant association with risk of MI (HR 0.74 [95% CI 0.53 to 1.02]). The beneficial association of statins with the risk of all-cause mortality remained significant even at higher ages (> 75 years old; HR 0.88 [95% CI 0.81 to 0.96]) and in both men (HR: 0.75 [95% CI: 0.74 to 0.76]) and women (HR 0.85 [95% CI 0.72 to 0.99]). However, this association with the risk of all-cause mortality remained significant only in those with diabetes mellitus (DM) (HR 0.82 [95% CI 0.68 to 0.98]) but not in those without DM. The level of evidence of all the primary outcomes was rated as "very low."ConclusionsStatin therapy in older people (aged ≥ 65 years) without CVD was associated with a 14%, 20%, and 15% lower risk of all-cause mortality, CVD death, and stroke, respectively. The beneficial association with the risk of all-cause mortality remained significant even at higher ages (> 75 years old), in both men and women, and in individuals with DM, but not in those without DM. These observational findings support the need for trials to test the benefits of statins in those above 75 years of age

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London