Radiological evaluation of postoperative complications after non-sleeve gastrectomy bariatric procedures

Background: Obesity is a medical condition, which may lead to serious related diseases, ultimately, resulting in many morbidities and early mortality. Its management involves many approaches of which bariatric surgery is considered nowadays as one of the most effective treatment for it. However, follow up of postoperative complications of this surgery by effective radiological method as computed tomography (CT) is important for assessment of its success.Objective: The aim of this study was to illuminate the radiological signs and features of postoperative complications after non sleeve bariatric procedures and stressing the importance of using multi-slice CT (MSCT), and fluoroscopic study for detection of these complications. Patients and methods: An observational cohort study for 275 patients with suspected complications after non sleeve gastrectomy bariatric procedures, including 195 patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), 76 patients after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and 4 patients after intragastric balloon placement was done. These patients were subjected to either multi-slice CT and or fluoroscopy. Results: We detected complications in 21 patients out of the 195 patients who underwent RYGB: leakage, abscess, intestinal obstruction, internal hernia, port site ventral hernia, intussusception, fistula between the gastric pouch and the excluded stomach and hiatus hernia. On the other hand, 8 out of 76 patients operated by LAGB developed complications: band slippage, band erosion, pouch dilatation and tubal disconnection. Lastly two out of the 4 patients who placed intra-gastric balloon encountered other complications: gastric outlet obstruction, spontaneous balloon deflation and distal migration with intestinal obstruction.Conclusion: It could be concluded that bariatric procedures may be followed by many complications and accurate diagnosis of these problems by proper radiological procedures as MSCT is imperative

Removal of Carcinogenic Hexavalent Chromium by Reduction with Iron in Presence of Accelerator Non Toxic Organic Compounds (Chalcone)

The focus of this work is on Cr, which has two predominant oxidation states of the atmosphere: + â€3, which is an essential nutrient in low doses, and +â€6, which is highly toxic and carcinogenic. We found that, the reduction of Cr6+ to Cr3+ was first order reaction and the rate controlling step is the diffusion of (Cr6+) from bulk to iron surface. Toxicity reduction method includes studding of 1-aryl-3-(1-phenylpyrazolo [3,4-b] quinoxalin-3-yl) -2-propenones derivatives or chalcone derivatives concentration, temperatures and rotation speeds effect, which exhibit a strong dependence and supported that the process is diffusion controlled. Thermodynamic parameter ΔG*, ΔH* and ΔS* are given. Mass transfer study of the process was correlated by the equation: Sh = 0.53Sc0.33Re0.38. The order of acceleration was confirmed by quantum calculations

Effectiveness and suitability of vapor heat treatment in disinfestation of export mango fruit, cultivar Abu Samaka, from fruit flies

    Sudan has a great potential for the export of mango (Mangifera Indica L.) but fruit flies, mainly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), C. capitata (Wiedmann) and B. zonata (Saunders) are threatening the export industry. The countries importing mango require disinfestation treatment against fruit flies as a quarantine regulation. Effectiveness and suitability of vapor heat treatment (VHT) for disinfestation of the Sudanase mango cultivar Abu Samaka were undertaken in this study. In the VHT, the relative humidity of the treatment chamber was maintained at 99.7% and the temperature of the fruit pulp was raised gradually to reach 46.7°C in 5 hours then kept at this degree for 30 minutes before hydro-cooling for 20 minutes. For evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment, naturally and artificially infested fruits were examined for fruit flies after treatment and compared with their respective untreated samples. To assess suitability of the treatment with respect to quality of the mango fruit, respiration rate, peel color, weight loss, flesh firmness, ascorbic acid content, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and reducing sugars were measured in the treated and control fruits.  The VHT was found effective in disinfestation of the mango cultivar Abu Samka from fruit flies and did not adversely affect the fruit market quality and increased the shelf life

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Egyptian pediatric cancer patients with acute and chronic active HBV infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are eight genotypes of hepatitis B virus (A-H) and subgenotypes are recognized. Genotyping can be accomplished based on a partial sequence of HBV genome such as the pre-S or S gene. Several methods have been developed and used for HBV genotyping. This study was undertaken to determine the HBV genotypes in Egyptian pediatric cancer patients with acute and chronic liver disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>HBV genotypes were determined in 22 patients who had acute forms of liver disease (AH) and in 48 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH). A type-specific primer based the nested-PCR method was employed in the HBV genotyping.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This study showed that HBV infections in pediatric cancer patients are attributed predominantly to viral genotypes D and B that constituted 37.1% and 25.7%, respectively of the total infections. In addition, there was a relatively high prevalence of mixed infections of 15.7% among the studied group especially mixed A/D genotype infections. Genotype D was found significantly more often in patients with CAH than in patients with AH [23/48(47.9%) <it>v </it>3/22 (13.6%)].</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings show the distribution of HBV A-D genotypes in pediatric cancer Egyptian patients. Furthermore, our results indicate a markedly high prevalence of mixed A/D genotype infections in subjects with CAH and a possible association of mixed infections with the severity of liver diseases.</p

Serial changes in the serum levels of leptin, homocysteine, galectin-3, total phospholipids and hexosamines among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

AbstractBackgroundCoronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cardiovascular disorder in adults. This study was performed to elucidate the role of active leptin, homocysteine, galectin-3, total phospholipids, total, bound, free hexosamines, free-to-bound hexosamines ratio in the pathogenesis of chronic myocardial ischemia and studying the effect of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on their serum levels.MethodsA prospective case control study was carried out on 100 ischemic heart disease male patients undergoing elective CABG and 25 healthy males. Serum levels of total phospholipids, total and free hexosamines, were estimated using spectrophotometric methods, while, serum levels of active leptin, homocysteine and galectin-3 were estimated using ELISA assay kit.ResultsSignificant higher serum active leptin, homocysteine, galectin-3, free hexosamines and free to bound hexosamines ratio levels preoperatively when compared with the control group (p < 0.01 for all) with significant lowering of their serum levels following CABG (p < 0.01 for all) except for active leptin. Significant lower serum total phospholipids, total and bound hexosamines levels preoperatively when compared with the control group (p < 0.01 for all) with significant elevations in their serum levels following CABG (p < 0.01 for all).ConclusionsHigh active leptin, homocysteine, galectin-3, free and free to bound hexosamines ratio and low total phospholipids, total and bound hexosamines play an important role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia. The serum levels of homocysteine, galectin-3, hexosamines and total phospholipids, but not active leptin are significantly lowered following CABG

Trends and Challenges Towards Effective Data-Driven Decision Making in UK Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Case Studies and Lessons Learnt from the Analysis of 85 Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

The adoption of data science brings vast benefits to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) including business productivity, economic growth, innovation and job creation. Data science can support SMEs to optimise production processes, anticipate customers’ needs, predict machinery failures and deliver efficient smart services. Businesses can also harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, and the smart use of digital technologies to enhance productivity and performance, paving the way for innovation. However, integrating data science decisions into an SME requires both skills and IT investments. In most cases, such expenses are beyond the means of SMEs due to their limited resources and restricted access to financing. This paper presents trends and challenges towards effective data-driven decision making for organisations based on a 3-year long study which covered more than 85 UK SMEs, mostly from the West Midlands region of England. In particular, this study attempts to find answers to several key research questions around data science and AI adoption among UK SMEs, and the advantages of digitalisation and data-driven decision making, as well as the challenges hindering their effective utilisation of these technologies. We also present two case studies that demonstrate the potential of digitisation and data science, and use these as examples to unveil challenges and showcase the wealth of currently available opportunities for SMEs

Toxic Effects of Trichloroethylene on Rat Neuroprogenitor Cells

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a common volatile organic solvent which is considered as an ubiquitous environmental pollutant. It is claimed to be a developmental neurotoxicant. Our group evaluated previously its impact on three-dimensional neurospheres in vitro. The current work aims to investigate the neurotoxic effects of a lower concentration of TCE on the same system. To perform the experiment, neural progenitor cells were obtained from the brains of nine newborn rats. Afterward, these cells were cultured in both growth and differentiation media to get the neurospheres. Cell cultures were divided into two groups: group 1 (control), group 2 (exposed to 0.25 μM TCE). Neurospheres were photographed at different durations and assessment of the morphological changes such as proliferation and differentiation of neurospheres was done. In addition, cell viability, apoptosis, and necrosis were analyzed using flow cytometry to clarify the mechanism of involved cytotoxicity. The results revealed that TCE-treated neurospheres showed significantly decreased proliferation on days 7 and 14. These cells failed to show the neurogenic differentiation seen in the neurospheres of the control group. Furthermore, a highly significant decrease in viability and a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells were observed in the treated cells in comparison to the control group. The present work confirmed that TCE, at very low doses relevant to daily life exposure in humans, caused neurotoxic effects in 3D neurosphere model through the affection of neural proliferation and differentiation as well as disturbance of cell viability and apoptosis

Tegumental alterations in adult Schistosoma Mansoni treated with ethanolic extracts of artemisia annua in vitro

Background: Schistosomasis is one of the most important parasitic diseases with high prevalence with Praziquantel is the only drug available for the treatment and control to which emerging reduced susceptibility in S. mansoni appeared. Objectives: This work studied the tegmental alteration in adult Schistosoma mansoni in response to treatment with ethanolic extracts of Artemisia annua. Materials and methods: About 50 g of the plant parts dry weight was used. After that 1 g of the prepared extract was dissolved in 50 ml of 0.9% saline. 100, 50, 25, 10 & 5 g/mL different concentrations were used for in vitro antischistosomal efficacy. The experiments were conducted on three groups of adult S. mansoni worms. The first group was the negative control group where the adults were incubated in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO); second group was the positive control group in which adult worms were incubated in 0.1 Praziquantel. The third group was the adult worms in Ethanolic extract of Artemisia annua. The stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopywere used to assess survival and ultramorpphological changes respectively. Results: Significant reduction in the parasites movements and the survival of the adult worms with different extract concentrations which was dose dependent. After 24 h of in vitro incubation of S. mansoni with different concentrations of ethanolic extracts of A. annua various ultramorphological changes were reported comparable to those caused by Praziquantel. Conclusion: A. annua ethanolic extract provided lethal effects on the adult Schistosoma mansoni in vitro with faster and complete effect in the higher concentratio

An artificial gorilla troops optimizer for stochastic unit commitment problem solution incorporating solar, wind, and load uncertainties

The unit commitment (UC) optimization issue is a vital issue in the operation and management of power systems. In recent years, the significant inroads of renewable energy (RE) resources, especially wind power and solar energy generation systems, into power systems have led to a huge increment in levels of uncertainty in power systems. Consequently, solution the UC is being more complicated. In this work, the UC problem solution is addressed using the Artificial Gorilla Troops Optimizer (GTO) for three cases including solving the UC at deterministic state, solving the UC under uncertainties of system and sources with and without RE sources. The uncertainty modelling of the load and RE sources (wind power and solar energy) are made through representing each uncertain variable with a suitable probability density function (PDF) and then the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) method is employed to generate a large number of scenarios then a scenario reduction technique known as backward reduction algorithm (BRA) is applied to establish a meaningful overall interpretation of the results. The results show that the overall cost per day is reduced from 0.2181% to 3.7528% at the deterministic state. In addition to that the overall cost reduction per day is 19.23% with integration of the RE resources. According to the results analysis, the main findings from this work are that the GTO is a powerful optimizer in addressing the deterministic UC problem with better cost and faster convergence curve and that RE resources help greatly in running cost saving. Also uncertainty consideration makes the system more reliable and realistic