Dermatology for the Practicing Allergist: Tinea Pedis and Its Complications

Tinea pedis is a chronic fungal infection of the feet, very often observed in patients who are immuno-suppressed or have diabetes mellitus. The practicing allergist may be called upon to treat this disease for various reasons. Sometimes tinea infection may be mistaken for atopic dermatitis or allergic eczema. In other patients, tinea pedis may complicate allergy and asthma and may contribute to refractory atopic disease. Patients with recurrent cellulitis may be referred to the allergist/immunologist for an immune evaluation and discovered to have tinea pedis as a predisposing factor. From a molecular standpoint, superficial fungal infections may induce a type2 T helper cell response (Th2) that can aggravate atopy. Th2 cytokines may induce eosinophil recruitment and immunoglobulin E (IgE) class switching by B cells, thereby leading to exacerbation of atopic conditions. Three groups of fungal pathogens, referred to as dermatophytes, have been shown to cause tinea pedis: Trychophyton sp, Epidermophyton sp, and Microsporum sp. The disease manifests as a pruritic, erythematous, scaly eruption on the foot and depending on its location, three variants have been described: interdigital type, moccasin type, and vesiculobullous type. Tinea pedis may be associated with recurrent cellulitis, as the fungal pathogens provide a portal for bacterial invasion of subcutaneous tissues. In some cases of refractory asthma, treatment of the associated tinea pedis infection may induce remission in airway disease. Very often, protracted topical and/or oral antifungal agents are required to treat this often frustrating and morbid disease. An evaluation for underlying immuno-suppression or diabetes may be indicated in patients with refractory disease

Medical image registration using a graph theoretic method

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Investigation of the Bond between Concrete Substrate and ECC Overlays

WOS: 000333451000020Rigid concrete overlays have been used for smoothing damaged surfaces and/or restoring or improving the mechanical capacity of bridge decks for many years. However, engineered cementitious composites (ECCs), which demonstrate superior ductility with high strength and improved durability characteristics, are an attractive alternative to conventional overlay materials if a strong mechanical bond is formed between the overlay and the substrate material. An experimental study was performed to evaluate the bond strength between ECC overlay and an ordinary concrete substrate with smooth and rough surface textures. Microsilica concrete (MSC), generally used as an overlay material, was also prepared as a control mixture. ECC and MSC overlay mixtures were cast over the concrete substrate to determine bonding performance. Slant shear and splitting prism tests were performed with MSC and two ECC mixtures. The experimental results show that when ECC is used as an overlay material, bond strength is significantly increased compared to MSC. Under compression loading (slant shear test), the bond-strength properties of layered ECC substrate concrete cylinder specimens were greater than the strength of substrate concrete with compressive strength of around 30MPa. However, in the case of layered MSC substrate concrete cylinder specimen, failure consistently occurred at the interface.Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) of Turkey [MAG-112M035]; Gaziantep University Scientific Research Centre [MF.10.09]; Feyzi AKKAYA Scientific Activates Supporting Fund (FABED) Young Investigator Research AwardThe authors gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of the Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) of Turkey provided under project MAG-112M035, Gaziantep University Scientific Research Centre provided under project MF.10.09, and Feyzi AKKAYA Scientific Activates Supporting Fund (FABED) Young Investigator Research Award

Mechanical Properties of Sandwiched Construction with Composite and Hybrid Core Structure

In the field of lighter substitute materials, sandwich plate models of composite and hybrid foam cores are used in this study. Three core structures: composite core structure and then the core is replaced by a structure of a closed and open repeating cellular pattern manufactured with 3D printing technology. It finally integrated both into one hybrid open-cell core filled with foam and employed the same device (WBW-100E) to conduct the three-point bending experiment. The test was conducted based on the international standard (ASTM-C 393-00) to perform the three-point bending investigation on the sandwich structure. Flexural test finding, with the hybrid polyurethane/polytropic acid (PUR/PLA) core, the ultimate bending load is increased by 127.7% compared to the open-cell structure core. In addition, the maximum deflection increased by 163.3%. The simulation results of three-point bending indicate that employing a hybrid combination of PUR-PLA led to an increase of 382.3%, and for PUR–TPU by 111.8%; however, the highest value recorded with PUR/PLA, which has the slightest stress error among the tests. Also, it is reported that when the volume fraction of reinforced aluminum particles is increased, the overall deformation becomes more sufficient, and the test accuracy improves; for example, rising from 0.5% to 3%, the midspan deflection of composite (foam-Al) is increased by 40.34%. There were noticeable improvements in mechanical properties in the 2.5% composite foam-Al

Activity of Argemone Ochroleuca Extract On the in Vitro Viability of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Promastigotes Comparison to Sodium Stibogluconate Drug

This study investigates the inhibitory activity of Argemone ochroleuca leaf plant extracts which was so prepared by using different solvents (ethanol, methanol, and distilled water) on the in vitro viability of cutaneous leishmaniasis promastigotes, in comparison with the established drug sodium stibogluconate.Cutaneous leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania parasites, poses significant health challenges globally. Conventional treatments, like sodium stibogluconate, have limitations such as toxicity and drug resistance. Plant extracts, owing to their diverse bioactive constituents, present a potential alternative for disease management.Argemone ochroleuca plant extracts were prepared using ethanol, methanol, and distilled water as solvents. The inhibitory effect on promastigote viability was assessed using a time-based approach, measuring the duration in seconds that is required for inhibition to occur. Interestingly, at certain concentrations, the extract exhibited comparable or even superior efficacy to sodium stibogluconate. Results were compared with the inhibitory effect of sodium stibogluconate. The findings demonstrate the following inhibitory times for Argemone ochroleuca plant extracts: Ethanol: Inhibition occurred at 400 mg/ml in 9 seconds, at 200 mg/ml in 26 seconds, at 100 mg/ml in 60 seconds, and at 50 mg/ml in 128 seconds, Methanol: Inhibition occurred at 400 mg/ml in 13 seconds, at 200 mg/ml in 39 seconds, at 100 mg/ml in 91 seconds, and at 50 mg/ml in 210 seconds and Aquatic extract: Inhibition occurred at 400 mg/ml in 94 seconds, at 200 mg/ml in 150 seconds, at 100 mg/ml in 258 seconds, and at 50 mg/ml in 474 seconds. Comparatively, sodium stibogluconate showed its inhibitory effect at a specific concentration 100 mg/ml in 10 second.These results indicate that the Argemone ochroleuca leaves plant extracts, particularly those prepared using ethanol and methanol, exhibit substantial inhibitory effects on the viability of cutaneous leishmaniasis promastigotes. The variations in inhibitory times among the solvents suggest differences in the bioactive compound extraction and interactions. Ethanol and methanol extracts present potential alternatives to conventional treatments, with faster and efficient inhibitory action.Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these inhibitory effects and to explore the underlying

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Venous Thromboembolism in Critically Ill Patients with Severe COVID-19 and the Association between the Dose of Anticoagulants and Outcomes

COVID-19 is characterized by a procoagulant state that increases the risk of venous and arterial thrombosis. The dose of anticoagulants in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia without suspected or confirmed thrombosis has been debated

Proceedings of First Conference for Engineering Sciences and Technology: Vol. 2

This volume contains contributed articles of Track 4, Track 5 & Track 6, presented in the conference CEST-2018, organized by Faculty of Engineering Garaboulli, and Faculty of Engineering, Al-khoms, Elmergib University (Libya) on 25-27 September 2018. Track 4: Industrial, Structural Technologies and Science Material Track 5: Engineering Systems and Sustainable Development Track 6: Engineering Management Other articles of Track 1, 2 & 3 have been published in volume 1 of the proceedings at this lin

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population