Search

Proteoglycans (PGs), which have glycosaminoglycan chains attached to their protein cores, are essential for maintaining the morphology and function of healthy body tissues. Extracellular PGs perform various functions, classified into the following four categories: i) the modulation of tissue mechanical properties; ii) the regulation and protection of the extracellular matrix; iii) protein sequestration; and iv) the regulation of cell signaling. The depletion of PGs may significantly impair tissue function, encompassing compromised mechanical characteristics and unregulated inflammatory responses. Since PGs play critical roles in the function of healthy tissues and their synthesis is complex, the development of PG mimetic molecules that recapitulate PG functions for tissue engineering and therapeutic applications has attracted the interest of researchers for more than 20 years. These approaches have ranged from semisynthetic graft copolymers to recombinant PG domains produced by cells that have undergone genetic modifications. This review discusses some essential extracellular PG functions and approaches to mimicking these functions.

Fish is one of the most valuable foods with high-quality animal protein. However, aquaculture, or ingesting contaminated food, allows organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) to enter the fish's body, and therefore, it negatively impacted public health. One-hundred and twenty random samples of Clupea harengus (C. harengus), Mugil cephalus (M. cephalus), Sardinella aurita (S. aurita), Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus), Neptunus pelagicus (N. pelagicus) and Sepia savigngi (S. savigngi) (n = 20 each) were collected from local markets in Mansoura city, Egypt. Samples were checked to see whether any residues of OCPs with the application of risk assessment due to their consumption by Mansoura citizens. The findings indicated that summation hexachlorocyclohexane (∑HCH) in examined seafood samples ranged from 0.27 ± 0.13 in N. pelagicus to 61.61 ± 52.03 μg.kg−1 in S. aurita. Also, the γ-HCH isomer was considered the more prominent among isomers. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was found in five different species, with mean values of 2.03 ± 1.85, 1.5.7 ± 1.17, 0.94 ± 0.87, 0.35 ± 0.06, and 0.18 ± 0.06 μg.kg−1 in C. harengus, S. aurita, M. cephlaus, O. niloticus, and S. savigngi. Moreover, summation of Heptachlors (∑HPTs) was 10.19 ± 7.63, 1.27 ± 0.26, 2.58 ± 0.11, 0.95 ± 0.12, 0.21 ± 0.11 and 0.32 ± 0.03 μg.kg−1 of wet weight in examined C. harengus, M. cephlaus, S. aurita, O. niloticus, N. pelagicus, and S. savigngi. Aldrin and dieldrin residues were 3.75 ± 1.31 and 4.86 ± 1.33 μg.kg−1 in C. harengu, meanwhile they were 1.61 ± 0.77 and 0.78 ± 0.04 μg.kg−1in M. cephalus. Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (pp-DDE) was dominant in all examined species within different concentrations 5.08 ± 4.12, 0.98 ± 0.10, 3.07 ± 0.91, 0.93 ± 0.27, 0.08 ± 0.01 and 0.35 ± 0.02 μg.kg−1 in C. harengus, M. cephlaus, S. aurita, O. niloticus, N. pelagicus and S. savigngi, respectively. We concluded that all examined seafood samples were lower than the recommended maximum residue limit. Also, the estimated daily intake was less than the permitted daily intake. Non-carcinogenic indices of target hazard quotient and hazard index for OCPs in all examined species were less than 1.

Oxidative stresses intensify the progression of diabetes-related behavioural changes and testicular injuries. Graviola (Annona muricata), a small tree of the Annonaceae family, has been investigated for its protective effects against diabetic complications, oxidative stress, and neuropathies. This study was planned to investigate the effects of graviola on behavioural alterations and testicular oxidative status of streptozotocin (STZ; 65 mg/kg)-induced diabetic rats. Forty adult male Wistar rats were equally allocated into four groups: control (received normal saline 8 ml/kg orally once daily), diabetic (received normal saline orally once daily), graviola (GR; received 100 mg/kg/day; orally once daily), and diabetic with graviola (Diabetic+GR; received 100 mg/kg/day; once daily). Behavioural functions were assessed using standard behavioural paradigms. Also, oxidative statuses of testis were evaluated. Results of behavioural observations showed that diabetes induced depression-like behaviours, reduction of exploratory and locomotor activities, decreased memory performance, and increased stress-linked behaviours. These variations in diabetic rats were happened due to oxidative stress. Interestingly, treatment of diabetic rats with graviola for four weeks alleviated all behavioural changes due to diabetes. Also, rats in graviola-treated groups had greater testicular testosterone and estradiol levels compared with diabetic rats due to significant rise in testicular acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2 expression. In the same context, graviola enhanced the antioxidant status of testicular tissues by significantly restoring the testicular glutathione and total superoxide dismutase that fell during diabetes. In addition, Graviola significantly decreased the expression of apoptotic (Bax) and inflammatory (interleukin-1β) testicular genes. In conclusion, these data propose that both the hypoglycemic and antioxidative potential of graviola are possible mechanisms that improve behavioural alterations and protect testis in diabetic animals. Concomitantly, further clinical studies in human are required to validate the current study.

Background: Caudal epidural prolotherapy injection has emerged as a successful treatment for managing chronic pain. This study is a prospective randomized, double-blinded clinical trial. It assesses and compares the effectiveness of prolotherapy versus steroid injection for pain relief in cases of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). It involved randomly assigning 90 patients with FBSS to one of two equal groups: steroids or prolotherapy. The VAS was used to measure pain as the primary outcome, while disability was measured by the Oswestry disability index (ODI). McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and complications were recorded as secondary outcomes. Results: The VAS improved significantly from the baseline in both groups at all follow-up periods (p < 0.001). Nonetheless, after 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-injection, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, while at 8 weeks, 3, and 6 months, the VAS was statistically significantly lower in the steroids group than in the prolotherapy group (p < 0.001). The ODI and MPQ improved significantly from the baseline in both groups at all follow-up periods (p < 0.001). However, after 2 and 4 weeks post-injection, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups; but, at 6 and 8 weeks, 3, and 6 months, the ODI and MPQ were statistically significantly lower in the steroid group compared to the prolotherapy group (p < 0.001). Only one patient in the steroid group suffered from pain and swelling at the injection site without a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Caudal epidural prolotherapy injection has good efficacy in managing pain that can be similar to steroid injection but shorter in duration in cases of FBSS with comparable safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted to assess the quality of Sudanese cattle meat. Therefore, 500 imported Sudanese bulls slaughtered in Abu Simbel city abattoirs were selected and divided into 2 groups; Group (I) 250 Sudanese bulls aged 2-5.5 years were fed for a month before slaughter, and Group (II) 250 fattening Sudanese bulls aged 2 to 2.5 years were fattened for 6 months before slaughter. Longissimus dorsi muscle samples were subjected to sensory evaluation and chemical analysis (proximate analysis, cholesterol, hydroxyproline, and content of some essential elements content). Results cleared that Sudanese bulls of the second group (II) were significantly (p < 0.05) superior to bulls of the first group (I). Sudanese cattle meat types Baggara Nyalawi and Baggara Rizzaki were significantly (p < 0.05) superior to Baggara Messiri, Kenana and Butana breeds. In addition, the meat of younger age and higher-weight bulls was more tender than older age and lighter-weight ones in order. Sensory evaluation revealed that Sudanese cattle meat has good sensory characteristics including color, taste, odour and overall acceptability from consumers. Sudanese cattle meat is considered ideal for consumers, as it is a good source of animal protein and essential elements with low fat and cholesterol content. In conclusion, Sudanese cattle meat can play an important role in filling the red meat gap in Egypt. So it is recommended to expand the importing of Sudanese cattle, especially for fattening purpose during the upcoming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studies the inclination angle effect on the two-phase closed thermosyphon (TPCT) with semicylindrical condenser internal fins. The finned thermosyphon thermal performance is studied at two different inclination angles 30o and 60o. Water is the working fluid for different filling ratios (FR) of 20, 50 and 80. The experiments are performed at different input power levels. The thermosyphon temperature is measured and both the heat transfer convection and condensation coefficients are calculated. In addition, the overall heat transfer coefficient is calculated and used as an indication of TPCT thermal performance. The lowest thermal resistance occurred at 50% FR at an inclination angle of 30o. The results showed that, at 60o inclination angle the average temperature of the thermosyphon is slightly lower than the 30o. The thermal performance of the TPCT is superior at 80% FR for 600 inclination angle as it achieves the highest overall heat transfer coefficient at this condition. Based on the overall heat transfer coefficient values, The thermal performance of inclined TPCT is higher at inclination angle 60° compared to 30o inclination angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qatari economy is considered as one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing economies in the world. Consequently, the State of Qatar has become one of the main countries attracting foreign investors. This is indeed the outcome of the efforts made to adjust the national laws in order to meet the needs of international investors and to modernize the economy to achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030. It is expected that FIFA World Cup 2022 will be an impetus to realize this vision. Under these circumstances, Qatar had to adopt a new perspective on arbitration as an alternative means to settle disputes and to keep pace with international economic developments. This initiative was accelerated with the ratification of “The New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards” and made part of the Qatari legal system by the Amiri Decree No. (3) of the year 2003. Moreover, many countries around the world are adopting the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (1985); along with the amendments adopted in 2006. The United Nations called upon its member states to take into account this model law when passing national legislation. Many countries adopted -fully or partially- the provisions of the UNCITRAL model. In this respect, some questions may be raised: Did the New Qatar Arbitration Law No. (2) of the year 2017 answer the call of the United Nations? Does the new law adopt new trends of the rules governing the international commercial arbitration? Would this new law attract investors as per Qatar national vision? What are the manifestations of the new arbitration perspective in the new law compared to the repealed arbitration rules?

A chimney system is combined of two heated plates with adiabatic extension. The numerical analysis of the chimney system is carried out to clarify the performance of the free convection heat transfer and the augmentation of mass flow rate (m•) for the tested parameters. A Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software, ANSYSFLUENT, is employed in this investigation. Itis found that there is good agreement between the numerical findings and the experimental data collected from the literature, as demonstrated by this validation. Two types of obstruction are used in the present investigation, which are rectangular and semi-circular. The two types are tested at different configurations. Results reveled that the obstructions reduce the velocity and form vortices, which led to the reduction of the mass flow rate. In addition, it is found that the highest (m• ) is achieved with the base case However, the semi-circular chimney found to achieve the highest among obstructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Metacarpal fractures are frequent, and many of them can be managed non-surgically with the proper reduction and immobilisation. As with any hand fracture, the major goals are to achieve anatomic and stable reduction, bone union, and early mobilisation. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcome of bouquet technique in management of unstable metacarpals fractures as isolated or multiple shaft metacarpal fractures, irreducible or unstable fracture, greater than 30 degree fracture angulation, greater than 10 degree rotational deformity, and extensive (more than 5 mm) metacarpal shortening. Patients and Methods: A prospective follow up study was carried out on 20 patients with metacarpal factures, managed at El Qureen Hospital, Dar Elhekmah Hospital and Abo Khalifa Emergency Hospital, A total of 17 males and 3 females with unstable 2nd to 5th metacarpal fractures fixed by intramedullary k-wires (Bouquet osteosynthesis) were recruited. Results: The average Quick DASH score was 1.45 (SD 1.23), ranging from zero to four points, and the mean grip strength of the damaged hand was 96%, which was significantly lower than the non-injured side's range of 85% to 100%. The functional outcome was satisfactory. Up to 18 patients (90%) patients reported being extremely satisfied, while 2 (10%) patients reported being satisfied. Conclusion: Bouquet pinning and transverse wiring techniques in metacarpal fractures showed good range of motion (total active motion >245), grip strength, early radiographic bone union and less post-operative infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to identify the electronic arbitration award and its effects under the legislation In the UAE, through a statement of the procedures for pleading and deliberation in the electronic arbitration award, and a statement of the form of the electronic arbitration award in addition to standing on the methods and reasons for challenging the electronic arbitration award, and the study relied on the analytical inductive approach to achieve its objectives, and that through the division of the study To two topics, where the first topic dealt with the electronic arbitration ruling, and the second topic dealt with the effects of the electronic arbitration award and its appeal, and the study reached a number of results, the most important of which are: Electronic arbitration is an electronic judicial system that specializes in resolving disputes that arise in the electronic environment between dealers in Ecommerce according to an agreement between the parties to the dispute. The electronic arbitration award differs from the traditional arbitration award, because the arbitration is of a special nature in that the dispute in which the electronic arbitration is settled relates to commercial disputes, electronic contracts and other contracts. Due to the resort of many parties and persons to electronic arbitration, because of its many advantages, we find that many legal systems have been interested in developing special legislation for electronic arbitration, in an attempt to keep pace with current developments. Electronic arbitration has become necessary and urgent in the fields of e-commerce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large investments have already been made in Europe and US to discover a new fuel which can be used Instead of gasoline for the engines of cars. So they discover that the liquid hydrogen will be the future fuel. The research provides a new method to reduce the gasoline and its exhaust emission to (80%) using hydrogen gas with simple materials and low cost in G.I.C engines. First step to reach the project goals we designed a new mechanism that uses the electrolysis process to get the hydrogen gas, according to the factors that affect the production of Hydrogen gas. Second step: injecting the hydrogen gas to the engine with the air to burn inside the Combustion chamber with the gasoline to produce the same energy or more than it with less consumption of fossil fuel to achieve the main goal of the project to reduce the gasoline and the exhaust to (80%). After using our new technology to increase the surface area of the stainless steel by coating the electrode with a layer made from Cobalt and Nickel and by putting the electrodes of stainless steel on equal distance and close to each other; the production of hydrogen gas increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical study is conducted to clarify fluid-flow characteristics, pressure drop coefficient (Pdc), and the average skin friction coefficient (Cf,m) for wing-shaped-tubes bundle with longitudinal fins at downstream side of the tube using the commercial CFD FLUENT software package. The air-side Rea ranges from 1800 to 9700. The tubes are employed with various fin heights (hf) and fin thicknesses (δ) such as 2 mm ≤ hf ≤ 12 mm and 1.5 mm ≤ δ ≤ 3.5 mm at the considered Rea range. Results indicate that ΔPa increases with Rea for all hf. Pdc decreases with Rea for all hf values for 1800 ≤ Rea ≤ 4200 and then increases for 4200 ≤ Rea ≤ 10000. Lowest values of ΔPa, Pdc, and pumping power (PP) occurred at hf = 6 mm. Values of Pdc for hf = 6 mm are lower than those of NOF and hf = 2 mm by about 73 % and 32 %, respectively, at Rea = 4000. Cf,m decreases with Rea. δ has negligible effect on Cf,m. ΔPa increases for 1.5 mm ≤ δ ≤ 2.5 mm while ΔPa decreases with 2.5 mm < δ ≤ 3.5 mm for the considered Rea range except for Rea = 1850. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Caudal epidural prolotherapy injection has emerged as a successful treatment for managing chronic pain. This study is a prospective randomized, double-blinded clinical trial. It assesses and compares the effectiveness of prolotherapy versus steroid injection for pain relief in cases of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). It involved randomly assigning 90 patients with FBSS to one of two equal groups: steroids or prolotherapy. The VAS was used to measure pain as the primary outcome, while disability was measured by the Oswestry disability index (ODI). McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and complications were recorded as secondary outcomes.Results The VAS improved significantly from the baseline in both groups at all follow-up periods (p

Background and Aims: Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy causes numerous immune-related adverse events, including autoimmune pancreatic injury (AIPI), which results in rapid organ atrophy. We profiled the clinico-radiological features, short-term natural history, and response to steroids of AIPI. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 229/11,165 (2.1%) adult patients with AIPI. One hundred and ten out of 229 (48%) had abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scan at lipase elevation; data of 110 without pancreatic metastases were analyzed. We analyzed serial CT-based pancreas volumetry data in 48 patients with AIPI (32 with normal CT and 16 with pancreatitis on CT at lipase elevation). We examined impact of steroids on pain and disease course. Results: In AIPI (n = 229), median lipase elevation was 4x upper limit of normal (range: 3–40x). The injury was more often asymptomatic than painful (143/229 (62%) vs 86/229 (38%), P < .000). Majority (83/110 (75%) had normal CT, often in painless vs painful disease: 51/57 (90%) vs 32/53 (60%), P < .001) 25% had interstitial pancreatitis. On serial pancreas volumetry, marked volume (cc) loss occurred 1 year after vs 3 months before lipase elevation in both normal CT (median 81.6 vs 61.3, P = .00) and pancreatitis on CT groups (91.8 vs 60.5, P = .00), ≥20% volume loss occurred in 47% vs 73%, respectively (P = .08). Steroids, when used did not mitigate pain, biochemical relapse, pancreas volume loss or 1-year diabetes incidence (7.2%). Conclusion: Autoimmune pancreatic injury (AIPI) is uniquely characterized by painless lipase elevation, normal pancreas on CT and rapid pancreatic volume loss on follow-up. Steroids do not appear to have a role in management.

In the present work, the thermal/hydraulic characteristics of a semi-circular cylinder in crossflow of air have been numerically investigated at Reynolds number range between 103 and 104. Various attack angles between −90 and 90° were considered. The effect of finning was investigated at zero attack angle using three fin configurations (front fin, rear fin, and double fin) with different values of fin length and thickness. Flow patterns, local heat transfer coefficient, overall-averaged Nusselt number, and drag coefficient were reported and discussed. Correlations for Nusselt number and relative heat transfer rate were presented for plain and finned semi-circular cylinders, respectively. The irreversibility minimization approach was used to assess the performance of the semi-circular cylinder with/without fins compared to a plain circular cylinder with the same surface area, surface temperature, and heat transfer load. The semi-circular cylinder delivers the highest performance around an attack angle of 15 ° , while the worst performance occurs when the flat surface faces the flow. Additionally, finning significantly improves the performance by reducing the irreversibility. The front-fin and rear-fin configurations delivered relatively similar performances, while the best performance was attained using the double-fin configuration. [Display omitted] • Thermal/hydraulic performance of a semi-circular cylinder in crossflow is studied. • A performance assessment based on second law analysis is presented. • The effect of orientation on heat transfer and flow characteristics is discussed. • The effect of finning using several fin configurations is investigated. • Comprehensive correlations for plain and finned cylinders are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

شهد العالم في العقد الأخير إنشاء وانتشار وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي Social Media، كالفيس بوك Facebook، وتويترTwitter، ويوتيوبYoutube، ولينكدإن Linked In، وغيرها من المنتديات والمدونات الإلكترونية التي أحدثت طفرةً في طرق التواصل مع الأفراد على المستوى الشخصي والمهني. وتتعلق الإشكالية الأساسية التي يدور حولها هذا البحث في مدى إمكانية استخدام القاضي لوسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، شأنه في ذلك شأن أي فرد، سواء للتعبير عن آرائه، أو للتواصل مع العالم الخارجي بشكل عام، وتزداد أهمية البحث في هذه الإشكالية خاصةً فيما أشارت إليه بعض الإحصائيات الأمريكية والأوروبية من زيادات ملحوظة في أعداد القضاة المستخدمين لشبكات التواصل الاجتماعي. والواقع أن مواجهة هذه الإشكالية يتنازعها اتجاهان أساسيان؛ يرفض أولهما الاعتراف للقضاة بمكنة استخدام وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، استنادًا إلى تقتضيه اعتبارات الحياد. أما الاتجاه الثاني، فيعترف للقضاة، كمواطنين، بهذه المكنة بحسبانها إحدى صور ممارسة حرية التعبير عن الرأي، ولكن في ظل قيود تفرضها طبيعة الوظيفة القضائية. وبناءً عليه، سوف نقسم هذا البحث إلى مبحثين رئيسين؛ نتناول في أولهما اتجاهي الرفض والتأييد لحق القاضي في استخدام وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، ثم نبين رأينا الخاص حول هذه المسألة وفي ثانيهما نتناول قيود وضوابط حق القاضي في استخدام وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي من خلال استعراض عدد من التطبيقات القضائية ذات الصلة.

Background Surgical operative notes are essential for patient care and legal documentation. However, inconsistencies in the quality of these notes at Dongola Teaching Hospital, Sudan, highlighted the need for improvement. In line with guidelines from the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng), this study aimed to enhance the documentation practices in the hospital by implementing a standardized format. Methods A retrospective audit was conducted over three months at the General Surgery Department of Dongola Training Hospital. In the first audit cycle, 81 surgical notes were assessed, revealing significant deficiencies in adherence to RCSEng standards. An intervention was introduced, including a standardized template, training for surgeons, and widespread dissemination of the new format. A second audit cycle followed to assess improvements. Results In the first audit cycle, adherence to documentation standards was 50.3%, with missing or incomplete information in key areas. After the intervention, adherence improved to 71.9%. Notable improvements included documentation of extra procedures (18% to 100%), prosthesis details (0% to 100%), and antibiotic prophylaxis (71% to 97%). However, a slight decline was observed in postoperative care instructions, dropping from 100% to 90%. Conclusion The introduction of a standardized template and training significantly improved the quality of surgical documentation. Continuous efforts are necessary to maintain these improvements, particularly in areas where adherence remains suboptimal, such as postoperative care instructions., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) at Dongola Teaching Hospital issued approval 2023/N12. To maintain privacy and confidentiality, all personal and clinical data were anonymized prior to analysis. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Elhadi Bakheet et al.)