Search

Background: Right ventricular hemangioma is very rare. Corona Virus disease (COVID-19) and vaccination were documented to cause diverse thromboembolic phenomena. Case presentation: We report a large right ventricular hemangioma presented as acute pulmonary embolism two weeks after COVID-19 vaccination associated with acute kidney injury and significantly elevated Interleukin-6 (IL-6). There was no thrombocytopenia; therefore, the diagnosis of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VIIT) was deemed unlikely. The patient underwent emergency cardiac surgery. The mass was excised through a right atriotomy, and tricuspid annuloplasty was done. IL-6 normalized after six days with resolution of acute kidney injury. Conclusions: Pulmonary embolism is a rare presentation of the right ventricular hemangioma, and COVID-19 vaccination could play a role in this presentation. Cardiac hemangioma could be associated with high IL-6 that resolves with excision.

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of increasing stocking density, prebiotic supplementation, and the interactions on broiler chicken performance and some physiological parameters. A total of 912 one-day-old chickens were used in this study, and they were randomly divided into six groups with 4 replicates each. The experiment included three levels of stocking densities (10, 13, and 15 broiler chicken/m2) in 6 groups. Groups 1, 3, and 5 were maintained without prebiotic supplementation, while groups 2, 4, and 6 received a diet supplemented with prebiotics in water (1cm/liter). Reducing stocking densities and adding prebiotics improved body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, oxidative stress parameters (total antioxidant capacity), and European production efficiency factor, while decreasing malondialdehyde levels. On the other hand, stocking density and prebiotic supplementation did not affect dressing percentage, the relative weight of giblet parts, hind part, front part, and lymphoid organs (thymus and bursa of Fabricius). In conclusion, adding prebiotics at 1 cm/liter (Mannan-oligo saccharide and B-Glucan) can partially mitigate the negative effects of high stocking density on production performance, physiological and oxidative stress parameters, and European production efficiency factor. Keywords: Antioxidant biomarkers, Broiler chicken, β-glucan, Mannan oligosaccharide, Oxidant, Prebiotic, Stocking density

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a universal health problem responsible for 8.2% of all cancer deaths. Numerous risk factors were documented to be contributed to HCC development with viral hepatitis C ranking as the major predisposing factor in Egypt. The presence of a detectable amount of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the circulation is linked to the development and spread of tumors. LncRNAs NBAT-1 and FOXCUT expression levels were used as genetic markers for the detection of gastrointestinal tract cancers. We hypothesized that serum expression levels of NBAT-1 and FOXCUT are new biomarkers for HCC that are related to laboratory and pathological markers.This study included 165 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC Egyptian patients, 180 HCV-infected noncancer patients, and 180 healthy controls, the serum expression levels of NBAT-1 and FOXCUT were measured by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.This study's results include that medians (inter-quartile range [IQRs]) of NBAT-1 in HCC and HCV patients were (1.9 [0.87-4.94], 10.01 [7.34-13.29] respectively) which exhibited significantly higher expression than controls, while the medians (IQRs) of FOXCUT in HCC and HCV patients were (0.15 [0.04-0.52], 6.42 [2.49-10.10], respectively) that exhibited significantly lower expression than controls regarding HCC patients but significantly higher expression than controls regarding HCV patients. In comparing serum fold changes of NBAT-1 and FOXCUT between HCC patients and HCV patients; we obtained significantly higher levels of target genes in HCV patients (p 0.001) than in HCC patients. Also, a positive correlation was detected between NBAT-1 and FOXCUT in HCC group (r = 0.262, p = 0.001) and in HCV group (r = 0.937, p 0.001). Higher serum NBAT-1 and FOXCUT were significantly associated with better clinical and laboratory data of the disease. Multivariate regression analysis showed that FOXCUT was an independent predictor for HCC among HCV patients (p 0.001).Our study cited that NBAT-1 and FOXCUT could be considered new diagnostic serum biomarkers for HCC on top of HCV.

Background: Measurement of transverse diameter of the Common Bile Duct (CBD) was performed in several studies by Ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging using Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). The size of the extrahepatic bile duct increases with age which should be taken into consideration by the surgeons during the surgery of the gallbladder, pancreas and duodenum. US plays a crucial role in the initial imaging work-up of a patient with jaundice. Because a dilated extrahepatic duct distinguishes obstructive from non-obstructive causes of jaundice. The size of the bile duct is considered to increase normally with age as proved by various studies especially MRCP which is more accurate than US. Aim of Study: The aim of the present work is to demon-strate anatomical variation concerning assessment of transverse diameter of CBD both in adult and geriatric age groups without biliary or hepatic manifestations and detection of age related changes in CBD as one of the causes of non obstructive biliiary dilatation. Material and Methods: The patients were divided into three groups according to their age: 1- Group I: 21-40 years. 2- Group II: 41-60 years, 3- Group III: Over 60 years. Ultra-sound and MRCP techniques were used in this study to assess the diameter of CBD in different age groups. Results: Group I: In US: In this age group the mean of the widest transverse diameter of extrahepatic bile duct was 0.25 with a range: 0.18-0.41. In males the mean was: 0.23 with a range: 0.19-0.26. In females: The mean was: 0.28 with a range: 0.18-0.41. In MRCP: In this age group the mean of the widest transverse diameter of extrahepatic bile duct was 37.5 with a range: 21-49. In males: The mean was: 36 with a range: 21-46. In females: The mean was: 40 with a range: 0.29-49. Group II: In US: The mean of the widest transverse diameter of extrahepatic bile duct was 0.32 with a range: 0.19-0.41. In males: The mean was: 0.31 with a range: 0.19- 0.39. In females: The mean was: 0.33 with a range: 0.27-0.41. In MRCP: The mean of the widest transverse diameter of extrahepatic bile duct was 46.5 with a range: 24-62. In males: The mean was: 52.6 with a range: 41-62. In females: The mean was: 40.4 with a range: 0.24-51. Group III: In US: The mean of the widest transverse diameter of extrahepatic bile duct was 0.40 with a range: 0.26-0.63. In males: The mean was: 0.39 with a range: 0.28-0.52. In females: The mean was: 0.42 with a range: 0.26-0.63. In MRCP: The mean of the widest transverse diameter of extrahepatic bile duct was 88.31 with a range: 49-180. In males: The mean was: 94.27 with a range: 69-170. In females: The mean was: 81.93 with a range: 49-180. Conclusion: Both US and MRCP modalities revealed that the widest transverse diameter of CBD increases with age.

In electronic warfare systems, the optimization of the adaptive antenna array’s parameters toward achieving a certain null or maximum at specific directions could consume a long time. This may be crucial especially when a quick reaction is required before the spatial situation changes. In this work, a novel technique based on the Schelkunoff theory of incorporating nulls into the array factor (AF) expression is presented. It is shown that by introducing these nulls in the AF, the number of unknown array coefficients to be optimized is reduced. Hence, the optimization processing time is considerably decreased compared to the conventional all parameters technique, without impairing other radiation pattern characteristics such as the beamwidth or the side lobe level.

Contains fulltext : 252162.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)

Introduction: COVID-19 severity and mortality predictors could determine admission criteria and reduce mortality. We aimed to evaluate the clinical-laboratory features of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 to develop a novel score of severity and mortality. Methodology: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to five Egyptian university hospitals. Demographics, comorbidities, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, the duration of hospitalization, and disease outcome were analyzed, and a score to predict severity and mortality was developed. Results: A total of 1308 patients with COVID-19, with 996 (76.1%) being moderate and 312 (23.9%) being severe cases, were included. The mean age was 46.5 ± 17.1 years, and 61.6% were males. The overall mortality was 12.6%. Regression analysis determined significant predictors, and a ROC curve defined cut-off values. The COVEG severity score was defined by age ≥ 54, D-dimer ≥ 0.795, serum ferritin ≥ 406, C-reactive protein ≥ 30.1, and neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio ≥ 2.88. The COVEG mortality score was based on COVEG severity and the presence of cardiac diseases. Both COVEG scores had high predictive values (area under the curve 0.882 and 0.883, respectively). Conclusions: COVEG score predicts the severity and mortality of patients with COVID-19 accurately.

Fathiya El-Raey,1 Mohamed Alboraie,2 Naglaa Youssef,3,4 Ahmed Yousef,5 Ahmed A Abdelmoaty,6 Essam Hassan,7 Sahar M Hassany,8 Sherief Abd-Elsalam,9 Ramy Elsharkawy,10 Khaled Farrag,11 Mohamed Elbadry,12 Mohammed Tag-Adeen,13 Nermeen Abdeen,14 Omar Elshaarawy,15 Tamer Haydara,16 Adel Ahmed Hassan,17 Marwa El-Sayed,18 Yasser Fouad,19 Amin Abdel Baki,20 Samy Zaky21 1Department of Hepatogastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 3Medical-surgical Nursing department, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 4Medical-surgical Nursing department, College of Nursing, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt; 6Tropical Medicine Department, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 7Department of Tropical Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt; 8Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 9Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases Department, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt; 10Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt; 11Department of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, National Medical Institute of Damanhour, Damanhour, Egypt; 12Endemic Medicine Department, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt; 13Department of Internal Medicine, South Valley University, Qena Faculty of Medicine, Qena, Egypt; 14Department of Tropical Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 15Department of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt; 16Department of Internal medicine, Gastroenterology & Hepatology Unit, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr el-Sheikh, Egypt; 17Infectious and Endemic Disease Department, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt; 18Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt; 19Department of Endemic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt; 20Department: Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases Department, National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute (NHTMRI), Cairo, Egypt; 21Department of Hepatogastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, EgyptCorrespondence: Marwa El-SayedDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, EgyptTel +20 1003717916Fax +20 963216128Email marwa.elsayed@med.svu.edu.egMohamed AlboraieDepartment of internal medicine, faculty of medicine, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, 11884, EgyptTel +20 222602687Fax +20 224020184Email alboraie@azhar.edu.egBackground: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are still at higher risk of acquiring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections than the general population. Identifying risk factors associated with severe SARS-CoV-2 infections is of paramount importance to protect HCWs and the non-infected patients attending different healthcare facilities.Purpose: To recognize the predictors for severity of SARS-CoV2 infection among HCWs working in either COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 healthcare settings. Also, to assess compliance of HCW to standard precautions of infection control and explore the possible risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, from different Egyptian governorates. They were asked to fill in a web-based self-reporting questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of participants, compliance of HCWs to standard precautions of infection control and COVID-19 presentation.Results: Our study enrolled 204 HCWs (52.3% physicians). Infection of SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed in 61.3% by RT- PCR; 35.8% were admitted to hospital, and of these, 3.9% were admitted to the intensive care unit. While 30.4% had mild disease, 48.5% had moderate disease, 17.2% had severe disease and 3.9% had critical disease. Regression analysis for variables predicting COVID-19 severity among study healthcare workers showed that associated chronic diseases and management at home were the main independent variables predicting severity of their SARS-COV-2 infection, while the variables age, sex, residence, occupation or drug history of immunosuppressives had no role in severity prediction.Conclusion: Associated chronic diseases and management at home were the main independent variables predicting severity of SARS-COV-2 infection among HCWs. So, HCWs with chronic diseases should not work in COVID-19 designated hospitals, and there should be a screening strategy for their infection with SARS-COV-2. HCWs must not be negligent in adhering to strict precautions of infection control. HCWs infected with SARS-COV-2 must be managed in hospital not at home.Keywords: health care providers, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, delivery of health care, infection control introduction

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant health issue worldwide.. We attempted to fulfill the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic and genetic factors associated with chronic HBV (CHBV). Expression levels of the lncRNA growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) and miR-137 and their corresponding SNPs, rs2067079 (C/T) and rs1625579 (G/T) were analyzed in 117 CHBV patients and 120 controls to investigate the probable association between these biomarkers and CHBV pathogenesis in the Egyptian population. Serum expression levels of GAS5 and miR-137 were significantly down-regulated in cases vs controls. Regarding GAS5 (rs2067079), the mutant TT genotype showed an increased risk of CHBV (p p = 0.004). Regarding miR-137 rs1625579, the mutant genotype TT was reported as a risk factor for CHBV (p p = 0.007). Concerning miR-137 rs1625579, the mutant TT genotype was significantly associated with a lower serum expression level of miR-137 (p = 0.018). We revealed the dysregulated expression levels of GAS5 and miR-137 linked to their functioning SNPs were associated with CHBV risk and might act as potential therapeutic targets.

This study aimed to investigate the plasma levels of Gas6 and soluble Axl (sAxl) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study involved four groups; 50 patients with chronic HCV, 50 patients with T2DM, 50 patients with chronic HCV and T2DM, and 31 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. T2DM was diagnosed according to American Diabetes Association criteria, HCV antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and confirmed by real-time-polymerase chain reaction. Plasma Gas6 and sAxl levels were assayed in all groups by ELISA. Significant low levels of GAS 6 in HCV/T2DM group versus HCV group were detected (7.92 ± 5.18 vs. 16.09 ± 7.36, respectively

Background: T regulatory cells (Tregs), through variable mechanisms, play a crucial role in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronicity and infection tolerance. A great speculation is posed regarding the le...

Background and aim Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as an established therapeutic option for patients with chronic liver disease. Patients with end-stage liver disease are at high risk of infection with multidrug-resistant organisms, which may affect the outcome of LT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of pre-transplant infection on the outcome of living-donor LT. Methods Prospective follow-up was done for 50 patients with chronic liver disease who had had LT performed from September 2013 to December 2017. We divided patients into group 1 (patients who had had infection within 3 months before transplantation with adequate treatment [n=20]), and group 2 (patients without infection [n=30]). Both groups were followed for 4 months post-operatively. Results Patients with high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores were more susceptible to infection pre- and post-operatively, and chest infection was the most common infection pre-transplant. There were no significant statistical differences regarding hospital and ICU stay and post-operative course between the groups, but the mortality rate was higher in group 1 (40%) than in group 2 (23.3%), and the causes of mortality in the group 1 were mainly due to medical causes (infections and sepsis, 75%) versus 28.6% in group 2. Conclusion Liver-cell failure and concomitant infection 3 months before LT with adequate treatment had no significant statistical differences regarding hospital, ICU stay, or medical complications, but post-operative infection and mortality rate were more frequent in group 1 and the causes of mortality were mainly medical.

The electronic structure, Non-Linear Optical (NLO) properties and Natural Bonding Orbital (NBO) analysis of 1,4-dioxane were investigated using the theoretical study of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G (d,p) level of theory. The optimized structure is nonlinear as indicated from the dihedral angles. Natural bonding orbital analysis has been analyzed in terms of the hybridization of each atom, natural charges (Core, Valence and Rydberg), bonding and antibonding orbital's second order perturbation energy (E(2)). The calculated EHOMO and ELUMO energies of the title molecule can be used to explain the charge transfer in the molecule and to calculate the global properties; the chemical hardness (η), softness (S) and electronegativity (χ). The NLO parameters: static dipole moment (µ), polarizability (α), anisotropy polarizability (Δα) and first order hyperpolarizability (βtot) of the studied molecule have been calculated at the same level of theory. The Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP) and Electro Static Potential (ESP) for 1,4-dioxane were investigated and analyzed. Also, the electronic absorption spectra were discussed by Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) calculations for 1,4-dioxane in 10% ethanol/water. From the experimental conductance measurements, the association thermodynamic parameters (KA, ∆GA, ∆HA and ∆SA) and complex formation thermodynamic parameters (Kf, ∆Gf, ∆Hf and ∆Sf) of nano-CuSO4 in the presence of 1,4-dioxane as a ligand in 10% ethanol-water at different temperatures (298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15 oK) were applied and calculated.

Diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infection is a challenge in low transmission regions. Serological diagnosis proved more sensitive and extensively used to detect anti- Schistosoma antibodies. This study evaluated the immunomagnetic beads-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IMB-ELISA) for diagnosing S. mansoni infection in comparison with the commercial IHA, indirect ELISA and microscopy stool examination. A total of 100 subjects were divided into four groups (25 each). G1: cases actively passing S. mansoni eggs, G2: chronic cases of S. mansoni, G3: cases with other parasitosis and G4: normal healthy subjects. S. mansoni diagnostic rate was 25%, 46%, 48%, & 50% by parasitological, IHA, Indirect ELISA & IMB-ELISA, respectively. In G1, the four tests gave positivity rates of 100%, 88%, 96%, & 100%, respectively. In G2, the four tests gave 0%, 84%, 88% & 96%, respectively. Sensitivity of various tests were estimated in relation to total true positive S. mansoni cases (G1 & G2), and gave 50%, 86%, 92% & 98% for the applied tests, respectively. Cross-reactivity rates were estimated in relation to S.mansoni negative cases (G3 & G4). Specificity rates were 100%, 94%, 96% & 98%, respectively.

المتخيل السردي تصور ذهني يمكن ان يتوافق مع الواقع أو يتنافى معه، ولقد أدرك الأدباء والنقاد منذُ القدم أهمية الخيال والمتخيل في عملية الخلق الإبداعي الأدبي، وعندما وضعنا أيدينا على معانٍ وتعريفات مختلفة من الدلالة الاصطلاحية لبعض المفكرين والبلاغيين والنقاد وجدنا أنها تفاوتت في ما بينها في تحديد ماهيته واختلاف نظرة الواحد منهم عن الآخر عن حقيقة هذا المفهوم ،فكل يعطي رأيه على حسب مذهبه ومعرفته وأيدلوجيته الشخصية، ابتداءً من الفكر الفلسفي القديم وانتهاءً إلى الفكر الفلسفي والنقدي الحديث، ومن هنا سنحاول تسليط الضوء على الاطر التاريخية لمفهوم المتخيل السردي متبعين التسلسل الزمني لأهم الآراء النقدية والفلسفية التي تناولت هذا المفهوم.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and in severe cases associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Objective To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with ARDS-COVID-19. Materials and methods This study involved 197 male Egyptian participants, among them111 COVID-19 patients presented with ARDS, 60 COVID-19 patients presented with non-ARDS, and 26 Non-COVID-19 patients. We reported the analysis results of clinical and laboratory information, including blood routine tests, blood biochemistry parameters [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine and C‐reactive protein (CRP)], thrombotic activity (D‐dimer) and serum ferritin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Results The levels of hemoglobin, AST, creatinine, monocyte count, monocyte %, RBC count, TLC, and platelet count were not significantly different among the groups. The lymphopenia and increased CRP, ALT, D-dimer, ferritin, and LDH were observed in patients with ARDS-COVID-19. Conclusion COVID-19 patients with ARDS presented with lymphopenia, increased thrombotic activity, increased CRP, LDH, and ferritin levels. The results revealed that CRP, D-dimer, LDH levels, and lymphopenia have a significant association with the COVID-19 severity and can be used as biomarkers to predict the disease severity.

ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5) is an important regulator of abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway involved in regulating seed germination and postgerminative growth inArabidopsis, which integrates various phytohormone pathways to balance plant growth and stress responses. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying ABI5 and its interacting proteins remain largely unknown. Here, we found that inhibition of AtTOR could increase ABA content by up-regulating the expression levels of ABA biosynthesis-related genes, and thus activated the expression of ABA-responsive genes. Pharmacological assay showed thatabi5-1mutant was insensitive to TOR inhibitor AZD8055, whereasAtABI5overexpression lines were hypersensitive to AZD8055 inArabidopsis. Biochemical interaction assays demonstrated that ABI5 physically interacted with the RIBOSOMAL S6 KINASE2 (S6K2) protein in plant cell. S6K2 positively regulated ABA responses during seedling growth and upregulated ABA-responsive genes expression. Furthermore, genetic and physiological analysis indicated thatAtS6K2overexpression lines enhanced resistance to drought treatment whileAtS6K2interference lines were sensitive to drought. These results indicated that AtABI5 interacted with AtS6K2 to positively modulate ABA responses during seedling growth and shed light on a underlying mechanism of the crosstalk between TOR and ABA signaling pathways in modulating seedling growth inArabidopsis.

مما لا شك فيه أن عملية كشف الآخر لا تتم بمعزل عن الذات، فهما وجهان لعملية واحدة، فكل منهما يسعى الى تحقيق وأثبات وجوده على حساب الآخر، أذ لا وجود للانا الا من خلال الآخر، وحيث أن لكل ثنائية في الفلسفة من علاقة تربط طرفيها لذا فأن العلاقة الضدية تمثل صورة للعلاقات التي تجمع المفاهيم المتضادة أو المتناقضة، لذا فسنحاول فهم تجليات العلاقة بين الأنا والآخر في ضديتها وفقاً لما انتجته أفكار الكاتب جبران خليل جبران في بلورة هذه المفاهيم في حدود مفهوم السرد.

Background To study the most common rheumatologic manifestations of hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection in Egyptian patients and associated risk factors with assessment the effect of current therapies on these manifestations. A prospective study was carried out to HCV patients attending the tropical medicine department referred to rheumatology department, over a year. A total of 204 hepatitis C virus treatment-naïve patients aged 21–71 years old suffering from rheumatologic manifestations were recruited, and history taking, general and musculoskeletal examination, laboratory and serological investigations, imaging, and liver fibrosis findings were assessed: baseline, end of treatment, and 12 weeks later, either sofosbuvir/ribavirin or sofosbuvir/simeprevir regimens and through three consecutive visits: joint activity and functional scores were taken. Results Common observed rheumatologic manifestations were fibromyalgia (74.5%), arthralgia (73.5%), Raynaud’s phenomenon (54.9%), peripheral neuropathy (29.4%),chronic fatigue syndrome and purpura (24.5%), arthritis (16.7%), Sicca symptoms and skin ulcers (9.8%), and vasculitic CNS involvement (5.9%), mostly seen in females. VAS and FAS scales have improved across visits (p value < 0.001) with lowered number and percentage of arthralgia (tender joint counts), arthritis (swollen joint counts), improvement of fibromyalgia, purpura, peripheral neuropathy, anemia, and thrombocytopenia (p < 0.001). Common reported risk factors were barber shaving (52 %), dental procedures (44.1%), and surgical interventions (36.3%). Non-reactive cases shown by HCV-PCR response increased at the end of study reaching 62%. The percent of improvement was significantly higher in patients receiving sofosbuvir/simeprevir regimen (100%) versus sofosbuvir/ribavirin (58.2%). Conclusion Direct antiviral drugs seem to improve the rheumatic extra-hepatic manifestations of HCV patients and lowering viremia level especially sofosbuvir/simeprevir regimen in hepatitis C treatment-naïve patients.

LncRNA HOTTIP is a new lncRNA that is strictly linked to the susceptibility, growth, propagation, and prognosis of several human cancers together with colorectal cancer. lncRNA HOTTIP rs1859168 may confer colorectal cancer susceptibility through regulating its gene expression level. To elucidate its role in colorectal cancer risk, we genotyped rs1859168 AC and measured serum HOTTIP expression level in colorectal cancer, adenomatous polyposis patients and controls by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results displayed that rs1859168 AC single-nucleotide polymorphism is a risk factor for colorectal cancer among adenomatous polyposis patients and controls, AC versus CC genotypes [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.256, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.316-3.868

An accurate theoretical formulation is presented for a semi-cylindrical parallel plate capacitor, independent of the electrode dimensions. An approximate solution is also presented to relate the changes in capacitance with changing volume-ratio of the multi-phase dielectric filling of the capacitor. Two applications are considered to verify the proposed techniques. In the first application, the calculated capacitance is compared with the measured capacitance of a healthy tree trunk to identify the initial stage of pest infestation. In the second application, an approximate capacitance of a three-phase mixture, consisting of gas, oil and brine layers, are used to identify the phase-fraction of a petroleum carrying pipeline with a steady-state flow. The advantage and limitations of the proposed approximate method are studied. In addition to logging and monitoring the oil supply, this simple method can electronically control multi-phase pipes with intravenous injections to collect postoperative fluids from the human body.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is considered as a major public health problem that, worldwide, chronically affects 170 million people. Elderly patients are more likely than younger patients to have increased duration of infection, increased rate of disease progression, and subsequently increased incidence of advanced liver disease. Natural history models predicted that the prevalence of HCV infection and its chronic sequelae as well as extrahepatic manifestations will eventually increase through the next decade and will mostly affect those who are greater than 60 years of age. Moreover, polytherapy and polypharmacy are frequent in elderly patients due to associated comorbidities. As advanced age is associated with increasing risk of development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, elderly patients are in special need of safe and effective antiviral therapies. Achievement of sustained viral responses (SVR) is associated with reduced liver-related complications and overall mortality in such patients with the advanced liver disease. With the recent introduction of interferon-free direct-acting antivirals, successful treatment for chronic HCV infection had dramatically improved, with overall cure rates that exceed 90% SVR. In our study, we aimed to study the efficacy and safety of combined sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, with or without ribavirin, in management of chronically infected HCV elderly patients who are more than 60 years old.

Helicobacter pylori is a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium, that is responsible for gastric mucosal inflammation. It is the most common risk factor for gastric cancer (GC). The current study aimed...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is still an ambiguous disorder of the gastrointestinal function. Several theories have been postulated as regard its underlying patho-physiology. Infection with intestinal parasites has been evaluated as a possible etiology with contradictory results. This study compared IBS cases with normal population in Fayoum Governorate as regard infection with parasites, and to detect their possible associated risk factors. Stool samples were parasitologicallyexamined by concentrated sedimentation, stained with Lugol's iodine, trichrome. The RIDA®QUICK Cryptosporidium/Giardia/Entamoeba Combi kits were applied. Stool samples were cultured on Jones and Loeffler’s slope media for detection of Blastocystis spp. & D. fragilis, respectively. Blastocystis spp., D. fragilis & Cryptosporidium were the commonest parasites in the examined samples. Blastocystis spp. was the only parasite significantly associated with IBS. Contact with animals was a common risk factor for the three prevalent parasites. Low socioeconomic standard was a risk for Blastocystis & Cryptosporidium infections as well as consumption of contaminated food and/or drink was associated with Blastocystis infection.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) are immune inhibitory factors that provide inhibitory signals to T cells.A case-controlled genetic association study was conducted in478 patients (160 patients with chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and diabetes mellitus (DM) and156 patients with chronic HCV without DM) and162healthy controls. We genotyped selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of rs10204525 and rs231775using real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Our study revealed thatthers10204525 CT genotype was significantly associated with a high susceptibility to chronic HCV infection and to HCV+DM (adjusted odds ratio (OR)7.531, 95% confidence interval (CI):4.099-13.836, P 0.0001 and adjusted OR 7.791, 95% CI:4.244-14.303, P 0.0001, respectively).In addition, the frequency of CT+TT genotypes versus the CC genotype and the T allele versus the C allele were elevated in non-responder patients to antiviral therapy compared with responder patients (P 0.0001) in HCV group. For rs231775,the AG genotype was significantly associated with a high susceptibility to chronic HCV infection and HCV infection with DM (adjusted OR 5.124,95% CI:3.150-8.334, P 0.0001 and adjusted OR 20.594, 95% CI:11.026-38.467, P 0.0001, respectively).Furthermore, the frequency of AG+GG genotypes versus the CC genotype and the G allele versus the A allele was elevated in non-responder patients to antiviral therapy when compared with responder patients in the HCV and HCV+DM groups(P 0.05).Both rs10204525 and rs231775 are associated with a risk of chronic HCV, with or without DM.

In an adaptive antenna array system, the most favourable solution to the problem of obtaining a certain null or maximum at a specific location may take a long processing time, such that the spatial situation could have been changed before the optimization process ends. In this work, an algorithm employing the schelkunoff nulling theory to achieve specific null or maximum at some desired directions is presented. The optimization of the array excitations is performed using genetic algorithm (GA) method to achieve null and maxima at the desired directions, the proposed technique holds for any adaptive array geometry. It is evidenced that the proposed technique based on reducing the number of array coefficients to be optimized reduces the processing time of the optimization process by about 92% without influencing other parameters such as the side-lobes level or the beam width.