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The present study was conducted to provide a comprehensive picture of marine sediment characterization in terms of geochemistry and the extent of pollution. A total of 99 surface coastal sediments were collected from coastal areas along with the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea. The samples were analyzed by neutron activation analysis (NAA) and the mass fractions in mg/kg of 39 trace elements were determined. The normalized mass fractions show significant amounts of Cl (26.4%), Sn (12%), Zr (7.3%), Hf (5.9%), Ti (4.7%), Cr (4.2%), Ca (3.4%), Si (3.1%), Sr (2.9%). The mass fractions of the rare earth elements REEs (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Yb, and Lu) are almost double compared to literature data. Principal component analysis PCA and positive matrix factorization PMF were used to decipher the sources of pollutions. Sediment quality was quantified using different pollution indices such as enrichment factor (EF), modified pollution index (MPI), pollution load index (PLI) and the new approach to calculate total pollution index (TPI). The results of the study recognized four locations with significant pollution, namely the coastal area along Al Manzalah Lake, the Nile River estuaries at Ras Elbar and its western coastal area, at the outlet of Elbrullus Lake, and finally the Abu Qir Bay. The obtained result can serve as a geochemical background of the sediments of the study coastal area, which allows following the quality of marine sediments along with the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of immediate versus delayed shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) for inaccessible stones after uncomplicated percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Patients and methods: Between December 2011 and June 2014, patients with residual inaccessible stones after uncomplicated PCNL were prospectively randomised into two treatment groups; Group I, immediate SWL and Group II, delayed SWL at 1 week after PCNL. Patients with residual stones of ⩾1.5 cm, a stone density of >1000 Hounsfield units and body mass index of >40 kg/m2 were excluded from the study. The following data were reported: patients’ demographics, stone characteristics after PCNL, hospital stay, perioperative complications, stent duration, and stone-free rate (SFR). Results: In all, 84 patients (51 males and 33 females) with mean (SD) age of 39 (8.5) years were included in the study. Group I included 44 patients, whilst Group II included 40 patients. There was no statistically significant difference amongst the groups for patients’ demographics, stone characteristics, and perioperative complications. The hospital stay was significantly shorter in Group I, at a mean (SD) of 34 (3.7) vs 45 (2.9) h (P

Objective To compare the technical aspects, operative time, safety and effectiveness of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the free-flank modified supine position (FFMSP) vs. the standard prone position (SPP). Patients and methods Seventy-seven patients (47 men and 30 women) with renal stones were enrolled and systematically randomised into two groups, A (39 patients) treated using the FFMSP, and B (38 patients) in the SPP. The outcome was considered as a cure (successful procedure) if the patient became stone-free or had residual fragments of

Distribution of cesium (134Cs and 137Cs) and strontium (Sr-II) between soil/water phases depends on many factors such as concentration of these ions between phases, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil as well as its clay content, chemical composition (especially Na, K, Ca, and Mg ions), grain size distribution, calcite, iron oxide content, and organic coatings. Distribution coefficients (Kd) of cesium (labeled with 137Cs) and strontium were measured on the grain size distributions > or = 32 microm of four soil samples. These soils were obtained from four different locations within Inshas site in Egypt and three groundwater samples were obtained from the same site locations. X-ray diffraction showed that the soil samples consisted mainly of quartz mixed with the minor amounts of kaolonite and clay minerals. Sorption experiments were carried out at strontium aqueous concentrations range 10(-7) to 10(-4) mol l(-1). The CEC and Kds for cesium and strontium were measured at the same metal concentrations range. Distribution coefficients of cesium were found to be influenced by the composition of the soil, while the distribution coefficients of strontium were found to depend on calcium concentrations in the soil/groundwater system. The aim of this study was to determine the safety assessment of disposal 137Cs radionuclide and Sr(II) in the aquifer regions inside the Inshas site. Sequential extraction tests showed that, strontium was associated with the carbonate fractions and majority of cesium was sorbed on the iron oxides and the residue.

The evolution of high-resolution radiological imaging and modern surgical techniques, such as video-assisted thoracoscopy, have combined to increase the exposure of the surgical pathologist to the vast array of nodular lesions that present in the lung. Many of these lesions are discovered incidentally and may be confused radiologically. This review is intended to provide a systematic approach, which enables consideration of the major differential pathological diagnoses of such nodular lesions, whilst emphasizing the possible diagnostic pitfalls.

We present the case of a female patient who complained of dyspnoea and was found to have a pleural effusion. A tumour involving the right diaphragm was seen on CT and after excision this was shown to be a recurrent granulosa cell tumour, 15 years after the original ovarian lesion had been treated by oophrectomy and radiotherapy. The case and literature relating to such a rare intra-thoracic metastatic tumour is discussed.