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This study was designed to assess the achievement of a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) target in Iraqi type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients via retrospective analysis of a tertiary care database over a 9-year period. A total of 12,869 patients with T2DM with mean (SEM) age: 51.4(0.1) years, and 54.4% were females registered into Faiha Specialized Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism Center(FDEMC) database between August 2008 and July 2017 were included in this retrospective study. Data were recorded for each patient during routine follow-up visits performed at the center every 3–12 months. Patients were under oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD; 45.8%) or insulin+ OAD (54.2%) therapy. Hypertension was evident in 42.0% of patients, while dyslipidemia was noted in 70.5%. Glycemic control (HbA1c <7%) was achieved by 13.8% of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed <55 years of age, female gender, >3 years duration of diabetes, HbA1c >10% at the first visit, presence of dyslipidemia, and insulin treatment as significant determinants of an increased risk of poor glycemic control. BMI <25 kg/m2 and presence of hypertension were associated with a decreased risk of poor glycemic control. Using data from the largest cohort of T2DM patients from Iraq to date, this tertiary care database analysis over a 9-year period indicated poor glycemic control. Younger patient age, female gender, longer disease duration, initially high HbA1c levels, dyslipidemia, insulin treatment, overweight and obesity, and lack of hypertension were associated with an increased risk of poor glycemic control in Iraqi T2DM patients. • We report retrospective (over 9-year period) analysis of 12869 patients with T2DM in Iraq-based tertiary care database. • Glycemic control was achieved only in 13.8% of patients with T2DM. • Younger patient age, female gender, longer disease duration, initially high HbA1c levels, dyslipidemia, insulin treatment, overweight and obesity, and lack of hypertension were associated with an increased risk of poor glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis (ISEP) is an uncommon condition of intestinal bowel obstruction due to encapsulation of the abdominal organs in a thick fibro-collagenous membrane. The case presented here describes the emergency acute presentation of septic peritonitis discovered intraoperatively upon laparotomy. A middle-aged woman was admitted to the emergency department and presented with generalized colicky abdominal pain associated with repetitive vomiting, abdominal distention, and absolute constipation. A digital rectal examination revealed an empty rectum and a bilious output was observed in the nasogastric tube. Abdominal X-Ray demonstrated multiple air-fluid levels with no air under the diaphragm. The patient was treated with fluid therapy and antibiotics intravenously (IV). The clinical impression of acute-on-chronic intestinal obstruction with peritonitis and the possibility of bowel strangulation was made. Emergency exploratory laparotomy revealed viable bowel loops encased in thickened fibrous capsules covering the entire abdominal viscera establishing the existence of ISEP. The fibrous capsule layer was excised out in small pieces from all the abdominal organs excluding stomach through extensive adhesiolysis without loop resection. The emergency presentation of acute peritonitis observed in this study could only be identified through diagnostic laparoscopy and differential radiological imaging techniques. Further, better reporting of such rare cases may help clinicians understand the different clinical features that could indicate the occurrence of ISEP. • ISEP is extremely rare case of small bowel obstruction due to encapsulation in a thick fibro-collagenous membrane. • ISEP poses preoperative diagnostic challenges to the clinicians due to its rarity and atypical clinical symptoms. • This report presents the case of acute presentation of septic peritonitis where preoperative diagnosis was difficult. • Exploratory laparotomy was used as a diagnostic approach to identify the clinical cause in the present case. • A high level of clinical suspicion and aid of radiological characteristics could facilitate in preoperative diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural mechanisms and stratigraphic features of the earth strongly control the hydrocarbon potential of any oil field. In this study, we selected the Sufr El Dara offshore oil field, Southern Gulf of Suez, Egypt, as the area of interest. This field has a complex structure and stratigraphic features owing to being located in the Morgan accommodation zone. The lateral and vertical facies are substantially different. Conventional techniques applied to open-hole logs and seismic data have failed to produce a reliable model of the study area. To minimise the risk factors and select the best location, we developed a workflow to integrate different techniques to describe the complexity of the study area. Our interpretation is based on detailed reservoir correlations. As the main tool, we used comprehensive interpretation of the well data (e.g., E-logs and dipmeters) to define the pattern of the faults and the extent of the reservoir. In addition, we incorporated seismic techniques (e.g., spectral decomposition and unsupervised vector quantiser for waveform classification), first used in the Gulf of Suez region, which considerably impacted the mapping of the structure and stratigraphic features at the reservoir level. We used multiple targets for interpretation, although our focus was constructing the main structural model of the study area at the Kareem level. We found that the proposed geological model is a powerful predictive tool for locating structural closures and reservoirs. The model will assist in the exploration and development not only of conventional structure plays (clysmic trends) but also of more unconventional stratigraphic plays focusing on Kareem fans, which were produced by the combination of both stratigraphic and structural traps in the study area. • Gulf of Suez rift basin. • Offshore Gulf of Suez. • Spectral decomposition in rift basin. • Multi-seismic attribute. • Waveform classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A study has been done to consider Malaysian WCO (waste cooking oil) generated in an eco-tourism island, Langkawi, Malaysia as an alternative feedstock for biodiesel production. This paper presents the results of the comprehensive technical feasibility study for production of biodiesel from WCO feedstock. The results have shown feasibility of recycling WCO into biodiesel that is compliant with international fuel standard ASTM D6751. The study has given an indication on the appropriate processing scheme to be developed for recycling WCO into biodiesel as a substitute fuel for diesel vehicles in Langkawi that would enable the promotion of alternative fuel in the energy mix for long term environment sustainability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]