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Abstract Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial regulators of biological processes such as transcription interference and activation, chromatin remodeling, and mRNA translation. Uncontrolled gene expression could result from various epigenetic modifiers, like lncRNAs. So, this study aimed to evaluate the expression profiles of lncRNA GIAT4RA, lncRNA AATBC, lncRNA Sirt1-AS, and SMARCB1 in lung cancer. The current study included lung cancer patients (n = 50), patients with chronic inflammatory diseases (n = 30), and healthy volunteers (n = 20). The expression of blood genes and the concentration of serum neuron-specific enolase were determined by real-time PCR and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic and Kaplan-Meier analyses assess the sensitivity of genes as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, respectively. LncRNA GIAT4RA and lncRNA AATBC were upregulated, while lncRNA Sirt1-AS was significantly downregulated in all patients compared to the control group. SMARCB1 expression was significantly downregulated in chronic inflammatory patients, while in those with lung cancer, it showed an insignificant difference. The expression of lncRNA GIAT4RA and lncRNA AATBC was significantly related to the stage of lung cancer. The survival analyses showed that lower lncRNA Sirt1-AS was linked to lung cancer patients’ poorer disease-free survival and overall survival. Differences in lncRNA GIAT4RA, lncRNA AATBC, and lncRNA Sirt1-AS expression were detected in all patients. The consequent abnormal expression of lncRNAs could be crucial in lung cancer development. LncRNA GIAT4RA, lncRNA AATBC, and lncRNA Sirt1-AS may be utilized as promising diagnostic biomarkers. LncRNA AATBC, lncRNA Sirt1-AS, and SMARCB1 may be valuable prognostic biomarkers for lung cancer.

This study investigated the effect of replacing fishmeal with red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) worm meal (RWWM) in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Red wigglers worms (RWW) were culture on a vegetable by-product medium, harvested and dried to obtain red wigglers worm meal. The fish (average weight ± SE: 7.70 ± 0.06 g) were fed with seven diets (30% crude protein and 7.5% crude lipid), in which fishmeal was replaced with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% RWWM. The fish was reared in 1000 L fiberglass tanks in a recirculating aquaculture system and were hand-fed twice daily for 90 days. At the end of the experiment, the growth, feed conversion ratio, and energy utilization improved when feeding 15% and 20% RWWM compared with the control diet (P

Data of 651 lambs (68 Romanov, 49 Rahmani, 151 [♀1/2 Rahmani X ♂1/2 Romanov) and 383 (♀3/4 Rahmani and 1/4♂ Romanov]) were collected from Mehalet Mousa Farm, belonging to Animal Production Research Institute from the period of 2009 to 2016 to estimate phenotypic and genetic parameters. The traits studied were birth weight (BW), body weight at four week (BW4), body weight at eight weeks (BW8) and body weight at twelve weeks (BW12) or weaning weight. Least squares analysis of variance shows significance of the effects of breed groups, gender of lambs, birth type; month of birth and year of birth on all traits studied. Rahmani lambs had heavier BW, BW4, BW8 and BW12 while Romanov lambs had the lowest ones. The first generation (♀1/2 Rhamani X ♂1/2 Romanov) had heavier body weights than Romanov and the second generation (♀3/4 Rahmani X ♂1/4 Roamnov). Gender of lambs had highly significant effect on body weights. Males were significantly (p < 0.01) heavier than females for all traits studied. Least square means of BW, BW4, BW8 and BW12 for single lambs were 2.69, 10.43, 13.53 and 16.10 kg, respectively. Least square means of BW, BW4, BW8 and BW12 for twin lambs were 2.50, 9.37, 12.5 and 15.16 kg, respectively, while least square means of BW, BW4, BW8 and BW12 for triple lambs were 2.09, 7.86, 10.83 and 13.67 kg, respectively. Estimates of direct heritability measured by single trait animal model were 0.14, 0.23, 0.25 and 0.26 for BW, BW4, BW8 and BW12, respectively, and the corresponding measured by multi trait animal model were 0.17, 0.24, 0.32 and 0.36 for the same traits, respectively. All genetic and phenotypic correlations among different traits studied are positive and significant.

Amani El-Kholy,1 Hadir A El-Mahallawy,2 Noha Elsharnouby,3 Mohamed Abdel Aziz,4 Ahmed Mohamed Helmy,5 Ramy Kotb6 1Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Clinical Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 3Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 4Pfizer Egypt, Levant & Iraq Medical Affairs, Cairo, Egypt; 5Pfizer Egypt Medical Affairs, Cairo, Egypt; 6Pfizer Africa & Middle East Medical Affairs, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesCorrespondence: Amani El-KholyDepartment of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, EgyptTel +20 1001678063Email aaakholy@gmail.comPurpose: This article is the first to review published reports on the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative infections in Egypt and gain insights into antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and susceptibility testing capabilities of Egyptian medical centers.Materials and Methods: A literature review and online survey were conducted.Results: The online survey and literature review reported high prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (19– 85.24% of E. coli, and 10– 87% of K. pneumoniae), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (35– 100% of K. pneumoniae and 13.8– 100% of E. coli), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (10– 100%), and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15– 70%) in Egypt. Risk factors for MDR Gram-negative infections were ventilated patients (67.4%), prolonged hospitalization (53.5%) and chronic disease (34.9%). Although antimicrobial surveillance capabilities were deemed at least moderate in most centers, lack of access to rapid AMR diagnostics, lack of use of local epidemiological data in treatment decision-making, lack of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs, and lack of risk prediction tools were commonly reported by respondents.Conclusion: This survey has highlighted the presence of knowledge gaps as well as limitations in the surveillance and monitoring capabilities of AMR in Egypt, with most laboratories lacking rapid diagnostics and molecular testing. Future efforts in Egypt should focus on tackling these issues via nationwide initiatives, including understanding the AMR trends in the country, capacity building of laboratories and their staff to correctly and timely identify AMR, and introducing newer antimicrobials for targeting emerging resistance mechanisms in Gram-negative species.Keywords: Egypt, Gram-negative bacteria, hospital-acquired pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, multidrug resistance, urinary tract infections

Influenza viruses are common and important pathogens affecting human. Seasonal epidemics and unpredictable pandemics associated with influenza A (“swine” influenza or H1N1) virus had been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), last one on June 11, 2009. Clinically, wide range of illness was described ranging from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) complicated by multi-organ failure. Vulnerable groups showed high risk for morbidity and mortality. Radiologically, also wide range of chest HRCT findings were described including sub-centimeter air-space nodules, patchy ground-glass opacities and air-space consolidations. Diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and ARDS were considered to be the end result. Aim of study was to evaluate different patterns and imaging findings associated with H1N1 lung infection using MSCT of the chest. Aim of the work: The aim of study was to evaluate different patterns and imaging findings associated with H1N1 lung infection using MSCT of the chest. Methods: This study was conducted on 50 patients from September 2013 till February 2016. All patients were examined by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). Results: HRCT findings associated with H1N1 chest infection can overlap and range from mild cases with patchy ground glass opacities (with or without crazy paving pattern) up to air space consolidations, alveolar hemorrhage, diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and ARDS. Manifestation of bronchiolitis obliterans was also detected including mucous plugging, mosaic attenuation with mixed air trapping and ground glass opacities (head cheese pattern) and bronchiectasis. Conclusion: MDCT picture of H1N1 chest infection is highly variable with a spectrum of HRCT findings ranging from focal patchy ground glass attenuation to diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) or adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Still, constellation of clinical data and HRCT findings especially in endemic areas can raise the suspicion of H1N1.

Background. Hospital outcome report cards are used to judge provider performance, including for liver transplantation. We aimed to determine the impact of the choice of risk adjustment method on hospital rankings based on mortality rates in cirrhotic patients.Material and methods. We identified 68,426 cirrho-tic patients hospitalized in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Four risk adjustment methods (the Charlson/Deyo and Elixhauser algorithms, Disease Staging, and All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups) were used in logistic regression models for mortality. Observed to expected (O/E) death rates were calculated for each method and hospital. Statistical outliers with higher or lower than expected mortality were identified and rankings compared across methods.Results. Unadjusted mortality rates for the 553 hospitals ranged from 1.4 to 30% (overall, 10.6%). For 163 hospitals (29.5%), observed mortality differed significantly from expected when judged by one or more, but not all four, risk adjustment methods (25.9% higher than expected mortality and 3.6% lower than expected mortality). Only 28% of poor performers and 10% of superior performers were consistently ranked as such by all methods. Agreement between methods as to whether hospitals were flagged as outliers was moderate (kappa 0.51-0.59), except the Charlson/Deyo and Elixhauser algorithms which demonstrated excellent agreement (kappa 0.75).Conclusions. Hospital performance reports for patients with cirrhosis require sensitivity to the method of risk adjustment. Depending upon the method, up to 30% of hospitals may be flagged as outliers by one, but not all methods. These discrepancies could have important implications for centers erroneously labeled as high mortality outliers.

BACKGROUND: Large-scale epidemiological studies of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) have been hindered by difficulties in case ascertainment.

BACKGROUND: Hospital staffing is often lower on weekends than weekdays, and may contribute to higher mortality in patients admitted on weekends. Because esophageal variceal hemorrhage (EVH) requires complex management and urgent endoscopic intervention, limitations in physician expertise and the availability of endoscopy on weekends may be associated with increased EVH mortality.

BACKGROUND: Nearly 1% of Canadians are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Simulation analyses have suggested that HCV will place an increasing burden on the health care system as the infected population ages, but supportive clinical data are limited.

BACKGROUND: Surveys originating from universities appear to have higher response rates than those from commercial sources. In light of the growing scrutiny placed on physician-industry relations, the present study aimed to determine the impact of the pharmaceutical industry versus university sponsorship on response to a postal survey completed by Canadian hepatitis C virus (HCV) care providers.

ObjectiveS: (a) To determine the natural infection rate of Bulinus truncatus and Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails with trematodes’ cercariae. (b) To determine the emergence and rhythmicity of cercariae. (c) To elucidate the high-risk time for man and other animals to acquire infection. Methods: Snails were collected from Dawar El Mahadi Agricultural Scheme, Khartoum State, identified in the laboratory, kept at room temperature and fed on lettuce. The snails were screened weekly for six weeks for natural infection and infected snails were kept in the dark. The swimming patterns and resting position of the freshly emerged cercariae were studied using a stereomicroscope. The rhythmicity of the different types of cercariae was studied by screening three sets of 5 naturally infected snails under fluorescent light from 07.00 to 19.00 and similar sets from 19.00 to 07.00. Results: Out of 1,257 screened Bulinus truncatus, 187 (14.9%) shed four types of cercariae. The highest prevalence of natural infection (9.5%) was by schistosome cercariae followed by amphistome (2.5%), xiphidiocercariae (2.4%) and lastly by avian cercariae (0.5%). However, out of 200 screened B. pfeifferi, 22 (11%) shed only xiphidiocercariae. The rhythmicity studies showed that the emergence of schistosome cercariae increased steadily from 07.00 to reach its peak at 11.00-13.00. The emergence rhythms of avian cercariae are similar to those of the schistosome, but with an early peak at 09.00-11.00. The xiphidiocercariae and amphistome cercariae started with high rate of emergence at 07.00. and decreased gradually to very low levels or complete disappearance, respectively, around sunset. Conclusion: Information on cercarial rhythmicity and chronobiological characteristics are thought to be useful in avoiding water contact during high-risk time of infection and may be helpful in the identification of closely related species and strains of cercariae.

Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (TE, FibroScan) is a validated method for noninvasively staging liver fibrosis. Most hepatic complications occur in patients with advanced fibrosis. Our objective was to determine the ability of LSM by TE to predict hepatic complications and mortality in a large cohort of patients with chronic liver disease.In consecutive adults who underwent LSM by TE between July 2008 and June 2011, we used Cox regression to determine the independent association between liver stiffness and death or hepatic complications (decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation). The performance of LSM to predict complications was determined using the c-statistic.Among 2,052 patients (median age 51 years, 65% with hepatitis B or C), 87 patients (4.2%) died or developed a hepatic complication during a median follow-up period of 15.6 months (interquartile range, 11.0-23.5 months). Patients with complications had higher median liver stiffness than those without complications (13.5 vs. 6.0 kPa; P

Allocation of donor livers for transplantation in most regions is based on the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) or MELD-sodium (MELDNa). Our objective was to assess revisions to MELD and MELDNa that include serum albumin for predicting waiting list mortality.Adults registered for liver transplantation in the United States (2002-2007) were identified from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database. Cox regression was used to determine the association between serum albumin and 3-month mortality, and to derive revised MELD and MELDNa scores incorporating albumin ('MELD-albumin' and '5-variable MELD [5vMELD]').Among 40,393 patients, 9% died and 24% underwent transplantation within 3 months of listing. For serum albumin concentrations between 1.0 and 4.0 g/dL, a linear, inverse relationship was observed between albumin and 3-month mortality (adjusted hazard ratio per 1 g/dL reduction in albumin: 1.44; 95% CI 1.35-1.54). The c-statistics for 3-month mortality of MELD-albumin and MELD were 0.913 and 0.896, respectively (P

The purpose of the study is to identify ways and types of communication used by special education teachers with families of exceptional children. To achieve this goal, a list of communication types was developed and distributed to special education teachers in the city of Riyadh. Results of the study indicated that most of the effective communication types are not used by special education teachers. In addition, differences in responses according to the variables of the study were also documented.

The main aim of this study was to develop a model public law for disability prevention and rehabilitation for the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council , GCC, . The proposed legislation, including rules and regulations, will serve as a model for the GCC countries and other Arab states, in developing comprehensive legislation to protect the right of disabled persons. The rights for preventive, medical, social, educational, rehabilitation and employment services were clearly defined and specified as were administrative arrangements. Financial, resources and monitoring system were also included. For the development of the suggested legislation, the authors conducted an intensive review of literature including most of the international and regional statements and declarations proclaimed by the United Nations specialized agencies, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations.

It was the intention of the study to identify the reactions of parents towards their physically handicapped children. Forty fathers and mothers , twenty families, of severely handicapped children , aged 2-12, were interviewed. An Open interview technique was used to identify parental reactions Results indicate the existence of initial and later reactions.

A novel photocatalytic reactor was developed to degrade methylene blue in water using titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a catalyst and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) tubing as a transmitter for ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The reactor was operated by continuously flowing the solution through narrow tubes that were exposed to UV radiation. The efficiency of the reactor was evaluated by comparing it to a previous study that used quartz glass tubing. The study also investigated the effects of flow rate, initial concentration, pH, TiO2 dose and UV radiation without a catalyst on the degradation of methylene blue. The results showed that the FEP tubing was a more efficient UV transmitter than quartz glass. The efficiency of the reactor was also affected by the flow rate and pH of the solution. The highest degradation efficiency was achieved at a flow rate of 10 mL/min and a pH of 7.0. The use of TiO2 as a catalyst also significantly improved the degradation efficiency, with an almost doubling of the degradation rate when compared to the case without a catalyst. This study demonstrates the potential of the FEP tubing-based photocatalytic reactor for the degradation of methylene blue in water. The reactor is easy to operate and can be scaled up for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical technique was used to investigate the effect of surface corrugations on the rate of mass and heat transfer (by analogy) in a stirred tank reactor. Impeller rotational speed, impeller shape, corrugation peak to valley height, and corrugation orientation (horizontal or vertical) were among the variables investigated. Depending on the operating conditions, surface corrugation increased the volumetric mass transfer coefficient by a factor ranging from 1.16 to 3.7. Mass transfer data were correlated with dimensionless correlations of an average deviation of ±4.2 and ±5.49 for radial and axial flow turbines, respectively. The significance of the dimensionless equations in determining the rate of heat transfer from the corrugated wall to a cooling jacket was emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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