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Background: Retinitis pigmentosa punctata albescens (RPA) is a particular form of retinitis pigmentosa characterized by childhood onset night blindness and areas of peripheral retinal atrophy. We investigated the genetic cause of RPA in a family consisting of two affected Egyptian brothers with healthy consanguineous parents. Methods: Mutational analysis of four RPA causative genes was realized by Sanger sequencing on both probands, and detected variants were subsequently genotyped in their parents. Afterwards, found variants were deeply, statistically, and in silico characterized to determine their possible effects and association with RPA. Results: Both brothers carry three missense PRPH2 variants in a homozygous condition (c.910C > A, c.929G > A, and c.1013A > C) and two promoter variants in RHO (c.-26A > G) and RLBP1 (c.-70G > A) genes, respectively. Haplotype analyses highlighted a PRPH2 rare haplotype variant (GAG), determining a possible alteration of PRPH2 binding with melanoregulin and other outer segment proteins, followed by photoreceptor outer segment instability. Furthermore, an altered balance of transcription factor binding sites, due to the presence of RHO and RLBP1 promoter variants, might determine a comprehensive downregulation of both genes, possibly altering the PRPH2 shared visual-related pathway. Conclusions: Despite several limitations, the study might be a relevant step towards detection of novel scenarios in RPA etiopathogenesis.

The prevalence of sickle cell disease is high in Africa, with significant public health effects on the affected countries. Many of the countries with the highest prevalence of the disease also have poor health care systems and a high burden of infectious diseases with many other competing health care priorities. Although considerable efforts have been made to implement newborn screening for sickle cell disease programs in Africa, coverage is still low. Tanzania has one of the highest birth prevalence of children with sickle cell disease in Africa. In 2015, the country implemented a pilot project for Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease to assess feasibility. Several efforts have been made afterwards to continue providing the screening services as well as related comprehensive care services. Using qualitative methods, we conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with policy makers (n = 4), health care providers (n = 21) and families (n = 15) to provide an analysis of their experiences and perspectives on efforts to expand and sustain newborn screening for sickle cell disease and related comprehensive care services in the country. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data through the framework analysis method. The findings have demonstrated both the opportunities and areas that need addressing in the implementation and sustainability of the services in low resource settings. A key area of strengthening is full integration of the services in countries’ health care systems to facilitate the coverage, accessibility and affordability of the services. Although the coverage of newborn screening services for sickle cell disease is still low, efforts at the local level to sustain the implementation of the programs and related comprehensive care services are encouraging and can be used as a model for other programs implemented in low resources settings.

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are known for their ability to learn shape and texture descriptors useful for object detection, pattern recognition, and classification problems. Deeper layer filters of CNN generally learn global image information vital for whole-scene or object discrimination. In landscape pattern comparison, however, dense localized information encoded in shallow layers can contain discriminative information for characterizing changes across image local regions but are often lost in the deeper and non-spatial fully connected layers. Such localized features hold potential for identifying, as well as characterizing, process–pattern change across space and time. In this paper, we propose a simple yet effective texture-based CNN (Tex-CNN) via a feature concatenation framework which results in capturing and learning texture descriptors. The traditional CNN architecture was adopted as a baseline for assessing the performance of Tex-CNN. We utilized 75% and 25% of the image data for model training and validation, respectively. To test the models’ generalization, we used a separate set of imagery from the Aerial Imagery Dataset (AID) and Sentinel-2 for model development and independent validation. The classical CNN and the Tex-CNN classification accuracies in the AID were 91.67% and 96.33%, respectively. Tex-CNN accuracy was either on par with or outcompeted state-of-the-art methods. Independent validation on Sentinel-2 data had good performance for most scene types but had difficulty discriminating farm scenes, likely due to geometric generalization of discriminative features at the coarser scale. In both datasets, the Tex-CNN outperformed the classical CNN architecture. Using the Tex-CNN, gradient-based spatial attention maps (feature maps) which contain discriminative pattern information are extracted and subsequently employed for mapping landscape similarity. To enhance the discriminative capacity of the feature maps, we further perform spatial filtering, using PCA and select eigen maps with the top eigen values. We show that CNN feature maps provide descriptors capable of characterizing and quantifying landscape (dis)similarity. Using the feature maps histogram of oriented gradient vectors and computing their Earth Movers Distances, our method effectively identified similar landscape types with over 60% of target-reference scene comparisons showing smaller Earth Movers Distance (EMD) (e.g., 0.01), while different landscape types tended to show large EMD (e.g., 0.05) in the benchmark AID. We hope this proposal will inspire further research into the use of CNN layer feature maps in landscape similarity assessment, as well as in change detection.

Ion channels are membrane-spanning integral proteins expressed in multiple organs, including the eye. Here, ion channels play a role in several physiological processes, like signal transmission and visual processing. A wide range of mutations have been reported in the corresponding genes and their interacting subunit coding genes, which contribute significantly to a wide spectrum of ocular diseases collectively called channelopathies, a subgroup of inherited retinal dystrophies. Such mutations result in either a loss or gain-of channel functions affecting the structure, assembly, trafficking and localization of channel proteins. We investigated the probands of seven Italian and Egyptian families affected by not completely defined forms of inherited retinal dystrophies, by whole exome sequencing (WES) experiments, and found interesting variants in already known causative genes probably able to impair retinal functionalities. However, because such variants did not completely explain the phenotype manifested by each patient, we proceed to further investigate possible related genes carrying mutations that might complement previously found data, based on the common aspect linked to neurotransmission impairments. We found 10 mutated genes whose variants might alter important ligand binding sites differently distributed through all considered patients. Such genes encode for ion channels, or their regulatory proteins, and strictly interact with known causative genes, also sharing with them synaptic-related pathways. Taking into account several limitations that will be resolved by further experiments, we believe that our exploratory investigation will help scientists to provide a new promising paradigm for precise diagnosis of retinal dystrophies to facilitate the development of rational treatments.

p28 and NRC peptides are two anticancer peptides with various mechanisms have shown to be effective against breast cancer. Therefore, it seems that construction of a chimeric protein containing the two peptides might cause synergistic cytotoxic effects. However, since the two peptides bear opposite charges, production of a chimeric protein in which the two moieties do not intervene each other is difficult. In this study, our goal was to find a suitable peptide linker for the new chimeric protein in a manner that none of the peptides intervene the other’s function. We selected some linkers with different characteristics and lengths and created a small library of the chimeric proteins harboring these linkers. Homology modeling and molecular dynamic simulation revealed that (PA)5P and (EAAAK)3 linkers can separate the p28 and NRC peptides effectively. Thus, the chimeric protein linked with (PA)5P or (EAAAK)3 linkers might show synergistic and stronger anticancer effects than the separate peptide moieties because they could exert their cytotoxic effects freely which is not influenced by the other part.

Tremor is an important and common symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). It constituted one of the three core features of MS triad described by Charcot in the last century. Tremor could have a drastic impact on patients’ quality of life. This paper provides an overview of tremor in MS and future perspectives with a particular emphasis on its epidemiology (prevalence: 25–58%), clinical characteristics (i.e., large amplitude 2.5–7 Hz predominantly postural or intention tremor vs. exaggerated physiological tremor vs. pseudo-rhythmic activity arising from cerebellar dysfunction vs. psychogenic tremor), pathophysiological mechanisms (potential implication of cerebellum, cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathways, basal ganglia, and brainstem), assessment modalities (e.g., tremor rating scales, Stewart–Holmes maneuver, visual tracking, digitized spirography and accelerometric techniques, accelerometry–electromyography coupling), and therapeutic options (i.e., including pharmacological agents, botulinum toxin A injections; deep brain stimulation or thalamotomy reserved for severe, disabling, or pharmaco-resistant tremors). Some suggestions are provided to help overcome the unmet needs and guide future therapeutic and diagnostic studies in this complex disorder.

The Wnt and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways are known to be crucial in the development of neural crest lineages, including the sympathetic nervous system. Surprisingly, their role in paediatric neuroblastoma, the prototypic tumor arising from this lineage, remains relatively uncharacterised. We previously demonstrated that Wnt/β-catenin signaling can have cell-type-specific effects on neuroblastoma phenotypes, including growth inhibition and differentiation, and that BMP4 mRNA and protein were induced by Wnt3a/Rspo2. In this study, we characterised the phenotypic effects of BMP4 on neuroblastoma cells, demonstrating convergent induction of MSX homeobox transcription factors by Wnt and BMP4 signaling and BMP4-induced growth suppression and differentiation. An immunohistochemical analysis of BMP4 expression in primary neuroblastomas confirms a striking absence of BMP4 in poorly differentiated tumors, in contrast to a high expression in ganglion cells. These results are consistent with a tumor suppressive role for BMP4 in neuroblastoma. RNA sequencing following BMP4 treatment revealed induction of Notch signaling, verified by increases of Notch3 and Hes1 proteins. Together, our data demonstrate, for the first time, Wnt-BMP-Notch signaling crosstalk associated with growth suppression of neuroblastoma.

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Peroneal tendon instability (PI) associated with intraarticular calcaneal fractures is a significant and commonly missed injury. It has been proposed that the peroneal tendon dislocates with the occurrence of a calcaneal fracture because the axial force transmitted blows out the lateral wall causing either impingement of the peroneal tendon or avulsion of the superficial peroneal retinaculum from the distal fibula, allowing the peroneal tendons to dislocate anteriorly. To date, peroneal tendon instability with a calcaneal fracture has often passed undiagnosed by both radiologists and orthopedic surgeons. The present review aimed to determine the global reported prevalence of peroneal instability associated with calcaneus fractures according to the severity of the calcaneus fracture classification and the significance of a fleck sign as an indicator of PI. Methods: An electronic search of MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted until June 2017 without a date restriction and for English-language reports only in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Database searching was augmented by manual searches of common journals in the field (JBS, Foot and Ankle International, Foot and Ankle Surgery, Journal of Orthopedic Trauma). The reference lists from the identified studies were also scrutinized for any additional reports.The studies that reported the prevalence/incidence of peroneal tendon subluxation/ dislocation in association with a calcaneus fracture were included whereas patients with calcaneus fractures combined with other fractures, extraarticular calcaneus fractures, and old calcaneus fractures were excluded.The data analysis was performed using a comprehensive meta-analysis with a random effects model. Results: Of 31 initial studies, 9 were included, contain 1027 patients/1050 calcaneus fractures.Most of the patients were male, with an average age of 42.03 (range 18 to 79) years.Of the 1050 calcaneus fractures, PI was found in association with 305.The pooled odds ratio of the prevalence of PI with calcaneus fractures was 29.3%(95% CI 25.9%-32.9%; p < .001).The prevalence of PI increased with an increased fracture severity using the Sanders classification, with a prevalence of 5.4% with Sanders I,19% with Sanders II, 39.4% in Sanders III, and 49.5% with Sanders IV. The prevalence of PI in the tongue type fracture using the Essex-Lopresti classification was 19%, and for joint depression, was 30.8% (p < .001). The prevalence of the fleck sign as an indicator of PI was 54.7%. Conclusion: The global reported prevalence of peroneal tendon dislocation associated with intraarticular calcaneal fractures was 29.3% and that the prevalence of PI increases with increased severity of the calcaneus fracture. Such a high prevalence should raise suspicions in both radiologists and orthopedic surgeons about this injury. The assessment should begin with a careful review of preoperative radiographs to search for the fleck sign and CT scans for a dislocated tendon, followed later by intraoperative assessment of superior peroneal retinaculum integrity.

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Ankle fractures are common orthopedics injuries especially in elderly. Bone quality, activity, and other comorbidities play a role in the management of ankle fracture in older age group. Conservative treatment by casting with or without reduction consider valid option whereas the open reduction and internal fixation still the stander of care for all age groups. This review aims to provide evidence-based difference between surgical and non-surgical management of geriatrics ankle fracture in regards to healing, complication and functional outcome. Methods: Relevant comparative studies in English literature were identified up to October 2017 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Electronic-based search on MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Google Scholar and Cochrane databases, and hand searching of abstracts in orthopedics, trauma and foot and ankle journals. The research team systematically reviewed published studies according to the following criteria:(1) subjects whom sustained ankle fractures with age above 50 years;(2) the intervention was done through surgical management (open reduction and internal fixation) or conservative management (closed reduction and casting or casting alone) (3) the study reported at least one desirable outcome(non-union/mal-union rate, hospital stay, period on cast, mortality, re-admission rate, functional outcome, complication rate)(4) followed up at least one year after surgical /conservative management. The data analysis was done by Comprehensive meta-analysis software using a random-effect model and SPSS 22. Statistical heterogeneity across the studies was tested using I2. Results: The non-union rate in surgical group was significantly less than conservative group, (OR: 0.127, 95% CI: [0.055, 0.292], [P

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: INTRODUCTION: Talus fractures are not uncommon and one of the serious fractures in foot and ankle. Peroneal tendon dislocation is one of the commonly missed soft tissue injuries which may have significant impact on the outcomes including persistent pain and swelling. AIM: To report the incidence of peroneal tendon dislocation in talus fracture and the significance of fleck sign in the diagnosis of peroneal tendon dislocation. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 100 consecutive talus fractures in the period between 1/1/2011 to 1/7/2017. Inclusion criteria were: The patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation, had pre-operative CT scan that is available for review and 3 views ankle plain radiographs. 2 independent authors review the radiographs for peroneal tendon dislocation, fleck sign and fracture classification if any. Any dispute was resolved by the senior author. Patient records were reviewed for laterality, age, sex, mode of injury, associated injuries and operative interventions. 43 ankles met inclusion criteria. 42 were males, mean age was 31 year and the predominant modes of injury were fall from height or unknown. Results: Peroneal tendon dislocation was found in 9 patients out of 43. (20%). All dislocations were found in talar neck fractures, and up to 67% of Hawkins type III and IV Talar neck fractures were associated with peroneal tendon dislocation. Risk of dislocation increased with severity of the fracture. 5 cases of peroneal tendon dislocation out of 9 were associated with lateral or bimalleolar fractures. Most of the dislocations were missed and no additional procedures were done to address such injury. Fleck sign sensitivity was 44.4% while specificity was 88%. The Negative Predictive Value (PPV) was 86%. Conclusion: Peroneal tendons dislocation is associated with 20% of talus fractures. The incidence of dislocation increases with neck fracture and severity of these fractures. Fleck sign is highly specific radiographic sign and hence we recommend intra-operative assessment of peroneal tendons in patients with fleck sign.

Background and objectives The interest of older adults in using patient portals is rising, yet subject to functional and usability barriers. This study aims to gain insight into registration rates and experiences of older adult patients using a patient portal, one year after implementation in an academic hospital. Methods Registration rates for one year were collected via automated data extraction. Older adult patients’ experiences were collected through a survey, available via the portal in the last three months of the year. Results Older adults were a large user group of the patient portal and appreciated its functionalities. In one year, 10,679 older adult patients (aged 56+) registered, which constituted 47% of total portal registrations. The 131 older adult survey respondents had a mean age of 64.5 years and 40% indicated that they liked to review their medical information and appointments via the portal. Yet, older adults experienced user interaction issues and had higher expectations of content within the portal and patient/provider communication through the portal. Of the survey respondents, 22% experienced usability issues at login and in viewing test results, 15% commented on late or no responses by providers on patients’ sent messages and 24% expected the portal to provide medical history information. Implications: Patient portal designs should be optimized to usability needs of older adults. Portals preferably include medical history information, physicians’ notes and require prompt responses of providers.

ABSTRACT: Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) provide a dependable substitute for conventional supply chains, as their food reflects the characteristics of “local”, “natural”, “healthy” and “reliable”. For the family farmer, the short chains constitute anexcellent way of diversifying their produce, gaining higher added value and thus warranting steadier revenues. This paper thus aims to discern the distinguishing features that the short chains offer, in general, to the family farm. To accomplish this, a literature review was performed to study the works done and approaches conducted on the short chains in the academy, in terms of family farm, and identify their specifications. Positive characteristics related to family farmers were recognizable in comparison with short chains. This article emphasized the significance and need for future research, as well as the necessity for a more extensive exploration of the subject of short chains, focusing attention on this sector, and pinpointing the determinants to be developed in the market.

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is emerging as a serious public health problem globally; however due to lack of resources, vitamin D levels are not routinely measured among neonates. The study was conducted to determine vitamin D levels in neonates and factors associated with the same. A cross-sectional study was conducted among neonates admitted at neonatal ward of a tertiary care hospital. Means and proportions were calculated from summarized data in frequency tables. Chi square test was used to determine association between vitamin D and various associated factors such as sex, infant birth weight, gestation age, parity of the mother, maternal age, and HIV status of the mother. A total of 170 neonates were studied, out of which 80% had vitamin D deficiency. Neonates born to HIV-infected mothers were significantly less likely to have vitamin D deficiency (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06 – 0.77, p = 0.009). Subgroup analysis revealed the association to be stronger in terms neonates (p = 0.005). The association was not observed among preterm newborns. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in neonates was observed to be very high and needs more attention.

Despite the high prevalence of helminth infections among preschool-aged children, control programs in sub-Saharan countries primarily focus on school-aged populations. We assessed the prevalence of helminth infections and determined risk factors for infection among preschool-aged children in the urban setting of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Starting in October 2015, we conducted a 12-month prospective study among tuberculosis (TB)-exposed children under the age of 5 years and unexposed controls from neighboring households. At the time of recruitment, we collected medical histories, assessed development and cognitive functions, and performed medical examinations. We performed full blood cell counts and screened for HIV and malaria. Point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA), urine filtration, Kato-Katz, FLOTAC, and Baermann tests were employed to detect helminth infections in urine and stool. Helminth infections were stratified for Schistosoma and other helminths to identify risk factors, using logistic regression.We included 310 children with a median age of 26 months (inter quartile range 17-42 months) in the study. Among these, 189 were TB-exposed and 121 TB-unexposed. Two thirds of the children were anemic (hemoglobin level

Claims to new or critical knowledge can often be non-performative. Building off of this assumption, this paper demonstrates the ways in which the 2010-2011 uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa have been analysed through approaches that claim to be critical and post-Orientalist and yet reproduce problematic assumptions about the region, revealing their connection to a longer genealogy dating back to Orientalism. This serves to sanitize the uprisings by virtue of a neoliberal agenda that reproduces the ‘Middle East’ straitjacket, in turn creating a typology not too different from realist analysis in the region that (re)posits ‘Arab exceptionalism.’ Claims to being critical, or making a critical turn, are thus questioned in this paper through an analysis that shows how theory has been in the interest of power through the appropriation of native informants into the academic complex of think-tanks, Western donor institutions, and foreign media.Taking our cue from Edward Said, we explore how new approaches have presented themselves as critical and have disrobed themselves of their exotic and explicit racist discourse, despite the fact that the same assumptions continue to lurk in the background. Using Sara Ahmed’s notion of the non-performativity of claims to being critical, we survey how the Middle East is being reshaped through these ‘new’ and ‘critical’ approaches that in essence are apologetic to neoliberalism and liberal governmentality at large. We show how minorities continue to be an intervention mechanism under the so-called ‘freedom of belief’ agenda, how the ‘democracy paradigm’ advances electoralism as freedom, and how rights-based approaches with their underlying (neo)liberal assumptions continue to determine gender politics and analysis despite postcolonial interventions.By creating a contemporary genealogy of Middle East area studies and surveying calls for proposals for journal articles, media publications, Western think-tank reports, donor programs and Civil Society Organizations' (CSOs) expansion into the Middle East, this paper argues that this form of surveillance, though masquerading as ‘critical,’ builds off of neoliberal governmentality. This, in turn, molds a subjectivity that reifies the Middle East as a stagnant entity.

The present study aims to analyze viability of some applied cost systems. The population of the study is some Egyptian manufacturing firms. The number of received questionnaires was 385. The results indicated that , according to the application extent indicator, the currently cost systems in Egyptian manufacturing firms may be descendingly arranged as follows: Activity Based Costing (ABC) system, Target Costing (TC) system , Resource Consumption Accounting (RCA) system, Activity Based Management (ABM) ,Other systems, Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Value Chain (VC) analysis.

Antecedentes. La imagen corporal es la representación del cuerpo que cada individuo construye en su mente. Estarepresentación contempla dos componentes: imagen corporal propiamente dicha y esquema corporal, los cuales son influenciados a partir de la interacción de los individuos con su entorno. Objetivo. El presente documento hace parte del marco teórico del estudio Imagen corporal en futbolistas, y revisa las generalidades de la imagen corporal en relación con su construcción, desarrollo, componentes, dimensiones e implicaciones en el deporte. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos Pubmed, SciELO, Science Direct y Google Académico entre los años 1996 y 2014, introduciendo los términos: Imagen corporal en deporte, modelo interno en control motor, evaluación de imagen corporal y esquema corporal. Resultados. Se encontraron 48 artículos, 11 en español, 36 en inglés y uno en portugués, los cuales abordaron la imagen corporal como un constructo multidimensional que tiene implicación directa sobre el movimiento corporal de los individuos y su entorno. Conclusiones. La imagen corporal es dinámica, se construye y modifica a lo largo de la vida a partir de estímulos sensoriales en términos de cuerpo y espacio, así como de estímulos socioculturales involucrados en la autoestima y el rendimiento deportivo. El desarrollo de programas de actividad físico-deportiva genera un impacto positivo sobre la imagen corporal en todas las edades, siempre y cuando se tengan presentes parámetros específicos de entrenamiento.

Rationale: Assessing the function of the right side of the heart along with diagnosing of pulmonary hypertension and studying the hemodynamic abnormalities, thus studying functional limitations of pulmonary hypertension on COPD patients. Methods: Data from 51 COPD male patients between December 2012 and April 2013 were reviewed. PFTs (post bronchodilators FEV1 ⩽ 0.7), echo, BODE index were obtained, RHC was done only for 17 patients after their echo revealed PASP ⩾ 45 mmHg. Results: We found 11 patients (21.5%) had MPAP ⩾ 25 mmHg by RHC (35.27 ± 7.837) and 2 patients (∼4%) had severe PH (MPAP ⩾ 40 mmHg). The mean age 62 (±9.16) with smoking index 34 (±6.5). 63% of the patients had PASP ⩾ 35 mmHg by echocardiography while 24 patients (47%) had PASP ⩾ 45 mmHg. COPD patients with PH were more hypoxemic (53.73 ± 6.214 vs. 62.51 ± 10.999, p-value 0.00013), showed increased BODE index (8.45 ± 1.572 vs. 6.31 ± 2.604, p-value 0.0015), showed statistically significant difference in both BRV and LRV (3.725 ± 0.8625 vs. 4.500 ± 0.9849 p-value 0.0304 and 6.067 ± 0.9923 vs. 6.927 ± 0.7888, 0.006 respectively), showed a significant difference in the measurement of TAPSE (2.055 ± 0.5298, 3.142 ± 0.3437 with p-value 10 mmHg difference between PASP calculated by echo and measured by RHC. Conclusion: We conclude that PH in COPD patients is a common co-morbidity along with right sided changes. Echo could be used with caution during assessment of PASP as it was inaccurate. COPDPH patients had worse prognosis than COPD patients without PH. Clinical impact: Screening for PH in any COPD is highly recommended as it affects the prognosis. Echo could be used with caution during assessment of PASP in these patients.

Introduction: Fever is common in patients with acute stroke, and mostly it is due to infectious complications. The neurologic effects of fever are significant, increased temperature in the post-injury period has been associated with increased cytokine activity and increased infarct size. Aim: To test the hypothesis that fever and increased serum procalcitonin are associated with poor outcomes after neurological injury. Methodology: Fifty patients (30 males (60%) and 20 females (40%) mean 43.8 ± 11.7 years) were divided into two groups: Group I: 25 traumatic patients (i.e., head injury) and Group II: 25 non-traumatic patients (i.e., stroke). Temperature was measured from admission until the patients were discharged or died, and PCT was measured on day 1 of admission and after 48 h of admission. Results: Fever has been associated with poor outcome, as fever is linked to worse GCS scores (12.6 ± 1.2 vs. 7.7 ± 2.6 in patients with fever, P 0.001), longer MV durations (3.6 ± 1.0 vs. 22.4 ± 9.1 days, in patients with fever, P 0.001), longer ICU length of stay (8.1 ± 4.7 vs. 23.0 ± 8.0 days in patients with fever, P 0.001) and increased mortality (P = 0.001). There were significantly higher PCT levels in the mortality group versus the survived group at day 1 (4.15 ± 0.82 vs. 2.47 ± 0.059 ng/ml, respectively, P 0.0001) and after 48 h of admission (5.20 ± 1.14 vs. 3.19 ± 0.092 ng/ml, respectively, P 0.0001). Conclusion: Fever had a strong link to worse GCS, longer MV durations, increased length of ICU stay, higher mortality rates and worse overall outcomes in neurocritical patients. High PCT levels can predict mortality in those patients.

L'ostéotomie fémorale de varisation est un traitement conservateur des gonarthroses uni-compartimentales externes qui reste de pratique peu courante et dont les résultats sont peu étudiés. L'objectif de ce travail était d'évaluer les résultats cliniques et radiologiques de l'ostéotomie fémorale de varisation chez les sujets présentant une gonarthrose fémoro-tibiale externe sur genou valgum idiopathique répertoriés sur une période de 21 ans(de 1992 à 2013) au service d'Orthopédie du CHU Sahloul à Sousse. L'évaluation clinique des patients a été faite à partir du score IKS (International Knee Society). L'évaluation radiologique a été basée sur un bilan pré opératoire et un bilan au dernier recul. L'étude portait sur une série de 9 patients (et 10 genoux) dont l'âge moyen était de 45,2 ans avec un sex ratio de 0,5. Le recul moyen était de 99 mois. Le score genou moyen est passé de 48,4 points en préopératoire à 73,5 points au dernier recul avec une amélioration statistiquement significative (p=10-3). Le score fonctionnel moyen s'est amélioré d'une façon significative avec une valeur préopératoire de 49,5 points et une valeur 72 pointsau dernier recul. La correction finale a permis de réduire le valgus à une moyenne de 3,7, pour une valeur pré-opératoire de 14. Cette étude, ainsi que l'analyse de la littérature, nous ont permis de déduire que l'ostéotomie fémorale de varisation est l'indication de choix dans les genuvalgum invalidant d'origine fémorale, en l'absence d'arthrite rhumatismale, de surcharge pondérale, d'arthrose fémoro-tibiale interne ou fémoro-patellaire sévère.

Background. Successful dental root canal treatments require a complete knowledge of dental anatomy and root canal morphology. Materials and Methods. One hundred and forty-five cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were used to assess the anatomy and morphology of mandibular premolars based on Vertucci’s classifications in a defined group of dental patients in Iran. The number of roots and root canals, root canal morphology, root and canal shape (curvature), existence of C-shaped canal, and influence of sex on each of these were evaluated. A chi-squared test was used for statistical analysis. Results. The mandibular first and second premolars had a single root in 95.97% and 100% cases, respectively. In the mandibular first premolars, 62.2% were of type I, 0.8% type II, 10.9% type III, 0.8% type IV, 20.3% type V, 4.2% type VI, and 0.8% type VII; in the second premolars, 78% of canals were of type I, 3% type II, 11% type III, 7% type V, and 1% type VI. C-shaped canals did not exist in either of the premolars. The most prevalent root and canal shape was straight. The most prevalent root curvature was a distal curvature in both premolars (71.4% and 74% of first and second premolars, resp.). The most prevalent canal curvature was lingual and buccal for the first premolars (7.6% each) and distal for the second premolars (11%). No significant difference was found between men and women in nearly all of the above (P>0.05). Conclusion. The results suggest that there is a need to conduct further evaluations on finding root and canal variations among more populations to gain better knowledge prior to root canal treatment.

Background: Limited data are available about renal involvement in thalassemia patients. Renal dysfunction in these patients seems to be multifactorial attributed mainly to long standing anemia, chronic hypoxia, iron overload and toxicity of iron chelators. Objective: To assess the frequency of subclinical glomerular and tubular dysfunctions in children and adolescents with β-thalassemia major and intermedia, and to correlate these findings with the degree of iron overload and type of chelation therapy. Methods: The study included 40 thalassemia major and 20 thalassemia intermedia pediatric patients recruited from the Pediatric hematology clinic, Ain Shams University. Serum sodium, potassium, phosphorous and creatinine, and urinary sodium, potassium, phosphorous, protein/creatinine ratio and urinary β2 microglobulin were measured. Fractional excretion of sodium and potassium was calculated. Results: The mean level of serum creatinine in all patients was within the normal range and comparable in both TM and TI groups (0.17 ± 0.06 and 0.18 ± 0.07 mg/dl, respectively, P > 0.05). The mean eGFR was higher than normal range in both TM and TI groups (552.65 ± 231.73 and 472.15 ± 272.99 ml/min, respectively). Mean level of urinary β2 microglobulin was within the normal range (0.13 ± 0.05 and 0.10 ± 0.03 μg/ml) in TM and TI patients, however, it was significantly higher in TM patients (P = 0.009). Urinary β2 microglobulin was positively correlated to both transfusion index and serum ferritin level (P

The present investigation aims to determine the aspects of obstacles for applying Target Costing(TC) system in Egyptian case and the significant differences among effects of these obstacles . The study used the survey method to describe and analyze the obstacles in some Egyptian firms. The population of the study is Egyptian manufacturing firms. Accordingly, the number of received questionnaires was 388 (21 Egyptian manufacturing firms) in 2013. Finally, the study found that there is a significant divergence among obstacles for applying Target Costing (TC) system in Egyptian manufacturing firms (Internal and external).The external dimensions are the most influence of internal dimensions, where the weakness of the competition is the highest effect in the external dimensions case but resistance top management is the highest effect in external dimensions case.

The present investigation aims to determine the factors affecting evolution of Activity Based Costing (ABC) system in Egyptian case. The study used the survey method to describe and analyze these factors in some Egyptian firms. The population of the study is Egyptian manufacturing firms. Accordingly, the number of received questionnaires was 392 (23 Egyptian manufacturing firms) in the first half of 2013. Finally, the study stated some influencing factors for evolution this system (ABC) in Egyptian manufacturing firms.

The protozoan intestinal parasite Cryptosporidium commonly infects cattle throughout the world and Iran. The present study was undertaken to determine the abundance and associated risk factors of Cryptosporidium infection in cattle herds of northwestern Iran. A total number of 246 fecal samples from 138 (56.1%) diarrheic (D) and 108 (43.9%) non-diarrheic (ND) cattle were randomly collected and examined by fecal smears stained with Ziehl-Neelsen. For molecular specification, DNA was extracted from collected Cryptosporidium oocysts and a fragment of 1325 bp in size from 18S rRNA gene was amplified. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection was 22.3% (55/246). The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in examined calves less than 6 month-old was significantly higher than adult cattle. C. parvum and C. andersoni were identified in 20.3% (50/246) and 2.03% (5/246) of examined cattle, respectively. The highest prevalence of C. parvum infection was found in D calves < 6 month-old (13.4%, 33/246), while C. andersoni was only detected in ND cattle (8.9%, 22/246). There was significant difference in the prevalence between male than female cattle. There was no significant difference between prevalence and seasons of investigation. It was concluded that C. parvum was the prevalent species in younger animals compared to older ones as a potentially zoonotic agent in the region.

Les plasmocytomes solitaires sont rares et représentent moins de 5 % de l'ensemble des proliférations plasmocytaires. Son diagnostic repose sur la mise en évidence d'une tumeur localisée, constituée de cellules plasmocytaires monoclonales cytologiquement identiques à celles du myélome multiple en l'absence d'autres signes d'une forme disséminée. Le but de ce travail est d'effectuer une étude rétrospective de 3 observations de plasmocytomes solitaires osseux associée à une revue détaillée de la littérature décrivant les caractéristiques diagnostiques, thérapeutiques et évolutives de cette entité rare.

Animal cells have evolved dedicated molecular systems for sensing and delivering a coordinated response to viral threats. Our understanding of these pathways is almost entirely defined by studies in humans or model organisms like mice, fruit flies and worms. However, new genomic and functional data from organisms such as sponges, anemones and mollusks are helping redefine our understanding of these immune systems and their evolution. In this review, we will discuss our current knowledge of the innate immune pathways involved in sensing, signaling and inducing genes to counter viral infections in vertebrate animals. We will then focus on some central conserved players of this response including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) and cGAS-STING, attempting to put their evolution into perspective. To conclude, we will reflect on the arms race that exists between viruses and their animal hosts, illustrated by the dynamic evolution and diversification of innate immune pathways. These concepts are not only important to understand virus-host interactions in general but may also be relevant for the development of novel curative approaches against human disease.

In this paper, we present the results of a study related to fabrication of polymer-aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) composites made with different thermoplastic polymers. These composites have been manufactured by employing a simple two-step process using the internal resistive heating approach. The resulting composites have shown improved tensile strength, load, and elastic modulus compared to pristine CNT sheets. Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-CNT, UltemTM-CNT and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-CNT composites showed an increase in tensile strength by as much as 41%, 77% and 86% respectively over pristine CNT sheets. The improvement in tensile strength is the result of a good adhesion achieved between the aligned CNTs and polymer as observed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Thrombolytic drugs activate plasminogen which creates a cleaved form called plasmin, a proteolytic enzyme that breaks the crosslinks between fibrin molecules. The crosslinks create blood clots, so reteplase dissolves blood clots. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a well-known thrombolytic drug and is fibrin specific. Reteplase is a modified nonglycosylated recombinant form of tPA used to dissolve intracoronary emboli, lysis of acute pulmonary emboli, and handling of myocardial infarction. This protein contains kringle-2 and serine protease domains. The lack of glycosylation means that a prokaryotic system can be used to express reteplase. Therefore, the production of reteplase is more affordable than that of tPA. Different methods have been proposed to improve the production of reteplase. This article reviews the structure and function of reteplase as well as the methods used to produce it.

The following investigation aims to determine the aspects of obstacles for applying Activity Based Costing (ABC) system in the Egyptian case and the significant differences among the effects of such obstacles . The Study used the survey method to describe and analyze the obstacles in some Egyptian firms. The population of the study is Egyptian manufacturing firms. This survey used the number of 392 questionnaires that were used throughout the total of 23 Egyptian manufacturing firms, during the first half of 2013. Finally, the study found some influencing obstacles for applying this system (ABC) and there were significant differences among the aspects of obstacles for applying ABC system in the Egyptian manufacturing firms.

The present research aims to overview the mutual fund in Egypt. The establishment of the first mutual funds was achieved in 1994. Nowadays, the total mutual funds reached 90 funds , approximately. The income funds represent the largest share of the Egyptian mutual funds (40%), growth funds (25%) and the private equity funds is at least (1%). The total population of the Egyptian mutual funds reached 22. Finally, the study proved that the Egyptian mutual funds have an impact on fund return , total risk and systemic; when analysis relationship between risk and return. The study found influencing for mutual fund's objectives on Sharpe and Terynor ratios.

Drop plate technique has a priority and preference compared with the spread plate procedure, because of less time, quantity of media, effort requirement, little incubator space, and less labor intensive. The objective of this research was to compare the accuracy and fidelity of drop plate method vs. spread plate method by parametric and nonparametric statistical tests. For bacterial enumeration by drop and spread plate methods, successive dilutions of second subculture of Lactobacillus casei and Salmonella Typhimurium were transferred to selective agar. The correlation of agreement between both methods was evaluated by using statistical proofs. Results showed that mean value (parametric unpaired t-test) comparison at 95 percent confidence level did not reject null hypothesis, which it meant that the equality of the mean data could not be ruled out. Nonparametric method was used because of approximately Gaussian pattern of data distribution. For this purpose, Mann-Whitney test (equivalent nonparametric t- test) was used. It meant that the equality of medians obtained from two methods were similar. Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient (r) via both methods due to data distribution patterns for enumeration of S. Typhimurium and L. casei were 0.62 and 0.87, respectively; which represented moderately strong and strong relationship between two methods, respectively. Besides, there was a significant and strong positive correlation (p < 0.001) between spread and drop plate procedures. Because of aforementioned reasons, the spread plate method can be replaced by drop plate method.

No presente estudo retomam-se os questionamentos de Peng (2004; 2003) a respeito do que direciona a estratégia da firma e do que determina o sucesso ou o fracasso em negócios internacionais. Mais especificamente, investiga-se o que direcionou a estratégia de uma trading company e o que determinou o seu sucesso em negócios internacionais. O referencial teórico é dividido em duas partes. A primeira diz respeito ao negócio da trading company, pautada na atuação triangular de relacionamento entre trading company, clientes e fornecedores. Na segunda parte versa-se sobre as distintas abordagens ou bases da estratégia em negócios internacionais: competição industrial, recursos e capacidades da firma e condições e transições institucionais. O estudo é de natureza descritiva e qualitativa. Na coleta dos dados primários foram utilizados roteiro de entrevistas em profundidade, observação direta não participativa e análise documental, ao longo dos meses de julho de 2010 a janeiro de 2011. O caso selecionado para estudo é uma trading company que apresenta elevado volume transacionado entre economias emergentes. Os resultados evidenciaram que não há direcionador único na estratégia da trading company estudada. O que se observou foi uma variedade de estratégias baseadas ora em competitividade industrial, ora em recursos e capacidades da firma, ora em condições institucionais. Cada direcionador correspondeu, assim, a um determinado momento na trajetória da trading company estudada. Da mesma maneira, não foi observada uma ordem cronológica linear entre os direcionadores, tampouco a obsolescência dos direcionadores. Ao contrario, as evidências apontam que os direcionadores são cumulativos e cíclicos, e necessitam ser revisados e, até mesmo, repensados, em função de atributos organizacionais e de contexto ambiental que se modificam. O determinante de sucesso da trading company estudada em negócios internacionais entre economias emergentes foi identificado como a capacidade da firma em gerenciar as interfaces entre os recursos e capacidades da firma, as demandas de competitividade industrial e as condições e transições institucionais. Esta capacidade possibilitou à firma estudada se sobressair à dificuldade e a explorar oportunidades de negócios em diferentes partes do globo.This case study revisits the questions raised by Peng (2004; 2003) with respect to what drives firm strategy and the determinants of success or failure in international business. Specifically, the study investigates what drives the strategy of a trading company and determines its success in international business. The theoretical framework focuses on trading companies and the triangular relationships between these companies, their clients and their suppliers and on three approaches or bases of strategy in international business, those of industrial competitiveness, firm resources and capabilities, and institutional contexts and transitions. The study, descriptive and qualitative in nature, collected data by means of in-depth interviews, document analysis and non-participant observation during the period from July, 2010 to January, 2011. The firm selected for study is a trading company conducting a large percentage of its total transactions between emerging economies. Results demonstrate that there is no single driver of this trading company strategy. Rather, there was evidence of the use of a variety of strategies, driven at times by the demands of industrial competitiveness, at times by firm resources and capabilities, and at times by institutional conditions. Each driver corresponded to a specific moment in the trajectory of the trading company studied. In addition, there was no evidence neither of a linear chronological order for these drivers, nor of driver obsolescence. On the contrary, the evidence of the study suggests that drivers are cumulative and cyclical, requiring review and even re-thinking when organizational and environmental characteristics undergo change. The determinant of success for the trading company studied was identified as the firm capability to manage the interfaces among firm resources and capabilities, the demands of industrial competitiveness, and institutional conditions and transitions. It is the capability to manage these interfaces that has permitted the firm to overcome the adversities and exploit the business opportunities in emerging economies around the world.

Background: This research studied the effect of ciprofloxacin (CPFX) on spermatogenesis. We aimed to estimate the effect of CPFX on serum levels of testosterone, LH and FSH. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, a total of 24 mice were assigned to controlsham and test groups. We subdivided the test group into low (206 mg/kg) and high (412 mg/kg) dose CPFX groups. Control-sham animals received carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). All animals were treated orally for 45 days. Cytoplasmic carbohydrate, lipid accumulation, cytoplasmic lipase and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ratios were examined. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH ) and testosterone were measured in the control and test groups Results: The spermatogenesis cell series exhibited low numbers of cells with periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive cytoplasm and higher numbers of cells with lipid-positive foci. The tissue to ALP ratio and germinal epithelium (GE) lipase synthesis increased in CPFX-treated animals. In contrast to the CPFX groups, control animals showed normal cytoplasmic carbohydrate, lipid, lipase and ALP ratios in all cellular layers. In the CPFX-treated groups there was a significantly lower serum testosterone level compared with the control group. The serum levels of FSH and LH in high dosetreated animals decreased. Conclusion: Our results suggest that following long time CPFX administration major alterations occur in GE intracytoplasmic biochemistry, which may lead to loss of physiological function and ultimately result in fertility problems. CPFX is able to imbalance serum levels of gonadotropins and testosterone levels by affecting Leydig cells.

Background: This study evaluated the performance of modified Mallampati score, 3-3-2 rule and palm print in prediction of difficult intubation. Methods: In a prospective descriptive study, data from 500 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were collected. An anesthesiologist evaluated the airway using mentioned tests and another anesthesiologist evaluated difficult intubation. Laryngoscopic views were determined by Cormack and Lehane score. Grades 3 and 4 were defined as difficult intubation. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and Youden index were determined for all tests. Results: Difficult intubation was reported in 8.9% of the patients. There was a significant correlation between body mass index and difficult intubation (P : 0.004); however, other demographic characteristics didn′t have a significant correlation with difficult intubation. Among three tests, palm print was of highest specificity (96.46%) and modified Mallampati of highest sensitivity (98.40%). In a combination of the tests, the highest specificity, sensitivity and Youden index were observed when using all three tests together. Conclusions: Palm print has a high specificity for prediction of difficult intubation, but the best way for prediction of difficult intubation is using all three tests together.

O surgimento das Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) é decorrente da crise enfrentada pelo modelo tradicional de produção e consumo caracterizado pelas cadeias longas. No Brasil, trata-se de tema emergente, e, apesar de não existir ainda uma homogeneização conceitual sobre as SFSCs, os conceitos usados indicam a proximidade entre produtor e consumidor. Assim, o objetivo deste artigo é identificar quais têm sido as abordagens e os enfoques adotados na literatura brasileira sobre SFSC, construindo o estado da arte dessas pesquisas. Para tanto, foi adotada a metodologia de revisão sistemática da literatura, na qual uma abordagem mais rigorosa e bem definida para a revisão da literatura em uma área específica é aplicada. O artigo contribui para a compreensão do panorama geral dos estudos sobre SFSC no Brasil, como e onde estão estruturadas as cadeias curtas estudadas no país e, ainda, quais as principais correntes teóricas estão estudando-as e quais vêm formulando sugestões de trabalhos futuros nesta área.

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV remains a major source of new HIV infections in children. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) using lifelong antiretroviral treatment (ART) for all pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV (Option B+) is the major strategy for eliminating paediatric HIV. Ensuring that patients are satisfied with PMTCT services is important for optimizing uptake, adherence and retention in treatment.We conducted a facility based quantitative cross-sectional survey in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, between March and April 2014, when the country was transitioning to the implementation of PMTCT Option B+. We interviewed 595 pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV, who received PMTCT care in 36 public health facilities. Predictors of overall dissatisfaction with PMTCT services were identified using a multiple logistic regression.Overall 8% of the patients expressed dissatisfaction with PMTCT services. Patients who perceived health care workers (HCW) communication skills as poor, had a 5-fold (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.8-13.4) increased risk of dissatisfaction and those who perceived HCW capacity to understand client concerns as poor, had a 6-fold (OR 5.7, 95% CI 2.3-14.0) increased risk. Having a total visit time longer than two hours was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of being dissatisfied (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.7). Every 30-minute increment in total visit time was associated with a 10% higher (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.2) risk of being dissatisfied. The probability of being dissatisfied ranged from 4% (95% CI 2% - 6%) in the presence of patient-perceived good communication, good understanding of patient concerns, and a total visit time below two hours, to 70% (95% CI 47% - 86%) if HCW failed in all of these aspects.Patient dissatisfaction with PMTCT services was generally low; reflecting that quality of care was maintained during Tanzania's transition to Option B+ strategy aiming to increase the number of women initiating life-long ART in PMTCT clinics. Improved HCW communication with clients, their understanding of patient concerns and a reduction of the total visit time would further optimize women's overall satisfaction with PMTCT services in Tanzania.

Lactobacillus strains are a major part of the probiotics, microflora of the intestine and of fermented dairy products, and are found in a variety of environments. The aim of this study was to find out the ability of bile and acid tolerance and antibacterial properties of the twenty eight isolates of three group lactobacilli namely Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus delbruki. For this purpose Twenty eight different Lactobacillus strains that isolated from Koozeh cheese as a traditional cheese were screened. The acid tolerance test was studied under pH 2.0 and 3.0 with 7.5 as control. The cell count for the acid tolerance test was obtained at an interval of 0, 1, 2 and 3 hours respectively and was pour plated on Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) agar to be incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours. All cells were selected for bile tolerance test in MRS broth containing bile concentrations of 0% as control and 0.3% as test. Then cell counts were enumerated after 24 hours of incubation on MRS agar. Results showed twenty seven isolates did not have ability to tolerate acid and bile salts and antimicrobial activity against four indicator bacteria included Eshirichia coli, Listeria monocytogenesis, bacillus cereus, Salmonella entritidis. Only one Isolate namely Lactobacillus casei could tolerate acid and bile salt and had antibacterial activity against of L. monocytogenesis. Therefore we can consider this strain as a native probiotic but extra examinations was required.

Background and objectives : Medical Errors reporting system is an initiative that provides staffs’ awareness through learning and sharing. This system improves the patient safety culture in hospitals. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of medical error reporting and sharing system in a military hospital. Material and Methods : This is a cross-sectional study. Data were gathered by medical error reporting sheets that were reported in the first semi-annual of 2011 and 2012. Data were analyzed and suggested interventions were distributed among the hospital units and educational trainings were applied to avoid errors. Results : Most of the errors were medication errors. The comparison of reported errors showed that the number of reports was increased from 14 cases in the first semi-annual of 2011 to 38cases in the first semi-annual of 2012. Interventions indicated a positive effect on avoid these errors and an improved reporting culture among staff. Conclusion : Establishment of medical error reporting and sharing system and management’s support of correct reaction unto medical errors provides a good context to improve patient safety culture, quality and safety assurance. ​

Objectives. To study snow crab sensitization, occupational allergy and asthma in the snow crab industry in Greenland, as high rates have been found in Canada, but no reports have emerged from the same industry in Greenland. Study design. Pilot survey. Methods. Twenty workers (19 of Inuit and 1 of other origin) in a snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) and Atlantic shrimp (Pandalus borealis) processing plant in Greenland were assessed with skin prick tests (SPTs) with common aeroallergens and specific allergens from snow crab and shrimp extracts, spirometry, blood sampling for total IgE and specific IgE determination. Eighteen workers contributed a questionnaire-based medical interview. Results. Positive skin prick test reactions were common to snow crab (40%) and shrimp (20%). Specific IgE to snow crab were positive in 4 workers (21%). Two workers had elevated total IgE levels. Symptoms suggestive of asthma were common (45%). Work-related symptoms of skin rash, rhinitis, and/or conjunctivitis were reported by 50%, and symptoms from the lower airways by 39%. Combining history of work-related symptoms with results from specific SPTs and/or specific IgE determination suggested that 11 and 22% of workers suffered from probable and possible occupational asthma, respectively, whereas 22% had possible occupational dermatitis or rhinitis. Conclusions. Greenlander Inuit do not appear to be protected against sensitization to snow crab or shrimp when occupationally exposed to these. This pilot study suggests that occupational allergy and asthma may be as common a problem in Greenlandic workers as in Canadian.

Side effects of ciprofloxacin (CPFX), a widely used broad spectrum antibiotic with fluoroquinolone core, have been reported in different organs. In the present study we sought to elucidate the impact of ciprofloxacin on sperm chromatin integrity and sperm DNA damage using Aniline Blue and Acridine Orange technique, respectively. The fertility potential in male mice was also evaluated. NMRI male mice of 8-week old were included in this study and they were randomly divided into three groups. The first group was received low dose (LD) of ciprofloxacin (206 mg kg-1, PO) and the second was treated with high dose (HD) of ciprofloxacin (412 mg kg-1, PO) for 45 consecutive days. The control mice were only treated with oral carboxymethyl cellulose for 45 consecutive days. Sperm cells were removed from cauda epididymis and analyzed for chromatin integrity and DNA damage. In addition, the rate of fertilization, two cell embryos, blastocysts, arrested embryos and their types was examined using zygotes cultured in human tubal fluid - bovine serum albumin (HTF-BSA) medium. Concomitant significant increase in DNA damage and protamine deficiency of the sperm cells in ciprofloxacin treated mice were observed (P < 0.05). In addition, the fertilization rate and embryonic development in treated mice were significantly lower than that of control mice, but the embryo arrest rate in treated mice was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.001). In conclusion CPFX was able to induce DNA damage and chromatin abnormalities of sperm cells which could be contributed in the observed low fertilization rate and retarded embryonic development.

Growth inhibition of Aspergillus fumigatus,Aspergillus flavus and Fusarum solani exposed to the essential oils including Thyme, Agastache and Satureja were studied. Disc Diffusion Method was used to evaluate the fungal growth inhibitory effects of the essential oils. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the oils were determined and compared with each other. The results showed that all three essential oils examined, had antifungal effects against three fungi species. The MIC data revealed that Thyme oil was the most effective essential oil with the MIC of 62.5 μl ml-1.

Rapid detection and differentiation of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) involved in the disease outbreak is very important for controlling disease and developing new vaccines. In the present study, three regions of the genome of IBV vaccine and field isolates including S1 gene, gene 3 and nucleocapsid (N) gene along with 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) were amplified and subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using three different endonucleases. Amplicons from S1 gene and N-3’UTR generated four RFLP patterns, grouping IBV strains into four similar groups, while amplicons of gene 3 generated three RFLP patterns classifying examined IBVs in different groups from those of S1 and N-3' UTR. 4/91 strain and MNS-7862-1field isolate both belong to 793/B serotype were differentiated from each other based on gene 3, N-3’UTR and S1gene. IBVs belonged to different serotypes showed different RFLP patterns based on RFLP patterns of all three regions. S1 gene and N-3’UTR RFLP analysis differentiated IB88, MNS-7862-1 and 4/91 from each other. This is the first report on the molecular analysis of the gene 3 for IBV strain differentiation. Our results revealed that RFLP analysis of N-3’UTR and S1 gene had the higher discriminatory power than gene 3. None of the RFLP patterns of different regions differentiated 4/91 vaccine strain from its field isolate.

O presente artigo é um estudo exploratório, em que as variáveis estudadas têm natureza qualitativa. O objetivo é caracterizar como firmas russas atuantes no comércio de carne bovina internacionalizaram seus negócios em direção ao mercado produtor brasileiro. Com a aplicação de 14 entrevistas,chegou-se à construção de quatro configurações de transações que são realizadas por organizações russas no mercado brasileiro. A primeira configuração discutida é a que apresenta o maior número de organizações envolvidas, tem a vantagem de permitir alta especialização das mesmas e de possibilitar as transações com empresas atacadistas e varejistas russas por meio da internacionalização de terceiros (trading companies) em negócios internacionais. Na segunda configuração, observa-se uma maior responsabilidade por parte da empresa atacadista russa, o que se deve ao fato de que esta categoriade organização conseguiu internalizar operações inicialmente atribuídas à trading company. A terceira configuração observada é uma situação transitória em que a trading company com habilitação para varejo russo toma a frente e é o elo entre a organização de varejo russo e a empresa frigorífica exportadora brasileira. A quarta configuração de transação mostrou-se muito eficiente, vez que permite uma grande integração de atividades, eliminando assim intermediários.

BACKGROUND: Despite being removed from their workplace, the majority of workers with occupational asthma (OA) remain afflicted with asthma.

This article aims to characterize Russian commercial organizations that are trading bovine meat from Brazil. It is a exploratory qualitative study. During the field work it was possible to conduct 14 interviews with Russian and Brazilian traders, from 01st until 12th of December/ 2008. It was found that traders developed four different types of transaction configurations. The first configuration described is the one with the highest number of organizations involved in the trading activities. It is a transaction configuration that aloud higher levels of specialization for the different trading firms, making possible for Russian wholesalers and retailers to buy from Brazilian abattoirs intermediated by international trading organizations. In the second observed configuration it was possible to perceive a more active role of the Russian wholesaler, since this category of organization was able to absorb the trading operations that where performed by an international trading company. In the third transaction confiuration a trading company licensed to trade with Russian retailers is the only intermediary between Brazilian exporters and retailers. The fourth transaction configuration has a Russian retailer trading directly with a Brazilian supplier of bovine meat.

Wilms tumors (WTs) have a complex etiology, displaying genetic and epigenetic changes, including loss of imprinting (LOI) and tumor suppressor gene silencing. To identify new regions of epigenetic perturbation in WTs, we screened kidney and tumor DNA using CpG island (CGI) tags associated with cancer-specific DNA methylation changes. One such tag corresponded to a paralog of the glioma pathogenesis-related 1/related to testis-specific, vespid, and pathogenesis proteins 1 (GLIPR1/RTVP-1) gene, previously reported to be a tumor-suppressor gene silenced by hypermethylation in prostate cancer. Here we report methylation analysis of the GLIPR1/RTVP-1 gene in WTs and normal fetal and pediatric kidneys. Hypomethylation of the GLIPR1/RTVP-1 5'-region in WTs relative to normal tissue is observed in 21/24 (87.5%) of WTs analyzed. Quantitative analysis of GLIPR1/RTVP-1 expression in 24 WTs showed elevated transcript levels in 16/24 WTs (67%), with 12 WTs displaying in excess of 20-fold overexpression relative to fetal kidney (FK) control samples. Immunohistochemical analysis of FK and WT corroborates the RNA expression data and reveals high GLIPR1/RTVP-1 in WT blastemal cells together with variable levels in stromal and epithelial components. Hypomethylation is also evident in the WT precursor lesions and nephrogenic rests (NRs), supporting a role for GLIPR1/RTVP-1 deregulation early in Wilms tumorigenesis. Our data show that, in addition to gene dosage changes arising from LOI and hypermethylation-induced gene silencing, gene activation resulting from hypomethylation is also prevalent in WTs.

An ideal marker in the neutropenic population after HSCT is the one which indicates the onset of fever, or at most up to 24 hours after its onset, the patients under potential risk for infection due to bacterial and fungi and mortality. Several biomarkers have been used in HSCT patients in the last decade. However, it seems that C-RP and Il-6 are the most useful markers to early detected infection and risk for death.

Background: Small ruminants’ babesiosis caused by Babesia ovis, is transmitted during blood feeding by infected ticks and is the most economically important tick-borne disease in tropical and subtropical areas. This study was carried out to to estimate the infection rate of B. ovis in sheep and goats by PCR. We have analysed risk factors that might influence infection of sheep and goats with B. ovis. Methods: A total 402 blood samples were examined microscopically for the presence of Babesia infection. All samples were tested by PCR. During sampling, whole body of each animal and farm dogs was examined for the presence of ticks. Results: Forty-two animals (10.4%) were positive for Babesia spp. upon microscopic examination, whereas 67 animals (16.7%) yielded the specific DNA for B. ovis of which 52 animals were sheep and 15 animals were goats. Twenty-nine farms (72.5%) were found positive for B. ovis. The percentage of positive animals in each location varied from 13 % to 20 %. The relative risk of the presence of ticks in sheep and goats (P< 0.01) and farm dogs (P< 0.01) for PCRpositive results forB. ovis in sheep and goats was found 3.8 and 2.9, respectively. A total of 747 ticks identified as Rhipicephalus bursa, R. sanguineus and R. turanicus on the basis of morphological features. Conclusion: Other animal species besides dogs may also be risk factors for babesiosis in sheep and goats. Also, R. bursa may play an important role as a vector of the parasite in Iran.

O presente trabalho objetiva-se em analisar a estrutura de mercado internacional da carne avícola e a participação brasileira entre os anos 2003 e 2012. Para isso, foram calculados o índice de exportação líquida e o Hirschman-Herfindahl. Também foram calculadas a Posição Relativa de Mercado e a Vantagem Comparativa Revelada. Através deste estudo, nota-se a presença de um fator com capacidade de mudar todo o sistema de forma muito veloz: a gripe aviária, relacionada a aumentos e quedas expressivas nas exportações/importações dos principais partcipantes. Nota-se, também, através do IHH que o mercado exportador do produto possui um altíssimo nível de concentração.