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Abstract The accurate classification of seismic events into natural earthquakes (EQ) and quarry blasts (QB) is crucial for geological understanding, seismic hazard mitigation, and public safety. This paper proposes a machine-learning approach to discriminate seismic events, particularly differentiating between natural EQs and man-made QBs. The core of this study is to integrate different features into a unified dataset to train some linear and nonlinear supervised machine learning (ML) models. The proposed approach considers a collection of 837 events (EQs and QBs) with local magnitudes of $$1.5 \le M_{L} \le 3.3$$ 1.5 ≤ M L ≤ 3.3 from the Egyptian National Seismic Network (ENSN) seismic event catalog between 2009 and 2015. This paper’s principal contribution is applying feature selection techniques and feature importance analysis to identify the best features leading to the best events’ discrimination. In other words, the proposed approach enhances classification accuracy and provides insights into which features are most crucial for distinguishing between EQ and QB events. The results show that with only three features, corner frequency, power of event, and spectral ratio, the best-developed ML model accomplishes a discrimination accuracy of 100% among several benchmarks of linear and non-linear models.

Part of the Solanaceae family, petunias possess a wide range of flower colors and patterns. In this study, we crossed two types of petunias i.e., the single blackberry (as a female parent) and double (male parent). Seeds obtained from this cross were grown and the phenotypic characters of 85 plants were analysed including the number of days of first flower emergence, flower diameter, peduncle length, number of flowers, number of branches, plant height, pollen color, number of petals (single or double flower), and petal color. Of particular interest is that the double flower inherited the F1 generation and recorded 54.1%, the single flower recorded 45.9%, and a wide range of flower colors were light pink to dark purple. It was noted that 67.1% of the plants had light purple pollens and 32.9% showed yellow colors. Based on the coefficient of variation (CV) and box plot analysis, the flower diameters showed more variability than other traits. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed distinct patterns and associations among phenotypic traits. PC1 primarily reflected several traits such as plant height, number of flowers, flower diameter, and single or double petunias. However, PC2 was predominantly influenced by pollen and petal color, stem length, number of days of first flower emergence and number of branches. Besides, data clustering analysis also identified distinct clusters based on phenotypic traits in the petunia population, which can be exploited for future breeding programs.

Purpose: Resistance to Trastuzumab is a significant challenge in the management of HER2-positive Metastatic Breast cancer (HER2-MBC), and a better understanding of the molecular causes of resistance is required to develop more effective treatment plans. While elevated plasma levels of miR-200 and FOXP3 have been linked to breast cancer progression and treatment response, no clinical studies have confirmed these results. Methods: The study involved 40 patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (HER2-MBC). The expression levels of miR-200c-3p and the FOXP3 gene were assessed in plasma samples at two time points: baseline (BL) and after the consent completion of one cycle of Trastuzumab, utilizing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Clinical response to Trastuzumab was evaluated 12 months post-therapy and correlated with the time to progression (TTP) through Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: Low plasma expression level of miR-200c-3p was detected before therapy in HER2-MBC, compared to healthy controls, and decreased dramatically in the follow-up sample at disease progression, while increased after one cycle of Trastuzumab therapy in patients who were sensitive to Trastuzumab. At baseline, a low expression level of miR-200c was significantly associated with overexpression of FOXP3, poor prognosis, and shorter time to progression. Conclusions: The findings suggest that miR-200c-3p may be a promising biomarker for predicting the response to Trastuzumab in HER2-MBC patients.

Procaine belongs to a type of medicine in which excessive dosage form creates cardiac problems and many allergenic reactions. Thus, continuous monitoring of this drug and its metabolite is crucial for sustainable health management during treatment. In this study, electrochemical techniques such as square wave voltammetry (SWV) and differential pulse polarography (DPP) are utilized for assaying procaine amounts in standard and pharmaceutical formulations. In SWV, the reduction of diazotized procaine gives a reduction peak at −0.05 V which is directly proportional with procaine hydrochloride concentration, whereas in DPP, the interaction of the drug with lead cation at −0.4 V is followed by the decrease in peak current of the lead cation reduction peak, which is directly proportional with the concentration of the drug. Both methods indicate high accuracy, sensitivity and precision. Linear concentration ranges of both methods are 0.0999–5.996 × 10-7 M for SWV and 0.1999–5.996 × 10-7 M for DPP. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) are calculated for both SWV and DPP techniques, and found that LOD equals 1.984 × 10-9 M and LOQ equals 6.611 × 10-9 M for SWV, while for (DPP) LOD and LOQ were found to be 3.519 × 10-9 M and 1.173 × 10-8 M, respectively.

Traditional methods for detecting harmful gases in air are often limited in their widespread deployment, accuracy, and real-time monitoring capabilities due to their complexity and cost. To address this challenge, optimization algorithms such as the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm have shown promise. The PSO algorithm, is applied to calculate the concentrations of harmful gases in air, maximizing detection accuracy. Detecting indoor gas pollution is a crucial concern due to the abundance of odors and vapors, particularly those emanating from activities such as cooking. The presence of these substances in the air poses a challenge in identifying traces of other harmful gases. This research endeavors to pioneer a novel approach characterized by heightened sensitivity, even in the presence of unidentified elements in the air. In this work, PSO algorithm is used in conjunction with Chirped Spectral Modulation (CSM) technique to increase system sensitivity to detect small traces of harmful gases inside buildings and protect the environment through early detection of pollution. The use of PSO and CSM altogether allowed for detecting carbon dioxide CO2, carbon monoxide CO, and nitrogen dioxide NO2 down to 10−6 % in volume, and sulfur dioxide SO2 down to 5×10−4 % in volume, while keeping the error below 0.1%

Background: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience several negative psychological outcomes that are compounded by the presence of children’s comorbid behavioral problems. Objective(s): To evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally sensitive parent training intervention for children with comorbid ASD and behavioral problems in a clinic-based setting in Alexandria, Egypt. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent groups (intervention, non-intervention, 46 each) was conducted targeting parents/caregivers of children aged ≥ 3 years with ASD and having at least one behavioral problem. The intervention group participated in a multi-component group < br />intervention including psychoeducation, parent training and brief cognitive behavioral therapy. Both groups were assessed immediately after program completion (post-1) and 3 months later (post-2). Measured outcomes included caregivers’ ASD related knowledge and emotional status, and children’s behavioral problems, that were assessed using: ASD knowledge self-report questionnaire, The Arabic Version of Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, The Arabic Version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and The Arabic Version of Home Situation Questionnaire for ASD. Results: Positive effect of the program was evidenced by significant improvement on all outcome measures at post-2. The highest percentage mean change was reported in caregivers’ anxiety symptoms (-63.64), followed by caregivers’ depression symptoms, child’s behavioral problems and caregivers’ stress symptoms (-52.63, -45.64 and -38.18, respectively). ASD related knowledge recorded the least percentage mean change (18.18). Conclusion: The current intervention provided evidence for the effectiveness of an Egyptian group - based parent-focused multi-component intervention in addressing educational and emotional problems of caregivers of children with comorbid ASD and behavioral problems.

Abstract Excessive consumption of antibiotics is considered one of the top public health threats, this necessitates the development of new compounds that can hamper the spread of infections. A facile green technology for the biosynthesis of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using the methanol extract of Spirulina platensis as a reducing and stabilizing agent has been developed. A bunch of spectroscopic and microscopic investigations confirmed the biogenic generation of nano-scaled ZnO with a mean size of 19.103 ± 5.66 nm. The prepared ZnO NPs were scrutinized for their antibacterial and antibiofilm potentiality, the inhibition zone diameters ranged from 12.57 ± 0.006 mm to 17.33 ± 0.006 mm (at 20 µg/mL) for a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, also significant eradication of the biofilms formed by Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae by 96.7% and 94.8% respectively was detected. The free radical scavenging test showed a promising antioxidant capacity of the biogenic ZnO NPs (IC50=78.35 µg/mL). Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory role detected using the HRBCs-MSM technique revealed an efficient stabilization of red blood cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the biogenic ZnO NPs have significant anticoagulant and antitumor activities as well as minimal cytotoxicity against Vero cells. Thus, this study offered green ZnO NPs that can act as a secure substitute for synthetic antimicrobials and could be applied in numerous biomedical applications.

We have synthesized 1,2,4-triazole bearing benzenesulfonohydrazide analogues (1–21), characterized through different spectroscopic techniques such as 1HNMR, 13CNMR, HREI-MS and were evaluated against Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) enzymes. All the newly synthesized analogues showed excellent to good inhibition potential with IC50 values ranged from 0.30 ± 0.050 to 15.21 ± 0.50 µM (against AChE) and 0.70 ± 0.050 to 18.27 ± 0.60 µM (against BuChE) as compared to the standard drug Donepezil (IC50 = 2.16 ± 0.12 and 4.5 ± 0.11 µM, respectively). Analogues 2 and 4 which were found inactive against these enzymes. However, analogues 17 (IC50 = 0.30 ± 0.050 and 0.70 ± 0.050 µM) and 13 (IC50 = 0.70 ± 0.05 and 1.70 ± 0.050 µM) were found to have potent inhibitory potentials against the targeted enzymes. Structure-activity relationship was carried out which mainly depends upon the nature, position and numbers of the substitution present on phenyl rings that may be electron withdrawing/donating. Molecular docking study was carried out to know about the binding mode of interaction of the most active site of the synthesized analogues with the targeted enzymes.

This research provides a detailed quantitative analysis of the challenges encountered in deploying 6G Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base Stations UAV-BS in arid environments, specifically focusing on Saudi Arabia. The study meticulously quantifies the impact of dust and sand storms on these advanced communication systems, highlighting the substantial increase in signal attenuation and path loss under such conditions. Key findings include a marked dependency of transmitted power requirements on visibility at millimeter range high frequencies, (at 100 GHz). The results demonstrate that at this frequency, a decrease in ground visibility from 15 to 5 meters necessitates a significant increase in transmitted power by approximately 10 dB. Moreover, a striking 50 dB increase in path loss is observed when transitioning from a 3 GHz carrier frequency to 100 GHz under a ground visibility of 5 meters. This increase is attributed to a 30 dB rise in free space loss FSL due to the change in carrier frequency and an additional 20 dB attributed to increased dust attenuation at 100 GHz compared to 3 GHz. Our approach integrates PSO for dynamic UAV-BS positioning, effectively mitigating the adverse effects of dust and sand on signal quality. The research underscores the importance of considering UAV altitude, signal frequency, and ground visibility for optimal signal propagation. Additionally, it highlights the necessity of dynamic power management strategies within the network architecture to adapt to the unique challenges of arid environments. This study not only illuminates the practical implications for the deployment of UAV-BS in future 6G networks but also emphasizes the need for continuous adaptation of UAV-BS positioning in response to changes in visibility and that due to continuous change in the pattern of active users (asking for network services). The insights gained are crucial for ensuring reliable communication during environmental challenges, paving the way for more resilient and efficient wireless communication systems in demanding conditions.

Vincamine, a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid with vasodilatory properties, is extracted from the leaves of Vinca minor. The present study aimed to determine the potential anticancer effects of vincamine loaded in silver nanoparticles (VCN-AgNPs) in mice with Ehrlich solid carcinoma (ESC). After tumor transplantation, the mice were divided into five groups: ESC, ESC+Cisplatin (CPN; 5 mg/kg), ESC+VCN (40 mg/kg), ESC+AgNPs (6 mg/kg), and ESC+VCN-AgNPs (20 mg/kg). The administration of VCN-AgNPs to ESC-bearing mice improved their survival rate and reduced their body weight, tumor size, and tumor weight compared to the ESC group. Furthermore, VCN-AgNPs intensified oxidative stress in tumor tissues, as evidenced by elevated levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO), along with a reduction in the levels of the antioxidants investigated (GSH, GPx, GR, SOD, CAT, and TAC). Furthermore, VCN-AgNPs increased the apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3, decreased the anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2), increased the inflammatory markers TNF-α and IL-1β, and inhibited angiogenesis by lowering VEGF levels in tumor tissues, all of which led to apoptosis. Furthermore, histopathological studies showed that VCN-AgNPs suppressed the progression of Ehrlich carcinoma and induced the formation of clusters of necrotic and fragmented tumor cells. VCN-AgNPs possess cytotoxic and genotoxic effects against ESC because of their pro-oxidant, pro-apoptotic, pro-inflammatory, and antiangiogenic effects. Additionally, the combination of VCN-AgNPs was more effective and safer than chemically synthesized AgNPs, as indicated by an increase in the lifespan of animals and the total tumor inhibition index.

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is widely known to cause brain atrophy due to neurodegeneration. Neuroimaging investigations revealed a direct link between brain atrophy detected by MRI and impairment. Transcranial sonography is a safe, feasible and cost-effective imaging technique. In this study, we aimed to validate B-mode transcranial sonography (TCS) as a marker of neurodegeneration in MS. This study is the first study directed to set cut-off point for brain parenchyma measurement in Egyptian population. An observational, case–control study, conducted on 125 subjects; divided into 2 groups: first group, 71 healthy volunteers and patients’ group (54 patients) with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). All studied subjects were assessed using B-mode TCS. Transcranial sonography findings were categorized into: first, assessment of brain atrophy parameters by measuring diameter (cm) of third ventricle and both frontal horns of lateral ventricles. Then, the echogenicity of thalamus and brainstem structures (substantia nigra (SN), red nucleus) planimetric surface area (cm2) were assessed along with their abnormal echogenicity (cm2), while brainstem raphe was assessed semi-quantitatively for its echogenicity (intact or interrupted). Results Quantitative measures of brain atrophy: in normal control group the third ventricle diameter mean was 0.2 cm (± 0.08), right and left frontal horn diameter were 0.3 cm (± 0.13) and 0.28 cm (± 0.1), respectively, brain atrophy parameters could differentiate between MS patients and normal control group as a statistically significant (p

Abstract Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bio-electrical energy generator that uses respiring microbes to transform organic matter present in sludge into electrical energy. The primary goal of this work was to introduce a new approach to the green electricity generation technology. In this context a total of 6 bacterial isolates were recovered from sludge samples collected from El-Sheikh Zayed water purification plant, Egypt, and screened for their electrogenic potential. The most promising isolates were identified according to 16S rRNA sequencing as Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae, promising results were achieved on using them in consortium at optimized values of pH (7.5), temperature (30°C) and substrate (glucose/pyruvate 1%). Low level red laser (λ = 632.8nm, 8mW) was utilized to promote the electrogenic efficiency of the bacterial consortium, maximum growth was attained at 210 sec exposure interval. In an application of adding standard inoculum (107 cfu/mL) of the photo-stimulated bacterial consortium to sludge based MFC a significant increase in the output potential difference values were recorded, the electricity generation was maintained by regular supply of external substrate. These results demonstrate the future development of the dual role of MFCs in renewable energy production and sludge recycling.

Background: Orthodontic relapse is a frequent problem that many patients experience. Although orthodontic therapy has advanced, recurrence rates can still reach 90%. We undertook a study to look at the possibilities of laser bio-stimulation and stem cells because they have showed promising outcomes in lowering recurrence rates. Objectives: Our objective was to analyze the effects of Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) alone and collectively on the rate of orthodontic relapse in rats radiographically and histologically. Methods: Rat maxillary central incisors were moved distally for two weeks. One week later, the incisors were retained. Animals (n = 40) were split into four groups. Control group (C); laser treatment Group (L), Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells Group (BMSCs) and combination of Stem cells and laser-irradiation group (BMSCs-L). Removed retainer permitted relapse. Before stem cell application or laser irradiation, each animal underwent two CBCT scans. Rat maxillae were stained with Hx&E, Masson trichrome, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase antibody for histology, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry. Results and conclusions: LLLT could reduce the relapse tendency, as shown by increased bone density and enhanced remodeling of hetero-formed periodontal ligament (PDL). Furthermore, the transfer of BMMSCs on the pressure side had positive effects on PDL remodeling and decreased, but did not inhibit, the relapse rate. Finally, the synergistic effects of the application of LLLT and BMMSC were better than the control but still moderate and long-lasting. Clinical Significance: Based on the improved relapse rate as proven in the present study, the Application of both LLLT and stem cells can be adopted to reduce the relapse tendency either lonely or collectively.

Abstract Repurposing natural compounds as inhibitory targets to combat bacterial virulence is an important potential strategy to overcome resistance to traditional antibiotics, in the present study, the antibacterial activity of micro-curcumin and nano-sized curcumin was investigated against four predominant bacterial pathogens, namely, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis. Curcumin bactericidal susceptibility could be summarized as the order, P. aeruginosa > B. subtilis > S. aureus > E. coli. Molecular docking analysis was conducted to confirm the impact of curcumin on the most vital and positively identified quorum-sensing pathway signaling proteins SecA-SecY, LsrR, PqsR (MvfR), AgrA which act as key players in the bacterial communication systems. The in silico physicochemical properties revealed that curcumin as a nutraceutical can be classified as a drug-like compound. An in vivo infected wound model was employed in four groups of albino rats. Topical application of nano-curcumin lotion showed a marked reduction in wound area (98.8%) as well as nearly 100% reduction in total bacterial viable count compared to the control group, on the fifteenth day post-treatment post-injury. The obtained data suggested that curcumin nanoparticles exhibited superior antibacterial activity and may possess clinical utility as a novel topical antimicrobial and wound healing agent.

Background: Women may experience sensations of increased weight and reduced attractiveness during pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate the body-image perception and self-esteem of pregnant women in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We conducted a national cross-sectional survey among 651 Saudi pregnant women, from April to June 2023. The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) and the Body Image Questionnaire were used to assess self-esteem and body image satisfaction, respectively. The correlation between body image satisfaction and self-esteem was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation. Mean comparison tests (t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)) were also used. Additionally, linear regression was utilized to analyze factors associated with each construct. Results: A strong positive correlation (r = 0.597) was observed between body satisfaction (mean score: 67 out of 95 [standard deviation (SD) = 12.04]) and self-esteem (mean score: 30.8 out of 40 [SD = 4.93]). Socioeconomic factors such as level of education and income, as well as smoking, and psychological and medical comorbidities, showed variable levels of association body image satisfaction and self-esteem. Moreover, self-esteem was found to be higher during respondents’ early weeks of pregnancy. The presence of psychological or medical comorbidity was independently associated with both body image and self-esteem, whereas education was found to be associated solely with self-esteem. Another model showed an independent positive relationship between body image and self-esteem. Conclusions: The current nationwide study showed a strong correlation between body satisfaction and self-esteem among pregnant Saudi women, with both scores being reasonably maintained. Initiatives aimed at smoking cessation and vigilant monitoring of pregnant women at risk for psychological and medical issues are essential to support their well-being. Furthermore, the need for exploring further culturally relevant factors is highlighted.

Background: Disorders of sex development (DSD) are a category of congenital diseases characterized by aberrant internal and external genital structure development. Parental adjustment and functioning have been highlighted as being at risk in this environment. Objective(s): To compare the impact of children with XX, DSD and XY, DSD on their families, and factors influencing the burden on these parents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on parents of all 72 children with DSD who were diagnosed and followed up regularly between January and May 2021 at Alexandria University Children's Hospital's Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic, Egypt. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Family Impact Module (PedsQLTM FIM) (Arabic version) version 2 was used for assessing family impact and economic burden. Results: The current study included 72 children with DSD, 57 diagnosed with 46,XX, and 15 with 46,XY. The mean age of studied children was 7.93 ± 4.03 years. Parents of children with XX, DSD had lower scores (reduced family function) on all categories (except for family relationships) of the PedsQL™ FIM version 2 questionnaire, with no statistically significant difference. The worry domain had the lowest mean scores, with 33.86 ± 21.59 in children with XX,DSD and 45.33 ± 29.79 in those with XY,DSD. Univariate and correlation analyses found that having a sibling with the same condition had a statistically significant (r=-0.359,p= 0.002)negative impact on the family. Conclusion: XX,DSD had more negative impact on parents than XY,DSD, especially in the worry domain. Additionally, having siblings with similar conditions exhibited a strong correlation to creating a negative influence.

A well-known natural ingredient found in several medicinal plants, berberine (Ber), has been shown to have anticancer properties against a range of malignancies. The limited solubility and bioavailability of berberine can be addressed using Ber-loaded nanoparticles. In this study, we compared the in vitro cytotoxic effects of both Ber-loaded silver nanoparticles (Ber-AgNPs) and Ber-loaded selenium nanoparticles (Ber-SeNPs) in the human liver cancer cell line (HepG2) and mouse normal liver cells (BNL). The IC50 values in HepG2 for berberine, Ber-AgNPs, Ber-SeNPs, and cisplatin were 26.69, 1.16, 0.04, and 0.33 µg/mL, respectively. Our results show that Ber and its Ag and Se nanoparticles exerted a good antitumor effect against HepG2 cells by inducing apoptosis via upregulating p53, Bax, cytosolic cytochrome C levels, and caspase-3 activity, and the down-regulation of Bcl-2 levels. Similarly, incubation with Ber and both Ber-NPs (Ag and Se) led to a significant dose-dependent elevation in inflammatory markers’ (TNF-α, NF-κB, and COX-2) levels compared to the control group. In addition, it led to the arrest of the G1 cell cycle by depleting the expression of cyclin D1 and CDK-2 mRNA. Furthermore, Ber and both Ber-NPs (Ag and Se) caused a significant dose-dependent increase in LDH activity in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, our findings offer evidence that Ber and its nanoparticles intensified oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the migration rate of cells subjected to berberine and its nanoforms was notably decreased compared to that of control cells. It can be inferred that Ber nanoparticles exhibited superior anticancer efficacy against HepG2 compared to unprocessed Ber, perhaps due to their improved solubility and bioavailability. Furthermore, Ber-SeNPs exhibited greater efficacy than Ber-AgNPs, possibly as a result of the inherent anticancer characteristics of selenium.

In this paper, density functional theory (DFT) study was applied to the absorption of BMSF-BENZ ((4-bromo-7-methoxy-1-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-{[3 (methylsulfonyl)phenyl]methyl)}-2-[4-(propane-2)) yl)phenyl]-1H-1,3-benzothiazole) used for the treatment of Osteoporosis, on the surfaces of two types of nanocages Zn12O12 and Al12P12. The results showed that the interaction of BMSF-BENZ with the nanocages was highly exothermic, indicating the high chemical adsorption of the new complexes. The adsorption energies of the ZnO nanocage were higher than those of AlP for all the active atoms investigated on the drug compound (Br, N8, N9, N58, O35, O42, and S). Topology analyses such as QTAIM and NCI/RDG indicate that the interactions between the BMSF-BENZ drug and the surface of the ZnO nanocage are more substantial than that of the AlP nanocage. The obtained results of charge, the total density of states (TDOS), and boundary molecular orbital analysis confirm a characteristic orbital hybridization upon adsorption of BMSF-BENZ, indicating the potential application of AlP as a biochemical adsorbent for BMSF-BENZ. However, ZnO nanocage is a candidate for drug delivery applications.

The usability and scalability of Internet of things (IoT) technology are expanding in such a way that they facilitate human living standards. However, they increase the vulnerabilities and attack vectors over IoT networks as well. Thus, more security challenges could be expected and encountered, and more security services and solutions should be provided. Although many security techniques propose and promise good solutions for that intrusion detection systems IDSs still considered the best. Many works proposed machine learning (ML)-based IDSs for IoT attack detection and classification. Nevertheless, they suffer from two main gaps. First, few of the works utilized or could analyze an up-to-date version of IoT-based attack behaviors. Second, few of the works can be considered as multi-class attack detection and classification. Therefore, this work proposes an intelligent IDS (IIDS) by exploiting the ability of ML algorithms to classify and identify malicious from benign behaviors among IoT network packets. Three ML classifier algorithms are investigated, which are K-Nearest Neighbor, support vector machine, and artificial neural network. The developed models have been trained and tested as binary and multi-class classifiers against 15 types of attacks and benign. This work employs an up-to-date dataset known as IoT23, which covers millions of malicious and benign behaviors of IoT-connected devices. The process of developing the proposed IIDSs goes under different preprocessing phases and methods, such as null value solving, SMOTE method for the imbalanced datasets, data normalization, and feature selections. The results present IIDSs as good binary and multi-class classifiers even for zero-day attacks.

The goal of this work to measure the radon concentrations in twenty blood samples taken from a cancer patient and a healthy group of Erbil governorates, by using CR-39 NTD. The results obtained the average concentrations of radon in blood samples for cancer patients and the healthy group were 19.318 ±3.86 Bq/m3 and 8.5077 ±1.84 Bq/m3 respectively. The mean value of radon concentration of the cancer group is higher than the healthy group. The variation in concentrations of radon in different locations may be caused due to the variation in the nature of blood samples and nuclei content in these samples. also depending on the allergic reaction of the body to radiation. This increase could be caused by pollution of environment with radioactive materials including uranium since cancer can be caused by ionization radiation results showed that the all of concentration of radon in blood samples for cancer and healthy group were less than the global permissibility limiting of exhibition to radon 200 Bq.m−3 (IAEA, 2010.)This work owes its importance to the fact that it aims at knowing and measuring the radon concentrations in the blood samples and impact it on the cancer in particular.

Abstract Background The Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a worldwide global public health threat. Although acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination will be a critical step in combating the pandemic, achieving high uptake will be difficult, and potentially made more difficult by social media misinformation. This study aimed to examine the association between social media use and acceptance of receiving COVID-19 vaccine among the general population in Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 17 to June 19, 2021 among 504 participants of the general population in Saudi Arabia. The data were collected using a three-part online questionnaire (sociodemographic characteristics, medical and vaccination history, pattern of social media use). Results Among 504 participants who completed the survey, 477 participants were acceptant of the vaccine and 27 were non-accepting. A total of 335 individuals had already received the vaccine, 142 were willing to receive the vaccine and 27 were unwilling. One hundred and thirty participants denied using social media for COVID-19 news. Four factors were found to be significant in influencing vaccine acceptance in univariate analysis: having a chronic condition (odds ratio (OR) = 0.367, P = 0.019), believing that infertility is a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine (OR = 0.298, P = 0.009), being concerned about a serious side effect from the vaccine (somewhat concerned: OR = 0.294, P = 0.022, very concerned: OR = 0.017, P

Aim of the study Measurement of the mean angle Kappa pre-keratorefractive and post-keratorefractive surgery utilizing Orbscan 3. Patients and methods This retrospective study was conducted on patients who had refractive surgeries, group A included patients who underwent Lasik and group B included patients who underwent Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK). Mean age from 18 to 45 years. Preoperative, 1-week, and 1-month postoperative assessments included detailed ocular examination, slit-scanning topography done by Orbscan 3, and total ocular aberrations by Zywave 3 were done. Results The study comprised 146 eyes of 75 individuals. Preoperative data demonstrated that angle Kappa mean in Lasik group (group A) was 2.38±1.54 at 147.05±96.94, in PRK group (group B) was 2.31±1.17 at 137.67±85.7. Paired mean differences of the two groups between preoperative data and 1-week postoperative show no statistically significant difference in central corneal thickness (CCT) nor angle Kappa values. Paired mean differences of the two groups between preoperative data and 1-month postoperative show no statistically significant difference regarding CCT nor angle Kappa values. Preoperative, 1-week postoperative, and 1-month postoperative correlation of angle Kappa to refractive error, spherical equivalent, average K-reading, CCT and axial length, showed that both groups had a positive correlation with axial length. Conclusion Keratorefractive surgeries do not affect angle Kappa or its intercept measurements.

Background: Hyperglycemia is frequent during steroid therapy and thus it is not uncommon during treatment of lymphoid malignancies. Steroid-induced diabetes (SID) can be complicated by an increased risk of infections, lower chemotherapy efficacy, and even increased mortality. Aim: To determine the prevalence of SID in patients with aggressive lymphoid malignancies during induction therapy and to analyze its impact on treatment outcomes. Methods: The study included 52 patients with lymphoid malignancies; 28 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 24 with aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL). We studied the relation between the development of SID during induction therapy and the rates of complete remission (CR), complication and relapse and survival. Results: Steroid-induced diabetes occurred during induction therapy in 18/28 (64%) and 8/24 (33%) of patients with ALL and NHL, respectively. Older age, and elevated bilirubin level were significantly associated with the development of SID during induction therapy in ALL patients (p = 0.02 and 0.005, respectively), while only older age showed a significant association in NHL patients (p = 0.002). Compared with patients who did not develop SID, those with SID had significantly higher prevalence of febrile neutropenia in the ALL group (p = 0.001) and pneumonia in the NHL group (p = 0.009). Both ALL and NHL patients with SID were significantly less likely to achieve CR and had a significantly worse overall survival. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that SID is frequent during induction therapy in patients with lymphoid malignancies and associated with more complications and worse treatment outcomes.

The disadvantages and side effects of currently available breast cancer (BC) therapies have compelled researchers to seek new therapeutic strategies. This study was designed to investigate the effect of selenium nanoparticles biosynthesized with carvacrol (SeNPs-CV) on breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines and to explore possible underlying pathways. Flow cytometry, MTT assays, and various biochemical techniques were used to evaluate the anti-proliferative effects of SeNPs-CV on MCF-7 cells. Cytotoxicity assays showed that treatment with SeNPs-CV could effectively reduce MCF-7 cell proliferation and viability in a dose-dependent manner. However, SeNPs-CV had no cytotoxic effect against Vero cells. Furthermore, SeNPs-CV showed better anticancer activity than metal nanoparticles of selenium evidenced by the lower IC50 obtained in MCF-7 cells (8.3 µg/mL versus 41.6 µg/mL, respectively). Treatment with SeNPs-CV directly targeted Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3, leading to the mitochondrial leakage of cytochrome C and subsequent activation of the apoptotic cascade in MCF-7 cells. In addition, MCF-7 cells treated with SeNPs-CV exhibited elevated levels of oxidative stress, as indicated by noticeable rises in 8-OHDG, ROS, NO, and LPO, paralleled by significant exhaustion in GSH levels and antioxidant enzymes activity. In addition, the administration of SeNPs-CV induced the inflammatory mediator IL-1β and downregulated the expression of cell-proliferating nuclear antigen (PCNA) in MCF-7 cells, which plays a critical role in apoptosis. Therefore, the ability of SeNPs-CV to fight BC may be due to its ability to induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in tumor cells. These findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Se nanoparticles conjugated with CV, which may provide a novel approach for combination chemotherapy in BC.

Abstract Background Given the diversity of multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms including cognitive impairment in certain domains, the need to develop a rapid and at the same time thorough tool for cognitive assessment is mandatory and represents an unmet need in the clinical and research fields of MS. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) is a good and practical tool to achieve this mission but is not present in the Arabic language for Arabic speaking countries yet. Objectives To assess the reliability and validity of Arabic version of the BICAMS (Egyptian dialect). Methods Ninety Egyptian MS patients and 85 matched healthy controls underwent neuropsychological testing using the BICAMS Arabic version (Egyptian dialect) battery including the Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test 2nd edition (CVLT-II), and revised Brief Visuospatial Retention Test- (BVRT-R). Test–retest data were obtained from MS patients 2 weeks after the initial assessment. Mean differences between both groups were assessed controlling for age, gender, and educational level. Results The MS patients scored significantly lower on the SDMT, CVLT-II, and BVMT-R tests compared to healthy controls (p

Complete superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction is not uncommon and most commonly associated with malignancy. The risk increases in patients with central lines and hypercoagulable states such as with malignancy, thrombophilia, or use of oral contraceptive pills. According to our knowledge, complete SVC and IVC obstruction associated with systemic-to-pulmonary venous shunts in patients with prothrombin G20210A gene mutation has not been reported in the literature. Here we report the case of a 34-year-old female with complete SVC and IVC obstruction presenting with oxygen desaturation and shortness of breath due to systemic-to-pulmonary venous shunts. The unusual collateral pathway was secondary to SVC obstruction. The patient was managed conservatively, and she remained stable.

We aimed to investigate the potential anticonvulsant effect of green synthetized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using Syzygium aromaticum extract (SAE) (SAE-SeNPs) against epileptic seizures and cortical damage induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) injection in rats and its mechanism. A total of 84 rats were divided into six groups; control, PTZ-exposed group, SAE + PTZ-treated group, sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) + PTZ-treated group, SAE-SeNPs + PTZ-treated group, and diazepam + PTZ-treated group. SAE-SeNPs significantly increase (p < 0.05) the latency time to seizures and reduce both the seizure duration and death rate, which were enhanced by the PTZ injection. SAE-SeNPs counteracted the PTZ-induced changes in the oxidants and antioxidants. Furthermore, SAE-SeNPs significantly restored (p < 0.05) the pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) to their normal levels and suppressed the activity of the glial fibrillary acidic protein showing their inhibitory effect on the epilepsy-associated inflammation. In addition, SAE-SeNPs significantly reduced (p < 0.05) PTZ-induced cortical cell apoptosis, as revealed by a reduction in the pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-3 levels, and an elevation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 level. Moreover, SAE-SeNPs significantly modulate (p < 0.05) the PTZ-induced changes in the neurotransmitter norepinephrine level and acetylcholinesterase enzymatic activity. These data concluded the anticonvulsant activity of SAE-SeNPs via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects, along with their ability to modulate neurotransmitters.

A particle of zinc sulfide (ZnS) was synthesized by the chemical coprecipitation method using zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4), ammonium sulfate (NH4) 2SO4 as a reactant, and thiourea as a stabilizer and capping agent. The optioned product characterized by electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy that exhibits the presence of Zn and S elements. The average particle size of the ZnS nanoparticles determined using X-ray diffraction is about 4.9 nm. The ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy showed the blue shift in wavelength and the band gap was 4.33 eV, the surface morphology of the synthesized ZnS nanoparticles powder was studied by scan electron microscopy which was showed the irregular and some spherical shapes of ZnS in a nanosized range. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy observed an absorption peck at 657.73 and 613.36 cm−1 that were assigned to the stretching mods of the Zn-S band. The different amounts of ZnS nanoparticle were applied as bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus by disk diffusion method. It displayed activity against S. aureus bacteria, which was carried out in the absence of irradiation.

This paper presents an experimental investigation to determine the optimum composition of maleic anhydride (MAH) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as initiator for ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer grafted MAH (EPDM-g-MAH) compatibilizer preparation, using response surface methodology (RSM) approach. EPDM-g-MAH was prepared in the laboratory scale by melt blending method using an internal mixer. For this study, the effects of MAH (2.50 – 7.50 wt.%) and DCP (0.10 – 0.30 wt.%) towards grafting efficiency was determined. Two level full factorial design of experiment (DOE) is applied to establish the relationship between these two independent factors of raw materials. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the optimization menu were utilized to decide the raw materials formulation with maximum grafting efficiency. Quantitative analysis based on infra-red (IR) spectral intensity supported by 1H-NMR spectral are used to propose for EPDM-g-MAH grafting mechanism. Standard calibration curve for quantity ratio plot was exponential with R2 = 89.19%. It was found that an optimum about 8.52% of MAF grafting efficiency has been yielded with DCP factor has contributed larger effect at 67.45% of contribution effect. Anhydride stretching of grafted C=O as confirmed by FTIR peak at 1713 cm-1 and 1770 – 1792 cm-1 has responsible for MAH grafting into EPDM rubber. Based on FTIR, 1H-NMR and 2D-COSY spectral analysis, reaction mechanism for EPDM-g-MAH grafting was successfully proposed with two possible termination steps.

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of various ball milling duration on the surface morphology, hardness and wear properties of nickel- quarry dust (Ni-QD) composite coating on aluminium alloy 6061 (AA6061) substrate. Ni-QD composite coatings were deposited on zincated AA6061 substrate by using electrodeposition technique. The quarry dust particles were prepared by ball milling process at 5, 10, 15 and 20 hours. Later, the quarry dust particles were added to nickel citrate bath at 50 g/l for electrodeposition of Ni-QD composite coating. The electrodeposition process was carried out for 1 hour at 40º C, under the current density of 3 A/dm2. X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were carried out in order to investigate the influence of ball milling duration on the prepared quarry dust as well as the produced composite coating. In addition, microhardness and wear testing of Ni-QD composite coatings were also performed in this study. The microhardness values of the nickel composite coatings using ball milled quarry dust are higher than using crushed quarry dust. The microhardness values for all nickel composite coatings produced from crushed and ball milled quarry dust increases from 190.6 to 282.2. The increase in microhardness values is due to the high density of quarry dust in the electrolyte. The damage of the wear scar was improved, as the ball milling duration increases from 0 to 20 hours.

Heat treatment of nickel-based alloy can increase the alloy’s hardness as well as the wear resistance properties. Nevertheless, the effect of heat treatment on the quaternary Ni alloy coating properties produced from electroless deposition bath is less known due to its composition uniqueness. In this study, Cu and Co are added in the Ni-P alloy matrix using hypophosphite-based Electroless Ni deposition method on mild steel substrate in acidic and alkaline bath. The coatings are then heat treated at 623 K for 3600s. The coatings hardness is measured using microVickers hardness tester and the surface morphology of the coatings are studied using both Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) measurement is used to measure the coatings compositions. The wear behavior of the coatings is also investigated before and after heat treatment using ASTM G-99. The coatings from acidic-based bath produces Ni-Cu-Co-P alloy coating while the alkaline-based bath produces Ni-Co-Cu-P alloy based on XRF analysis. Results show that the hardness increases more than 20% for acidic-based bath and 40% for alkaline-based bath coating. The highest increment is the Ni-Co-Cu-P alloy, from 553.3 HV to 991.3 HV after heat treatment. The grain refinement of the coatings can be observed after heat treatment in SEM observation. This is proved by the XRD measurement results where polycrystalline Ni (111) formation is seen after heat treatment overshadowing the Cu (111) and Co (111) peaks. Ni phosphide species are also formed after the heat treatment. The polycrystalline Ni and the Ni phosphide formation, as well as the existence of Co and Cu in the alloy deposits reduces the wear rate significantly after the heat treatment.

Narrowband photodetectors (PD) established in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range are highly required in a variety of applications including high-quality bioimaging. In this simulation study, we propose a filter-less narrowband PD based on the architecture of perovskite/organic heterojunction. The most decisive part of the photodetector is the hierarchical configuration of a larger bandgap perovskite material with a thicker film followed by a lower bandgap organic material with a narrower layer. The design of the structure is carried out by TCAD numerical simulations. Our structure is based on an experimentally validated wideband organic PD, which is modified by invoking an additional perovskite layer having a tunable bandgap. The main detector device comprises of ITO/perovskite (CsyFA1−yPb(IxBr1−x)3)/organic blend (PBDTTT-c:C60-PCBM)/PEDOT:PSS/Al. The simulation results show that the proposed heterojunction PD achieves satisfactory performance when the thickness of perovskite and organic layers are 2.5 µm and 500 nm, respectively. The designed photodetector achieves a narrow spectral response at 730 nm with a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 33 nm in the detector, while having a responsivity of about 0.12 A/W at zero bias. The presented heterojunction perovskite/organic PD can efficiently detect light in the wavelength range of 700 to 900 nm. These simulation results can be employed to drive the development of filter-less narrowband NIR heterojunction PD.

Bacterial infections are the key cause of death in patients suffering from burns and diabetic wounds while the use of traditional antibiotics has been growing steadily. Thus, in the present study, we are trying to introduce a paradigm shift strategy to improve chronic wound healing of bacterial infection. To that end, we have biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Arthrospira sp polysaccharides, and evaluated their antibacterial efficacy with their safety pattern. Scanning electron micrographs showed spherical AgNPs coated with algal polysaccharides with an approximate size of 9.7 nm. Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the AgNPs (0.5–1 μg/mL) resulted in a significant disruption in P. aeruginosa outer membrane, reduction in biofilm formation, and a significant decrease of production of alginate and pyocyanin along with a concentration-dependent reduction in β-lactamase activity. In addition, at the in vivo level, AgNPs displayed substantial activity to control P. aeruginosa infections in rat skin wounds with significant reduction in in COX-2 enzyme in both rat skin homogenate and serum samples. Furthermore, AgNPs facilitated wound curative in the P. aeruginosa infected model by reducing the hemorrhagic areas number and the infiltrated inflammatory cells. Taken all together, these biogenic nanoparticles showed unique properties in controlling bacterial wound infections and improving the healing process of damaged tissues via its direct and indirect effects.

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) capped with glucose and polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP) on the hyperglycemia and prooxidants/antioxidants imbalance present in model streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. SeNPs were synthesized and characterized. Twenty-four albino male rats were grouped into four different groups. After the rats were induced to have type 2 diabetes by STZ, the SeNPs-treated groups received a dose of 0.5 mg/ml of SeNPs for seven days. Plasma glucose and insulin levels, pancreatic insulin expression, the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH) were evaluated. TEM images revealed the formation of semispherical particles with average size between 40 and 50 nm. SeNPs administration successfully reduced the hyperglycemia, raised the levels of insulin in both the pancreas and the plasma and restored the damaged pancreatic tissue. SeNPs also showed enhancement of the elimination of the diabetes-induced oxidative stress injuries by decreasing the pancreatic LPO and NO levels. Furthermore, the activities of the antioxidant enzyme GPx and GSH levels of the diabetic rats were increased. In conclusion, SeNPs capped with PVP could be used in the future as an agent that could manage Diabetes mellitus.

In this work, three Schiff bases carrying acidic phenolic groups were synthesized derived from the reaction of salicylaldehyde with o,m, and p-amino phenols. A number of their physical and structural properties were determined by IR, UV spectra and melting points. The ionization constants of the synthesized Schiff bases were calculated at different temperatures by conductivity measurements. The effect of varying position of OH group with respect to the imine group on ionization constant was investigated. Depending on the results of varying temperatures, the thermodynamic functions of ionization were estimated. The study also concerned with the calculation of a number of theoretical parameters by employing the semiempirrcal Austin method 1 (AM1) including the atomic charges present on the hetro atoms in the molecules, in addition to some energetical and structural parameters. The determined parameters were correlated to the variation of ionization constants of the synthesized imines. Explanation and support for the experimental results were provides by these calculations. The overall results proved that, the ionization constant is affected by inductive, resonance, steric and by hydrogen bonding, and can be determined simply, precisely and accurately by conductivity measurements .

A simple and sensitive indirect spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of niclosamide in pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on the oxidation of reduced form of niclosamide with iron ( III ) in acidic medium, then the subsequent reaction of iron ( II ) with 1,10- phenanthroline to produce a ferroin complex which is water - soluble , stable (using EDTA solution improve the stability of the complex) , and has a maximum absorption at 510 nm against the reagent blank with a molar absorptivity of 2.19×104 l.mol-1.cm-1 . Beer,s law is valid over the concentration range of 2.5 to 225 μg/10 ml. The relative error is in between - 1.80 and +1.50 % and the relative standard deviation from ± 0.89 to ± 2.07 % depending on the concentration of niclosamide . The proposed method has been applied successfully to determine niclosamide in pharmaceutical preparations.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has reached over 276 million people globally with 5.3 million deaths as of 22nd December 2021. COVID-19-associated acute and long-term neurological manifestations are well recognized. The exact profile and the timing of neurological events in relation to the onset of infection are worth exploring. The aim of the current body of work was to determine the frequency, pattern, and temporal profile of neurological manifestations in a cohort of Egyptian patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Methods: This was a prospective study conducted on 582 hospitalized COVID-19 patients within the first two weeks of the diagnosis of COVID-19 to detect any specific or non-specific neurological events. Results: The patients’ mean (SD) age was 46.74 (17.26) years, and 340 (58.42%) patients were females. The most commonly encountered COVID-19 symptoms were fever (90.72%), cough (82.99%), and fatigue (76.98%). Neurological events (NE) detected in 283 patients (48.63%) and were significantly associated with a severe COVID-19 at the onset (OR: 3.13; 95% CI: 2.18–4.51; p < 0.0001) and with a higher mortality (OR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.48–5.46; p = 0.019). The most frequently reported NEs were headaches (n = 167) and myalgias (n = 126). Neurological syndromes included stroke (n = 14), encephalitis (n = 12), encephalopathy (n = 11), transverse myelitis (n = 6) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (n = 4). Conclusions: Neurological involvement is common (48.63%) in COVID-19 patients within the first two weeks of the illness. This includes neurological symptoms such as anosmia, headaches, as well as a constellation of neurological syndromes such as stroke, encephalitis, transverse myelitis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Severity of acute COVID-19 illness and older age are the main risk factors.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains a major cause of childhood blindness in developing countries. As childhood and neonatal mortality in Egypt has shown tremendous improvement over the past two decades, it is expected to encounter an increasing number of cases of blindness from ROP in surviving infants unless strict guidelines and cooperation between different involved departments are explicitly set. In this review article, the author highlights the studies conducted and published risk factors, recommends protocols for early diagnosis, and describes management strategies to lessen or prevent blindness related to ROP.

The research was carried out at Alsen research center of the General Authority for Fisheries in the Banias region–Tartus Governorate - during two agricultural seasons 2018-2019, in order to study the effect of irrigation with fish culture effluent on some morphological characteristics and some productive characteristics of peanut yield (Syrian 1). The experiment consisted of five treatments: Irrigation with freshwater. (control, T1), irrigation with fish culture effluent (T2), irrigation alternately with fish culture effluent tri and freshwater once (T3), irrigation alternately with fish culture effluent once and freshwater once (T4), irrigation alternately with fish culture effluent once and freshwater tri (T5). The experiment was done according to the completely randomized block design with three replicates. Soil and water samples were collected and analyzed. Results of the study showed: The irrigation in waste water fish ponds adds positive effect on the morphological characteristics and improves the productive characteristics. It was observed that irrigation with water of mature fish ponds exceeded of the witness.(control). The research concluded to highlight the importance of using the drainage water of fish ponds to irrigate the peanut crop (Syrian-1) for the richness of this water with dissolved solids.

Objectives: Anemia is one of the world's leading causes of considerable perinatal morbidity and mortality. This study designed to compare the efficacy and safety of Heme iron polypeptide (Proferrin®-ES) versus iron saccharate complex (Ferrosac) in treatment of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Methods: Two hundred and sixty (260) pregnant women with hemoglobin level below 10 gm/dl due to iron deficiency anemia were included in this study and randomized to receive either; intravenous Iron Saccharate (IV group) or oral Proferrin®-ES (PO group) for correction of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Treatment efficacy checked by comparing pre-treatment values of hemoglobin, serum ferritin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and reticulocytes count by the 3-months` post-treatment values. Results: The 3-months` post-treatment hemoglobin level increased compared to the pre-treatment level without any significant difference between the two studied groups (from 8.5 ± 3.5 to 11.3 ± 1.3 gm/dl in PO group and from 8.7 ± 2.5 to 11.7 ± 0.9 gm/dl in IV group). In addition; the 3-months` post-treatment ferritin level, increased compared to the pre-treatment level without any significant difference between the two studied groups (from 19.4 ± 4.9 to 118.8 ± 7.1 ug/l in PO group and from 15.3 ± 5.6 to 122.3 ± 6.4 ug/l in IV group). 1.6% (2/124) of the studied women developed gastrointestinal intolerance and upset with oral Proferrin®-ES (insignificant difference and excluded from the study) and no other side effects recorded with oral Proferrin®-ES. Conclusion: HIP (Proferrin®-ES) is an effective, safe, well tolerable oral iron preparation as well as intravenous iron saccharate complex for treatment of iron deficiency during pregnancy; it increases the hemoglobin and replaces the depleted iron store.

Background Retinopathy of prematurity ROP is a leading cause of blindness affecting ∼50 000 children worldwide. The incidence of the disease varies among different countries, it is influenced by the level of perinatal care, the existence of screening programs for early diagnosis. Low birth weight BW, small gestational age GA, other antenatal, postnatal risk factors have been identified with their relation to the severity of the disease. Aim The aim of this research was to study the incidence and risk factors of ROP in preterm babies at neonatal intensive care units, Mansoura city. Patients and methods This study included 402 preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units in Mansoura city in the period from March 2013 to March 2015. Fundus examination was done using indirect ophthalmoscopy and a 28 D lens, and fundus images were captured using wide-field digital fundus camera (Retcam 3). Results Out of the 402 screened preterm babies, 237 (59%) cases had ROP, among whom 101 (42.6%) had stage 1, 114 (48.1%) had stage 2, 12 (5.1%) had stage 3, 10 (4.2%) had aggressive posterior retinopathy, and 24 (10.1%) presented with plus disease. GA, BW, oxygen therapy, sepsis, multiple birth, and cesarean section were factors found to be significantly associated with the disease. Conclusion ROP occurred in 59% of all screened preterm babies. The main risk factors for the development of ROP were GA, BW, oxygen therapy, sepsis, multiple birth, and cesarean section.

Trachomatous trichiasis is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness worldwide. A relatively simple surgery can spare vision. Although this surgery is usually performed free of charge in endemic regions, multiple studies indicate that surgical refusal is common. Prior studies have attempted to examine these reasons, although they generally rely on patient recall months to years after the surgery was offered. This study set out to determine major decision-making factors at the time of refusal. In addition, this study looked for ways to help increase surgical uptake by targeting modifiable factors.We used a combination of focus groups, interviews with community health workers, and individual interviews with trichiasis patients who refused surgery to understand their decision-making. We found that several factors influenced surgical refusals, including misconception regarding recovery time, inability to find a post-surgical caregiver, and the time of year of the surgical campaign. Fear of the surgery itself played a minimal role in refusals.Trichiasis patients refuse surgery for many reasons, but a large percentage is due to lack of information and education, and is, therefore, modifiable within the structure of a surgical outreach project. To address this, we developed a "frequently asked questions" (FAQ) document aimed at community health workers, which may have helped to decrease some of the misconceptions that had led to prior refusals.