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For more than seven decades, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has not ended, and every one claims his right to the land, waters, airspace and wealth of Palestine. This conflict was reflected in the political, military, social and cultural aspects, and the cinema had a prominent role in conveying messages to the world about this conflict. On the geopolitical dimensions and their impact on the cinematic image in the films of the Palestinian cause), the researchers divided the research into four frameworks that came as follows: (methodological framework) and included the research problem, its importance, research objectives, research limits and sealing the chapter by defining the terms. And (theoretical framework): it was divided into two sections: the first topic: the relationship of art to politics, the second topic: films of the Palestinian cause, and the researchers came up with a number of indicators. (Research procedures): It includes: the research method, the research community, the research sample, and the movie (The Embassy in Architecture) was selected, the research tool, the validity of the tool, and the sample analysis, (Results and Conclusions): The research results and conclusions included: 1. The movie is one of the means of communication that affects the masses and changes their attitudes. 2. Film can be considered as an educational means to convey ideas and convictions to the recipient. He concluded with recommendations, sources and references

The audio-visual arts are considered modern arts compared to theater, plastic arts, and music. It proved its distinguished presences among other arts. It was capable of forming a huge audience and took television from cinema, literature, theater, type of narration, and narrative instructor. Also, it took symbolism and metaphorical repetition from literature. As for the importance of the functions that repetition has the research concentrated on the importance of function of repetition in deeping the esthetic meaning in television drama. The research was limited by:1.Objective limit: functions of repetition in deeping the esthetic meaning in series of (Harem Al-Sultan).2.Place where it was showed: series of (Harem Al-Sultan) part four on Nesima Tunisian channel.3.Time where it was showed: production of series (Harem Al-Sultan) was broadcasted on Nesima network channel in 2015.4.Identifying terminologies: repetition – esthetic- esthetic meaning.The second chapter contained subjects about rhetorical image and subject about imagery repetition. In chapter three and within the procedures of the research, the researchers depended on analytical descriptive method. As for the research sample it was part four of series of (Harem Al-Sultan). The research tool it depended on special indicators of theoretical section. It was modified after being viewed to experts and its final form came out:1.Means of connecting scenes and events.2.The increasing effect of growing events and conflict.3.Alerting tool separating the receiver from emotional reactions.4.Repeated stops to separate between the stage and another of events.5.Analytical job which allows the receiver to get deep into analysis and explanation of events.6.Mass media concentration by relying on filming techniques, montage, light, decoration, costumes, etc

Purpose of Review: This year marks 10 years from the publication of the clinical consensus statement on pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Balloon sinuplasty did not meet criteria for consensus at that time because there was insufficient evidence on its efficacy and safety. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current evidence on balloon sinuplasty treatment for pediatric CRS., Recent Findings: Balloon sinuplasty is not a cost-effective measure compared to adenoidectomy and endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). In the pediatric population, benefits include short operative time, reduced tissue manipulation, and potential for decreased antibiotic courses. Alternatively, balloon dilation has increased equipment costs and there is a lack of robust prospective data that fully elucidates balloon sinuplasty's role in the management of pediatric CRS., Summary: Pediatric otolaryngologists should continue to perform first-line adenoidectomy and consider ESS based on imaging and other validated clinical scoring systems. Balloon sinuplasty has not yet been proven as an effective treatment for pediatric CRS and further large-scale investigations are required to overcome its lack of cost-effectiveness., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Low production costs and a potential feedstock supply make lignocellulosic ethanol (bioethanol) an important source of advanced biofuels. The physical and chemical preparation of this kind of lignocellulosic feedstock led to a high ethanol yield. In order to increase the yield of fermentable sugars, pretreatment is an essential process step that alters the lignocellulosic structure and improves its accessibility for the expensive hydrolytic enzymes. In this context, the chemical composition of sugarcane trash (dry leaves, green leaves, and tops) and jatropha (shell and seed cake) was determined to be mainly cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide were applied in an attempt to facilitate the solubilization of lignin and hemicelluloses in five agrowastes. The extraction of hydrogen peroxide was much better than that of sodium hydroxide. A comparative study was done using SEM, EDXA, and FTIR to evaluate the difference between the two methods. The pretreated wastes were subjected to saccharification by commercial cellulases (30 IU/g substrate). The obtained glucose was fortified with nutrients and fermented statically by Saccharomyces cerevisiae F-307 for bioethanol production. The results revealed the bioethanol yields were 325.4, 310.8, 282.9, 302.4 and 264.0 mg ethanol/g treated agrowastes from green leaves of sugarcane, jatropha deolied seed cake, tops sugarcane, dry leaves of sugarcane, and jatropha shell, respectively. This study emphasizes the value of lignocellulosic agricultural waste as a resource for the production of biofuels as well as the significance of the extraction process., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest N.B. Publication has been approved by all co-authors N.B. The article must not be submitted to any elsewhere N.B. There is no conflict of interest, (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

With the growing popularity of clear aligners, more patients have chosen to use them instead of traditional orthodontic braces to correct their malocclusions. Clear aligners offer distinct advantages over conventional fixed braces, such as limited aesthetic impact, the convenience of easily removing them for meals, improved accessibility for brushing and flossing, and a treatment approach that avoids the use of metal, minimizing potential irritation to the cheeks and gums. Manufacturers point out a disadvantage that can be administered in this type of treatment. Still, to our knowledge, a comprehensive review of the published literature assessing the adverse/negative effects of clear aligners has not yet been conducted. A systematic review, with or without meta-analysis, will be performed. The inclusion criteria will be studies involving individuals using clear aligners and reporting potential adverse/negative effects during or after treatment. No restrictions about time or language will be applied. The studies screening will be conducted in two stages. Two independent reviewers will initially evaluate the title and abstract under the eligibility criteria. Subsequently, the same two reviewers will examine the articles' full text in-depth. The results will be synthesized in the form of a narrative description and incorporate a meta-analysis if justified. Furthermore, we will present details regarding the sample characteristics, intervention, study objectives, methodologies employed, and primary findings. This study aims to investigate the potential adverse effects and their frequency among orthodontic patients wearing clear aligners. Moreover, the outcomes of this review have the potential to illuminate specific inherent limitations of aligner therapy as a comprehensive orthodontic approach., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Ronchi Lemos et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objective: Geographic information systems (GIS) provide a unique set of tools to spatially analyze health care and identify patterns of health outcomes to help optimize delivery. Our goal is to create maps of pediatric tracheostomy patients using GIS to assess socioeconomic and other factors that impact postoperative care after discharge to home., Methods: A retrospective study was performed on patients (≤21 years old) who underwent tracheostomy at a tertiary care pediatric hospital from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2020. Using GIS, we geocoded patient addresses and conducted spatial analyses of the relationship between patients and access to health care providers as well as vulnerable population factors including poverty, educational attainment, and single-parent households., Results: A total of 156 patients were included. Patients initially discharged to transitional care (108/156, 69.2%) had significantly higher likelihood of presenting to the ED regardless of socioeconomic status (OR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.03-5.05; p = 0.042). There was no relationship between ED visit rate and median household income, poverty level, and percentage of uneducated adults (p = 0.490; p = 0.424; p = 0.752). Median distance to the tertiary care pediatric hospital was significantly longer for patients with no ED visit (median = 61.28 miles; SD = 50.90) compared with those with an ED visit (median = 37.75 miles; SD = 35.92) (p = 0.002)., Conclusion: The application of GIS could provide geo-localized data to better understand the healthcare barriers to access for children with tracheostomies. This study uniquely integrates medical record data with socioeconomic factors and social determinants of health., Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 134:1919-1925, 2024., (© 2023 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

In this study, the efficiency of the ceftiofur N-acyl homoserine lactonase niosome against multi-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in broilers was evaluated. Fifty-six K. pneumoniae isolates previously recovered from different poultry and environmental samples were screened for the ahlK gene. The lactonase enzyme was extracted from eight quorum-quenching isolates. The niosome was formulated, characterized, and tested for minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and cytotoxicity. Fourteen-day-old chicks were assigned to six groups: groups Ӏ and П served as negative and positive controls, receiving saline and K. pneumoniae solutions, respectively. In groups Ш and IV, ceftiofur and niosome were administrated intramuscularly at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight for five consecutive days, while groups V and VI received the injections following the K. pneumoniae challenge. Signs, mortality, and gross lesions were recorded. Tracheal swabs were collected from groups П, V, and VI for counting K. pneumoniae. Pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated in four treated groups at nine-time points. The niosome was spherical and 56.5 ± 4.41 nm in size. The viability of Vero cells was unaffected up to 5 × MIC (2.4 gml -1 ). The niosome-treated challenged group showed mild signs and lesions with lower mortality and colony count than the positive control group. The maximum ceftiofur serum concentrations in treated groups were observed 2 h following administration. The elimination half-life in niosome-treated groups was longer than that reported in ceftiofur-treated groups. This is the first report of the administration of N-acyl homoserine lactonase for the control of multi-resistant K. pneumoniae infections in poultry., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To report key characteristics and patterns of captive insurance claims not publicly reported in otolaryngology across a large tertiary-level academic health system over the previous 2 decades., Study Design: Case series., Setting: The tertiary care health system., Methods: The internal captive insurance database at a tertiary level healthcare system was queried to identify otolaryngology-related malpractice claims regardless of final disposition (settled or dismissed) filed from 2000 to 2020. The date of the incident, date of claim, error type, patient outcome, provider subspecialty, total expenses, disposition, and final reward amount were recorded., Results: Twenty-eight claims were identified. There were 11 (39.3%) claims from 2000 to 2010 and 17 (60.7%) claims from 2011 to 2020. Head and neck surgery was the most frequently implicated subspecialty (n = 9, 32.1% of all cases), followed by general otolaryngology (n = 7, 25.0%), pediatrics (n = 5, 17.9%), skull base/rhinology (n = 4, 14.3%), and laryngology (n = 1, 3.6%). Improper surgical performance was cited in 35.7% of cases (n = 10), followed by failure to diagnose (n = 8, 28.6%), to treat (n = 4, 14.3%), and to obtain informed consent (n = 3, 10.7%). While 2 cases are ongoing, a total of 17/26 (65.4%) cases were settled and 20/26 (76.9%) dismissed some or all parties. Dismissed claims had significantly higher expenses (p = .022) and duration from incident to disposition (p = .013) compared to settled claims., Conclusion: This study expands the malpractice landscape in otolaryngology by including data not readily available through public sources and compares it to national trends. These findings encourage otolaryngologists to better gauge current quality and safety measures that best protect patients from harm., (© 2023 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Introduction  For multiple reasons, elective pediatric otolaryngology surgical procedures have declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective  The purpose of the present study was to assess whether the prevalence of pediatric neck abscesses managed with operative drainage decreased compared with previous years. Methods  Medical records of all pediatric cases at a tertiary care children's hospital diagnosed with abscess of the neck and treated with incision and drainage were evaluated between the dates of April 1 and November 30 from 2015 to 2020. Outcomes were compared for each year from 2015 to 2019 to 2020, which included location, abscess size, duration of antibiotic treatment, microbiology, and the number of cases per year. Results  A total of 201 cases were included. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) presenting age in the 2015 to 2019 group was 5.05 ± 5.03 years old and 2.24 ± 1.91 years old in the 2020 group. The mean number of cases between 2015 and 2019 was 35.6 ± 4.2, whereas the number of cases in 2020 was 23 ( p  = 0.002). Of those patients who underwent IV antibiotic therapy prior to presentation ( n  = 43), the mean number of days before admission was 1.98 ± 2.95 ( n  = 40) from 2015 to 2019 and 12.00 ± 10.39 ( n  = 3) in 2020 ( p  = 0.008). The percent of cases with multiple strains cultured between 2015 and 2019 was 13.4% versus 18.2% in 2020 ( p  = 0.007). Conclusion  There was a decrease in the number of operative neck abscesses in 2020 compared with the mean number per year from 2015 to 2019. COVID-19 mitigation strategies leading to reduced transmission of other viral and bacterial illnesses and a tendency toward prolonged medical management to avoid surgery are two possible explanations., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests The authors have no conflict of interests to declare., (Fundação Otorrinolaringologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).)

A total of 300 quail eggs were collected randomly from different markets in Cairo and Giza Governorates. Five eggs were represented as one egg sample. Shell and content of each egg were examined for their microbiological contents, sensory evaluation and study of Escherichia coli O157 survival in artificially contaminated eggs. Moreover, qualitative detection of antimicrobial residues by seven plates microbiologically bioassay and confirmed by validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods for positively reacted antimicrobials in raw and boiled samples. There was a significant difference (P < 0·05) between the grading score of eggs after the boiling at 2-, 4-, 5- and 7-min. Based on the survival results, the refrigeration storage and boiling for 5 min of quail eggs was confirmed that such eggs are without E. coli O157. After the boil, the concentrations of oxytetracycline (OTC) and 4-Epi-OTC residues were significantly reduced, and there was no effect on the concentration of sulphadimidine (SDD), amoxicillin (AMO) and Diketo residues. Samples that exceeded the maximum residual limits (MRLs) were 17·0%, 12·0%, 10·0%, 16·0% and 14·0% for SDD, OTC, 4-Epi-OTC, AMO and Diketo, respectively. After boiling, no significant change was noted for SDD, AMO and Diketo, but all OTC and 4-Epi-OTC were completely below MRLs. Therefore, SDD and AMO with their metabolite (Diketo) are heat-stable antimicrobial residues with multiple human health hazards., (© 2022 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

This study aimed to detect and identify the N-acyl-homoserine lactones molecules (AHLs) produced by different resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates recovered from poultry and environmental samples using a modified validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. A total of 56 K. pneumoniae isolates were recovered, investigated for their antibiotic susceptibility, and screened for AHLs production using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4 biosensor system and a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. The results revealed the detection of different short- and long-chain AHLs molecules among 39 K. pneumoniae isolates recovered from poultry and environmental samples. All environmental isolates produced nine peaks with retention times for C4-HSL, C6-HSL, C12-HSL, C8-HSL, C14-HSL, C8-oxo-HSL, C10-HSL, C6-oxo-HSL, and C7-HSL. The most quantifiable AHL signal molecules in poultry isolates were C4-HSL, C6-HSL, and C12-HSL. No statistical correlation between the AHL-producing ability of K. pneumoniae isolates and antibiotic resistance was reported. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first detailed report on the detection and identification of AHLs in K. pneumoniae isolates recovered from poultry and environmental samples. Furthermore, it provides a new insight available tool other than LC-MS/MS for detection and identification of AHL molecules., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background and Aim: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an integral part of the outer cell membrane complex of Gram-negative bacteria. It plays an important role in the induction and stimulation of the immune system. Various LPS purification protocols have been developed. However, analysis of their efficacy is limited by contamination during downstream applications or the public health hazard of LPS. The aim of this study was to evaluate a modified method for extracting LPS as well as assess the purity of the extracted LPS by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Further, we evaluated its immunopotentiating function by measuring the relative RNA expression levels of splenic immune-related genes such as interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), after intramuscular injection of increasing concentrations of the extracted LPS in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chick., Materials and Methods: Isolation, identification, and serotyping of Salmonella Typhimurium were performed using chicken flocks. We then performed molecular typing of Salmonella isolates using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A new protocol for purification of LPS from Salmonella isolate ( S . Typhimurium) was conducted. HPLC analysis of the extracted LPS in the current study was compared to existing methods. An in vivo study was performed to evaluate the ability of LPS to induce an immune response by measuring relative IFN-γ and IL-1β gene expression after injecting increasing concentrations of the extracted LPS into SPF chicks., Results: Isolation and serotyping revealed that Salmonella enterica was of the serovar Typhimurium. Confirmation was conducted by molecular typing through conventional PCR. Fractionation of the LPS extract by HPLC revealed a high degree of purity comparable with standard commercial LPS. These results demonstrate the high purity of extracted LPS based on our modified method using propanol and sodium hydroxide mixture. Intramuscular injection of the extracted LPS in 22 day-old SPF chicks, compared to the negative control, revealed significant upregulation of IFN-γ and slight downregulation of IL-1β., Conclusion: The new modified method can be used for high purity LPS extraction and demonstrates effective immunopotentiating activity., (Copyright: © Hassan, et al.)

New blend films based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with different concentrations (50, 100 and 200 µL) of chamomile oil (CAO) were prepared. The effect of oil on the dielectric properties, structural and surface properties of PET was studied. The wettability of the blend films was evaluated by contact angle measurements. In vitro platelet adhesion on the surface and coagulation assessment were conducted to evaluate the behavior of the new blends for blood contact applications. Results of the study indicate that the wettability of PET-CAO blends up to 100 µL has been enhanced relative to the pure PET as indicated by the decrease in contact angle measurements. The attenuation total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectra of the blends confirmed the presence of chamomile oil in the polymer matrix and suggested the presence of interaction between them. The permittivity ε' values decreased by increasing oil content upto 100 µL. On the other hand, the values of dielectric loss ε″ were found to increase by increasing oil content to 100 µL after which it decreased. The delay in partial thromboplastin time (PTT) of the blood would validate the anti-coagulant property of PET-CAO blends. The results demonstrated that the PET-CAO blends with concentration of 100 µL could be considered as a promising candidate material in blood contact application.

Background and Aim: Nano-selenium (NS) supplementation contributes in improving productivity, performance, and meat quality while reducing public health concern. Influence of NS and inorganic selenium (Se) water additive on performance, carcass quality, immunoglobulin concentration, intestinal microbiota, Se tissue concentrations, and tissue architecture was studied., Materials and Methods: Two-hundred and sixty 1-day-old Hubbard chicks were randomly grouped into five groups (5×52) and supplemented with 0.5 and 1.0 mL of NS and inorganic Se (100 mg.L -1 ). G1, G2, G3, and G4 were challenged with Escherichia coli O157: H7 2.6×10 8 on the 14 th day. A total of 2250 samples, including 250 sera, 250 intestinal swabs, and 1500 organ and tissue samples as liver, spleen, heart, bursa, intestine, and breast muscles, and 250 eviscerated carcasses were collected., Results: The results revealed a highly significant increase (p<0.01) in live body weights, weight gains, performance indices, carcasses, and organs weights, whereas immunoglobulin G and M concentrations in broilers treated with 0.5 and 1.0 mL NS, respectively, synchronized reveal a highly significant decline (p<0.01) in total bacterial and Enterobacteriaceae counts of intestinal swabs and breast muscles, final pH 24 , and drip loss in broilers treated with 0.5 and 1.0 mL NS, respectively. Meanwhile, water holding capacity revealed no significant differences between all groups. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography examination revealed the earlier disappearance of NS residues than inorganic Se from the broiler's liver and muscles. Histopathological photomicrographs of the liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius, and intestine, as well as, the immunohistochemistry of intestinal sections revealed superior tissue architecture in broilers treated with NS contrary to inorganic Se., Conclusion: The study showed significant stimulation actions of NS on performance, immunity, carcass and meat quality, intestinal and muscles' bacterial load as well as short withdrawal period and nearly normal cellular architecture compared to inorganic Se., (Copyright: © Soliman, et al.)

Surface properties and morphology of the biomaterial play an essential role in the polymer-material interaction. In this work, laser surface modification of polyethylene terephthalate as a polymer with distinguished mechanical properties was carried out using (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) Nd:YAG laser (1.064 µm) with different output power (0.3, 3, and 6 W). The structural, surface, and dielectric properties of PET before and after laser irradiation have been studied using attenuation total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), dielectric spectroscopy (DS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and contact angle measurements. Moreover, the anticoagulant properties of the laser-irradiated PET was determined through measuring the prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and international normalized ratio (INR). In vitro platelet adhesion test was used to assess the platelets adhered to the surface of the samples; in addition to hematological study. It was found that contact angle (θ) measurements of laser-irradiated PET samples decreased compared to the unirradiated PET. The irradiated samples at 0.3 W have the lowest contact angle which is a clear indication that surface treatment with Nd:YAG laser brought about improving the wettability of the polymer. From the dielectric measurements, both values of permittivity and dielectric loss decrease by increasing the laser power. The electrical conductivity decreases with increasing laser power, but still in the same order 10 -14  S/cm. The decrease in electrical conductivity σ may be due to the cross-linking of the polymeric matrix which led to a decrease in the total polarity and consequently decrease in electrical conductivity. The magnitude of σ obtained is highly recommended to be used for insulator purposes in addition to the main purpose that is blood contact.

Executive function supports the rapid alternation between tasks for online reconfiguration of attentional and motor goals. The oculomotor literature has found that a prosaccade (i.e., saccade to veridical target location) preceded by an antisaccade (i.e., saccade mirror symmetrical to a target) elicits an increase in reaction time (RT), whereas the converse switch does not. This switch-cost has been attributed to the antisaccade task's requirement of inhibiting a prosaccade (i.e., response suppression) and transforming a target's coordinate (i.e., vector inversion)-executive processes thought to contribute to a task-set inertia that proactively interferes with the planning of a subsequent prosaccade. It is, however, unclear whether response suppression and vector inversion contribute to a task-set inertia or whether the phenomenon relates to a unitary component (e.g., response suppression). Here, the same stimulus-driven (SD) prosaccades (i.e., respond at target onset) as used in previous work were used with minimally delayed (MD) prosaccades (i.e., respond at target offset) and arranged in an AABB paradigm (i.e., A = SD prosaccade, B = MD prosaccade). MD prosaccades provide the same response suppression as antisaccades without the need for vector inversion. RTs for SD task-switch trials were longer and more variable than their task-repeat counterparts, whereas values for MD task-switch and task-repeat trials did not reliably differ. Moreover, SD task-repeat and task-switch movement times and amplitudes did not vary and thus demonstrate that a switch-cost is unrelated to a speed accuracy trade-off. Accordingly, results suggest the executive demands of response suppression is sufficient to engender the persistent activation of a non-standard task-set that selectively delays the planning of a subsequent SD prosaccade.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a progressive autoimmune disorder that targets peripheral nerves. It commonly presents with motor-predominant dysfunction and enlargement of cranial nerves. With regards to hearing loss, a few cases of sensorineural loss have been described. We present a novel case of conductive hearing loss caused by a mass on the tympanic segment of the facial nerve in the setting of CIDP.

Isolated Agrobacterium tumefaciens was exposed to different extremely low frequencies of square amplitude modulated waves (QAMW) from two generators to determine the resonance frequency that causes growth inhibition. The carrier was 10 MHz sine wave with amplitude ±10 Vpp which was modulated by a second wave generator with a modulation depth of ± 2Vpp and constant field strength of 200 V/m at 28 °C. The exposure of A. tumefaciens to 1.0 Hz QAMW for 90 min inhibited the bacterial growth by 49.2%. In addition, the tested antibiotics became more effective against A. tumefaciens after the exposure. Furthermore, results of DNA, dielectric relaxation and TEM showed highly significant molecular and morphological changes due to the exposure to 1.0 Hz QAMW for 90 min. An in-vivo study has been carried out on healthy tomato plants to test the pathogenicity of A. tumefaciens before and after the exposure to QAMW at the inhibiting frequency. Symptoms of crown gall and all pathological symptoms were more aggressive in tomato plants treated with non-exposed bacteria, comparing with those treated with exposed bacteria. We concluded that, the exposure of A. tumefaciens to 1.0 Hz QAMW for 90 min modified its cellular activity and DNA structure, which inhibited the growth and affected the microbe pathogenicity., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Transcatether aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as an acceptable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with high-risk surgical profile. In this analysis, we compare both approaches in non-high surgical risk severe aortic stenosis., Methods: Only studies comparing SAVR and TAVR and enrolling patients with low-intermediate risk were included from January 2000 through May 2016. Primary endpoints were assessed at 1 and 12months including: mortality, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and myocardial infarction (MI). Secondary endpoints at 1month included: bleeding, acute kidney injury, new permanent pacemaker implantation and vascular access site complications., Results: A total of 5223 patients from 8 studies were included (4 prospective and 4 retrospective). There were no significant differences between TAVR and SAVR at one month in terms of mortality (risk ratio RR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.20), or CVA (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.21). However, MI was lower in the TAVR group (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.99). At 12months, there was no significant difference between strategies in terms of mortality (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.84-1.13), CVA (RR1.07, 95% CI 0.85-1.33) or MI (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.53-1.15). With regard to secondary outcomes, TAVR was associated with lower rates of bleeding (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22-0.88) and acute kidney injury (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31-0.93) but higher need for new permanent pacemaker implantation (RR 2.99, 95% CI 1.51-5.94) and high rate of vascular access site complications (RR 9.08, 95% CI 2.03-40.66)., Conclusion: In severe AS patients with non-high surgical risk, TAVR has lower risk of MI at one month, but both TAVR and SAVR yielded similar outcomes at one month in terms of mortality and CVA and at 12months in terms of mortality, CVA and MI. In regard to secondary outcomes at one month, TAVR has lower rates of bleeding and acute kidney injury, and higher rates of need for new permanent pacemakers and high rate of vascular access site complications., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique that is able to characterize radicals formed in kinetic reactions. However, spectral characterization of individual chemical species is often limited or even unmanageable due to the severe kinetic and spectral overlap among species in kinetic processes. Therefore, we applied, for the first time, multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) method to EPR time evolving data sets to model and characterize the different constituents in a kinetic reaction. Here we demonstrate the advantage of multivariate analysis in the investigation of radicals formed along the kinetic process of hydroxycoumarin in alkaline medium. Multiset analysis of several EPR-monitored kinetic experiments performed in different conditions revealed the individual paramagnetic centres as well as their kinetic profiles. The results obtained by MCR-ALS method demonstrate its prominent potential in analysis of EPR time evolved spectra., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), is a chronic, recurrent dermatosis affecting skin that contains apocrine glands. Photodynamic therapy using aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) activated by intense pulsed light (IPL) have shown variable success rates, with some adverse effects., Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer delivered as a niosomal gel for the treatment of HS using IPL., Methods: We enrolled 11 patients with HS in the study, which was a randomized split-body study. One side of each patient's body was treated with niosomal MB (NMB) gel and the other side was treated with unloaded (free) MB (FMB) gel. The affected sites were irradiated using IPL with a 630 nm filter. Patients were followed up at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment., Results: Drug release from the FMB gel was significantly higher (P > 0.05) than from the NMB gel. Lesions showed 77.3% and 44.1% reduction on the NMB and FMB sides, respectively. A significant reduction in the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Lesion, Area and Severity Index (HS-LASI) after treatment was elicited in both groups, with no pain, erythema or hyperpigmentation., Conclusion: The combination of MB as a photosensitizer activated with 630 nm IPL as a light source is a successful PDT for HS. Delivery of MB in niosomes was more effective for drug penetration to the dermis compared with delivery by FMB gel. The 630 nm filter was not only a source of activation of MB but also a means of hair-follicle destruction., (© 2014 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Aims: Typhoid is a serious disease difficult to be treated with conventional drugs. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a new method for the control of Salmonella typhi growth, through the interference with the bioelectric signals generated from the microbe during cell division by extremely low frequency electromagnetic waves (ELF-EMW-ELF-EM) at resonance frequency., Methods and Results: Isolated Salmonella typhi was subjected to square amplitude modulated waves (QAMW) with different modulation frequencies from two generators with constant carrier frequency of 10 MHz, amplitude of 10 Vpp, modulating depth ± 2 Vpp and constant field strength of 200 V m(-1) at 37°C. Both the control and exposed samples were incubated at the same conditions during the experiment. The results showed that there was highly significant inhibition effect for Salm. typhi exposed to 0·8 Hz QAMW for a single exposure for 75 min. Dielectric relaxation, TEM and DNA results indicated highly significant changes in the molecular structure of the DNA and cellular membrane resulting from the exposure to the inhibiting EM waves., Conclusions: It was concluded that finding out the inhibiting resonance frequency of ELF-EM waves that deteriorates Salm. typhi growth will be promising method for the treatment of Salm. typhi infection either in vivo or in vitro., Significance and Impact of the Study: This new non-invasive technique for treatment of bacterial infections is of considerable interest for the use in medical and biotechnological applications., (© 2014 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

An epidemiological study was conducted on 500 persons (60% women and 40% men) from the medico-technical staff of the "Hôtel-Dieu de France" (Lebanon center for hospitalization and medical formation) in order to establish the lipid profile of the Lebanese population. The following results were obtained (mean values): total cholesterol 5.27 mmol/l (SD = 1.04), HDLc 1.28 mmol/l (SD = 0.40), LDLc 3, 31mmol/l (SD = 0.94), Triglycerides 1.55 mmol/l (SD = 1.55), glucose 5 mmol/l (SD = 0.80), Fibrinogen 3.09 g/l (SD = 0.67) and Lipoprotein (a) 0.20 g/l (SD = 0.253) with 20% of the population having Lp(a) values greater than 0.3 g/l. The distribution of these parameters in regard to the sex, age, Lebanese regions origin, body mass index and the waist to hips ratio, as well as tobacco consumption, alimentary habits, personal and familial history of dyslipidemia or coronary diseases, are reported. The results of Lp(a) measurements and correlations to other parameters confirm its importance as an independent risk factor for coronary problems. The significant percentage of subjects with lipid levels higher than those recommended by the NCEP, 19% for total cholesterol, 27% for LDL cholesterol and 20% for Lp(a), has to be seriously considered.

The exposure of mice to static magnetic fields (MF) of different strengths (1000-4000 G) for 10 min was studied. The effects of these magnetic fields on the function of haemoglobin (Hb), and its conformational stability, auto-oxidation kinetics, bioenergetics and viscosity, and those of different Hb derivatives were investigated. The fractions and concentrations of the inactive Hb pigments (such as methaemoglobin, carboxyhaemoglobin and sulfohaemoglobin) and the active Hb (in the HbO2 form) were determined using a newly developed multi-component spectrophotometric method. The direct effect of magnetic fields of relatively high strengths (3500 and 4000 G) led to different Hb conformations, accompanied by changes in intermolecular interactions represented by the slope of the eta sp/C = F(C) lines and Huggins' constant K', while no measurable change in the intrinsic viscosity [eta] of Hb was observed. These results indicate a lack of changes in the dimensions and shape of the Hb molecule. Study of the kinetics of oxyhaemoglobin auto-oxidation revealed decreases in the auto-oxidation reaction rate of 2-5.9% and 10-17%, under the effect of static MFs of strengths 1000-2500 G and 3500-4000 G, respectively.