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Background: regardless of the magnitude of the infarction, no-reflow is a source of numerous problems, including heart failure, stroke, and death. The CHA2DS2-VASc score is a combination of many risk variables for thromboembolic lesions, the most serious consequences of atrial fibrillation. Current guidelines propose using the CHA2DS2-VASc risk score to estimate thromboembolic events in individuals with atrial fibrillation. It has been demonstrated to be a predictor of problems following acute coronary crises. Aim of the Work: to assess the role of CHA2DS2-VASc score in prediction of the no-reflow among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who was treated with primary PCI. Subjects and Methods: this is a prospective observational study which was done at cardiology department of Ain Shams University on 300 patients. Results: the most frequent factor was female sex (43.7%), followed by Diabetes mellitus (27.0%) according to CHA2DS2-VASc score. CHA2DS2-VASc score items statistically were significantly more frequent in no reflow cases except Age ≥75. CHA2DS2-VASc score and its modification significantly had low diagnostic performance in predicting no reflow. Modified was higher than original. Conclusion: all CHA2DS2-VASC items were proved to be factors affecting no reflow occurrence in the Egyptian population except Age ≥75 and congestive heart failure due to their low prevalence. The CHA2DS2-VASC score had no high diagnostic characteristics in Egyptian population, the postulated modification of CHA2DS2-VASC score gave no better diagnostic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of folic acid a foliar application at various concentrations and stages on growth, yield attributes, grain quality and yield characteristics of rice plants (Giza 179 variety) under using poor quality water. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The treatments consisted of control, foliar application of folic acid 100uM once at mid tillering stage, twice at mid tillering + panicle initiation stage, thrice at mid tillering + panicle initiation + mid booting stage, 200uM once ,twice, thrice and 300uM ,once, twice and thrice times at the same previous stages. The exogenous application of folic acid regardless of the application folds and stages has a beneficial effect on the plant growth, rice grain yield and improved rice grain quality. Gradual increase folic acid concentration significantly increased morph-physiological characteristics of rice, yield attributes and grain quality. At low concentration of 100 or 200uM of folic acid, once or twice applications is not sufficient, whereas their benefit was significant when they were applied three times. At high concentration of folic acid 300uM applied twice at mid tillering and panicle initiation is enough, since three times application didn't bring more significant increase. Thereby, foliar spray of folic acid three times at the concentration of 200uM or 300uM twice could be recommended for rice growing under using poor quality of irrigation water in the terms of reuse of drainage water for irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The course of hepatitis C infection (HCV) in patients with thalassemia has not been adequately studied, and management has not been optimized. The current prospective longitudinal study assessed the clinical course, outcome, progression, and management of recently acquired HCV in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia major versus acute HCV without thalassemia., Methods: A well-characterized cohort of patients with thalassemia and recent HCV infection or recent HCV without thalassemia were enrolled and prospectively followed. The blood transfusion needs and chelating agents were determined. Liver functions tests, HCV-RNA, iron, and ferritin levels were measured. Patients with chronic HCV evolution received treatment for HCV. The fibrosis progression rate was determined in chronic HCV patients with or without thalassemia by paired liver biopsies or serial transient elastography (TE), or serum markers of liver fibrosis. Liver iron content (LIC) was assessed by R2 MRI., Results: Self-limited acute HCV was observed in 17% of patients with acute HCV and thalassemia versus 35% of patients without thalassemia (P=0.031). The fibrosis progression rates were significantly higher in patients with chronic HCV and thalassemia compared to those with chronic HCV alone (1.14±0.48) and (0.35±0.14) (P<0.0001), respectively. A direct linear correlation was observed between the fibrosis progression rate and each of LIC (R=+0.67; P=0.01) and ferritin (R=0.77; P<0.01). In patients with chronic HCV and thalassemia, the sustained virologic response (SVR) to pegylated interferon-based therapy and direct antiviral agents (DAAS) were 33% and 82% respectively (P<0.0001), while in chronic HCV patients without thalassemia, the SVR rates to PEG-IFN/RBV and DAAs were 51% and 92% respectively. Five patients with concomitant HCV and thalassemia died during the study due to cardiac causes (n=3) and liver cancer (n=2)., Conclusions: Patients with acute HCV and thalassemia have low rates of spontaneous resolution of HCV infection, and the majority develop chronic HCV. Direct-acting antiviral combinations are associated with high SVR rates and low adverse event in treatment naïve and experienced patients with chronic HCV and thalassemia. Liver fibrosis is accelerated in thalassemia patients with chronic HCV; therefore, early diagnosis, treatment with DAAs, adequate iron chelation, and non-invasive monitoring liver status are recommended to prevent cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no conflict of Interest.