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Abstract Background Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) is one of the rare endocrinal aetiologies of the abnormal short stature. This is a syndrome characterized by a specific tirade, an absent or hypoplastic anterior pituitary gland, thin or absent infundibulum, and ectopic posterior pituitary location. This type of pituitary dwarfism is usually presented in the first decade of life and may be first isolated with normal other pituitary hormones. Results Only 3 out of 117 dwarf patients (2.5%) were found to have pituitary stalk interruption syndrome. Conclusion Although of rare incidence, pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) is an entity which leads to pituitary dwarfism and should be kept in mind while investigating a child with pituitary dwarfism and radiologists should be aware of its rarely encountered diagnostic MRI findings for early diagnosis and treatment.

Barley is indeed a versatile cereal crop, valued for its uses in food, animal feed, and increasingly in biofuel production. As interest grows in developing new barley genotypes that are better adapted to diverse environmental conditions and production systems, integrating agro-morphological evaluations with molecular marker analyses in barley breeding programs is essential for developing new genotypes. It is necessary to explore the genetic diversity of those germplasm to predicate their responses to targeted environments and regions. The current study explored the phenotypic and genotypic relations among Saudi advanced germplasm to facilitate the development of superior barley cultivars suitable for desert environments. Molecular microsatellites (SSR) markers revealed considerable wide genetic variation among Saudi germplasm and checks. Population structure analyses revealed four main groups. Those groups were validated using similarity analyses and coefficients. As well, principal components analysis (PCA) and heat map analyses separated the studied genotypes into four main groups. The improved Saudi germplasm, selected from the barley breeding program, revealed considerably wide genetic and phenotypic diversities, indicating the feasibility of selection to improve for semi-arid conditions. The improved line KSU-BR-C/G-2 had the highest grain yield and harvest index in the first season. Rihana/Lignee was followed by the KSU-BR-C/G-2 genotype, with a grain yield averaging 6734.07 (kg ha−1), in the first season. KSU-BR-88-29-10 yielded 20,000 kg ha−1 for biomass yield. In the second year, KSU-BR-30-7 had the highest biomass yield, with 27,037.04 kg ha−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An important part in calcium and phosphorus balance, bone metabolism, and bone growth is played by the steroid hormone vitamin D. Vitamin D's impact on cancer, the immune system, cardiovascular disease, and glucose homeostasis has recently been revealed. The aim of this study aimed to assess blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in newborns with pneumonia and to correlate vitamin D with serum level of procalcitonin (PCT) and Creactive protein (CRP) as a markers of acute inflammation. Patients and methods: This case-control study was carried out in NICU Paediatric Department at Zagazig University Hospital, during the period from March 2022 to August 2023. This study Including 30 neonates with pneumonia in addition to 30 healthy controls. Serum vitamin D, Procalcitionin, Complete Blood Count (CBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured for all participants. Results: There was a significant lower value of Serum 25 (OH) D and vitamin D in patients compared to control group. The cut off value of vitamin D in diagnosis neonatal pneumonia was <12 (ng/ml) with sensitivity 80.0% and specificity 90.0 and total accuracy 85.0%. When comparing the weight of neonatal in pneumonia group with control group regarding the weight, it was found a significant decrease in body weight in pneumonia group less than the healthy control. Conclusion: Vitamin D levels is associated with higher incidence of neonatal pneumonia. Vitamin D levels were significantly related to severity of pneumonia. Blood CRP was inversely associated with vitamin D in neonates with low 25(OH)D levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes. Nerve damage may result in lack of ability to feel pain, which can lead to loss of parts of a person's extremities from repeated injuries or infection due to unnoticed wounds. Egypt is one of the first countries in the region to achieve the elimination target at the national level as early as 1994, However Leprosy is still endemic in certain foci in Egypt. Thus, our study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of leprosy in Elqalaah leprosy clinic in Cairo over the last decade to support the current national control program of leprosy with updated data. Objective: This study presents an analysis of pattern of new cases of leprosy detected annually from 2009 to 2020 in Elqalaah Dermatology and leprosy clinic in Cairo as the new-case detection rate is better than prevalence as an indicator of disease trends. Methods and Material: Data about patients with newly diagnosed leprosy were collected from Elqalaah dermatology and leprosy clinic registry, the main referral center in Cairo governorate. Case detection rates (CDR) were calculated for each year by dividing the newly diagnosed cases by mid-year populations for the same year. Results: 504 patients were newly diagnosed between 2009 and 2020. The mean age of patients at diagnosis was 38.16 years, 64.5% were males, and 5.4% were children below 14 years of age. The new case detection rate ranged from 0.66/100,000 population in 2009 to 0.12 /100,000 population in 2020. 82.5% were classified as multibacillary. 75.6% were detected by notification method, and 82.5% of patients completed their treatment course. Macules was the most common clinical finding and was found in 67.7% of patients. 18.5% of cases had previous history of contact with other leprosy patient. 13.1% and 2.4% suffered type one and type two leprae reactions respectively. 11.9% of cases had grade two hand disabilities, 6.7% had grade two feet disabilities and 1.8% had grade two eye disabilities. Conclusions: The new case detection rate is acceptable compared to the global level and there was a decline in the number of cases throughout the years of the study, however community- based research should be encouraged and leprosy trends over years from different regions need to be reported to know the actual status of leprosy in different regions of country and continued surveillance of patients and their contacts is required to detect relapses and undiagnosed cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Varicoceles; dilation of veins within the pampiniform plexus, are present in 15% of the general male population. It is also one of the most frequent causes of male-factor infertility, with a prevalence of 30%-40% among men presenting for primary infertility evaluation and up to 85% in secondary infertility. Aim of work: The purpose of this study is to measure the success rate of the embolization technique in patients with clinical and radiological varicocele by U/S complaining of infertility. Patients and Methods: A prospective interventional study including 21patients suspecting varicocele presented by testicular pain or infertility, the patients underwent Varicocele embolization under local anesthesia with digital subtraction, then follow up was done after 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. The study was conducted in the Radiology Department at Ain-Shams University Hospitals, the period was between January 2018 till the end of September 2019. Results: The procedure done for the different categories of the patients in our study, 15 patient underwent left ISV embolization, 4 cases underwent bilateral ISV, in one patient we embolized right ISV, and failed at one case to cathetrize ISV. The study showed that there was statistically significant increase in number and motility of the studied cases with p-value = 0.030 and 0.002 respectively on follow up. 47.6 % of our patients underwent minor complications with 23.8 % of them underwent post procedural pain, 9.5 % ISV peroferation, 4.7 % underwent extravasation and we failed to catherterize the ISV in 4.7 % of the cases. Conclusion: Gonadal Vein Embolization is an effective way in treating varicocele, with our study showing significant improve as regard sperm count/ml, with significant decrease in the patient in comparison to pre and post procedural data, with highly significant improve of sperm motility in 3 months follow up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydrative cyclization of 4-(D- altro-pentitol-1-yl)2-phenyl-2 H-1,2,3-triazole in basic medium with one moler equivalent of p-toluene sulfonyl chloride in pyridine solution gave the homo- C-nucleoside 4-(2,5-anhydro-D- altro-1-yl)-2-phenyl-2 H-1,2,3-triazole. The structure and anomeric configuration was determined by acylation, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectroscopy. The stereochemistry at the carbon bridge of homo- C-nucleoside 2-phenyl-2 H-1,2,3-triazoles was determined by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]