Medical Sector

IF: 1.367

Objective:? To study the effect of obesity on the quality of life (QoL), functional capacity and the risk of carotid atherosclerotic plaque formation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to correlate the findings with disease parameters, activity and damage.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of designed psycho educational program on improving patient symptoms and reducing caregiving burdens among family caregivers with chronic schizophrenic Patients. The study was conducted in out patient department at Abassia hospital, four developed tools used to collect data, socio demographic and medical data sheet , and assessment of negative symptoms for schizophrenic patient , socio demographic data sheet for caregivers , and tool to measure burdens among caregivers, quazi- experimental design(pre ,post and follow up test ) was used in this study ;the researcher selected 40 chronic schizophrenic patients with their family caregivers, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria for both, and with random assignment the sample divided into the control and the experimental group, 10sessions(one session every other week ) were done in this program for study group for 45-60 minute for each one . The main results revealed that there were no statistically significant differences among groups; the designed program had an effective impact on reducing caregivers burdens in relation to recreational family activity, family interaction within and out side the family, physical health and psychological health of the family members. In addition, family burden decreased in relation to the improvement of patient's symptoms. This study concluded that, When relatives of patients with schizophrenia have enough knowledge and efficient skills to deal with patient problems, it

Introduction: Bone metabolism may be uncoupled in postmenopausal rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteoporotic fracture in RA is highest for the hip especially in elderly women.

Following 1-yr deferasirox therapy in the ESCALATOR study, 57% of previously chelated patients with ?-thalassaemia achieved treatment success (maintenance of or reduction in liver iron concentration (LIC) vs. baseline LIC). Seventy-eight per cent had dose increases at median of 26 wk,

Performance of partial least squares regression (PLSR) is enhanced in the presented work by three multivariate models, including weighted regression PLSR (Weighted-PLSR), genetic algorithm PLSR (GA-PLSR), and wavelet transform PLSR (WT-PLSR). The proposed models were applied for the stability-indicating analysis of mixtures of mebeverine hydrochloride (meb) and sulpiride (sul) in the presence of their reported impurities and degradation products. The work introduced in this paper aims to compare these different chemometric methods, showing the underlying algorithm for each and making a comparison of analysis results. For proper

The present study is conducted to assess in vitro transdifferentiation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into germ cells and in vivo transdifferentiation into spermatids and spermatocytes in the seminiferous tubules of azoospermic rats. Forty eight male rats were included in the study and were divided into: group 1; control rats, group 2; experimental azoospermic rats, group 3; azoospermic rats received undifferentiated MSCs. Group 4; azoospermic rats received transdifferentiated MSCs into germ cells. Quantitative real time PCR was conducted to assess gene expression of a primordial germ cell marker (VASA), stem cell specific markers (Oct4, SSEA-1 and SSEA-3), specific molecular markers of germ cells (c-Kit, Daz1); premeiotic marker (Daz1) and post-meiotic markers (c- Kit, Stra 8). Histopathological examination of rat testicular tissue was also conducted. Results revealed that 12 weeks after transplantation, fluorescent labeled MSCs were detected in the seminiferous tubules of the testes of group 3 and group 4 rats. In group 3 and 4, stem cell specific markers; Oct4, SSEA-1 and SSEA-3 were detected. In group 4, genes of primordial germ cell marker; VASA, premeiotic marker; Daz1and post-meiotic markers; c-Kit, Stra 8 were expressed. Daz1 was also expressed in group 3 rats to a significantly lower extent in comparison to group 4 rats. Spermatocytes and spermatids were detected in testicular tissue of group 4 rats. In conclusion, MSCs have potentials for in vitro transdifferentiation into germ cells and in vivo transdifferentiation into spermatids and spermatocytes.

The phospholipids content of tubers were identified by both HPTLC and HPLC techniques. The identified phospholipids classes were: Phosphatidic acids, Phosphatidylinositol, Phosphatidylethanolamines, Phosphatidylcholine, L-? Phosphatidyl DL-glycerol, Cardiolipin, and L-?-Lysophosphatidylcholine. The hydrolysis of total phospholipids showed that four fatty acids were attached to the phospholipids classes, and identified by GC/MS as Palmitic acid (C18:0), Linoleic acid (C18:2), Oleic acid (C18:1) and Ligniceric acid (C24:0). The major fatty acids were palmitic and oleic acids. Phosphatidylinositol was separated and identified by using HPTLC and HPLC and MALDI techniques. In vitro method of rat hepatocytes monolayer culture was used for the investigation of hepatoprotective and hepatotoxic effects of phospholipids fraction prepared from C.esculentus tubers, which were 25 and <1000 ?g/mL, respectively. In addition, the phospholipids fraction did not show any cytotoxic effect on both U937 and PBM cells until a concerntration of 30 ?g/mL.

The use of ionization chamber in linear accelerator radiotherapy photon dosimetry requires various corrections to the measured charges, one of these being the ion recombination correction factor (ks). As stated by the IAEA (2000) TRS-398 dosimetry protocol, ks was characterized for the available thimble ionization chamber PTW 30006 using two pulsed megavoltage photon beams 6 and 10 MV. The dependence of the ks values against the changing of field size, water depth, nominal dose rate and stem length was studied.

Background: As low- and middle-income countries experience economic development, ensuring quality of health care delivery is a central component of health reform. Nevertheless, health reforms in low- and middle-income countries have focused more on access to services rather than the quality of these services, and reporting on quality has been limited. In the present study, we sought to examine the prevalence and regional variation in key management practices in Egyptian health facilities within three domains: supervision of the facility from the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP), managerial processes, and patient and community involvement in care.

We investigated the potential association between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphism and erectile dysfunction (ED). The study was carried on 60 males with ED. All patients were subjected to medical and sexual history taking including the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) questionnaire, general and genital examination and combined injection and stimulation test (ICI). Patients with a negative response were evaluated through a penile dynamic duplex to clarify the etiology of ED. eNOS genotype polymorphism was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The mean age of patientswas 49.7 years and mean ED

Background: Moringa peregrina is a wild plant that grown in the eastern desert mountains in Egypt. Although, this plant is native to Egypt, no details studies were traced on its chemical composition and biological activity.

IF: 3.00

Aim of the work: To evaluate the associations of serum 25 hydroxy (OH) vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels with cardiovascular risk factors as well as disease activity in women with SLE. Patients and methods: Fifty women with SLE as well as 30 controls were included in our study. Data collected included, demographics, SLE activity and damage assessments, cardiovascular risk factors, medications and laboratory assessment of inflammatory markers and 25(OH)D levels. Stepwise logistic regression analysis were used to estimate the association of 25(OH)D levels with cardiovascular risk factors. Results: A significant lower 25(OH)D levels was found in SLE patients compared to controls (P <0.001). A positive correlation was found between 25(OH)D and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, BMI, as well as proteinuria and C3 levels. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between 25(OH)D and the RT carotid artery stenosis and RT carotid artery plaque and the intima media thickness of both left and right carotid arteries. Lower 25(OH)D levels were also significantly associated with higher SLE disease activity and damage scores and steroid cumulative dose. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that higher BMI, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and diabetes mellitus act as predictors of lower 25(OH)D levels. Conclusion: Our study found an association between lower 25(OH)D levels and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, as well as increased SLE disease activity and damage indices. Future studies are needed to determine relation of 25(OH)D and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with lupus.