Mohamed Zaki

The only hope for effective treatment of liver cancer lies in early detection or screening for populations who are at high risk for developing liver cancer. This study was designed to study the levels of a collection of biochemical markers in the sera of patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its predisposing diseases. The ultimate aim is to investigate their diagnostic impact in the early detection of HCC and discriminate from benign liver diseases. The study was carried out on 217 individuals divided into the following groups: Group 1: Normal controls, Group 2: Schistosomal patients (Schist), Group 3: Hepatitis B patients (HBV), Group 4: Hepatitis C patients (HCV), Group 5: Cirrhotic patients (Cirr), and Group 6: Hepatocellular carcinoma patients (HCC). The last group was further subdivided into the following subgroups: a – HCC alone; b – HCC on top of schistosomiasis; c – HCC on top of HBV; d – Hepato-cellular carcinoma on top of HCV; e – HCC on top of cirrhosis. Their sera were subjected to a quantitative determination of the tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), epidermal growth factor and its receptor (EGF and EGFR), glutathione-S-transferase alpha (GST-α), iron, ferritin, transferrin, alpha-1-antitrypsin (α1AT) and alpha-fetoprotein (αFP). The results of this study indicate that it is advisable to determine a panel of markers composed of αFP, TNF-α and GST-α to confirm diagnosis of HCC and distinguish it from other benign liver diseases.

This paper discusses driver deceleration levels in a controlled field environment at the onset of a yellow indication on high-speed signalized intersection approaches using an in-vehicle differential Global Positioning System. The impacts of driver gender, driver age, roadway grade, mean approach speed, platooning scenarios (leading, following, or alone), and time to intersection (TTI) on driver deceleration levels were analyzed. This information is critical for the efficient and safe design of traffic signal clearance timings. The IntelliDrive initiative can gather information about the driver, subject vehicle, and surrounding traffic conditions to execute safe and customizable traffic signal indication change warnings. The results indicate that driver deceleration levels are significantly higher than the 3-m/s2 deceleration level used in the state-of-the-practice traffic signal design guidelines. The mean deceleration level is 3.6 to 4.1 m/s2. The results can be used to enhance the design of yellow timings and may be integrated with the new IntelliDrive initiative to provide customizable driver warnings. The results demonstrate that driver deceleration levels are higher at shorter TTIs at the onset of yellow. Drivers are willing to exert deceleration levels in excess of 7 m/s2 at short TTIs (less than 2.5 s). Furthermore, older drivers (60 years of age or older) employ greater deceleration levels compared with younger (under 40 years old) and middle-aged (between 40 and 59 years old) drivers. A driver following another vehicle that proceeds legally through an intersection without stopping exerts higher deceleration levels than drivers driving alone on a roadway or leading another vehicle, and drivers leading a platoon of vehicles are not affected by vehicles behind them.

The major agro-industrial effluents of sugarcane and starch industries pose a serious threat to surface waters. Their disposal in the River Nile around Cairo city transitionally affected the microbial load. In situ bacterial enrichment (50-180%) was reported and gradually diminished downstream; the lateral not vertical effect of the effluent disposal was evident. Disposed effluents increased BOD and COD, and then progressively decreased downstream. Ammoniacal N was elevated, indicating active biological ammonification and in situ biodegradability of the effluents. In vitro, the nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria Crysomonas luteola, Azospirillum spp., Azomonas spp. and K. pneumoniae successfully grew in batch cultures prepared from the crude effluents. This was supported by adequate growth parameters and organic matter decomposition. Therefore, such biodegradability of the tested agro-industrial effluents strongly recommends their use for microbial biomass necessary for the production of bio-preparates. © 2010.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Bladder cancer is the commonest type of malignant tumors as a result of schistosomaisis which is a major healthy problem in many subtropical developing countries. The aim of this study is to comparatively elucidate the underlying biochemical tumor markers in schistosomal bladder cancer versus non-schistosomal bladder cancer when compared to normal healthy ones.

METHODS: This work was performed on tissue specimens from total 25 patients and serum samples from total 30 patients versus ten healthy individuals served as control. The investigated parameters in serum are: xanthine oxidase (XO), fructosamine, lactate dehydrogense (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total proteins, essential and non- essential amino acids profile, hydroxyproline, total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). In addition, the current investigation also extended to study some markers in tumor bladder tissues including, pyruvate kinase enzyme (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

RESULTS: Results showed that biharzial bladder cancer patients recored more significant elevation in serum XO, fructosamine, LDH, AST, ALT, hydroxyproline, IgE and TNF-α than in bladder cancer patients when compared to control ones. While, in tissues there were significant increase in PK, LDH, AST & ALT activities of schistosomal bladder cancer than in bladder cancer as compared to control healthy patients.

CONCLUSIONS: It could be concluded that, bilharzial and non-bilharzial bladder cancer showed distinct biochemical profile of tumor development and progression which can be taken into consideration in diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Manganese nanocrystalline ferrite powders were synthesized using citrate precursor technique. The ferrite samples were subjected to different types of irradiation; gamma rays, neutrons, and laser photons to compare their effects on the physical properties of prepared ferrite. The samples were characterized by XRD and IR techniques. XRD shows a shift in all planes keeping the spinel structure stable. The magnetic and dielectric behavior for the irradiated and unirradiated samples was investigated at different temperatures. The data recommended the use of this nanoferrite as radiation detector. © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene encodes a putative tumour suppressor protein. Loss of Fhit protein in cancer is attributed to different genetic alterations that affect the FHIT gene structure. In this study, we investigated the pattern of homozygous deletion that target the FHIT gene exons 3 to 9 genomic structure in Egyptian breast cancer patients. We have found that 65% (40 out of 62) of the cases exhibited homozygous deletion in at least one FHIT exon. The incidence of homozygous deletion was not associated with patients' clinicopathological parameters including patients' age, tumour grade, tumour type, and lymph node involvement. Using correlation analysis, we have observed a strong correlation between homozygous deletions of exon 3 and exon 4 (P < 0.0001). Deletions in exon 5 were positively correlated with deletions in exon 7 (P < 0.0001), Exon 8 (P < 0.027), and exon 9 (P = 0.04). Additionally, a strong correlation was observed between exons 8 and exon 9 (P < 0.0001).We conclude that FHIT gene exons are homozygously deleted at high frequency in Egyptian women population diagnosed with breast cancer. Three different patterns of homozygous deletion were observed in this population indicating different mechanisms of targeting FHIT gene genomic structure.

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness and possible side effects of using propranolol for the treatment of orbital and periorbital infantile hemangiomas.

METHODS: Infants with periorbital or orbital hemangiomas who had not received either local or systemic corticosteroids were recruited. The changes in tumor size, color, and texture, and any side effects of the drug were recorded.

RESULTS: Fifteen infants with a mean age of 8.13 ± 4.7 months were treated according to the set protocol. A change in the color and texture of the hemangioma occurred in the first week following treatment. Mean duration of treatment was 7.67 ± 3.96 months. The size of hemangiomas decreased from a mean of 2.4 ± 0.9 cm to a mean of 1.6 ± 1.0 cm 3 months after treatment (P = 0.001). One patient had to stop the drug because of peripheral vascular ischemia. Another case had the dose reduced to control a mild hyperglycemia. Serious side effects were not observed. A single case of tumor regrowth (8.3%) was recorded.

CONCLUSION: Treatment of 1-2 mg/kg/day propranolol proved to be effective and associated with minimal side effects. It is likely to replace steroids as the first-line of treatment of hemangiomas in infants.

A series of La 1-xSb xFeO 3 was prepared using the conventional solid state method. XRD revealed the formation of the orthorhombic structure with space group Pbnm. The data showed that, the molar magnetic susceptibility and coercive field H C were increased from 9.16 × 10 -3 to 26.9 × 10 -3 emu g -1 mol and 1196 to 5465 Oe from for LaFeO 3 to La 0.95Sb 0.05FeO 3, respectively. The coercive field (H C) of the sample with x = 0.05 increased 6 times than that of the parent LaFeO 3 and the saturation magnetization (M s) was increased from 0.1614 emu g -1 for the parent LaFeO 3 to 0.2654 emu g -1 for the doped sample . The dielectric constant (ε′) was increased with increasing the Sb 3+ content. The ac conductivity (σ) increases from 2.36 × 10 -3 Ω -1 m -1 for the LaFeO 3 to 30 × 10 -3 Ω -1 m -1 for the sample La 0.95Sb 0.05FeO 3 at T = 553 K and frequency 1 MHz. The sample La 0.95Sb 0.05FeO 3 is concluded to be a novel single phase multiferroic material. © 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.

The addition of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) to a culture of mycobacteria greatly influences cell permeability and sensitivity to antibiotics but very little is known regarding the underlying mechanism. Here we show that Corynebacterium matruchotii (surrogate of mycobacteria) converts Tween 80 to a structural series of polyoxyethylenic acids which are then used to form novel series-2A and series-2B glycolipids. Minor series-3 glycolipids were also synthesized. The polyoxyethylenic acids replaced corynomycolic acids in the cell wall. Correspondingly the trehalose dicorynomycolate content was reduced. MALDI mass spectrometry, MS-MS, (1)H-NMR, and (13)C-NMR were used to characterize the series-2 glycolipids. Series-2A glycolipid is trehalose 6-C(36:2)-corynomycolate-6'-polyoxyethylenate and series-2B glycolipid is trehalose 6-C(36:2)-corynomycolate-6'-furan ring-containing polyoxyethylenate. Mycobacterium smegmatis grown in the presence of Tween 80 also synthesizes series-2 type glycolipids. The synthesis of these novel glycolipids in corynebacteria and mycobacteria should result in gross changes in the cell wall permeability and drug sensitivity.

Nanocrystalline MnFe 2O 4 ferrite was prepared by using autocombustion technique (flash). The microstructure and magnetic properties are studied. The results of XRD and TEM clarified that, this ferrite is nanosized with particle size (39 nm). Magnetic measurements showed a ferromagnetic behavior with T C = 613 K, the saturation magnetization M s = 13.71 emu/g, remanent magnetization M r = 0.1694 emu/g and, coercivity H c = 25.6 Oe. Natural material, egg white used as an aqueous medium to extend prepare nanoparticles better than other chemical interesting materials. © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Background and objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the once daily dosing (ODD) program in critically ill Egyptian patients compared to individualized multiple daily dosing (MDD) in terms of clinical and bacteriological efficacy. In addition, the incidence of nephrotoxicity associated with both regimens in this specific group of patients was assessed. Methods: Fifty-two patients with suspected or confirmed bacterial infections admitted to the Critical Care Medicine Department, Kasr El-Aini-Cairo University Hospitals comprised the study population. The amikacin group (30 patients) was sub-divided into 14 patients receiving amikacin ODD (1. g i.v.) and 16 patients receiving amikacin in MDD (500. mg i.v./dose). The gentamicin group (22 patients) was sub-divided into 10 patients receiving the drug ODD (240. mg i.v.) and 12 patients receiving gentamicin MDD (80. mg i.v./dose). Amikacin or gentamicin serum levels were determined by the enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique using Emit 2000. MDD regimen was adjusted based on the individual pharmacokinetic parameters using the Sawchuk-Zaske method. Results: There was no significant difference between the two dosing regimens with regard to clinical and antibacterial efficacy or incidence of nephrotoxicity of both gentamicin and amikacin groups. In the ODD regimen, duration of treatment had no effect on increasing incidence of nephrotoxicity unlike the individualized MDD regimen. No dose adjustments were needed in the once daily dosing regimen since trough concentrations have never been above toxic level. Conclusions: The study showed that the ODD regimen is preferred in critically ill patients to individualized MDD as shown by comparable efficacy, nephrotoxicity and lesser need for therapeutic drug monitoring and frequent dose adjustments required in the individualized MDD regimen. © 2010.