Background:
One of the most frequently used mobilization techniques for patients with mechanical low back pain (MLBP) is the central postero-anterior (PA) pressure. Although PA mobilization is frequently used to relieve MLBP patients’ symptoms, the mechanism whereby it achieves these effects has been the subject of debate for many years. The purpose: to investigate the lasting effect of central PA mobilization on lumbar intervertebral movements, pain and functional levels in patients with MLBP. Subjects: 30 chronic MLBP patients, their age ranged from (19-35years) with a mean (25.16±5.20) years participated in this study. Patients were divided into two equal groups (study and control). Both groups received the traditional (infrared and ultrasound) treatment, in addition to central PA mobilization for the study group. Method: Sagittal rotation and translation, pain and functional levels were measured before and after 4weeks of PA mobilization as indicator of therapy effectiveness. Results: The PA mobilization produced improvement in the segmental rotation around X axis at level L1-L2, L2-L3 and L3-L4 (P <0.0001, 0.01and 0.001 respectively). And produced significant improvement in the segmental translation around Z axis at level L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4 and L4-L5 (P= 0.001, 0.002, 0.005 and 0.0005 respectively). For the control group, there was no statistically significant change in segmental rotation at level L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4 and L4-L5 (P= 0.81, 0.71, 0.86 and 0.85 respectively) and segmental translation level L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4 and L4- L5 (P= 0.11, 0.31, 0.1 and 0.9 respectively). The percentage of improvement in visual analogue scale and Oswestry disability index in the study group were 56.07% and 47.48% respectively in comparison with 10.84% 6.48% in the control group. Conclusion: It was concluded that central PA mobilization is a safe and efficient modality to improve intervertebral movements in MLBP.

Key words : LBP., Translation, Sagittal rotation, Mobilization, Lumbar Intervertebral Movements, Mechanical Low Back Pain

Brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) is a super vital stain that has been used to select competent oocytes in different species. The objectives of the first part of the present studies were to determine mRNA abundance for select TGFβ superfamily components, SMAD2/3 and SMAD1/5 phosphorylation levels and transcript abundance for other oocyte (JY1) and cumulus cell (CTSB, CTSK, CTSS and CTSZ) markers of oocyte quality in bovine oocytes and or adjacent cumulus cells classified based on developmental potential using BCB staining. The ability of exogenous FST, JY1, or cathepsin inhibitor treatment to rescue development of embryos derived from poor quality oocytes selected based on BCB staining was also determined. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) from abattoir derived ovaries were subjected to BCB staining and GV stage oocytes and cumulus cells harvested from control, BCB+ and BCB- (poor oocyte quality) groups for real time PCR or Western blot analysis. Remaining COCs underwent in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization and embryo culture in presence or absence of above described treatments. Levels of FST, JY1, BMP15 and SMAD1, 2, 3 and 5 transcripts were higher in BCB+ oocytes whereas abundance of CTSB, CTSK, CTSS and CTSZ mRNAs was higher in cumulus cells surrounding poor quality BCB- oocytes. Western blot analysis revealed SMAD1/5 and SMAD2/3 phosphorylation were higher in BCB+ than BCB- oocytes. Embryo culture studies demonstrated that follistatin and cathepsin inhibitor treatment but not JY-1 treatment can rescue developmental competence of BCB- oocytes. Results provide further understanding of molecular indices of oocyte competence. The focus of the second part of the present studies was d to elucidate the regulatory role of protein kinase B “AKT” in oocytes and embryo competence and potential link to the embryotrophic actions of FST. The objectives of these studies were to determine the relationship between AKT transcript abundance/signaling activity and oocyte competence determined by BCB staining, and characterize the temporal changes in AKT mRNA during oocyte maturation and early embryogenesis in vitro. Effects of AKT inhibition on early embryonic progression and effects of follistatin supplementation on developmental capacity of AKT inhibitor treated embryos and signaling activity of AKT and its downstream targets were also analyzed. In vitro embryo production model was utilized to study the effect of AKT inhibition and FST supplementation on early embryos, qRT-PCR and Western blot were used for analysis of mRNA transcript abundance and signaling activity of investigated pathways respectively. Both AKT mRNA and phosphorylation level were higher in BCB+ than BCB- oocytes. Abundance of mRNA for AKT was increased in pronuclear through 8-cell stage embryos relative to GV stage oocytes, then decreased at 16-cell stage and further decreased in morula and blastocyst stage embryos. AKT inhibition during the initial 72 h of embryo culture blocks early cleavage, reduces total cleavage, 8-16 cell stage and blastocyst formation rate. FST supplementation partly rescues the effects of AKT inhibition but didn’t affect the phosphorylation level of AKT despite the significant increase in p-AKT at 1 and 10 h after FST supplementation. Results suggest a positive relationship between AKT transcript abundance/ signaling activity and oocyte competence determined by BCB staining. Results also demonstrate a temporal regulation of AKT mRNA abundance during early embryogenesis and indicate that embryotrophic actions of exogenous FST may be mediated, at least in part, by modulation of AKT signaling pathway. Further studies are required to elucidate the functional role of AKT and mechanism of action of FST in regulation of early embryonic development in bovine.

Historical structures are vital to the realization of how the technical, artistic, and scientific skills of the human kind have developed over time. These structures are one of the motors of the tourism industry, and therefore, the studies related to their conservation do not only have social benefits but as well economical ones. It is unfortunately that many countries rich with valuable architectural heritage are characterized by high seismic activity, Italy and Turkey are obvious examples. Due to earthquakes, many invaluable historical structures have been lost forever. Consequently, there is an increasing need for more research on the topic of seismic assessment and protection of this class of buildings. This work contributes to the methodological approaches adopted for the seismic assessment of historical structures. In many cases, due to the lack of knowledge about the assessed historical structure, it is essential to combine many investigation activities in such approaches. The aim is to minimize any possibly required seismic strengthening interventions (minimum intervention concept) by increasing the level of knowledge about the structure. In the current research, the employed experimental investigation activities are the dynamic identification tests and the dynamic monitoring. Most approaches for dynamic monitoring are based on the use of a threshold limit which is used to trigger the system when the parameters measured surpass the limit. Here, an alternative is considered that consists of a continuous monitoring system based on the permanent measurement of the ambient vibration. A thermography monitoring is used as a complementary system for the measurement of temperature. The integration between the dynamic investigation and the numerical modeling is essential and it includes two main features. On one hand, tentative structural analyses are carried out to identify important aspects of the dynamic tests and monitoring strategies such as critical points of the structure where to place the sensors. On the other hand, the results of the dynamic investigation are used to perform model updating until obtaining a satisfactory structural model adequately matching the measured dynamic properties of the structure. Once the structural model is validated, it is used to carry out the seismic assessment of the structure. This assessment is performed using different methods, to cross check the results, including the pushover analysis, the kinematic limit analysis and the nonlinear dynamic analysis. It is then possible with these assessments to identify the seismic behavior of the structure. Using the N2 method, the evaluation of the structural performance and its safety are carried out. Hence, the needs for any possible seismic strengthening are revealed, keeping in mind, the respect to the "minimum intervention" concept. As an application, the cathedral of Mallorca (Spain) is taken as a case study. This structure is one of the largest cathedrals built during the Middle Age. For each of the previously mentioned research steps, the followed criteria and the experience gained are transferred into recommended methodological approaches to be applied to other historical structures. Finally, the integration of these partial steps into one integrated methodology is discussed.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of substance use and addiction in Egypt and study its sociodemographic correlates.
METHOD:
A total of 44,000 subjects were interviewed from 8 governorates by stratified sampling. A questionnaire derived from the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was individually administered.
RESULTS:
The lifetime prevalence of any substance use varies between 7.25% and 14.5%. One-month prevalence varies between 5.4% and 11.5% when adjusted to different population parameters. A total of 4832 subjects were identified as using illicit substances at least once in their life (9.6%), including 1329 experimental and social use (3.3%), 1860 regular use (4.64%), and 629 substance dependence (1.6%). The prevalence of substance use in males is 13.2% and 1.1% in females. Prevalence increases significantly in males of Bedouin origin, in seaside governorates, with lesser levels of education, and in certain occupations. The 15-19 age group showed the highest onset of substance use. Cannabis is the drug mostly misused in Egypt; alcohol is a distant second.
CONCLUSIONS:
The prevalence of substance use is lower than Western countries and higher compared with a 1996 survey. The true population prevalence is probably higher due to underreporting. The demographic pattern reflects availability and accessibility to drugs.