The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of basic and sport nutrition as well as perspectives of young Egyptian athletes. Structured interview survey measuring knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors about basic and sport nutrition was administered to adolescent athletes recruited from 4 sport clubs and 2 fitness centers in Greater Cairo governorate. A total of 358 participants aged 13-18 years completed questionnaires. Basic nutrition knowledge was reasonable in almost all domains except fast food. Fixed breakfast (78.5%), home meals (lunch, 70.7%), and healthy snacks (55.8%) were the most positive features of the basic dietary pattern. More than 70% perceived themselves as knowledgeable about sport nutrition. The prevalence rate of sport supplement intake was (48.9%, n = 175), predominantly sport drinks (66.9%) and creatine (54.3%). Coaches were the primary source of sport nutrition information. Forty-four percent of participants (n = 77/175) reported supplement consumption during competition seasons only. Better physical appearance and enhancement of athletic performance were the major motivations for supplement intake. These findings indicate the necessity of a comprehensive nutrition education program targeting not only athletes and parents, but also coaching staff, health trainers and all sport team officials.

The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of basic and sport nutrition as well as perspectives of young Egyptian athletes. Structured interview survey measuring knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors about basic and sport nutrition was administered to adolescent athletes recruited from 4 sport clubs and 2 fitness centers in Greater Cairo governorate. A total of 358 participants aged 13-18 years completed questionnaires. Basic nutrition knowledge was reasonable in almost all domains except fast food. Fixed breakfast (78.5%), home meals (lunch, 70.7%), and healthy snacks (55.8%) were the most positive features of the basic dietary pattern. More than 70% perceived themselves as knowledgeable about sport nutrition. The prevalence rate of sport supplement intake was (48.9%, n = 175), predominantly sport drinks (66.9%) and creatine (54.3%). Coaches were the primary source of sport nutrition information. Forty-four percent of participants (n = 77/175) reported supplement consumption during competition seasons only. Better physical appearance and enhancement of athletic performance were the major motivations for supplement intake. These findings indicate the necessity of a comprehensive nutrition education program targeting not only athletes and parents, but also coaching staff, health trainers and all sport team officials.

In this work, I present a novel method for measuring the pulse duration of few-cycle pulses using spectral phase interferometry for direct electric-field reconstruction (SPIDER) with high accuracy. These few-cycle pulses were generated due to nonlinear self-phase modulation (SPM) in nonlinear medium (neon gas) using a one meter hollow-fiber. The observed reconstructed pulse intensity autocorrelation function was varied from 5.35fs to almost 13fs. Moreover, the applied method allows for direct controlling of the output pulse duration through variation of the pulse-width of input pulses at different pressure of neon gas. The observed results indicate that the SPM was enhanced for high neon pressure (2.5atm.) and short input pluses (32fs) without chirping. The obtained results may give an opportunity to monitor and control ultrafast transit interaction in femtosecond chemistry. © 2015 World Scientific Publishing Company.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the oncological and functional outcomes of primary cryotherapy in men with clinically localized, high-grade prostate cancer.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We included all men with biopsy Gleason score ≥8, localized (cT1-2) disease with a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤50 ng/mL from the Cryo On-Line Data (COLD) registry. The primary outcome was biochemical progression free survival (BPFS) as defined by the Phoenix criteria (nadir PSA +2 ng/mL). Secondary outcomes of continence (defined as strictly no leak) and potency (able to have intercourse) were patient reported. Factors influencing BPFS were evaluated individually using Kaplan Meier and in a multivariate model using Cox regression.

RESULTS: Altogether, 300 men were included for analysis. The median follow-up was 18.2 months (mean 28.4) and median BPFS was 69.8 months. Based on Kaplan-Meier analysis, the estimated 2- and 5-year BPFS rate was 77.2% and 59.1%, respectively. Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy was administered to 41% of men and this tended to occur in men with larger prostates, likely as a technical consideration for downsizing before cryosurgery. At multivariate analysis, the presence of Gleason score 9 or 10 (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.9) and a posttreatment PSA nadir of ≥0.4 ng/mL (HR 5.7) were the only significant variables associated with biochemical progression using Cox regression. Complete continence was noted in 90.5% of men and potency in 17% of men at the 12-month follow-up. The incidence of rectourethral fistulae and urinary retention requiring intervention beyond temporary catheterization was 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Primary cryotherapy appears to be effective and safe in the community setting for high-grade, clinically localized prostate cancer in the short term.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the oncologic and functional outcomes of partial vs whole-gland cryotherapy for men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: Men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with primary prostate cryotherapy from 1993 to 2013 were selected from the Cryo On-Line Data Registry for a 1:1 matched comparison between those undergoing whole-gland and partial prostate cryotherapy (targeted ablation, unilateral/bilateral nerve-sparing ablations). A propensity score was developed based on age, prebiopsy serum prostate-specific antigen, biopsy Gleason score, clinical stage, prostate volume, neoadjuvant androgen deprivation status, year of surgery, and pretreatment potency. Outcomes were biochemical progression-free survival (BPFS) using the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and Phoenix criteria, 12-month continence (strictly pad free), and sexual function (potency sufficient for sexual intercourse). After propensity score matching, BPFS was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis and functional outcomes using chi-square tests.

RESULTS: In all, 897 men were identified (731 whole gland and 166 partial). Postmatching, 166 pairs of men were analyzed (mean follow-up 31 months). The 2/5-year BPFS rate was 87.2%/76.4% for whole-gland vs 80.7%/70.0% for partial ablation using Phoenix (p = 0.26) and 72.3%/69.6% for whole-gland vs 82.1%/75.0% for partial ablation using ASTRO criteria (p = 0.10). Of 164 pairs, the 12-month continence rate was similar, 94.1% vs 95.1% (p = 0.803). Of 139 pairs, the 12-month rate of effective intercourse was 29.5% for whole-gland and 46.8% for partial ablation (odds ratio 2.1, p = 0.003). The incidence of post-treatment urinary retention was 6.0% and 6.6% (p = 0.88) following whole-gland and partial ablation, respectively, and that of rectourethral fistula was 1.2% and 0% (p = 0.50).

CONCLUSION: Partial ablation results in better post-treatment sexual function compared with whole-gland ablation in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. We did not observe a difference in early BPFS between the two groups.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the oncological and functional outcomes of primary cryotherapy in men with clinically localized, high-grade prostate cancer.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We included all men with biopsy Gleason score ≥8, localized (cT1-2) disease with a serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤50 ng/mL from the Cryo On-Line Data (COLD) registry. The primary outcome was biochemical progression free survival (BPFS) as defined by the Phoenix criteria (nadir PSA +2 ng/mL). Secondary outcomes of continence (defined as strictly no leak) and potency (able to have intercourse) were patient reported. Factors influencing BPFS were evaluated individually using Kaplan Meier and in a multivariate model using Cox regression.

RESULTS: Altogether, 300 men were included for analysis. The median follow-up was 18.2 months (mean 28.4) and median BPFS was 69.8 months. Based on Kaplan-Meier analysis, the estimated 2- and 5-year BPFS rate was 77.2% and 59.1%, respectively. Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy was administered to 41% of men and this tended to occur in men with larger prostates, likely as a technical consideration for downsizing before cryosurgery. At multivariate analysis, the presence of Gleason score 9 or 10 (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.9) and a posttreatment PSA nadir of ≥0.4 ng/mL (HR 5.7) were the only significant variables associated with biochemical progression using Cox regression. Complete continence was noted in 90.5% of men and potency in 17% of men at the 12-month follow-up. The incidence of rectourethral fistulae and urinary retention requiring intervention beyond temporary catheterization was 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Primary cryotherapy appears to be effective and safe in the community setting for high-grade, clinically localized prostate cancer in the short term.