Reactive astrocytes targeting with oral vitamin A: Efficient neuronal regeneration for Parkinson's disease treatment and reversal of associated liver fibrosis.

Introduction: A recent approach to cure neurodegenerative diseases is to reprogram fibroblasts into functioning neurons using multiple exogenous transcription factors (TFs) and micro-RNAs. Administering agents that can endogenously induce these TFs may bypass the limitations of this approach. Astrocytes may represent a part of the extrahepatic-stellate system involved in vitamin-A (V ) homeostasis.

Not Telling Patients Their Cancer Diagnosis in Egypt: Is It Associated With Less Anxiety and Depression and Better Quality of Life?

Purpose: In many countries, including Egypt, it is still believed that not telling patients their cancer diagnosis is associated with less psychological morbidity. This study was conducted to explore whether not telling Egyptian patients their cancer diagnosis is associated with less anxiety and depression and better quality-of-life (QoL) or not.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in two Egyptian cancer care facilities and included 292 adult patients with cancer of whom 197 (67%) were aware of their diagnosis and 95 (33%) were unaware.

Diagnosis Disclosure Preferences of Cancer Patients in Egypt: A Multi-Institutional Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Although diagnosis disclosure to cancer patients has important roles in cancer care, it is not a routine practice in countries like Egypt. Respecting patients' autonomy and responding to their preferences are among the factors that should guide the practice of cancer diagnosis disclosure.

Objectives: To assess the preferences of Egyptian cancer patients regarding the disclosure of cancer diagnosis and to determine factors that may affect their preferences.

Mirtazapine in Cancer-Associated Anorexia and Cachexia: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial.

Context: Few pharmacological interventions are available for cancer-associated anorexia and cachexia. Mirtazapine has been suggested for use in cancer-associated anorexia and cachexia.

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerability of mirtazapine in cancer-associated anorexia and cachexia.

Influence of surface morphology and internal structure on the mechanical properties and tribological response of Boa Red Tail and Python Regius snake skin.

The understanding of the tribological behavior of natural structures has been used as inspiration to design and optimize surfaces for diverse applications in engineering. In the present work, morphological, microstructural, mechanical and tribological characterization of the shed skin of two snake species, namely Boa Red Tail and Python Regius was carried out. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses showed the existence of deterministic patterns, i.

Surface structure and tribology of legless squamate reptiles.

Squamate reptiles (around 10,000 species of snakes and lizards) comprise a myriad of distinct terrestrial vertebrates. The diversity within this biological group offers a great opportunity for customized bio-inspired solutions that address a variety of current technological problems especially within the realm of surface engineering and tribology. One subgroup within squamata is of interest in that context, namely the legless reptiles (mainly snakes and few lizards).

Reducing late effects of radiotherapy in average risk medulloblastoma.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety in average-risk pediatric medulloblastoma (MB) receiving tumor bed boost irradiation compared to a posterior fossa (PF) boost.

Patients And Methods: Thirty patients were enrolled in the study and divided evenly into two treatment arms of 15. Both arms received 23.

On surface structure and friction regulation in reptilian limbless locomotion.

One way of controlling friction and associated energy losses is to engineer a deterministic structural pattern on the surface of the rubbing parts (i.e., texture engineering).

Immobilization of Fusarium verticillioides fungus on nano-silica (NSi-Fus): a novel and efficient biosorbent for water treatment and solid phase extraction of Mg(II) and Ca(II).

Biosorption and water treatment of Mg(II) and Ca(II) hardness was designed via surface loading of heat inactivated Fusarium verticillioides fungus (Fus) on nano-silica (NSi) for developing the (NSi-Fus) as a novel biosorbent. Surface characterization was confirmed by FT-IR and SEM analysis. The (NSi), (Fus) and (NSi-Fus) sorbents were investigated for removal of Mg(II) and Ca(II) by using the batch equilibrium technique under the influence of solution pH, contact time, sorbent dosage, initial metal concentration and interfering ion.

Detection of plasma and urinary monoamines and their metabolites in nonsegmental vitiligo.

Vitiligo is one of the most troubling diseases to both patient and physician. Monoamines are chemical compounds derived from the hydroxyderivative of amino acids. They have been implicated in many dermatoses, but their role in the etiopathogenesis of vitiligo remains obscure.

High performance SiO2-nanoparticles-immobilized-Penicillium funiculosum for bioaccumulation and solid phase extraction of lead.

Novel biosorbent systems were designed, investigated and implemented for bioaccumulation of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions. These are based on the combination of SiO(2)-nanoparticles (N-Si) with Penicillium funiculosum fungus (Pen) for the formation of (N-Si-Pen) as well as heat inactivated Penicillium funiculosum (Pen). The SiO(2)-nanoparticles were also investigated as a solid sorbent phase.

Serum interleukin-18: does it have a role in the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus related hepatocellular carcinoma?

Background And Study Aims: Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the only hope for cure. Although the role of alpha foetoprotein (AFP) in the diagnosis of advanced HCC is well recognised, at least one-third of cases will be missed unless another diagnostic tool is used. Increased levels of circulating interleukin-18 (IL-18) have been observed in patients with several cancer types and were described in patients with chronic hepatitis.

Reconstruction after resection of tumors around the knee: role of the free vascularized fibular graft.

We present our experience with reconstruction after resection of tumors around the knee, using free vascularized fibular grafting. The study included 23 patients. The lower femur was involved in 17 cases, the upper tibia in 6.

Clinical experience with 0.05% halometasone/1% triclosan cream in the treatment of acute infected and infection-prone eczema in Egypt.

This is a report of a non-comparative trial to assess the usefulness of a 0.05% halometasone and 1% triclosan combination in a cream base in the treatment of acute infected and infection-prone eczematous skin disorders. The trial was carried out in three centres.

Relationship between the sperm penetration assay and other tests of sperm function.

Semen from 88 men of infertile couples and 33 fertile donors differed in seminal fluid analysis (sperm density and motility) (SFA) as well as in the penetration of hamster ova (SPA) and bovine cervical mucus (MPT). In the fertile group, significantly more subjects had adequate SFA, SPA, or MPT results than in the infertile group. When the two groups were subdivided into those with normal or those with abnormal SFA, no differences were noted in SPA, MPT, or postcoital test (PCT) scores.

Cytotoxic sperm antibodies inhibit sperm penetration of zona-free hamster eggs.

Zona-free hamster egg sperm penetration assay was used to study the effects of cytotoxic sperm antibodies on egg penetration by the sperm of fertile and infertile men. Twenty-nine fertile and 9 infertile men did not have significant cytotoxic sperm antibodies in their serum and seminal plasma; 7 infertile men were positive for these antibodies in serum and seminal plasma. Two others were positive in sera, and 14 were positive in seminal plasma.

Minerals in blood sera and scalp hair in patients with lepromatous leprosy and tuberculoid leprosy.

Scalp hair and blood sera of three groups of individuals were studied for mineral contents by flame photometric and colorimetric procedures. Patients in one of the three groups were suffering from lepromatous leprosy, the second group comprised patients with tuberculoid leprosy and the third group consisted of normal controls. The results obtained revealed changes in the mineral content of the scalp hair of those suffering from lepromatous leprosy and tuberculoid leprosy.

Serum copper, iron and zinc in cases of acne vulgaris.

Serum copper, iron and zinc were estimated in 30 individuals complaining of moderate acne vulgaris, grade II. The results obtained were compared with those obtained from a normal control group. The results revealed changes in the copper and iron content of the sera, although they were statistically not significant.

Topically applied griseofulvin in the treatment of superficial dermatomycoses in Egypt.

One-hundred and fifty-five patients suffering from T. Capitis, T. Corporis, T.

A double-blind comparison of a new combination (halcinonide-neomycin-amphotericin) and active controls in cutaneous candidiasis and steroid-responsive dermatoses.

One hundred patients participated in the studies of cutaneous candidiasis and steroid-responsive dermatoses. Seventy patients with the former diagnosis were treated with either halcinonide-neomycin-amphotericin or hydrocortisone-iodochlorhydroxyquin ointment combinations on a double-blind parallel comparison basis. Similar results were obtained after both therapies.

Study of some minerals in scalp hair and blood sera of psoriatics.

Scalp hair and blood sera of two groups of psoriatic individuals were examined regarding some of their mineral contents by flame photometric and colorimetric procedures, and the findings compared with a normal control group. The result obtained revealed changes in the mineral content of scalp hair of psoriatics. A possible relationship may exist between hair and serum minerals.