Resection arthrodesis for the management of aggressive giant cell tumor of the distal femur.

Background: Giant cell tumors (GCTs) of bone are aggressive benign tumors. Wide resection is reserved for a small subset of patients with biologically more aggressive, recurrent, and extensive tumors. Wide resection and mobile joint reconstruction are preferable for treating tumors around the knee.

Recurrence of hepatitis C virus (genotype 4) infection after living-donor liver transplant in Egyptian patients.

Objectives: The recurrence of hepatitis C virus infection after liver transplant is common and may endanger both graft and patient survival. We investigated the frequency and outcome of and risk factors for the recurrence of that virus after living-donor liver transplant in hepatitis C virus positive recipients.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-four adult hepatitis C virus positive subjects were monitored for 36 months after living-donor liver transplant and demographic and laboratory data for the recipients and donors were evaluated.

Neurotoxic and cytotoxic effects of venom from different populations of the Egyptian Scorpio maurus palmatus.

Neurotoxic and cytotoxic effects of venoms from Scorpio maurus palmatus taken from different populations were assessed for geographic based variability in toxicity, and to evaluate their insecticidal potency. Scorpions were collected from four regions. Three locations were mutually isolated pockets in the arid area of Southern Sinai.

Cryosurgery and impaction subchondral bone graft for the treatment of giant cell tumor around the knee.

Giant cell tumors are neoplasms of mesenchymal stromal cells with varied manifestations. There is no uniform accepted treatment protocol for these tumors. Curettage, although an accepted method of treatment, carries a high local recurrence rate.

Prevalence of undernutrition in a long-term care facility in Qatar.

This study assessed the nutritional status of 130 Qatari patients aged 65 to 90 years who were residing in a long-term care facility for six months. Admission weight was not measured for 49.2% of the subjects.

Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms in hepatitis C patients with and without Schistosoma mansoni co-infection.

Background/aim: Interleukin (IL-10) plays a major role in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease pathogenesis, in particular in Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) co-infected patients. Given that interindividual variations in IL-10 production are influenced by functional polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene promoter, we determined the frequencies of common (-1082, -819 and -592) IL-10 promoter polymorphisms in chronic HCV patients with and without S.

Spectrophotometric and spectrodensitometric determination of Clopidogrel Bisulfate with kinetic study of its alkaline degradation.

Four sensitive, selective and precise stability-indicating methods for the determination of Clopidogrel Bisulfate (CLP) in presence of its alkaline degradate and in pharmaceutical formulations were developed and validated. Method A is a second derivative (D(2)) spectrophotometric one, which allows the determination of CLP in presence of its alkaline degradate at 219.6, 270.

Can a novel echocardiographic score better predict outcome after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty?

Objective: The assessment of patients with mitral stenosis before percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) is crucial to predict outcome after the procedure. We tried to explore the prognostic power of a novel echocardiographic score to predict immediate postprocedural outcome in comparison to the standard score.

Methods: We enrolled 50 consecutive patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis admitted to undergo PBMV.

Impact of feeding saltbush twigs on feed intake, weight gain, and some mineral levels of fattening awassi lambs.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of the inclusion of saltbush (Atriplex sp.) on the productive performance and blood mineral profile of fattening lambs. Eighteen Awassi lambs, 70 +/- 3 days of age and 23 +/- 1.

Intraspecific variation in the Egyptian scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus venom collected from different biotopes.

The present study was conducted to explore the following hypotheses: (i) do scorpions (Scorpio maurus palmatus) from different biotopes exhibit intraspecific diversity in their venom? (ii) if so, is this variation associated with ecological or genetic factors, geographical distance, and/or multiple interrelated parameters? To address these questions, scorpions were collected from four geographically isolated localities in Egypt. Three of these locations are from mutually isolated pockets in the arid biotope of Southern Sinai (Wadi Sahab, El-Agramia and Rahaba plains). The fourth population was sampled from the semiarid biotope of Western Mediterranean Costal Desert (WMCD).

Automated diagnosis of retinopathy by content-based image retrieval.

Purpose: To describe a novel computer-based image analysis method that is being developed to assist and automate the diagnosis of retinal disease.

Methods: Content-based image retrieval is the process of retrieving related images from large database collections using their pictorial content. The content feature list becomes the index for storage, search, and retrieval of related images from a library based upon specific visual characteristics.

Diagnosis of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in horses in Sudan using ELISA and PCR.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in Sudan. The presence of antibodies against Babesia caballi and Theileria equi was determined in serum samples obtained from 158 horses raised in different locations in Sudan by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The B.

A prescription for improvement: A short survey to identify reasons behind public sector pharmacists' migration.

In Sudan, there is a mismatch between the numbers of pharmacists and where they worked, and the demand for pharmacy services. The public sector, where the majority of the population is served, suffered heavily from the pharmacists' migration to the private sector. In order to stem the "brain drain" of pharmacists, it is, however, necessary to have accurate and evidence-based information regarding the reasons that make the pharmacists emigrate to the private sector.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine reduces the organ injury/dysfunction and inflammation caused by endotoxemia in the rat.

Objective: Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) has been reported to activate a variety of G-protein coupled receptors, including S1P(1-5), G2A, GPR4, and OGR1 (GPR68). Interestingly, other structurally related lysophospholipid agonists of these receptors have been shown to exhibit immunomodulatory properties both in vitro and in vivo. These include prevention of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced monocyte adhesion to aortic endothelium in mice (sphingosine-1-phosphate via S1P(1-5) receptors) and reduction of organ injury and/or mortality in animal models of sepsis and endotoxemia (lysophosphatidylcholine via G2A).

Recurrent acute renal failure in a patient with minimal change disease.

We report on a 16-year old female patient with biopsy proved minimal change disease and steroid state. She was subsequentlygiven cyclosporin for varying periods of time with inadequate response. She developed four episodes of acute renal failure in the background of severe nephrotic state, 10 years after the onset of her illness.

Effects of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta inhibition on the development of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.

Objective: Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 is a ubiquitous serine-threonine protein kinase that participates in a multitude of cellular processes and signal transduction pathways. It also plays an important role in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases characterized by an enhanced or unregulated inflammatory response. Here we investigate the effects of GSK-3beta inhibition on the development of experimental acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein in mice.

A probabilistic framework for content-based diagnosis of retinal disease.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the working age population in the industrialized world. Computer assisted analysis has the potential to assist in the early detection of diabetes by regular screening of large populations. The widespread availability of digital fundus cameras today is leading to the accumulation of large image archives of diagnosed patient data that captures historical knowledge of retinal pathology.

Role of pacemaking current in cardiac nodes: insights from a comparative study of sinoatrial node and atrioventricular node.

Cardiac pacemaking in the sinoatrial (SA) node and atrioventricular (AV) node is generated by an interplay of many ionic currents, one of which is the funny pacemaker current (If). To understand the functional role of If in two different pacemakers, comparative studies of spontaneous activity and expression of the HCN channel in mouse SA node and AV node were performed. The intrinsic cycle length (CL) is 179+/-2.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta inhibition attenuates the development of bleomycin-induced lung injury.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is an ubiquitous serine-threonine protein kinase that participates in a multitude of cellular processes and has recently been implicated in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of TDZD-8, a potent and selective GSK-3beta inhibitor, on the development of lung injury caused by administration of bleomycin (BLM). Mice subjected to intra-tracheal administration of BLM developed significant lung injury characterized by marked neutrophil infiltration and tissue edema.

Characterization of the effects of ryanodine, TTX, E-4031 and 4-AP on the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes.

Aims: To characterize the effects of inhibition of Ryanodine receptor (RyR), TTX-sensitive neuronal Na+ current (iNa), "rapidly activating" delayed rectifier K+ current (iKr) and ultrarapid delayed rectifier potassium current (IKur) on the pacemaker activity of the sinoatrial node (SAN) and the atrioventricular node (AVN) in the mouse.

Methods: The structure of mouse AVN was studied by histology and immunolabelling of Cx43 and hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-binding channels (HCN). The effects of Ryanodine, TTX, E-4031 and 4-AP on pacemaker activities recorded from mouse intact SAN and AVN preparations have been investigated.

Muramyl dipeptide enhances the response to endotoxin to cause multiple organ injury in the anesthetized rat.

Nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD) proteins recognize peptidoglycan fragments, resulting in up-regulation of transcription factors, and may enhance the inflammatory response to infection. Specifically, NOD2 has been shown to sense muramyl dipeptide (MDP), which is released during bacterial cell growth and replication. Activation of NOD2 by MDP enhances the inflammatory response caused by LPS (endotoxin).

Are heterocygotes for classical homocystinuria at risk of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency?

Objectives/design: Comparative cross-sectional study to assess homocysteine and vitamin status in carriers of CBS gene mutations.

Method: Subjects included 34 parents (13 males, 21 females, age 27-59 years) of 30 patients with classical homocystinuria due to homozygous cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency. Control subjects were matched for gender and age (13 males, 21 females, age 25-59 years).