Browsing by Author "MSA University"

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Accuracy of ceramic restorations made with two CAD/CAM systems
(2013) Hamza T.A.; Ezzat H.A.; El-Hossary M.M.K.; El Megid Katamish H.A.; Shokry T.E.; Rosenstiel S.F.; Crown and Fixed Prosthodontics Department; Faculty of Dental Medicine; Al-Azhar University; Cairo; Egypt; Crown and Fixed Prosthodontics Department; Faculty of Dental Medicine; MSA University; 6th of October City; Egypt; Crown and Fixed Prosthodontics Department; Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine; Cairo University; Cairo; Egypt; Division of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry; College of Dentistry; Ohio State University; Columbus; OH; United States
Statement of problem Different types of CAD/CAM systems are currently available, but information regarding which system produces the best marginal fit is lacking. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 2 different CAD/CAM systems (Cerec inLab, Kavo Everest) on the marginal fit of 2 types of zirconia-based and lithium disilicate crowns. Material and methods Forty zirconia-based and lithium disilicate crowns, 20 each, were fabricated with the Cerec inLab and Everest CAD/CAM systems on a specially designed stainless steel die to ensure the standardization of specimen shape and dimensions. The vertical marginal fit for all tested crowns was evaluated by using a digital microscope at �100 magnification, and the data were tabulated and statistically analyzed with 2-way ANOVA, followed by the Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD) test with a confidence level of.05 to determine the mean differences. Results The results showed that the CAD/CAM technique, ceramic type, and their interaction had a statistically significant effect on the mean marginal fit of both ceramic types tested. Conclusions Better marginal fit values were exhibited by the Everest CAD/CAM technique for both ceramic types tested. � 2013 The Editorial Council of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.
Adaptive blind equalization technique to enhance the Constant Modulus Algorithm performance
(IEEE Computer Society, 2010) Nassar A.M.; El. Nahal W.; Electronics and Communication Dept.; Faculty of Engineering; Cairo University; Giza; Egypt; Communication Dept.; MSA University; Egypt
Recently blind equalizers have a wide range of research interest since they do not require training sequence and extra bandwidth, but the main weaknesses of these approaches are their high computational complexity and slow adaptation, so different algorithms are presented to avoid this nature. This paper introduces a new blind equalization technique, the Exponentially Weighted Step-size Recursive Least Squares Constant Modulus Algorithm (EXP-RLS-CMA), based upon the combination between the Exponentially Weighted Step-size Recursive Least Squares (EXP-RLS) algorithm and the Constant Modulus Algorithm (CMA), by providing several assumptions to obtain faster convergence rate to an optimal delay where the Mean Squared Error (MSE) is minimum, and so this selected algorithm can be implemented in digital system to improve the receiver performance. Simulations are presented to show the excellence of this technique, and the main parameters of concern to evaluate the performance are, the rate of convergence, the mean square error (MSE), and the average error versus different signal-to-noise ratios. � 2011 IEEE.
Alpha lipoic acid exerts antioxidant effect via Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation and suppresses hepatic stellate cells activation induced by methotrexate in rats
(Elsevier Masson SAS, 2018) Fayez A.M.; Zakaria S.; Moustafa D.; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Faculty of Pharmacy; MSA University; October City 6; Giza; Egypt; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Faculty of Pharmacy; October 6 University; October City 6; Giza; Egypt
Hepatic injury is a major side effect associated with methotrexate (MTX) therapy resulting from inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress induction. Therefore, liver fibrosis incidence is augmented with long-term MTX therapy. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a naturally occurring compound with potent antioxidant activity. This study explored the hepatoprotective mechanisms of ALA against MTX-induced hepatic injury in rats. Hepatic injury was induced in MTX group by 20 mg/kg body weight ip. injection of MTX. ALA group was pretreated with ALA 60 mmol/kg body weight ip. for five days followed by a single dose of MTX in the sixth day. Blood samples and liver tissues were then obtained to assess several biochemical parameters as serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and lipid peroxidation. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) pathway was studied by determining the extent of mRNA Nrf2 expression and the level of HO-1. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation was evaluated by estimating the expression of ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) and hydroxyproline content. Also, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and caspase-3 were assessed by ELISA in addition to histopathological examination of liver samples. Results showed that ALA pretreatment improved liver function since serum ALT, AST and ALP levels were reduced. Additionally, ALA restored GSH and TAC levels when compared to MTX group and decreased lipid peroxidation. ALA exerted its antioxidant effect via Nrf2/HO-1 pathway as well as it showed anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects by reducing TNF-? iNOS, COX-2 and caspase-3 levels in liver tissue homogenate. Finally, ALA suppressed HSCs activation by decreasing ?-SMA expression and hydroxyproline content in liver. It was concluded that ALA has hepatoprotective effects against MTX-induced hepatic injury mediated by Nrf2/HO-1 pathway as well as anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties. � 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS
Application of three novel spectrophotometric methods manipulating ratio spectra for resolving a pharmaceutical mixture of Chlorphenoxamine hydrochloride and Caffeine
(2013) Mohsen A.M.; Lotfy H.M.; Badawey A.M.; Salem H.; Elkhateeb S.Z.; Analytical Chemistry Department; MSA University; 6th October City; Giza; Egypt
Three spectrophotometric methods are presented for the determination of a binary mixture of Chlorphenoxaminehydrochloride (CPX) and Caffeine (CAF) in laboratory prepared mixture and pharmaceutical dosage form without prior separation. Method (I)is an extended ratio subtraction method (EXRSM) coupled with ratio subtraction method (RSM), which depends on subtraction of the plateau values from the ratio spectrum. Method (II)is a ratio difference spectrophotometric method (RDSM), which depends on the difference in value between two different wavelengths of the ratio spectrum. Method (III) is a mean centering of ratio spectra (MCR). Mathematical explanation of the three methods is illustrated. Calibration curves of the three methods are linear over the concentration ranges of 4-24 ?gml-1and 2-24 ?gml-1for CPX and CAF, respectively.The three methods proved to be simple, specific, accurate and precise. Solvent used is double distilled water. The three methods are validated as per the ICH guidelines where accuracy, precision, repeatability and robustness are found to be within the acceptable limits.
Appropriate technology and design-build program in architectural education
(Cairo University, 2015) Amer N.A.; Architectural Engineering Department; MSA University; Giza; Egypt
Architectural education may face challenges to successfully integrate appropriate technology and participatory approach in the design course program. The present work aims at clarifying the privilege of adopting the design-build program in architecture design studio and how this was achieved and fulfilled by the faculty members in architecture department in MSA University. The study has a multi-stage structure; staff perception and observation of students' performance, implementation of a questionnaire on the course program and gained experience in the different topics and activities, and the evaluation of questionnaire results. The questionnaire contains 12 topics and activities covered in Architecture Design V Fall2015, MSA University, and was delivered to 150 students. They were asked to rate the importance of the course components and their gained experience. Their perception was measured through the analysis of the questionnaire results. They were enthusiastic about dealing with residence and by the hands-on activities. This was what made the studio different than the traditional ones. Hands-on activities proved to be crucial in architecture education. There is a need to incorporate design-build program for design studios and students engagement with the community through the participatory approach. Integrating appropriate technology in architectural design studios will raise awareness for architectural students of its importance in professional practice.
Assessment of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice and its role in triggering intestinal dysplasia
(Elsevier B.V., 2013) Abdou A.G.; Harba N.M.; Afifi A.F.; Elnaidany N.F.; Department of Pathology; Faculty of Medicine; Menofiya University; Shebein Elkom; Egypt; Department and Parasitology; Faculty of Medicine; Menofiya University; Shebein Elkom; Egypt; Clinical Pharmacy Department; Faculty of Pharmacy; MSA University; 6th October City; Egypt
Objectives: There is an association between chronic inflammation and cancer, including colon cancer. Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that infects the gastrointestinal epithelial cells causing several parasitological and pathological changes. It is incriminated in the development of colorectal cancer in immunosuppressed individuals. Cyclin D1 expression is essential for cell cycle progression and its overexpression has been reported in colorectal cancer. This work aimed to study the gastrointestinal changes, including parasitological and pathological changes, induced by C. parvum infection in both immunocompetent and in chemically immunosuppressed mice, together with immunohistochemical assessment of cyclin D1 expression in infected tissues. In addition, the effectiveness of nitazoxanide (NTZ) in the treatment of cryptosporidiosis was evaluated. Methods: This study included six groups of mice: group I, infected; group II, infected and immunosuppressed; group III, infected and treated with NTZ; group IV, infected, immunosuppressed, and treated with NTZ; and groups V and VI representing non-infected controls. Mice were subjected to stool examination for oocyst counts and were later sacrificed for intestinal dissection and routine histopathological examination of pathological changes; the endogenous developmental stages of the parasite were counted and immunohistochemical staining was carried out for the determination of cyclin D1. Results: Group II showed the highest numbers of oocysts shed and endogenous developmental stages compared to the other groups. Intestinal dysplastic changes were seen only in groups I and II, where these changes were in favor of group II compared to group I. High-grade dysplasia was seen in four out of 20 mice in group II and was significantly associated with the number of endogenous developmental stages of C. parvum. NTZ was effective in the treatment of Cryptosporidium infection, with a greater effect in group III than in group IV. Conclusions: C. parvum is one of the infectious agents that may induce intestinal dysplasia, including the high-grade category, which occurs particularly in the presence of immune suppression states and elevated endogenous parasite loads. Cyclin D1 is a good and useful marker for the detection of intestinal dysplasia. The effectiveness of NTZ is dependent on the immune status of the infected host. � 2013 International Society for Infectious Diseases.
Assessment of new anti-HER2 ligands using combined docking, QM/MM scoring and MD simulation
(2013) Ahmed M.; Sadek M.M.; Serrya R.A.; Kafafy A.-H.N.; Abouzid K.A.; Wang F.; EChemistry Laboratory; Faculty of Life and Social Sciences; Swinburne University of Technology; Melbourne; VIC 3122; Australia; Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry; Faculty of Pharmacy; MSA University; Egypt; Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department; Faculty of Pharmacy; Ain Shams University; Cairo 11566; Egypt; Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry Department; Faculty of Pharmacy; Assiut University; Egypt
In the development of new anti-cancer drugs to tackle the problem of resistance to current chemotherapeutic agents, a new series of anti-HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptors 2) agents has been synthesized and investigated using different computational methods. Although non-selective, the most active inhibitor in the new series shows higher activity toward HER2 than EGFR. The induced fit docking protocol (IFD) is performed to find possible binding poses of the new inhibitors in the active site of the HER2 receptor. Molecular dynamic simulations of the inhibitor-protein complexes for the two most active compounds from the new series are carried out. Simulations stability is checked using different stability parameters. Different scoring functions are employed. � 2012 Elsevier Inc.
Assessment of three dimensional bone augmentation of severely atrophied maxillary alveolar ridges using prebent titanium mesh vs customized poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) mesh: A randomized clinical trial
(Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2019) Mounir M.; Shalash M.; Mounir S.; Nassar Y.; El Khatib O.; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Faculty of Dentistry; Cairo University and New Giza University; Cairo; Egypt; Surgery and Oral Medicine Department; National Research Centre; Cairo; Egypt; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Faculty of Dentistry; MSA University; 6th of October City; Egypt; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Faculty of Dentistry; Cairo University; Cairo; Egypt
Background: Alveolar bone grafting techniques and dental rehabilitation of patients with maxillary alveolar defects is a very challenging and costly procedure. Various methods have been described to reconstruct these defects in order to facilitate the placement of dental implants. The aim of this study was to assess three dimensional (3D) maxillary ridge augmentation using two innovative, accurate, and time saving protocols. Materials and Methods: Sixteen patients (32 implants) with vertically and horizontally deficient maxillary alveolar ridges, were equally allocated into 2 groups; a mix of particulate autogenous and xenogenic bone grafts loaded in a prebent titanium mesh (Control group) vs patient specific poly-ether-ether ketone meshes (Study group). Radiographic assessment was performed preoperatively, 1 week and 6 months postoperatively. Assessment included measurements of linear changes in the vertical and horizontal dimensions on cross sectional cuts of cone beam computed tomography using special software. Finally; the percentage of 3D bone gain in each group was compared to that of the other. Results: Wound healing was uneventful for all cases except one patient in each group were the meshes were exposed 2 weeks' postsurgery. There was no statistical significance between both groups (P value = 0.2). Conclusion: Within the limitations of the sample size of this study, both techniques could be used as a successful method of ridge augmentation with no statistical significance between them. � 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Association of polymorphism in adiponectin (+45 T/G) and leptin (-2548 G/A) genes with type 2 diabetes mellitus in male Egyptians
(Termedia Publishing House Ltd., 2015) Motawi T.; Salman T.; Shaker O.; Abdelhamid A.; Faculty of Pharmacy; Cairo University; Cairo; Egypt; Faculty of Pharmacy; Al Azhar University; Cairo; Egypt; Faculty of Medicine; Cairo University; Cairo; Egypt; Faculty of Pharmacy; MSA University; Giza; 201; Egypt
Introduction: Adiponectin is an adipose tissue-specific protein with insulin- sensitizing properties. Many investigators have explored the association between adiponectin single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in different ethnic populations from different regions. Leptin is a protein hormone constituting an important signal in the regulation of adipose tissue mass and body weight. The aim of this study was to explore potential associations between SNP +45 T>G of the adiponectin gene and SNP 2548G/A of leptin with T2DM and the effect of SNPs on serum adiponectin and leptin levels. Material and methods: From the Egyptian population, we enrolled 110 T2DM patients and 90 non-diabetic controls. Serum lipid profile, blood glucose, serum adiponectin, and leptin were measured. Genotyping for two common SNPs of the adiponectin and leptin genes was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: The G allele and TG/GG genotype of SNP 45 occurred more frequently than the T allele and TT genotype in T2DM patients compares to the controls. Subjects with the GG + TG genotype of SNP 45 were at increased risk for T2DM (OR = 6.476; 95% CI: 3.401-12.33) and associated with a low serum adiponectin level compared with the TT genotype. The serum leptin concentration of GA + AA genotype carriers was not significantly different from that of the GG genotype in the diabetic group. Conclusions: The G allele carriers who have reduced plasma concentrations of adiponectin may have an association with T2DM, while leptin SNP 2548 G/A is not associated with the risk of development of T2DM in the Egyptian population. Copyright 2015 Termedia & Banach.
B6. Multiband sharp-skirt compact gap resonator based D-CRLH
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015) Daw A.F.; El Rahman Abdallah M.A.; El Hennawy H.M.; Faculty of Engineering; MSA University; October; Egypt; Faculty of Engineering; MTC Collage; Cairo; Egypt; Faculty of Engineering; Ain Shams University; Cairo; Egypt
In this paper, a novel design of multi band (dual/quad) coupled gap transmission line resonators based on dual composite right/left handed microstrip structure is developed. The introduced structures demonstrate dual and quad resonances high selective sharpness passband response. The consummate structures was designed using one and two cells consist of a combination of a shunt tank related to interdigital capacitor and strip inductor, in addition to series tank intended using patch capacitor with small strip inductor. Furthermore, the paper elaborates the equivalent circuit model, analytical study, 3D full wave simulation and fabrication measurement results. The results manifest four sharp pass band resonances at 4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, 6.6 GHz, and 7.7 GHz with transmission coefficients equal -0.69 dB, -1.9 dB, -3.9 dB, and -3.7 dB, respectively. The quality factor demonstrates very high selectivity and equals 75.75, 151.75, 125, and 82.7 at the four bands, respectively. � 2015 IEEE.
The biological complication of implant abutment materials. A systematic review and meta-analysis
(Ariesdue, 2018) Mokhtar M.A.; Elnagar G.; Saleh M.; Radwan M.M.; Department of Fixed Prosthodontics; Faculty of Dentistry; MSA University; Egypt; Department of Fixed Prosthodontics; Faculty of Dentistry; Cairo University; Egypt; Department of Fixed Prosthodontics; Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine; Hodeidah University; Yemen; Department of Fixed Prosthodontics; Faculty of Dentistry; Beni-suef University; Egypt
Aim The goal of this review was to identify the biological complication of implant abutment materials in relation to alveolar bone around implant-supported superstructure. Methodology An electronic database search and a further manual search were directed to select RCTs, and cohort studies that give evidence about different abutment materials complication. Pocket depth, amount of rescission and crestal bone loss were attributed to alveolar bone loss. Results Fourteen clinical studies were selected from an initial search of 107 studies and the extraction of the analysis data were tabled according to complication output. Pocket probing depth were documented in eight studies, PPD around Zirconium implant abutments was 3.2 mm versus 3.4 mm for Titanium abutments. Five studies examined the recession index for Zirconium and Titanium implant abutments. The RI ranged from 0 to 0.4 at Titanium implant abutments and 0 to 0.3 at Zirconium implant abutments. Alveolar bone loss around Zirconia abutments was reported to differ from 0.2-1.48 mm and 0.3-1.43mm at Titanium abutments. Conclusion The data reported in this systematic review did not give an evidence for the complication regarding all ceramic versus metallic implant abutment. However, it can be concluded that the assessment of the randomized clinical trials did not provide an absolute decision for the choice of ceramic or metallic as implant abutment material in relation to alveolar bone response. The meta-analysis presented a statistically significant difference between abutment material with superiority for the all ceramic abutments over metallic abutment providing a favorable response of Marginal Bone Loss, but non-statistically significant regarding Pocket Probing Depth and Recession Index of soft tissue. � ariesdue March 2018; 10(1) 23.
Blind equalization technique for cross correlation constant modulus algorithm (CC-CMA)
(2010) Nassar A.M.; Nahal W.E.; Electronics and Communication Department; Faculty of Engineering; Cairo University; Giza; Egypt; Electronics and Communication Department; Faculty of Engineering; MSA University; 6th October; Egypt
Equalization plays an important role for the communication system receiver to correctly recover the symbol send by the transmitter, where the received signals may contain additive noise and intersymbol interference (ISI). Blind equalization is a technique of many equalization techniques at which the transmitted symbols over a communication channel can be recovered without the aid of training sequences, recently blind equalizers have a wide range of research interest since they do not require training sequence and extra bandwidth, but the main weaknesses of these approaches are their high computational complexity and slow adaptation, so different algorithms are presented to avoid this nature. The conventional Cross Correlation Constant Modulus Algorithm (CC-CMA) suffers from slow convergence rate corresponds to various transmission delays especially in wireless communication systems, which require higher speed and lower bandwidth. To overcome that, several adaptive algorithms with rapid convergence property are proposed based upon the cross-correlation and constant modulus (CC-CM) criterion, namely the recursive least squares (RLS) version of the CC-CMA (RLS-CC-CMA). This paper proposes a new blind equalization technique, the Exponential Weighted Step-size Recursive Cross Correlation CMA (EXP-RCC-CMA), which is based upon the Exponentially Weighted Step-size Recursive Least Squares (EXP-RLS) and the Recursive Cross Correlation CMA (RCC-CMA) methods, by introducing several assumptions to obtain higher convergence rate, minimum Mean Squared Error (MSE), and hence better receiver performance in digital system. Simulations studies show the rate of convergence, the mean square error (MSE), and the average error versus different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) with the other related blind algorithms.
A blind variable step-size method to enhance the blind multi-user detector performance for DS-CDMA systems
(IEEE Computer Society, 2012) Nahal W.E.; Communication and Electronics Department; Faculty of Engineering; MSA University; Egypt
In this paper we will propose a new blind variable step-size method which is mainly based upon the exponentially weighted step-size method to enhance the performance of the recursive versions of the CMA and the CC-CMA algorithms in multi-user applications. The proposed method presents a new method which detects blindly the channel impulse response variation according to the ever-changing environmental conditions, and then uses this variation to adjust the step-size parameter that attenuates this variation by the exponential ratio at each iteration of the adaptive blind equalization algorithm. As a result we will gain a step-size parameter sufficient for updating the tap weight coefficient vector of the blind equalizer iteratively, and that will speed up the convergence rate, minimize the mean square error (MSE) and enhance the performance of the blind detectors for DS-CDMA systems. � 2012 IEEE.
Building a zero-order BPF with CRLH transmission lines
(PENTON MEDIA, 2018) Abdalla M.A.; Hassan A.Y.; Ibrahim A.A.; Electronic Engineering Department; MTC College; Cairo; Egypt; Electronics and Communications Department; MSA University; Giza; Egypt; Communications and Electronics Department; Faculty of Engineering; Minia University; Minia; Egypt; University Oierre and Marie Curie; Sorbonne University; Paris VI; France
Miniaturization of RF/microwave filters helps pave the way to developing smaller wireless devices for internet access. Using metamaterials and circuit structures such as composite-right-left-handed (CRLH) resonators has proven effective in shrinking RF/microwave filter circuits and was demonstrated in the design of a compact bandpass filter (BPF) well-suited for WiMAX wireless applications. � 2018, PENTON MEDIA. All rights reserved.
C23. Self-healing autonomic networking for voice quality in VoIP and wireless networks
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015) El-Hennawey S.; Faculty of Engineering; MSA University; 6th of October; Cairo; Egypt
This paper provides a novel approach for automatically enhancing voice quality with reference to user's Quality of Experience (QoE). It is based on in-service quality assessment in Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP). The proposed scheme includes three phases: (1) automatic user quality assessment with diagnostic features, (2) fault localization in case of user quality experience degradation, and (3) dispatch control for quality recovery. In the first phase, QoS is measured using the Speech Quality Monitor (SQM) that provides the estimated overall quality mean opinion score (MOS) as well as identifying the main impairment that causes the degradation leading MOS to be below certain level. Based on the root cause of the degradation, the network fault is located in the second phase through the global network Quality of Service (QoS) monitoring. Finally in the third phase, control is dispatched through the QoS control, maintaining quality. Wireless networks are also considered. This way, the voice is kept at high quality. � 2015 IEEE.
Can zinc levels predict response to pegylated-interferon and ribavirin therapy in hepatitis c genotype 4 infected Egyptian patients?
(Universa Press, 2014) Mohamed A.A.; Abbassi M.M.; Hamed W.A.; Ezzel-Arab M.A.; Aref A.M.; Biochemistry Department; National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute; Cairo; Egypt; Clinical Pharmacy Department; Cairo University; Cairo; Egypt; Tropical Medicine Department; Ain Shams University; Cairo; Egypt; Internal Medicine Department; National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute; Cairo; Egypt; Biotechnology Department; MSA University; Cairo; Egypt
Background and Aims: Zinc has been found to be low in chronic hepatitis patients. Its level was correlated with response to Interferon/ribavirin therapy in patients infected with hepatitis C genotype 1. In Egypt, inexpensive predictors to treatment response in Hepatitis C genotype 4 infected patients are desperately needed. We aim to explore if pretreatment zinc serum levels correlate with response to pegylated- interferon and ribavirin therapy in Egyptian patients. Methods: This is an observational prospective study where 57 treatment na�ve hepatitis C genotype 4 infected patients that were Hepatitis B and Human Immunodeficiency virus negative were recruited in a hospital setting. The study was performed from October 2010 till June 2012. Patients had Liver biopsy and basic biochemical profiles were performed pretreatment for all patients. Treatment consisted of 48 weeks of pegylated-interferon-alpha2a and ribavirin therapy. Blood samples were withdrawn from 21 healthy subjects to compare zinc levels and other biochemical markers. Patients were followed up to 72 weeks. Results: Pretreatment serum zinc levels were significantly lower in hepatitis C infected patients compared to healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). Moreover, zinc levels correlated to sustained virological response in treated patients (p = 0.00). Conclusion: Serum zinc levels can be used as an inexpensive predictor to effective Pegylated-interferon/ribavirin therapy in Egyptian patients infected with Hepatitic C genotype 4.
Cathepsin D expression in chronic plaque psoriasis: An immunohistochemical study
(2011) Abdou A.G.; Maraee A.H.; Shoeib M.A.E.; Elsammie A.A.A.; Elnaidany N.F.; Pathology Department; Menofiya University; Shebein Elkom; Egypt; Dermatology and Andrology Department; Faculty of Medicine; Menofiya University; Shebein Elkom; Egypt; Clinical Pharmacy Department; Faculty of Pharmacy; MSA University; October City; Egypt
Cathepsins are lysosomal cysteine proteases, which are involved in a variety of physiologic processes such as proenzyme activation, antigen presentation, tissue remodeling, bone matrix resorption, and pathologic processes such as facilitating tumor invasion and modulating the process of programmed cell death. This study aimed to evaluate the pattern of cathepsin D (CD) expression in chronic plaque psoriasis in comparison to normal skin by means of immunohistochemistry. The study included 34 patients presenting with chronic plaque psoriasis and 10 ageand sex-matched normal subjects as control group. Sixty percent of normal skin showed granular positivity for CD confined to basal layer. CD is upregulated in psoaritic lesion with 94.1% positivity making a significant difference between psoriasis and normal skin as regards the percentage and distribution of CD expression, where the latter was predominantly diffuse in psoriatic lesion. The eight cases exposed to PUVA therapy showed reduction of CD positivity to 62.5% with a predominance of mild staining and focal expression compared to pretreatment biopsies. CD may have a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis in view of its high percentage and diffuse expression in psoriatic epidermis. CD degradative capacity may be responsible for disordered differentiation and scale formation characteristic of psoriasis. Reduction of CD expression may be one of the pathways of PUVA mechanism of action.
Central venous catheter-related infections in the intensive care units in Egypt
(2012) Omran M.E.; Gomma F.M.; Hayder W.A.; Ali N.K.; Afifi S.S.; Ashour M.S.; Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Al-Azhar University; Egypt; Department of Clinical Pathology; Al Azhar University; Egypt; Department of Microbiology and Immunology; MSA University; Egypt
Central venous catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. This study was conducted to determine the incidence of central venous catheter-related infections (CRIs) according to different access sites, isolation, identification and determination of the predominant microorganisms involved and to determine the risk factors for infection by statistical analysis of the results to contribute the elaboration of actions to prevent and control blood stream infections and mortality among those patients. A total of 160 adult patients with indwelling central venous catheters hospitalized at intensive care units (ICUs) were enrolled in this study. A total of 640 clinical samples were collected from the patients; 4 different samples collected from each patient: 320 blood samples; 160 (pre-catheterized) and the other 160 (postcatheterization), 160 catheter tips and 160 swabs. The clinical samples were cultured on ordinary media for isolation and identification of the isolated microorganisms. Antibiotic sensitivity was determined by disk diffusion method according to National Committee of Clinical Laboratory Standard 2007 (NCCLS). Microscan automated system was also used for both identification and antimicrobial sensitivity testing. Statistical analysis used SPSS-10 version statistical software. One hundred forty two out of 160 patients (88.75%) suffered from CRIs. Catheter related infections were categorized according to CDC guidelines into Catheter-Related Blood Stream Infection (CR-BSI), Clinical Blood Stream Infection (C-BSI), Bloodstream Infection (BSI), Catheter bacteremia (CB) and Exit Site Infection (ESI), their rates were 23.2%, 8.5%, 47.9%, 2.8 % and 0.7% respectively and 16.9% were mixed infections. Semiquantitative culture was used for CRIs diagnosis. The total number of pathogens was 293 microorganisms were isolated from 261 positive cultures. Out of them 139 (47.4%) were Gram positive bacteria, 136 (46.4%) were Gram negative bacteria and 18 (6.1%) were Fungi. High frequency of microorganisms were isolated from post catheterization blood specimens (80.63%) followed by catheter tip samples (44.3%), swabs (29.4%) and the pre-catheterization blood specimens showed the lowest frequency of isolated microorganisms (6.88%).The isolated microorganisms identified by conventional and semiquantitative methods were belonging to 17 different species. The main etiological Gram positive bacteria was Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS) representing (30.8%) and the main etiological Gram negative bacteria was Klebsiella pneumonia representing (10.6%). Pathogens isolated from CR-BSI were 42 isolates belonging to 13 different species; the most prevalent isolate was CoNS representing (42.9%). Pathogens isolated from C-BSI were 12 isolates belonging to 6 different species, the most prevalent isolate was S. aureus representing (41.7%) while 83 pathogens were isolated from BSI and they were belonging to 14 different species, the most prevalent isolates were CoNS representing (38.6%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the microorganism isolated from the single ESI detected in the study. The isolated pathogens from CRIs showed a wide range of antibiotic resistance. The emergence of multi-resistant pathogens in ICUs was highly detected in the present study. The most Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria causing CRIs were sensitive to imipenem and vancomycin. Proper insertion and care of catheters are essential to avoid infection. Education and training of health professionals on the practice of dealing with the CVC is an important tool in preventing and reducing CRIs.
Chemometrics-assisted voltammetric determination of timolol maleate and brimonidine tartrate utilizing a carbon paste electrode modified with iron (III) oxide nanoparticles
(Elsevier Inc., 2019) Abou Al Alamein A.M.; Hendawy H.A.M.; Elabd N.O.; Analytical Chemistry Department; Faculty of Pharmacy; Cairo University; P.O. Box 11562; Cairo; Egypt; National Organization for Drug Control and Research (NODCAR); P.O. Box 29; Cairo; Egypt; Analytical Chemistry Department; Faculty of Pharmacy; MSA University; P.O. Box 2511; Giza; Egypt
A carbon paste electrode modified with iron (III) oxide nanoparticles (MCPE) was fabricated for the simultaneous quantitative voltammetric determination of timolol maleate (TM) and brimonidine tartrate (BT) using chemometrics analysis. In this paper, for the first time, a novel voltammetric method was developed for a rapid, sensitive and efficient simultaneous determination of TM and BT in the marketed ophthalmic formulation. This method is based on the incorporation of iron (III) oxide nanoparticles into the carbon paste electrode which improves the characteristics of the electrode and increases its sensitivity. The electrochemical oxidation of the two drugs was established using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques. DPV and SWV techniques were developed for the quantitative voltammetric determination of TM and BT in their pure forms and pharmaceutical formulations. The method revealed a minimum detectability (LOD) of 1.31 � 10?6 ?g/mL for BT and 1.37 � 10?5 ?g/mL for TM and a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 3.97 � 10?6 ?g/mL for BT and 4.16 � 10?5 ?g/mL for TM for SWV. Different chemometric methods (PCR and PLS) were tested for the resolution of the overlapped peaks of both compounds and their determination in mixtures. The best results were obtained with the PLS method. The proposed method was validated and compared with the reported HPLC method, revealing the good accuracy, precision and reproducible results of this method. � 2018 Elsevier B.V.
Circulating microRNAs as potential non-invasive biomarkers in pediatric patients with celiac disease
(Elsevier B.V., 2019) Amr K.S.; Bayoumi F.S.; Eissa E.; Abu-Zekry M.; Medical molecular genetics Department; National Research Centre; Cairo; Egypt; Immunogenetics Department; National Research Centre; Cairo; Egypt; Microbiology and Immunology Department; MSA University; Egypt; Immunogenetics Department; National Research Centre; Cairo; Egypt; Abu El Reesh Children�s Hospital; Cairo University; Cairo; Egypt
Celiac disease is an enteropathy induced by ingestion of gluten triggering an immune response in genetically predisposed individuals. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that have a role as regulators of gene expression at the post transcriptional level. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of using circulating miRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers in pediatric patients with celiac disease. In addition, we examine the effect of a gluten-free diet on the expression of these miRNAs in serum of CD patients. The expression pattern of miR-21 and miR-31 was estimated in serum of 25 untreated CD patients (recently diagnosed), 25 treated CD patients (on gluten-free diet) and 20 healthy controls using qRT-PCR. Our results demonstrated the significant up-regulation of microRNA-21 in the untreated celiac patients in comparison with the treated group and healthy controls. Moreover, miR-31 expression was significantly under-expressed in the untreated celiac patients in comparison with the treated group and healthy controls. Furthermore, the results showed that miR-21 expression level was significantly positively correlated with the tTG IgA auto-antibodies. In conclusion, circulating miRNA-21 and miRNA-31 could serve as potential non-invasive biomarkers for pediatric CD patients. � 2019, EDRA S.p.A. All rights reserved.