bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study of leukocyte surface antigen CD64, as a marker of early-onset and late-onset sepsis in preterm and full-term neonates
Authors: Younis Doaa H. , Algohary Eglal H. , Ahmed Eman A. , Elaal Hala M.A.
Published: March 2024

Background

Neonatal sepsis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among newborns. Its diagnosis depends mainly on blood culture that takes at least 48 h to give results. Therefore, searching for biomarkers for early diagnosis is of value. We aimed to assess neutrophil CD64 as an early diagnostic biomarker in early-onset and late-onset neonatal sepsis in full-term and preterm neonates and to compare it with other diagnostic markers, blood culture, and neonatal scores of sepsis.

Patients and methods

A case–control study was conducted on 60 neonates with clinical sepsis and 30 neonates as control aged from 1 to 28 days of life admitted to NICU in Damanhour Teaching Hospital during the period from 1/8/2018 to 1/4/2019. Studied neonates were evaluated using clinical and laboratory indicators for sepsis, and neutrophil CD64 was measured by flow cytometry.

Results

There was a statistically significant increase in CD64 of early-onset sepsis and late-onset sepsis groups than control group (P>0.001), either in full-term and preterm neonates, whereas there was no statistically significant difference between early-onset sepsis group and late-onset sepsis group regarding CD64. CD64 at a cutoff point more than 30% had sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100, negative predictive value 100, and area under a curve=1, which means CD64 is the gold standard test. However, C-reactive protein (CRP) at a cutoff point more than 6 mg/l had sensitivity of 71.67%, specificity of 83.33%, and area under a curve=0.78, which means CRP is a good test.

Conclusion

The level of CD64 was equally increased in neonates with early-onset and late-onset neonatal sepsis and not affected by age or sex and was highly sensitive and specific in diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. There were positive significant correlations between CD64 and both CRP and neonatal score of sepsis, whereas there was an insignificant relation between mean values of CD64 and blood cultures results.
The relationship between rheumatoid arthritis disease and hearing loss
Authors: El Reheem Marwa A. , Elkholy Tawfik A. , Zidan Mohammed F. , Eladawy Iman
Published: March 2024

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common systemic autoimmune diseases, characterized by chronic persistent and progressive erosive polyarthritis, leading to irreversible joint disability and increased mortality. It is a disease that affects 1% of the population. The auditory system may be involved during the course of disease; however, the association of RA and hearing impairment (HI) has not been clearly defined.

Aim

The aim of this work was to evaluate the pattern of HI in patients with RA and to examine the possible associations between RA and hearing loss.

Patients and methods

A total of 55 patients with RA (mean age of 42.10±11.80 years; female sex: 100%) and 55 healthy controls (mean age of 40.92±8.70 years; female sex: 100%) were included in this study. The two groups were matched for age and sex (P>0.05). The mean RA duration is 88.10±27.39 months. Otoscopic examination was normal in all participants. HI was evaluated by pure tone audiometry and tympanometry including the static compliance and acoustic reflex threshold test. Complete medical history and thorough physical examination were taken along with full investigation (including rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and the presence of anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies).

Results

Both groups were comparable regarding age and sex. However, there was a significant increase of HI in the studied group when compared with control group (36.7 vs 3.3%, respectively). Audiometric tests revealed significant increase in the hearing threshold and increased air bone gap. The immitancemetry revealed decrease of static compliance and significant increase of average acoustic reflex in the study group when compared with the control group.

Conclusion

Hearing loss is statistically increased in RA, and disease activity is usually associated with HI.
Studying the changes of ocular wavefront aberrations after neodymium
Authors: Badawi Nermeen M.
Published: March 2024

Aimof the study

The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes of wavefront aberrations after performing neodymium : yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd : YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy for the management of posterior capsular opacifications.

Patients and methods

This study is a prospective study that was performed on 100 eyes of 87 patients with posterior capsule opacification following phacoemulsification, in the period from March 2017 to October 2017. A complete ophthalmic examination and optical wavefront imaging were performed to every patient. Patients underwent posterior capsulotomy using Nd : YAG laser with a follow-up period of 6 months.

Results

There were no significant changes in postoperative refraction at P value more than 0.05 still the best-corrected visual acuity showed a clinically significant at P value less than 0.05. The intraocular pressure was statistically significantly increased on the first postoperative day (P<0.05) but not in other postoperative visits. Regarding higher order aberrations there was a statistically significant improvement in total third-order aberrations (P<0.05), coma aberration (P<0.05), total fourth-order aberrations (P<0.05), spherical aberration (P<0.05), and total higher order aberrations (P<0.05) while quadrafoil and fifth-order aberrations showed no statistically significant changes.

Conclusion

Nd : YAG laser posterior capsulotomy causes a significantly decrease in wavefront aberrations in patients with posterior capsule opacification.
Effect of sofosbuvir and ribavirin therapy on hearing
Authors: Ismail Naema , El-Serafy Gamal , Ewida Amal , Eladawy Iman , Abd-Elmo′men Mona
Published: March 2024

Introduction

An estimated 185 million people worldwide are currently infected with chronic hepatitis C virus and ∼3–4 million new infections occur each year. Sofosbuvir (SOF) administered in combination with ribavirin (RBV) resulted in high sustained virological response rates across genotype (GT) 1–6 patients. It is also the first available regimen for patients who are unsuitable for interferon. A combination of SOF and RBV was safe and well tolerated with no death or discontinuation of treatment due to adverse events. The most frequent adverse events were headache, anemia, fatigue, and nausea.

Objective

This study was designed to detect the effect of dual treatment with SOF/RBV on hearing and on cochlear hair cells in 50 patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Subjects and methods

Fifty adult male patients with chronic HCV infection and fulfilling the indications to start the medical treatment with Sovaldi, they were subjected to pre and post treatment hearing assessment by Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) and Oto Acoustic Emission (OAEs).

Results

According to pure-tone audiometry, no statistically significant difference was detected in hearing threshold among patients at different frequencies, pretreatment and post-treatment. According to distortion-product otoacoustic emission (S/N), there was a highly statistically significant difference in distortion-product otoacoustic emission (S/N), at the most of frequencies in pretreatment and post-treatment. This differences confirmed (outer hair cell) damage as an ototoxic effect for SOF/RBV therapy.

Recommendation

Long-term follow-up to determine this effect on the outer hair cell either temporary or permanent.
Diabetic foot syndrome in relation to cardiovascular risk factors and morbidities
Authors: Ahmed Sally A.-A. , Hassan Zainab A.-B. , Sayed Ghada M. , Aly Eman M.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is as a major source of morbidity and a leading cause of hospitalization in patients with diabetes.

Aim

To study the presence of cardiovascular morbidities among patients with DFS.

Patients and methods

This study was conducted on 60 patients having type 2 diabetes. They were divided according to presence or absence of DFS into two groups. Each group included 30 patients. History taking; vital signs with calculation of ankle–brachial index (ABI); systemic examination; laboratory investigations, including blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin, lipid profile, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and insulin resistance index; carotid ultrasonography; and echocardiography were performed for all study participants.

Results

Patients with DFS had longer duration of diabetes; higher waist circumference, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein; and lower ABI, eGFR, and insulin resistance index. Carotid intima-media thickness was higher in patients with DFS. Regarding echocardiography, significant differences were found between both groups in mitral valve E/A ratio, ejection fraction, and left ventricle end systolic volume. There was a significant positive correlation between Wagner grade of diabetic foot and glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein, and a significant negative correlation between Wagner grade of diabetic foot and eGFR and ABI.

Conclusion

Presence of DFS was associated with cardiovascular morbidities.
Histological and immunohistochemical study of telocytes in the heart of male albino rats in different age groups
Authors: Abdel Gawad Soad K.M. , Al-Shahed Fatma Al-Zahraa N. , Abd El-Zaher Mariam H.
Published: March 2024

Background

Telocytes (TCs) have been newly discovered as a type of interstitial cells in the heart. They have been suggested to have a role in cardiac renewal and repair.

Aim

To study the number and distribution of TCs in the heart of male albino rats and the effect of aging on their numbers.

Materials and methods

A total of 24 male albino rats were used in the present study. They were subdivided into four groups: group I included six rats that were 1 week old, group II included six rats that were 1 month old, group III included six rats that were 3 months old, and group IV included six rats that were 1 year old. Specimens were taken from both atria and ventricles and subdivided into two parts: a part processed and examined by light microscope and the other part processed and examined by electron microscope. CD117 and CD34 immunohistochemical stains were used for demonstration of sites, numbers, and distribution of TCs.

Results

By CD117 and CD34 immunohistochemical stains, there was a statistically significant increase in the number of TCs in atria more than in ventricles. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the number of TCs with aging. In Masson's trichrome-stained sections, there was an increase in collagen fibers between cardiomyocytes and around the blood vessels with age. By electron microscopic examination, TCs appeared as branched spindle, triangular, or cubical cells with long processes (telopodes) arising from the cell body. Telopodes showed variation in diameter, which had a narrow part (podomer) and a dilated part (podom). They showed homocellular junction with another TC's telopodes and heterocellular junctions between TCs and cardiomyocytes; moreover, multivesicular bodies were also seen.

Conclusion

There was a decrease in the number of TCs in the heart together with minimal changes in its shape and structure with aging.
Effect of nebulized ketamine versus betamethasone gel on postoperative pharyngo-laryngeal complications after proseal laryngeal mask insertion in day case surgery
Authors: Emara Ayman S.
Published: March 2024

Background

General anesthesia with laryngeal mask airway can lead to trauma of the airway mucosa resulting in postoperative pharyngo-laryngeal complications. We compared between the effects of betamethasone gel applied over proseal laryngeal mask and nebulized ketamine in reducing pharyngo-laryngeal complications such as sore throat, hoarseness of voice, dysphagia, and cough during the first, 12 postoperative hours after elective day case surgical procedures.

Patients and methods

In all, 120 patients (aged 16–45 year) American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, scheduled for elective day case surgery with proseal laryngeal mask, were enrolled into this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study. The patients were randomly allocated into four groups of 30 participants each: group C received nebulized saline and lubricant gel over laryngeal mask; group B received nebulized saline and 0.05% betamethasone gel over laryngeal mask; group K received nebulized ketamine (1 mg/kg) and lubricant gel over laryngeal mask; group KB received nebulized ketamine (1 mg/kg) and 0.05% betamethasone gel over laryngeal mask. The incidence and the severity of postoperative sore throat, hoarseness of voice, dysphagia, and cough were graded at 30 min, 2, 4, 8, and 12 h.

Results

The incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat, hoarseness of voice, dysphagia, and cough were significantly lower in groups KB, K, and B, compared with control group (P<0.05). The incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat, hoarseness of voice, dysphagia, and cough were lower in group KB compared with groups K and B at all times after removal of laryngeal mask up to 12 h without significant difference.

Conclusion

The prophylactic use of betamethasone gel or nebulized ketamine significantly reduced the incidence and severity of postoperative pharyngo-laryngeal complication. Betamethasone gel and nebulized ketamine were significantly more effective than using each of these drugs alone.
Evaluation of nutritional deficiencies and health-related quality of life during the first year after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass
Authors: Ahmed Mohammed S. , Ahmed Mostafa El Sayed , Razik Mahmoud A. Abdel
Published: March 2024

Background

Nutritional deficiencies and health-related quality of life represent a major concern after bariatric procedures and can cause serious complications. Bariatric procedures have different effects on the domains of quality of life.

Objective

To prospectively compare between the effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass (LMGB) on nutritional deficiencies and quality of life during the first postoperative year.

Patients and methods

We included 40 patients. In the first group, 20 patients underwent LSG, whereas 20 patients in the second group underwent LMGB. Postoperative assessment of nutritional parameters and quality of life was performed every 3 months. Quality of life was assessed using bariatric analysis and reporting outcome system (BAROS) and short form-12 questionnaires.

Results

All nutritional parameters showed significant decrease with more significant deficiencies after LMGB. Quality of life improved significantly after both procedures. Using BAROS questionnaire, LMGB was associated with significant better results.

Conclusion

LSG and LMGB are associated with significant decrease of nutritional parameters and significant improvement of quality of life. However, LMGB is associated with significantly more nutritional deficiencies and better improvement of quality of life than LSG.
Role of multidetector computed tomography in evaluation of intestinal diseases in adults
Authors: Elsayed Sharaf Hend H.A. , Glal Heba M. , Zarad Mohammed S. , Abdellatif Nahed A.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Many diseases affect the intestine and need dedicated evaluation and proper characterization by continuous advances in multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) techniques.

Objective

To emphasize the role of MDCT in evaluation of different intestinal disorders in adults.

Patients and methods

An MDCT was performed on patients referred to the Radiology Department for diagnosis of suspected intestinal diseases at Zahra Hospital and private radiology centers from September 2018 to September 2020. Patients’ selection was based on the need for evaluation of suspected intestinal diseases in adults that were not precisely diagnosed. We used a 128-GE MDCT and 160-Toshiba MDCT.

Results

A total of 92 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 47.71±15.66 years, and 67.4% were males. Abdominal pain represented the highest distribution (58.7%) of clinical presentation, whereas abdominal trauma and heart burn represented the lowest distribution (1.1%). Cases with malignancy have the highest distribution of pathological abnormalities (28%), whereas cases with intestinal ischemia have the lowest distribution (1.1%). The most common site for intestinal lesion was large intestine (71.7%), whereas lesions of both small and large intestine represented lowest distribution (8.7%). In addition, 95.7% of the cases had intestinal wall thickening. White pattern represented the highest distribution of enhancement (43.5%), whereas homogenous pattern represented lowest distribution (3.3%) (P<0.05). Besides, segmental pattern represented the highest distribution of large-bowel extension (33.75%), and diffuse pattern represented lowest distribution (23.9%).

Conclusion

Our results showed MDCT is an accurate and sensitive tool that aids in the diagnosis of a wide range of intestinal diseases.
Value of 2D echo calcium score and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as simple tools for the prediction of coronary artery disease documented by multislice computed tomography in type II diabetic patients
Authors: Nasreldeen Samar A. , Abdel Hady Bassem M. , Abd Elaziz Ola H. , Ahmed Ahmed M.
Published: March 2024

Background

Early detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) among patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM) constitutes an important task. Neutrophil-lymphocytic ratio (NLR) and echo calcium score (eCS) have been recently identified as independent predictors of CAD.

Aim

The study aimed to assess the value of 2D echo calcium score and NLR as simple tools for the prediction of CAD documented by multislice computed tomography in type II diabetic patients.

Patients and methods

The study included 40 male patients with type II DM and known risk factors for CAD, who were referred for coronary computed tomography (CT) due to suspected CAD. NLR and eCS were assessed in all patients. Coronary calcium score and the presence of obstructive CAD were assessed by CT coronary angiography.

Results

Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of CAD; group I (18 patients) with nonobstructive CAD and group II (22 patients) with obstructive CAD. The authors found that patients in group II had significantly higher NLR, eCS, and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) compared with group I. There was a weak positive correlation between NLR and coronary calcium score and a strong positive correlation between eCS and CACS. The best sensitivity and specificity of eCS and NLR were 77.3, 66.7 and 77.3, 61.1%, respectively, when used alone to predict obstructive CAD. However, when combining NLR and eCS, the capability to predict obstructive CAD increased with sensitivity (90.9%) and specificity (72.2%).

Conclusion

NLR and eCS had the capability to predict obstructive CAD detected by CT coronary angiography in patients with type II DM.
Blood transfusion practices in cardiac anesthesia
Authors: Mohammed Sara M. , El Ashmawy Hassam S. , Ghoneim Sameh H. , Lashin Amira I.
Published: March 2024

Objective

We have studied the variability of blood transfusion on hemodynamics and its complications during cardiac surgeries at a single center in Egypt.

Patients and methods

A total of 35 patients of both sexes, with ages from 21 to 70 years, scheduled for open heart surgeries were prospectively enrolled in this observational study between December 2019 and June 2020. Hemodynamic variables, such as mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were recorded before induction (T1), after endotracheal intubation (T2), immediately before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (T3), 30 min into CPB (T4), 15 min after successful weaning (T5), after sternal closure (T6), and upon arrival in the ICU (T7). The total amount of administered blood and blood products transfused intraoperatively and on the first day postoperatively; the total amount of fluids administered, including the CPB prime volume; and the total intraoperative urine output were recorded. Moreover, the number of patients who needed inotropic support, recovery time, time to extubation in the first 24 h postoperatively, length of ICU stay, and postoperative complication were recorded.

Results

We found that 68.6% (24 patients) of patients undergoing cardiac surgery received blood and/or blood product transfusion intraoperatively, and 31.4% (11 patients) were not transfused blood, but 14.3% (five patients) of them received blood postoperatively. Moreover, there were significant increases in the numbers of American Sociological Association III patients in blood transfusion group compared with other group, with increased need for inotropic drug and increased postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Conclusion

Blood transfusion in cardiac surgeries was associated with more incidences of postoperative complication and worse outcomes.
Albuminuria and its relation to severity of coronary artery disease detected by angiography in type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Elwafa Eman E.A. , Hady Bassem M.A. , Elaziz Ola H.A.
Published: March 2024

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most potent risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). Consequently, the diagnosis of CAD in diabetic patients is very important as early as possible. Microalbuminuria is a strong and independent indicator of increased cardiovascular risk among individuals with and without diabetes.

Aim

The study aimed to assess the relation between the degree of albuminuria and the angiographic severity of CAD in patients with type 2 DM.

Patients and methods

A total of 40 patients with type 2 DM who were referred for elective coronary angiography owing to a suspected CAD were included in the study. Urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) was calculated for all patients, and the severity of CAD was assessed using the SYNTAX score. All patients were assessed by conventional and 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography.

Results

The study population comprised 19 (41.5%) males and 21 (58.5%) females. Their mean age was 53.5±8.7 years. Patients were classified into two groups based on the level of UACR; group 1 included patients with UACR less than 30 mg/g (19 patients), and group 2 included patients with UACR greater than or equal to 30 mg/g (21 patients). The study revealed significantly higher SYNTAX score in patients in group 2 compared with patients in group 1 (P=0.02) and significantly lower left ventricular global longitudinal strain in patients in group 2 compared with patients in group 1 (P=0.016). There was also a weak positive correlation between UACR and SYNTAX score and the duration of DM (r=0.395 and 0.399, respectively).

Conclusion

Microalbuminuria can be used as a predictor of the presence and severity of CAD in type II DM.
Environmental enteropathy and malnutrition in pre-school stunted children
Authors: Mahmoud Perehan M. , Salah Elden Hoda M. , Ahmed Gihan F. , Lofty Azza O.
Published: March 2024

Background

Stunting is a common health problem that affects approximately one-third of children in developing countries. Environmental enteropathy is defined as an inflammatory condition of the gut, which is commonly presented in low-income countries that leads to intestinal malabsorption.

Aim

To study some risk factors of Environmental enteropathy in stunted children owing to malnutrition in the pre-school age (2–5 years).

Patients and methods

Our study was a cross-sectional study that was conducted on one group of 80 children aged from 2 to 5 years, who were diagnosed to have stunting owing to malnutrition. Their height-for-age was below −2 SD according to the WHO growth curves, matched regarding sex and age. They were from the National Nutrition Institute and attended the stunting clinic every Monday and Thursday from July 2017 to October 2019.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference between stool analysis and neopterin level (P=0.0035). A higher level of neopterin was among those with Entamoeba histolytica infection. Moreover, there was a statistically significant difference between the frequency of sweets and snack intake and neopterin level (P=0.001). Higher levels were among daily sweet intake. There was a positive correlation between neopterin level and age of starting weaning (P=0.006), whereas a negative correlation with duration of absolute breastfeeding (P=0.049).

Conclusion

Neopterin level was high among children with intestinal infection of E. histolytica followed by oxyrious and giardia. Dietary habits of daily intake of unhealthy sweety snacks showed a high level of neopterin. Exclusive 6 months of breastfeeding had a negative correlation with neopterin level.
Rate, categorisation of emergency cesaerean sections and their outcome at Al- Zahraa University Hospital
Authors: Habib Hala F.M. , Ibrahem Mervat , Hamdy Enass M.
Published: March 2024

Background

Cesarean section (CS) is ‘the delivery of a fetus through an abdominal incision (laparotomy) followed by incision of the uterine wall (hysterotomy).’

Objectives

To study the rate and categorization of emergency cesarean section (ECS) cases and their outcome at Al-Zahraa University Hospital.

Patients and methods

This is a prospective study that was conducted at Al-Zahraa University Hospital. It included 404 ECS cases, and they were categorized into three categories of ECS as follows: category I included 101 cases with immediate threat of life of women or of fetus, category II included 64 cases with maternal or fetal compromise but not immediately life-threatening, and category III included 239 cases needing early delivery but no maternal or fetal comprise.

Results

The present study shows that there is a high significant difference among the three categories of ECS studied cases regarding age (years) (P=0.000), parity (P=0.000), gestational age (weeks) (P=0.007), and number of previous CS (P=0.000), whereas there is a significant difference regarding preterm labor (P=0.026) and one or twins (P=0.029).

Conclusion

The rate of ECS at Al-Zahraa University Hospital was high during the period of the study (6 months). The most common indication of ECS during this period was uterine contractions in a case with absolute cause of CS. Fetal and maternal outcomes were very good.
Retrospective study of the outcome of liver transplantation in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Ahmed Dina M. , Abd-Alaziz Mona R. , Ibrahim Ibrahim M. , El-gendy Naglaa A.
Published: March 2024

Aim

To assess the outcome of living-related-donor liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis C infection in Egyptian patients including hepatitis C recurrence, fibrosis progression, and improved survival.

Patients and methods

This retrospective study included 104 adult Egyptian patients with chronic liver disease due to chronic hepatitis C, who underwent living-donor liver transplantation at Wadi El-Neel Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, during the period from January 2005 to January 2014. All data regarding comprehensive history taking, clinical examination, laboratory evaluation, model for end-stage liver disease score, fibrosis-4 score, liver biopsy, histopathology examination, and radiological evaluation before and after transplant were collected and analyzed. Moreover, the data of regimen of immunosuppression and regimen of antiviral therapy after transplant were collected and analyzed.

Results

There were 75 males and 29 females. Their ages ranged from 30 to 74 years, with an average of 51.62 years old. Of 104 cases, 90 were of class C, whereas 13 cases of class B, and only one case was class A Pugh–Child classification. Of 104 cases, 31 missed follow-up owing to follow-up in another hospital within their city. Recurrence of hepatitis C virus infection after liver transplantation occurred in 73 (70.19%) cases. Sustained virological response was observed in 40 (54.79%) cases, and relapse was observed in 33 (31.73%) cases after antiviral treatment. Second relapse after treatment occurred in 33 (31.73%) of 73 cases and received antiviral therapy course again, with sustained virological response in 15 (45.45%) cases out of 33, relapse again was seen in seven (21.21%) of 33 cases, and 11 (42.4%) of 33 cases were nonresponders. According to clinical outcomes in the studied cases, eight (7.7%) died, five (4.8%) cases had decompensated liver disease, five (4.8%) cases underwent retransplantation, two (19%) cases had liver fibrosis, and one case (0.96%) had hepatocellular carcinoma.
Management of tennis elbow
Authors: Mahmoud Ahmed K. , Ahmed Omar A. , Mahmoud Wael S.
Published: March 2024

Background and aim

Tennis elbow is an abuse condition that out comes in pain over lateral side of elbow, provoked by activities involving gripping and manipulating objects by hand. It is frequently a consequence of participation in activities requiring repetitive manual tasks with awkward wrist positions. Tennis elbow has a variety of treatment options, starting from nonoperative treatment, including conservative treatment, bracing, and physiotherapy, to the last line of treatment being surgical intervention.

Materials and methods

A systemic review was performed using Google, PubMed, and Medline for a period from 2015 to 2019 comparing three methods of tennis elbow treatment: steroid injection, open surgery, and arthroscopic surgery.

Results

A total of 21 studies included 2055 patients treated by arthroscopic surgery. Overall, 3638 patients were treated by open surgery and 633 patients were treated by steroid injection.

Conclusion

This systematic review looked at high-level evidence to compare arthroscopic technique, open surgical technique, and steroid injection. There were no clinically significant differences among the three techniques (open, arthroscopic, and steroid injection) according to postoperative pain intensity (visual analog scale). Steroid injection had the least complication rate, with early return to work, but had higher recurrence rate.
Functional outcome of septoplasty
Authors: Mekhemer Sayed M. , Naby Sallam Yosra A. , El-Husseiny Fatma M. , Ahmed Hend M.S.
Published: March 2024

Background

Deviated nasal septum is the most common nasal deformity, and hence septoplasty is the most commonly performed procedure for nasal airway obstruction. Preoperative and postoperative alterations in nasal function and nasalance scores represent an interesting area of research.

Purpose

The purpose of this work was to assess the outcome of septoplasty from the functional point of view, regarding nasal obstruction and degree of resonance.

Patients and methods

This study included 20 patients with symptomatized septal deviation, confirmed by computed tomography scan. Preoperative and postoperative nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores were assessed, and preoperative and postoperative nasalance scores of nasal sentence and nasal sound and oral sentence and oral sound were measured by nasometry.

Results

On comparing preoperative and postoperative results, highly significant statistical differences were found in nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores (mean±SD=2.45±1.70 vs =18.95±0.76;P<0.001**), nasalance scores of nasal sentence and nasal sound (mean±SD=26.20±4.14 vs =51.28±2.96; P<0.001**), and oral sentence and oral sound (mean±SD=8.80±1.20 vs =10.50±0.83; P<0.001**). A negative significant correlation between preoperative and postoperative total nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores and nasalance scores of nasal sentence and nasal sound and oral sentence and oral sound was found.

Conclusion

Septoplasty improves the nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores and degree of resonance.
Upper bounds for the relaxed area of $\mathbb{S}^{1}$-valued Sobolev maps and its countably subadditive interior envelope
Authors: Bellettini Giovanni , Scala Riccardo , Scianna Giuseppe
Published: March 2024

Given a connected bounded open Lipschitz set

\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}

, we show that the relaxed Cartesian area functional

\overline{\mathcal{A}}(u, \Omega)

of a map

u \in W^{1,1}(\Omega;\mathbb{S}^{1})

is finite, and we provide a useful upper bound for its value. Using this estimate, we prove a modified version of a De Giorgi conjecture adapted to

W^{1,1}(\Omega; \mathbb{S}^{1})

, on the largest countably subadditive set function

\overline{\overline{\mathcal{A}}}(u, \cdot)

smaller than or equal to

\overline{\mathcal{A}}(u, \cdot)

.
A note on closedness of convex hull of sets
Authors: Przybycien Hubert
Published: March 2024

The closedness of certain sets plays an important role in mathematics, especially in convex and functional analysis. In this short note, we give some connections between closedness of Minkowski sum of sets, closedness of the convex hull of sets, and other properties of the topological vector space.
Steel, Corrosion-Resistant, Bars, Wire, Forgings, Extrusions, Mechanical Tubing, Rings, and Stock for Forgings, Extrusions, and Rings, Wear and Galling Resistant, 8.0Mn - 4.0Si - 17Cr - 8.5Ni - 0.13N Solution Heat Treated
Authors:   AMS F Corrosion and Heat Resistant Alloys Committee
Published: March 2024

This specification covers a corrosion-resistant steel in the form of bars, wire, forgings, extrusions, mechanical tubing, flash-welded rings, and stock for forging, extruding, or flash-welded rings.
Indigenous StoryWORK
Authors: Drahm-Butler Tileah
Published: March 2024

In this presentation, made at the launch of the Narrative Practice Research Network, Tileah Drahm-Butler introduces her current doctoral research project, titled Emergency Storycare: Transforming the Cairns Hospital emergency department into a place of cultural safety as determined by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through Indigenous storywork and narrative practice. This research will position Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as expert knowers and teachers, turning our backs on the narrative that we are damaged, broken and always on the brink of extinction. Its research methodology celebrates the friendship of Indigenous storywork and narrative practice to retrieve stories of wisdom, skill and know-how from First Nations communities, to position stories as pedagogy into the emergency department, and to bring forth the preferred practices of the emergency department workforce.
The effort and intricacies of generating experience-near language
Authors: Newman David
Published: March 2024

In this paper I explore Clifford Geertz’s distinction between experience-near and experience-distant language. In the process, I draw from mad studies and mental health service user epistemology, both written and generated through my work. I also draw on the work of the historian of emotion Tiffany Watt Smith. Three specific practices in relation to language use are proposed: how we can invigorate the agency or meaning-making in language use; how we can use language to assist people to become familiar with, not alienated from, their experience; and how we might name and question the values or obligations that get smuggled in with emotion talk. I also provide three exercises to explore these themes.
EXAMINING THE WAYS ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS USE METADISCOURSE TO SCAFFOLD LEARNING AND SUPPORT STUDENT COMPREHENSION
Authors: Putra Fahry Rizaldy , Saputri Yasinta Eka
Published: March 2024

Metadiscourse, or language that is used to reflect on or comment on the content of a message, plays a critical role in the development of student comprehension and learning in the English language classroom. This paper investigates the ways in which English language teachers use metadiscourse to scaffold learning and support student comprehension. The paper employs a qualitative analysis of lesson transcripts, interviews with teachers, and observations of classroom interactions to identify the types of metadiscourse that are used and the ways in which they are used to guide student learning. The results of the paper highlight the importance of metadiscourse in pedagogical discourse, and provide insights into the ways in which teachers can effectively use metadiscourse to support student learning in the English language classroom.
Historical Documents and Automatic Text Recognition: Introduction
Authors: Pinche Ariane , Stokes Peter
Published: March 2024

With this special issue of the Journal of Data Mining and Digital Humanities (JDMDH), we bringtogether in one single volume several experiments, projects and reflections related to automatic textrecognition applied to historical documents.More and more research projects1 now include automatic text acquisition in their data processing chain,and this is true not only for projects focussed on Digital or Computational Humanities but increasinglyalso for those that are simply using existing digital tools as the means to an end. The increasing useof this technology has led to an automation of tasks that affects the role of the researcher in the textualproduction process. This new data-intensive practice makes it urgent to collect and harmonise the corporanecessary for the constitution of training sets, but also to make them available for exploitation. Thisspecial issue is therefore an opportunity to present articles combining philological and technical questionsto make a scientific assessment of the use of automatic text recognition for ancient documents, itsresults, its contributions and the new practices induced by its use in the process of editing and exploringtexts. We hope that practical aspects will be questioned on this occasion, while raising methodologicalchallenges and its impact on research data.The special issue on Automatic Text Recognition (ATR) is therefore dedicated to providing a comprehensiveoverview of the use of ATR in the humanities field, particularly concerning historical documentsin the early 2020s. This issue presents a fusion of engineering and philological aspects, catering to bothbeginners and experienced users interested in launching projects with ATR. The collection encompassesa diverse array of approaches, covering topics such as data creation or collection for training genericmodels, reaching specific objectives, technical and HTR machine architecture, segmentation methods,and image processing.
The Optimal Competition Resolution Rule for a Controlled Binary Chain
Authors: Таташев А.Г. , Яшина М.В.
Published: March 2024

Исследуется динамическая система типа бинарной цепочки Буслаева. Система содержит $N$ контуров. На каждом контуре имеются две ячейки и одна частица. Для каждого контура имеется по одной общей точке, называмой узлом, с каждым из двух соседних контуров. В детерминированном варианте системы в любой дискретный момент времени каждая частица перемещается в другую ячейку, если нет задержки. Задержки обусловлены тем, что две частицы не могут проходить через узел одновременно. Если две частицы стремятся пересечь один и тот же узел, то перемещается только одна частица в соответствии с заданным правилом разрешения конкуренции. В стохастическом варианте частица стремится переместиться, если система находится в состоянии, соответствующем состоянию детерминированной системы, в котором частица перемещается. Эта попытка реализуется в соответствующей системе с вероятностью $1-\varepsilon,$ где $\varepsilon$~--- малая величина. Получено правило разрешения конкуренции, называемое правилом длинного кластера. Это правило переводит систему в такое состояние, что все частицы перемещаются без задержек в настоящий момент и в будущем (состояние свободного движения), причем система попадает в состояние движения за минимальное возможное время. Среднее число $v_i$ перемещений частицы $i$-го контура в единицу времени называется средней скоростью этой частицы, $i=1,\dots,N.$ В предположении, что $N=3,$ для стохастического варианта системы получены следующие результаты. Для правила длинного кластера получена следующая формула для средней скорости частиц: $v_1=v_2=v_3=1-2\varepsilon+o(\varepsilon)$ $(\varepsilon\to 0).$ Для левоприоритетного правила, в соответствии с которым при конкуренции приоритет имеет частица контура с меньшим номером, для средней скорости частиц получена следующая формула: $v_1=v_2=v_3=\frac{6}{7}+o(\sqrt{\varepsilon}).$
Review of methods for the analysis of culinary herbs and spices for authenticity
Authors: Gray Kirstin , Hancock Paul , Haughey Simon , Wilkes Timothy , Logan Natasha , Elliott Chris
Published: March 2024

The main aim of this project was to identify methods for the analysis of culinary herbs and spices, in their dehydrated or dried form, for authenticity with a focus on detecting deliberate adulteration.
Invisible Educators: Understanding the Role and Impact of Casual Relief Teachers in Turkish Schools
Authors: Yenel Kübra , Duran Ali
Published: March 2024

Casual relief teachers (CRTs) are teachers who take the place of regular classroom teachers (RCTs) in primary schools when they are absent from school for various reasons such as illness, professional development activities, or annual leave. Casual relief teaching, which is not defined as an official duty in the legislation of the Turkish education system, usually occurs when surplus teachers nominated to the provincial order are assigned to crowded schools in provincial district centers. CRTs contribute to the sustainability of education activities in the absence of RCTs. The working conditions of these teachers vary, and they teach in different grade levels. In this study, the working conditions of CRTs in the context of the Turkish education system are analyzed from the perspective of different stakeholders. This study was conducted with the phenomenological research design, one of the qualitative research designs. The participants of the study consisted of school administrators (principals and vice principals), RCTs, CRTs and parents. The data obtained through qualitative interviews using individual semi-structured forms were analyzed using the content analysis method. According to the findings, CRTs were found to suffer from not having a fixed classroom, not being able to adapt to different teaching methods, experiencing various problems in classroom management, and facing disrespect from their colleagues from time to time. While serving as a CRT is an advantage for some CRTs due to family reasons, disadvantages occur in terms of having problems adapting to the school culture and forming organizational commitment. RCTs see CRTs as an important part of the education system and think that they contribute to the sustainability of teaching processes. School administrators, on the other hand, see CRTs as useful stakeholders of the school system. For school administrators, CRTs contribute to the school in terms of providing teacher flexibility and sometimes helping with administrative tasks.
PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON SOME MORPHO-STRUCTURAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF SOME GENOTYPES OF Vitis vinifera L. CULTIVATED IN NORTHEAST ROMANIA
Authors: Rotaru Liliana , FILIMON Vasile Răzvan , FILIMON Roxana Mihaela , MUSTEA Mihai , BERNARDIS Roberto Renato , COLIBABA Lucia Cintia
Published: March 2024

The monitoring of new grapevine varieties with superior agrobiological and technological characteristics, in relation to the evolution of the climatic factors, represents an important and continuous objective of the worldwide viticultural research and breeding programs. Observations and determinations of the current study were performed on 11 new table grapes varieties created in Romania, growing in the Ampelographic collection of the University of Life Sciences Iasi, north-eastern area of Romania. The grapevine varieties were evaluated under the morpho-structural aspect, regarding the leaf area, the average weight of the grapes, the number and weight of the berries, rachis weight, the number and weight of the seeds, the weight of the skin and pulp, calculating the main technological indices. From a biochemical point of view, the content of photosynthetic pigments in leaves, the concentration of soluble dry solids and titratable acidity of the grapes were determined in the climatic condition of the Copou - Iasi vineyard. Therefore, the monitoring of genetic resources provides useful data for grape producers and researchers regarding the integration of new table grape varieties into the viticultural ecosystems, evaluating their yield and quality in correlation with the evolution and influence of the climatic factors.
İşletmelerde İnsani Yönetim: Bir Ölçek Geliştirme Çalışması
Authors: Tula Ali , Alayoğlu Nihat
Published: March 2024

İktisat temelli yönetim anlayışında sona gelindiği; insanlığın ve dünyamızın kapitalizmin yıkıcı etkilerinden kurtulabilmesi için, yönetim anlayışında bir paradigma değişimi gerektiği aşikardır. Bu değişim gerekliliğini en iyi şekilde karşılayabilecek olan paradigma, insani paradigmadır. İnsani yönetim, bu paradigmadan beslenen yönetim anlayışını temsil etmektedir. Bu makale, işletmelerin insani yönetimi uygulama kapasitelerini ölçebilecek bir ölçek geliştirmek amacıyla çalışılmıştır. Böylece işletmelerin insani yönetimi uygulama kapasitelerinin bütüncül olarak ölçülebileceği ve puanlanabileceği “İnsani Yönetim Ölçeği” oluşturulmuştur.
FORECASTING THE EURO EXCHANGE RATE USING DEEP LEARNING ALGORITHMS AND MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS
Authors: Gür Yunus Emre
Published: March 2024

Given that time series forecasts are of great importance in the financial world, the main objective of this study is to forecast Euro prices and examine the contribution of these forecasts to financial decision-making processes. Since the Euro is an important component of international trade and investment, accurate price forecasts are of strategic importance for many financial institutions and investors. In this study, we compare the performance of deep learning algorithms and classical machine learning methods for forecasting Euro prices: support vector machines (SVM), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), long short-term memory (LSTM), and gated recurrent units (GRU). These methods represent different algorithms that are widely used in financial forecasting and give successful results. The dataset used in the study was divided into two parts: 80% training and 20% testing, and it is also indicated how each algorithm behaved during the training process and which parameters were chosen. The results are presented by comparing the performance of these algorithms, and it is found that the GRU algorithm provides better accuracy than the others. Therefore, the GRU algorithm was chosen to forecast Euro prices for the next 12 months, and the forecasting process was carried out. The results of this study are expected to provide an important perspective to financial decision-makers by comprehensively comparing the performance of deep learning and traditional approaches in Euro price forecasting. It also includes potential research avenues for future work and suggestions for the development of new methods in this area.
Explorando los Niveles de Conflicto en el Ámbito Organizacional
Authors: Raspa Giannantonio , Durán Xiomara , Sánchez Yazmín Lisseth Pinto
Published: March 2024

En este artículo, se abordan una serie de aspectos teóricos y reflexiones acerca de los diferentes niveles de conflicto que se presentan dentro de la dinámica de las organizaciones, así como su incidencia de forma positiva o negativa en el logro de los objetivos. Con la finalidad de lograr ese propósito, se llevó a cabo la revisión de diferentes postulados desde una perspectiva epistémica correspondientes a diversos autores y sus aportes a la temática seleccionada con la intención de fijar posición sobre los postulados de Topa (2022), Jiménez, Beltrán y Moreira (2019), Martín (2015), Viqueira (2020), Cox (2014), Gardner (1992) y Rahim (1983) entre otros. Se concluye que diferentes niveles y manifestaciones de conflicto pueden surgir dentro de una organización de forma inevitable, formando parte de las interacciones que se producen en su interior. Se recomienda reconocer la multiplicidad y complejidad de los aspectos que pueden derivar en conflictos para manejarlos de manera constructiva con la finalidad de fomentar entornos laborales saludables y organizaciones resilientes.