Assessment of groundwater aquifer using geophysical and remote sensing data on the area of Central Sinai, Egypt.

The study aims to assess groundwater resources in Sinai's central area using remote sensing, geoelectric, and well-logging data, utilising techniques for modelling hydrogeological frameworks and evaluating desert regions' groundwater potential. Its utilized satellite image sources, soil maps, and geological maps to map the effects of various factors on groundwater potentiality recharge, dividing it into five zones. Eighteen deep VES stations were used to examine the upper part of the groundwater aquifer in Central Sinai, Egypt, comparing it with available borehole information (Well-1, and JICA-1) to establish subsurface geology and hydro-geology positioning. Borehole data, VES interpretation results, hydro-geophysical maps, and four geoelectrical cross-sections were used to visualize the rearward expansion of eight lithological units, groundwater-bearing sections, and aquifer-filled thicknesses. From interpretation data output reveal three zones with significant recharge and storage potential, including two groundwater aquifers. The shallow aquifer has a saturation thickness of the fractured limestone of 35-250 m, while the deep aquifer Nubian sandstone is detected at depths ranging from 660-1030 m. NW-SE and NE-SW faults likely recharge conduits connecting shallow and deep aquifers, providing sites with acceptable groundwater potential for living, agriculture, and development in Sinai.

Kottamia Faint Imaging Spectro-Polarimeter (KFISP): opto-mechanical design, software control and performance analysis.

In this paper we describe the Kottamia Faint Imaging Spectro-Polarimeter (KFISP) that has been recently developed and designed to be mounted at the Cassegrain focus of the 1.88 m telescope at Kottamia Astronomical Observatory (KAO), Egypt. The optical design of KFISP is developed such that it can be used in various modes of operation. These are: direct imaging, spectroscopic, polarimetric imaging, and spectro-polarimetric. The KFISP is an all-refractive design to meet the polarimetric requirements and includes a focal reducer with a corrector section, collimator section, parallel beam section (containing various imaging components), and camera section. The corrector section gives an unvignetted Field-of-View of 8' × 8' and the collimator section has a focal length of 305 mm and matches the focal ratio of the input beam. The parallel beam section is 200 mm long and near the middle of it there is an image of the telescope pupil. The camera section includes 5 elements and has a focal length of 154.51 mm which gives an instrument effective final focal ratio of f/6.14 (acting as a telescope focal reducer of 1:2 ratio). The KFISP contains an internal calibration system which hosts the calibration light injection system, an integrating sphere equipped with the required calibration light sources. The opto-mechanical parts of KFISP contain a double-layered carbon fiber strut structure and comprises its subsystems of slit and guider assemblies, filter wheel drawer, grism wheel drawer, polarimetric components cubical box, and CCD camera which is integrated with camera optics. The CCD camera has 2048 × 2048 pixels with 13.5-micron square pixel size. The camera is cooled by liquid Nitrogen and is fixed to the KFISP through the integrated camera lens. The KFISP has been fully commissioned, mounted and is being tested in all modes of operation. In this paper we introduce the ambitious scientific goals, the optical setups of KFISP, its opto-mechanical implementation and the performance analysis of the instrument. In addition, we describe the camera system, its performance, and its software control. Finally, we present a sample of the first light observations obtained from the instrument.

Lung injury prediction scores: Clinical validation and C-reactive protein involvement in high risk patients / Escalas de predicción de la lesión pulmonar: validación clínica e implicación de la proteína C reactiva en pacientes de alto riesgo

OBJECTIVE: A study was made to validate two previously derived lung injury prediction scores (LIPS) for the prediction of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in high risk intensive care patients, with the incorporation of C-reactive protein (CRP) for improving score accuracy. DESIGN: A prospective, observational cohort study was carried out. PATIENTS: A total of 200 patients with APACHE II score ≥15 and at least one ARDS risk factor upon ICU admission were included. INTERVENTIONS: Calculation of LIPS using formulas developed by Cartin-Ceba et al. (2009) and Trillo-Alvarez et al. (2011) (LIPS-2009 and LIPS-2011). C-reactive protein was measured upon admission (CRP-0) and after 48h (CRP-48). Main variables of interest: Independent variables: LIPS-2009, LIPS-2011 and CRP values. Dependent variable: development of ARDS. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients (44%) developed ARDS after a median (Q1-Q3) of 2.5 (1.3-6.8) days. The LIPS-2009 and LIPS-2011 scores were 4 (3-6) and 5 (3.6-6.5) in ARDS patients compared to 2 (1-4) and 3.5 (1.5-4.5) in non-ARDS patients (p < 0.001). CRP-48 was 96 (67.5-150.3)mg/L and 48 (24-96)mg/L in the two groups, respectively (p < 0.001). ΔCRP (i.e., CRP-48 minus CRP-0) was significantly higher in the ARDS patients (p < 0.001). The AUC was 0.740 and 0.738 for LIPS-2011 and LIPS-2009, respectively - the difference being nonsignificant (p = 0.9, 0.9 and 0.8 for pairwise comparison of the different ROC curves). Integrating ΔCRP with LIPS-2011 using binary logistic regression analysis identified a new score (LIPS-N) with AUC 0.803, which was significantly higher than the AUC of LIPS-2011 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both LIPS scores are equally effective in predicting ARDS in high risk ICU patients. Integrating the change in CRP within the score might improve its accuracy

OBJETIVO: Se llevó a cabo un estudio para validar 2 puntuaciones de predicción de la lesión pulmonar (LIPS) previamente obtenidas para la predicción del síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda (SDRA) en pacientes de alto riesgo ingresados en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, con la incorporación de la proteína C reactiva (PCR) para aumentar la precisión de la puntuación. DISEÑO: Se llevó a cabo un estudio prospectivo y observacional de cohortes. PACIENTES: Se incluyó un total de 200 pacientes con una puntuación APACHE I I≥ 15 y al menos un factor de riesgo de SDRA en el momento de su ingreso en la UCI. INTERVENCIONES: Se calcularon las puntuaciones por medio de las fórmulas desarrolladas por Cartin-Ceba et al. (2009) y Trillo-Alvarez et al. (2011) (LIPS-2009 y LIPS-2011). La concentración de PCR se midió en el momento del ingreso (PCR-0) y al cabo de 48horas (PCR-48). Principales variables de interés: Variables independientes: LIPS-2009, LIPS-2011 y valores de PCR. Variable dependiente: desarrollo de SDRA. RESULTADOS: Ochenta y ocho pacientes (44%) desarrollaron SDRA tras una mediana (Q1-Q3) de 2,5 (1,3-6,8) días. Las puntuaciones LIPS-2009 y LIPS-2011 fueron 4 (3-6) y 5 (3,6-6,5) en los pacientes con SDRA, frente a 2 (1-4) y 3,5 (1,5-4,5) en pacientes sin SDRA (p < 0,001). El valor de PCR-48 fue 96 mg/l (67,5-150,3) y 48 mg/l (24-96) en los 2 grupos respectivamente (p < 0,001). ΔPCR (esto es, RCR-48 menos PCR-0) fue significativamente mayor en los pacientes con SDRA (p < 0,001). El AUC fue 0,740 y 0,738 para LIPS-2011 y LIPS-2009 respectivamente y la diferencia no fue significativa (p = 0,9, 0,9 y 0,8 para la comparación por parejas de las distintas curvas ROC). La integración de ΔPCR con LIPS-2011 mediante un análisis de regresión logística binaria identificó una nueva puntuación (LIPS-N) con un AUC 0,803, el cual era significativamente mayor que el AUC de LIPS-2011 (p = 0,01). CONCLUSIONES: Ambas puntuaciones LIPS resultan igualmente eficaces en cuanto a la predicción del SDRA en pacientes de alto riesgo ingresados en la UCI. La integración en esta puntuación del cambio en la PCR podría aumentar su precisión

Lung injury prediction scores: Clinical validation and C-reactive protein involvement in high risk patients.

OBJECTIVE: A study was made to validate two previously derived lung injury prediction scores (LIPS) for the prediction of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in high risk intensive care patients, with the incorporation of C-reactive protein (CRP) for improving score accuracy. DESIGN: A prospective, observational cohort study was carried out. PATIENTS: A total of 200 patients with APACHE II score ≥15 and at least one ARDS risk factor upon ICU admission were included. INTERVENTIONS: Calculation of LIPS using formulas developed by Cartin-Ceba et al. (2009) and Trillo-Alvarez et al. (2011) (LIPS-2009 and LIPS-2011). C-reactive protein was measured upon admission (CRP-0) and after 48h (CRP-48). MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Independent variables: LIPS-2009, LIPS-2011 and CRP values. Dependent variable: development of ARDS. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients (44%) developed ARDS after a median (Q1-Q3) of 2.5 (1.3-6.8) days. The LIPS-2009 and LIPS-2011 scores were 4 (3-6) and 5 (3.6-6.5) in ARDS patients compared to 2 (1-4) and 3.5 (1.5-4.5) in non-ARDS patients (p<0.001). CRP-48 was 96 (67.5-150.3)mg/L and 48 (24-96)mg/L in the two groups, respectively (p<0.001). ΔCRP (i.e., CRP-48 minus CRP-0) was significantly higher in the ARDS patients (p<0.001). The AUC was 0.740 and 0.738 for LIPS-2011 and LIPS-2009, respectively - the difference being nonsignificant (p=0.9, 0.9 and 0.8 for pairwise comparison of the different ROC curves). Integrating ΔCRP with LIPS-2011 using binary logistic regression analysis identified a new score (LIPS-N) with AUC 0.803, which was significantly higher than the AUC of LIPS-2011 (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both LIPS scores are equally effective in predicting ARDS in high risk ICU patients. Integrating the change in CRP within the score might improve its accuracy.

Effects of a soybean protein diet on ovariectomised female albino rats subjected to myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among menopausal women in developed countries, mostly due to the loss of endogenous oestrogen protection. Soybean protein (SP) is rich in isoflavone phytoestrogens. This study aimed to determine the effect of SP on ovariectomised rats subjected to myocardial infarction and its possible cardio-protection. METHODS: The study was conducted on 30 adult female albino rats, which were divided into three groups: Group I comprised the sham-operated rats; Group II, the ovariectomised (OVX) rats fed a standard diet; and Group III, OVX rats fed a standard diet supplemented with SP (OVX plus SP). The rats were anaesthetised, and electrocardiograms were conducted. The rats were then sacrificed, after which their hearts and livers were removed, weighed and subjected to histopathological examination. Blood was collected to determine the lipid profile, and the levels of total triiodothyronine, tetraiodothyronine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonedialdehyde (MDA). RESULTS: The biochemical studies showed a significant increase in plasma CPK (Group II), MDA and triacylglycerol (Groups II and III) levels compared to Group I. The plasma SOD showed a significant decrease in Group II compared to Group I. Total cholesterol, low and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels showed a significant increase in Group II, and a significant decrease compared to Group I. Significant increases in T4 and TSH were found in Group III compared to Group II. CONCLUSION: SP intake can be valuable in protecting the heart against an attack of acute myocardial infarction.

Renal oncocytoma: a clinicopathologic study of 70 cases.

We reviewed 954 primary nonurothelial epithelial renal neoplasms with primary resection at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between the years 1980 and 1995 and classified 70 cases (7%) as renal oncocytomas. The study population was composed of 39 men and 31 women, and the mean age was 65 years (range 25 to 86 years). Fifty-six patients (80%) were asymptomatic at presentation, six (4%) had flank pain, six (4%) presented with a mass, and two (3%) had hematuria. Sixty-one were treated with total or radical nephrectomy, nine with partial nephrectomy. The right kidney was involved in 35 cases (50%), the left kidney in 32 (46%). Three cases (4%) were bilateral. Sixty-one cases (87%) were unifocal, nine (13%) multifocal. All the tumors were well circumscribed but unencapsulated. Forty-five (64%) were described as brown or red, whereas the remainder were variously described as tan to yellow. Central fibrosis or scar was described in 23 cases (33%), and gross areas of hemorrhage or cystic changes in 14 (20%). The mean size was 5.2 cm and median 5.0 cm (range 1.5 cm to 14 cm). Histologically, the tumors were characterized by a mixture of architectural patterns: compact cellular nests and acini embedded in a hyalinized, hypocellular stroma were present in 62 cases (89%), a solid nested architecture in 47 cases (67%), and a variable tubular component in 50 cases (71%). Small papillae, pseudopapillae, and intratubular epithelial tufts were seen in 19 cases (27%). Cytologically, the neoplasms also showed a mixture of cell types, the most common being the classic oncocyte, which consisted of round or polygonal cells with moderate to abundant granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm, and small round nuclei with evenly dispersed granular chromatin. Small basophilic nucleoli were visible in many of these cells in all cases. Thirty-one cases (44%) had a variable number of oncocytic cells with pyknotic nuclei and 20 (30%) contained clusters of small cells with a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio and dense hyperchromatic nuclei (so-called oncoblasts). Foci of tubules with clear cells embedded in a hyalinized stroma were present in six cases (9%). Cellular atypia was evident in 42 cases (60%) and was marked in 21 (30%). Eleven cases (16%) exhibited mitotic activity, albeit low. No case had atypical mitoses or necrosis. Twenty-two cases (31%) had areas of calcification within the hyalinized stroma, 12 (17%) had calcospherites, and three (4%) had osseous and myeloid metaplasia. Vascular invasion was present in three cases (4%), and invasion of perinephric fat in 14 (20%). One patient presented with liver metastasis. Fourteen cases (20%) were pT1, 42 (60%) pT2, and 14 (20%) pT3. After a mean follow-up of 58 months (range 1 to 181), 62 patients (89%) were alive with no evidence of tumor, six (9%) had died of other causes, one was alive with stable metastatic disease in the liver 58 months after diagnosis, and one died with metastatic disease to bone and liver. We conclude that renal oncocytomas have a varied morphologic appearance and their pathologic diagnosis should be based on a constellation of architectural and cytologic features. The overwhelming majority of cases behave in a benign fashion, although in rare instances they can metastasize. The presence of atypical morphologic features do not alter the excellent prognosis associated with oncocytomas and do not predict an aggressive clinical course.

Amyloid goiter. A clinicopathologic study of 14 cases and review of the literature.

The authors report the clinicopathologic features of 14 cases of amyloid goiter (AG). Eleven patients were males and three females with ages ranging from 23 to 75 years (median, 54 years). Eight patients had secondary amyloidosis and six had primary amyloidosis. Nine cases were identified at autopsy. In symptomatic patients (n = 5), the clinical presentation included a nontender, rapidly enlarging neck mass with associated dysphagia, dyspnea or hoarseness. Clinical or laboratory evaluation failed to detect evidence of thyroid dysfunction. The histologic appearance of the thyroid predominantly consisted of diffuse amyloid deposition surrounding thyroid follicles. In two cases, a nodular pattern of amyloid deposition was seen resulting in compression and distortion of the follicular architecture. Areas of mature adipose tissue and focal lymphocytic thyroiditis with or without foreign-body type-giant cells were seen in approximately one third of the cases. Confirmation of amyloid was made by the presence of congophilia and apple-green birefringence under polarized-light microscopy. Immunohistochemical evaluation demonstrated the presence of amyloid A immunoreactivity. No Immunoreactivity was seen with calcitonin or thyroglobulin. Fine-needle aspiration may facilitate the diagnosis, as occurred in one the patients. In symptomatic patients, thyroidectomy is warranted to alleviate pressure symptoms.

Oncocytic mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland.

Oncocytic mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary gland is rare. We describe a 60-year-old woman who presented with a slowly growing left parotid mass. The patient underwent a total parotidectomy, and her postoperative course was uneventful. The gland was enlarged and showed a partially cystic mass containing clear mucoid material. Microscopically, the entire mass showed variably sized cysts lined predominantly with oncocytes and a few mucous goblet cells. Histochemical stains for mitochondria, such as phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin, confirmed the presence of oncocytes. The recognition of this variant is important, since most of the other primary oncocytic lesions of the salivary glands are benign. The tumor in this case is considered to be a low-grade carcinoma; therefore, complete surgical excision and long-term clinical follow-up are adequate management.