DTI of the Olfactory Bulb in COVID-19-Related Anosmia: A Pilot Study.

This study aimed to assess the utility of DTI in the detection of olfactory bulb dysfunction in COVID-19-related anosmia. It was performed in 62 patients with COVID-19-related anosmia and 23 controls. The mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy were calculated by 2 readers. The difference between the fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity values of anosmic and control olfactory bulbs was statistically significant (P = .001). The threshold of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity to differentiate a diseased from normal olfactory bulb were 0.22 and 1.5, with sensitivities of 84.4% and 96.8%, respectively, and a specificity of 100%.

Trimodalities for bladder cancer in elderly: Transurethral resection, hypofractionated radiotherapy and gemcitabine.

PURPOSE: A prospective phase II study carried out to evaluate hypofractionated radiotherapy with concurrent gemcitabine for bladder preservation in the elderly patient with bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients were enrolled, age ≥65years, diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, after a maximum safe transurethral resection of a bladder tumour. They received 52.5Gy in 20 fractions using 3D conformal radiotherapy with concurrent 100mg/m2 gemcitabine weekly as a radiosensitizer. RESULTS: All patients completed their radiation therapy course, while seven patients received their chemotherapy irregularly due to grade 3 toxicities. Twenty-five patients (80.6%) achieved a complete response. At 2-years, overall survival was 94.4% and disease-free survival was 72.6%. T3 and residual after transurethral resection are factors that adversely affect disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: Hypofractionated radiotherapy and gemcitabine as a radiosensitizer in elderly as organ preservation for transitional cell carcinoma bladder cancer have acceptable toxicity profile with good response rate and disease-free survival, keeping salvage cystectomy for persistence or recurrence of invasive cancer.

Design, synthesis, characterization, quantum-chemical calculations and anti-inflammatory activity of novel series of thiophene derivatives.

Interaction of 1-(4-morpholinophenyl)ethanone 1 with either malononitrile or ethyl cyanoacetate 2 afforded Knoevenagel-Cope product 3. In subsequent treatment of 3 with sulfur, the 2-aminothiophene derivatives (4a, 4b) are formed under basic conditions. The solvent-free reaction of thiophene derivative 4a with ethyl cyanoacetate afforded thieno[2,3-d][1,3]oxazine derivative 6. The base catalyzed condensation of 2-aminothiophene derivative (4a) with ethyl cyanoacetate afforded N-(thieno-2-yl) cyanoacetamide derivative 7. The latter was used to synthesize different heterocyclic derivatives comprising, pyridine and coumarin rings. Also, several substituted thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines have been prepared from reaction of 2-aminothiophene-3-carbonitrile 4b with some electrophilic reagents. The structure of the newly compounds were confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral data. The molecular modeling of the synthesized compounds has been drawn and their molecular parameters were calculated. Also, valuable information is obtained from calculation of the molecular parameters including electronegativity, net dipole moment of the compounds, total energy, electronic energy, binding energy, HOMO and LUMO energy. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of the tested compounds was performed in albino rats by producing carrageenan induced paw oedema and measuring the zone of inflammation at different time intervals i.e. 1, 2, 3 and 4h after carrageenan injection. Results indicated that most of the tested compounds showed moderate to good activity comparable to indomethacin. Also, compound 16 with additional morpholine ring beside the thiophene ring inhibits carrageenan induced paw oedema more than the standard indomethacin drug at all the time scales studied. Thus, compound 16 is considered as a promising compound for further modification to obtain clinically useful anti-inflammatory agent.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling of novel series of pyridine derivatives as anticancer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents.

This paper presents a combined synthesis; characterization, computational and biological activity studies of novel series of pyridines heterocyclic compounds. The compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses and spectral like IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and MS studies. Michael addition of substituted-2-methoxycarbonylacetanilide 2a,b on the α-substituted cinnamonitriles 3a-d gave the corresponding 2-pyridone derivatives 5-10. Structures of the titled compounds cited in this article were elucidated by spectrometric data (IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and MS). The molecular modeling of the synthesized compounds has been drawn and their molecular parameters were calculated. Also, valuable information is obtained from the calculation of molecular parameters including electronegativity, net dipole moment of the compounds, total energy, electronic energy, binding energy, HOMO and LUMO energy. Various in vitro antitumor as well as in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the synthesized compounds were investigated. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of test compounds was performed using carrageenan induced paw edema in rats. All the tested compounds showed moderate to good activity. The SAR results indicate that all compounds showed moderate to good activity, among these 7 and 10 compounds having -N(CH3)2 group are most effective.

Fibre analysis in 3D materials and process validation on artificial data.

The physical properties of fibrous materials are closely linked to their microstructure. In order to characterize their microstructures as effectively as possible, all fibres in a sample should be individualized. This work mainly aims at developing a new fibre analysis method that segments a 3D greyscale tomography image into a background and a set of connected components, each representing a single fibre. Properly completed fibre analyses may provide input data for generative or synthetic models, which can in turn be used to estimate various characteristics of the material. In this paper, we introduce an original method based on the skeletonization of the fibre mass, followed by a geometrical analysis of the obtained skeleton. Based on this procedure, several measurements can be computed (e.g. length, orientation, number of contacts). Furthermore, we validate the reliability of our fibre analysis process using various comparisons between our results and artificial ground-truth data.

Outcome of young age at diagnosis of breast cancer in South Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of breast cancer in patients <40 years old accounts for 20% of the total breast cancer patients in Egypt which is quite higher than the incidence reported worldwide. This study was conducted to evaluate the differences in survival between age groups below and above the age of 40. METHOD: 170 patients <40 years and 500 patients ≥40 years were evaluated retrospectively to assess the differences in disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between age groups after adjustment of other risk factors like stage, lymph node status, tumor size, and hormonal positivity. RESULTS: After median follow up of 49 months, there was no significant difference between the 2 age groups with regards to DFS p= 0.6 and OS P=0.7 and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups when we stratified the patients according to stages, hormonal status and number of metastatic lymph nodes. However, we found significant increase in local recurrence after breast conserving surgery in patients <40 years compared to patients ≥40 years. CONCLUSION: Patients <40 years exhibited more often at advanced stage and large tumors size compared to patients ≥ 40 years; However, there was no significant difference in DFS and OS when we adjusted other risk factors. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that age <40 years can be considered as an adverse prognostic factor for the locoregional failure after breast conserving surgery. KEYWORDS: breast cancer, young age, <40 years old, locoregional failure, DFS.

Occupational exposure to mercury among workers in a fluorescent lamp factory, Quisna Industrial Zone, Egypt.

BACKGROUND: With the fast growth in the market of fluorescent lamps, particularly compact fluorescent light, the associated risk of mercury exposure, which is an essential component in all types of fluorescent lamps, has received increasing public attention worldwide. Even low doses of mercury are toxic. OBJECTIVE: To study the health consequences of occupational exposure to mercury in workers of a fluorescent lamp factory. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study 138 workers of a fluorescent lamp factory and 151 people who had no occupational exposure to mercury (the comparison group) were studied. Environmental study of mercury and noise levels was done. For all participants a neurobehavioral test battery was administered, spirometry was performed and air conduction audiometry was done. Urinary mercury level was also measured for all participants. RESULTS: Prominent symptoms among workers exposed to mercury included tremors, emotional lability, memory changes, neuromuscular changes, and performance deficits in tests of cognitive function. Among the exposed group, the mean urinary mercury level was significantly higher in those who had personality changes or had manifestations of mercury toxicity. With increasing duration of employment and urinary mercury level, the performance of participants in neurobehavioral test battery and spirometric parameters deteriorated. CONCLUSION: Neurobehavioral test battery must be used for studying subclinical central nervous system dysfunction in those with chronic exposure to mercury. The test is especially useful for evaluating the severity of mercury effects in epidemiological studies. This study also reinforces the need for effective preventive programs for fluorescent lamp industry workplaces especially in developing countries with the lowest unhygienic work conditions.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of some novel thiazole compounds as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

In the present investigation, furo[2,3-d]thiazol-5(2H)-one 5 was obtained from reaction of thiosemicarbazone derivative 2 with diethyl acetylene dicarboxylate. A series of newly synthesized 2-(hydrazinyl)thiazol-4(5H)-one 6, 7 &8 and 2-(4-(substituted)-thiazol-2-yl)hydrazono derivatives 9a, b &10 were synthesized from treatment of thiosemicarbazone derivative 2 with appropriate α-halogenated compounds. Also, a one pot synthesis of thiazole derivatives 13 &15 was achieved from three components reaction of hydrazone derivative 11 with phenyl isothiocyanate and α-halogenated compounds catalyzed by DMF/KOH. 4-(4-Morpholino phenyl) thiazol-2-amino 17 was obtained via the reaction of acetophenone derivative 1 with thiourea in presence of iodine. The reactivity of 2-aminothiazole 17 toward some electrophilic reagents was investigated. The structure of the newly compounds was confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral data. The antibacterial activity towards two Gram negative (Proteus mirabilis &Serratia marcesens) and two Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus &Bacillus cereus) bacteria was investigated. The anti-inflammatory activity was also investigated and the inhibition of the carrageenin-induced oedema by these compounds was established.

Cohort study on respiratory and neurological disorders among workers in a bone glue factory in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Glues are strong, liquid adhesive derived from animal tissues. It has been shown that glue sniffing is associated with demyelinating polyneuropathy. The low molecular weight agents which cause occupational lung disease have generally included the isocyanates exposure to which could result in asthma among workers. Toluene is also used widely in glue and adhesive industry and households where toluene exposure and abuse can occur. OBJECTIVE: To study some respiratory and neurological disorders that may arise in workers in a bone glue factory in Queisna industrial zone, Menoufyia governorate, Egypt. METHODS: In a historical cohort study, the exposed participants (n = 50) were recruited from workers in a bone glue factory in Queisna industrial zone, Menoufyia governorate. The unexposed group was selected from workers' relatives who had never worked in glue industry. All participants completed a pre-designed questionnaire on personal and occupational histories. Pulmonary function tests as well as electromyography (EMG) were performed for all participants. Urinary hippuric acid was also measure in all participants. RESULTS: The prevalence of cough, asthmatic attacks and paresthesia were significantly higher among exposed than unexposed participants. Abnormal spirometric measurements (particularly towards obstruction), abnormal EMG and positive urinary hippuric acid were significantly more prevalent among exposed than unexposed group. CONCLUSION: Spirometry and EMG should be included in the periodic medical examination for exposed workers for early detection of respiratory and neurological disorders. Urinary hippuric acid could be a useful indicator of the nerve conduction abnormalities and should be measured periodically for these workers.

Prevalence of heterophyiosis in Tilapia fish and humans in Northern Egypt.

A total of 100 Tilapia fish samples were collected from brackish water (n = 50) and fresh water (n = 50) resources, Northern Egypt, and examined for heterophyid encysted metacercariae (EMC) during the period from August 2007 to July 2008. The overall prevalence of infection was 32%; 22% for brackish water fish and 42% for fresh water fish. Significant differences in parasite occurrence among body regions were found, with muscles of the tail and caudal third being highly affected (93.4%) followed by middle third (84.3%) and anterior third (75%), while the head region had the lowest infection (21.9%). The prevalence was highest in summer season (46.4%) followed by spring (37.5%) and autumn (27.3%), and was lowest in winter (15.4%). The prevalence of infection decreased as fish size increased. Adult heterophyids, Heterophyes heterophyes, Heterophyes aequalis, Pygidiopsis genata, Haplorchis yokogawai, and Ascocotyle (Phagicola) ascolonga were recovered from EMC-feed puppies. Eggs of heterophyid type were detected in 10 (13.3%) out of 75 human stool specimens from local residents. An association exists between being a female (odd ratio [OR] 1.59 and 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42-6.04), a fisherman (OR 1.39 [95% CI 0.26-7.48]), a housewife (OR 1.24 [95% CI 0.29-6.28]), 15-45 years old (OR 2.22 [95% CI 0.58-8.53]), or aged 5-14 years (OR 1.29 [95% CI 0.30-5.58]) and heterophyid infection. Measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of transmission of heterophyids to human and fish-eating animals.

Cationic schiff base amphiphiles and their metal complexes: Surface and biocidal activities against bacteria and fungi.

A series of cationic surfactants containing schiff base groups was synthesized by condensation of four fatty amines namely: dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl and octadecyl amine and 4-diethyl aminobenzaldehyde (1-4), as well as their metal complexes with divalent transition metal ions including Co, Cu and Mn (5-16). The surface activities of the synthesized surfactants were influenced by their chemical structures and the type of the transition metals. The biological activity measurements of the parent cationic schiff bases showed high efficacy against Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains and fungi. While on complexation, the biocidal activity was increased remarkably. The biocidal activity of the tested compounds against sulfur reducing bacteria showed promising results in the field of biocide applications.

Analysis of 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-(3-iodo-E-allyl)nortropane in rat plasma. II. Pharmacokinetic profile in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats evaluated by capillary electrophoresis.

This paper describes a pharmacokinetic study performed in Sprague-Dawley rats after i.v. administration of a single 6-mg/kg dose of 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-(3-iodo-E-allyl)nortropane (Altropane). Plasma samples were collected from the retro-orbital sinus at times up to 3 h after drug administration, extracted by solid-phase extraction, and the drug levels determined by capillary electrophoresis (CE). Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by a standard noncompartmental model using WinNonlin version 1.5. The maximum plasma concentrations, clearances of the drug, and areas under the curve for male and female rats were 5.74 and 7.26 microg/ml, 135.7 and 98.5 ml/kg x min, and 44.23 and 60.92 microg x min/ml, respectively. The drug was cleared very rapidly from the systemic circulation, with a terminal t(1/2) of 7 to 10 min and a mean residence time of about 11 min for both sexes. The volume of distribution was approximately 1 l/kg. No metabolites were detected when the samples were analyzed individually. However, after samples were pooled and concentrated, traces of two unknown peaks that may represent metabolites were detected in concentrates from the last two timepoints. Part I of this work [J. Chromatogr. A, 895 (2000) 87] describes validation of CE methods for the analysis of aqueous and plasma samples of Altropane, including its solid-phase extraction from rat plasma.

The Relevance of Circulating Interleukin-5 (IL-5) in Lymphoproliferative Disorders.

It is well substantiated that several cytokines have a regulatory action on the neoplastic process of different lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs). The objective of this study was to clarify the role of interleukin-5 (IL-5) as a factor in disease phenotype and progression and as a mediator of eosinophilia in patients with LPDs. We have therefore measured the concentrations of IL-5 in sera of 49 untreated patients with different LPDs with mean (SD) age of 34.2 (21.2) years and M/F ratio of 29/20. Patients were subdivided according to the category of LPD into: Group 1 (NHL; n = 36), Group 2 (CLL; n = 5) and Group 3 (HD; n = 8). In addition, 14 matched controls were studied in parallel. The major differences among the three categories of LPDs were elicited in parameters reflecting the lymphocytic tumor burden; i.e. peripheral blood (F= 73.785; p =.000) and bone marrow (F = 55.662; p =.000) lymphocytic counts. Serum IL-5 level came next in statistical significance to lymphocytic parameters (F = 10.291; p =.000) with the highest levels being encountered in CLL patients. In NHL group, a concomitant rise of serum IL-5 levels accompanied the increasing grade of lymphoma (X(2) = 13.11; p =.004). Furthermore, IL-5 concentration was well correlated with different features known to be characteristic of LPDs; particularly and in a descending order: absolute eosinophilia (r =.599; p =.000), absolute lymphocytosis (r=.498; p =.000), bone marrow lymphocytosis (r =.436; p =.002) and bone marrow infiltration (r =.375; p =.008). The data are in favorof the fact that IL-5 is crucial in the generation of neoplastic phenotype and may also be responsible for some paraneoplastic features seen in LPDs.

Analysis of 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-(3-iodo-E-allyl)nortropane in rat plasma. I. Method development and validation by capillary electrophoresis.

Altropane, 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-(3-iodo-E-allyl)nor tropane, is an imaging agent that was developed recently for early detection of Parkinson's disease. Its promise as a useful radiopharmaceutical for single-photon emission computed tomography or positron emission tomography imaging of the brain has been well demonstrated, and it is currently undergoing clinical trials. This paper presents methods development and validation of capillary electrophoresis (CE) techniques to analyze Altropane in aqueous environments as well as in rat plasma, using an internal standard, nicotinamide. N-Allylaltropane, 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-allylnortropane, which is a known degradation product of the Altropane precursor (tributyltinaltropane), was used to verify the method's specificity. A solid-phase extraction method for extraction of Altropane from rat plasma is also described. The results presented in this paper demonstrate the applicability of CE methods to study the pharmacokinetic properties of Altropane in animal models. The results of the pharmacokinetic study will be published later, as Part II.

3-nitropropionic acid oxidase from horseshoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa): a novel plant enzyme.

A novel enzyme that catalyses the oxygen-dependent oxidation of 3-nitropropionic acid (3NPA) to malonate semialdehyde, nitrate, nitrite and H2O2 has been purified from leaf extracts of the horseshoe vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, and named 3NPA oxidase. The enzyme is a flavoprotein with a subunit molecular mass of 36 kDa containing 1 molecule of FMN and exhibits little specificity for all nitroalkanes tested other than 3NPA (apparent Km 620 microM). The maximum enzyme activity in vitro was expressed at pH4.8 and was inhibited strongly by the products nitrate and nitrite. 3NPA oxidase activity was detected in green shoots, which also contain high concentrations of 3NPA, from plants grown with nitrate, ammonium or N2 as sources of nitrogen. Enzyme activity was absent from roots and cell cultures, neither of which accumulate high levels of 3NPA.

Embryonic development of the inner ear and otolith of the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

The embryonic development of the inner ear, especially the sensory epithelia and otoliths in the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, was studied by light and electron microscopy. Light microscopically, the auditory vesicle, saccular otolith and statoacoustic ganglion were first observed by 12 days after fertilization, while the utricular otolith appeared at 15 days after fertilization. Both the saccular and utricular maculae were more developed at 22 days after fertilization, and well developed by 27 days. The crista ampullaris of the horizontal canal was also developed at 27 days after fertilization, while the other cristae were not yet distinguished. Electron microscopically, vesicular structures and short microvilli were found on the sensory epithelia of the maculae by 15 days after fertilization. At 22 days after fertilization, the saccular otolith possessed 7 incremental layers, and developing cilia, microvilli, and aggregates of secretory materials also appeared on the apical surface of the sensory epithelia. At 27 days after fertilization, the apical surface of each hair cell was covered with a hair bundle consisting of a single kinocilium and a bundle of stereocilia. These findings are discussed with special regard to the environmental factors on early development in fishes.

Bioequivalency studies on tablet formulation of tetroxoprim and sulphadiazine.

The paper describes a comparative bioavailability study on two tablet formulations containing 100 mg of tetroxoprim and 250 mg of sulphadiazine. The comparison was based on the estimated pharmacokinetic parameters from time--serum concentration profiles obtained following the administration of the tablets to 12 healthy volunteers. Statistical analysis performed on the parameters showed that the differences are statistically insignificant and the formulations are bioequivalent.

A recombinant-DNA-derived modification of human growth hormone (hGH44-191) with enhanced diabetogenic activity.

A modified human growth hormone (hGH) that lacks the first 43 residues of the intact hormone was prepared by recombinant-DNA technology. For preparative purposes an additional alanine was made the amino terminal residue. Sequence analysis and tryptic peptide mapping combined with amino acid analyses confirmed the structure of the polypeptide. Less than 2% N-terminal methionine was detected. The hGH44-191 was estimated to be at least 10 times more active than hGH in producing glucose intolerance in obese yellow mice (Avy/A) and was equipotent to hGH in increasing serum free fatty acids in fasted, hypophysectomized rats. The peptide did not promote growth in hypophysectomized rats nor did it exhibit early (1h) insulin-like activity in fasted, hypophysectomized rats, as indicated by its failure to lower blood glucose and fatty acids. The modified hGH was inactive in the Nb-2 cell assay but was about one-third as active as hGH in stimulating the pigeon crop sac. In radioimmunoassays using 125I-labeled hGH and polyclonal antibodies to intact hGH, cross-reactivity of hGH44-191 was less than 1%. We conclude that removal of the amino terminal portion of hGH enhances its diabetogenic properties, and that this activity does not depend upon the ability to promote growth. Furthermore, the insulin-like activity can be separated from its diabetogenic action by deletion of the first 43 amino terminal residues. This is the first report of a modified hGH that has anti-insulin effects greater than hGH itself.