The Effect of Non-Invasive Treatment Techniques on the Color Masking Ability and Surface Roughness of Induced Enamel Lesions (An in vitro Study).

Aim of the Study: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of the resin infiltration technique and remineralization of induced enamel caries with fluoride solution on the color masking of white spot lesions and surface roughness. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 sound teeth were used in this study. All the teeth were sectioned along the long axes into two halves, lingual and buccal to get 90 specimens. All specimens were immersed in a demineralized solution for 7 days. The specimens were divided randomly into three equal groups (n = 30) according to the type of treatment; Group 1 (n = 30) was treated with fluoride varnish (Clinpro); Group 2 (n = 30) was treated by resin infiltration (Icon); and Group 3 (n = 30) was used as a control group with no treatment. The color and surface roughness were measured three times at baseline (T1), directly after induction of artificial white spot lesions (WSLs) (T2), and directly after application of the treatment options (T3). The colors were measured using a portable reflective spectrophotometer and the 3D surface roughness was measured using a Light Sectioning Vision System. Data were collected and statistically analyzed using T test and Mann-Whitney U test. The Results: Surface roughness was almost equal in the study groups with no statistically significant differences reported. Icon showed slightly higher color scores than that of ClinPro. Conclusions: The Icon produced favorable esthetic results compared to the fluoride therapy while no significant differences were reported regarding the surface roughness.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Teledentistry in Periodontal Diagnosis Among Dental Interns at a College in Sebha, Libya: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

Background Teledentistry, a subspecialty of telemedicine dedicated to dentistry, has shown promise in improving access to dental care, particularly in rural and isolated areas. It integrates digital and telecommunication technology with dentistry, allowing for the remote distance exchange of relevant clinical information and digital dental imaging for dental consultation and treatment planning. Periodontal disease diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and prevention of irreversible loss of periodontal structures. Early identification of periodontal disease can be pivotal in preventing periodontal tissue destruction and tooth loss and improving the overall quality of patients' lives. Sebha is a city located in the Fezzan region of southwestern Libya. It is the capital of the Sabha District and the Sabha Governorate. The city is situated in the Libyan part of the Sahara desert and is known for its strategic location as a gateway to the Sahara desert. However, there is a lack of information on the use of teledentistry in Libya in general and the use of teleperiodontics, especially in periodontal diagnosis. Hence, the aim of this questionnaire study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practice of teledentistry among dental interns at Sebha, Libya. Materials and methods A paper-based questionnaire consisting of 28 close­ended Likert scale questions, including sections assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of teledentistry and teleperiodontics, was administered to dental interns at the Faculty of Dentistry, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya. Results The study surveyed 42 dental interns of the Faculty of Sebha, Libya, in total, with an 82.35% response rate among them. The majority of participants (59.5%) felt that teledentistry is reliable in arriving at periodontal diagnosis. The majority of participants (64.3%%) also had acceptable levels of trust in teledentistry equipment. However, over 45% percent of dental practitioners voiced their worries about patient privacy. Most of the participants suggested using teledentistry in some form in their future practice. Conclusion Teledentistry and its branch teleperiodontics are recent developments and its penetration among dental healthcare workers, and their knowledge, attitude, and practice remain to be thoroughly understood. The changing trends in attitudes and practice as a consequence of changes in Internet and technological awareness and the effects of the pandemic warrant closer observation and study.

New Composites Derived from the Natural Fiber Polymers of Discarded Date Palm Surface and Pineapple Leaf Fibers for Thermal Insulation and Sound Absorption.

New composites made of natural fiber polymers such as wasted date palm surface fiber (DPSF) and pineapple leaf fibers (PALFs) are developed in an attempt to lower the environmental impact worldwide and, at the same time, produce eco-friendly insulation materials. Composite samples of different compositions are obtained using wood adhesive as a binder. Seven samples are prepared: two for the loose natural polymers of PALF and DPSF, two for the composites bound by single materials of PALF and DPSF using wood adhesive as a binder, and three composites of both materials and the binder with different compositions. Sound absorption coefficients (SACs) are obtained for bound and hybrid composite samples for a wide range of frequencies. Flexural moment tests are determined for these composites. A thermogravimetric analysis test (TGA) and the moisture content are obtained for the natural polymers and composites. The results show that the average range of thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.042-0.06 W/(m K), 0.052-0.075 W/(m K), and 0.054-0.07 W/(m K) for the loose fiber polymers, bound composites, and hybrid composites, respectively. The bound composites of DPSF have a very good sound absorption coefficient (>0.5) for almost all frequencies greater than 300 Hz, followed by the hybrid composite ones for frequencies greater than 1000 Hz (SAC > 0.5). The loose fiber polymers of PALF are thermally stable up to 218 °C. Most bound and hybrid composites have a good flexure modulus (6.47-64.16 MPa) and flexure stress (0.43-1.67 Mpa). The loose fiber polymers and bound and hybrid composites have a low moisture content below 4%. These characteristics of the newly developed sustainable and biodegradable fiber polymers and their composites are considered promising thermal insulation and sound absorption materials in replacing synthetic and petrochemical insulation materials in buildings and other engineering applications.

Sunflower and Watermelon Seeds and Their Hybrids with Pineapple Leaf Fibers as New Novel Thermal Insulation and Sound-Absorbing Materials.

Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF), striped sunflower seed fiber (SFSF), and watermelon seed (WMS) are considered natural waste polymer materials, which are biodegradable and sustainable. This study presents new novel thermal insulation and sound absorption materials using such waste as raw materials. PALF, SFSF, and WMS were used as loose, bound, and hybrid samples with different compositions to develop promising thermal insulation and sound-absorbing materials. Eleven sample boards were prepared: three were loose, three were bound, and five were hybrid between PALF with either SFSF or WMS. Wood adhesive was used as a binder for both the bound and hybrid sample boards. Laboratory scale sample boards of size 30 cm × 30 cm with variable thicknesses were prepared. The results show that the average thermal conductivity coefficient for the loose samples at the temperature range 20-80 °C is 0.04694 W/(m.K), 0.05611 W/(m.K), and 0.05976 W/m.K for PALF, SFSF, and WMS, respectively. Those for bound sample boards are 0.06344 W/(m.K), 0.07113 W/(m.K), and 0.08344 W/m.K for PALF, SFSF, and WMS, respectively. The hybrid ones between PALF and SFSF have 0.05921 W/m.K and 0.06845 W/(m.K) for two different compositions. The other hybrid between PALF and WMS has 0.06577 W/(m.K) and 0.07007 for two different compassions. The sound absorption coefficient for most of the bound and hybrid boards is above 0.5 and reaches higher values at some different frequencies. The thermogravimetric analysis for both SFSF and WMS shows that they are thermally stable up to 261 °C and 270 °C, respectively. The three-point bending moment test was also performed to test the mechanical properties of the bound and hybrid sample boards. It should be mentioned that using such waste materials as new sources of thermal insulation and sound absorption materials in buildings and other applications would lead the world to utilize the waste until zero agrowaste is reached, which will lower the environmental impact.

Bilaterality of varicocele: The overlooked culprit in male infertility. Case series study.

OBJECTIVES: Varicocele is the most common correctable cause of male infertility that always has been a debatable subject as regards how it affects fertility and the best way to treat it. Proper assessment of the disease bilaterality is crucial not to miss one side and not to jeopardize treatment outcome. This study aimed to objectively assess varicocele bilaterality in infertile men aiming to improve treatment outcome in this cohort of patients. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted between January 2019 and January 2022 including infertile males with varicoceles. Assessment of missed concomitant contralateral varicocele done pre-operatively by Color Doppler Ultrasound and intraoperatively by intraoperative Doppler device and measurement of maximal vein diameter of contralateral side. RESULTS: A total of 329 cases completed the study. A hundred cases (30.4%) were initially referred as unilateral varicoceles and 229 (69.6%) as bilateral varicoceles. After reassessment of the study population, bilaterality of varicocele was found to be as high as 98.5% (324/329). Repeat CDUS strongly correlated with the intraoperative measured varicocele diameter (r = 0.9, p < 0.001). Moreover, sperm parameters showed significant improvement 3 and 6 months post varicocelectomy. Normal pregnancy after 1 year of surgery occurred in 118 cases (35.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Varicocele bilaterality in infertile men is underreported. Thorough assessment by expert radiologists and andrologists is of paramount importance not to miss significant pathology or hazard treatment outcome.

The Potential Chemopreventive Effect of Andrographis paniculata on 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine and High-Fat-Diet-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Sprague Dawley Rats.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is responsible for a notable rise in the overall mortality rate. Obesity is found to be one of the main factors behind CRC development. Andrographis paniculata is a herbaceous plant famous for its medicinal properties, particularly in Southeast Asia for its anti-cancer properties. This study examines the chemopreventive impact of A. paniculata ethanolic extract (APEE) against a high-fat diet and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in Sprague Dawley rats. Sprague Dawley rats were administered 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (40 mg/kg, i.p. once a week for 10 weeks) and a high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks to induce colorectal cancer. APEE was administered at 125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg for 20 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood serum and organs were collected. DMH/HFD-induced rats had abnormal crypts and more aberrant crypt foci (ACF). APEE at a dose of 500 mg/kg improved the dysplastic state of the colon tissue and caused a 32% reduction in the total ACF. HFD increased adipocyte cell size, while 500 mg/kg APEE reduced it. HFD and DMH/HFD rats had elevated serum insulin and leptin levels. Moreover, UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis revealed that APEE was rich in anti-cancer phytochemicals. This finding suggests that APEE has anti-cancer potential against HFD/DMH-induced CRC and anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity properties.

Factors predicting the outcome of percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration in men with obstructive azoospermia.

OBJECTIVES: To report on the live birth rates (LBRs) following percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) in men with obstructive azoospermia (OA) and factors affecting treatment outcome which is under reported in the literature. METHODS: This is a multicenter study that was conducted in Egypt including all couples undergoing intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for OA using PESA-derived sperms. Men were subdivided according to aetiology into congenital, iatrogenic and idiopathic groups. Fertilization, pregnancy and LBRs were determined and compared in each group. The longitudinal LBR, crude and expected cumulative delivery rates (CCDR, ECDR) were calculated. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine significant associations between maternal, paternal and ICSI factors with successful live births. RESULTS: Ninety couples were included in the study. Viable sperm for ICSI was retrieved in 89 men (98.9%). A total of 155 ICSI cycles with 17 frozen embryo transfers resulted in 81 pregnan-cies and 55 live births. After 5 cycles, the longitudinal LBR, CCDR and ECDR were 30%, 57.3% and 88.6% respectively. Maternal age and number of fertilized eggs were the only fac-tors significantly affecting LBRs. CONCLUSIONS: PESA is a minimally invasive procedure for secur-ing viable sperm for ICSI in OA men, with high cumulative delivery rates. Maternal age and number of fertilized eggs are the only factors that significantly affecting LBR. The contempo-rary longitudinal and cumulative LBRs provide objective out-come data to counsel OA patients undergoing fertility treat-ments.

Prediction of Heterosis for Agronomic Traits in Half-Diallel Cross of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Drought Stress Using Microsatellite Markers.

Rice breeders are encouraged to classify potential F1-hybrids without crossing all viable mixtures by testing depending on genetic distance due to lack of labor and time in yield trials. The goals of this research were to establish heterosis and investigate the relationship between genomic distance and agronomic attributes under drought. Half-diallel mating design, 28 F1's and 8 parents were evaluated under drought and genotyped using 11 microsatellite markers. In total, 39 alleles were detected. Results indicated that the greatest heterotic effects for grain yield were observed in Sakha 103 × Sakha 104 and GZ7576-10-3-2-1 × Giza 179, which gave 29.32−22.57% heterosis, respectively. Heterosis for grain yield in these crosses occurred as a rise in panicle weight, filled grains per panicle, low sterility and 100-grain weight. Correlations of marker-based genetic distance with mid-parent heterosis were positively and significantly correlated with sterility percentage (r = 0.390 *, p < 0.05). However, better-parent heterosis was positively and significantly correlated with sterility percentage (r = 0.352 *, p < 0.05) and grain yield per plant (r = 0.345 *, p < 0.05). Associations indicate that high grain yield and low sterility of rice crosses can be expected from microsatellite marker-defined distances of parents. This study indicated that genetic distance is very effective for heterosis prediction in breeding programs.

Effect of the Aspect Ratio and Tilt Angle on the Free Convection Heat Transfer Coefficient Inside Al2O3-Water-Filled Square Cuboid Enclosures.

This experimental study provides a comprehensive investigation of natural convection heat transfer inside shallow square cuboid enclosures filled with aluminum oxide-water nanofluid at four different volume concentrations: 0.0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.8%. Two square cuboid enclosures were used with sizes 30 × 30 × H cm3, where H is the inside thickness of the enclosures. This led to two different enclosure aspect ratios (κ = H/30 = 0.033 and 0.066). Four inclination angles to the horizontal position of the enclosures were used: 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°. The crucial thermophysical properties of the synthetic nanofluid were obtained. The thermal conductivity of the nanofluid was measured experimentally at various volume concentrations. Furthermore, the viscosity and density were also measured experimentally at temperatures ranging from 15 to 40 °C as a function of the volume concentration. The heat transfer data were generated by heating the lower surface of the enclosure using a uniform flexible heat flux heater. The opposite surface was cooled using an air fan. The results of the experimental physical parameter measurements show that the percent of maximum deviation in thermal conductivity with those in the literature were 6.61% at a 1.0% volume concentration. The deviation of dynamic viscosity was between 0.21% and 16.36% at 0.1% and 1% volume concentrations, respectively, and for density it was 0.29% at 40 °C and a 1% volume concentration. The results showed up to a 27% enhancement in the Nusselt number at an angle of 60° and a 0.4% volume concentration in the largest aspect ratio (κ = 0.066). However, for the low aspect ratio enclosure (κ = 0.033), there was no noticeable improvement in heat transfer at any combination of volume concentration and inclination angle. The results show that the inclination angle is a significant factor in natural convection only for large aspect ratio enclosures. Furthermore, for large aspect ratio, the Nusselt number increased until the angle approached 60°, then it decreased again.

Left lower limb deep venous thrombosis, May-Thurner syndrome and endovascular management.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) in left lower limb deep venous thrombosis (DVT) cases and to analyze the outcome of endovascular intervention in these patients. METHODS: A record-based descriptive study was carried out in Radiology Department, King Fahad Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, including patients who underwent lower limb duplex ultrasounds between January 2015-2021. Patients with bilateral DVTs, known pelvic masses, and pelvic surgeries were excluded. All patients positive for DVTs were identified and further imaging was reviewed. Left common iliac vein compression of 50% or more on computed tomography (CT) was considered positive for MTS. Endovascular interventions (venoplasty alone or with stenting) were evaluated and success recorded by observing patency of vein on follow-up imaging or improvement of symptoms on follow-up visits. RESULTS: Of 182 patients with left lower limb duplex studies, 51 patients were positive for DVTs. A total of 37 patients had CTs and 21 patients had MTS (17 females, 3 males). A total of 15 patients underwent endovascular interventions, 2 patients had venoplasties alone (one successful) and 13 patients had venoplasties with stenting (10 successful). CONCLUSION: Patients with MTS as cause of DVT may benefit from early endovascular intervention.

Neuropsychiatric Lupus: A Challenging Journey of a Patient With Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease that affects multiple systems in the body. Due to its variable manifestations, it can at times pose challenges for physicians to hold SLE as the culprit behind an affected system. This is most true when encountering patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE. We present a case of a 38-year-old female with known SLE limited to skin involvement and on treatment for active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), yet otherwise healthy, who presented with acute fever associated with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. She was investigated for meningoencephalitis with a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis not being fully conclusive and with imaging features suggestive of viral encephalitis. However, despite receiving optimal care for causes of bacterial, viral, and tuberculous meningitis the patient continued to deteriorate and started to develop predominant psychiatric symptoms in the form of confusion and combative behavior requiring pharmacological restraint. Hence a trial of immunosuppressives was given with a presumptive diagnosis of neuropsychiatric lupus with IV methylprednisolone followed by a course of IV cyclophosphamide. However, this treatment proceeded with caution due to the fear of disseminated tuberculosis for which she did not show any sign of in the subsequent weeks. The patient showed modest clinical and radiological improvement and hence the treatment was continued. The case highlights the uncertainty that may precede a diagnosis of neuropsychiatric lupus and the challenges in treating it in patients with active mycobacterial infection.

Cemented versus cementless bipolar hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fractures in the elderly.

The management of femoral neck fractures remains controversial. Treatment options include a wide variety of internal fixation methods, unipolar or bipolar hemiarthroplasty or total hip replacement.We carried out a systematic review of the available literature to detect differences between cemented and cementless fixation of bipolar prostheses in treating femoral neck fractures in patients aged 60 years or older.Thirteen studies involving a total of 1561 bipolar hemiarthroplasties (770 cemented and 791 uncemented) were identified. Uncemented hemiarthroplasty was associated with significantly lower blood loss (p < 0.0001), shorter operative time (p < 0.0001), less infection (p = 0.03) and lower risk of heterotopic ossification (p = 0.007). On the other hand, patients with cemented hemiarthroplasty suffered significantly less postoperative thigh pain than those with cementless implantation (p < 0.00001).The existing evidence indicates that uncemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty offers shorter operative time, less blood loss, lower local complications and a similar rate of systemic complications and reoperations as compared to cemented implantation. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:380-386. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200057.

Intra-iliac bone marrow injection as a novel alternative to intra-tibial inoculation in rat model.

BACKGROUND: Intra-bone marrow injection (IBMI) in rats is adopted in many studies for stem cell and hematopoietic cell transplantation. IBMI in the tibia or the femur results in severe distress to the animal. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate intra-iliac injections as an alternative approach for IBMI. METHODS: Twenty-seven Sprague Dawley rats were assigned into 3 groups, 9 rats each, for 4 weeks. The control group rats were not injected. Tibia group rats were injected intra-tibial and the iliac group rats were injected intra-iliac with saline. Behavioral, radiological, histopathological, and stress evaluation was performed. Total bilirubin, cortisol, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) were measured. RESULTS: Behavioral measurements revealed deviation compared to control, in both injected groups, on the 1st and 2nd week. By the 3rd week, it was equivalent to control in the iliac group only. Bilirubin and cortisol levels were increased by intra-tibial injection compared to intra-iliac injection. The IGF-1 gene expression increased compared to control at 1st and 2nd weeks in intra-iliac injection and decreased by intra-tibial injection at 2nd week. The thickness of the iliac crest was not different from the control group, whereas there were significant differences between the control and tibia groups. Healing of the iliac crest was faster compared to the tibia. In the 3rd week, the tibia showed fibrosis at the site of injection whereas the iliac crest showed complete bone reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Intra-iliac injections exert less distress on animals, and by 3 weeks, they regained their normal activity in comparison to intra-tibial injections.

Spinal cord infarction in a 41-year-old male patient with COVID-19.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, became rapidly recognised by variable phonotypic expressions that involve most major body organs. Neurological complications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease are increasingly encountered in patients with COVID-19 infection, more frequently in patients with severe infection, and develop as a consequence of the neurotropic potential of this virus, secondary cytokine storm and acquired syndrome of COVID-19 coagulopathy. Spinal cord involvement after COVID-19 more commonly includes infectious transverse myelitis, para and post infection myelopathy and, rarely, spinal cord ischaemia related to increased coagulopathy with thromboembolic consequences. We herein report a COVID-19-positive patient with increased coagulopathy and vertebral artery thrombosis leading to posterior circulation and subsequent spinal cord infarction.

GWAS revealed effect of genotype × environment interactions for grain yield of Nebraska winter wheat.

BACKGROUND: Improving grain yield in cereals especially in wheat is a main objective for plant breeders. One of the main constrains for improving this trait is the G × E interaction (GEI) which affects the performance of wheat genotypes in different environments. Selecting high yielding genotypes that can be used for a target set of environments is needed. Phenotypic selection can be misleading due to the environmental conditions. Incorporating information from phenotypic and genomic analyses can be useful in selecting the higher yielding genotypes for a group of environments. RESULTS: A set of 270 F3:6 wheat genotypes in the Nebraska winter wheat breeding program was tested for grain yield in nine environments. High genetic variation for grain yield was found among the genotypes. G × E interaction was also highly significant. The highest yielding genotype differed in each environment. The correlation for grain yield among the nine environments was low (0 to 0.43). Genome-wide association study revealed 70 marker traits association (MTAs) associated with increased grain yield. The analysis of linkage disequilibrium revealed 16 genomic regions with a highly significant linkage disequilibrium (LD). The candidate parents' genotypes for improving grain yield in a group of environments were selected based on three criteria; number of alleles associated with increased grain yield in each selected genotype, genetic distance among the selected genotypes, and number of different alleles between each two selected parents. CONCLUSION: Although G × E interaction was present, the advances in DNA technology provided very useful tools and analyzes. Such features helped to genetically select the highest yielding genotypes that can be used to cross grain production in a group of environments.

Variables affecting patellar height in patients undergoing primary total knee replacement.

BACKGROUND: Alteration of patellar height is commonly encountered in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and failure to address patella baja can result in suboptimal functional outcomes. It may therefore be prudent to evaluate pre-operative patellar height (PPH) and to seek risk factors for patella baja. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-five patients who underwent TKA were included. Patient's age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and history of prior arthroscopy were recorded. PPH was measured using plateau-patella angle (PPA) as well as the Blackburn-Peel (BP), Caton-Deschamps (CD), and Insall-Salvati (IS) ratios. RESULTS: The average patients' age was 71 years with a mean BMI of 30.45. There were 191 female and 94 male patients. One-fourth of the cases had at least one prior knee arthroscopy. Multivariate linear regression analysis identified gender and BMI as variables significantly affecting the IS ratio (p: < 0.05). Gender also had a significant correlation with PPA. Male patients were likely to have lower PPA (p: < 0.03). Though increasing age had a positive correlation with patellar height, this was not statistically significant. History of prior arthroscopy had no significant effect on any of the four PPH measurements. CONCLUSION: Lower patellar height is significantly correlated to male gender and high BMI. We suggest that obese male patients be screened for pre-operative patella baja. This can help in surgical planning and optimizing results in TKA.

Utilization of genetic diversity and marker-trait to improve drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Drought stress is one of the main problems for the rice crop, as it reduces the production and productivity of the grain yield significantly. In Egypt, many restrictions were made on the cultivation of rice due to its high-water demand. Producing promising drought-tolerant rice cultivars combined with high yielding is one of the main targets for rice breeders. A set of 22 highly diverse rice genotypes were evaluated under normal and drought conditions. Morphological, physiological, and yield traits were recorded on each genotype. Drought susceptibility index (DSI) was estimated for six yield traits to identify the most drought-tolerant rice genotypes. A high genetic variation was found among genotypes tested in the experiment. Under normal conditions, the highest phenotypic correlation was found between grain yield (GY) and sterility percentage (SP) (- 0.73**), while it was among GY and chlorophyll content (CC) (0.82**) under drought conditions. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling yielding traits under drought and normal, a single marker analysis was performed between all yield traits under both conditions and a set of 106 simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker alleles. The genetic association analysis revealed 14 and 17 QTL under drought and normal conditions, respectively. The most drought-tolerant genotypes were selected based on phenotypic traits, the number of QTL in each selected genotype, and the level of genetic diversity existed among the genotypes. As a result, five genotypes (Giza 178, IET1444, GZ1368-S-5-4, Nahda, Giza 14) were identified as the most promising drought-tolerant rice genotypes. Eight QTL controlling drought tolerance were identified in Giza 178, Nahda, and GZ1368-S-5-4, while four QTL were found in IET1444. The number of different QTLs were estimated among the five selected genotypes. Giza 178 and GZ1368-S-5-4 shared the same QTLs. Seven different QTLs were found among Nahda, IET1444, GZ1368-S-5-4, and Giza 14. Combining information from phenotypic traits, genetic diversity analysis, and QTL analysis was very useful in identifying the true drought-tolerant rice genotypes that can be used for crossing in the future breeding program.

Evaluation of serum presepsin, procalcitonin, copeptin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein for differentiating bacterial infection from disease activity in Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Several biological markers have been studied for the differentiation of infection from disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with discrepant results. We aimed to evaluate the role of serum presepsin, hs-CRP, procalcitonin (PCT), and copeptin (CPP) in differentiating bacterial infections from disease activity in SLE patients. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional observational study in which 94 Egyptian patients were recruited from June 2017 to January 2018. Our patients were divided into two groups: group (1) included 48 patients with active SLE hospitalized with any sort of lupus activity and group (2) included 46 patients with active SLE admitted with a proven bacterial infection. Hs-CRP, presepsin, PCT, and CPP were measured using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay technique. RESULTS: Hs-CRP, presepsin, PCT, and CPP were highly significantly higher among group (2) patients compared to group (1) patients (p < 0.001). Serum presepsin expressed higher specificity than hs-CRP (87.5% vs 60.4%) but the same sensitivity (80.4%) in the detection of bacterial infection in SLE patients. Serum PCT expressed higher specificity than hs-CRP (100% vs 60.4%) but lower sensitivity (73.9% vs 80.4%). Serum CPP expressed higher specificity than hs-CRP (65.9% vs 60.4%) but lower sensitivity (65.9% vs 80.4%). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that increased serum levels of hs-CRP, presepsin and PCT levels are useful in differentiating bacterial infections from disease activity in SLE patients. Serum CPP could be used as an adjunct with more specific inflammatory biomarkers in making better diagnostic judgments. KEY POINTS: • The increased serum levels of hs-CRP, presepsin and PCT levels are useful in differentiating bacterial infections from disease activity in SLE patients. • Serum Presepsin expressed higher specificity than hs-CRP but the same sensitivity in the detection of bacterial infection in SLE patients. • Serum CPP expressed higher specificity than hs-CRP but lower sensitivity.

Detection of Left Ventricular Thrombi on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Viability Studies.

OBJECTIVE: To highlight detection of left ventricular thrombi on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) viability studies. METHOD: This retrospective observational study was conducted in the Radiology Department at our Hospital in Dhahran, from April 2015-2019. All recently re-perfused (post-percutaneous coronary intervention/PCI) patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMI), having low ejection fractions (<40%), impaired LV functions or abnormal wall motions on transthoracic echocardiographies (TTEs), who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging viability studies were included. Patients with incomplete or limited studies (due to artifacts), previous coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), those who lost follow-ups, and those who were contraindicated or unfit for MRIs were excluded. An area of low signal intensity with no late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was defined as thrombus on MR imaging, and two radiologists reached consensus report for the diagnoses. Patients with anterior or non-anterior wall MI were documented, and their ejection fractions were recorded. Percentage estimation of LV thrombi as detected on CMR studies was made. Any complications (like MI, stroke or death) that occurred within one year of diagnoses were documented. A Chi-square was used to determine association. RESULTS: Of the 125 patients, most were men (71.2%) with a mean age of 56.78 years. Eleven patients had left ventricular thrombi (8.8%), and most of these were anterior wall infarctions with low ejection fractions (<40%). Three out of 11 patients with LV thrombi developed complications versus 3 out of 114 without LV thrombi (P- value, .0005). CONCLUSION: Left ventricular thrombi can be detected on cardiac viability studies in recently re-perfused STEMI patients and may possibly predict the risk of complications.

Synovial sarcoma of the spine: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcoma (SS) of the spine is a rare malignant soft-tissue tumor, and there are few reported cases. The aim of this paper is to report a rare case of spinal SS involving the paraspinal muscles, and to review all such cases reported in the literature. CASE DESCRIPTION: In this paper, we report a rare case of spinal SS involving the paraspinal muscles in a 12-year-old girl. The patient underwent surgical excision of the mass with adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy. At the 1-year follow-up, there was no evidence of local tumor recurrence, and the patient's symptoms had improved. In addition, we identified and reviewed 33 reported cases of SS involving the spine. CONCLUSION: Due to the limited number of reported cases in the literature, it is difficult to predict the outcomes of spinal SS. Further, different treatment modalities have been used to treat spinal SS. However, most of the reported cases had poor outcomes. Therefore, prospective multi-center studies are needed to further investigate the treatment strategies and outcomes for patients with spinal SS.