This study was designed to localize chromosomal susceptibility loci for comitant strabismus among Japanese families by genome-wide linkage analyses.
Fifty-five Japanese families, with at least two ...members with comitant strabismus (esotropia and/or exotropia), were subject to full ophthalmic examination, careful ocular history, and review of medical records. DNA was obtained and genotyping was performed with PCR amplification of 400 microsatellite markers. Parametric and nonparametric linkage (NPL) analyses scores were calculated. Linkage analysis was performed for the whole set of families (55 families), and then a second analysis was performed for two subgroups with the phenotypes, esotropia and exotropia.
A multipoint parametric heterogeneity logarithm of the odds (HLOD) score of 3.62 was obtained at marker D4S1575 under a dominant model, with a NPL score of 2.68 (P=0.001). Testing under different penetrances and disease allele frequencies revealed two other susceptibility loci at 7q31.2 under a recessive model (HLOD scores=3.93 and 4.40 at 125.2 cM and 107.28 cM, respectively). Analysis of the subgroups revealed new susceptibility loci for esotropia; one locus at 8q24.21 is worthy of further investigation.
This study suggests multiple susceptibility loci for comitant strabismus. The loci at chromosomes 4q28.3 and 7q31.2 show a significant evidence of linkage.
Comitant strabismus is a common pediatric ophthalmic disorder with both genetic and non-genetic factors contributing to its etiology. The aim of the current study is to investigate the phenomenon of ...a parent-of-origin effect, genomic imprinting, as a possible mode of inheritance in comitant strabismus.
We performed parametric genome-wide MOD score (model-maximized LOD score) linkage analysis, incorporating imprinting effects, for 382 microsatellite markers in a sample of 258 individuals (117 males and 141 females) from 55 Japanese families with comitant strabismus. We included individuals as affected patients if they presented with comitant esotropia or exotropia based on ophthalmic examination, history taking, or analysis of medical records.
Significant or suggestive linkage to comitant strabismus with evidence of maternal or paternal imprinting was detected at D4S1575 (4q28.3), D7S486 (7q31.2), D11S1320 (11q24.2), D12S324 (12q24.32), and D19S420 (19q13.11). Using the MOD score approach, we found new evidence of linkage to comitant strabismus at three loci on chromosomes 6q26 (MOD(imp)=MOD(reg)=3.75), 12q24.32 (MOD(imp)=3.36), and 19q13.11 (MOD(imp)=3.79).
The results suggest that the parent-of-origin effect may play a role in the etiology of comitant strabismus.
To evaluate a low vision rehabilitation service implemented for heterogeneously diverse group of Egyptianpatients with vision loss in terms of improving their visual performance and fulfilling their ...visual needs.
Fifty patients with low vision were included in a prospective study. History taking, ophthalmic examinationand evaluation of the visual functions were performed for all patients. The required magnification was calculated, andsubsequently a low vision aid was chosen after counseling with patients. Low vision aids were tried in office, followedby a period of training before patients received their own low vision aids. Follow up was done for 6 months.
All patients who were referred to the low vision unit were not satisfied with their current spectacles or lowvision aids. After training and prescription of suitable LVAs, the improvement in distance and near visual acuity wasstatistically significant (p<0.001). Fifty-six per cent of the patients (n=28) showed improvement in distance visualacuity of 5 lines or more, and 57% of the patients (n=27) could discern N8 print size or better. The most commonlyused aids were high powered near adds. Despite the complaints about the appearance and use of LVAs, 76% of thepatients reported being moderately to highly-satisfied with their aids.
The significant improvement in the visual performance of patients with low vision after the prescriptionand training on the use of LVAs, associated with patients' satisfaction, confirms the importance of expanding lowvision rehabilitative services and increasing the public awareness of its existence and benefits.
Cadmium-tolerant (6 mM) Aspergillus niger (RCMB 002002) biomass was challenged with aqueous cadmium chloride (1 mM) followed by sodium sulfide (9 mM) at 37°C for 96 h under shaking conditions (200 ...rpm), resulting in the formation of highly stable polydispersed cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdSNPs). Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of spherical particles measuring approximately 5 nm. A light scattering detector (LSD) showed that 100% of the CSNPs measure from 2.7 to 7.5 nm. Structural analyses by both powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of cubic CdS nanoparticles (CdSNPs) capped with fungal proteins. These CdSNPs showed emission spectra with a broad fluorescence peak at 420 nm and UV absorption onset at 430 nm that shifted to 445 nm after three months of incubation. The CdSNPs showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli, Pseudomonas vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis, and no antimicrobial activity was detected against Candida albicans. The biosynthesized CdSNPs have cytotoxic activity, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 190 μg mL-1 against MCF7, 246 μg mL-1 against PC3, and 149 μg mL-1 against A549 cell lines.
The increasing incidence of erythromycin and erythromycin-induced resistance to clindamycin among
(
) is a serious problem. Patients infected with inducible resistance phenotypes may fail to respond ...to clindamycin. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of erythromycin and erythromycin-induced resistance and assess for potential inhibitors. A total of 99 isolates were purified from various clinical sources. Phenotypic detection of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS
)-resistance phenotypes was performed by D-test. MLS
-resistance genes were identified using PCR. Different compounds were tested for their effects on erythromycin and inducible clindamycin resistance by broth microdilution and checkerboard microdilution methods. The obtained data were evaluated using docking analysis. Ninety-one isolates were
. The prevalence of constitutive MLS
, inducible MLS
, and macrolide-streptogramin (MS) phenotypes was 39.6%, 14.3%, and 2.2%, respectively. Genes including
,
,
,
,
,
, and
were found in 82.6%, 5.8%, 7.7%, 3.8%, 3.8%, 13.5%, and 3.8% of isolates, respectively. Erythromycin resistance was significantly reduced by doxorubicin, neomycin, and omeprazole. Quinine, ketoprofen, and fosfomycin combated and reversed erythromycin/clindamycin-induced resistance. This study highlighted the significance of managing antibiotic resistance and overcoming clindamycin treatment failure. Doxorubicin, neomycin, omeprazole, quinine, ketoprofen, and fosfomycin could be potential inhibitors of erythromycin and inducible clindamycin resistance.
Abstract Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune systemic disease that causes widespread multi organ inflammation. The exact cause of SLE remains unclear; however, ...genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors contribute to the development of the disease. Aim of the Work The aim of this study is to measure the ratio of complement split product iC3b to C3 and its relation to disease activity and lupus nephritis in a cohort of SLE patients. Patients and Methods This study is a Cross sectional case control study conducted in internal medicine and Rheumatology unit, Ain Shams university hospital and Rheumatology unit, Maadi military hospital. Our study included. Results The present study shows that female were (76%) in active group of SLE patients and (60%) in inactive group while male were (24%) and (40%) respectively. with no significant difference. The mean of Disease Duration was (5.66 ± 1.97) with a range from 3 and 10 years in active group of SLE patients and (5.08 ± 1.54) with a range from 3 and 9 years in inactive group. with no significant difference. Regarding clinical manifestations of SLE the present study shows that active group of SLE patients had statistically highly significant increase in incidence of lupus nephritis, arthritis, serositis, oral ulcers, malar rash (p < 0.001) with significant increase in incidence of alopecia and neurological manifestations (p < 0.05). The current study shows that active group of SLE patients had statistically significantly higher mean ESR, anti-DNA titre, 24hr urinary proteins, serum creatinine, serum urea, and GFR levels (p = 0.000) than inactive group, Also active group had significant leucopenia, anemia (p = 0.000, 0.005 respectively) and C3 was significantly more consumed than inactive group (p < 0.05) Conclusion The ratio of complement split product iC3b to C3 concentrations correlates with the extent of SLE disease activity more than C3 alone. Furthermore, the iC3b:C3 ratio may discriminate between patients with lupus nephritis and patients without lupus nephritis. Detection of SLE disease activity and lupus nephritis by iC3b/C3 ratio help to make a proper decision in management to induce remission.
This article proposes a new energy management system (EMS) for hybrid AC/DC microgrids (MGs) in remote communities. The major goal of the proposed EMS is to minimize the daily operational costs while ...supplying sufficient clean water to the remote community, meeting customers' preferences, and maintaining the technical operational limits of the MG. To achieve this goal, the proposed EMS performs real-time supervisory control on all local controllers of all system assets in both generation and demand sides. On the generation side, distributed renewable and nonrenewable generation units are integrated into the system. Renewable sources of energy are controlled through a maximum power point tracking algorithm for increased efficiency, while nonrenewable DG units are controlled through droop parameters to satisfy the demand. On the demand side, optimal operational schedules for residential appliances and water desalination units are developed to satisfy customers' requirements and achieve minimum operating costs. Moreover, the EMS controls the AC/DC interlinking converters (ICs) allowing bidirectional flow of power to and from both AC and DC sections of the MG. For practical real-time operation, the proposed EMS utilizes an adaptive rolling-time horizon when responding to changes/disturbances in the system or in user inputs. The assets scheduling problem is modeled as a mixed integer nonlinear programing. Simulation studies were conducted on a hybrid AC/DC MG to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed microgrid EMS.
Aggresomes are transient microtubule-dependent inclusion bodies that sequester misfolded proteins and are ultimately removed by autophagy. Here we report the generation of a choroid plexus carcinoma ...cell line; Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE)-45, which is characterized by the constitutive formation of aggresomes. When examining the autophagy pathway as the main route for aggresomes clearance, CCHE-45 cells displayed increased autophagy flux mediated by MAP1LC3B. MAP1LC3A-Variant1 gene expression was silenced by promoter methylation. Restoring MAP1LC3A-Variant1 expression resulted in the formation of MAP1LC3A positive autophagosmes and the disruption of the aggresomes' vimentin cage independent of MAP1LC3B positive autophagosomes. Our data supports the notion that basal quality control autophagy and vimentin cage clearance in CCHE-45 are mediated by MAP1LC3A. Hence we propose that absence of MAP1LC3A disrupts the autophagic pathway and leads to the failure of aggresome vimentin cage degradation. Consequently, this could represent a targetable pathway in autophagy-dependent cancers.
Cloud-Fog computing architectures are new paradigms designed to add advantages to the existing architectures for Internet of Things (IoT). This paper proposes an inter-operable cloud-fog based IoT ...architecture for healthcare. It describes its architecture, environmental context, and user context. The proposed architecture supports the mobility of the patients as well as the diversity of the medical cases. The features of the individual modules are discussed and the interconnection between the different underlying modules and tiers is explained. Task scheduling and allocation approach is proposed to effectively balance healthcare tasks distribution. The performance evaluation of the proposed approach is presented with different number of tasks and cloud nodes. The simulation results show acceptable results in terms of miss ratio, cost, and latency.
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