Influence of heat treatment on the mechanical and the lubricant wear characteristics of stainless-steel grades against 5 wt% NaCl as industrial shielding materials.

This article investigates the impact of the heat treatment, and lubricant wear measurements at 5 wt % NaCl solution, mechanical and radiation shielding properties of three grades of stainless steels: SS316, M303, and SS201. The obtained results showed that heat-treated martensitic stainless-steel grade has improved mechanical and tribological properties while heat-treated austenitic stainless-steel grades showed deteriorated wear resistance. The radiation shielding parameters of the studied grades are comparable. The effectiveness of heat treatment in the presence of NaCl solution is verified.

An extremely rare complete bilateral duplication of inferior vena cava in a male cadaver: anatomy, embryology and clinical relevance.

The study presented an extremely rare case of real complete bilateral duplication of inferior vena cava (IVC) in a male cadaver which has never been reported before. Both IVC had approximately the same diameter. The right IVC drained into the right atrium; the left IVC continued as hemiazygos vein and drained into the superior vena cava. Three anastomotic venous channels, a cranial preaortic, a middle and a caudal retroaortic, joined both vessels. Multiple variations in the way of drainage of posterior intercostal veins, on both sides, were also present. The present report invalidates an old classification defining the two vessels when joined at the level of the renal veins as complete bilateral duplication of IVC. Although the presence of combination of venous variations is extremely rare, awareness of such variations is essential for clinical and surgical procedures to avoid misdiagnosis and surgical complications.

Socioeconomic Risk Factors for Preterm Birth in the state of Qatar: A Population-based Study.

OBJECTIVES: To review the demographics and socioeconomic determinants of preterm birth (PTB) compared to term births among the Qatari population. METHODS: This was a retrospective data analysis of 59,308 births. Data were retrieved from a Population-based Cohort Study. Data were gathered from the PEARL-Peristat maternal newborn registry for 2011, 2012, 2017, and 2018. We compared the preterm births group (delivery < 37 weeks) with the term group (delivery ≥ 37 weeks) regarding socioeconomic factors, including maternal nationality, religion, level of education, mother's occupation, family income, housing, consanguinity, early childbearing, high-risk pregnancy, smoking, assisted conception, antenatal care, and place of delivery. RESULTS: The prevalence of preterm birth was 9%. There were more Saudi nations in the preterm group compared to term (33% vs. 28%, p-value < 0.001). There were more preterm births than term births among working mothers (40% vs. 35%), high-risk pregnancies (24% vs. 18%), those that has used assisted conception (18% vs. 3%), those without antenatal care (11% vs. 5.6%), and those delivered in a tertiary women hospital (88.5% vs. 84.5%) (all p-values < 0.001). There were more women living in villas (41% vs. 38%, p = 0.01) and more smokers (0.8% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.030) in the preterm group than in the term group. There were no differences between the two groups regarding religion, level of maternal education, family income, and early childbearing. CONCLUSION: In our population, we identified several factors associated with preterm births, the most important is Lack of antenatal care , assisted conception and working mothers.

Thermoluminescence characteristics of lithium borosilicate glass doped with Sm2 O3.

Lithium borosilicate glass composite (SiO2 -Li2 CO3 -H3 BO3 ) doped with various concentrations of Sm2 O3 (0-0.7 mole %) was prepared using the melt quenching method. The investigated thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics of the prepared system revealed that the highest TL response was obtained for this glass composite at 0.05 mol% Sm2 O3 . In this study, the 0.05 mol% Sm2 O3 -doped lithium borosilicate glass composite was subjected to detailed dosimetric investigation in terms of its annealing condition, dose-response, and minimum detectable dose. The reproducibility of the response, thermal characteristics, and optical fading were also studied. The obtained results showed that the prepared glass composite had a linear dose-response over the wide gamma dose range 2Gy to 2 kGy, as well as reasonable thermal fading and excellent reproducibility. These attributes render the composite under investigation promising for utilization in radiation detection.

Effectiveness of non-medical health worker-led counselling on psychological distress: a randomized controlled trial in rural Nepal.

BACKGROUND: An essential strategy to increase coverage of psychosocial treatments globally is task shifting to non-medical counsellors, but evidence on its effectiveness is still scarce. This study evaluates the effectiveness of lay psychosocial counselling among persons with psychological distress in a primary health care setting in rural Nepal. METHODS: A parallel randomized controlled trial in Dang, rural Nepal (NCT03544450). Persons aged 16 and older attending primary care and with a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) score of 6 or more were randomized (1:1) to receive either non-medical psychosocial counselling (PSY) or enhanced usual care (EUC). PSY was provided by lay persons with a 6-month training and consisted of 5-weekly counselling sessions of 35-60 min with a culturally adapted solution-focused approach. EUC was provided by trained primary health workers. Participants were followed up at 1 (T1) and 6 months (T2). The primary outcome, response to treatment, was the reduction of minimum 50% in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score. RESULTS: A total of 141 participants, predominantly socially disadvantaged women, were randomized to receive PSY and 146 to EUC. In the PSY, 123 participants and 134 in the EUC were analysed. In PSY, 101 participants (81.4%) had a response compared with 57 participants (42.5%) in EUC [percentage difference 39.4% (95% CI 28.4-50.4)]. The difference in BDI scores at T2 between PSY and EUC was -7.43 (95% CI -9.71 to -5.14). CONCLUSIONS: Non-medical (lay) psychosocial counselling appears effective in reducing depressive symptoms, and its inclusion in mental health care should be considered in low-resource settings.

Depleted uranium assessment and natural radioactivity monitoring in North West of Iraq over a decade since the last Gulf War.

For the sake of completeness of the surveillance process concerning the spread of depleted uranium (DU) in the Arabian Gulf region, we have applied a simple gamma spectroscopy technique to evaluate its content in Al Jolan, Nazzal and Askari districts in Al Fallujah area, Iraq for the first time and after more than one decade. The measurements were carried out along the lines of the wars that have been witnessed in Iraq last period and expected to be the region of impact of residuals of a large quantity of DU. The observed radionuclides are 4 K and other naturally occurring radioactive members of uranium and thorium series. The obtained results show that, the average specific activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 4 K, 210Pb 238U and 235U in different soil samples collected from Al Fallujah area, Iraq in range of 20.09 ±â€¯4.0 to 21.94 ±â€¯2.4, 11.51 ±â€¯2.3 to 11.75 ±â€¯3.2, 96.53 ±â€¯8.0 to 112.13 ±â€¯49.8, 19.98 ±â€¯4.6 to 20.76 ±â€¯4.8, 25.4 ±â€¯3.9 to 26.1 ±â€¯6.0 and 1.28 ±â€¯0.18 to 1.34 ±â€¯0.21 respectively. The obtained values of Raeq for all the investigated samples are less than the recommended limit of 370 Bq kg-1 and those for Hex are less than one. These results have been compared with the previous works and the world mean values specified by the UNSCEAR reports. The mean ratio of 238U/235U activity in all cases is about the natural value (21.73) which is less than its value in case of DU (76.92). The present obtained results of DU levels show that although a large amount of DU was released in Iraq during the Gulf wars, the tested samples are DU free. This may be attributed to the reduction of DU from the soil surface by wind or sandstorms and the downward leaching process.

Natural radioactivity levels and associated health hazards from the terrestrial ecosystem in Rosetta branch of the River Nile, Egypt.

Twenty soil and 25 sediment samples were collected from the banks and bottom of the River Nile in the surroundings of biggest cities located close to it. Natural radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K have been evaluated for all samples by means of γ spectrometric analysis. The radioactivity levels of soil and sediment samples fall within the internationally recommended values. Nevertheless, high natural background radiation zones are detected in the Kafr El-Zayat region due to the presence of a fertilizer factory, and in the Rosetta region due to the presence of black sand deposits. The absorbed dose rate, the γ index and excess life time cancer risk are calculated. High values for some of the radiation health parameters are detected in the Kafr El-Zayat and Rosetta regions representing a serious problem to public health because the soil and sediment are used as constructing material for buildings. Furthermore, the isotope analysis of uranium for representative collected sediment samples via α spectrometry showed average specific activities of 18.7 ± 3.6, 0.087 ± 0.0038 and 18.6 ± 3.8 Bq kg-1 for 234U, 235U and 238U, respectively. In general, these values confirm the balance in the isotopic abundance of U isotopes.

Radiological safety assessment inside ancient Egyptian tombs in Saqqara.

Many archaeological sites in Egypt are unique worldwide, such as ancient tombs and pyramids, because they document fundamental developments in human civilization that took place several thousands of years ago. For this reason, these sites are visited by numerous visitors every year. The present work is devoted to provide a pre-operational radiological baseline needed to quantify occupational radiation exposure at the famous Saqqara region in Cairo, Egypt. A hyperpure Ge detector has been used in the γ-ray spectrometric analysis while the (222)Rn concentration was measured using a portable radon monitor RTM 1688-2, SARAD. The mean specific activities of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in the samples collected from the interior walls of the Saqqara tombs were determined and found to show average values of 16, 8.5 and 45 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The concentration of radon was measured inside the tombs Serapeum, South tomb and the Zoser Pyramid (fifth level) and an associated average working level of 0.83 WL was obtained. In order to avoid the health hazards associated with the exposure to radon during the long period of work inside these tombs, proposed solutions are introduced.

Epidemiology and risk factors of chronic kidney disease in the El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasing worldwide. Renal replacement therapy and kidney transplantation are increasing the burden on health systems. Various risk factors can lead to this disease. In this work, we tried to study the epidemiology and risk factors of chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) in one of the Egyptian areas (El-Sharkia Governorate), and from this study we can get some data about the distribution and most common causes of this disease. A cross-sectional study was conducted at 15 dialysis centers in governmental hospitals in ElSharkia, Egypt. We used a questionnaire and direct interviewing with ESRD patients in addition to using medical records for our data collections. One thousand and four patients were selected randomly from 2136 patients who were known CKD patients on regular hemodialysis. Each week, two to three visits were performed in each center and during each visit, direct interviews were performed for ten to 15 patients, which took about 30 min for each patient. The study sample (n = 1004 patients) consisted of 62.2% males and 37.8% females. The mean age of patients was 52.03 + 14.67 years. The highest percentage of patients (31.9%) was found to be between 50 and 60 years in both males and females. More than half (61.3%) of the ESRD patients were living in villages, while about one-third (38.7%) of the ESRD patients were living in cities. Hypertension and diabetes were the main causes of ESRD. 15.5% of ESRD patients had diabetes mellitus, 31.8% had hypertension, 8.4% had kidney stone, 8.8% had urinary tract infection, 4.6% had congenital abnormality and 3.7% had primary glomerulonephritis. The main risk factors of renal diseases are hypertension and diabetes, while unknown causes represent a high percentage of all causes by 17.7%. Primary glomerulonephritis is the lowest cause of CKD in the El-Sharkia governorate, Egypt.

Assessing the Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis among Health Care Providers in Zagazig City, Egypt Using Tuberculin Skin Test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test.

AIM: Early detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) will prevent development of active TB among health care providers. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of LTBI among health care providers and compare the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test (QFT-GIT) and Tuberculin skin test in efforts to detect LTBI and to investigate possible associated risk factors of infection. METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out during the period of 6 months in the Chest Hospital in Zagazig city and the Nephrology Unit at Zagazig University Hospitals in 132 randomly selected health care providers who were examined for LTBI by QFT-GIT and Tuberculin skin test and for the associated risk factors as well. RESULTS: The prevalence of LTBI identified by QFT-GIT and by Tuberculin skin test was 28.8% and 59.1%, respectively. Poor agreement was observed between the two tests (kappa=0.10). Working more than 10 years, being nurse, diabetic and smoker were risk factors significantly associated with LTBI (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: QFT-GIT is considered a useful tool in detecting LTBI cases, especially in a country where BCG vaccination is a national policy (as in Egypt). Duration of work, profession, diabetes and smoking are the risk factors for LTBI. Active surveillance and infection control measures are recommended to reduce the risk of LTBI.

Effect of prenatal exposure to bisphenol a on the vagina of albino rats: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an industrial chemical, used to manufacture polycarbonate and numerous plastic articles. It has been found to cause biological effects, mimic that of oestrogen. It belongs to a group of chemicals termed "endocrine disruptors" able to disrupt the chemical messenger system in the body. Aim of the study was to demonstrate the biological effects of BPA on the vagina of female rats, with the prediction of the neoplastic changes in relation to its potential impact. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley gravid dams were divided into three groups (10 per group): G1 - control group had an equivalent volume of sesame oil to that taken in the treated groups, G2 - group was administered by gavage 0.1 mg BPA/kg body weight (low-dose group) per day, and G3 - group was administered 50 mg BPA/kg body weight (high-dose group) per day, dissolved in sesame oil. Treatment was carried out on gestation days 10 through 20. The female offsprings of each group were weaned at day 21 and the vagina was dissected when became 3 months old for histological, immunohistochemical analysis (for detection of oestrogen receptors a [ERa], and the proliferation marker Ki-67), and ultrastructural study. RESULTS: The low dose group showed degeneration of the epithelial lining with focal patches of decreased epithelial layers. The high dose group revealed cytoplasmic hydropic degeneration, and the pyknotic nuclei of epithelial cells. Oestrogen receptors demonstrated a significant decrease of positive cells in low dose treated group and this decrease markedly accentuated in the high dose one. Positive nuclei for Ki-67 were markedly increased with increasing doses of BPA. Electron microscopic study revealed cytoplasmic degeneration, vacuolation and mitochondrial degeneration in both treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: BPA showed an obvious mix of degenerative and proliferative histological changes and clear damage of the cellular organelles. This stressful condition may predispose to neoplastic changes of the vagina.

Adolescent growth: genes, hormones and the peer group. Proceedings of the 20th Aschauer Soiree, held at Glücksburg castle, Germany, 15th to 17th November 2013.

The association between poverty, malnutrition, illness and poor socioeconomic conditions on the one side, and poor growth and short adult stature on the other side, is well recognized. Yet, the simple assumption by implication that poor growth and short stature result from poor living conditions, should be questioned. Recent evidence on the impact of the social network on adolescent growth and adult height further challenges the traditional concept of growth being a mirror of health. Twenty-nine scientists met at Glücksburg castle, Northern Germany, November 15th - 17th 2013, to discuss genetic, endocrine, mathematical and psychological aspects and related issues, of child and adolescent growth and final height.

Cytomegalovirus infection in pediatric allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A single center experience.

We report a retrospective analysis of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection: incidence, recurrence, resistance, and subsequent disease of 81 children who underwent allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The recipient and/or donor's CMV serology was positive prior to transplant [recipient (R+) and/or donor (D+)]. CMV was monitored by RT-PCR starting from the first week post transplant. Forty patients showed CMV infection (49, 5%). Of them 10 manifested CMV disease leading to four deaths. In univariate analysis, factors associated with CMV infection were CMV R+ P < .01, CMV R+/D+ pair P < .01, nonbone marrow (BM) stem cell source P < .05, nonirradiation conditioning regimen P < .05, Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) P < .01. Factors associated with CMV resistance were: >1 HLA allele mismatch P < .05, CMV R +/D-pair P < .01, CMV D-P < .01, non-BM P < .05, nongenoidentical transplant P < .01. CMV disease was influenced by >1 HLA allele mismatch (P < .001), non-BM (P < .01). On multivariate analysis, CMV R+/D- (P < .05), corticosteroids ≥2 mg/kg P < .01, ATG P < .01 and non-BM (P < .05) were independent factors for CMV infection. CMV R+ transplant is associated with more CMV infection and resistance to preemptive treatment. Prolonged immune suppression (IS) worsens outcome of CMV infection and should be shortened whenever possible.

Radioactive contamination of the atmosphere of Cairo, Egypt, from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant accident.

Radioactive contamination in air dust particles of Cairo atmosphere from the Fukushima accident was detected by the gamma-ray spectroscopy technique. Analysis of the spectra obtained by using an High-Purity Germanium detector showed that there were some traces of (131)I and (134, 137)Cs. Estimate and study of concentration of those radionuclides were done over a period of about 5 months after the accident. Comparison with corresponding results in different countries all over the world has been performed.

Diversity in auxology: between theory and practice. Proceedings of the 18th Aschauer Soiree, 13th November 2010.

Auxology has developed from mere describing child and adolescent growth into a vivid and interdisciplinary research area encompassing human biologists, physicians, social scientists, economists and biostatisticians. The meeting illustrated the diversity in auxology, with the various social, medical, biological and biostatistical aspects in studies on child growth and development.

Real-time measurement of individual occupational radon exposures in tombs of the Valley of the Kings, Egypt.

The active radon exposure meter developed recently at the German Research Center for Environmental Health (Helmholtz Zentrum München) was used to measure radon concentrations in 12 tombs located in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt. Radon concentrations in air between 50 ± 7 and 12 100 ± 600 Bq m(-3) were obtained. The device was also used to measure individual radon exposures of those persons working as safeguards inside the tombs. For a measurement time of 2-3 d, typical individual radon exposures ranged from 1800 ± 400 to 240 000 ± 13 000 Bq h m(-3), depending on the duration of measurement and radon concentration in the different tombs. Based on current ICRP dose conversion conventions for workers and on equilibrium factors published in the literature for these tombs, individual effective dose rates that range from 1.5 ± 0.3 to 860 ± 50 µSv d(-1) were estimated. If it is assumed that the climatic conditions present at the measurement campaign persist for about half a year, in this area, then effective doses up to ∼ 66 mSv could be estimated for half a year, for some of the safeguards of tombs where F-values were known. To reduce the exposure of the safeguards, some recommendations are proposed.

Use of aspartame-based sweetener tablets in emergency dosimetry using EPR.

Accident dosimetry aims to evaluate the unplanned radiation doses delivered to individuals through one of the objects exist in the area of the accident. The gamma dose response of free radicals generated in irradiated aspartame tablets and its usability for emergency dosimetry was studied. EPR spectra of unirradiated and irradiated aspartame-based sweetener were recorded. Two signals arise after irradiating, S(1) at g (S(1)) = 2.00229 +/- 0.00097 and S(2) at g (S(2)) = 2.00262 +/- 0.00088. Some EPR parameters were studied for radiation-induced radicals in aspartame sweeteners tablets, such as the microwave saturation behaviour, the effect of magnetic field modulation amplitude on the peak-to-peak height and peak-to-peak line width for both of S(1) and S(2). Responses of S(1) and S(2) to different radiation doses were studied and resulted in linear relationships, radicals persistence curves were plotted over a 49-d storage period. It was found that Aspartame sweeteners tablets are useful in the range from 0.96 to 39.96 Gy. Radiation-induced radicals possess reasonable stability.

Monitoring of Brucella reactor does following milk examination using different techniques.

Milk samples from 129 does were collected and monitored for Brucella antibodies using immunological tests such as Milk Ring Test (MRT), Whey Agglutination Test (WAT), Whey Antiglobulin Coombs Test (WCT) and milk ELISA (m ELISA) using Brucella Periplasmic protein antigen. Results obtained from these tests were compared to PCR and bacterial isolation. The highest incidence of positive reactors was given by Whey Antiglobulin and Whey Agglutination Test (9.3%) while the lowest incidence was given by bacterial isolation (Br. melitensis biovars 3, 3.8%). PCR showed the highest agreement with the bacterial isolation, while WAT and WCT showed the lowest one. PCR showed a high sensitivity of 1 x 10 B. melitensis CFU mL(-1) of milk. The results of mELISA here suggests its efficiency to be used as a screening test and/or confirmatory test, while the modified MRT still need more investigations to diagnosis caprine brucellosis.

Monitoring of pesticide residues in Egyptian fruits and vegetables during 1997.

A total of 2318 domestic samples of different types of fruits and vegetables were collected from eight Egyptian local markets in six different regions of the country. All samples were examined for residues of 54 pesticides, including organophosphorus, organonitrogen, organohalogen and certain pyrethroides. However, dithiocarbamates were analysed in only 318 samples. Overall, 81.5% of the samples had no detectable pesticide residues. Of the contaminated samples, 18.5% contained detectable residues and 1.9% exceeded their maximum residue limits (MRLs). Root and leafy vegetables showed the lowest contamination rates (1.9 and 4.7%, respectively), slightly exceeding the MRLs in leafy vegetables. However, fruit samples showed a slightly higher proportion of contamination than vegetables (29 and 14.3%, respectively). Fruit also exhibited a higher level of violation than vegetables (2.3 and 1.9%, respectively). The contamination and violation rates were lower than the percentages recorded in previous years' monitoring studies. Dicofol and dimethoate were the most frequently occurring pesticide residues at 5.1 and 5.0%, respectively. Dimethoate showed higher violation levels (0.69%). However, dicofol showed a slight violation rate (0.09%) which indicates good agricultural practices for dicofol use. Dithiocarbamates residues were found in 21 of the 318 samples analysed, which when expressed as a percentage contamination was 6.6%, and only one sample exceeded the MRL.