A Good Practice Guide for Organizing the Scientific Program of International Conferences.

This paper provides a step-by-step guide for organizing the scientific program (OSP) of international conferences. Through informal discussions, a panel of experts organizing international conferences came up with this guide, which includes a flowchart, checklist, and detailed discussions of each step. Subsequently, additional specialists were invited to evaluate this synopsis and provide their input. All of the participants approved the final version after the outline was improved. This guide proposes the following six steps: 1) preparation, 2) recruitment, 3) building the agenda, 4) cross-checking the program, 5) reviewing and finalizing, and 6) in-conference refining. Thirteen items are specified across the six main steps in a detailed checklist. This OSP guide includes a flowchart and a checklist for providing a comprehensive manual for establishing, conducting, and organizing international scientific conferences. Understanding the procedures that are expected to be followed when holding a scientific conference enables the involved parties to organize and assign tasks to one another as well as create a schedule that allows them to finish their work on time. This guide can be used at any kind of scientific conference to describe an organized process, resulting in a professional and distinguished scientific program.

Safety improvement of the open sun dried Egyptian Siwi dates using closed solar dryer.

Egyptian Siwi dates dried using the open sun drying is exposed to different contaminants. So, the current study aims to use the closed solar dryer to improve Siwi date safety. The impact of washing and closed solar drying on the levels of microbial load, aflatoxins and heavy metals in Egyptian Siwi dates (ESD), in comparison to traditional open sun drying methods were examined. Two different drying techniques were employed to dry 300 kg of ESD. The microbial load was assessed following the two drying procedures. The levels of aflatoxins and heavy metals were analyzed using High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) techniques, respectively, after both drying methods. Additionally, the influence of storage time on the microbial load of the ESD was also evaluated using standard methods. The findings of the current study demonstrated that the closed solar drying significantly reduced the total bacterial and fungal counts by 96 % and 93 %, respectively, when compared to open sun-drying. No aflatoxins were detected in both fresh Siwi dates and Siwi dates dried using closed solar drying. However, after open sun drying, two aflatoxins; aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), were detected in the ESD, with concentrations of 0.95 and 0.23 µg kg-1, respectively. The closed solar drying significantly decreased the levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) in the dried dates by 96 %, 94 %, 48 %, 71 %, 64 %, 4 %, 26 %, and 7 %, respectively, when compared to open sun drying. The stored Siwi dates that was exposed to the open sun drying showed a higher increase in bacterial (4.86 log CFU/g) and fungal (4.46 log CFU/g) counts. However, the stored Siwi dates that was exposed to the closed solar dryer showed a lower increase in bacterial (3.21 log CFU/g) and fungal (2.51 log CFU/g) counts. So, the duration of storage significantly impacted the microbial loads of the closed solar dried dates as compared to open sun drying. Overall, closed solar drying reduced the levels of investigated contaminants and extended the shelf life of ESD, thereby enhancing their safety for human consumption.

Potential health risk assessment for heavy metals in Tilapia fish of different spatiotemporal monitoring patterns in Kafr El-Shaikh and El-Faiyum Governorates of Egypt.

Heavy metal (HMs) levels were evaluated in aquacultured tilapia fish collected from two highly producing districts in Egypt (Kafr El-Sheikh and El-Faiyum Governorates) during two seasons (autumn 2021 and spring 2022). As well, health risk assessment of exposure to HMs in tilapia fish was studied. The results revealed that six HMs: As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cr and Zn were predominant in fish samples of the first season (autumn 2021), while most of HMs were existed in samples of the second season. All samples of the two seasons were free of Hg. Notably, autumn season's fish samples showed higher concentrations of HMs than those of the spring season. As well, Kafr El-Sheikh farms were highly contaminated with HMs than those of El-Faiyum governorate. Risk assessment results indicated that the THQ values of As substantially exceeded 1 either for Kafr El-Shaikh samples (3.15 ± 0.5) or for El-Faiyum samples (2.39 ± 0.8) of autumn season. Meanwhile, THQ values for all HMs, in spring season 2021, were less than one whole. These results indicated a potential health risk arising from the exposure to HMs, As in particular, in fish samples of autumn season as compared to those of spring season. Therefore, there is a need for remedial applications, in such polluted aquacultures in autumn season, which are currently under investigation as an integral part of the research project that funded the current study.

Cochlear Implantation in Radiation-Induced Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Cochlear implantation (CI) has been reported as a treatment modality for radiation-induced sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). However, its efficacy is based on individual reports with no cumulative supporting evidence. Therefore, we conducted the current systematic review to provide cumulative evidence regarding the feasibility and safety of CI in this context. DATABASES REVIEWED: An online bibliographic search was conducted in PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science using MeSH-based terms. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted to retrieve both observational and interventional studies that reported the outcomes of CI for patients suffering from radiation-induced SNHL. RESULTS: We included 12 studies that recruited 88 patients who underwent CI because of radiation-induced SNHL. All included studies reported satisfactory hearing/speech perception outcomes. No serious complications were reported, whereas some manageable adverse events were reported, such as paroxysmal facial spams (n = 1), postauricular wound dehiscence with mastoid cutaneous fistula (n = 1), dehiscence in blind sac closure (n = 1), and electrode exposure (n = 1). Four studies assessed the postoperative quality of life/patient satisfaction, showing improved outcomes. CONCLUSION: CI could be considered to be feasible and safe in patients with irradiation-induced SNHL. The adverse events of CI in such cases are manageable. Future studies are needed to be strengthened this context.

Control of carbendazim toxicity using banana peel powder in rats.

Carbendazim (CBZ) is a steady benzimidazole fungicide broadly exploited in cultivation for pre- and post-harvest treatment to dominate microorganisms infection on several plants. CBZ causes toxic effects in the different tissues of rat via influencing biochemical and hematological factors causing histopathological alterations in the liver and kidney of rats. Banana peel (BP) makes up about 38% of the whole banana weight, BP is usually disposed of as waste that is considered as an environmental problem. BP comprise bioactive a lot of compounds that can be exploited for their unique biological and pharmacological attributes. The current study was carried out to determine the protective effect of dried banana peels consumption against carbendazim toxicity in rats. The results indicated that banana peels had the ability to counteract the toxic effect of carbendazim on rats which was evident by the improvement in liver and kidney functions, lipid profile and histopathological examination.

Wait and Scan Management of Intra-canalicular Vestibular Schwannomas: Analysis of Growth and Hearing Outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the results of intracanalicular vestibular schwannomas (ICVS) that were managed by wait and scan and to analyze the possible predictors of tumor growth and hearing deterioration throughout the observation period. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series. SETTING: Quaternary referral center for skull base pathologies. PATIENTS: Patients with sporadic ICVS managed by wait and scan. INTERVENTION: Serial resonance imaging (MRI) with size measurement and serial audiological evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Tumor growth defined as 2 mm increase of maximal tumor diameter, further treatment, and hearing preservation either maintain initial modified Sanna hearing class, or maintain initial serviceable hearing (class A/B). RESULTS: 339 patients were enrolled. The mean follow-up was 36.5±31.7 months with a median of 24 months. Tumor growth occurred in 141 patients (40.6%) either as slow growth (SG) in 26.3% of cases or fast growth (FG) in 15.3% of cases. Intervention was performed in only 64 cases (18.8%). Out of 271 patients who underwent hearing analysis, 86 patients (33.5%) showed hearing deterioration to a lower hearing class of the modified Sanna classification. Tumor growth and older age were predictors of hearing deterioration. Of the 125 cases with initial serviceable hearing (Class A/B), 91 cases (72.8%) maintained serviceable hearing at last follow-up. Tumor growth and a worse initial pure tone average (PTA) were predictors of hearing deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Wait and scan management of ICVS is a viable option and only 18.8% of patients needed further treatment. Hearing tends to deteriorate over time.

Validity and Reliability of an Arabic Version of MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI).

Dysphagia is a common adverse event among head and neck (H&N) cancer patients. We aimed, for the first time, to validate the Arabic version of the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) among 82 Saudi Arabian patients with H&N cancer. We followed established validation guidelines and translated the 20-item MDADI using the forward-backward method. Our results revealed 100% feasibility. Test-retest reliability demonstrated acceptable interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for the subscale domains (emotional = 0.973, physical = 0.971, and functional = 0.956) and composite score (ICC = 0.984). The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the emotional, functional, and physical subscales were 0.937, 0.825, and 0.945, respectively (composite score = 0.975). We confirmed concurrent validity by demonstrating significant correlations between the domains of the Arabic MDADI and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life Head and Neck Module (QLQ-H&N35). Our study validated the Arabic version of the MDADI among H&N cancer patients from Saudi Arabia.

Simultaneous Cochlear Implantation After Translabyrinthine Vestibular Schwannoma Resection: A Report of 41 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: To study the auditory outcome of simultaneous translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection and cochlear implantation (CI) after successful cochlear nerve preservation. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series and patient questionnaire. SETTING: Quaternary referral center for skull base pathologies. PATIENTS: Patients with small (<2 cm) sporadic or neurofibromatosis 2 related tumors were included in this study. INTERVENTION: Vestibular schwannoma resection + simultaneous cochlear implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Audiological performance postimplantation and perceived patients' benefits. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were included. Thirty-three were sporadic VS and eight were neurofibromatosis 2. Auditory perception postimplantation was achieved in 33 patients (80.5%). At the last follow-up, 20 patients (48.8%) were users and 21 (51.2%) were nonusers. In the users' group, and after 1 year of implant activation, vowel identification was 75.3%, disyllabic word recognition 54%, sentence recognition 60.7%, and common phrase comprehension 61%, whereas in the nonusers' group and after 1 year of implant activation, vowel identification was 22.9%, disyllabic word recognition 14.8%, sentence recognition 15.3%, and common phrase comprehension 14%. Sixteen users were classified into 10 high performers, three intermediate performers, and three poor performers. In the user' group, the mean postimplantation pure tone average was 63.4 dB and the mean speech discrimination score was 63.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous CI and VS resection is a viable option with many patients achieving auditory perception and nearly half the patients are CI users at long follow-up.

Risk assessment of human exposure to lead and cadmium in maize grains cultivated in soils irrigated either with low-quality water or freshwater.

Maize is the third important cereal crop after wheat and rice, especially in Egyptian villages. It is used in baking as a substitution component in wheat products and a main component in snacks for children. The target of this study was to estimate the risk assessment of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in maize grains cultivated in the agricultural soil irrigated by the contaminated water in comparison with that irrigated by freshwater. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels in irrigation water, soils and maize grains collected from different sites in Egypt were determined using ICP-OES. The studied samples were collected from 5 agricultural sites irrigated with freshwater (Nile River water and groundwater) as well as 4 agricultural sites irrigated with low-quality water (contaminated by sewage and industrial wastewater). Results exhibited that the levels of Pb and Cd in soil and maize grains were significantly affected by their levels in irrigation water; where, the levels of Pb and Cd in soil and maize grains irrigated by low-quality water possessed the multiple concentrations in comparison with those irrigated by freshwater. Specific water sources such as Kafr-Dokhmais and Al-Nasiria sites, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate had the highest levels of metals in the samples of irrigation water, soil and maize grains (p < 0.05). Metals levels in water and soil samples were within the permissible limits except Cd in low-quality water samples. Levels of Pb in maize grains irrigated by low-quality water were above the permissible limits (0.20 mg kg-1), while Cd levels were within the permissible limits (0.1 mg kg-1) except Al-Nasiria samples. Levels of Pb and Cd in maize grains irrigated by low-quality water were 19-30 folds those of maize grains irrigated by freshwater. The risk assessment of Pb and Cd levels in maize grains was estimated by daily intake of metals (DIM) and health risk index (HRI). All determined HRI was <1 indicating a non potential health risk for both adults and children.

Closure of large oroantral fistulas using septal cartilage.

The aim of this work is to describe a relatively new technique for closure of large oroantral fistulas. Fistulas were treated surgically using autograft septal cartilage and a buccal pyramidal flap. There were 11 patients, 8 of whom had chronic oroantral fistulas. Four cases had extensive sinusitis and were managed by endoscopic sinus surgery. Complete closure of the fistula was obtained in 10 cases (90.9%), whereas 1 case (9.1%) failed. No other complications occurred. The septal cartilage and pyramidal buccal flap technique is a viable alternative for the closure of large oroantral fistulas.