Retrospective Case-Control Study of Extended Birth Perineal Tears and Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: A perineal tear is a rupture of the skin or muscle between the vagina and anus (perineum). A third-degree tear is one type of extended perineal tear (EPT), and it involves the penetration of the anal sphincter muscle. Another type of EPT is a fourth-degree laceration, which penetrates deeper into the lining of the anus or rectum. The stretching of the perineum during childbirth may result in perineal trauma. Invasive surgical interventions are required for the treatment of EPTs. For this reason, the reduction of their incidence can be achieved by fully comprehending the risk aspects associated with them. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to contribute to the body of knowledge by providing insight into the various risk factors that are associated with extended perineal trauma. By following this path, this study aims to contribute to and advance Saudi Arabia's development of evidence-oriented obstetric care recommendations. STUDY DESIGN: The current study is a case-control study where a review of 5000 vaginal delivery records was carried out between March 1, 2018, and March 19, 2023. For the study, cases (n = 71) were female patients who had documented greater than second-degree perineal injury. The control group (n = 238) was randomly chosen from women who had vaginal delivery but with less or equal to a second-degree perineal laceration. For each patient, we reviewed medical and obstetrics records for the following characteristics: age of diagnosis, gestational age, parity, labor induction, second-stage labor duration, mode of delivery, infant birth weight, epidural use and episiotomy indication, healthcare worker (HCW) experience, and APGAR (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration) score. RESULTS: From the 5000 births analyzed, the cases were 71 patients (1.42% of 5000 births). The mean age at diagnosis in our sample was (28.05 ± 4.66 years). The study's results showed that the following variables significantly affected the occurrence of EPTs: birth weight, labor durations, parity, HCW experience, and mode of delivery. The odds for tears were 3.69 (95% CI: 0.156-0.469) higher in nulliparous patients relative to multiparous patients. Instrumental deliveries resulted in more tears than non-instrumental deliveries with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.901 (95% CI: 2.443-14.525). This study also found that prolonged second-stage labor seems to be associated with an increased risk of perineal damage. HCW experience was looked at in relation to the increased incidence of EPTs, which showed that midwives had a lower incidence rate than physicians with an OR of 2.25 (95% CI: 1.169-4.366). Epidural usage has also been significantly associated with a lesser incidence of perineal tears, which indicates that using epidural could protect against the occurrence of EPTs. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the occurrence of perineal lacerations could be prevented during childbirth by taking preventative measures and having more precise judgments. Epidural was a protective factor in our study against the incidence of extensive perineal tearing. Furthermore, as compared to midwives, our study showed that the majority of EPTS occurred in cases of physicians (residents/consultants). Further research, proper documentation, and the development of evidence-based guidelines are needed to improve perineal care and reduce EPT incidence.

Lightweight and Efficient Dynamic Cluster Head Election Routing Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks.

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have gained great significance from researchers and industry due to their wide applications. Energy and resource conservation challenges are facing the WSNs. Nevertheless, clustering techniques offer many solutions to address the WSN issues, such as energy efficiency, service redundancy, routing delay, scalability, and making WSNs more efficient. Unfortunately, the WSNs are still immature, and suffering in several aspects. This paper aims to solve some of the downsides in existing routing protocols for WSNs; a Lightweight and Efficient Dynamic Cluster Head Election routing protocol (LEDCHE-WSN) is proposed. The proposed routing algorithm comprises two integrated methods, electing the optimum cluster head, and organizing the re-clustering process dynamically. Furthermore, the proposed protocol improves on others present in the literature by combining the random and periodic electing method in the same round, and the random method starts first at the beginning of each round/cycle. Moreover, both random and periodic electing methods are preceded by checking the remaining power to skip the dead nodes and continue in the same way periodically with the rest of the nodes in the round. Additionally, the proposed protocol is distinguished by deleting dead nodes from the network topology list during the re-clustering process to address the black holes and routing delay problems. Finally, the proposed algorithm's mathematical modeling and analysis are introduced. The experimental results reveal the proposed protocol outperforms the LEACH protocol by approximately 32% and the FBCFP protocol by 8%, in terms of power consumption and network lifetime. In terms of Mean Package Delay, LEDCHE-WSN improves the LEACH protocol by 42% and the FBCFP protocol by 15%, and regarding Loss Ratio, it improves the LEACH protocol by approximately 46% and FBCFP protocol by 25%.

Aneurysm of anomalous splenic artery arising from a splenomesenteric trunk: Review of the literature with a report of a new case.

INTRODUCTION: Aneurysm of splenic artery arising from splenomesentric trunk is an extremely rare condition. The aim of this study is to report a new case with literature review. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 52-year-old housewife presented with mild central abdominal pain for two month duration. Abdomen was soft. Abdominal ultrasound examination showed a focal aneurysmal dilatation in the splenic artery (SA) near the portal vein. Abdominal computed tomographic angiography (CTA) revealed presence of the splenomesentric trunk with fusiform aneurysm (45 × 33 mm) of the proximal part of the SA. In supine position, through upper midline laparotomy incision, exploration of both superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and SA was performed, total excision of the aneurysm was done, the SMA was side-repaired and SA was ligated. The post-operative period was uneventful. DISCUSSION: It is interesting to note that orthotopic SA aneurysms, most commonly present in the distal third of the artery, followed by the middle third, while in cases of splenomesentric trunk, all reported cases of anomalous SA aneurysms including the current one, showed the aneurysms to be located in the proximal portion or root of the SA. CONCLUSION: Splenomesentric trunk is a rare anatomical anomaly, aneurysm of which is even rarer. It can be managed either by endovascular intervention or open surgery.

Digital System Design for Quantum Error Correction Codes.

Quantum computing is a computer development technology that uses quantum mechanics to perform the operations of data and information. It is an advanced technology, yet the quantum channel is used to transmit the quantum information which is sensitive to the environment interaction. Quantum error correction is a hybrid between quantum mechanics and the classical theory of error-correcting codes that are concerned with the fundamental problem of communication, and/or information storage, in the presence of noise. The interruption made by the interaction makes transmission error during the quantum channel qubit. Hence, a quantum error correction code is needed to protect the qubit from errors that can be caused by decoherence and other quantum noise. In this paper, the digital system design of the quantum error correction code is discussed. Three designs used qubit codes, and nine-qubit codes were explained. The systems were designed and configured for encoding and decoding nine-qubit error correction codes. For comparison, a modified circuit is also designed by adding Hadamard gates.

Radioactivity and heat production characterization by natural gamma ray well logging and multi-fractal techniques in banting district, Malaysia.

Natural gamma ray well logging technique is used to characterize the radioactivity (GR) laterally and vertically in Banting district, SW of Malaysia. Seven drilled boreholes, along N-S profile with their natural gamma ray records are utilized to compute the heat production (HP) parameter, based on the Bucker and Rybach relationship.The analysis of 3467 measured points in those boreholes indicates that GR varies between 6.24 API and 358.4 API with an average of 79.95 API, while HP varies between 0.086 and 5.65 µw/m3 with an average of 1.25 µw/m3.The multi-fractal Concentration-Number (C-N) is used to characterize the radioactivity and heat production variations and to isolate different GR and HP populations in the study region. The high radioactivity and heat production ranges are mainly related to the silty clay layers, accompanied by uranium and thorium.

Research Trends in Emerging Contaminants on the Aquatic Environments of Tanzania.

The continuity for discovery and production of new chemicals, allied products, and uses has currently resulted into generation of recent form of contaminants known as Emerging Contaminants (ECs). Once in the aquatic environment ECs are carcinogenic and cause other threats to both human's and animals' health. Due to their effects this study was aimed at investigating research trends of ECs in Tanzania. Findings revealed that USA and EU countries were leading in ECs researches, little followed by Asia, South Africa, and then Zambia. Only few guidelines from USA-EPA, WHO, Canada, and Australia existed. Neither published guidelines nor regulations for ECs existed in Tanzania; rather only the occurrence of some disinfection by-products and antibiotics was, respectively, reported in Arusha and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As these reports had a limited coverage of ECs, henceforth, these findings constitute the first-line reference materials for ECs research in Tanzania which shall be useful for future monitoring and regulation planning.

[Medical school's experience with Arabization 1993-2003: Gezira University].

This paper examines the importance of teaching in the mother tongue and looks at the political decisions taken in this respect. The preparations for Arabization in the Faculty of Medicine, Gezira University (in 1993) are reviewed and the experience of implementation from 1994 to 2002 is analysed by questioning the students and professors. The successes, failures, problems and obstacles are discussed in detail. The paper concludes with discussion and recommendations on how to boost success in Arabization based on previous experience.

[Medical school's experience with Arabization 1993-2003: Gezira University]

This paper examines the importance of teaching in the mother tongue and looks at the political decisions taken in this respect. The preparations for Arabization in the Faculty of Medicine, Gezira University [in 1993] are reviewed and the experience of implementation from 1994 to 2002 is analysed by questioning the students and professors. The successes, failures, problems and obstacles are discussed in detail. The paper concludes with discussion and recommendations on how to boost success in Arabization based on previous experience

Cytogenetic effect of the anticancer drug epirubicin on Chinese hamster cell line in vitro.

The present study demonstrated the cytogenetic effect of the anticancer drug epirubicin on cultures of Chinese hamster cell line in vitro. The cultures were exposed to the drug for 24 h at three final concentrations; 10, 20 and 40 microg/ml. All treatments were carried out in the absence of any exogenous metabolic activation system. The different types of structural chromosomal aberrations, including gaps, breaks, deletions and fragments were increased in epirubicin-treated cultures. This increase was dose dependent where there was a positive correlation between increased drug concentration and induction of structural chromosomal aberrations. Also, the numerical chromosomal aberrations, including hypodiploidy and hyperdiploidy, were increased significantly in epirubicin-treated cultures. Like structural aberrations, the increase of numerical chromosomal aberrations was also dose-dependent. The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges in cultures treated with epirubicin increased significantly and this increase was dose-dependent. On the other hand, the epirubicin significantly decreased the mitotic index in treated cultures of Chinese hamster cell line.

Specific numerical chromosomal aberrations induced by adriamycin.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization with 7, 17, X, and Y chromosome-specific DNA probe was used to investigate the ability of Adriamycin (AM) to induce aneuploidy in interphase human lymphocytes. The reliability of the probes was tested by hybridization to metaphases and interphase nuclei of untreated normal lymphocytes. Two signals were scored in over 87% of the analyzed nuclei with chromosome 7 and 17 probes, whereas one signal was recorded in over 86% of the nuclei with chromosomes X and Y. The same conditions and probe concentrations were used for hybridizing the four probes to interphase nuclei of AM-treated and untreated lymphocytes, cultured from healthy individuals and cancer patients. AM was found to induce significant increases of trisomy 7 and 17 in lymphocytes cultured from healthy individuals and cancer patients, where the interphase nuclei showed three spots in over 70% and 72% of the cells, respectively. Only 6% of interphase nuclei of untreated cells cultured from healthy individuals and cancer patients showed three spots. No significant increase in X or Y aneuploidy was induced by exposure to AM.

Gene mapping in the river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L.): five syntenic groups.

SUMMARY: Forty-five somatic buffalo-hamster hybrid clones were analysed for the presence or absence of PCR products of 10 primers. Five syntenic groups were identified: CGA-D9S1; CD18-D1S4; OXT-PRNP; LDLR-D7S3; BSPN-D14S2. These same syntenic groups were reported to be syntenic in cattle and were assigned to U2 (BTA 9), U10 (BTA 1), U11 (BTA 13), U22 (BTA 7), and U24 (BTA 14), respectively. Based on chromosomal homology between cattle and river buffalo chromosomes, these syntenic groups are expected to be assigned to buffalo chromosomes BBU 10, BBU 1q, BBU 14, BBU 9, and BBU 15, respectively. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Genkartierung beim Flußbüffel (Bubalis bubalis L.): Fünf Syntäniegruppen Fünfundvierzig somatische Büffel-Hamster Hygrid Klone wurden bezüglich An-oder Abwesenheit von PCR Produkten von 10 primern analysiert. Es wurden 5 Syntäniegruppen identifiziert: CGA-D9S1; CD18-D1S4; OXT-PRNP; LDLR-D7S3; BSPN-D14S2. Dieselben Syntäniegruppen wurden in Rindern gfunden und zugeordnet zu U2(BTA 9), U10(BTA 1), U11(BTA 13), U22(BTA 7) und U24(BTA 14). Auf grund chromosomaler Homolgie zwischen beiden Arten sollten die Syntäniegruppen auf den Büffelchromosomen BBU 10, BBU 1q, BBU 14, BBU 9, und BBU 15 liegen.

Use of molecular markers for the identification of River Buffalo chromosomes: chromosome one.

A standard karyotype for the River Buffalo has recently been established. The largest five chromosomes are biarmed and, based on the banding homology between cattle and buffalo chromosomes, were suggested to originate from the fusion of cattle acrocentric chromosomes. The origin of buffalo chromosome 1 is controversial due to the difficulty in differentiating between the small acrocentric cattle chromosomes. Using molecular markers assigned to cattle chromosomes, synteny between CD18, a marker for BTA1, and markers for small acrocentric cattle chromosomes BTA 24 to BTA 29 was investigated in buffalo/hamster somatic cell hybrids. The investigation revealed that CD18 is syntenic with ANT1, a marker for cattle chromosome 27. The present results confirm that buffalo BBU1 results from fusion of cattle BTA 1 and BTA 27. They also underline the importance of biarmed buffalo chromosomes for the identification of small cattle acrocentrics.

Effect of honey versus thyme on Rubella virus survival in vitro.

In this paper, we assess the antiviral properties of honey solutions and thyme extracts at varying concentrations. This was done by testing these solutions in vitro using monkey kidney cell cultures that were infected with the Rubella virus. Our results indicated that honey had good anti-Rubella activity, while thyme did not. These results may justify the continuing use of honey in traditional medicines from different ethnic communities worldwide and in some modern medications such as cough syrups.

Assignment of genes to chromosome 4 of the River buffalo with a panel of buffalo-hamster hybrid cells.

SUMMARY: To identify the river buffalo chromosome carrying the genes coding for GAPD, TPI1, and LDHB, karyotypic examination was carried out on 14 buffalo-hamster hybrid clones previously tested for presence of this syntenic group. In cattle, this group (U3) has been assigned to chromosome 5, which is assumed to be homologous to the long arm of buffalo chromosome 4. Chromosome 4 was present in all five clones expressing the three enzymes, and absent in all seven negative clones, indicating that in the buffalo GAPD, TPI1, and LDHB are located on chromosome 4. One clone, expressing GAPD and TPI1, but not LDHB, was found to carry a translocation between hamster marker chromosome M(2) and buffalo 4q1 → 4qter. In another clone, expressing LDHB, but not GAPD and TPI1, chromosome 4 was absent, while a very small, unidentifiable acrocentric was present. These observations suggest that LDHB is located in the proximal part of 4q1, and that GAPD and TPI1 are located more distally, in 4q1 → 4q2. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Lokalisierung von Genen auf Chromosom 4 des Flußbüffels durch Büffel-Hamster-Hybridzellen Zur Identifikation von Flußbüffelchromosomen mit Genen für GAPD, TPI1 und LDHB wurden Karyotypenbestimmungen an 14 Büffel-Hamster-Hybridklonen durchgeführt, die vorher auf Anwesenheit der betreffenden synthenischen Gruppen geprüft worden waren. Bei Rindern wird diese Gruppe (U3) dem Chromosom 5 zugeordnet, welches als homolog mit dem langen Arm des Büffelchromosoms 4 betrachtet wird. Chromosom 4 war in allen fünf Klonen, die die drei Enzyme exprimiert haben, vorhanden und fehlte in allen sieben negativen klonen, so daß angenommen werden kann, daß sich bei Büffeln GAPD, TPI1 und LDHB auf Chromosom 4 befinden. Bei einem Klon, der GAPD und TPI1, aber nicht LDHB zeigte, wurde eine Translokation zwischen dem Hamstermarkerchromosom M2 und Büffel 4q1 → 4qter gefunden. Im einem anderen Klon, der LDHB, nicht aber GAPD und TPI1 zeigte, war Chromosom 4 nicht vorhanden, wohl aber ein sehr kleines, nicht identifizierbares akrozen-trisches Chromosom. Diese Beobachtungen weisen darauf hin, daß sich LDHB im proximalen Teil von 4q1 befindet und GAPD und TPI1 vertu distal in 4q1 → 4q2 lokalisiert sind.

A new immunomodulator, LF 1695--II. Effects on allogenic and antigenic responses.

LF 1695, a chemically defined immunomodulator has been shown to induce in vitro T-cell differentiation and to potentiate mitogenic proliferation. The effects of LF 1695 on antigenic and allogenic responses were studied in vitro and lymphocyte proliferation was estimated by 3H-thymidine uptake for 5 and 6 days, respectively. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from tuberculin sensitive donors were significantly stimulated by purified protein derivative (PPD) in the presence of LF 1695. Optimal lymphocyte proliferation with PPD was obtained at 0.5 micrograms/ml LF 1695. The ability of LF 1695 to enhance proliferation of PBL in an allogenic reaction was also examined. LF 1695 (0.2 micrograms/ml) enhanced the proliferation of PBL from two individuals with different HLA DR loci in the bilateral mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Moreover, LF 1695 was tested in vivo in the experimental graft vs host reaction (GvHR) in mice. CBA, H2k mice receiving a lethal dose of irradiation were injected with spleen cells from LF 1695-treated or untreated C57 Bl/6, H2b mice via different routes. CBA mice were found to have a spleen weight x 1000/body ratio up to 1.5 when injected with cells from untreated C57 Bl/6 mice. Mice treated intraperitoneally with LF 1695 at 2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day showed an increase of GvHR intensity with splenic index of 1.71 and 1.80, respectively. When the animals were treated continuously through drinking water containing LF 1695 (4 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg), these ratios were: 1.82, 1.10 and 1.37, respectively. Finally, LF 1695 enhanced GvHR significantly when used at low doses, while high doses induced a decrease of GvHR intensity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inheritance of tolerance to rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

From a large number of rice varieties tested, no variety was identified as resistant to tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV). Only in Utri Merah was the RTBV multiplication restrictive, whereas other varieties such as Kataribhog and Pankhari 203 were identified as tolerant. These varieties were crossed with a susceptible variety. TN1, to study the inheritance of restrictive multiplication and tolerance to RTBV. After 3 weeks of inoculation with RTBV, F1; F2, and F3 progenies were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The RTBV concentration in all F1 populations was intermediate between parents. The frequency distribution of F2 seedlings with various levels of RTBV concentration indicated that the RTBV tolerance is controlled by multiple genes. The RTBV concentrations in F1 and F2 progenies from the Utri Merah x TN1 cross revealed that restrictive multiplication of RTBV in Utri Merah is a polygenic character. The continuous variation observed in F2 populations from crosses between tolerant varieties and Utri merah indicated no allelic relationships between tolerant and restrictive multiplication traits.

[Intestinal parasitic diseases of children. I. Results of a fecal survey carried out in the region of Gabes]. / Les parasitoses intestinales de l'enfant. I - Résultats d'une enquête coprologique effectuée dans la région de Gabès.

A faecal investigation in schools of Gabès, points out that children's parasitism reaches 86,23%. Ascaridiosis is the most frequent intestinal parasitosis.