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Accelerometer-based physical activity monitors are designed for placement on several body locations, with popular sites being the wrist, waist/hip, and thigh. Thigh placement is particularly valued for its accuracy in measuring postures and related energy expenditures. However, exploring the outcomes of different thigh wear locations remains an area for further research. This study investigated the inter-monitor reliability of Fibion accelerometers for energy expenditure and activity type classification, and their validity by comparing the Fibion's activity classification against direct observation of a structured activity protocol as the reference standard. Thirty healthy, young adults (aged 21.83 ± 2.80 years; 15 women) wore six Fibion accelerometers on three locations (proximal thigh, 10 cm above the patella, and the front trouser pocket) on both thighs while performing 11 functional activities for 70 minutes in a laboratory setting. Inter-monitor reliability for measuring energy expenditure, activity type and intensity, and accuracy for activity type and intensity classification of the pre-defined functional activities were assessed. Validity was assessed for classifying activity type and intensity. Reliability estimates (intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 3, k)) implied good to excellent inter-monitor reliability for measuring energy expenditure during nearly all activities. Furthermore, energy expenditure measurements were equivalent between accelerometers in both trouser pockets, and proximal and distal thighs within a bound of ±.1.60 kcal/min. However, the right pocket was not equivalent to either the right proximal thigh or the right distal thigh. The mean activity classification accuracy ranged from 87-92% for activity type and 91-94% for activity intensity for the chosen activities, irrespective of the accelerometer location or side of the body (right vs. left). The Fibion accelerometers reliably measure energy expenditure and accurately classify activity type/intensity for nearly all functional activities, regardless of the thigh wear location or side of the body. However, interchanging pocket and thigh placements is not recommended. Similar studies in free-living settings are further warranted.

Two field and storage experiments were conducted at a Research Station affiliated with the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences / University of Baghdad during the 2023 and 2024 season. To investigate the effect of cobalt chloride at three concentrations 0, 5, and 15 mg. L-1 (C0, C1, C2) and silica gold at four concentrations 0, 5, 10, and 15 ml.L-1 (Si0, Si1, Si2, Si3) to increase tubers production and quality and raise the storage capacity of industrial potato hybrid Hermes as factorial experiment  within R.C.B.D. with three replicates. The storage experiment was conducted in the refrigerated warehouse belongs to private sector, following the same design of field experiment, the results revealed that the C1 treatment recorded the highest percentage of ascorbic acid and total phenols in tubers for both seasons while C2 treatment recorded the highest plant productivity and tuber weight in both season and lowest percentage of microbial contamination. The Si2 treatment resulted in the highest activity of catalase enzyme and the lowest weight loss percentage.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) aetiology is not exactly identified, but it is characterized by pruritic skin reactions with elevation in the levels of inflammatory markers. Despite the fact that Corticosteroids are the mainstay therapy in the management of AD, they have many local and systemic adverse effects. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical tacrolimus ointment in comparison to topical hydrocortisone cream in the management of the AD of children diagnosed with AD. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 200 children with AD. They were simply randomized into two groups, the tacrolimus group treated with 0.03% topical tacrolimus ointment and the hydrocortisone group treated with 1% hydrocortisone cream twice daily during the 3 weeks study period. Results: At the end of the study, both the tacrolimus and hydrocortisone groups showed a significant decline in the mean serum level of IL-10, IL-17, and IL-23 ( p < 0.05) when compared to their baseline levels. However, the tacrolimus group showed a more significant decrease ( p < 0.05) in the mean serum level of IL-10, IL-17, and IL-23 as compared to the hydrocortisone group [Mean differences = 1.600, 95% CI: 0.9858–2.214; 1.300, 95% CI: 1.086–1.514 and 4.200, 95% CI: 3.321–5.079]. Moreover, the median mEASI decreased similarly from 32 to 21 in the tacrolimus group and from 30 to 22 in the hydrocortisone group ( p > 0.05) [Median difference = −2.000, 95% CI: −2.651 to −1.349; Median difference = 1.000, 95% CI: 0.3489–1.651]. Mild to moderate transient stinging and erythema were the main adverse effects that showed higher incidence in the tacrolimus group than in the hydrocortisone group ( p < 0.05). In most cases, they resolved within 3–4 days. Besides, tacrolimus ointment did not cause skin atrophy as compared to the hydrocortisone group ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Tacrolimus ointment is more beneficial than hydrocortisone cream in managing AD in children in terms of lowering the inflammatory markers, however, there is no difference on the dermatitis severity scale. Moreover, tacrolimus is safer with a better side effect profile compared to hydrocortisone. Trial Registration: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( CT.gov identifier: NCT05324618)

Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) imaging is a noninvasive tool that does not necessitate sedation and allows accurate assessment of the variceal site and size. Patients experience better tolerance when using MDCT than upper GI endoscopy (EGD). The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of MDCT in evaluating esophageal varices. We conducted a thorough search of international databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus) and extracted studies using the appropriate keywords to investigate the efficacy of MDCT in evaluating esophageal varices. The collected data were analyzed using the random and fixed-effects model and STATA (version 15). 17 articles aligned with the inclusion criteria, published between 2008 and 2022, were included in the study. The pooled data of 15 articles on MDCT sensitivity and specificity were 0.87 and 0.82, with 95% CI of 0.85-0.89 and 0.81-0.84, respectively. The meta-analysis of the data from fourteen articles showed a pooled PPV of 0.85 and a pooled NPV of 0.84, with 95% CI of 0.83-0.87 and 0.82-0.85, respectively. Also, our meta-analysis of eight surveys that reported accuracy revealed a high pooled accuracy of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90-0.93), underscoring the reliability of MDCT in evaluating esophageal varices. These findings strongly suggest that MDCT holds considerable potential as a valuable diagnostic tool for clinicians managing patients with liver cirrhosis and suspected esophageal varices, paving the way for more effective patient care.

Breast calcifications can be an indicator of early-stage breast cancer. While Digital Mammography (DM) remains the gold standard for detecting breast microcalcifications, its ability to differentiate between benign and malignant types based solely on morphology and distribution is limited. Contrast-Enhanced Mammography (CEM) incorporates pathological contrast-enhancement, leading to a more confident diagnosis, and offering a faster and more cost-effective tool than breast magnetic resonance imaging. CEM allows for a single scan assessing both microcalcification morphology using low energy images and lesion vascularity using high energy subtracted images. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CEM and DM in evaluating suspicious breast calcifications, with a focus on characterizing breast masses (benign vs. malignant), delineating tumor extent, and assessing the clinical impact of these imaging modalities on surgical decision-making. Out of the 54 identified breast lesions, 19/54, (35%) were benign and 35/54, (65%) were malignant. Calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and total accuracy of DM were 91.4%, 70.8%, 62.7%, 93.9%, and 78% respectively as compared to 85.7%, 90.7%, 83.3%, 92.2%, and 89% for CEM. CEM exhibits higher specificity than DM in assessing suspicious breast microcalcifications. CEM provided tumor size measurements that correlated more with pathological findings compared to DM. While these measurement discrepancies were minor and did not affect surgical planning, CEM proved impactful in when multicentricity was identified by CEM but overlooked in initial DM evaluations. This was evident in patients with dense breasts or instances of satisfaction of search error, where subtle lesions indicative of multicentricity were initially missed, highlighting CEM's potential to enhance surgical decision-making in such scenarios.

Background Egyptian cluster substitution has not been targeted in Arabic phonology research. The clusters in the Egyptian language are bi-consonantal and word-final. They have a phonotactic prevalence of /r/ within the two consonants of the cluster. Their final position is also challenging for children during phoneme acquisition. This study adds important structure to the phonological development of Colloquial Egyptian Arabic (CEA) and to the Arabic phonological development in general. The aim is to analyze the substitutional phonological processes of consonant clusters (types and consonant position) used by Egyptian children before cluster acquisition and how they relate to singletons. Methods The study was applied to 150 typically developing (TD) monolingual Arabic Egyptian children, 30 to 48 months. They were divided into three age groups, 6-month interval each. Cluster substitution was assessed using the Egyptian Monosyllabic Consonant Cluster Test (EMCCT). The test contains 50 monosyllabic words commonly used in the Egyptian language, with word-final consonant clusters. Results Devoicing was the commonest cluster substitution process produced by Egyptian children (99.3%), followed by interdental sigmatism (48.7%) and lateralization of /r/ sound (34%). Substitution occurred in both consonants of the cluster but more commonly in the final one (C2). Conclusions Substitution in Egyptian clusters was affected by both place and manner of articulation of the substituted phoneme. It bore resemblance to the substitution of singletons. The final consonant of the cluster (C2) offered a preferred location for substitution. The pattern and position of cluster substitution present a rich addition to the field of Egyptian phonological development.

Background and Aim. Low plasma adiponectin has been found in both obese subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Also, it was reported in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We assessed plasma adiponectin and its correlation with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), as a marker of atherosclerosis, in Egyptian patients with NAFLD. Methods and Results. The study included 200 Egyptian subjects. They were divided into four equal groups: group 1: obese patients with NAFLD and T2DM (O+/NAFLD+/DM+), group 2: nonobese patients with NAFLD and T2DM (O-/NAFLD+/DM+), group 3: obese nondiabetic patients with NAFLD (O+/NAFLD+/DM-), and group 4: nonobese healthy control subjects. Plasma adiponectin was measured using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique. Ultrasonography was used to diagnose NAFLD. CIMT was assessed using Doppler ultrasonography. Plasma adiponectin was significantly lower and CIMT was significantly higher in O+/NAFLD+/DM+, as compared with O-/NAFLD+/DM+, O+/NAFLD+/DM-, and control subjects (p<0.001 for all). A significant negative correlation was found between adiponectin and CIMT in obese patients with NAFLD (p<0.05), but not in patients with NAFLD and T2DM. The significant independent predictors of CIMT were diabetes duration, BMI (body mass index), albumin/creatinine ratio, and cholesterol. Conclusion. Plasma adiponectin is inversely correlated with CIMT in obese patients with NAFLD, but not in patients with NAFLD and T2DM. Hypoadiponectinemia could be a good indicator of cardiovascular risk in obese patients with NAFLD, with or without T2DM, but not in nonobese patients with NAFLD.

Background: Thyrotoxicosis may be caused by Graves' disease or destructive thyroiditis. Differentiation between causes of thyrotoxicosis is crucial as management will differ. \"\"Technetium (Tc)-pertechnetate thyroid scintigraphy is currently the gold standard for this purpose, however, is expensive and uses ionizing radiation. Objective: To evaluate the role of color flow Doppler Ultrasound (CDU) of the superior thyroid (STA) and inferior thyroid arteries (ITA) as an inexpensive, non-invasive tool that can aid in differentiating between Graves' disease and thyroiditis and compare it with thyroid scintigraphy. Methods: Sixty-nine patients with newly-diagnosed thyrotoxicosis and 30 controls were enrolled. Thyroid functions, thyroid scintigraphy, and CDU of STA and ITA with measurements of peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV), were performed. According to thyroid scintigraphy results, patients were divided into two groups: 42 patients with Graves' disease and 27 patients with thyroiditis. Results: PSVand EDV of both STA and ITA were significantly higher in patients with Graves' disease than thyroiditis (p-values <0.001). The STA-PSV had an equal sensitivity and specificity of 66.7%; cut-off value 76.57 cm/s, while those of STA-EDV were 73.8%, and 77.8% respectively; cut-off value 28.22 cm/s. ITA-PSV had a sensitivity and specificity of 76.2% and 77.8%, respectively; cut-off value 62.12 cm/s), while those of ITA-EDV were 78.6% and 77.8%, respectively; cut-off value 5.22 cm/s. Conclusion: CDU parameters of the STA and ITA could be used as an alternative to thyroid scintigraphy for discriminating between Graves' disease and thyroiditis. Keywords: Color Doppler Flow Ultrasound, peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, Graves' disease, thyroiditis

Background: Vitamin D is a regulatory factor for skin immune functions through vitamin D receptor, which is expressed on many immune cells. Vitamin D receptor is located on chromosome 12q 13.11 and has many single nucleotide polymorphisms. Some of them were hypothesized to be associated with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a genetic disease that is greatly affected by environmental factors. Methods: A total of 135 psoriasis patients and 114 healthy controls were recruited. Both had a measurement of serum vitamin D and two vitamin D receptor variants:, rs1544410: G > A (HGVS:NC_000012.12:g.47846052) and rs7975232: C > A (HGVS: NC_000012.12:g.47845054). We assessed the relationship between vitamin deficiency as well as the two gene polymorphisms with psoriasis susceptibility and severity. Results: Serum vitamin D levels were not significantly different between cases and controls. However, a significant association between vitamin D levels and severity was observed. We attributed this to our finding that rs7975232 was more significantly polymorphic among cases than controls, while rs1544410 polymorphism did not show a significant difference among the 2 groups. Conclusion: We did not find a significant difference in serum vitamin D levels between cases and controls. Yet, psoriasis severity was significantly associated with serum vitamin D levels. We attributed this to other findings that the vitamin D receptor rs7975232 gene is polymorphic in psoriasis patients. At the same time, rs1544410 was not significantly more polymorphic in psoriasis patients. Both genes' polymorphisms were associated with severe psoriasis. Keywords: vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D receptors polymorphisms, single nucleotide polymorphism, ApaI, BsmI, rs7975232, rs1544410, psoriasis

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common disease worldwide. Micro-RNA-122 is known to be the most abundant micro-RNA expressed in the liver. To evaluate the association of micro-RNA-122 and the degree of steatosis and fibrosis in obese patients with MAFLD. The study included 120 obese Egyptian patients with MAFLD, which were diagnosed and classified according to ultra-sonographic liver findings. All patients enrolled in the study were subjected to thorough clinical examination and laboratory investigations (serum micro-RNA-122 levels by PCR, lipid profile, liver biochemistry, and functions). Fibro-scan was used to assess the level of fibrosis. There was a significant increase in levels of micro-RNA-122 in obese patients with MAFLD compared to controls ( <0.001). Micro-RNA-122 level was lower in patients with mild liver steatosis than patients with moderate or severe steatosis ( <0.001). It was lower in patients with a mild degree of fibrosis than those with mild or moderate fibrosis ( <0.001). Micro-RNA-122 was significantly positively correlated with low-density cholesterol and triglycerides level, and liver enzymes, and negatively correlated to high-density cholesterol ( <0.001). Serum micro-RNA-122 could be a useful predictor of assessing MAFLD severity regarding level of steatosis or fibrosis.