AimThe aim of the present study was to investigate and compare between Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Ultrasound (US) in treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) using the advantage of application of treatment directly over the transverse carpal ligament, as well as over the course of the median nerve in the forearm simultaneously.DesignFifty patients (25–55 years) with diabetic neuropathy, diagnosed as unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome participated in the study. They were equally divided and randomly assigned into two groups; each group consisted of 25 patients.Materials and methodsPatients in group (A) received a program of IR Gallium Arsenide LLLT (wavelength 904 nm, average power 20 mW, laser probe 7 mm diameter), with a total application of 4.8 J, while patients in group (B) received a program of US (frequency 1 MHz, power 1.0 W/cm2, pulsed mode 1:5).Results & discussionThe results of our study showed that there were no statistical significance differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the two groups. It was concluded that both low level laser (20 mW power, 904 nm Wavelength) and ultrasound (1.0 w/cm2 power, 1 MHz frequency) are effective in the treatment of mild and moderate CTS patients.

The antifungal efficiency of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was investigated against two pathogenic fungal species, F. oxysporum and P. expansum. The two fungi were identified at molecular level by nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) identities. They have been submitted to the GenBank with accession numbers of AB753032 and AB753033 for F. oxysporum and P. expansum, respectively. The antifungal activity of ZnO NPs was found to be concentration dependent. Hence, maximal inhibition of mycelial growth corresponded to the highest experimental concentration (12 mg L −1), where 77 and 100% growth inhibition was observed for F. oxysporum and P. expansum, respectively. The effect of ZnO NPs on the mycotoxins fusaric acid and patulin production by F. oxysporum and P. expansum, respectively, was investigated using HPLC quantification. It was observed that ZnO NPs prevented both mycotoxins synthesis in a concentration dependent manner. Fusaric acid was reduced from 39.0 to 0.20 mg g-1 while patulin production was reduced from 14.2 to 1.10 mg g-1 in control and 12 mg L −1 ZnO NPs treated samples, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed obvious deformation in the growing mycelia treated with ZnO NPs in F. oxysporum which may be the cause of growth inhibition.

Transportation pollutants affect air quality and result in climate changes. This study aims to develop emission and fuel consumption models. The study was undertaken in Greater Cairo Region where congestion episodes such as acceleration and deceleration are the most vehicle operating modes. The available data were obtained from Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency for different types of fuel that include; Diesel, Gasoline and Natural Gas. Second-by-second data points were collected using an on-board emission measurement system. The data include fuel consumption and emission rates for nine vehicles.The final models are used to predict values of nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and fuel consumption (FC).The predicted fuel consumption and emissions models were found to be accurate with (R2) ranging from 0.70 to 0.95.The study alsodemonstrated that emissions and fuel consumption are more sensitive to the acceleration than to speed. Furthermore, deceleration activities reduce the emission of vehicles.

Background and aims: The PI3K protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway has crucial roles in insulin signaling and other endocrine disorders. It is the purpose of this study to validate the association of PCOS with PI3K/AKT pathway target genes, miR486-5p, and miR483-5p as well as to evaluate the outcome of metformin on the pathogenesis of PCOS. Methods: This case-controlled study included 3 subject groups: twenty healthy females (control group), twenty PCOS females before treatment, and twenty PCOS females treated with metformin at a dose (500 mg 3 times per day for three months). The following gene expressions were assessed by real-time PCR: PI3K, AKT, ERK, GLUT4, miR486-5p, and miR483-5p in the whole blood. Result: There was a significant decrease in miR486-5p and miR483-5p in the PCOS group with a significant negative correlation between miR486-5p and PI3K and a significant negative correlation between miR483-5p and ERK. Metformin treatment resulted in significant elevation of the studied miRNAs, significant downregulation of PI3K/AKT target genes, and significant amelioration of the gonadotrophic hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance markers: fasting blood glucose, HBA1C, fasting insulin, and GLUT4 gene expression. Conclusions: miRNA486 and miRNA483 downregulation may contribute to the etiology of PCOS, influence glucose metabolism, and result in IR in PCOS. Metformin's upregulation of those miRNAs affects glucose metabolism by controlling the expression of GLUT4, ameliorates PCOS-related insulin resistance, and improves PCOS-related hormonal imbalance by controlling the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Background: A synovial coracoclavicular joint (CCJ) is a rare finding in human. When present, this anomalous joint is variably reported as a cause of shoulder pain. Up to date, there are no reports on the incidence of the coracoclavicular joint among Egyptians. Aim: The aim of the present study was to report on the incidence of this joint among adult Egyptian population, and to report on the differences, if any, of the morphometry of the clavicles and scapulae and to clarify whether the occurrence of this CCJ was associated with a shoulder pain or not. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on a sample of 100 adult human clavicles and scapulae, chest radiographs of 200 different patients and chest computed tomography (CT) of 80 patients. Variable morphometric measurements were taken from all assessed bones, chest radiographs and CT. Regarding of the positive cases in the chest radiographs and CT, the clinical history was obtained to assess the incidence of symptomatic cases. Statistical analysis was also performed using a level of significance of p < 0.05. Results: CCJ was found in 28 out of the 380 studied samples with an incidence of (7.5 %). No significant sex distribution was found while there was a significant association as regards aging and presence or absence of shoulder pain. Conclusion:The Egyptian population showed a CCJ incidence of 7.5%, which was comparable to other ethnic groups in world population. The CCJ should be put in mind as a differential diagnosis for unexplained shoulder pain, especially in older patients.

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