Banana agriculture waste as eco-friendly material in fibre-reinforced concrete: An experimental study

Mohammed M., Attia,Abd Al-Kader A., Al Sayed,Bassam A., Tayeh,Shymaa M.M., Shawky Techno-Press 2022 Advances in concrete construction Vol.14 No.5

This paper investigates the impact of length and volume fractions (VFs) of banana fibres (BFs) on the mechanical and physical properties of concrete. The mechanical properties were compressive strength, splitting tensile, flexural strength, and bond stress, while the physical properties were unit weight and absorption. The slump test was used to determine workability. The concrete's behaviour with BFs was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Experimental work of concrete mixtures with BFs of various lengths (12 mm, 25 mm, and 35 mm) and VFs (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) were carried out. The samples did not indicate any agglomeration of fibres or heterogeneity during mixing. The addition of BFs to concrete with VFs of up to 1.50% for all fibre lengths have a significant impact on mechanical properties, also the longer fibres performed better than shorter ones at all volume fractions of BFs. The mix10, which contain BFs with VFs 1.5% and length 35 mm, demonstrated the highest mechanical properties. The compressive strength, splitting tensile, flexural strength, and bond stress of the mix10 were 37.71 MPa, 4.27 Mpa, 6.12 MPa, and 6.75 MPa, an increase of 7.37%, 20.96%, 24.13%, and 11.2% over the reference concrete, which was 35.12 MPa, 3.53 MPa, 4.93 MPa, and 6.07 MP, respectively. The absorption is increased for all lengths by increasing the VFs up to 1.5%. Longer fibres have lower absorption, while shorter fibres have higher absorption. The mix8 had the highest absorption of 4.52%, compared to 3.12% for the control mix. Furthermore, the microstructure of concrete was improved through improved bonding between the fibres and the matrix, which resulted in improved mechanical properties of the composite.

Oxford Cobbometer Versus Computer Assisted-Software for Measurement of Cobb Angle in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Tarek Elfiky,Nirmal Patil,Mohamed Shawky,Ahmed Siam,Raafat Ragab,Yasser Allam 대한척추신경외과학회 2020 Neurospine Vol.17 No.1

Objective: The objective was to compare Cobb angle measurements performed using an Oxford Cobbmeter and digital computer software (Surgimap) in a series of 83 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. Methods: Two independent observers measured the Cobb angles for 123 curves on 83 consecutive long radiographs of patients with AIS using both Oxford Cobbmeter and digital computer software (Surgimap). The measurements were repeated a week. Curves were classified according to the severity into mild, moderate, and severe. The results were statistically analyzed for intraobserver and interobserver reliability Results: The mean Cobb angle was 48.12°±19.75° (range, 10.54°–110.76°). Globally the results of curve measurements were comparable between and within both observers using both methods, with small mean differences. According to intraclass correlation coefficient, there was high inter- and intraobserver high agreement for both methods. All readings were >0.9. There was a good interobserver (κ=0.745, 0.693) and a very good interobserver agreement (κ=0.810, 0.804) for both methods for curve classification. However, poor agreement was observed as regards to the measurement time, being less with Oxford Cobbometer. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the Surgimap digital computer software measurement is an equivalent measuring tool to the Oxford Cobbmeter in Cobb angle measurement. Both have high intra and interobserver agreement for measurement and for curve classification, with small measurement differences. Oxford Cobbmeter is advantageous in being quicker, and therefore it is the method of choice for manual measurement, where PACS (patient archiving and communication system) or digital system is not available.

Increasing Antimicrobial Resistance Monitored in Surveillance Analysis of Blood Stream Infections in Febrile Neutropenic Pediatric Oncology Patients

El-Mahallawy, Hadir A,Hassan, Safaa Shawky,El-Wakil, Mohamed,Moneer, Manar M,Shalaby, Lobna Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.14

Background: Continuous surveillance of pattern of blood stream infection is necessary in febrile neutropenia (FN)especially with the recent escalating trend in the management of pediatric cancer patients towards intensified regimens and with the increase in infections caused by resistant organisms limiting the choice of antibiotics. Aim: To monitor change in pattern of blood stream infections (BSI) in FN pediatric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Surveillance of FN episodes with positive BSI was prospectively monitored and compared to a previous surveillance in the same pediatric oncology unit. Results: A total of 232 BSI positive episodes were documented in 192 patients during a 6 months period. The results of recent surveillance analysis showed an increase in intensified regimens of chemotherapy, antimicrobial resistance, fungal infections, and prolonged duration of episodes when compared to previous surveillance, with p value sof <0.001, 0.005, 0.021, and <0.001, respectively. There was an apparent decrease in the crude mortality but this was not statistically significant, to 6% in 2011 from 10 % in 2006. Conclusions: The pattern of BSI at our institution is still inclining towards gram positive organisms but is showing a shift towards more antibiotic resistance and fungal infections.

Different Prognostic Factors Correlate with Bcl-2 Expression among Triple Negative and Non-Triple Negative Breast Cancers

El-Mageed, Amal Abd El-Hafez Abd,Shawky Mohamed, Abd El-Aty,Elesawy, Basem Hasan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Background: Prognostication of breast cancer using clinico-pathologic variables, although useful, remains imperfect. Recent research has focused on finding new markers of prognosis using gene expression profiling. Panels of proteins assessed by immunohistochemistry might also be useful in this regard. This study focused on Bcl-2 protein expression in triple-negative (TNBC) and non- triple-negative breast cancer (non-TNBC) with correlation to clinico-pathologic variables. Materials and methods: We analyzed Bcl-2 expression in 77 women with primary breast carcinoma divided into two groups; triple-negative and non- triple-negative according to expression of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptors (Her2/neu). Bcl-2 expression was assessed in relation to age, histo-pathological subtype, grade, nodal status and tumor size. Results: Bcl-2 was expressed in 74% of triple-negative breast cancers and 70% of non- triple-negative cancers. In TNBC, expression was significantly correlated with invasive ductal subtype, while in non-TNBC it was significantly correlated with age and negative nodal status. In both groups higher Bcl-2 expression associated with favourable prognostic factors in breast cancer, but no significant statistical correlations were found. Conclusions: Frequency of Bcl-2 expression does not differ between TNBC and non-TNBC, but different prognostic factors correlate with Bcl-2 in the two cases.

Eccentric Versus Concentric Exercises in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: A Randomized Comparative Study

Mina Magdy Wahba,Mona Selim,Mohammed Moustafa Hegazy,Rasmia Elgohary,Mohammed Shawki Abdelsalam 대한재활의학회 2023 Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine Vol.47 No.1

Objective To determine the efficacy of concentric vs. eccentric exercise in improving shoulder function, pain, and tendon characteristics for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and rotator cuff tendinopathy. Methods Forty patients with rheumatoid arthritis and rotator cuff tendinopathy were divided into either concentric or eccentric exercise groups, with 20 patients in each group. Patients received 12 sessions at a pace of 3 sessions per week. Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), the visual analogue scale (VAS), supraspinatus and subscapularis thickness, echo pixels, and the Disease Activity Score-28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS-28-ESR) were assessed at baseline and post-treatment. Results There was a significant difference between the concentric and eccentric groups regarding SPADI and VAS scores in favor of the eccentric group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding tendon thickness, echo pixels, or DAS-28-ESR. Conclusion Eccentric exercises were more effective than concentric exercises in improving shoulder function and pain intensity. However, neither of the two types of exercises was superior in improving tendon characteristics or disease activity.