Image processing is widely growing as a useful tool in biosensing applications. It can be used to convert any camera/microscope into an optical sensor with wide range of capabilities such as monitoring completion of colorimetric reactions, differentiating and counting cells, and tracking motile cells/organisms. However, implementation of image processing in Lab-on-Chip devices is still challenging for researchers with little expertise in this field. Here, we present a multi-purpose real-time machine vision platform for tracking and analyzing objects inside lab-on-chip devices and for automating many microfluidic applications. Our LabVIEWbased machine vision platform, which is freely available on our webpage (http://www.assiutmicrofluidics.com/research), enables
non-experts in image processing and machine vision to easily assemble their image processing pipeline based on the intended application. The program was designed for plug and play interfacing with a wide range of imaging devices including USB microscopes, high-speed cameras, and smartphone cameras. Moreover, to achieve portability, the program can be loaded on myRIO, a portable pocket size fully functional LabVIEWplatform, to performall programcapabilities outside the lab without the need for a PC. To prove functionality of our program, we used it in real-time closed loop control of hydrodynamic focusing and control of flow velocity of cells inside a microchannel. We also demonstrated the program abilities in different lab-on-chip applications such as tracking, differentiation, and counting of blood cells.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of prophylactic high-dose atorvastatin for prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF), inflammatory response attenuation, and myocardial protection after valve replacement cardiac surgery.
Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Setting: Assiut University Hospitals.
Participants: Sixty-four adult patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement surgery.
Interventions: The participants were equally divided into 2 groups. Group S received 80 mg of atorvastatin (oral tablets), 12 and 2 hours preoperatively, and on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th postoperative days. Control group C received placebo at the same time periods.
Measurements: The incidence of POAF, postoperative white blood cell count, serum C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and troponin I.
Main Results: Group S patients showed a lower incidence of POAF compared with the placebo group (p = 0.031). The white blood cell count showed significant reductions in group S compared with group C on the second, third, fourth, and fifth postoperative days. The C-reactive protein level showed significant reductions on the third, fourth, and fifth postoperative days in group S compared with group C (p = 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). The serum level of interleukin 6 showed a significant reduction on the fifth postoperative day in group S compared with
group C (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the troponin I level and inotropic score.
Conclusion: Prophylactic use of high dose atorvastatin can decrease the incidence of POAF and attenuate the inflammatory process in adult patients undergoing isolated rheumatic cardiac valve replacement surgery.

Estrogen metabolites (EMs) can work independently from their parent hormones. We hypothesize that in endometriosis, estrogen is metabolized preferentially along hormonally active pathways. We recruited 62 women with endometriosis (proven laparoscopically and histologically) and 52 control women (normal findings with laparoscopy) among patients undergoing surgery for pelvic pain and/or infertility during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. Urinary samples were collected preoperatively. Biopsies from eutopic endometrium of control women and women with endometriosis were collected during surgery. EMs in urine and endometrial tissues were extracted and determined using Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). These included: 2-hydroxyestrone (2OHE1), 16-α hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1), 2OHE1/16α-OHE1 ratio, 4-hydroxyestrone (4OHE1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2OHE2), and 4-hydroxyestradiol (4OHE2). Eutopic endometrium of endometriosis patients, as compared to control endometrium, contained significantly higher
level of 4OHE1 (0.03 (IQR: 0.03–0.265) versus 0.03 (IQR: 0.03–0.03) μg/g, respectively, P = 0.005), 2-OHE2 (0.241 (IQR: 0.1–0.960) versus 0.1 (IQR: 0.1–0.1) μg/g, respectively, P < 0.001), and 4-OHE2 (0.225 (IQR: 0.22–1.29) versus 0.0.2 (IQR: 0.2–0.2) μg/g, respectively, P < 0.001). Only 2OHE1 showed higher concentration in urine of women with endometriosis than controls (9.9 (IQR: 3.64–14.88) versus 4.5 (IQR: 1.37–17.00) μg/mg creatinine, respectively, P = 0.042). Eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis metabolizes estrogen preferentially to the biologically active 2OHE2, and potentially genotoxic 4OHE1 and 4OHE2 metabolites. This contributes to further understanding of endometriosis etiology, its link to ovarian cancer, and could help identifying an endometrial biomarker of the disease.

Background/Purpose: This work aimed to assess the impact of different etiologies
of acute pancreatitis (AP) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) TaqI rs731236 gene polymorphism
on the severity of AP.
Methods: This case-control study included 70 patients with AP and 40 healthy controls.
Etiologies of AP were identified by imaging, ANA, cytomegalovirus (CMV)
IgM, coxsackie B virus IgM, and IgG4. Genotyping of VDR TaqI rs731236 polymorphism,
Laboratory tests and severity scores using Ranson, BISAP, Atlanta and
APACHE II scores were determined.
Results: The age in AP patients was 36.03 ± 10.76, and females were 85.7%. The
etiologies of AP were as follows: biliary (51.4%), coxsackievirus (22.9%), autoimmune
(14.3%), post-ERCP (8.6%) and 2.9% were idiopathic. The TT genotype of
VDR polymorphism was significantly more common in AP than control (P = .001)
and allele T dominated in AP group (OR = 2; 95% CI: 0.665–5.64). Most cases
showed low severity scores with significant differences among etiologies and VDR
genotypes. Biliary pancreatitis showed highest percentages of severe AP. However,
etiologies and VDR polymorphism were not predictors of severity.
Conclusion: Etiology of AP could have impact on the disease severity. VDR gene
polymorphism increases the risk of AP. Neither the etiology nor VDR gene polymorphism
could predict AP severity

Background/Purpose: This work aimed to assess the impact of different etiologies
of acute pancreatitis (AP) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) TaqI rs731236 gene polymorphism
on the severity of AP.
Methods: This case-control study included 70 patients with AP and 40 healthy controls.
Etiologies of AP were identified by imaging, ANA, cytomegalovirus (CMV)
IgM, coxsackie B virus IgM, and IgG4. Genotyping of VDR TaqI rs731236 polymorphism,
Laboratory tests and severity scores using Ranson, BISAP, Atlanta and
APACHE II scores were determined.
Results: The age in AP patients was 36.03 ± 10.76, and females were 85.7%. The
etiologies of AP were as follows: biliary (51.4%), coxsackievirus (22.9%), autoimmune
(14.3%), post-ERCP (8.6%) and 2.9% were idiopathic. The TT genotype of
VDR polymorphism was significantly more common in AP than control (P = .001)
and allele T dominated in AP group (OR = 2; 95% CI: 0.665–5.64). Most cases
showed low severity scores with significant differences among etiologies and VDR
genotypes. Biliary pancreatitis showed highest percentages of severe AP. However,
etiologies and VDR polymorphism were not predictors of severity.
Conclusion: Etiology of AP could have impact on the disease severity. VDR gene
polymorphism increases the risk of AP. Neither the etiology nor VDR gene polymorphism
could predict AP severity.

Hospital-acquired infections represent a serious public health problem in all countries. It is clear that monitoring of the hospital
environment is an essential element in the control and a part of the policy for preventing nosocomial infections. It allows a better
understanding of the microbial ecology for the purpose of conducting preventive and corrective actions. &e aims of this work
were to determine the percentage of bacterial contamination of environmental samples and to identify potential nosocomial
pathogens isolated from environments of seven referral hospitals from 2009 to 2015. By using the swab technique, 12863 samples
were collected. Qualitative and quantitative cultures were performed. &e organisms were primarily identified by colony
morphology, microscopy of Gram stain, and standard biochemical tests. 25.6% of total samples showed contamination (93% was
monomicrobial and 7.0% was polymicrobial). &e predominant species was coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) (32%),
followed by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (26%) and then K. pneumonia (10.6%). &e percentage of contamination
varied among the covered hospitals and according to the year of monitoring with highly statistically significant difference
(p value < 0.001). Direct contact with environmental surfaces or equipment transmits the majority of nosocomial infection. Major
nosocomial pathogens have been identified. Hospital managers and healthcare bodies must be aware of the reality of the concept
of environmental bacterial tanks and the need for respect of biocleaning procedures and choice of biocleaning tools.

Background: Methicillin resistance in S. aureus is caused by the acquisition of mecA gene,
that encodes an additional ß-lactam-resistant penicillin-binding protein, termed PBP2a. PVL
toxin is one of many toxins produced by S.aureus. Objectives: to evaluate the efficacy of
phenotypic methods and detection of mec A gene with PCR for detection of MRSA and to
assess the incidence of PVL gene in MRSA and all S. aureus isolates Methods: 576
patients from Assiut University Hospitals were enrolled in this study were classified into
community acquired infection group (CAI) and Hospital acquired infection group
(HAI)culture and PCR were done for all samples Results: 92 s.aureus isolates detected
MRSA were 62 (67.4%) of all S.aureus infections, They were 30 (65.2 %) of CAI and 32
(69.6 %) of HAI, The prevalence of PVL genes, The prevalence of PVL genes in CAI
isolates was 10.9%. None of HAI isolates had PVL gene. Conclusion: The presence of
PVL gene cannot be used as a sole marker for CA-MRSA and further studies are
required to find a reliable marker or combination of markers to facilitate the recognition
of CA- MRSA strains.

Occult Hepatitis B infection (OBI), defined as the presence of serum HBV DNA without detectable HBsAg, can be classified into seropositive OBI [anti-HBc and/or anti-hepatitis B surface (anti- HBs) positive] and seronegative OBI (anti-HBc and anti- HBs negative). We examined the role of anti-HBc as a screening test for OBI in HCV patients with chronic liver diseases and evaluated the possible impact of OBI on liver disease progression. 90 patients with hepatitis C related chronic liver diseases (CLD) and negative for HBsAg were divided into three equal groups; chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients were tested for anti-HBc by ELISA and by PCR for S-gene. Total anti-HBc was found in 26 patients (28.9%). 8 patients (8.9%) had positive serum HBV DNA. Of these, 2 were positive for anti-HBc and 6 negative for anti-HBc. No correlation between OBI and severity of HCV related CLD was observed. In conclusion, as OBI was not associated with total anti-HBc, it is invaluable surrogate marker for OBI detection

Occult Hepatitis B infection (OBI), defined as the presence of serum HBV DNA without detectable HBsAg, can be classified into seropositive OBI [anti-HBc and/or anti-hepatitis B surface (anti- HBs) positive] and seronegative OBI (anti-HBc and anti- HBs negative). We examined the role of anti-HBc as a screening test for OBI in HCV patients with chronic liver diseases and evaluated the possible impact of OBI on liver disease progression. 90 patients with hepatitis C related chronic liver diseases (CLD) and negative for HBsAg were divided into three equal groups; chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients were tested for anti-HBc by ELISA and by PCR for S-gene. Total anti-HBc was found in 26 patients (28.9%). 8 patients (8.9%) had positive serum HBV DNA. Of these, 2 were positive for anti-HBc and 6 negative for anti-HBc. No correlation between OBI and severity of HCV related CLD was observed. In conclusion, as OBI was not associated with total anti-HBc, it is invaluable surrogate marker for OBI detection

Abstract: Nicotine neuronal interactions exert an adverse potential in some brain regions and a significant link has been established between tobacco smoke/nicotine and vascular impairment. This work addresses nicotine impact on various components of the substantia nigra compacta (SNc) in rat. Twenty adult male Albino rats were divided equally into two groups: Group I, vehicle-control group (received saline [1 ml/kg body weight intra peritoneally] for 11 days). Group II; nicotine group (received 1.5 mg/kg body weight/day Sc) for 11 days. Nicotine levels were detected in the serum. Specimens were taken from the mid brain, processed and examined using biochemical, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and morphometric techniques. In nicotine group, biochemical analysis revealed reduction in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), decrease in dopamine and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The mean number of light cells, and the mean surface area of nerve cells/field were significantly reduced, with an increase of dark cells were found in nicotine group compared to control. Immunoreactivity in nicotine group revealed an increase in neuronal α-synuclein, reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase enzyme, an increase in caspase 3 and ultrastructure changes suggestive of neuronal apopto. The blood capillaries were markedly affected. Nicotine induced endothelial and pericytic apoptotic changes, irregular lumena and indistinct endothelial junctional complex. Nicotine administered subcutaneously in a small dose may have a deleterious effect on SNc, mainly involving dopaminergic neurons and blood capillaries. This effect seems to be secondary to an oxidative stress that might be produced by reduced TAC and increased MDA levels.