Egyptian Expeditionary Inscriptions of the Fourth Dynasty and Ancient Natural Landscapes of the Western (Libyan) Desert

The Middle Holocene epoch in northeastern Africa was marked by a steady trend towards aridization. However, the transformation of ecosystems and natural landscapes was gradual and had a complex nature. This change directly affected the development of the first ancient Egyptian centralized state as well as the development of its resource base beyond the Nile Valley. This study addresses the problem of using ancient Egyptian epigraphic sources (expeditionary inscriptions) for the study of both paleolandscapes and ecosystems of the Western (Libyan) Desert and the possible socio-economic impact of their change. The author studies several graffiti, which are believed to have preserved information on natural conditions near the Dakhla oasis and in the region of Wadi Toshka during the time of construction of the great pyramids (Fourth Dynasty). The author concludes that it is quite easy to make misleading assumptions when interpreting expeditionary artefacts. At the same time, as an example with an unusual toponym from the quarries near Wadi Toshka demonstrates, even the shortest graffiti can provide researchers with important additional information on possible changes in the ancient climate and landscape.

Hematopoietic Islands Mimicking Osteoblastic Metastases in Axial Skeleton

Background. Hyperplasia of the hematopoietic bone marrow in the appendicular skeleton is common. Focal hematopoietic islands within the axial skeleton is a rare entity and can cause confusion with osteoblastic metastases. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristic imaging findings in MRI and CT.Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the imaging findings of 14 hematopoietic islands of the axial skeleton in ten patients (nine females, median age= 65.5 years [range, 49-74]), who received both CT and MRI at the time of initial diagnosis between 2006 and 2020. In five cases CT-guided biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis, while the other five patients received long term MRI follow-up (median follow-up= 28 months [range, 6-96 months]). Diffusion-weighted imaging was available in three, chemical shift imaging in two, 18F fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT in two and Technetium 99m skeletal scintigraphy in one of the patients.Results. All lesions were small (mean size=1.72 cm2) and showed moderate hypointense signals on T1- and T2-weighted MRI sequences. They appeared iso- to slightly hyperintense on STIR images and showed slight enhancement after gadolinium administration. To differentiate this entity from osteoblastic metastases, CT provides important additional information, as hematopoietic islands do not show sclerosis. Conclusions. Hematopoietic islands within the axial skeleton can occur and mimic osteoblastic metastases. However, the combination of MRI and CT allows for making the correct diagnosis.

Estimate of fractal dimension of rat tissues submitted to experimental protocols v2

Those who are dedicated to the analysis of structural changes in tissues have tried, over time, to seek increasingly "more rigorous" methods to be able to detach themselves from the merely observational and subjective. That is, leaving aside the semi-quantitative scores based on scores that are given to the lesion in a tissue according to its degree of severity. The argument is that the final injury score will depend more on the subjectivity and experience of the observer. With the advent of digital images and programs for their analysis, the application of numerical methods for estimating changes in tissues was greatly facilitated. With them we do not completely suppress the observational, but, to a large extent and if we are rigorous, we can significantly reduce its influence. Thus, in two-dimensional images, we can make direct measurements such as the diameter and length of a gland, its surface, etc., always in previously calibrated systems. We can also estimate the dimensions of structures that are part of a tissue and the spatial relationships between them based on a two-dimensional image. In this case we will use stereology, which uses simple mathematical formulas, but is very time consuming for analysis. Now, structuralists have realized that the normal components of a tissue or a cell maintain certain spatial relationships and proportionality to each other, which also defines their shapes and textures (complexity), constituting the characteristic histological images of a kidney, liver, uterus, etc. Both the pathology and the functional adaptations alter these normal relationships, which wanted to be estimated through the application of the fractal dimension. The justification is that, when faced with a certain insult or stimulus, the tissue or organ responds “in toto”, not one part yes and another no. The single measurement of diameters, surfaces, etc., while complementary, was always thought to be incomplete because we were missing those changes in the relationships between tissue components or from one cell to another, which provide important additional information.

Estimate of fractal dimension of rat tissues submitted to experimental protocols v1

Those who are dedicated to the analysis of structural changes in tissues have tried, over time, to seek increasingly "more rigorous" methods to be able to detach themselves from the merely observational and subjective. That is, leaving aside the semi-quantitative scores based on scores that are given to the lesion in a tissue according to its degree of severity. The argument is that the final injury score will depend more on the subjectivity and experience of the observer. With the advent of digital images and programs for their analysis, the application of numerical methods for estimating changes in tissues was greatly facilitated. With them we do not completely suppress the observational, but, to a large extent and if we are rigorous, we can significantly reduce its influence. Thus, in two-dimensional images, we can make direct measurements such as the diameter and length of a gland, its surface, etc., always in previously calibrated systems. We can also estimate the dimensions of structures that are part of a tissue and the spatial relationships between them based on a two-dimensional image. In this case we will use stereology, which uses simple mathematical formulas, but is very time consuming for analysis. Now, structuralists have realized that the normal components of a tissue or a cell maintain certain spatial relationships and proportionality to each other, which also defines their shapes and textures (complexity), constituting the characteristic histological images of a kidney, liver, uterus, etc. Both the pathology and the functional adaptations alter these normal relationships, which wanted to be estimated through the application of the fractal dimension. The justification is that, when faced with a certain insult or stimulus, the tissue or organ responds “in toto”, not one part yes and another no. The single measurement of diameters, surfaces, etc., while complementary, was always thought to be incomplete because we were missing those changes in the relationships between tissue components or from one cell to another, which provide important additional information.

How Greek Students Experienced Online Education during Covid-19 Pandemic in Order to Adjust to a Post-Lockdown Period

Following an unprecedented situation of confinement due to the Covid-19 pandemic, academic institutions were called to focus on supporting telecommunications technologies. For the first time, Higher Education went completely online. The authors of this research conducted an online voluntary survey where Greek students could answer questions about the distance education, they had experienced during the Covid-19 lockdown, particularly of the synchronous type. The purpose of this research was to investigate the major issues that created impediments to the students, both the technical barriers that made it difficult to communicate, and the teaching/learning challenges raised because of emerging trends. Recognizing the main problems that arose in the educational process during the lockdown period leads to a better communication in the future in the field of distance education. The students were informed about the research by the Student Counseling Center of their universities but also via posts on well-known student content websites. The research results have shown that most students attended synchronous communication online classes (the theoretical and the practical ones) in replacement of their face-to-face lessons. The students pointed out some negative aspects of online education concerning synchronous communication educational practices, but also how their classes were organized and presented. They referred to the main technical difficulties that occurred - on the part of the teacher - preventing a satisfactory communication, as to the practices that stressed them or to the lack of communication between students and teachers they experienced during the lockdown. Nevertheless, despite these problems, most students are interested in continuing online learning in combination with traditional courses in a classroom. Overall, this study provided important, additional information in respect of the students’ perceptions towards online education during the first quarantine.

Additional criterion for assessing the risk of gastric variceal bleeding according to multispiral computed tomography

Aim. To establish the parameters of gastric varices which determine a high risk of gastric bleeding according to the results of multispiral computed tomography.Material and methods. The results of studies of 39 patients with liver cirrhosis and gastric varices were retrospectively studied. Nine of them had signs of previous bleeding on endoscopic examination or the corresponding data in the medical history. In 3 patients gastric bleeding occurred 30-47 days after multispiral computed tomography.Results. According to the results of multispiral computed tomography with multiplanar reconstructions gastric bleeding was detected in 12 patients with protrusion of submucosal varicose veins into the gastric lumen by 5 mm or more with a vein diameter >7 mm.Conclusion. The results of multispiral computed tomography, complemented by the hydro-computed tomography technique, provide important additional information on predicting the development of gastric bleeding in the selection of patients for preventive minimally invasive interventions on the veins of the stomach.

Evaluation of lockdown effect on SARS-CoV-2 dynamics through viral genome quantification in waste water, Greater Paris, France, 5 March to 23 April 2020

Introduction Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). People infected with SARS-CoV-2 may exhibit no or mild non-specific symptoms; thus, they may contribute to silent circulation of the virus among humans. Since SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in stool samples, monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RNA in waste water (WW) has been proposed as a complementary tool to investigate virus circulation in human populations. Aim To test if the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 genomes in WW correlates with the number of symptomatic or non-symptomatic carriers. Method We performed a time-course quantitative analysis of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR in raw WW samples collected from several major WW treatment plants in Greater Paris. The study period was 5 March to 23 April 2020, including the lockdown period in France (from 17 March). Results We showed that the increase of genome units in raw WW accurately followed the increase of human COVID-19 cases observed at the regional level. Of note, the viral genome could be detected before the epidemic grew massively (around 8 March). Equally importantly, a marked decrease in the quantities of genome units was observed concomitantly with the reduction in the number of new COVID-19 cases, 29 days following the lockdown. Conclusion This work suggests that a quantitative monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 genomes in WW could generate important additional information for improved monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 circulation at local or regional levels and emphasises the role of WW-based epidemiology.

Lung Sonography in Obstetrics during COVID-19

In the current coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, certain patients are becoming seriously ill. Lung pathologies are common, and some patients even go on to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which requires intubation and artificial respiration of the critically ill patient. Imaging of the lung is absolutely necessary to obtain a diagnosis, assess the course of disease and for treatment. Particularly in gynecology and obstetrics (OBGYN), ultrasound scans of the lung can be a useful additional tool when caring for pregnant patients in the delivery room. As obstetricians use ultrasound imaging a lot in routine clinical practice, in the current pandemic setting, routine prenatal imaging screening could be expanded by the addition of ultrasound scans of the lung. Lung sonography can offer important additional information, particularly in obstetrics where the indications for radiation-emitting imaging are particularly restrictive. If there is a sonographic suspicion of lung involvement, then, depending on the symptoms and the morphological extent of the ultrasound findings, it may be necessary to consider admitting the patient to hospital for close fetal and maternal monitoring.

MRI DEFECOGRAM – USEFULNESS OF DEFECATION PHASE IN DETECTION OF RECTAL PATHOLOGIES.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the defecation phase during dynamic MR defecography in detecting rectal pathologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The images from 50 MR defecographic examinations (50 patients; age range, 13-73 years; mean, 49.88) were retrospectively reviewed in consensus by two observers. Images from each of four phases (rest, maximal sphincter contraction and squeezing, maximal straining, and defecation) were evaluated and scored independently with a previously published grading and scoring system. Features evaluated included the presence and degree of rectal descent and the presence and size of rectocele and intussusception. Statistical analysis was performed with a variety of tests. RESULTS. Compared with images obtained in the other phases, defecation phase images helped in identification of additional cases of rectoceles in 23 examinations (62%), rectal descent in 10 examinations (40%) and intussusception in 2 examinations (67%). The number of additional cases of abnormalities identified on defecation phase images was significantly greater than the number identified on images obtained in the other phases. The average total scores for the rest, squeeze, strain, and defecation phases were 0.06 (SD,0.24), 0.16 (SD,0.37), 0.82 (SD, 0.66), and 1.86 (SD, 0.78). The average total defecation phase score was significantly greater than the average total score in any of the other phases (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION. During dynamic MR defecography, defecation phase imaging yields important additional information on the presence and degree of pelvic floor abnormalities and is therefore an essential component of MR defecographic examinations.

COVID-19 in the peritoneal fluid: does this evidence oblige to introduce new rules? Presentation of a Case Report

Background : The Covid 19 pandemic introduced the need to outline new guidelines for the treatment of the Covid positive patient in surgery. With this report we present what we believe to be important additional information about an area that has not yet been studied, the potential infectivity of peritoneal secretions.Case presentation : A 73-year-old woman accesses our PS where she is found to be positive on the nosepharyngeal swab for Covid 19. The patient presents a picture of intestinal occlusion from imprisoned hernia, which is why she undergoes exploratory laparotomy surgery. During surgery a peritoneal swab is performed which is positive for Covid 19.Conclusion : This case suggests that, in the presence of patients susceptible to surgical therapy with negative Covid swab, performing a peritoneal swab may reveal a false negative. An extensive database that collects the results of pharyngeal and peritoneal swabs of patients undergoing surgery is necessary to delineate the appropriate approach to the patient in the Covid era.