Activating Intangible Heritage

<p>Laurajane Smith argues that traditional approaches to heritage tend to conform to ideas of preservation; privileging tangible and physical connections between past and present. This thesis explores heritage as an experience that can be facilitated by, but not limited to these physical remains; proposing an approach in which intangible characteristics are privileged. This alternative approach to heritage employs themes of memory, performance and intangibility in order to establish a means of architectural intervention. Within this multi-sensory approach to heritage, reminiscence is achieved by formalising a historical narrative of space, visually evoking feelings in regard to memory of the site. The site of this investigation is the Fever Hospital in Mount Victoria, Wellington, an abandoned heritage building purpose built as an isolation hospital in 1919. Through multiple architectural interventions, this thesis designs the integration of this neglected, forgotten, and isolated site as a significant element of the city. Historical narrative is engaged as a tool to distil intangible conditions and preserve the sites heritage value that would not otherwise be considered. The method of this architectural investigation uses iterative design and critical reflection to test ideas of form, scale, and program. Throughout these tests light, shadow, material, and narrative are employed as mechanisms to accentuate these less tangible elements. Informed by the history of the site, this investigation explores the programs of a bath-house and public performance space. The result being a mixed-use public space that activates the site as a component within the social context of the city, while embodying a sense of reminiscence to intangible heirtage; experienced through the spatial narrative.</p>

Activating Intangible Heritage

<p>Laurajane Smith argues that traditional approaches to heritage tend to conform to ideas of preservation; privileging tangible and physical connections between past and present. This thesis explores heritage as an experience that can be facilitated by, but not limited to these physical remains; proposing an approach in which intangible characteristics are privileged. This alternative approach to heritage employs themes of memory, performance and intangibility in order to establish a means of architectural intervention. Within this multi-sensory approach to heritage, reminiscence is achieved by formalising a historical narrative of space, visually evoking feelings in regard to memory of the site. The site of this investigation is the Fever Hospital in Mount Victoria, Wellington, an abandoned heritage building purpose built as an isolation hospital in 1919. Through multiple architectural interventions, this thesis designs the integration of this neglected, forgotten, and isolated site as a significant element of the city. Historical narrative is engaged as a tool to distil intangible conditions and preserve the sites heritage value that would not otherwise be considered. The method of this architectural investigation uses iterative design and critical reflection to test ideas of form, scale, and program. Throughout these tests light, shadow, material, and narrative are employed as mechanisms to accentuate these less tangible elements. Informed by the history of the site, this investigation explores the programs of a bath-house and public performance space. The result being a mixed-use public space that activates the site as a component within the social context of the city, while embodying a sense of reminiscence to intangible heirtage; experienced through the spatial narrative.</p>

Safety & Efficacy of Directly Acting Antivirals (Sofosbuvir & Daclatasvir) in Treatment of Chronic HCV in HIV-HCV Co-Infected Egyptian Patients

Background The introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents, has revolutionized the treatment for chronic HCV with higher cure rates, shorter duration of treatment and more tolerability have been achieved. Objectives The aim of our study is to estimate the efficacy and safety of DAAs in treatment of chronic HCV in patients co-infected with HIV. Patients and Methods This study of previously untreated patients with HCV and HIV co- infection conducted at Abbasia Fever Hospital, from July 2019 to February 2020. Patients included those who are chronic HCV infection and receiving antiretroviral therapy with a CD4 T-lymphocyte count of 200 cells/mL or greater. Serial measurements of safety parameters, virologic and host immune correlates, and adherence were performed during treatment by combination of daclatasvir 90mg and sofosbuvir 400mg+/- ribavirin 800mg daily for 12 weeks. Results In this study, AST & ALT were significantly decreased at end of treatment and 12 weeks after treatment, CD4 count was significantly increased. Otherwise there are no significant changes in both hematological and biochemical laboratory results. The demographic features of the patients and HIV disease characteristics were not predictors of HCV treatment failure. Conclusion More studies on larger numbers of patients are required for proper evaluation of the safety and efficacy of direct acting antiviral agents generally and sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir combination particularly in HIV/HCV coinfected patients. Longer follow-up studies are still recommended to fully understand the impact of sustained virological response on dynamics of liver fibrosis, biochemical profile and rate of relapse.

Outcome of Direct Acting Antiviral Drugs (DAADs) for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the Setting of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Upper Egypt

Background The frequency of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains high in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and plays a detrimental role in mortality in this population, Patients on maintenance dialysis remain at risk of acquiring hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the prevalence of anti-HCV seropositive patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis is significantly greater than in those with normal kidney function. Aim and objectives the aim of the study was to assess outcomes (efficacy, side effects, and possible complications) of DAADs for HCV in presence of CKD, Subjects and methods this was retrospective cohort study that was conducted at Aswan Fever Hospital and Luxor fever hospital for anti HCV therapy between Jan 2018 and July 2018 including 60 patients with all stages of CKD whom receiving DAADs were be recruited from both Aswan fever hospital and Luxor fever hospital, Results the results revealed that Patient’s PC (%) in patients from Aswan was ranged between 61-100 with mean±S.D. 83.09±9.258 while in patients from Luxor was ranged between 66-100 with mean±S.D. 84.95±6.764. There was no statistically significant difference between groups where P = 0.458, Patient’s HCV PCR in patients from Aswan at baseline show that all patients were positive while after 3 months 27(90%) were negative and 3(10%) were positive and after 6months all patients were negative while in patients from Luxor all patients were positive while after 3 months 28(93.3%) were negative and 2(6.7%) were positive and after 6 months all patients were negative. There was no statistically significant difference between groups Conclusion Treatment with newer DAAs is effective and safe for the treatment of HCV-infected chronic kidney disease patients,

Epidemiological Aspects and Seasonal Variation of Meningitis in Egyptian Patients: a Single-Center Study at Abbassia Fever Hospital from 2006 to May 2017

Background As a result of dangerous complications caused by Meningitis, early recognition, and rapid starting of therapy is very important. Objectives To have an epidemiological profile of patients admitted with meningitis to Abbassia Fever Hospital from year 2006 to May 2017. Patients and methods Meningitis Have a seasonal variations. And this study was done to achieve an epidemiological profile of patients admitted with meningitis to Abbassia Fever Hospital from January 2006 to May 2017. Our study was conducted as retrospective descriptive study at Abbassia Fever Hospital from January 2006 to May 2017. on all of patients admitted to Abbassia Fever Hospital by using data Extraction Sheet. Results Meningitis was more common in Adult age group 60.8%. Meningitis was more common in males 64.4%. More common in Cairo 60.1%. in Cairo it is more common in Nasr city 8.8%. Seasonal variation of meningitis cases was demonstrated in this study with the highest incidence in winter and Spring. The most common symptom of meningitic patients were fever 89.2% followed by convulsions 12.1%, vomiting 10.% and then Headache 7.8% The most common sign in meningitic patients were neck rigidity in 66%, Kernig’s sign in 60%, and Brudizinski’s sign in 40% of patients. Patient of meningitis had convulsions 18.6% and DCL 30.4%, the convulsion and DCL are related to ICU admission. 30.1% of patients of meningitis admitted to ICU. Conclusion Meningitis is more common in males, more common in Cairo.in Cairo it is more common in Nasr city. Meningitis has a seasonal variation commonly, in winter and Spring.