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Background: Establishing cutoff values for low birth weight (LBW) and high birth weight (HBW) is crucial for clinical practice. This study aimed to determine these values in Saudi Arabia. Method: A retrospective study in 2022 analyzed the birth weights of 1605 neonates. The 10th and 90th percentiles were calculated to define LBW and HBW. Results: LBW was defined as <2450 g (10th percentile), with an incidence of 10.5%. HBW was >3650 g (90th percentile), with a prevalence of 10.3%. Comparing the WHO's LBW definition (<2500 g) revealed significant differences but high agreement (kappa = 0.962). HBW had a prevalence of 2.4% using a 4000 g cutoff, with low agreement (Kappa = 0.357). Conclusions: This study suggests an LBW cutoff at 2450 g and an HBW cutoff at 3650 g in Saudi Arabia. A birth weight range of 2450–3650 g is considered normal, reducing unnecessary healthcare interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary metformin supplementation on the redox balance, inflammation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and function in blunt snout bream fed a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet. Fish (45.12 ± 0.36 g) were randomly offered four diets, including a control diet (33% carbohydrate), an HC diet (45% carbohydrate), and the HC diet supplemented with 0.06% (HCM1) and 0.12% (HCM2) metformin respectively for 12 weeks. Compared with the control, feeding the HC diet significantly increased the hepatosomatic index (HSI), the mesenteric fat index, liver and muscle glycogen contents, liver and adipose tissue lipid contents, plasma glucose and glycation end products (AGES) levels and aspartate transaminase activity, plasma and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) contents, mitochondrial cytochrome c content, mitochondrial complex IV activity and ATP 6 transcription, but decreased plasma catalase (CAT) activity, muscle superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities, and the transcriptions of transforming growth factor β (tgfβ) and interleukin 10 (il10). Compared with the HC group, metformin treatment (especially the HCM2 group) significantly elevated tissue glycogen contents, muscle SOD activity, plasma and liver antioxidant enzymes activities, the transcriptions of tgfβ and il10, the sodium/potassium ATPase activity, the contents of mitochondrial protein and AMP, the level of p-AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), and the p-AMPK/t-AMPK ratio, but lowered the HSI, tissue lipid contents, plasma levels of glucose, AGES and glycated serum protein, plasma, and liver MDA contents, the transcriptions of il1β, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 and ATP 6, the contents of ATP and cytochrome c, the ATP/AMP ratio, and the activities of complexes I and IV. In conclusion, metformin could attenuate the HC diet-induced redox imbalance, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction in blunt snout bream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world's increasing need for protein faces challenges in aquaculture production. New applications and tools will need to be added at every stage of the manufacturing line to attain this expansion sustainably, safely, and effectively. Utilizing experimental methods to increase aquatic animal production has become more common as aquatic biotechnology has advanced. High‐throughput omics technologies have been introduced to address these issues, including transcriptomic, metabolomic, proteomic, and genomes. But it also faces many difficulties, like other food manufacturing industries. One of the best and most durable approaches to address these issues is probably to understand nutritional requirements and modify diet based on need. Molecular approaches are a subset of multiomics technology. Previously, most of the published work was devoted to the biochemical aspects of protein–lipid interactions in biological systems. In this review, we explore this idea and highlight various works that fall under the umbrella of nutrigenomics, with a particular emphasis on protein utilization and its interactions with carbohydrates and lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Tumoral calcinosis is a very rare disease mainly caused by a disturbance in phosphate metabolism. It is advisable to contemplate screening more organs such as testes, thyroid, and spleen in patients with TC. This study provides insight into tumoral calcinosis for physicians in the region and encourages future work on the matter. Familial hyperphosphatemic tumoral calcinosis (FHTC) characterized by progressive deposition of calcium phosphate crystals in soft tissues. Tumoral calcinosis (TC) is often underdiagnosed in Syria as it cannot be confirmed without genetic testing, which is unavailable in Syria. We present the first reported case from Syria of a man with TC. This case has findings that were not reported in other cases such as testicular calcification, brain calcification, enlarged thyroid, and splenomegaly. Determining these genes in the case presented wasn't possible and future studies need to overcome this hurdle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient safety culture is a critical aspect of healthcare quality, directly impacting patient outcomes and healthcare delivery. This paper provides an in-depth examination of the concept of patient safety culture, its dimensions, and strategies for enhancing it in hospital settings. Drawing from a comprehensive review of the literature, we explore the multifaceted nature of patient safety culture, encompassing leadership commitment, teamwork, communication, error reporting, continuous learning, and patient engagement. The paper highlights the significance of fostering a non-punitive environment that encourages open dialogue, promotes systems-based thinking, and prioritizes continuous quality improvement. Furthermore, we discuss the role of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, as pivotal agents in cultivating a robust patient safety culture. The paper also addresses the challenges and barriers to implementing patient safety initiatives, such as resistance to change, resource constraints, lack of standardization, and cultural barriers. To overcome these obstacles, we provide practical recommendations for healthcare organizations, including leadership accountability, comprehensive staff education and training, encouraging open communication and feedback, promoting teamwork and interprofessional collaboration, engaging patients and families, adopting a continuous quality improvement approach, and leveraging technology and data analytics. By embracing a multi-faceted and collaborative approach, hospitals can create a culture that prioritizes patient safety, fosters continuous learning, and drives excellence in healthcare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of oral bovine serum albumin (BSA) on plasma amino acid profile and growth performance in blunt snout bream fed high‐fat and high‐energy diets. A total of 360 fish (average weight: 45.84 ± 0.07 g) were randomly divided into three groups in four replicates and fed with the control, high‐fat diet (HFD), and high‐energy diet (HED), respectively. After 12 weeks of feeding, fish were orally administered with 10% BSA for 10 h, with the blood and liver sample obtained at 10 h. The results showed no remarkable difference (p > 0.05) in final weight, weight gain rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and daily growth rate among dietary treatments. However, fish fed HFD and HED obtained significantly higher energy and nitrogen retention content than the control. Plasma valine and histidine content were more prevalent in fish fed the control diet than in HFD and HED groups. However, BSA significantly enhanced this content with higher values observed in arginine and alanine content than in control diets at 10 h. Significantly higher liver and plasma Aspartate aminotransferase, Xanthine oxidase, and Glutamate dehydrogenase content were found in the HFD than in the control group. However, the administration of BSA at 10 h improved these parameters similar to the control. Meanwhile, protease, Lipase, aminopeptidase N, carboxypeptidase A, and Na+ K+‐ATPase were influenced significantly (p < 0.001) by sampling time, dietary treatments, and their interaction. Fish fed with the HFD and HED significantly downregulated (p < 0.05) the akt, bcat2, 4e‐bp1, s6k1, and tor expression compared to the control. However, BSA administration at 10 h improved these genes similar to the control. This study indicated that oral BSA administration could benefit plasma amino acid through the TOR signaling pathway in blunt snout bream fed high‐fat and high‐energy diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a sensor of cellular energy changes and controls food intake. This study investigates the effect of a high‐calorie diet (high fat diet [HFD], high carbohydrate diet [HCD] and high energy diet [HED]) on appetite and central AMPK in blunt snout bream. In the present study, fish (average initial weight 45.84 ± 0.07 g) were fed the control, HFD, HCD and HED in four replicates for 12 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, the result showed that body mass index, specific growth rate, feed efficiency ratio and feed intake were not affected (p > 0.05) by dietary treatment. However, fish fed the HFD obtained a significantly higher (p < 0.05) lipid productive value, lipid gain and lipid intake than those fed the control diet, but no significant difference was attributed to others. Also, a significantly higher (p < 0.05) energy intake content was found in fish‐fed HFD, HCD and HED than those given the control diet. Long‐term HFD and HCD feeding significantly increased (p < 0.05) plasma glucose, glycated serum protein, advanced glycation end product, insulin and leptin content levels than the control group. Moreover, a significantly lower (p < 0.05) complex 1, 2 and 3 content was found in fish‐fed HFD and HCD than in the control, but no differences (p > 0.05) were attributed to those in HED. Fish‐fed HED significantly upregulated (p < 0.05) hypothalamic ampα 1 and ampα 2 expression, whereas the opposite trend was observed in the hypothalamic mammalian target of rapamycin than those in HFD and HCD compared to the control. However, hypothalamic neuropeptide y, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (pparα), acetyl‐coa oxidase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05) in the HCD group, while the opposite was seen in cholecystokinin expression compared to those in the control group. Our findings indicated that the central AMPK signal pathway and appetite were modulated according to the diet's energy level to regulate nutritional status and maintain energy homoeostasis in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of audiology, achieving accurate discrimination of auditory impairments remains a formidable challenge. Conditions such as deafness and tinnitus exert a substantial impact on patients' overall quality of life, emphasizing the urgent need for precise and efficient classification methods. This study introduces an innovative approach, utilizing Multi-View Brain Network data acquired from three distinct cohorts: 51 deaf patients, 54 with tinnitus, and 42 normal controls. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recording data were meticulously collected, focusing on 70 electrodes attached to an end-to-end key with 10 regions of interest (ROI). This data is synergistically integrated with machine learning algorithms. To tackle the inherently high-dimensional nature of brain connectivity data, principal component analysis (PCA) is employed for feature reduction, enhancing interpretability. The proposed approach undergoes evaluation using ensemble learning techniques, including Random Forest, Extra Trees, Gradient Boosting, and CatBoost. The performance of the proposed models is scrutinized across a comprehensive set of metrics, encompassing cross-validation accuracy (CVA), precision, recall, F1-score, Kappa, and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC). The proposed models demonstrate statistical significance and effectively diagnose auditory disorders, contributing to early detection and personalized treatment, thereby enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life. Notably, they exhibit reliability and robustness, characterized by high Kappa and MCC values. This research represents a significant advancement in the intersection of audiology, neuroimaging, and machine learning, with transformative implications for clinical practice and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a discovery made by the author involving the wrong manuscript of calligrapher Şekerzâde being printed by the Ottoman Empire. It was initially illegal to sell printed copies of the Qurʾan in Ottoman lands, as cutting letters of the verses was deemed disrespectful. After foreign-printed copies began circulating, the position of the Ottoman government was forced to change. Thereby, the Ministry of Education, led by Ahmed Cevdet Pasha, was commissioned to produce a printed Qurʾan. However, the governmental body accidentally printed a manuscript that Şekerzâde wrote in Istanbul, while indicating it was the Qurʾan he wrote in Medina. Through careful examination, including translations of the inscriptions, this error was noticed for the first time. This paper presents an introduction to Ottoman reverence for the Qurʾan, a history of the printing process, background information of Ahmed Cevdet Pasha, and evidence regarding the mistake made when printing the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary organ for absorbing dietary fat is the gut. High dietary lipid intake negatively affects health and absorption by causing fat deposition in the intestine. This research explores the effect of a high-fat diet (HFD) on intestinal microbiota and its connections with endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation. 60 fish (average weight: 45.84 ± 0.07 g) were randomly fed a control diet (6% fat) and a high-fat diet (12 % fat) in four replicates for 12 weeks. From the result, hepatosomatic index (HSI), Visceralsomatic index (VSI), abdominal fat (ADF), Intestosomatic index (ISI), mesenteric fat (MFI), Triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) content were substantially greater on HFD compared to the control diet. Moreover, fish provided the HFD significantly obtained lower superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities. In contrast, an opposite result was seen in malondialdehyde (MDA) content in comparison to the control. HFD significantly altered intestinal microbiota in blunt snout bream, characterized by an increased abundance of Aeromonas, Plesiomonas proteobacteria, and firmicutes with a reduced abundance of Cetobacterium and ZOR0006. The transcriptional levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (grp78), inositol requiring enzyme 1 (ire1), spliced X box-binding protein 1 (xbp1), DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member B9 (dnajb9), tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnf-α), nuclear factor-kappa B (nf-κb), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (mcp-1), and interleukin-6 (il-6) in the intestine were markedly upregulated in fish fed HFD than the control group. Also, the outcome was similar in bax, caspases-3, and caspases-9, ZO-1, Occludin-1, and Occludin-2 expressions. In conclusion, HFD could alter microbiota and facilitate chronic inflammatory signals via activating endoplasmic reticulum stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New results for the T 20 -component of the tensor-analyzing power of the incoherent negative pion photoproduction are presented. The experiment was performed for the electron beam energy of 800 MeV at the VEPP-3 storage ring in 2021. To extract the T 20 -component, we used asymmetry with respect to the change in the sign of the tensor polarization of the deuteron target. Identification of the reaction events was carried out by the detection of two protons in coincidence. Experimental data were compared with the results of statistical simulation, considering the interaction between the N N and π N subsystems in the final state of the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to understand the effects of glycyrrhetinic acid, berberine, and resveratrol on growth and inflammatory signalling in channel catfish fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Fish (average weight, 20 ± 0.15 g) were distributed randomly in 15 tanks (11 fish per tank). Fish were allocated randomly to five experimental diets: (control diet (ND); high-fat diet (HFD); high-fat diet + 0.3 mg/kg glycyrrhetinic acid (HFD + GA); high-fat diet + 50 mg/kg berberine (HFD + B); and high-fat diet + 400 mg/kg resveratrol (HFD + R). Each diet was tested in triplicates for eight weeks. The final body weight (FBW), body weight gain (BWG), specific growth rate (SGR), and condition factor (CF) were significantly lower in fish fed HFD. In contrast, opposite trends were observed in the feed conversion ratio (FCR), hepatosomatic index (HSI), visceralsomatic index (VSI), and mesenteric fat index (MFI). Fish fed HFD showed a higher trend (P < 0.05) in plasma glucose, cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), while opposite trends were found in total protein (TP) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). These parameters were all enhanced by feeding the additive-supplemented diets. Liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), plasma lysozyme (LYM), myeloperoxidase (MPO), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP) activities, and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were all lower in fish fed HFD as compared to the control group. However, supplementing GA, berberine, and resveratrol restored these parameters to similar levels to the control group. Upregulated gene expression of interleukin 1β (IL-1ß), nitric oxide (NOS), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), X box-binding protein 1 (XBP1s), coupled with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), was observed in fish fed HFD, whereas reverse trends were observed in the additive-supplemented groups as compared to the control group. Overall, glycyrrhetinic acid, berberine, and resveratrol could reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation and enhance the immune response in channel catfish fed HFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tensor analyzing-power components T 20 , T 21 , and T 22 for the reaction γ d → n p π 0 have been studied for the first time in the photon energy range from 280 to 500 MeV. The data are extracted from the experimental statistics accumulated at the VEPP-3 storage ring in 2002–2003. The measured asymmetries are compared with the results of statistical simulations performed with the γ d → n p π 0 amplitude from a spectator model, taking into account corrections for the final-state interaction. The comparison demonstrates quite good agreement between the experimental results and the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symptoms of psychiatric infirmities have variability, and selected drug regimens for mental illness are comparatively complex and individualized; therefore, pharmacy services vary with respect to patients, diseases, healthcare settings, community structures, and countries. Clinical pharmacy services for mental health (MH) are continuously being upgraded. A structured search of the literature was performed in the Cochrane, PubMed (Medline), PsycINFO, Google scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, and Springer Links databases. The title and abstract of each retrieved article were evaluated for relevance. To remove uncertainty and ambiguity, the full-text articles were retrieved and examined for relevance. The articles were further assessed on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Narrative synthesis was performed, creating new categories and relevant subcategories and further subsections. The articles and the results were assessed for quality and bias. Pharmacists have a range of expertise in psychiatric care. The services can be classified as conventional, extended, and advanced pharmacy services. Conventional services include the quality use of medicines in healthcare settings and medication support services in communities that ensure medication adherence. Pharmacists perform extended roles in collaborative medication therapy management, multidisciplinary community mental health teams, collaborative care, patient education, home medication review, hospital-to-home transit, and screening services. In the USA, the role of pharmacists was advanced by prescribing as collaborative and interim prescribers. Australia launched an accredited program for psychiatric first-aid pharmacists. Pharmacists can provide mental care to rural populations using health technology. The role of pharmacists in MH is appreciated either independently or as a team member. Patients and healthcare providers rank the services of pharmacists in MH highly. Still, there is a margin for improvement in the training of pharmacists. Pharmacists cannot provide sufficient time to their patients. Public awareness about the role of pharmacists in MH needs more attention. Moreover, the training of psychiatric pharmacists should be standardized around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological studies reveal the fact that the risk for the development of chronic diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases can be reduced by consuming sufficient quantity of fruits and vegetables in the diet. Phytochemicals are bioactive compounds that are present in fruits and vegetables, which prevent the cells from damage and help in disease prevention. In the present study, seasonal vegetable zucchini ("green" and "yellow") were taken into consideration because of their high medicinal and nutritional value. To evaluate their suitability for use different assays were carried out such as DPPH scavenging assay, hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay and total antioxidant activity assay were performed for the determination of antioxidant activity. Anti-inflammatory capacity was assayed by nitric oxide scavenging assay. Green zucchini exhibits greater scavenging activity of 38% in DPPH assay, 36% in hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay and TAC of 142.55 mg Ascorbic acid equivalent/100 g, whereas yellow zucchini exhibits scavenging activity of 36% in hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay and higher absorbance of 42 in FRAP, 73% scavenging for Nitric oxide radical scavenging assay and TAC of 162.55 mg Ascorbic acid equivalent/100 g. Antibacterial activity was determined against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). Anti-fungal activity was determined against the fungus Aspergillus niger. Both Green and yellow zucchini exhibit good antibacterial and anti-fungal activity with the zone of inhibition ranges from 15 to 20 mm. Yellow Zuchini extract was found to be toxic to human lung cancer cells at lower concentrations. Thus, bio-components present in zucchini are capable of playing positive role in human health and are safe as evident from their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amalgamation of nanoparticles using "Green Technology" is an intensive field of research due to the increase in the need for the development of new antimicrobial materials. This method is meritorious both in environmental and economic aspects. In the present study, synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) was done using the aqueous extract of Laurus nobilis (bay leaf). The characterization was done using UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size, and zeta potential analyses. Successful production of nanoparticles was confirmed by the presence of spherical-shaped TiO2 NPs with the size of ~ 100 nm. The nanoparticles were tested against pathogens to determine their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The antimicrobial and antifungal activities with various concentrations for the generated TiO2 NPs were investigated and the results showed that the synthesised nanoparticles manifested a good inhibitory activity against both the tested bacteria and the fungal strain. Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger showed better zone of inhibition against nanoparticle. The observation is that the inhibition zone increases proportionately with the increased nanoparticles concentration. The as-prepared nanoparticles were also subjected to free radical scavenging ability using DPPH and hydrogen peroxide assays. TiO2 NPs revealed a strong antioxidant activity when compared with ascorbic acid standard. Current study concludes that the concocted TiO2 NPs, using L. nobilis bay leaf, can be scaled up for large-scale industrial production, which would be eco-friendly, economic with a high productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work described the structural, morphological, temperature-dependent relative permittivity, and magnetic behavior of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles prepared via a facile co-precipitation method. A computational analysis, density functional theory (DFT) calculation was carried out to understand the band structure and density of the state of NiFe2O4. The crystallinity and phase purity was analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction, which confirms the polycrystalline nature of the cubic spinel structure of NiFe2O4 belonging to the Fd3m space group. The calculated crystallite size is about 22 nm. Field emission scanning electron micrograph confirms the agglomerated flake-like grains. All the phonon modes (A1g, Eg and T2g) confirm the inverse spinel cubic structure of NiFe2O4. The dielectric study shows that the relative permittivity is varied between 1.2 × 102 and 1.6 × 103 as a function of different temperature. The obtained semicircle arc from the Cole–Cole plot confirms the grain and grain boundaries contribution in the conduction process. The exploration of the magnetic hysteresis loop measured in the temperature between 5 and 300 K over the field strength of ± 2 T, revealed a ferromagnetic behavior. Temperature-dependent magnetization and coercivity were studied using modified Bloch's law and Kneller's law, respectively. The increasing magnetic parameters at low temperature may be due to increasing the surface-spin moment in the finite-size nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has a wide range of outcomes depending on host immune responses mainly Toll-like receptors (TLRs) signaling and released cytokines. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) may influence the course of CHB. We aimed to elucidate the relation between TLR-2 polymorphism, IL-6 profile, and CHB progression. We analyzed TLR-2 polymorphism (SNP; rs3804099) in 185 CHB patients and 60 controls using TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. Serum IL-6 levels were assessed by ELISA. IL-6 levels were considerably higher in active CHB and cirrhotic patients compared with inactive carriers and controls (P < 0.001). IL-6 showed positive correlation with ALT and advanced fibrosis in active CHB patients (r = 0.31, P = 0.02). A significant positive correlation was noticed between IL-6 and HBV DNA PCR in all CHB groups. TT genotype of rs3804099/TLR-2 was significantly more prevalent in inactive carriers compared to active hepatitis patients (P = 0.04, OR = 0.39 and 95% CI: 0.16–0.95). Both heterozygous CT and mutant TT genotypes were significantly more frequent among inactive carriers compared to cirrhotic patients (P = 0.01, OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13–0.81 and P = 0.009, OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13–0.77). TT genotype was significantly related to lower IL-6 levels in active hepatitis and cirrhotic groups (P = 0.005 and P = 0.001, respectively) showing that TLR mutations would be associated with milder hepatitis activity and lower possibility for disease progression. There may be a positive association between TLR2 rs3804099 polymorphism and hepatitis B activity. IL-6 is a good indicator of CHB disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for antimicrobials in propolis presents a new dimension for addressing the problem of antimicrobial drug resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of extracts of crude propolis collected from different regions in Ghana and their active fractions. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts, as well as that of the chloroform, ethyl acetate, and petroleum ether fractions of the active samples were determined using the agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and theminimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of themost active fractionswere determined. The various crude propolis extracts frequently produced zones of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (17/20) than Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16/20), and Escherichia coli (1/20) test isolates. Chloroform and ethyl acetate solvents produced fractions possessing greater antimicrobial activity than the petroleum ether fraction. The mean MIC range of the most active fractions was greatest for S. aureus (76.0 ± 34.8-48.0 ± 33.0 mg/ml) than for P. aeruginosa (40.8 ± 33.3-30.4 ± 6.7 mg/ml) and E. coli, as was the mean MBC. Propolis has antimicrobial potential, and hence should be exploited as an alternative for the treatment of bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study evaluates the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination from women with breast cancer in Jazan city Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, antibody detections were performed one month and three months after the administration of the second dose. Methods: Overall, 103 breast cancer patients were included. Individuals who had had two doses of Pfizer-Bio- NTech vaccine, patients who were earlier diagnosed with COVID-19 infection, had not finalized immunization plan, or who received the second dose recently were excluded from the study. The antibodies detection test was run according to the manufacturer's directions of Viva Diag™ SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG Rapid Test (COVID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Test). Results: This study included 62 (60.2%) and 41 (39.8%) patients with invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma, respectively. The age, median and interquartile range (IQR) was 54.0 (26) years. Regarding reactivity of antibodies, after one month IgM antibody showed 64 (62.1%) positive and 39 (37.9%) negative while IgG antibody showed positive results in all patients. After three months IgM antibody showed 44 (42.7%) positive and 59 (57.3%) negative, while IgG showed 87 (84.5%) positive and 16 (15.5%) negative. There were significant differences in the IgM and IgG seropositivity. There were 19.3% patients with ductal carcinoma who were positive and then turned negative versus 17.7% who were positive and then turned negative, respectively (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in IgM antibody positivity among different age groups. Conclusions: Our results recommend the importance of screening for an antibody response for breast cancer patient after immunization in order to reveal persons who need early and late extra enhancing vaccine dose. Upcoming studies recommended to estimate different methods that raise cancer patients' immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many biotic and abiotic factors influence the production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Among biological agents, aphids are destructive pests effecting wheat yield drastically. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of foliar Jasmonic acid spray on aphid population as well as on plant growth during aphid infestation in two wheat varieties i.e., Borlaug-2015 and Zincol-2015. Plants are cultivated in pots and treated with jasmonic acid at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mM (JA). The results revealed that length of shoot and roots decreased after aphid stress and was improved (21-24%) by JA spray. Photosynthetic pigments increased after applying the jasmonic acid spray compared to control plants. Jasmonic acid spray helped the plants to recover from aphid stress by enhanced production of antioxidant enzymes CAT (Catalase) (65-71%), SOD (Superoxide dismutase) (71-74%) and POD (Peroxidase) (61-65%). Consequent to improved defence system, plants treated with JA had fewer aphids as compared to control (60-73% reduction), 24 h after spray. The higher concentration of JA (1 mM) proved more effective as compared to 0.1 mM jasmonic acid. Moreover, Zincol-2015 appeared tolerant as compared to Borlaug-2015 against aphid infestation. The application of jasmonic acid as an exogenous foliar application showed an overall positive impact on the physiological and biochemical attributes of both varieties. It helps the plants to enhance resistance against the biotic stress and can be adopted as future alternative for aphid management. However, detailed studies regarding understanding of underlying molecular mechanisms are needed to optimize the mode for field application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic metals accumulated in wheat grains. Daily intake of Cd through food is posing serious health problems. There is an urgent need to reduce the uptake and accumulation of Cd in wheat and other cereal crops. In this study, we investigated the potential of moringa leaf extract (MLE) in decreasing the Cd toxic effects in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. A.S. 2002. Sowing was carried out in pots under shade and natural light conditions. Two Cd concentrations (500 µM and 1000 µM) were applied with and without MLE (0 and 3%). Results revealed that plant growth parameters viz diameter of stem, number of leaves, leaf area, photosynthetic pigments were improved with MLE application under Cd stress. Moreover, biochemical attributes and osmolytes such as total soluble sugars, and soluble proteins, phenolic content and flavonoids were negatively effected by Cd stress and were improved under MLE treatment. Moreover, Cd stress enhanced phytotoxicity as higher ROS accumulation is observed under both stress conditions, whereas after MLE application MDA and H2O2 accumulation was significantly decreased. Based on current observations, MLE was effective in mitigating the biological and toxic effects of Cd by promoting the growth attributes and mineral contents in wheat. Further experiments are needed for discovering the molecular mechanisms underlying MLE and host plant interactions involved in Cd stress mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel quinazoline compounds have been designed and synthesized aiming to discover new anticancer agents. Additional study was carried out on the most powerful derivatives, (Xb). A cell cycle research indicated that (Xb) mostly stops the cell cycle in the G2/M phase. The Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay revealed that (Xb) increased apoptosis when compared with the control. It also demonstrated decreased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression and increased BAX and caspases 3 expression levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Reports examine quinolone resistance mechanisms among Pseudomonas spp. are sporadic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We previously examined the genetic bases of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance among Pseudomonas spp. clinical isolates. This study investigated chromosomally mediated quinolone resistance mechanisms via investigation of the mutations in the gyrA and parC genes. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to different quinolones was determined. Twenty-nine quinolone resistant Pseudomonas spp. clinical isolates were included. The gyrA and parC genes were sequenced by Sanger capillary electrophoresis. Multiple sequence alignment for the translated gyrA and parC genes was performed to identify mutation sites. Results: Of the 29 isolates, 27 isolates were P. aeruginosa and two were P. putida. The cluster analysis of the quinolone susceptibility pattern revealed seven susceptibility phenotypes (A-G) based on susceptibility patterns rather than the MIC values. Also, 22 different susceptibility phenotypes were detected based on MIC values. All isolates exhibited a missense mutation at position 83 (S83I/T/F) of the gyrA gene in addition to six missense mutations at positions outside the QRDR of this gene. In addition, 82.8% (24/29) of the isolates harbored a missense mutation in the parC gene at position 87 (S87L), along with six novel mutations outside the QRDR of the parC gene. Haplotyping of the gyrA, parC, and the overall QRDR revealed six, 10, and 13 different haplotypes, respectively. Conclusion: This study documents the incidence of the commonly reported mutations in the gyrA and parC genes in addition to novel mutations in these genes among Pseudomonas spp. clinical isolates recovered from KSA. Together with our previous findings, these data provide an insight into the genetic background of quinolone resistance among Pseudomonas spp. clinical isolates in KSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-sized materials such as bismuth oxide nanoparticles (Bi2O3NPs) have been extensively used in optical, chemical, electronic, and engineering area In this work poly ethylene oxide /Carboxymethyl Cellulose (PEO/CMC: 50/50%) nanocomposite films were prepare via dispersing Bi2O3 NPs inside via One-Pot Pulsed Laser Ablation route (OPPLA). The physical characterization of the fabricated samples were analysis. XRD confirm the semicrystalline shape of nanocomposites samples. The estimated Bi2O3NPs size as evaluated via XRD was 16 ± 6 nm. The FTIR spectra showed the decreased of the peak intensity with increasing bismuth oxide nanoparticles denotes the intermolecular interactions between Bi2O3NPs and PEO/CMC composite. Optical energy gap (Eg) of PEO/CMC–Bi2O3NPs nanocomposites showed decrease as Bi2O3NPs wt. % increases. TGA analysis of filled sample showed refinement in their thermal stability in air compared to the pure samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Breast cancer is a common type of cancer in Sudan. Numerous studies propose viral oncogenesis as an etiological factor for breast cancer. The aim of the study was to analyze the presence of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) using monoclonal antibodies against latent membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) and determine the correlation between the presence of EBV and clinicopathological characteristics. Patients and Methods: This study used immunohistochemistry to analyze the presence of EBV in 202 samples from Sudanese women diagnosed with breast cancer. Clinicopathological data were collected from patient records from the Radiation and Isotopes Centre in Khartoum State, Republic of Sudan. Results: This study included 202 patients 168 (83.2%), 16 (7.9%), and 18 (8.9%), diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, and papillary carcinoma, respectively. Axillary lymph node metastasis was present in 57 (28.2%) of cases, while 11 patients (5.4%) tested positive for EBV. The mean age of patients was 48.14±14.4 years. EBV infection was more frequently detected in invasive ductal carcinoma cases, and EBV positivity was not associated with cancer type, grade, progesterone levels, and HER2 expression. On the other hand, a statistically significant association was found between EBV presence and lymph node involvement, estrogen receptor status, and age group. Conclusion: EBV may not play a vital role in the pathogenesis of breast carcinoma in Sudanese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Breast cancer (BC) is among the most widespread malignant tumors in women. In the current study, we evaluated the role of miR-31 in BC patients and its relation to the different prognostic, clinical, and pathological features. Patients and Methods: MiR-31 levels were determined by RT-PCR in BC and adjacent normal breast tissues from 100 BC patients. BC diagnosis was established through histopathological examinations. The expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptor in all tumors was determined using immunohistochemistry. Results: MiR-31 expression was reduced in BC tissues relative to adjacent healthy breast tissue (mean levels were 0.93 and 7.2, respectively). Also, the low expression of miR-31 in BC patients was significantly correlated with adverse clinical and pathological features such as: young patient's age, premenopausal status, infiltrative lobular carcinoma, ER and PR negative tumors, HER2 positive tumors, and advanced clinical stage. Conclusion: MiR-31 was expressed at low levels in BC tissues and correlated with adverse clinical and pathological features, and poor survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peachfruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) is a polyphagous pest in nature, belonging to order, Diptera and their respective family is Tephritidae. It mostly feeds on different crops, vegetables and fruits. Different traditional chemical insecticides have been used to control this notorious pest. Excessive consumption of pesticides has become a major threat to the fresh fruits trade since many importing countries refused to accept the shipments due to public health and environmental concerns. There is a growing trend to control these pests using the most effective biological control methods and other preventive measures have been adopted for reducing their attacks. Fungal agents have been used as biological agents to manage the attack of different insects pest through biological means. The present study was conducted to assess the virulence of three entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Verticillium lecanii, against Bactrocera zonata stages under different laboratory conditions. The results showed that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae were more effective in pathogenicity and potentially kill at all stages of B. zonata as compared to V. lecanii. The highest mortality rate for the third larval instar and the pupal stage were recorded after exposure to the 1 × 1010 conidia/ml concentrations, B. bassiana, with 68.67% and 89.67%, respectively. Adult B. zonata flies were the most susceptible to all entomopathogenic fungi. However, M. anisopliae was more virulent against B. zonata adult flies than B. bassiana and V. lecanii at 1 × 1010 conidial concentration. Therefore, the entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana and M. anisopliae can be used as an cost effective bio-insecticide in the integrated pest management programs to control B. zonata. This study will be helpful to overcome this pest through biological control means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Circulatory microRNAs (miRNAs) have the potential to be employed as markers for cancer detection and as prognostic tools for disease management. As a result, our goal was to explore the effectiveness of serum miRNA-96-5p and miRNA-99a-5p as diagnostic tools in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients and methods: Blood samples were collected from 55 patients with HCV-induced HCC, 55 patients with HCV-induced liver cirrhosis, and 55 healthy controls. The expression levels of miRNA-96-5p and miRNA-99a-5p were measured using quantitative RT-PCR. Results: miRNA-96-5p expression levels were increased in HCC patient sera, while miRNA-99a-5p levels were reduced. According to ROC curve analysis, using a combination of circulating miRNA-96-5p, miRNA-99a-5-, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) improves the accuracy of diagnoses for HCC, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.97, compared to AUCs of 0.82, 0.86, and 0.73, respectively, for the individual biomarkers. Furthermore, the present data suggested that higher serum miRNA-96-5p levels were linked to larger tumors and metastasis, whereas lower serum miRNA-99a-5p levels were exclusively linked to HCC metastasis. Conclusion: Using miRNA-96-5p and miRNA-99a-5p in combination with AFP increased both sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of HCC. Furthermore, serum levels were linked to tumor size and metastasis. These findings suggested that serum miRNA-96-5p and miRNA-99a-5p could be used as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin correlation coefficients in elastic scattering of leptons on the deuteron are studied in the one-photon-exchange Born approximation within the limit of zero lepton mass. Numerical estimations for the spin correlation coefficients caused by a polarized beam and a vector polarized target are presented and analyzed at various beam energies and scattering angles in two coordinate systems which are relevant for experiment. The influence of the obtained results on the nucleon structure is investigated, and a considerable dependence at incident beam energies greater than 1 fm − 1 and backward scattering angles is found. The estimated results are of particular interest for encouragement of experimental measurements of lepton-deuteron scattering which aim for accurate calculation of the charge radius of the proton to a high degree of precision. These results may also stimulate new generation of measurements of different physical observables very sensitive to the spin structure of the nucleon and light nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current communication is designed by keeping in the mind high heat transfer capabilities of nanoliquids with the dispersion of diversified-natured nanoparticles in poorly conducting base liquids. Here, an amalgamation of metallic (Cu) and hybridization of metallic and non-metallic oxide (Cu-TiO2) nanoparticles to uplift thermophysical attributes of water is deliberated. The magnetically affected flow between rotating disks under the impact and permeability aspect is assumed. Empirical relations for effective dynamic viscosity, density, and heat capacitance to show mesmerizing features of obliged nanoparticles are also expressed. In addition, mathematical relations also depend on morphological factors like shape, size, and diameter of inducted nanoparticles. The mathematical formulation of the problem is conceded in the form of a system of ODEs after using similarity transformation on dimensional PDEs. Simulations of the complex coupled differential structure are solved by using a numerical approach by employing shooting and Runge–Kutta procedures jointly. The impact of flow concerning variables on associated distributions is revealed through tabular and graphical manner. Quantities of engineering interest associated with work like wall friction and thermal flux coefficients at walls of the disk are also calculated. It is deduced from an examination that the addition of metallic particles raises heat transfer more than non-metallic particles. A significant impression of magnetic field on shear stress is executed by hybrid nanoparticles along the surface of disks. In addition, elevation in Nusselt number and depreciation in skin friction coefficient is revealed against increasing magnitude of nanoparticle volume fraction. A positive trend in skin friction coefficient is manifested against the increasing magnitude of Reynold number. It is also observed that by increasing the size and shape of hybrid nanoparticles thermal conductivity and viscosity of the base fluid increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MHD Natural convection, which is one of the principal types of convective heat transfer in numerous research of heat exchangers and geothermal energy systems, as well as nanofluids and hybrid nanofluids. This work focuses on the investigation of Natural convective heat transfer evaluation inside a porous triangular cavity filled with silver-magnesium oxide/water hybrid nanofluid [H2O/Ag-MgO]hnf under a consistent magnetic field. The laminar and incompressible nanofluid flow is taken to account while Darcy–Forchheimer model takes account of the advection inertia effect in the porous sheet. Controlled equations of the work have been approached nondimensional and resolved by Galerkin finite element technique. The numerical analyses were carried out by varying the Darcy, Hartmann, and Rayleigh numbers, porosity, and characteristics of solid volume fraction and flow fields. Further, the findings are reported in streamlines, isotherms and Nusselt numbers. For this work, the parametric impact may be categorized into two groups. One of them has an effect on the structural factors such as triangular form and scale on the physical characteristics of the important outputs such as fluidity and thermal transfer rates. The significant findings are the parameters like Rayleigh and slightly supported by Hartmann along with Darcy number, minimally assists by solid-particle size and rotating factor as clockwise assists the cooler flow at the center and anticlockwise direction assists the warmer flow. Clear raise in heat transporting rate can be obtained for increasing solid-particle size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Sudan. The p16 protein plays a vital role in the regulation of the cell cycle. Patients and Methods: This study analysed the protein expression of p16 in 202 paraffin blocks from Sudanese women with breast cancer using immunohistochemistry. Results: This study included 168 (83.2%), 16 (7.9%), and 18 (8.9%) patients with invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, and papillary carcinoma, respectively. There were 95 cases (47.0%) with grade III, 70 cases (34.6%) with grade II, and 23 cases (11.4%) with grade I breast cancer. The hormone receptor status was available for 119 of the cases, and 31 (15.3%), 25 (12.4%), and 63 (31.2%) cases were positive for oestrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, respectively. Conclusion: p16 protein expression was associated with high histologic grade, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis. p16 protein expression may potentially be used as a prognostic marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel quinazoline derivatives have been designed, synthesized and tested for cytotoxic activity against HCT116, and MCF-7 cell lines. The preliminary data indicate their promising antitumor potential. Enzyme inhibitory activity of the most active product against VEGFR-2 has been assessed. Apoptosis and cell cycle arrest during the G2/M phase has been triggered by the product, and according to the gene expression data, it increases BAX and caspase-3 expression while decreasing Bcl-2 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, spent bleaching clay (SBC) was treated with ethyl acetate and impregnation with 3-amino-5-hydroxypyrazole (AHIBC) that utilized as economical sorbent material. The uptake of yttrium ions from aqueous solution using AHIBC was studied under batch process as a function of pH of the solution, contact time, adsorbent dosage, Yttrium ions concentration, and ambient temperature. The adsorption equilibrium was achieved at the value of pH = 6.0 and agitation time of 60 min at room temperature. The utmost adsorption capacity of Y(III) ions on AHIBC was 171.32 mg·g−1. Kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic models were applied to the experimental data obtained. Adsorption follows a pseudo–second–order kinetic model, while the adsorption isotherm fits the Langmuir model. A negative value of Gibbs free energy ΔG° revealed that the adsorption of the Y ions on the AHIBC adsorbent was spontaneously in nature. In addition, the electrostatic interaction process between the metal ions and AHIBC was favorable. The negative value of ΔH° states that Y ions adsorption was an exothermic process. Desorption efficiency reduced from 97% to 80% after eight consecutive rounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of lab-scale experiments were designed and conducted to remedy Direct Blue 15 (DB15) dye using nontoxic halloysite nanotubes (HNT) with the view to be utilized in a textile industrial effluent (TIE). The DB15 adsorbed-HNT "sludge" was used as a reinforcing agent and plastic waste to fabricate the composite. To advance the knowledge and further understand the chemical phenomena associated with DB15 adsorption on HNT, different factors like pH value, adsorbate initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, and temperature on the composite were affected experimentally tested. To estimate the adsorption capacity of HNT, nine isotherm models were applied, and it was identified that the Brouers–Sotolongo adsorption isotherm model represented the best accuracy for predicting the adsorption behavior of the HNT. Likewise, the pseudo-second-order reaction was the predominant mechanism for the overall rate of the multi-step dye adsorption process. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the mass transfer during the process is diffusion-controlled, and thermodynamic assessments showed that the process is physisorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first-ever use of halloysite nanotube (HNT), a relatively low-cost nanomaterial abundantly available with minor toxicity for removing brilliant green dye from aqueous media, is reported. The factors affecting adsorption were studied by assessing the adsorption capacity, kinetics, and equilibrium thermodynamic properties. All the experiments were designed at a pH level of around 7. The Redlich-Peterson isotherm model fits best amongst the nine isotherm models studied. The kinetic studies data confirmed a pseudo model of the second order. Robotic investigations propose a rate-controlling advance being overwhelmed by intraparticle dispersion. The adsorbent features were interpreted using infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Process optimization was carried out using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) through a dual section Fractional Factorial Experimental Design to contemplate the impact of boundaries on the course of adsorption. The examination of fluctuation (ANOVA) was utilized to consider the joined impact of the boundaries. The possibilities of the use of dye adsorbing HNT ("sludge") for the fabrication of the composites using plastic waste are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In the placebo-controlled, double-blind BOne marrOw transfer to enhance ST-elevation infarct regeneration (BOOST) 2 trial, intracoronary autologous bone marrow cell (BMC) transfer did not improve recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 6 months in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and moderately reduced LVEF. Regional myocardial perfusion as determined by adenosine stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (S-CMR) may be more sensitive than global LVEF in detecting BMC treatment effects. Here, we sought to evaluate (i) the changes of myocardial perfusion in the infarct area over time (ii) the effects of BMC therapy on infarct perfusion, and (iii) the relation of infarct perfusion to LVEF recovery at 6 months. Methods and results: In 51 patients from BOOST-2 (placebo, n = 10; BMC, n = 41), S-CMR was performed 5.1 ± 2.9 days after PCI (before placebo/BMC treatment) and after 6 months. Infarct perfusion improved from baseline to 6 months in the overall patient cohort as reflected by the semi-quantitative parameters, perfusion defect–infarct size ratio (change from 0.54 ± 0.20 to 0.43 ± 0.22; P = 0.006) and perfusion defect–upslope ratio (0.54 ± 0.23 to 0.68 ± 0.22; P < 0.001), irrespective of randomised treatment. Perfusion defect–upslope ratio at baseline correlated with LVEF recovery (r = 0.62; P < 0.001) after 6 months, with a threshold of 0.54 providing the best sensitivity (79%) and specificity (74%) (area under the curve, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.67–0.92). Conclusion: Infarct perfusion improves from baseline to 6 months and predicts LVEF recovery in STEMI patients undergoing early PCI. Intracoronary BMC therapy did not enhance infarct perfusion in the BOOST-2 trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-week feeding trial was performed to test the effects of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on growth and some gene expression of hepatic lipid metabolism in channel catfish (initial body weight, 3.5 ± 0.02 g) fed high-fat diets. Fish were fed the control diet, high-fat diet (HFD), and HFD supplemented with 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 mg/kg GA in 15 tanks at a stocking density of 21 fish/tank. Fish fed HFD were significantly lower in body weight gain and specific growth rate but higher in feed intake and feed conversion ratio in comparison to the control. Supplement of GA at 1.2 mg/kg remarkably improved these parameters as compared to the control diet. High levels of cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in plasma were observed in fish fed HFD; the opposite was observed for fish fed HFD supplemented with GA. The transcription of fatty acid synthase (FAS), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP1), liver X receptor alpha (LXRα), and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) was upregulated, while that of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha (PPARα), acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP) mRNA expression were downregulated in fish fed HFD. The opposite was observed in fish fed HFD supplemented with GA as well as the control group. In conclusion, supplementing the HFD with GA at 1.2 mg/kg could improve the growth performance and lipid metabolism of channel catfish consuming HFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elastic scattering of 16O+40Ca system at the incident energy 214 MeV has been analyzed within the optical model (OM) potential using the phenomenological Woods-Saxon (WS) and the real optical potentials calculated in two different versions of the folded model based upon the α-α effective interaction and CDM3Y6 effective nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction. The new cluster Fermi three-parameter (3PFC) density distribution has been extracted to calculate the DFC1 potential. The Airy oscillation observed recently in the elastic 16O+40Ca system at Elab = 214 MeV is well reproduced by using the DFC1 potential without renormalization factor. The observed minimum around θ ≈ 46° in the angular distribution with DFC1 approach was shown to be an Airy minimum, probably of the third order (A3), which is in agreement with the previous study. The predicted volume integrals and total reaction cross section are consistent with the previous analyses. This reflects the success of our DFC1 potential to reproduce a nice description of the Airy structure for HI elastic scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Success in eradication of Helicobacter pylori is declining globally because H. pylori has developed resistance against most of the antibiotics proposed for eradication regimens, mainly through point mutations. The present study included 200 patients with dyspepsia attending Taif Hospital. Gastric biopsies were obtained during gastroscopy and subjected to rapid urease testing. Molecular methods were used to confirm diagnoses of H. pylori infection and to identify resistance gene variants of four antibiotics; namely, clarithromycin, metronidazole, fluoroquinolones and tetracycline (23S rRNA, gyrA, rdxA and 16S rRNA respectively). Of all investigated patients, Molecular diagnoses were made in 143 of all investigated patients; thus, the prevalence was.5%. The overall rate of resistance to clarithromycin among the H. pylori‐positive patients was high (39.9%) and the rate of resistance significantly greater (48.2%) among the secondary resistance group, secondary resistance being defined as resistance as a result of previous exposure to the relevant antibiotic. The rate of resistance to fluoroquinolones was considered moderate; the difference in rate of resistance between the primary and secondary resistance groups (8.4% and 9.5%, respectively) was not significant Also, there was a low prevalence of both primary and the secondary tetracycline resistance in the study cohort. In contrast, the prevalence of metronidazole resistance was considered high with no significant difference between the two resistance groups. H. pylori showed an increased prevalence of resistance to all four of the commonly used therapeutic agents. Thus, eradication therapy should be based on the regional results of susceptibility testing. Moreover, treatment tailored according to individually determined H. pylori susceptibility may be a reasonable future goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the recent measurements from the VEPP-3 electron storage ring, we investigate the tensor target polarization asymmetries T2M (M = 0, 1, 2) in the reaction γd → π0d with a particular interest in the effect of the intermediate ηNN three-body approach. This approach is based on realistic separable representations of the driving two-body interaction in the πN, ηN, and NN subsystems. It is shown that the influence of rescattering effects in the intermediate state on the tensor target spin asymmetries is sizable at extreme backward pion angles. At forward angles, the contribution from the pure impulse approximation is dominated and the spin asymmetries show very little influence of rescattering effects. The sensitivity of results to the elementary pion photoproduction operator and to the NN potential model adopted for the deuteron wave function is investigated, and considerable dependences are found. The predicted spin asymmetries are also compared with available experimental data, and a satisfactory agreement with the recent data from VEPP-3 is obtained at photon energies below 400 MeV. At higher energies, the calculated spin asymmetries slightly underestimate the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adenosine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can detect significant coronary artery stenoses with high diagnostic accuracy. Caffeine is a nonselective competitive inhibitor of adenosine2A-receptors, which might hamper the vasodilator effect of adenosine stress, potentially yielding false-negative results. Much controversy exists about the influence of caffeine on adenosine myocardial perfusion imaging. Our study sought to investigate the effects of caffeine on ischemia detection in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing adenosine stress CMR. Methods: Thirty patients with evidence of myocardial ischemia on caffeine-naïve adenosine stress CMR were prospectively enrolled and underwent repeat adenosine stress CMR after intake of 200 mg caffeine. Both CMR exams were then compared for evaluation of ischemic burden. Results: Despite intake of caffeine, no conversion of a positive to a negative stress study occurred on a per patient basis. Although we found significant lower ischemic burden in CMR exams with caffeine compared to caffeine-naïve CMR exams, absolute differences varied only slightly (1 segment based on a 16-segment model, 3 segments on a 60-segment model, and 1 ml in total ischemic myocardial volume, p < 0.001 each). Moreover, no relevant ischemia (≥2 segments in a 16-segment model) was missed by prior ingestion of caffeine. Conclusions: Although differences were small and no relevant myocardial ischemia had been missed, prior consumption of caffeine led to significant reduction of ischemic burden, and might lower the high diagnostic and prognostic value of adenosine stress CMR. Therefore, we suggest that patients should still refrain from caffeine prior adenosine stress CMR tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]