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Background This study aimed to compare the perceived masticatory ability (PrMA) in completely edentulous patients (EDPs) with thermoplastic conventional complete dentures (CDs) versus single implant-retained mandibular overdentures. Methods The current study was conducted in the outpatient Prosthodontic Clinic, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. PrMA was evaluated in 45 completely edentulous patients (46% males, mean age 50.4 ± 4.7 years). Each patient received a thermoplastic PMMA complete denture (Polyan IC TM Bredent GmbH & Co.KG, Germany). The PrMA was evaluated at one-month and six-month intervals of denture use. An immediate loading single implant was placed into the mid-symphyseal for each patient, and the denture was adjusted. Subsequently, the PrMA was reevaluated after one month and six months. The data were collected and statistically analyzed using the SPSS@V25 to assess the changes in PrMA. Results The PrMA demonstrated improvement after six months of thermoplastic conventional denture use. However, this improvement was not statistically significant (p = 0.405). In addition, the PrMA showed a substantial increase following a single implant placement at one and six months (p

The design of university buildings plays a critical role in users' productivity, health, and behavior. The design should incorporate end users' and architects' perceptions to prevent decreased satisfaction, productivity, and health issues. Meeting user needs and preferences is essential for creating functional buildings that cater to their requirements. However, user needs change over time, and research does not clearly define user-centered requirements in the design of university buildings. This study addresses the unclear definition of user-centered design requirements for university buildings, essential for ensuring spaces effectively meet evolving user needs. Aiming to identify these requirements and the challenges of integrating them into architectural design, two parts of the survey were conducted with 59 participants, including end-users from 11 academic institutions and architects in Egypt. The survey revealed a consensus on the importance of aesthetics, functionality, and indoor environmental quality. From the results, a satisfaction model for university buildings was developed, highlighting design attributes valued by users and architects alike. This model facilitates overcoming design challenges, thereby proposing a path towards creating functional, user-satisfying university spaces. This study's findings underscore the necessity of merging architectural practices with dynamic user expectations, contributing to the discourse on user-centered design in educational environments.

Universities are large institutions that consume significant amounts of energy and water, produce waste and greenhouse gases, and significantly impact the surrounding environment, making evaluating and improving universities' sustainability crucial. Egypt has its building sustainability rating tool called the Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS), which is not specifically customized for university buildings. Hence, this study aims to develop a customized weighting system based on the green pyramid rating system to assess the sustainability of university buildings by involving stakeholders. A comprehensive questionnaire was developed and distributed to a targeted sample of experts and university building stakeholders, including architects, engineers, project managers, consultants, contractors, decision-makers, policymakers, operation managers, facility managers, and senior students majoring in architecture, construction, and sustainable engineering. The data collected was analyzed using statistical analysis and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assign weights to each category and criterion. The results highlighted that the respondents prioritize Energy Efficiency (EE) with a weight of 21%, followed by Water Efficiency (WE) at 19%. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and Sustainable Sites (SS) are given equal priority with a weight of 17% each. Materials and Resources (MR) receive a weight of 14%, and Management Protocols (MP) have the lowest weight of 12%. Hence, prioritizing these aspects can significantly enhance university buildings' energy efficiency and overall sustainability.

Abstract The debate about which surgical technique for tonsillectomy could be superior over another is continuous. Tonsillectomy techniques are classified into cold and hot procedures. In cold techniques, no heat is used; they include dissection, guillotine, microdebrider, harmonic scalpel, and cryosurgery. Hot techniques include electrocautery, coblation, radio frequency, and laser. In Egypt, the used methods are cold dissection, electrocautery, cold dissection with electrocautery hemostasis, coblation, and less commonly laser. In this study, we described the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. Hot techniques have shorter operative time and less intraoperative bleeding, while cold dissection technique has less postoperative pain and less postoperative complications especially secondary hemorrhage, with more rapid wound healing. However, coblation technique may have less pain in the first few hours postoperatively relative to cold technique. Electrocautery technique is the most painful method with delayed wound healing. Laser technique is nearly equivalent to electrocautery with slightly less pain. Cold dissection technique is less costly when compared to other techniques. Family satisfaction after tonsillectomy is dependent mainly on less postoperative pain and rapid recovery. Cold dissection is still considered the gold standard technique. Caution should be taken on using hot techniques especially when used for dissection, and the trainee surgeons should become familiar with cold dissection before shifting to other tonsillectomy techniques. From this study, we can say that hot techniques should not be used except after mastering the cold dissection tonsillectomy; also, the new advanced techniques can be reserved for high-risk patients such as having bleeding disorders.

Key Clinical Message Although ligating femoral pseudoaneurysm is a safe procedure, some cases require revascularization, and the appropriate treatment should be tailored to the patient. Abstract In this case report, we highlight the challenge in treating infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm. The patient, a 37‐year‐old male intravenous drug abuser, presented to the emergency department with a 2‐month history of a progressively growing lump over his right groin. Two days before the presentation the swelling became hot and painful. After physical examination, it was revealed that the localized swelling is about 15 × 15 cm in size. It is pulsating, expanding in all directions, moving from side to side, and has been reduced in size due to proximal artery compression with the inflamed overlying skin causing slight flexion of the right hip joint and there was serosanguineous discharge as well. The affected leg was warm with intact motor and sensory function, palpable femoral, and popliteal arterial pulses, but non‐palpable left posterior tibial and anterior tibial arterial pulses, both of which had triphasic wave signals on a portable hand‐held Doppler (there was below knee marked edema). CT angiography (CTA) revealed a large well‐defined heterogeneous cystic structure at the right groin with an average diameter of 11 × 10 × 9 cm, with a connection with the common femoral artery. After proximal and distal control, excision of the infected femoral pseudoaneurysm, a swab was taken, and ligation of the common femoral artery superficial femoral artery, and profunda femoral artery. No signals were detected on the posterior or anterior tibial arteries by hand‐held Doppler and oxygen saturation on the big toe was markedly decreased, so we did an extra‐anatomic lateral ilio‐femoral anastomosis using silver‐impregnated vascular graft.

The ever-evolving Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 and its sub-lineages have prompted Saudi Arabia to continuously track circulating lineages. We focused on the presence of diverse SARS-CoV-2 circulation in Saudi Arabia and presented the whole genome sequencing study of 94 positive SARS-CoV-2 specimens procured between February and April 2022 in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Following whole-genome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis was undertaken. The SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron clades 21K and 21L constituted the entirety of sequenced specimens, belonging to BA.2 (n = 56) and BA.1.1 (n = 20), respectively, and low-frequency sub-lineages were BA.2.3 (n = 6), BA.1 (n = 4), BA.2.40.1 (n = 2), BA.1.14 (n = 1), BA.2.10 (n = 1), BA2.32 (n = 1), BA.2.57 (n = 1), BA2.64 (n = 1), and BA2.5 (n = 1). Mutational patterns were identified, as well as possible consequences for the spread of the virus. Comparative molecular docking of Omicron-specific Nucleocapsid protein harboring the mutations P13L, R203K, G204R, as well as S413R, and the deletions E31-, R32-, and S33- showed reduced interaction with human RIG-I protein with 8 interacting amino acid residues and 10 polar interactions, while the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein exhibited 15 interacting amino acid residues and 26 polar interactions. Ongoing monitoring is essential for assessing the genomic epidemiological consequences of tourist travel and pilgrimage in Jeddah and across Saudi Arabia, as well as the prompt identification of emerging variants for further investigation.

Abstract Background As systematically developed statements regarding possible courses of action, health system guidance (HSG) can assist with making decisions about addressing problems or achieving goals in health systems. However, there are conceptual and methodological challenges in HSG implementation due to the complexity of health-system policy-making, the diversity of available evidence and vast differences in contexts. To address these gaps, we aim to develop a theoretical framework for supporting HSG implementation as part of a broader effort to promote evidence-informed policy-making in health systems. Methods To develop a theoretical framework about facilitators, barriers and strategies for HSG implementation, we will apply a critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) approach to synthesize the findings from a range of relevant literature. We will search 11 electronic databases and seven organizational websites to identify relevant published and grey literature. We will check the references of included studies and contact experts to identify additional eligible papers. Finally, we will conduct purposively sampling of the literature to fill any identified conceptual gaps. We will use relevance and five quality criteria to assess included papers. A standardized form will be developed for extracting information. We will use an interpretive analytic approach to synthesize the findings, including a constant comparative method throughout the analysis. Two independent reviewers will conduct the literature screening and relevance assessment, and disagreements will be resolved through discussion. The principal investigator will conduct data extraction and synthesis, and a second reviewer will check the sample of extracted data for consistency and accuracy. Discussion A new theoretical framework about facilitators, barriers and strategies for HSG implementation will be developed using a CIS approach. The HSG implementation framework could be widely used for supporting the implementation of HSG covering varied topics and in different contexts (including low-, middle- and high-income countries). In later work, we will develop a tool for supporting HSG implementation based on the theoretical framework. Registration PROSPERO CRD42020214072. Date of Registration: 14 December 2020.

Users and buildings guarantee the sustainability of any built environment. Thus, monitoring user satisfaction is as important as monitoring energy consumption. The traditional method of user satisfaction assessment costs a lot of money, effort, and time, which are barriers to its frequent occurrence. The objective of this research is to take advantage of smart initiatives to develop a user satisfaction assessment model that evaluates user satisfaction simply and continuously. The model investigates the ability of the time parameter to monitor user satisfaction and building performance. The study examines the correlation between time and overall satisfaction in three government buildings, through a mixed quantitative and qualitative method using questionnaires and walkthrough. It was found that time spent in the building significantly contributes to user satisfaction (ρ = 0.473, and ρ = 0.521) for total and waiting time respectively. The proposed model overcomes the constrains of the previous methods and predicts user satisfaction with 60 % accuracy.

Abstract Mucormycosis is a life-threatening opportunistic angioinvasive fungal infection. We aimed to describe the frequency, presentations, predictors, and in-hospital outcome of mucormycosis patients in the scope of CoronaVirusDisease-19 (COVID-19) during the third viral pandemic wave. This cross-sectional retrospective study included all patients who fulfilled the criteria of mucormycosis with concurrent confirmed covid19 infection admitted to Assuit University Hospital between March 2021 and July 2021. Overall, 433 patients with definite covid-19 infection, of which 33 (7.63%) participants were infected with mucormycosis. Mucormycosis was predominantly seen in males (21 vs. 12; p = 0.01). Diabetes mellitus (35% vs. 63.6%; p

Abstract Background Scientific studies require a well-prepared cascade of steps starting from the idea and formulating a research question passing through collecting data and analysis of the results to proper writing a good article and publication. The methodology section is the core of any scientific article. Main body Study designs in otolaryngology can be classified as “observational studies,” “experimental (interventional) studies,” and “meta-analysis—systematic review.” There may be a huge range in quality between kinds of studies. To standardize the method of reporting the quality of studies and include all important aspects in the evaluation process, a team of scientists created the reporting guidelines checklists. Conclusions In this article, we give a comprehensive review that can help authors to understand study designs in otolaryngology along with the appropriate reporting guidelines used in each study.

Background & Aims: Elimination of chronic HBV/HDV infection remains a major global health challenge. Targeting excessive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) release may provide an interesting window of opportunity to break immune tolerance and to achieve a functional cure using additional antivirals. Methods: We evaluated a HBsAg-specific human monoclonal antibody, as part of either a prophylactic or therapeutic strategy, against HBV/HDV infection in cell culture models and in human-liver chimeric mice. To assess prophylactic efficacy, mice were passively immunized prior to infection with HBV or HBV/HDV (coinfection and superinfection setting). Therapeutic efficacy was assessed in HBV and HBV/HDV-coinfected mice receiving 4 weeks of treatment. Viral parameters (HBV DNA, HDV RNA and HBsAg) were assessed in mouse plasma. Results: The antibody could effectively prevent HBV/HDV infection in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of ∼3.5 ng/ml. Passive immunization showed complete protection of mice from both HBV and HBV/HDV coinfection. Moreover, HDV superinfection was either completely prevented or at least attenuated in HBV-infected mice. Finally, antibody treatment in mice with established HBV/HDV infection resulted in a significant decline in viremia and a concomitant drop in on-treatment HBsAg, with a moderate viral rebound following treatment cessation. Conclusion: We present data on a valuable antibody candidate that could complement other antivirals in strategies aimed at achieving functional cure of chronic HBV and HDV infection. Impact and implications: Patients chronically infected with HBV may eventually develop liver cancer and are at great risk of being superinfected with HDV, which worsens and accelerates disease progression. Unfortunately, current treatments can rarely eliminate both viruses from chronically infected patients. In this study, we present data on a novel antibody that is able to prevent chronic HBV/HDV infection in a mouse model with a humanized liver. Moreover, antibody treatment of HBV/HDV-infected mice strongly diminishes viral loads during therapy. This antibody is a valuable candidate for further clinical development.

Impaired renal functions have been reported with Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections, especially with genotypes 3 and 4. These complications were reported during the acute and chronic phases of infection. HEV genotype 1 causes acute infection, and the effect of HEV-1 infections on renal functions is not known. We examined the kidney function parameters in the serum of HEV-1 patients (AHE, n = 31) during the acute phase of infection. All of the included patients developed an acute self-limiting course of infection, without progression to fulminant hepatic failure. We compared the demographic, laboratory, and clinical data between AHE patients with normal kidney function parameters and those with abnormal renal parameters. Out of 31 AHE patients, 5 (16%) had abnormal kidney function tests (KFTs) during the acute phase of infection. Three patients had abnormal serum urea and creatinine, and two patients had either abnormal urea or creatinine. Four out of five patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. AHE patients with abnormal KFTs were older and had a lower level of albumin, but a slightly elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) compared to AHE patients with normal KFTs. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, sex, liver transaminase levels, and the viral load. Similarly, the clinical presentations were comparable in both groups. Interestingly, these KFTs in patients with abnormal renal parameters returned to normal levels at the recovery. The serum creatinine level was not correlated with patients’ age or liver transaminase levels, but it was significantly negatively correlated with albumin level. In conclusion, this study is the first report that evaluated KFTs in patients during the acute phase of HEV-1 infections. Impaired KFTs in some AHE patients resolved at convalescence. KFTs and renal complications should be monitored during HEV-1 infections.

Melatonin, an antioxidant hormone secreted by the pineal gland, has been recognized as a regulator for numerous biological events. The deleterious effects of juglone, a polyphenolic extract of walnut trees, on embryo development has been previously reported. In the current study, we aimed to display the impact of melatonin administrated during in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) on juglone-treated oocytes. Thus, in vitro matured oocytes were collected after 24 h post incubation with juglone in the presence or absence of melatonin. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) content, mitochondrial distribution, and the relative abundance of mRNA transcription levels were assessed in oocytes, in addition, oocytes were in vitro fertilized to check the competency levels of oocytes to generate embryos. We found that administration of melatonin during the maturation of oocytes under juglone stress significantly improved the cleavage rate, 8-16 cell-stage embryos and day-8 blastocysts when compared to the sole juglone treatment. In addition, the fluorescence intensity of ROS increased, whereas the GSH decreased in juglone-treated oocytes compared to melatonin–juglone co-treated and untreated ones. Additionally, a significant increase in the mitochondrial aberrant pattern, the pattern that was normalized following melatonin supplementation, was observed following juglone administration. The mRNA analysis using RT-qPCR revealed a significant upregulation of autophagy and oxidative-stress-specific markers in the juglone-treated group compared to the co-treatment and control. In conclusion, the study reveals, for the first time, a protective effect of melatonin against the oxidative stress initiated following juglone treatment during the in vitro maturation of oocytes.

We have previously reported that juglone, a natural compound found in Juglandaceae with a wide range of biological activities, can reduces the developmental competence of bovine oocytes. In the current study, we investigated the possible mechanisms behind the toxicity of juglone and the relationship with PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling during the in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes. Results show that oocyte exposure to juglone was associated with a significant decrease in filamentous actin (F-actin) accumulation. The RT-qPCR showed downregulation of the meiosis progression indicator GSK-3A, oocyte development marker BMP15, mitochondria fusion controlling MFN1, oxidative stress-related OGG1, and histone methylation-related EZH1, EZH2, SUZ12, G9a, and SUV39H2 genes in juglone-treated oocytes. In addition, glycolysis- (PFK1 and GLUT1), ATP synthesis- (ATPase8 and ATP5F1B), and OXPHOS-specific markers (SDHA and SDHD), as well as the oocyte survival regulators (SOD2, VEGF, and MAPK1) significantly decreased upon juglone treatment. Moreover, lower expression of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR was observed at the transcriptional and/or translational level(s). The autophagy markers LC3B and beclin-1 as well as the DNA damage-specific marker 8-OxoG displayed overexpression in juglone-exposed oocytes. Taken together, our results show that administration of juglone during the IVM can reduce the quality and developmental health of bovine oocytes through downregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its downstream signaling cascades.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently alerted the emergence of new pathogens causing acute hepatitis in children across several countries. This new situation directs us to the screening of neglected pathogens that cause acute hepatitis. Q-fever is a zoonotic disease, caused by Coxiella burnetii. Although a high seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii was recorded in animals present in Egypt, Q-fever is still a neglected disease, and the diagnosis of Q-fever is not routinely performed in Egyptian hospitals. In this study, we performed a retrospective assessment for Coxiella burnetii in cases of hepatitis of unknown causes (HUC) enrolled in Assiut University hospitals, in Egypt. Out of 64 samples of HUC, 54 samples were negative for all hepatitis markers, labeled as acute hepatitis of unknown etiology (AHUE), and 10 samples tested positive for adenovirus and Hepatitis E virus (HEV). Q-fever was detected in 3 out of 54 (5.6%) of AHUE, and one sample was confirmed as coinfection of HEV/Q-fever. Jaundice was the most common clinical symptom developed in the patients. In conclusion, Coxiella burnetii was found to be a potential cause of acute hepatitis in HUC. The diagnosis of Q-fever should be considered in acute hepatitis cases in Egyptian hospitals.

Saussurea costus is a medicinal plant with different bioactive compounds that have an essential role in biomedicine applications, especially in Arab nations. However, traditional extraction methods for oils can lead to the loss of some volatile and non-volatile oils. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of oils from S. costus at pressures (10, 20, and 48 MPa). The results were investigated by GC/MS analysis. MTT, DPPH, and agar diffusion methods assessed the extracted oils’ anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial action. GC/MS results showed that elevated pressure from 10 to 20 and 48 MPa led to the loss of some valuable compounds. In addition, the best IC50 values were recorded at 10 MPa on HCT, MCF-7, and HepG-2 cells at about 0.44, 0.46, and 0.74 μg/mL, respectively. In contrast, at 20 MPa, the IC50 values were about 2.33, 6.59, and 19.0 μg/mL, respectively, on HCT, MCF-7, and HepG-2 cells, followed by 48 MPa, about 36.02, 59.5, and 96.9 μg/mL. The oil extract at a pressure of 10 MPa contained much more of á-elemene, dihydro-à-ionone, patchoulene, á-maaliene, à-selinene, (-)-spathulenol, cedran-diol, 8S,13, elemol, eremanthin, á-guaiene, eudesmol, ç-gurjunenepoxide-(2), iso-velleral, and propanedioic acid and had a higher antioxidant activity (IC50 14.4 μg/mL) more than the oil extract at 20 and 48 MPa. In addition, the inhibitory activity of all extracts was higher than gentamicin against all tested bacteria. One of the more significant findings from this study is low pressure in SFE enhancement, the extraction of oils from S. costus, for the first time. As a result, the SFE is regarded as a good extraction technique since it is both quick and ecologically friendly. Furthermore, SFE at 10 MPa increased the production and quality of oils, with high antioxidant activity and a positive effect on cancer cells and pathogens.

Major depression disorder (MDD) has become a common life-threatening disorder. Despite the number of studies and the introduced antidepressants, MDD remains a major global health issue. Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) is traditionally used for food and medical purposes. This study investigated the chemical profile and the antidepressant-like effect of the Carthamus tincto-rius hot water extract in male mice and its mechanism using a transcriptomic analysis. The antidepressant effect of hot water extract (50 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg) was investigated in mice versus the untreated group (saline) and positive control group (fluoxetine 10 mg/kg). Hippocampus transcriptome changes were investigated to understand the Carthamus tinctorius mechanism of action. The GC-MS analysis of Carthamus tinctorius showed that hot water extract yielded the highest amount of oleamide as the most active ingredient. Neuro-behavioral tests demonstrated that the safflower treatment significantly reduced immobility time in TST and FST and improved performance in the YMSAT compared to the control group. RNA-seq analysis revealed a significant differential gene expression pattern in several genes such as Ube2j2, Ncor1, Tuba1c, Grik1, Msmo1, and Casp9 related to MDD regulation in 50 mg/kg safflower treatment as compared to untreated and fluoxetine-treated groups. Our findings demonstrated the antidepressant-like effect of safflower hot water extract and its bioactive ingredient oleamide on mice, validated by a significantly shortened immobility time in TST and FST and an increase in the percentage of spontaneous alternation.

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAn) have been produced as biomaterial from biowaste, especially snail shells (Atactodea glabrata). It is critical to recycle the waste product in a biomedical application to overcome antibiotic resistance as well as biocompatibility with normal tissues. Moreover, EDX, TEM, and FT-IR analyses have been used to characterize snail shells and HAn. The particle size of HAn is about 15.22 nm. Furthermore, higher inhibitory activity was observed from HAn than the reference compounds against all tested organisms. The synthesized HAn has shown the lowest MIC values of about 7.8, 0.97, 3.9, 0.97, and 25 µg/mL for S. aureus, B. subtilis, K. pneumonia, C. albicans, and E. coli, respectively. In addition, the HAn displayed potent antibiofilm against S. aureus and B. subtilis. According to the MTT, snail shell and HAn had a minor influence on the viability of HFS-4 cells. Consequently, it could be concluded that some components of waste, such as snail shells, have economic value and can be recycled as a source of CaO to produce HAn, which is a promising candidate material for biomedical applications.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) through the femoral artery and vein can lead to significant vascular complications. We retrospectively studied the acute vascular complications of Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID patients during the period from January 2020 to July 2023. Results: Seventy-eight patients underwent VA-ECMO for various indications from January 2020 to July 2023. The studied patients had a mean age of 59.6 ± 6.9 years for non-COVID patients (38 patients), and 62.2 ± 7.6 years for COVID patients (40 patients), with a P = 0.268. In non-COVID patients, The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. The primary indications for ECMO were cardiac diseases, followed by respiratory failure (78.9% vs 10.5%). Conversely, in COVID patients, respiratory failure due to COVID-19 infection was the main indication (45% vs 40%). The overall incidence of general complications, including cerebrovascular stroke, acute kidney injury, intracardiac thrombi, and wound infection, was comparable in both groups (31.6% vs 45%). The overall incidence of vascular complications in both groups was 33.3%. Ipsilateral acute lower limb ischemia occurred in 5.3% vs 10% of non-COVID and COVID patients, respectively. Thrombosis of the distal perfusion catheter (DPC) occurred in 10.5% vs 15%, respectively. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of patients required VA-ECMO due to associated respiratory failure. Patients undergoing VA-ECMO are at high risk of developing various vascular complications. COVID-19 significantly increases the risk of acute limb ischemia and distal perfusion catheter thrombosis in both upper and lower limbs. However, other VA-ECMO-related vascular complications are comparable between COVID-19 and non-COVID patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmentally, removing organic pollutants from industrial waste solutions is important. In this study, the potentiality of removing Thoron (TH) and Arsenazo III (ARZIII) pollutants was investigated using chemically stable zinc tungstate nanoparticles (ZW-NPs). The preparation of ZW-NPs was performed using an eco-friendly solvo/hydrothermal technique as a sorbent. Complete characterisation of ZW-NPs before and after the adsorption processes was performed using XRD, FT-IR, EDX, DLS, and TEM analysis. The nanostructure of the zinc tungstate and the incidence of adsorption upon the ZW-NPs were effectively demonstrated. The maximum uptakes of TH and ARZIII contaminants on the ZW-NPs sorbent were 86.3 and 94.7 mg/g respectively. These uptakes were accomplished under optimum pH of 4.0 and 5 for TH and ARZIII, respectively. The adsorption outcomes were studied using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models. Modelling results indicated that the adsorption followed a pseudo-2nd-order interaction. The adsorption isotherms and thermodynamic results demonstrated the endothermic and chemisorption behaviour. Approximately, TH and ARZIII were completely removed from the laboratory waste solutions on the studied sorbent using optimal adsorption conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare congenital condition characterized by the mirror-image reversal of the thoracic and abdominal organs. SIT presents significant challenges during surgical procedures that require anatomical familiarity and dexterity, such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Case Presentation: A 73-year-old woman with SIT presented with a 2-day history of left-sided hypochondrial colicky abdominal pain aggravated by food intake and associated with nausea. Physical examination revealed a positive Murphy's sign in the left hypochondrium. Laboratory tests showed leukocytosis and elevated liver enzymes. Imaging (See Figures 1-4) confirmed acute cholecystitis with the gallbladder in the left upper quadrant. The patient was scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Preoperative planning involved detailed imaging and coordination with the anesthesiology team. The surgical technique was adapted for SIT, including specific patient positioning and a mirror-image approach. The gallbladder was successfully removed, with careful dissection of the cystic duct and artery. Postoperative management included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and monitoring. The patient's recovery was uneventful, and she was discharged on the third postoperative day with follow-up instructions. The care plan included pain management, regular monitoring, early mobilization, diet progression, and scheduled outpatient visits. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with SIT requires careful preoperative planning, skilled surgical techniques, and effective team communication. Despite these challenges, successful outcomes are possible with meticulous attention to detail and adaptation to the reversed anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to compare the perceived masticatory ability (PrMA) in completely edentulous patients (EDPs) with thermoplastic conventional complete dentures (CDs) versus single implant-retained mandibular overdentures. Methods: The current study was conducted in the outpatient Prosthodontic Clinic, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. PrMA was evaluated in 45 completely edentulous patients (46% males, mean age 50.4 ± 4.7 years). Each patient received a thermoplastic PMMA complete denture (Polyan IC TM Bredent GmbH & Co.KG, Germany). The PrMA was evaluated at one-month and six-month intervals of denture use. An immediate loading single implant was placed into the mid-symphyseal for each patient, and the denture was adjusted. Subsequently, the PrMA was reevaluated after one month and six months. The data were collected and statistically analyzed using the SPSS@V25 to assess the changes in PrMA. Results: The PrMA demonstrated improvement after six months of thermoplastic conventional denture use. However, this improvement was not statistically significant (p = 0.405). In addition, the PrMA showed a substantial increase following a single implant placement at one and six months (p < 0.001) of the overdenture use compared to the conventional denture. The PrMA insignificantly improved (p = 0.397) after six months of the single implant retained overdenture use. Discussion: The study's findings indicate that using immediate loading single implant-retained mandibular overdentures significantly improved PrMA in completely edentulous patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power quality (PQ) is crucial in today's energy supply networks, where even little voltage fluctuations can have a big impact on how well household appliances and technologies operate. The suggested dynamic voltage regulator (DVR) approach helps to create a new generation power grid that is more dependable and effective. In this study, the honey badger optimizer (HBO) is used to optimize the controllers of the DVR for improving PQ via voltage control. The efficacy of the optimized DVR is further increased by its integration with a microgrid (MG) wind supply. The suggested technique makes use of a low-complexity control approach for voltage regulation to adjust for harmonic distortion, swells, and voltage dips in the addressed system. The technique accomplishes voltage improvement, bus stabilization, energy-efficient utilization, and harmonic distortion reduction by using the DVR in conjunction with an MG wind supply. Various voltage disturbances, such as balanced and unbalanced swell and sag, voltage imbalance, notching, various fault states, and power system harmonic distortion, are taken into consideration to show the approach's usefulness. The findings indicate PQ enhancement, demonstrating that the load voltage roughly matches the nominal value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]