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To succeed in Canadian health professions, university education programs students must initially meet a variety of program-specific and English-language admission requirements. For non-native English-speaking (NNES) students, a major challenge can be the demonstration of profession-specific academic literacy and, in particular, adequate language competency prior to admission and throughout the program. Despite the increased numbers in the adult NNES student population in Canada, the current academic literacy requirements within these programs have received minimal research focus. This study explores the congruency of program requirements and learning supports within three major health professions programs across six Canadian universities. The data analyzed for this qualitative study include program documents on publicly accessible websites and a focused literature review. Findings suggest that in medicine, nursing, and pharmacy programs, discipline-specific academic literacy manifests itself in a wide variety of specialized written genres, ranging from reflections to theoretical analysis. Academic literacy is essential to the socialization of new students into these specialized programs and into the professions. Suggestions are offered to enhance universities' support of the development of academic literacy of NNES students.

Background: Tadalafil is a PDE-5 (phosphodiesterase inhibitor) inhibitor that supports endogenous nitric oxide's vasodilatory actions and aids in erection maintenance. The penile duplex has proven to be very useful for imaging superficial structures and for determining the reasons of erectile dysfunction (ED). Objectives: To assess the effect of daily oral tadalafil 5mg for 3 months on penile duplex parameters in erectile dysfunction patients. Patients and Methods: A case control study involved 30 Egyptian patients ED. Appropriate clinical history and penile duplex examination before and after treatment with daily oral tadalafil mg for 3 months were performed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 53.17 ± 7.8 years. We founded that there was significant (p < 0.001) improvement in the level of erection after treatment. The rate of erection E1 and E2 was decreased from 53.3% to 3.3%. Likewise, the rate of E3-E5 was increased from 46.7% to 96.7%. Moreover, the mean duration of erection was elongated from 24.7 ± 5.3 to become 37.4 ± 3.8 and this was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Also, the mean peak systolic volume (PSV) was significantly (p = 0.001) increased after treatment (38.4 ± 9.1 cm/s) compared with the pre-treatment levels (23.9 ± 6.1 cm/s). Unlikely, the mean end diastolic volume (EDV) was insignificantly (p = 0.340) lower in post-treatment (2.25 ± 0.5 mL) compared with pre-treatment levels (2.97 ± 0.4 mL). Likely, the mean resistant index (RI) showed insignificant difference (p = 0.965) after treatment (0.9 ± 0.02) compared with before treatment (0.9 ± 0.08). For penile artery diameter, there was significant (p = 0.009) increase in the diameter after treatment (0.9 ± 0.1 mm) compared with before treatment (0.8 ± 0.1 mm). Conclusion: Oral daily tadalafil 5mg for 3 months is considered an effective treatment for ED according to penile duplex parameters.

Abstract Diacerein is an interleukin (IL)-1β inhibitor approved for osteoarthritis. This study aimed to investigate the potential anti-fibrotic effect of diacerein against bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into: sham-operated group, BDL group, and BDL groups treated with diacerein at 10, 30, and 50 mg/kg/day starting two days before surgery and continued for 4 weeks. Diacerein decreased the hepatic injury markers and alleviated oxidative stress triggered by BDL by reducing hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and increasing hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Diacerein mitigated BDL-induced inflammation via lowering hepatic levels and mRNA expression of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and IL-1β. The hepatic gene expression of Advanced Glycation End products Receptor (RAGE) gene and immunohistochemical expression of some ER stress markers, e.g., glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1α), protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase protein contents were lowered by diacerein. Furthermore, diacerein suppressed the hepatic levels of fibrogenic mediators, e.g., Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF˗β1), α- smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen 1, and hydroxyproline, as well as the apoptotic caspase 3 and BAX immunostaining in BDL rats. The histopathological abnormalities induced by BDL significantly improved. Our study demonstrated that diacerein exhibited an antifibrotic effect by inhibiting HMGB1/RAGE/NF-κB/JNK pathway, and ER stress. Better protection was observed with increasing the dose.

Background : Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is considered the most performed cardiac surgery nowadays. The outcome of CABG surgery has been linked to several aspects. Above all is graft patency which is a crucial element contributing to success of the surgery. Early graft failure following CABG has been recorded in up to 12% of grafts (left IMA 7%; saphenous vein graft 8%). Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy and feasibility of the endovascular visualization to detect anastomotic errors. Patients and methods: The study included 40 patients who presented with CAD and were candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). All anastomoses were assessed using 1.9 mm telescope and endovascular visualisation score was recorded followed by routine assessment of grafts quality using transient time flow meter. Results: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we included a total of forty patients who underwent CABG which enabled intraoperative assessment of the quality of 70 venous grafts. There is a statistically significant correlation between the endovascular visual score and the mean flow across the OM and RCA grafts. For the Diagonal grafts , the correlation was less evident due to the small sample number. Conclusion: Coronary angioscopy is a simple and safe procedure and provides clinically relevant information. It provides immediate control of anastomotic quality and it can assist in the assessment of the native coronary artery. Together with transient time flowmeter, it provides a new alternative for the quality control of CABG surgery.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent hemoglobinopathy involving sickled hemoglobin that causes multiorgan disease due to chronic recurrent vaso-occlusion and hemolysis. Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) being present showed reduction in disease severity, owing to which hydroxyurea has gained significant recognition. The latter’s exact mechanism of action is yet unknown, but it has been demonstrated that the resulting rise in HbF raises hemoglobin levels and lessens the incidence of acute chest syndrome and vaso-occlusive crises. In the United Arab Emirates, our study is the first to assess the effects of hydroxyurea therapy in pediatric SCD patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study on 100 patients aged 2–13 years who were diagnosed with SCD, under regular outpatient follow-up with pediatric hematology clinic and receiving hydroxyurea therapy for at least 2 years. Basic hematologic parameters, frequency of SCD complications, and need for blood transfusions were studied. Results: Our analysis has shown a statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlation between hydroxyurea therapy and improved baseline hemoglobin and HbF levels; it decreased the incidence of painful crises and acute chest syndrome episodes; reduced the demand for blood transfusions; and recorded no side effects (pancytopenia or liver function disturbance). Conclusions: This study is the first of its kind in the UAE, and our findings support those of international data. The use of hydroxyurea therapy in SCD significantly improved hematologic and clinical parameters, thus markedly improving the patient’s quality of life. The side-effect profile is also limited, which further supports the fact that hydroxyurea is a relatively safe drug.

Objective(s): With progress in medical care, the rate of premature birth has increased and the mortality rate of very low birth weight (VLBW) babies has decreased. However, there is an increased incidence of disabilities in survivors, including neurodevelopmental delay, particularly in infants born very prematurely. This study aimed to assess the neurodevelopment in such children. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on non-randomized sample of children aged 3 to 5 years with weight less than 1500 grams or the mother's pregnancy lasted in less than 32 weeks in 2018 and born in one of the hospitals in Tehran, Iran. and alive at the study commence. They were evaluated by the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) in 5 developmental fields. Data was collected by completing a general questionnaire, the ASQ, and using the hospital records. The data were analyzed by SPSS-22 software, and statistical tests included descriptive and analytical tests such as chi-square and t-test. Results: Out of the total number of births, the data for 220 VLBW children were eligible for analysis. Of these, 12 children (5.7%) had at least one developmental disorder in the five investigated fields including: 4.2% of the children had neurological developmental delayed in communication, 2.4% in gross motor, 2.4% in fine motor, 2.8% in problem solving, and 2.8% in the personal-social aspects. There was no significant relationship between gender, length of pregnancy, and parents' education level with children's developmental disorders. There was a significant difference between the rehabilitation status of VLBW children and developmental delay (P

Abstract Evaporitic rock durability induced by groundwater cause several construction challenges, but representative experimental studies to evaluate such conditions are still missing. Therefore, this study intended to provide better and more realistic degradability features of evaporites with groundwater besides a comparison with distilled water as slaking fluids. Forty-eight evaporitic rock blocks were collected from Abu Dhabi area, United Arab Emirates. 96 slake durability index (SDI) tests were performed, 48 with each of the slaking fluids; groundwater and distilled water, and their textural, mineralogical, and geochemical attributes were also examined before and after the SDI tests. In comparison to mineralogical and textural modifications, slaking fluid had a greater impact on the chemical composition of evaporitic rock. The study shows that the degradability of evaporites with groundwater and distilled water indicates a wide range from very low to high. The mean weight loss values after four cycles with groundwater and distilled water vary from 11 to 77 and from 4 to 81 wt.%, respectively. Consequently, slaking with groundwater illustrates a wide range compared to the slaking with distilled water. This could be due to quick interactions between groundwater and evaporites and fast hydration-dehydration process than distilled water due to the chemical composition of the groundwater. It is recommended to investigate the attributes of evaporitic rocks as well as groundwater geochemistry for safe, cost-effective, and sustainable structures.

Abstract This study explored the anticipated time to seek medical advice for possible colorectal cancer (CRC) signs/symptoms and its association with CRC symptom awareness. In addition, it examined perceived barriers that may delay seeking medical advice. Palestinian adults were recruited from hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and public spaces in 11 governorates. A modified, translated-into-Arabic version of the validated Bowel Cancer Awareness Measure was used. The questionnaire comprised three sections: sociodemographics, assessment of CRC symptom awareness and time to seek medical advice, and barriers to early presentation. A total of 4623 participants were included. The proportion that reported seeking immediate medical advice for possible CRC signs/symptoms with blood or mass ranged from 47.1% for ‘blood in stools’ to 59.5% for ‘bleeding from back passage’. Less than half of the participants reported immediate seeking of medical advice for non-specific symptoms (ranging from 5.4% for ‘loss of appetite’ to 42.0% for ‘anemia’) and other gastrointestinal symptoms (ranging from 7.7% for ‘feeling persistently full’ to 35.7% for ‘change in bowel habits’). Good CRC symptom awareness was associated with higher likelihood of seeking medical advice within a week from recognizing a CRC symptom. About 13.0% reported a delay to visit their doctor after recognizing a CRC symptom. The most reported barriers were practical with ‘would try some herbs first’ (50.9%) as the leading barrier. CRC symptoms with blood or mass prompted earlier help seeking. Participants with good CRC awareness were more likely to seek medical advice within a week.

Abstract Obelisks presented an important element in the architecture of ancient Egypt. This research is concerned with the re-erection of an obelisk that belongs to the famous Pharoah Ramses II. It was found broken and was transported to the Grand Egyptian Museum for restoration and display. An observation of Ramses II Cartouche at the bottom side of the obelisk base inspired the authorities to provide an innovative architectural design to display the obelisk elevated. The supporting structure was designed to allow the visitors to walk underneath the obelisk and observe Ramses II's signature. The idea of elevating the obelisk presented several challenges including evaluating the obelisk's current condition, restoration and fixation methodology, structural stability, and uncertainties of material characteristics, amongst others. To control the obelisk deformations under lateral loading, state-of-the-art base isolators were introduced. For the task to be achieved, a multidisciplinary team including historians, conservators, archaeologists, architects, and engineers with different specialties was appointed. The team performed the task successfully and currently, the obelisk stands at the entrance piazza of the Grand Egyptian Museum representing the world’s first elevated obelisk.

Abstract Diabetic wounds are problematic to heal owing to microbial infections as well as decreased proliferation and high concentrations of reactive oxygen species. In this study, a double-layered nanofibrous mat containing grape seed extract (GSE) and silver sulfadiazine (SSD) was fabricated. A synthetic biodegradable polymer, e.g., polycaprolactone (PCL), and a natural material (i.e., collagen) were employed as wound dressing substances. The results showed that GSE possesses antioxidant activity which can be helpful in reducing free radicals. The platform exhibited antibacterial activity against gram-positive and -negative bacteria. The double-layered nanofibrous mat containing GSE and SSD not only was not toxic but also amplified the cell proliferation compared to a pure mat, showing the effect of plant extract. After induction of a round wound, the animals were divided into three groups, namely (1) normal group (receiving + GSE/-GSE nanofiber), (2) diabetic group (receiving + GSE/-GSE nanofiber), and (3) control group (receiving gauze). In vivo evaluation demonstrated no significant differences in the healing process of normal rats. Surprisingly, fully repaired skin was observed on day 14 in the double-layered nanofibrous mat containing GSE in the normal and diabetic groups whereas the wound of diabetic rats treated with pure mat was not completely healed. The macroscopic and microscopic results after 14 days showed the following order in wound repair: Normal/ + GES > Diabetic/ + GSE > Normal/-GES > Diabetic/-GSE > control (with gauze) (p

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), a disorder associated with a significant risk of morbidity and mortality, is composed of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare between rivaroxiban and warfarin regarding efficacy, safety and complications of treatment in patients with DVT. Patients and methods: This is a randomized controlled clinical trial. From April 2021 to April 2022, seventy patients with DVT were diagnosed and followed up in Vascular Surgery Department in Qena University Hospital regarding clinical presentation and venous duplex ultrasonography scans. Studied patients were divided into two groups, Group A treated by rivaroxiban and Group B treated by warfarin. Comparison between variables of two groups was performed regarding efficacy, safety and complications of treatment. Results: No significant differences between two groups were noticed regarding efficacy and clinical improvement while there was significant difference regarding bleeding as a complication e.g. bleeding in warfarin group as P value

Abstract Anxiety is one of the most prevalent forms of psychopathology that affects millions worldwide. It gained more importance under the pandemic status that resulted in higher anxiety prevalence. Anxiolytic drugs such as benzodiazepines have an unfavorable risk/benefit ratio resulting in a shift toward active ingredients with better safety profile such as the naturally occurring quercetin (QRC). The delivery of QRC is hampered by its low water solubility and low bioavailability. The potential to enhance QRC delivery to the brain utilizing polymeric nanocapsules administered intranasally is investigated in the current study. Polymeric nanocapsules were prepared utilizing the nanoprecipitation technique. The best formula displayed a particle size of 227.8 ± 11.9 nm, polydispersity index of 0.466 ± 0.023, zeta potential of − 17.5 ± 0.01 mV, and encapsulation efficiency % of 92.5 ± 1.9%. In vitro release of QRC loaded polymeric nanocapsules exhibited a biphasic release with an initial burst release followed by a sustained release pattern. Behavioral testing demonstrated the superiority of QRC loaded polymeric nanocapsules administered intranasally compared to QRC dispersion administered both orally and intranasally. The prepared QRC loaded polymeric nanocapsules also demonstrated good safety profile with high tolerability.

Background: The cornerstone of brain activity is changes in membrane voltage caused by ion fluxes through voltage and transmitter-gated channels. Therefore, electrochemical gradients across the membrane determine the direction and driving force for ion flow, which in turn establishes synaptic transmission and signal propagation parameters.Numerous methods create ion concentration gradients and specialised transporter proteins are among them. However, ionic fluxes via channels can alter transmembrane gradients during times of increased brain activity, which is projected to have an impact on the characteristics of ongoing synaptic transmission. Both healthy and unhealthy brain processes involve activity-induced alterations to ion concentration gradients. Patients with epilepsy display a variety of altered trace elements, electrolytes, and free radical scavenging enzyme statuses. Minerals play an important role in regulating ion concentration gradients through their various biological actions. Objectives:This review would contribute in increasing understanding of the role of minerals in childhood epilepsy and the different mechanisms by which different types of minerals modulate seizures in children. Conclusion:The serum level of various trace elements and heavy metals influences the impact of epilepsy. In infantile epilepsy, high calcium concentrations in epileptic neurons remain elevated during both the acute damage and chronic epilepsy phases, and they play a role in the maintenance of spontaneous recurrent seizures.

Background and objective: This systematic review aimed to explore clinical outcomes of marginal or crestal bone level (MBL) and soft tissue status around implants, following the placement of rough micro-threaded/laser-microtextured surface (LMS) implants. These outcomes are compared with those following the placement of smooth machined-neck implants. Materials and methods: Using EBSCO Information Services, we conducted a web-based search of databases such as the PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE, for relevant English-language scientific papers published between January 2013 and August 2022. Prospective or retrospective controlled cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the role of rough micro-threaded/LMS implant necks on MBL, sulcular probing depth (PD), and/or clinical attachment loss, were included in this review. Results: From a comprehensive literature search of 247 articles, 6 RCTs, 5 prospective studies, and 4 retrospective studies (n = 15) fulfilled the eligibility criteria. MBL with rough micro-threaded implant necks ranged from 0.12 ± 0.17 mm to 3.25 ± 0.4 mm after loading. The smooth machined-neck implants without a micro-threaded neck had a loading MBL of 0.38 ± 0.51 mm to 3.75 ± 0.4 mm. Micro-threaded implant necks showed much lower MBL than machined-neck implants. LMS implant necks had a lower peri-implant PD than machined-neck implants after 3 years of early loading (2.3 ± 0.7 mm vs. 3.8 ± 0.8 mm). The experimental and control groups showed similar gingival recessions (1.08 ± 0.4 mm vs. 2.46 ± 0.3 mm). Meta-analysis was not feasible owing to heterogeneity of the studies. Conclusion: Under functional loading, a roughened micro-threaded design for the implant neck could significantly lower MBL. Furthermore, PD and MBL were much lower around LMS neck implants than those around machined-neck or micro-threaded implants.

Background: The aim of our study was to investigate associations of spleen volume with blood count markers and lipid profile in the general population. Materials & methods: Cross-sectional data from 1,106 individuals aged 30–90 years from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-START-2) were analyzed. Blood count markers included red blood cell (RBC) counts, hemoglobin, platelet count, and white blood cell (WBC) counts. Lipid profile included total-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) as well as triglycerides. Linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, body height, and weight were used to associate standardized spleen volume with blood counts and lipid profile markers. Results: Spleen volume was positively associated with RBC (β = 0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.03 to 0.08) and hemoglobin (β = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.09) but inversely with platelet count (β = −16.3; 95% CI = –20.5 to −12.1) and WBC (β = −0.25; 95% CI = −0.37 to −0.14). Furthermore, spleen volume showed inverse associations with total cholesterol (β = −0.17; 95% CI = −0.24 to −0.09), HDL-C (β = −0.08; 95% CI = −0.10 to −0.05), and LDL-C (β = −0.12; 95% CI = −0.17 to −0.06). There was no significant association of spleen volume with triglycerides. Conclusion: Our study showed that the spleen volume is associated with markers of the blood count and lipid profile in the general population.

Abstract The unique mechanical properties and wear resistance of HDPE give it the potential as an alternative to frictional material. The current research focuses on using hybrid nanoparticles with various loading fillers to determine the best additive contents. The mechanical and tribological characteristics were examined and evaluated. The HDPE nanocomposite samples containing 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 wt.% filling content of Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) and 0.5, and 1.0 wt.% of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were fabricated. The results showed a good enhancement in the mechanical and tribological properties of HDPE composites with the presence of nano additives. The HDPE nanocomposites recorded the best performance with a loading amount of 2.0 wt.% with an equal ratio of hybrid nanofiller Al2O3 NPs and GNPs.

Abstract Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous materials characterized by robust linkages between organic ligands and metal ions. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit significant characteristics such as high porosity, extensive surface area, and exceptional chemical stability, provided the constituent components are meticulously selected. A metal–organic framework (MOF) containing lead and ligands derived from 4-aminobenzoic acid and 2-carboxybenzaldehyde has been synthesized using the sonochemical methodology. The crystals produced were subjected to various analytical techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and thermal analysis. The BET analysis yielded results indicating a surface area was found to be 1304.27 m2 g−1. The total pore volume was estimated as 2.13 cm3 g−1 with an average pore size of 4.61 nm., rendering them highly advantageous for a diverse range of practical applications. The activity of the modified Pb-MOF electrode was employed toward water-splitting applications. The electrode reached the current density of 50 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of − 0.6 V (vs. RHE) for hydrogen evolution, and 50 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 1.7 V (vs. RHE) for oxygen evolution.

Abstract Background Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS), also known as Wilkie's syndrome, is a rare disease that mainly presents as intestinal obstruction with a variable incidence ranging from 0.013 to 0.3% (Salehzadeh et al. in Case Rep Gastrointest Med, 2019, 10.1155/2019/3458601). In this syndrome, the third part of the duodenum, located between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, is wholly or partially obstructed (Mosalli et al. in J Pediatr Surg 46:e29–31, 2011). Case presentation An 8-years-old Arabian male patient was admitted to the gastrointestinal department at the pediatric hospital in Damascus, Syria, with complaints of chronic abdominal pain and periodic vomiting since he was two years old. At the age of Seven, he was diagnosed with appendicitis, and after two months of persistent symptoms, he was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia. Finally, after a long time of suffering, he was diagnosed with SMAS and underwent a successful surgical operation. After 3 months of follow-up, he was in good health with no symptoms. Conclusion Whenever a patient complains of vomiting and chronic abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction is suspected, Common differential diagnoses were excluded and the cause is anonymous, we should consider superior mesenteric artery syndrome.

Background. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the self-silencing model in reducing depression and increasing self-expression of depressed women. The self-silencing model is influenced by cognitive, attachment, and gestalt theories, and the role of social and cultural factors is emphasized in it, and these factors lead to depression in women by creating obstacles in expressing their wishes, opinions, and desires. Methods. This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group and with random replacement. In this study, using the study of treatment protocols, as well as receiving guidance from the theorists of this model and their colleagues, intervention programs based on it were prepared. The sample of this study included 30 femle teachers from 20 to 40 years old with bachelor's degrees who had depressive symptoms based on the results of The Beck questionnaire and clinical interview. Thus, the research sample included the self-silencing group and the control group, which were obtained from each pre-test and post-test group using the self-expression questionnaire and The Beck questionnaire. Between pre-test and post-test, experimental group received an intervention program. Finally, the scores obtained from pre-test and post-test were analyzed by analysis of covariance using SPSS software. Results. The results of data analysis showed that the intervention based on self-silencing is effective in reducing the depression of the experimental group. Likewise, this intervention method increased self-expression in the experimental group. No significant change was observed in the control group. Conclusion. According to the findings of this research, it can be said that using the self-silencing model can be an efficient method in reducing women's depression symptoms and increasing self-expression in them. Practical Implications. Psychotherapists can use the self-silencing model as one of the effective methods to reduce the symptoms of depression.

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing evidence regarding the possible effects of epothilones on spinal cord injury (SCI). This study aimed to investigate the possible effects of epothilone administration on locomotion recovery in animal models of SCI. Despite increasing rates of SCI and its burden on populations, no consensus has been reached about the possible treatment modality for SCI. Meanwhile, low-dose epothilones have been reported to have positive effects on SCI outcomes. Electronic databases of Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Medline were searched using keywords related to epothilones and SCI until the end of 2020. Two researchers screened the articles, and extracted data were analyzed using STATA ver. 14.0. Final results are reported as a standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). After the screening, five studies were included in the analysis. Rats were used in all the studies. Two types of epothilones were used via intraperitoneal injection and were shown to have positive effects on the motor outcomes of samples with SCI (SMD, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.51 to 1.23; p=0.71). Although a slightly better effect was observed when using epothilone B, the difference was not significant (coefficient, −0.50; 95% CI, −1.52 to 0.52; p=0.246). The results of this study suggest that epothilones have positive effects on the improvement of motor function in rats, when administered intraperitoneally until a maximum of 1 day after SCI. However, current evidence regarding the matter is still scarce.

Hashimoto’s encephalopathy (HE), a rare autoimmune disorder associated with thyroiditis, is a condition with no definitive cause. Symptoms include altered mental status, seizures, and cognitive impairment. When diagnostic criteria are met, steroids are the cornerstone of treatment with a reported good response. This report presents a 26-year-old female with HE who presented with persistent status epilepticus and altered mental status, complicated by aspiration pneumonia and laryngeal edema, and had been managed successfully. After exclusion of the common causes of acute altered mental status and seizures, early workup for treatable rare causes such as HE can help rapid recovery and avoid complications. However, proper management of complications such as lower respiratory tract infection, if happened, is necessary for good outcome.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA), is often caused by digestive disorder and should always be assessed, as its causes could be severe illness such as cancer. Objectives: To study the diagnostic value of both upper and lower endoscopic examinations among patients with microcytic hypochromic anaemia without site -specific gastrointestinal (GIT) manifestations. Patients and methods: A total of 50 Egyptian patients with IDA were included. Patients were clinically evaluated and investigated for: Complete blood picture, serum ferritin, serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). Patients were screened with Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy. Results: The mean ±SD age of the patients was 36.4 ± 16.7, 19 males (38%) and 31 females (62%). The most common finding of EGD was Gastritis, it was present in 20 patients (40%) followed by Peptic ulcer in 9 patients (18%). There were 2 patients (4%) with celiac disease, 1 patient (2%) with crohn’s disease, 2 patients (4%) with Gastric cancer, and 1 patient (2%) with angiodysplasia while there were 14 patients (28%) with normal EGD. Both procedures showed negative findings in 10 patients (20%), both procedures showed positive findings in 8 patients (16%) while 1 procedure only showed positive finding in 32 patients (64%). Conclusion: Bidirectional endoscopies are valuable to detect the cause of IDA in patients without site –specific (GIT) manifestations. The most common GIT lesions were gastritis followed by peptic ulcer.

Background: Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) is a common surgical emergency. Exploratory laparotomy and repair with the omental patch are routine surgical intervention till now. In developing counties, laparoscopic repair is still not considered the gold standard in this emergency condition. Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate laparoscopic management of PPU in terms of peri-operative outcomes. Patients and methods: This prospective observational study included 151 patients who presented with PPU in three tertiary hospitals from February 2018 to February 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: group (L) included 75 patients who received laparoscopic management, and group (O) included 76 patients who received open management. Demographic and peri-operative data were collected tabulated and analysed. Results: No statistically significant difference between the studied groups regarding demographic and clinical data. The laparoscopic management group had statistically significant longer operative time (95±10.6 vs. 60±14.6 min.), lower doses of narcotic injections (1.564±0.432 vs. 5 ± 0.175), lower mean pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (3±1 vs. 7±1), shorter time to resume oral feeding (2.1 ±.52 vs.3.4 ±.576 days), lower incidence of postoperative ileus, lower incidence of chest infection and wound infection, shorter hospital stay (5±1.54 vs. 8±1.6 days), shorter time to return to daily normal activities (12±2.9 vs. 24±3.4 days), and better satisfaction about cosmetic results. No statistically significant difference between the studied groups regarding postoperative leakage of the repair and incidence of intra-abdominal septic complications. Conclusion: Laparoscopic management of PPU has statistically significant better postoperative outcomes. It could be adopted as a standard technique in cases with small perforation, Boey’s score ≤ 1, and Mannheim Peritonitis Index ≤ 20.

Background: The tenth most prevalent cancer type in the world is bladder cancer. Males are four times more likely than females to have it. The most prevalent subtype is urothelial carcinoma. Development and progression of bladder cancer are influenced by estrogen receptors. Objectives: To examine the expression of estrogen receptor beta in bladder urothelial carcinoma and how it relates to other pathological factors of prognostic significance. Materials and method: Fifty formalin fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections of cases of urothelial carcinoma from transurethral resection and radical cystectomy specimens were examined histopathologically by routine H&E stain and immunohistochemically stained with Anti-ER-beta antibody. The immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptor beta was assessed. Results: Of the 50 cases of urothelial carcinoma, mean age 60 ±8.7 range (41-85) years, 34 male and 16 female, estrogen receptor beta was expressed in 29 (58%) of the cases. The expression of ERβ was significantly elevated in high grade (p value 0.006). The ERβ expression was also significantly increased in advanced tumor stages (p value 0.03) and in muscle invasive tumor (p value 0.004). The presence of lymphovascular emboli was associated with higher ERβexpression. Conclusion: ERβ expression is significantly associated with high grade and with advanced stages of urothelial carcinoma.

Abstract Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi have challenged human health by transmitting several infectious disease agents, such as malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever. Larvicides, especially in endemic regions, is an effective approach to the control of mosquito-borne diseases. In this study, the composition of three essential oil from the Artemisia L. family was analyzed by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry. Afterward, nanoliposomes containing essential oils of A. annua, A. dracunculus, and A. sieberi with particle sizes of 137 ± 5, 151 ± 6, and 92 ± 5 nm were prepared. Besides, their zeta potential values were obtained at 32 ± 0.5, 32 ± 0.6, and 43 ± 1.7 mV. ATR-FTIR analysis (Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform InfraRed) confirmed the successful loading of the essential oils. Moreover, The LC50 values of nanoliposomes against Ae. aegypti larvae were 34, 151, and 197 µg/mL. These values for An.stephensi were obtained as 23 and 90, and 140 µg/mL, respectively. The results revealed that nanoliposomes containing A. dracunculus exerted the highest potential larvicidal effect against Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi, which can be considered against other mosquitoes.

Abstract This paper presents a solar cell crack detection system for use in photovoltaic (PV) assembly units. The system utilizes four different Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures with varying validation accuracy to detect cracks, microcracks, Potential Induced Degradations (PIDs), and shaded areas. The system examines the electroluminescence (EL) image of a solar cell and determines its acceptance or rejection status based on the presence and size of the crack. The proposed system was tested on various solar cells and achieved a high degree of accuracy, with an acceptance rate of up to 99.5%. The system was validated with thermal testing using real-world cases, such as shaded areas and microcracks, which were accurately predicted by the system. The results show that the proposed system is a valuable tool for evaluating the condition of PV cells and can lead to improved efficiency. The study also shows that the proposed CNN model outperforms previous studies and can have significant implications for the PV industry by reducing the number of defective cells and improving the overall efficiency of PV assembly units.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still a fatal infection with high morbidity and mortality. Successful patient outcomes depend on prompt diagnosis and effective therapy. Blood cultures are usually time consuming and sometimes echocardiography is falsely negative. Thus, a straightforward blood test may assist early diagnosis of IE. Multiple studies have revealed that procalcitonin (PCT) was highly associated with bacteremia - the main diagnostic criteria for endocarditis - in patients with fever. Objectives: We aimed to assess the diagnostic significance of procalcitonin concentration in suspected patients of IE. Patients and methods: Twenty-two patients admitted to Assiut University Heart Hospital with a suspicion of IE were enrolled in a prospective study. Based on clinical, microbiological, and echocardiographic findings, Modified duke criteria were applied to the cases to confirm their diagnosis as definite, possible, or rejected IE cases before testing for procalcitonin was done. The study also included fifteen healthy volunteers for comparison with IE patients. Results: Procalcitonin was significantly higher (P-value

Background: Sino-nasal polyps can be treated medically (with systemic and local steroids) or surgically; but a lot of patients refuse surgical intervention or are contraindicated to use systemic steroids. Intra-polyp steroid injections have recently been utilized to deliver high concentrations of steroid directly into the nasal polyp while simultaneously shielding the patient from the systemic steroid side effects. Objectives: To assess the role and efficacy of intra-polyp injection of steroids in the management of allergic nasal polypi, as well as to compare these findings to those of oral steroid. Patients and methods: Our study involved sixty patients that attended the outpatient clinic of the ENT department at Qena University Hospital who diagnosed with allergic nasal polypi. Their ages ranged from 17 to 63 years. They were randomly divided into 2 groups (oral steroid and intra-polyp steroid injection) according to type of treatment, each consisting of 30 patients. Results: After treatment, both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in the Symptom Score, Polyp Score, and Lund-Mackay score (P

Background: Allergic rhinitis is a common disease of immune origin. It affects the quality of life of patients negatively. Objectives: To evaluate the changes in iron profile in allergic rhinitis patients. Patients and methods: This study was conducted on thirty patients with allergic rhinitis. All of the participants were subjected to clinical evaluation and the following investigations: Complete blood picture, Serum ferritin, Serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and IgE. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to measure the severity of allergic rhinitis. Results: Among the studied patients, there were 18 males (60%) and 12 females (40%), the mean age of studied patients was 11.3 ± 4.2 (SD) years with mean onset age of 4.6 ± 3.01(SD) years and mean duration of disease of 6.7 ± 2.9 years. There were 8 patients (26.7%) with positive family history in the studied patients. The incidence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia was significantly higher in children with severe allergic rhinitis compared with mild cases. Also we found statistically significant difference (p-value = 0.037) between mild, moderate & severe cases of allergic rhinitis as regard Hb, MCH, HCT, ferritin, serum iron and TIBC. A statistically significant difference (p-value = 0.015) was noted between mild, moderate & severe cases as regard IgE. Serum IgE is correlated with the severity of allergic rhinitis in children. Conclusion: Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis is higher than in patients without atopic disease. Iron deficiency anemia increases markedly with severity of allergic rhinitis. Serum IgE is correlated with the severity of allergic rhinitis in children.

Abstract Fatigue is a common disabling symptom of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Many studies have linked grey matter atrophy to fatigue, but white matter lesion load (WM-LL) has received less attention. Here we assess the relation between fatigue and regional WM-LL volumetric measures. 63 patients with RRMS participated in this study; mean age was 31.9 ± 8.1 years. Each patient provided demographic details and was scored on the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and fatigue severity scale (FSS). VolBrain, a fully automated, operator-independent tool was used to assess WM-LL and whole brain volume. The patients were classified into three groups: no fatigue (FSS 5). 33.3% of patients had no significant fatigue, 25.4% had mild-to-moderate fatigue, and 41.3% had significant fatigue. Age, disease duration, relapses, and EDSS were positively correlated to fatigue severity (P = 0.034, 0.002, 0.009 and 0.001 respectively). Whole brain volume, total and regional WM-LL (juxtacortical, periventricular, infratentorial) were also correlated with fatigue severity. Ordinal regression analysis for fatigue severity showed EDSS and infratentorial lesion volume were the best predictors. In conclusion, EDSS and infratentorial lesion volume (cerebellar and brainstem) are the best predictors of fatigue severity.

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), has caused, nearly 18 million deaths worldwide, many more hospitalisations, and severe economic and social disruption, as of March 2022. Malnutrition and electrolyte imbalance can lead to immune system dysfunction, which can increase the risk of infection. Aim: To evaluate the electrolyte imbalance and other biomarkers in COVID-19 patients and also, to compare these parameters with healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences at European Gaza Hospital, Southern Gaza Strip, Palestine. The duration of the study was four months, from February 2022 to May 2022. A total of 200 participants were included in the study, out of which 100 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test and 100 healthy individuals were recruited from blood bank donors and comprehensive Screening Department. Biochemical profile; Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), urea, Creatinine (Cr), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), total Creatinine Kinase (CK-total), Creatine Kinase (CK) isoenzyme CK and electrolytes (Na, K, phosphorous, and Mg, ionised calcium, total calcium, and Cl) were assayed. Data were statistically analysed using Student’s t-test and Chi-square test. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 54.1±12.2 years for cases and 54.3±12.4 years for controls. A total of 200 subjects, both the groups had 34 (34.0%) males and 66 (66.0%) females, which was not statistically significant (p-value>0.05). COVID-19 patients had significantly higher values of Na (141.9±4.6 vs 139.7±3.1; p

Abstract Casting of aluminum with different concentration of alloying elements such as Mg, Mn (similar to that in AA5083) with additional percentages of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% Ti, are carried out using graphite crucible. The as-cast microstructure is modified by hot rolling to a thickness of ~ 2 mm. Mechanical and metallurgical and characterization of heat-treated thin sheets are carried out using tensile testing, hardness measurement, metallography, image analysis and optical microscope. By increasing the Ti content, the results show grain refinement and increase in the formation of Al3Ti which reflected positively on the mechanical properties. Specifically, Ultimate tensile strength is increased from 260 MPa (0 wt% Ti) to 345 MPa (0.3 wt% Ti) when using water quenching, 32.6% improvement for air cooling, and 23.3% for furnace cooling. Electrochemical corrosion behavior of heat-treated water quenched, air cooled and furnace cooled samples were tested in 3.5% NaCl solution. The results show that the heat-treated alloys have very good resistance against corrosion, while by increasing the Ti content, the corrosion rate increases due to the grain refinement phenomena.

Abstract Microplastics are widely distributed in aquatic ecosystems along with other chemical pollutants. Therefore, it is vital to study the health-hazardous effects of MPs in combination with 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), which is a highly abundant industrial waste and a critical alkylphenol endocrine disruptor. We investigated the effects of the exposure to polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs), 4-NP, and their combination on blood biomarkers in Cyprinus carpio juveniles. Four study groups were treated for 15 consecutive days: (1) control group, (2) 10 mg/L PE-MP group, (3) 10 mg/L PE-MPs + 200 µg/L 4-NP group, and (4) 200 µg/L 4-NP group, followed by 15 days of recovery. Biochemical analyses showed that creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, liver enzymes, total protein, and A/G ratios were significantly increased after exposure to PE-MPs, 4-NP, and the combination. Hematological parameters (RBC's, Hb, Ht, neutrophil percentage, and WBC's) were significantly decreased in the three exposure groups, whereas mean corpuscular volume and lymphocyte percentages were significantly increased. The 15-day recovery period improved most hematobiochemical parameters and PE-MP accumulation indices. Taken together, we demonstrated the hazardous effects of PE-MP and 4-NP combinations on C. carpio blood parameters and highlighted their potential risk to human health.

Abstract Background Phospholipase-associated neurodegeneration (PLAN) caused by mutations in the PLA2G6 gene is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that presents with four sub-groups. Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD) and PLA2G6-related dystonia-parkinsonism are the main two subtypes. In this cohort, we reviewed clinical, imaging, and genetic features of 25 adult and pediatric patients harboring variants in the PLA2G6. Methods An extensive review of the patients’ data was carried out. Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy Rating Scale (INAD-RS) was used for evaluating the severity and progression of INAD patients. Whole-exome sequencing was used to determine the disease's underlying etiology followed by co-segregation analysis using Sanger sequencing. In silico prediction analysis based on the ACMG recommendation was used to assess the pathogenicity of genetic variants. We aimed to survey a genotype-genotype correlation in PLA2G6 considering all reported disease-causing variants in addition to our patients using the HGMD database and the chi-square statistical approach. Results Eighteen cases of INAD and 7 cases of late-onset PLAN were enrolled. Among 18 patients with INAD, gross motor regression was the most common presenting symptom. Considering the INAD-RS total score, the mean rate of progression was 0.58 points per month of symptoms (Standard error 0.22, lower 95% − 1.10, and upper 95% − 0.15). Sixty percent of the maximum potential loss in the INAD-RS had occurred within 60 months of symptom onset in INAD patients. Among seven adult cases of PLAN, hypokinesia, tremor, ataxic gate, and cognitive impairment were the most frequent clinical features. Various brain imaging abnormalities were also observed in 26 imaging series of these patients with cerebellar atrophy being the most common finding in more than 50%. Twenty unique variants in 25 patients with PLAN were detected including nine novel variants. Altogether, 107 distinct disease-causing variants from 87 patient were analyzed to establish a genotype–phenotype correlation. The P value of the chi-square test did not indicate a significant relationship between age of disease onset and the distribution of reported variants on PLA2G6. Conclusion PLAN presents with a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms from infancy to adulthood. PLAN should be considered in adult patients with parkinsonism or cognition decline. Based on the current knowledge, it is not possible to foresee the age of disease onset based on the identified genotype.

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a globally emerging illness, resulting in potential effects on public health and global economies. Objectives: To assess the incidence of Acute Kidney Injury among patients who are infected with COVID-19, and to evaluate risk factors. Patients and methods: This study enrolled100 adult patients infected with COVID-19 and recently diagnosed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The patients were submitted to clinical examination and laboratory testing for ESR, CRP, CBC, Serum creatinine, and D-dimer. Patients were also assessed radiologically by CT Chest. Highresolution computed tomography Parenchymal abnormalities on HRCT were assessed. AKI patients were classified based on Acute Kidney Injury Network staging. Results: The mean age of all studied patients was 48.1 ± 10.8 years and mean BMI of all studied patients was 31.3 ± 4.6 kg/m2, 51 patients were males (51%) and 49 females (49%). There were 35 patients (35%) with a mild infection, 23 patients (23%) with moderate, and 42 patients (42%) with severe in the studied patients. The overall AKI prevalence among COVID-19 patients was 18 %. All of them were grade III AKI. Our study revealed that old age, severity of infection, dyspnea, elevated CRP, ALT, AST, PT, INR, Urea, and Creatinine were considerable distinct predictors for AKI. Conclusion: The Prevalence of AKI among COVID-19 patients was 18 %. Old age, the severity of infection, dyspnea, elevated CRP, increased serum urea, Creatinine were significant independent predictors for AKI.

Abstract Leucine-rich repeat containing 10 (LRRC10) is a cardiomyocyte-specific protein, but its role in cardiac biology is little understood. Recently Lrrc10 was identified as required for endogenous cardiac regeneration in zebrafish; however, whether LRRC10 plays a role in mammalian heart regeneration remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that Lrrc10 –/– knockout mice exhibit a loss of the neonatal mouse regenerative response, marked by reduced cardiomyocyte cytokinesis and increased cardiomyocyte binucleation. Interestingly, LRRC10 deletion disrupts the regenerative transcriptional landscape of the regenerating neonatal mouse heart. Remarkably, cardiac overexpression of LRRC10 restores cardiomyocyte cytokinesis, increases cardiomyocyte mononucleation, and the cardiac regenerative capacity of Lrrc10 –/– mice. Our results are consistent with a model in which LRRC10 is required for cardiomyocyte cytokinesis as well as regulation of the transcriptional landscape during mammalian heart regeneration.

Abstract Endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) has a physiological role in regulating renal blood flow, whereas its analogs ameliorated renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Nonetheless, the role of AEA against mercuric chloride (HgCl2)-induced renal toxicity has not been unraveled. Rats were allocated into control, HgCl2, and HgCl2/AEA treated groups. The administration of AEA quelled the HgCl2-mediated increase in inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1). The endocannabinoid also signified its anti-inflammatory potential by turning off the inflammatory cascade evidenced by the suppression of high mobility group box protein-1 (HMGB1), receptor of glycated end products (RAGE), nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB), and unexpectedly PPAR-γ. Additionally, the aptitude of AEA to inhibit malondialdehyde and boost glutathione points to its antioxidant capacity. Moreover, AEA by enhancing the depleted renal WNT-5A and reducing cystatin-C and KIM-1 (two kidney function parameters) partly verified its anti-apoptotic capacity, confirmed by inhibiting caspase-3 and increasing B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2). The beneficial effect of AEA was mirrored by the improved architecture and kidney function evidenced by the reduction in cystatin-C, KIM-1, creatinine, BUN, and caspase1-induced activated IL-18. In conclusion, our results verify the reno-protective potential of AEA against HgCl2-induced kidney injury by its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic capacities by modulating WNT-5A/BCL-2, IP3/NFATC1, HMGB-1/RAGE/NF-κB, caspase-1/IL-18, and caspase-3/BCL-2 cues.

Abstract Recently, the development of heterogeneous nanocatalytic systems using solid supports has been gaining importance due to some advantages such as easy handling, high thermal stability, high efficiency, reusability, and so on. Therefore, the design of catalyst supports for the preparation of stable heterogeneous catalytic systems is of great importance. In this work, Schiff base-modified ZnO particles have been developed (ZnO–Scb) as a novel support. A heterogeneous nanocatalyst system has then been prepared by immobilizing palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) on the ZnO-Scb surface as the support. The resulting palladium nanocatalyst (Pd–ZnO–Scb) structure has been characterized by different analytical techniques (FT-IR, XRD, TEM, FE-SEM, elemental mapping and EDS) and used to catalyze the Heck coupling reactions and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction. Test results revealed that Pd–ZnO–Scb could effectively couple various aryl halides with styrene in yields of up to 98% in short reaction times. Pd–ZnO–Scb was also efficiently used in the complete 4-NP reduction within 135 s at room temperature. Additionally, it was found that Pd–ZnO–Scb was more effective than other reported catalysts in the Heck coupling reaction. Moreover, the recycling tests indicated that Pd–ZnO–Scb could be easily isolated from the reaction medium and reused in seven consecutive catalytic runs while retaining its nanostructure.

Abstract Metamaterial absorbers have been extensively researched due to their potential applications in photonics. This paper presents a highly efficient Broadband Metamaterial Absorber (BMA) based on a Manganese–Silica–Manganese three layer structure with a shaped pattern at the top layer. For maximum absorption efficiency, the geometrical parameters of the proposed absorber have been optimized based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The optimal structure with a thickness of 190 nm, can achieve more than 94% absorption spanning visible band (400–800) nm with 98.72% average absorption, and more than 90% absorption over the range from 365 to 888 nm. In the range from 447 to 717 nm, the design presented above 99% absorptivity, providing an ultra-wide bandwidth of 270 nm. The physical mechanism of absorption is illustrated through the exploration of the electric and magnetic field distributions. Additionally, the proposed structure maintains 85% absorption stability for wide incident angles up to 70° for both the TE and TM polarizations under oblique incidence. Further, the optimized absorber structure with excellent absorption capabilities makes it suitable for various applications, including optical sensors, thermal emitters, and color imaging applications.

Abstract Due to the increasing prevalence of bone disorders among people especially in average age, the future of treatments for osseous abnormalities has been illuminated by scaffold-based bone tissue engineering. In this study, in vitro and in vivo properties of 58S bioactive glass-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering (bare (B.SC), Zein-coated (C.SC), and Zein-coated containing Kaempferol (KC.SC)) were evaluated. This is a follow-up study on our previously published paper, where we synthesized 58S bioactive glass-based scaffolds coated with Kaempferol-loaded Zein biopolymer, and characterized from mostly engineering points of view to find the optimum composition. For this aim, in vitro assessments were done to evaluate the osteogenic capacity and biological features of the scaffolds. In the in vivo section, all types of scaffolds with/without bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSC) were implanted into rat calvaria bone defects, and potential of bone healing was assessed using imaging, staining, and histomorphometric analyses. It was shown that, Zein-coating covered surface cracks leading to better mechanical properties without negative effect on bioactivity and cell attachment. Also, BMSC differentiation proved that the presence of Kaempferol caused higher calcium deposition, increased alkaline phosphatase activity, bone-specific gene upregulation in vitro. Further, in vivo study confirmed positive effect of BMSC-loaded KC.SC on significant new bone formation resulting in complete bone regeneration. Combining physical properties of coated scaffolds with the osteogenic effect of Kaempferol and BMSCs could represent a new strategy for bone regeneration and provide a more effective approach to repairing critical-sized bone defects.

Background: Arabs have been reported to exhibit a high percentage of resistance to the COVID-19 vaccine; these rates were comparatively higher than the global rate. The low level of public acceptance of COVID-19 vaccinations is most likely a result of misconceptions. According to reports from Egypt and many other Arab countries, the main obstacles to mass immunization campaigns are worry over severe post-vaccination side effects and incorrect information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Objectives: The current study's objectives were to assess the level of COVID-19 vaccination acceptability and identify factors that influence it among hospital attendants in Qena City. Patients and methods: 450 people who were at least 18 years old participated in a cross-sectional study. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect the data. The participants were split into two categories: those who decided to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and those who decided not to. Results: Our study's subjects had a 50.9% acceptance rate for the COVID-19 vaccination. Age, marital status, the belief that immunity will develop after receiving the COVID-19 vaccination, and trust in the vaccine's safety and efficacy were the key determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Conclusion: Low levels of COVID-19 vaccination acceptability have been observed among the subjects in our study. Confidence in the safety of the vaccine was the main predictor of COVID-19 vaccine adoption. Therefore, there is a need for intervention that focuses on providing the general population with enough knowledge about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; Acceptance; Qena; Egypt.

Background: Fatigue is a state of extreme tiredness, weariness, or sleepiness brought on by a lack of sleep, continuous mental or physical effort, or protracted stress or anxiety. Tasks that are tedious or repetitive can make you feel more worn out. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and the possible risk factors for fatigue in health care worker. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted randomly in Qena University Hospitals on 300 participants. A structured questionnaire among health care workers (HCW) was used as a tool for data collection. Results: 53% of HCW (79.2% of doctors and 70.3%of nurses) had fatigue. 62.2% of female suffered from fatigue .The significant risk factors for fatigue were sex, marital status, occupation, caffeine intake and smoking. doctors are more prone than other HCW to exhaustion. Conclusion: Prevalence of fatigue among HCW in Qena university hospitals was high. the most significant risk factors were occupation(doctor), married and caffeine intake.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by impaired memory and progressive cognitive and behavioral decline. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was suggested to have a role in inhibition of Aβ peptides accumulation with formation of plaque in vitro. The role of ACE (I/D) genotypes regarding AD development and severity is questionable. Objectives: to assess the role of ACE (I/D) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) as a possible genetic risk factor for AD occurrence and for prediction of the disease severity. Patients and Methods: This case- control study was carried out in the Neuropsychiatry Department, Qena University Hospital during the period between March 1st 2019 and February 28th 2020. The study included 50 AD patients and 50 healthy age, sex and education matched controls. All cases underwent clinical assessment using Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Advanced medical imaging with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Genetic analysis for ACE (I/D) (rs4646994) was done using conventional PCR with primers without restriction enzyme. Results: Mean age of the included patients was 70.1 ± 9.35 years with female predominance (60%). About 46% of patients had mild disease, 42% had moderate disease and 12% had severe disease based on MMSE assessment tool. Diabetes had higher frequency among AD group (30%). ACE homozygous DD genotype had higher frequency (OD=35.9; 95%CI= [2.8-440.2]) and D allele was significantly commoner among AD group than control group (OD=2.13; 95% CI= [1.05-3.2]), (P ˂ 0.05 for all). However, no statistically significant differences in relation to degree of dementia and ACE (I/D) genotypes were recorded. Although homozygous DD genotype and D alleles had higher frequency among severe AD group (P˃0.05). Conclusion: an evidence of significant association between homozygous ACE (DD) and D allele among sample of AD patients in Upper Egypt. However, there is lack of significance association of ACE (I/D) SNP in prediction of disease severity.

Abstract This study assessed the restorative dietary effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) leaves extract against the negative impacts of sub-lethal fipronil (FIP) toxicity in Nile tilapia. To achieve this purpose, the growth, body composition, haemato-biochemical measurements, serum immunity, and antioxidant condition of Nile tilapia have been examined. Fish were arranged into 6 experimental groups in quadruplicates. Three groups were fed on diets supplemented with 0.0 (reference group), 1.0 (MO1), and 2.0 (MO2) g kg−1 of MO leaf extract. The other three groups were fed on the same MO levels and concomitantly subjected to a sub-lethal FIP concentration (4.2 µg L−1 for 3 h only per day) and defined as FIP, FIP + MO1, and FIP + MO2. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. Results unveiled that growth parameters were significantly decreased alongside an increased feed conversion ratio in the FIP-intoxicated group. The moisture and crude protein (%) were decreased significantly together with a significant increase of the crude lipids (%) in the fish body of the FIP group. Sub-lethal FIP toxicity induced hypochromic anemia, leukopenia, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypoglobulinemia, and hepato-renal failure (increased urea and creatinine concentrations, as well as ALT and AST enzymes). Exposure to sub-lethal FIP also induced (a) immunosuppression manifested by a decline in total IgM, complement C3, and lysozyme activities, (b) enzymatic antioxidant misbalance manifested by decreases in SOD and CAT activities, and (c) oxidative stress (declined T-AOC and elevated of MDA concentrations). On the other side, dietary supplementation with MO leaf extract in FIP + MO1 and FIP + MO2 groups noticeably modulated the aforementioned parameters. Therefore, we can conclude that dietary MO could reduce sub-lethal FIP toxicity in Nile tilapia with a possible recommendation for regular prophylaxis supplementation in Nile tilapia diets.

Abstract Patients with severe uncontrolled asthma still experience acute asthma symptoms and exacerbations, particularly those with non-eosinophilic inflammation who take the maximum amount of standard drug therapy. Tezepelumab, a human monoclonal antibody, can improve lung function and enhance control of asthma symptoms in those patients, regardless of the disease’s baseline characteristics. This study aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of using tezepelumab in controlling severe symptoms of uncontrolled asthma. We performed a comprehensive literature search in several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrial.gov, using a well-established search strategy to include all relevant publications. According to our inclusion criteria, we searched for randomized controlled trials comparing tezepelumab versus placebo in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma. We analyzed the data using The Revman 5.4 program software. The search identified 589 potential articles. After excluding studies inconsistent with selection criteria, four studies were included and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The pooled effect demonstrated the better performance of tezepelumab over the placebo regarding the decrease in annualized asthma exacerbation rate (MD = − 0.74, (95% CI [− 1.04, − 0.44], p

Abstract Background: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels are known to be linked to a higher risk of stroke. However, no research data is available on the impact of HbA1C on the severity of acute ischemic stroke in Sudan. Methods: This study is a descriptive, cross-sectional hospital-based study of 40 cases of acute ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke was confirmed using computed tomography (CT) scan at admission; all subjects' blood HbA1C levels were also measured. Participants were divided into two subgroups based on HbA1C at admission, good glycemic control (GGC) ( < 7 HbA1C) and poor glycemic control (PGC) ( > 7 HbA1C), and neurological impairment was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Results: The age distribution of the participants was 45-85 years, with an average age of 63.5 ± 9.2 years with the highest frequency (67.5%) in the age group of 55-75 years. PGC had a statistically significant high HbA1C value of 8.9 ± 1.3 (P=0.000), when compared to GGC subgroups 5.1 ± 0. The association between stroke severity and HbA1C levels on admission in this study was statistically significant (P value=0.005), on admission (78.6%) PGC had moderate to severe stroke ( > 18.8 NIHSS) versus (33.3%) that of the GGC ( > 10.4NIHSS).The frequency of elevated HbA1C levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke was 70% in this study. Conclusion: PGC was shown to be linked to the occurrence of stroke and to its severity.

Abstract Aim This cross-sectional survey aimed to identify aerobic bacteria, antimicrobial resistance, and multi-drug resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from different wound infections among a group of Egyptian patients. Results Of 120 positive samples, 170 isolates were identified. Polymicrobial infections were determined in 55% of samples. The dominant Gram-positive isolated strains were Staphylococcus aureus, especially from wound infections because of accidents (71.8%). Piperacillin, methicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were all highly resistant to S. aureus and Coagulase-negative Staphylococci. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus in wound infections was 89.9%. S. aureus showed superior sensitivity to vancomycin (85.3%) and linezolid (81.3%). The highest prevalence of Gram-negative isolates was for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (40%), which was highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin (79.2%) and highly resistant to levofloxacin (83.3%). Several isolates revealed a multi-drug resistance profile (52.4%). The overall MDR rate of Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates were 50% and 54.9%, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of MRSA isolated from various wound infections and MDR is a warning issue in Upper Egypt. It should implement a health education strategy and hygiene measures to prevent the spread of wound infection-causing organisms in the community.

Abstract The high antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) makes it critical to develop alternative antimicrobial agents that are effective and affordable. One of the many applications of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) is their use as an antimicrobial agent against bacteria resistant to common antibiotics. The key purpose of this research was to assess the antibacterial and antibiofilm effectiveness of biosynthesized Ag NPs against six biofilm-forming clinically isolated strains of PA and one reference strain (ATCC 27853). Ag NPs were biosynthesized using a seed extract of Peganum harmala as a reducing agent. Ag NPs were characterized by Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The effect of Ag NPs on biofilm formation and eradication was examined through micro-titer plate assays, and the minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimum bactericidal (MBC) concentrations determined. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) were performed to examine the effects of Ag NPs on the expression of seven PA biofilm-encoding genes (LasR, LasI, LssB, rhIR, rhII, pqsA and pqsR). The biosynthesized Ag NPs were spherically-shaped with a mean diameter of 11 nm. The MIC for each PA strain was 15.6 µg/ml, while the MBC was 31.25 µg/ml. All PA strains exposed to Ag NPs at sub-inhibitory concentrations (0.22–7.5 µg/ml) showed significant inhibitory effects on growth and biofilm formation. Biomass and biofilm metabolism were reduced dependent on Ag NP concentration. The expression of the quorum-sensing genes of all strains were significantly reduced at an Ag NP concentration of 7.5 µg/ml. The results demonstrate the extensive in-vitro antibacterial and antibiofilm performance of Ag NPs and their potential in the treatment of PA infection. It is recommended that future studies examine the possible synergy between Ag NPs and antibiotics.

Abstract Cobalt-doped titania nanocomposites were fabricated to be utilized for radiation shielding aims. The chemical composition of the composites was measured using the energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Moreover, the structure of the composites was evaluated using the X-ray diffractometer, and the morphology of the fabricated composites was presented using the scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, the γ-ray shielding properties were estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation between 0.059 and 2.506 MeV. The linear attenuation coefficient of the fabricated composites decreased by factors of 93% for all samples by raising the incident γ-energy between 0.059 and 2.506 MeV. Moreover, the partial replacement of the Ti4+ by Co3+ slightly enhanced the linear attenuation coefficient from 0.607 to 0.630 cm−1 when the Co3+ increased from 0 to 3.7 wt%. The improvement in the linear attenuation coefficient causes an enhancement in other radiation shielding properties.