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Background: Cardiovascular disease is primary cause of death globally, which is primarily caused by coronary artery disease. High resting heart rate is linked to increased cardiovascular and overall death rate, as well as in coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure patients. Decreasing heart rate became a key in the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease. Our research aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effects of ivabradine on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats in comparison with bisoprolol. Methods: The study was done on 40 adult male albino rats (10 rats in each group) that were divided into Sham-operated group, control diseased Group, ivabradine-pretreated group and bisoprolol-pretreated group. Blood pressure, heart rate, T wave voltage, biochemical tests and infarct size were measured. Representative cardiac samples of each group were also used for histopathological examination using H&E stain as well as immunohistochemical stain with Bax. Results: Bisoprolol pretreatment reduced the serum level of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) compared to the control diseased group. Meanwhile, pretreatment with ivabradine produced more decrease in the serum level CK-MB compared to the control diseased group. Oral pretreatment with ivabradine decreased the percentage of the infarct size as compared to control diseased group. In the bisoprolol-pretreated group, the infarct size of the left ventricle was lower than that of control diseased but higher than the ivabradine-pretreated group. Conclusions: It can be concluded from the previous findings that ivabradine possesses protective effect against I/R injury in rats, as evidenced by significant decrease of each of the % of infarct size, T-wave voltage, CK-MB. Thus, ivabradine can be used if bisoprolol is contraindicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium nitrite is a frequently employed food ingredient; however, extended usage at elevated quantities might result in neurological diseases. Inorganic nitrate is regarded as a source of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite. Sodium Nitrite is frequently used in several industrial processes including fertilizers and food additives. It can prevent food spoilage and act as antimicrobial agent. Nitrite has a significant impact on controlling intricate physiological and biochemical responses, such as reducing inflammation and preventing blood clotting, which are directly linked to the development and management of cerebrovascular illness. Humans can experience overexposure to nitrite salts through different ways. Excessive amounts of nitrite salts can have harmful effects on human and animal health on different systems including the central nervous system (CNS). Quercetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid with bioactive qualities that has recently garnered significant attention for its protective potential in many diseases. The neuroprotective properties of this substance have been proven by numerous in vitro investigations, as well as in vivo animal experiments and human trials. Multiple researches have documented the potential neuroprotective benefits of quercetin. Conclusions: A recent discovery has revealed the involvement of nitrite in the development of several CNS disorders including the cerebellum indicating its neurotoxicity. However, administration of Quercetin could attenuate these changes due to its neuroprotective effect against the induced oxidative stress and neuronal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a hallmark of atherosclerosis and a critical factor in the development and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). This review aims to address the complex pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CAC and its relationship with CAD. We examine the cellular and molecular processes that drive the formation of calcified plaques, highlighting the roles of inflammation, lipid accumulation, and smooth muscle cell proliferation. Additionally, we explore the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the heterogeneity in CAC and CAD presentation among individuals. Understanding these intricate mechanisms is essential for developing targeted therapeutic strategies and improving diagnostic accuracy. By integrating current research findings, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathways linking CAC to CAD, offering insights into potential interventions to mitigate the burden of these interrelated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates with vancomycin MICs of 2 µg/ml have been associated with vancomycin therapeutic failure and the heterogenous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA) phenotype. While carriage of van genes has usually been associated with higher level of MIC and frank vancomycin resistance, the unrecognized risk of hetero-resistance is frequently underestimated. Methods used for assessing vancomycin susceptibility have also shown different concordance and variable performance and accessibility in routine clinical diagnostics posing a challenge to inform treatment selection in hospital settings. Methods: A total of 195 clinical samples were obtained among which 100 S. aureus isolates were identified. Ninety-six MRSA isolates have been identified using cefoxitin disc and mecA gene detection. The vanA and vanB genes have been screened for in the studied isolates using conventional PCR amplification. Examination of reduced vancomycin susceptibility has been performed using vancomycin screen agar, Broth Micro Dilution method (BMD), and VITEK2. Blood isolates were screened for hVISA using PAP-AUC method. Results: Vancomycin screening agar applied to 96 MRSA isolates revealed 16 isolates with reduced vancomycin susceptibility. Further MIC testing revealed that 7 isolates were VISA and only 1 isolate was identified as VRSA using both BMD MIC method and VITEK2. Among 24 tested blood isolates, 4 isolates (16.7%) revealed the hVISA phenotype as identified using PAP-AUC method. Using PCR, vanA gene was identified in 5 S. aureus isolates (5%). Three of them were VSSA while the other two isolates were VISA. Conclusion: In this study, we report the very low prevalence of VRSA among the tested S. aureus clinical isolates (1%) and the existence of hVISA phenotype among studied S. aureus blood isolates at the rate of 16.7% in our setting. Fifty percent (8/16) of isolates that demonstrated reduced vancomycin susceptibility using vancomycin agar screen tested susceptible using both broth dilution method and VITEK2. These finding together with the concerning silent carriage of vanA gene among VSSA and VISA (5%) may underly hidden and uninvestigated factors contributing to vancomycin treatment failure that warrant cautious vancomycin prescription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates with vancomycin MICs of 2 µg/ml have been associated with vancomycin therapeutic failure and the heterogenous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA) phenotype. While carriage of van genes has usually been associated with higher level of MIC and frank vancomycin resistance, the unrecognized risk of hetero-resistance is frequently underestimated. Methods used for assessing vancomycin susceptibility have also shown different concordance and variable performance and accessibility in routine clinical diagnostics posing a challenge to inform treatment selection in hospital settings. Methods: A total of 195 clinical samples were obtained among which 100 S. aureus isolates were identified. Ninety-six MRSA isolates have been identified using cefoxitin disc and mecA gene detection. The vanA and vanB genes have been screened for in the studied isolates using conventional PCR amplification. Examination of reduced vancomycin susceptibility has been performed using vancomycin screen agar, Broth Micro Dilution method (BMD), and VITEK2. Blood isolates were screened for hVISA using PAP-AUC method. Results: Vancomycin screening agar applied to 96 MRSA isolates revealed 16 isolates with reduced vancomycin susceptibility. Further MIC testing revealed that 7 isolates were VISA and only 1 isolate was identified as VRSA using both BMD MIC method and VITEK2. Among 24 tested blood isolates, 4 isolates (16.7%) revealed the hVISA phenotype as identified using PAP-AUC method. Using PCR, vanA gene was identified in 5 S. aureus isolates (5%). Three of them were VSSA while the other two isolates were VISA. Conclusion: In this study, we report the very low prevalence of VRSA among the tested S. aureus clinical isolates (1%) and the existence of hVISA phenotype among studied S. aureus blood isolates at the rate of 16.7% in our setting. Fifty percent (8/16) of isolates that demonstrated reduced vancomycin susceptibility using vancomycin agar screen tested susceptible using both broth dilution method and VITEK2. These finding together with the concerning silent carriage of vanA gene among VSSA and VISA (5%) may underly hidden and uninvestigated factors contributing to vancomycin treatment failure that warrant cautious vancomycin prescription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Manually bent, standard-of-care, Ti–6Al–4V, mandibular graft fixation devices are associated with a significant post-operative failure rate. These failures require the patient to endure stressful and expensive re-operation. The approach recommended in this report demonstrates the optimization of graft fixation device mechanical properties via "stiffness-matching" by varying the fixation device's location, shape, and material composition through simulation of the device's post-operative performance. This provides information during pre-operative planning that may avoid future device failure. Optimized performance may combine translation of all loading into compression of the bone graft with the adjacent bone segments and elimination or minimization of post-healing interruption of normal stress–strain (loading) trajectories. Results: This study reports a sheep mandibular graft model where four animals received virtually optimized, experimental nickel–titanium (NiTi) fixation plates fabricated using laser beam powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing (AM). The last animal, our control, received a standard-of-care, manually bent, Ti–6Al–4V (aka Ti64) fixation plate. A 17.5-mm mandibular graft healed completely in all four animals receiving the experimental device. Experimental NiTi-implanted sheep experienced mandibular bone healing and restoration. The Ti64 plate, in the control animal, fractured and dislocated shortly after being implanted. Conclusion: The use of stiffness-matched implants, by means of plate material (NiTi) and geometry (porosity) enhanced bone healing and promoted better load transfer to the healed bone when compared to the bulk Ti64 found in the fixation plate that the Control animal received. The design technique and screw orientation and depth planning improved throughout the study leading to more rapid healing. The large animal model reported here provides data useful for a follow-on clinical trial. Highlights: Novel stiffness-matching approach to skeletal fixation ensuring compression of bone fragments. Standard-of-Care Ti–6Al–4V device shown to fail quickly in this and another recent study. Less stiff NiTi material and designed porosity facilitate stiffness modulation. Stiffness-matched mandibular graft fixation hardware demonstrates full healing in this sheep model. Personalized fixation location, shape, and material show potential to improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Secondary metabolites of several plants, including esculin and digitoxin, which are cardiac glycosides, were previously employed for their therapeutic effects. The current study aims to investigate the functions of the main Na+ /K+ transport inhibitor digitoxin and the antioxidant esculin for enhancing flax plant growth and production under salinity. Methodology: Flax plants were irrigated with distilled water supplemented with 0.0 and 5000 mg/L salt solution starting from 15 DAS from sowing. Then exogenous treatment with digitoxin and esculin with 50 mg L− 1 and 100 mg L− 1 were used for this work. Results: According to the results of this work, foliar spraying of esculin or digitoxin increased the salinity tolerance of flax plants.The foliar application of either esculin or digitoxin induced an elevation in the contents of photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes including soluble sugar and proline as well as the total phenols in salt-stressed flax plants. Moreover, esculin and digitoxin in particular counteract oxidative stress by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and tyrosine ammonia lyase, leading to a decrease in reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation levels and electrolyte leakage. The efficiency of esculin and digitoxin to sustain ion homeostasis by inhibiting Na+ absorption and increasing potassium, calcium, and phosphorus in flax plants may be the reason for their protective actions towards salinity.As a consequence, esculin and digitoxin increased yield quantity and quality as shown by increases in all investigated yield criteriaas shoot height, root length, their fresh and dry weights as well asseed yield/plant (g), and 1000 seeds weight, especially those that improved the desired oil properties. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study concluded that digitoxin was more effective in inhibiting Na+ build-up and increasing flax salinity tolerance, particularly at the high investigated dose as compared to esculin. In this study, we reported the recent findings of exogenousapplication of either digitoxin or esculin glycosides which are new investigated salt alleviators never used before for improving the salt tolerance in flax plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under which conditions can combative labor in the Global South negotiate state and society relations and constrain the encroachment of their respective militaries on politics? This article argues that the domestic and international legitimacy these militaries enjoy during the transition away from authoritarianism is a key factor shaping labor movements' organizational and mobilizational capacity, labor alliances with other social classes, and labor's capacity to negotiate democratic citizenship. The argument is investigated by examining Egypt and Brazil, where labor strikes delegitimized authoritarian capitalism and inspired the rise of independent and anti-corporatist unions and federations. In Brazil, the military lost its legitimacy domestically and internationally, providing opportunities for labor's democratizing role. Conversely, the Egyptian military held power locally and internationally, thwarting prospects for independent unions to maintain their autonomy from the military and to forge alliances. The research combines historical and archival research with qualitative methods, including interviewing and fieldwork in Egypt and Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clonal disorder arising from the differentiation arrest of myeloid precursor and malignant proliferation of a bone marrow derived, self-renewing stem or progenitor cells inside the bone marrow (BM) and blood due to numerous genetic mutations. Some mutations can also adjust DNA methylation and may play a critical function in pathogenesis in Cytogenetically Normal Acute Myeloid Leukemia (CN-AML). Somatic mutations in DNMT3a were pronounced in approximately 20% and ∼30–35% of overall AML and CN-AML, respectively. Most DNMT3a mutations in AML have been observed to be heterozygous, A missense mutation, R882, located inside Hot spot exon 23, has been found to be the maximum common mutation. This is a preliminary study conducted on 20 adult Egyptian patients newly diagnosed as AML where Sanger sequencing of Hotspot Exon 23 of DNMT3a gene was performed on their initial bone marrow samples and were followed up to 3 months post-induction therapy. Only De Novo AML patients were included in our study. Results: Our results revealed that overall DNMT3a mutations were present in 25% of our patients, 10% having the R882 (rs147001633) mutation being 5% R882C and 5% R882H. Immunophenotyping analysis among Mutated DNMT3a (R882 and Non R882) and Wild DNMT3a revealed that AML markers exhibited no significant differences except for myeloperoxidase positivity which was significant among the groups (0.050). Regarding cytogenetics, only one case of the mutated DNMT3a had positive FISH inv (16), where the rest were FISH negative. After 28 days of induction, 75% of all our patients achieved complete response (CR), 20% achieve partial response (PR) out of which 75% are DNMT3a mutated. After 3 months follow-up, 10% of all patients faced mortality where 5% was DNMT3a wild type (died due to treatment-related mortality) and 5% was R882 mutated DNMT3a. Conclusion: DNMT3a mutations are present in 25% (5/20) of our AML patients, with 10% (2/20) having the R882 mutation being 5% (1/20) R882C and 5% (1/20) R882H. R882 mutation is associated with resistance to chemotherapy, and poorer outcomes, highlighting its poorer prognostic significance in AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present research, samples of Solea solea (Linnaeus) were randomly collected from Qarun Lake, Egypt, for routine parasitological, microbiological, and histopathological examinations. The parasitological analysis revealed that 6.70% of the examined samples were infested with the cymothoid isopod Livoneca redmanii. This parasite was isolated as females from the branchial cavity and as juveniles from the skin of the affected fish. Bacteriological examination identified Aeromonas species isolated from the gills, kidney, and liver of S. solea. Morphological, biochemical characterization, and molecular analysis confirmed the isolate as Aeromonas veronii. The isolated strain produced brown colonies on tryptic soy agar (TSA) supplemented with 3% NaCl. The drug susceptibility test indicated that Aeromonas veronii was sensitive to gentamicin, erythromycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, while exhibiting resistance to nalidixic acid, ampicillin, oxolinic acid, and tetracycline. Histopathological examination of the affected gills revealed edema, leukocyte infiltration, and hyperplasia of mucous cells. The infested skin exhibited sloughing and detachment of the lining epithelium, along with edema and degeneration of the muscles at the site of isopod attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many therapeutic modalities for plantar warts, however treating it remains challenging. Intralesional injection of 5-fluorouarcil and combined digoxin and furosemide were observed to be effective and safe, however no comparison study between them was done. Our study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of both therapies in the treatment of plantar warts. 90 adult patients with multiple recalcitrant plantar warts were included in our study. They were randomly allocated to one of three groups; combined digoxin and furosemide, 5-fluorouarcil, or normal saline group. Fortnightly injections were done into all studied warts till complete clearance or up to 5 sessions. Warts were evaluated clinically and dermoscopically. Clinical response was reported in 24 patients (80%) of the combined digoxin and furosemide group with 40% complete response and in 24 patients (80%) of the 5-fluorouarcil group with 33.3% complete response. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups concerning efficacy and safety. Intralesional injection of 5-fluorouarcil and combined digoxin and furosemide are nearly equivalent in efficacy and safety for plantar wart treatment. Dermoscopy helps to take the truthful judgment about complete clearance of warts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still a big challenge. Rivastigmine is one of the most used drugs for the treatment of AD. The short half-life, lower bioavailability, and less concentration of the drug in the brain after oral delivery are considered the main drawbacks of rivastigmine. To improve these drawbacks, nanostructure-mediated drug delivery has gained more attention. This study investigates the effect of rivastigmine-loaded in optimized chitosan nano-particles (RS-CSNPs) as polymeric nano-carriers by different administration routes (oral and intranasal) on aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced Alzheimer-like disease in rat. The model was established by giving rats 100 mg/kg/b.wt of AlCl3 orally for 3 months. Then the experimental rats were treated with RS-CSNPs either orally or intranasally for 75 days. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry of Tau expression in brain tissue, and gene expression of Caspase-3, NF-κB, and Nrf-2 were carried out. The therapeutic agents used decreased the alterations observed in AlCl3 group with improvement in the neuronal viability. In addition to low expression of tau protein, down-regulation of caspase-3 and NF-κB genes and up-regulation of Nrf-2. RS-CSNPs alleviated the progression of AD presumably via blocking the inflammatory cascade and decreasing the oxidative stress process. The intranasal route is superior to the oral one and promising in AD management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To recognise the principal components of ethical leadership • To be aware of what constitutes deviant workplace behaviours • To enhance your understanding of the relationship between deviant workplace behaviours and ethical leadership in managers. Background: There is increasing research interest in the relationship between ethical leadership and deviant workplace behaviour. Ethical leadership encompasses altruism, courage, ethical orientation, integrity and fairness. Examples of deviant workplace behaviours include theft, fraud, sabotage, assault, abuse, manipulation and bullying. It appears that when leaders are fair and emphasise ethical conduct, followers are less inclined to engage in deviant workplace behaviour. Aim: To investigate the relationship between nurses’ self-rated levels of deviant workplace behaviour and perceived levels of ethical leadership in managers. Method: For this descriptive correlational study, 355 nurses from one university hospital in Egypt responded to an online questionnaire comprising the Ethical Leadership Scale and the Workplace Deviance Behavior Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to explore results and examine the relationships between study variables. Results: There was a statistically significant negative relationship between respondents’ self-rated levels of deviant workplace behaviour and their perceptions of levels of ethical leadership in managers. The results appeared to confirm previous research. Nurses who feel that they are treated fairly by their managers tend to have positive attitudes towards work, colleagues and management. Conclusion: Ethical leadership on the part of managers is a significant determinant of nurses’ behaviour in the workplace and should therefore be fostered by healthcare organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted at Grdarasha field in Salahaddin University –Erbil during the period from 23 November 2021 to 5 January 2022, to determine the effect of using different calcium sources in a broiler diet on growth performance, blood parameters, bone characteristics, and immunity organs. Three hundred (300) chicks have randomly distributed into three (3) treatments following a completely randomized design (CRD). Five replications for each treatment, each replicate contains 20 birds. The dietary treatments include T1: control (0% eggshell), T2 and T3 increasing levels of eggshell powder as a replacement to limestone at 50% and 100%, respectively. The results showed no significant (P> 0.05) differences in broiler live body weight, body weight gain (BWQ), feed intake, feed conversation ratio, and mortality % among different weeks of experiments and different treatments used. The results of blood parameters did not note any significant variations among different treatment groups (P > 0.05) in TG, HDL, LDL and P, however, the significant differences (P < 0.01)was found in the Cholesterol, VLDL, and Calcium . Bone ash mainly consists of calcium and phosphorous, and their level of them differ significantly (P < 0.01) among the different treatments. Also, the results of the effect of dietary treatments on the broilers' bone properties indicated that no significant differences in bone length (cm), diaphysis diameter (mm), Lateral wall thickness (mm), Medial wall thickness (mm), Medullary canal diameter (mm), Tibiotarsal index. However, the significance was found in bone weight and bone-breaking strength which is considered to affect bone fractures in poultry. Nevertheless, the results showed no significant differences in immunity organs, including spleen % and bursa %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cutaneous immune-related adverse events (cirAEs) are the most common toxicities to occur in the setting of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Identifying patients who are at increased risk of developing cirAEs may improve quality of life and outcomes. Objectives To investigate the influence of cancer type and histology on the development of cirAEs in the setting of ICI therapy and survival outcomes. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients recruited between 1 December 2011 and 30 October 2020. They received ICI from 2011 to 2020 with follow-up of outcomes through October 2021. We identified 3668 recipients of ICI therapy who were seen at Massachusetts General Brigham and Dana-Farber. Of these, 669 developed cirAEs. Records that were incomplete or categories of insufficient sample size were excluded from the study cohort. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the impact of cancer organ system and histology on cirAE development, after adjusting for demographics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, ICI type, cancer stage at ICI initiation, and year of ICI initiation. Time-varying Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to examine the impact of cirAE development on mortality. Results Compared with other nonepithelial cancers (neuroendocrine, leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, sarcoma and central nervous system malignancies), cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma [cSCC; hazard ratio (HR) 3.57, P < 0.001], melanoma (HR 2.09, P < 0.001), head and neck adenocarcinoma (HR 2.13, P = 0.009), genitourinary transitional cell carcinoma (HR 2.15, P < 0.001) and genitourinary adenocarcinoma (HR 1.53, P = 0.037) were at significantly higher risk of cirAEs in multivariate analyses. The increased risk of cirAEs translated into an adjusted survival benefit for melanoma (HR 0.37, P < 0.001) and cSCC (HR 0.51, P = 0.011). Conclusions The highest rate of cirAEs and subsequent survival benefits were observed in cutaneous malignancies treated with ICI therapies. This study improves our understanding of patients who are at highest risk of developing cirAEs and would, therefore, benefit from appropriate counselling and closer monitoring by their oncologists and dermatologists throughout their ICI therapy. Limitations include its retrospective nature and cohort from one geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliance on networks and systems has grown rapidly in contemporary times, leading to increased vulnerability to cyber assaults. The Distributed Denial-of-Service (Distributed Denial of Service) attack, a threat that can cause great financial liabilities and reputation damage. To address this problem, Machine Learning (ML) algorithms have gained huge attention, enabling the detection and prevention of DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service) Attacks. In this study, we proposed a novel security mechanism to avoid Distributed Denial of Service attacks. Using an ensemble learning methodology aims to it also can differentiate between normal network traffic and the malicious flood of Distributed Denial of Service attack traffic. The study also evaluates the performance of two well-known ML algorithms, namely, the decision tree and random forest, which were used to execute the proposed method. Tree in defending against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. We test the models using a publicly available dataset called TIME SERIES DATASET FOR DISTRIBUTED DENIAL OF SERVICE ATTACK DETECTION. We compare the performance of models using a list of evaluation metrics developing the Model. This step involves fetching the data, preprocessing it, and splitting it into training and testing subgroups, model selection, and validation. When applied to a database of nearly 11,000 time series; in some cases, the proposed approach manifested promising results and reached an Accuracy (ACC) of up to 100 % in the dataset. Ultimately, this proposed method detects and mitigates distributed denial of service. The solution to securing communication systems from this increasing cyber threat is this: preventing attacks from being successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct fed microbial may enhance the utilization of halophyte forages leading to improved animal growth and productivity. This study was conducted to evaluate Atriplex hay-based diet supplemented with yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; SC) or bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus casei; BAC) on lamb growth performance, digestibility, rumen fermentation, and carcass characteristics. Fifteen Barki lambs (90 ± 7 days of age and 18.6 ± 0.41 kg SE body weight; BW) were randomly assigned to three treatments for 120 days as follows: Control (basal diet without supplementation), SC and BAC diets, the basal diet supplemented with SC or BAC at 2 g/head/day, respectively. All lambs had similar dry matter (DM) intake, while lambs fed SC or BAC dies had higher (P < 0.05) total gain and average daily gain than those fed the control diet. Supplementation of SC or BC increased (P < 0.05) the digestibility of DM, organic matter, and acid detergent fiber, tended to decrease (P < 0.05) the urine N excretion and enhanced the N balance compared to the control. Ruminal pH, acetate, total volatile fatty acids concentrations, and bacterial protein were increased (P < 0.05), while creatinine and urea concentrations were decreased (P < 0.05) by both additives. Compared to other diets, the BAC diet reduced (P < 0.05) triglycerides, total lipids, kidney fat, and eye muscle fat. In conclusion, both additives resulted in similar positive growth performance and feed utilization, while only the BAC additive had a beneficial advantage in reducing the fat content of the carcass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detrimental effects of ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation on living organisms, with a specific focus on the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, were examined. This study investigated the impact of heightened UVC radiation exposure on D. melanogaster by assessing mortality and fertility rates, studying phenotypic mutations, and investigating the associated molecular mechanisms. The findings of this study revealed that UVC radiation increases mortality rates and decreases fertility rates in D. melanogaster. Additionally, phenotypic wing mutations were observed in the exposed flies. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that UVC radiation downregulates the expression of antioxidant genes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), zinc-dependent superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn-SOD), and the G protein-coupled receptor methuselah (MTH) gene. These results suggest that UVC radiation exerts a destructive effect on D. melanogaster by inducing oxidative stress, which is marked by the overexpression of harmful oxidative processes and a simultaneous reduction in antioxidant gene expression. In conclusion, this study underscores the critical importance of comprehending the deleterious effects of UVC radiation, not only to safeguard human health on Earth, but also to address the potential risks associated with space missions, such as the ongoing Emirate astronaut program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Recently, prioritize has been given to using natural phytogenic or nano compounds as growth promoters and immunostimulants in fish diets as an alternative to antibiotics. Aims: The main propose of this trial was to determine the impact of supplementing diets with spirulina or curcumin nanoparticles on the performance and health indicators of Nile tilapia fingerlings. Methods: In a 56-day feeding trial, 180 tilapia fingerlings were assigned into three main groups, as follows: 1st, control group, 2nd, Spirulina platensis (SP; 5 g kg-1 diet) and 3rd, curcumin nanoparticles (CUR-NPs; 30 mg kg-1 diet). Key results: Incorporating tilapia diets with SP or CUR-NPs significantly improved performance, body chemical analysis, blood biochemical and hematological indices, digestive enzyme activities, and antioxidant and immunostimulant features compared to the control. Conclusion: Fortified tilapia diets with CUR-NPs or SP efficiently boost the productivity and health of Nile tilapia fingerlings. Implications: The research introduces new practical solutions for applying safe feed additives as alternatives to antibiotics in tilapia farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by lacy reticular skin hyperpigmentation, bone marrow failure, nail dystrophy, and oral leukoplakia. To the best of our knowledge, only around 200 cases were reported in the medical literature, and in this report, we present another distinctive case from Syria. This case report describes a male patient with generalized reticular pigmentation and abnormal nails since childhood. The patient reported a history of recurrent urethral stenosis and corneal density. Dermoscopic examination revealed pigmented lines arranged in a netlike pattern. Histopathological findings were nonspecific. Hematological values were unremarkable. A contrast CT scan revealed changes in the bladder wall. The final diagnosis of Dyskeratosis Congenita was made based on the clinical criteria. This disorder can present with additional cutaneous manifestations and systemic complications. Treatment are generally prescribed to maintain bone marrow function, based on the fact that it is the major cause of death. Regular monitoring and screening for associated conditions are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The right heart catheterisation constitutes the gold standard for pulmonary hypertension (PH) diagnosis. However, echocardiography remains a reliable, non-invasive, inexpensive, convenient, and easily reproducible modality not only for the preliminary screening of PH but also for PH prognosis. The aim of this review is to describe a cluster of echocardiographic parameters for the detection and prognosis of PH and analyse the challenges of echocardiography implementation in patients with suspected or established PH. The most important echocardiographic index is the calculation of pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) through the tricuspid regurgitation (TR). It has shown high correlation with invasive measurement of pulmonary pressure, but several drawbacks have questioned its accuracy. Besides this, the right ventricular outflow track acceleration time (RVOT-AT) has been proposed for PH diagnosis. A plethora of echocardiographic indices: right atrial area, pericardial effusion, the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), the TAPSE/PASP ratio, tricuspid annular systolic velocity (s′), can reflect the severity and prognosis of PH. Recent advances in echocardiography with 3-dimensional right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction, RV free wall strain and right atrial strain may further assist the prognosis of PH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributed direct current (DC) power system relies heavily on the cascaded DC–DC converter that employs a common bus to connect multiple DC–DC converters. The first stage of the cascaded DC–DC converter is responsible for injecting power from a renewable source or a battery into the DC bus. Conversely, the second stage connects a load to the DC bus, creating a constant power load (CPL) that consumes constant power regardless of the supply voltage. This behavior often causes disturbances and instabilities, leading to unwanted oscillations that adversely impact the quality of the input current. To address this issue, this paper proposes an active current ripple-damping technique that extracts the fundamental of the inductor current. When combined with the super-twisting sliding mode control, this approach effectively mitigates input current ripples and enhances the stability of the CPL. The key to this approach is the sliding surface selection, which requires a cleaned inductor current from the second boost converter. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypotensive anesthesia during shoulder arthroscopy is mandatory. Hypotension in the supine or decubitus position is safe and effective for reducing blood losses and for maintaining a clear surgical field. However, in the beach chair position, major complications have been reported. The current study claims that the alignment of the vessel in these regions favor a stealing-like phenomenon associated with interscalene block. This phenomenon has a good impact on the surgical field. Results: There was a significant change in the peak systolic velocity between the two populations with values of 57±5 in group I versus 90±12 in group G, with a clearer surgical field in group I than in group G. The need for the intraoperative adjuvant analgesics was higher in group G (29 patients) compared with group I (10 patients) as was the pain score at early postoperative intervals of 6 and 12 h. Conclusion: The distribution of blood vessels in this region favors a stealing-like phenomenon may be because of the associated vasoplegic effect with the interscalene nerve block, yielding a favorable surgical field without deliberate hypotension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunosuppressed individuals face a significantly elevated risk of developing aggressive cutaneous malignancies, often surpassing the aggressiveness observed in immunocompetent counterparts. Our patient exhibited several risk factors associated with melanoma development in renal recipients, including skin type, sun exposure, and the duration of immunosuppression. The determination of staging holds paramount importance as it directly influences both prognosis and subsequent management. It is crucial to handle suspected lesions with caution in these patients to facilitate early melanoma detection and enhance overall prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of empagliflozin on liver fat content in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the relationship between the decrease in liver fat and other metabolic actions of empagliflozin. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty individuals with T2D and 27 without were randomly assigned to receive in double-blind fashion empagliflozin or matching placebo (2:1 ratio) for 12 weeks. Participants underwent 75-g oral glucose tolerance testing and measurement of liver fat content with MRS before therapy and at study end. Hepatic glucose production before the start of therapy was measured with 3-3H-glucose. RESULTS: Empagliflozin caused an absolute reduction of 2.39% ± 0.79% in liver fat content compared with an increase of 0.91% ± 0.64% in participants receiving placebo (P < 0.007 with ANOVA). The decrease in liver fat was comparable in both individuals with diabetes and those without (2.75% ± 0.81% and 1.93% ± 0.78%, respectively; P = NS). The decrease in hepatic fat content caused by empagliflozin was strongly correlated with baseline liver fat content (r = −0.62; P < 0.001), decrease in body weight (r = 0.53; P < 0.001), and improvement in insulin sensitivity (r = −0.51; P < 0.001) but was not related to the decrease in fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c or the increase in hepatic glucose production. CONCLUSIONS: Empagliflozin is effective in reducing liver fat content in individuals with and without T2D. The decrease in liver fat content is independent of the decrease in plasma glucose concentration and is strongly related to the decrease in body weight and improvement in insulin sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most prevalent major sleep disorder in the world, has been associated with obesity. Besides reducing weight, bariatric surgery has been reported to improve OSA. Data on the effects of bariatric surgery on OSA are scarce in Egypt. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of bariatric surgery on OSA. Patients and methods This is a prospective study that was conducted on patients who were candidates for bariatric surgery at our institution who completed the STOP-Bang questionnaire before the surgery with a score greater than or equal to 4 and underwent reevaluation 6 months after surgery. All patients underwent a standardized clinical assessment. The 6-month follow-up data were recorded and analyzed. Results The present study included 30 patients, with a mean baseline BMI of 54.32±9.77 kg/ m2 . The surgeries performed were Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) (n=21, 70%) and Laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) (n=9, 30%). The mean baseline STOP-Bang score was 5.3±1.09. At the 6-month follow-up, the mean 6- month postoperative STOP-Bang score was 1.13±1.04 (P<0.001). No statistically significant differences were noted in the BMI or the STOP-Bang score before and after surgery according to the surgery type (P>0.05). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the 6-month BMI reduction and the Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea, Pressure, BMI, Age, Neck, Gender (STOP-Bang) score improvement (r=0.397, P=0.0298). Conclusion This study demonstrated the bariatric surgery-initiated evident improvement and even complete resolution of OSA in patients with obesity, as measured by the STOP-Bang score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is no established dose for norepinephrine (NE) in the management of postspinal hypotension. The data on its use in women with preeclampsia (PE) are limited. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of using differentNEbolus doses for themanagementof postspinal hypotension during lower segment cesarean section for patients with PE. Methods: This randomized, double-blind trial included mothers with PE scheduled for cesarean delivery who developed postspinal hypotension. Sixty participants were allocated to receive 3, 4, or 5 μg of NEbolus. The primaryoutcomewasthe neonatal bicarbonate level. The secondary outcomes were successful management of hypotension, incidence of reactive hypertension, nausea, vomiting, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and heart rate (HR) readings through the operation, umbilical blood gases, and Apgar scores. Results: The number of hypotensive episodes, bradycardia episodes, successfully treated hypotensive episodes, and total NE dose per patient were lower in the 4- and 5-μg groups compared with the 3-μg group. Systolic blood pressure was generally higher in the 4- and 5-μg groups than in the 3-μg group starting from 12 min postspinal till 28 min postspinal. The heart rate decreased compared to the baseline reading starting from 4, 6, and 2 min postspinal in the 3-, 4-, and 5-μg groups, respectively, till 28 min postspinal. Also, HR was higher in the 4- and 5-μg groups compared to the 3-μg group at 6-12 min postspinal. Following the first NE bolus, SBP remained lower than the baseline reading in the 3 groups, and HR decreased compared to the baseline reading in the 3- and 5-μg groups only. Conclusions: The 3-, 4-, and 5-μg doseshad comparable efficacy inmanagingthe first hypotensive episodeandcomparable neonatal outcomes. The 4- and 5-μg doses significantly decreased the total NE requirements and the number of hypotensive episodes. The incidence of maternal bradycardia was not significantly different between the groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine the impact of increased hepatic glucose production (HGP) on the decrease in plasma glucose concentration caused by empagliflozin in individuals living with diabetes and in nondiabetic individuals. Methods: A total of 36 individuals living with diabetes and 34 nondiabetic individuals were randomized to receive, in double‐blind fashion, empagliflozin or matching placebo in a 2:1 treatment ratio. Following an overnight fast, HGP was measured with 3‐3H‐glucose infusion before, at the start of, and 3 months after therapy with empagliflozin. Results: On Day 1 of empagliflozin administration, the increase in urinary glucose excretion (UGE) in individuals with normal glucose tolerance was smaller than in those with impaired glucose tolerance and those living with diabetes, and was accompanied by an increase in HGP in all three groups. The amount of glucose returned to the systemic circulation as a result of the increase in HGP was smaller than that excreted by the kidney during the first 3 h after empagliflozin administration, resulting in a decrease in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration. After 3 h, the increase in HGP was in excess of UGE, leading to a small increase in plasma glucose concentration, which reached a new steady state. After 12 weeks, the amount of glucose returned to the circulation due to the empagliflozin‐induced increase in HGP was comparable with that excreted by the kidney in all three groups. Conclusion: The balance between UGE and increase in HGP immediately after sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibition determined the magnitude of decrease in FPG and the new steady state which was achieved. After 12 weeks, the increase in HGP caused by empagliflozin closely matched the amount of glucose excreted by the kidneys; thus, FPG level remained stable despite the continuous urinary excretion of glucose caused by SGLT2 inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five years crossbreeding experiment was preformed involving two synthetic rabbit lines of APRI (A) and Moshtohor (M) where bucks of APRI line and does of Moshtohor line were used to produce F1 crossbreds (½A½M), followed by inter-se mating to obtain F2 crossbreds (½A½M)² . A total number of 263 sires, 445 dams and 1998 kits were used to estimate heritabilities and predicted breeding values (PBV) for post-weaning body weights (BW) and daily weight gains (DG). The variance components estimated by Gibbs Sampling were used to solve the mixed model equations using the PEST software, getting the solutions for genetic groups' effects along with the solutions for other fixed effects. The crossbreeding effects in terms of direct additive genetic effects (G I ), maternal effects (GM ), direct heterosis (HI ) and maternal heterosis (HM ) were obtained according to Dickerson model using the procedure of Generalized Least Squares (GLS). Heritability estimates were low to moderate, ranging from 0.17 to 0.36 for BW and 0.09 to 0.23 for DG. The ratios of common litter effects were low to moderate and ranging from 0.04 to 0.16 for BW and 0.03 to 0.26 for DG. The interse cross (½A½M)² had the lowest ranges in PBVs for BW and DG relative to the other three genetic groups. The percentages of GI were in favor of M line by 0.2 to 2.3 % for BW and by 0.5 to 3.2 % for DG. Also, the percentages of GM were in favor of M line by 2.1 to 4.6 % for BW and by 1.6 to 9.4 % for DG. The estimates of HI were mostly significantly positive and ranging from 15.1 to 20.9 % for BW and 5.0 to 32.3 % for DG. Also, the estimates of HM were significantly positive by 6.8 to 11.0 % for BW and 0.7 to 18.1 % for DG. In practice, new synthetic rabbit lines could be established in Egypt using the APRI line as a sire-group and the Moshtohor line as a dam-group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five years crossbreeding experiment was preformed involving two synthetic rabbit lines of APRI (A) and Moshtohor (M) where bucks of APRI line and does of Moshtohor line were used to produce F1 crossbreds (½A½M), followed by inter-se mating to obtain F2 crossbreds (½A½M)². PCR-RFLP technique was used to detect the SNP genotyping of MSTN gene in APRI and Moshtohor lines and their progenies of F1 and F2 crossbreds and to detect the molecular associations between SNP genotypes of MSTN candidate gene and growth traits using FspBI restriction enzyme. Two genotypes of MSTN gene were detected (TT and TA) in each separate genetic group. The variance components estimated by Gibbs Sampling were used to solve the mixed model equations using the PEST software, getting the solutions for genetic groups effects along with the solutions for other fixed effects. Then, the generalized least-square means (GLM) for the two genotypes of the MSTN gene were estimated using the PEST software. The GLM obtained for body weights at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age in both crosses of ½A½M and (½A½M)² were higher than those of their parental lines of APRI and Moshtohor. But, APRI-line rabbits were nearly similar in body weights to Moshtohor line rabbits at 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age. The effective numbers of alleles (Ne) were 1.26, 1.08, 1.11 and 1.37 in APRI line, Moshtohor line, ½A½M and (½A½M)² crosses, respectively. High degrees of similarity were detected between the numbers of expected and observed genotypes in all genetic groups and therefore these genetic groups were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) for MSTN gene. The values of polymorphic information content (PIC) were low and ranged from 0.073 in Moshtohor line to 0.235 in (½A½M)² cross. The genotypic frequencies of TT genotype of MSTN gene were high in all genetic groups (0.68 to 0.92). The allelic frequency recorded for T allele was much higher than for A allele. The heterozygosis for MSTN gene in all genetic groups were low or moderate, ranging from 0.079 to 0.323 for the observed heterozygosity (HO) and 0.076 to 0.271 for the expected heterozygosity (He). The reductions in heterozygosity due to inbreeding (FIS) in all genetic groups were low. In different genetic groups, both TT and TA genotypes of MSTN gene were found to be significantly associated with most body weights and gains at different ages. In APRI line and (½A½M)² cross, TT genotype was positively associated with an increase in most body weights. In Moshtohor and ½A½M cross, TA genotype was positively associated with heavy body weights. High means for TT and TA genotypes of MSTN gene in ½A½M and (½A½M)² crosses were recorded and showing strong positive associations of both TT and TA genotypes of MSTN gene with most body weights and gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted to explore the productive performance and health status of lactating buffaloes fed diets supplemented with probiotic and/or fibrolytic enzymes. Forty multiparous lactating Egyptian buffaloes (body weight 451 ± 8.5 kg) were equally assigned to four experimental groups: (1) the first group fed control diet, (2) second experimental group fed control diet plus 4 g of probiotic/kg dry matter (DM) (probiotic), (3) third experimental group fed control diet plus 4 g of fibrolytic enzymes/kg DM (enzymes) and (4) fourth experimental group fed control diet plus 2 g of probiotic + 2 g fibrolytic enzymes/kg DM (Mix), The experiment was extended for 63 days. Nutrients digestibility was estimated, daily milk yield was recorded and milk samples were analyzed for total solids, fat protein, lactose and ash. Blood serum samples were analyzed for glucose, total protein, albumin, urea‐N, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and cholesterol concentrations. Results showed that adding probiotic and/or fibrolytic enzymes improved nutrients digestibility (p < 0.05). The probiotic, enzymes and mix groups did not affect (p > 0.05) concentrations of serum total protein, albumin (A), globulin (G), albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio and urea‐N concentrations. An improvement in daily milk yield (p < 0.0001) and energy‐corrected milk (p = 0.0146) were observed with the probiotic and mix groups compared with the control. In conclusion, this study suggests that supplementing lactating buffaloes' diets with probiotic alone or in combination with fibrolytic enzymes would improve their productive performance without adversely impacting their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate how effective self-assessment training is in improving the self-regulated learning (SRL) ability of operative dentistry students. The secondary aim was to explore students' attitudes towards self-assessment in clinical settings. INTRODUCTION: Self-assessment has been the focus of dental education research for decades and has been claimed to be cornerstone in the SRL process. METHODS: This is quasi-experimental study conducted at Damascus University Faculty of Dental Medicine, Syria. A modified direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) assessment protocol with a self-assessment component was applied to a convenience sample of students across five clinical encounters in 2022. Data were collected during clinical training on the DOPS form and at the end of the experiment using a structured questionnaire with a single open-ended question. The qualitative part of the study followed a deductive theory-informed content analysis approach, relying on Zimmerman SRL theory. RESULTS: A total number of 32 students participated in the study, eight of whom were male. During the experiment assessment, participants showed overwhelming positive attitudes towards the utility of self-assessment (m ≥ 3.5; max:4) and the overall assessment method (3.3 ≥ m ≥ 3.5; max:4). Cronbach's alpha for the post-experiment questionnaire was 0.888. A total of 84.4% of the participants strongly agreed that self-assessment is useful in clinical training. Data collected (qualitative and quantitative) from participants revealed the positive effects of self-assessment on all three phases of SRL, especially the reflection phase. CONCLUSION: Self-assessment practice and training showed positive results in terms of improving SRL and performance in a clinical context; SRL appeared to be affected by self-assessment in all phases (forethought, performance, and reflection). Participants' perceptions of self-assessment were generally very positive. These findings imply the potential benefits of applying self-assessment training interventions to foster the SRL ability of learners within the clinical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of novel naphthimindazol‐N‐oxides and naphththiazol‐N‐oxide have been prepared in a simple two‐step process. The first step involves the reaction of 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitronaphthalene with glycine, alanine, glycolic acid, thioglycolic acid, and their methyl esters affording substitution products, the subsequent treatment of which with base furnishes naphthimindazol‐N‐oxide and naphththiazol‐N‐oxide derivatives. Stepwise reaction mechanisms via carbanions, nitrogen anions, and spiro Meisenheimer intermediates are proposed. The action of 10% NaOH in dioxane on the substitution products was measured spectrophotochemically, and the kinetic studies suggested that the N‐naphthyl glycine and N‐naphthyl alanine follow a second‐order rate law while S‐naphthyl thioglycolic acid is accurately first‐order kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) stands out as one of the most frequent and clinically significant complications following abdominal surgery. The present study aimed to investigate the role of computed tomography (CT) with oral contrast media in guiding treatment and predicting the success of conservative treatment in patients presenting with adhesive SBO. Patients and methods This is a prospective study that was conducted on adult patients who were clinically and radiologically proven to have SBO and had a history of at least one previous abdominal surgical intervention. The included patients underwent CT examination of the abdomen and pelvis with oral contrast. Patients who had the oral contrast seen reaching the right colon were admitted and completed conservative management. Surgical intervention was indicated in patients who showed failure of treatment with oral contrast. Results This study included 70 patients, of whom 29 (41.4%) had contrast in the right colon during CT examination after the first oral contrast administration. The remaining patients (n=41, 58.6%) indicated a second oral contrast CT study after 24 h. Sixteen (22.9%) patients had nonresolving obstructions and underwent surgical intervention. Overall, 52 (74.3%) patients were successfully treated with oral contrast studies, with no subsequent morbidity. Significant predictors for surgical intervention were a history of more than one previous surgical intervention (OR=6.08, CI: 1.75-21.14, P=0.005) and nonpassage of contrast to the right colon in the CT study (OR=0.099, CI: 0.029-0.341, P<0.001). Conclusion This study highlights the clinical relevance of CT with oral contrast studies in guiding management. A history of multiple previous surgeries and nonpassage of the oral contrast to the right colon emerged as a significant predictor for surgical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the world. It is divided into two important prognostic categories, germinal centre B cell (GCB) and non-germinal centre B cell (non-GCB) subtypes according to the cell of origin. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency of each subtype of DLBCL using a modified Hans algorithm in addition to the association of CD10 and MUM1 immunohistochemical expression with clinicopathological parameters (age, sex, type of specimen (nodal or extranodal) in Ninevah Province (Iraq). Methods: A retrospective and prospective case series study of 61 cases of DLBCL which were collected from histopathological departments of governmental and private labs over 10 months extending from November 2022 to August 2023. DLBCL subtypes (GCB and non-GCB/ABC) were assessed based on immunohistochemical expressions of CD10 and MUM1. Results: A total of 61 patients, (59%) were non-GCB, while (41%) were GCB subtypes. Thirty-four (55.7%) cases were male, whereas twenty-seven (44.3%) were female. The median age was (61 years), 44 (72.1%) cases were nodal and 17 (27.9%) were extranodal primary sites. There is a significant inverse relation between CD10 and MUM1 expression (p-value 0.02). Conclusions: In the Ninevah population, there was a high frequency of unfavourable prognostic markers that included a predominance of non-GCB/ ABC DLBCL. It is necessary to investigate more since it represents high-risk subsets for whom different approaches to diagnosis and treatment should be considered. The significant inverse relation between CD10 and MUM1 supports the Modified Hans algorithm in subtyping DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigated the effect of adding different doses of galangal rhizome powder (Alpinia galanga) to the diets of lactating buffaloes on milk production, composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation kinetics. Twenty buffaloes were divided into four groups: (T1) a control diet comprising of concentrates, corn silage and rice straw at 50: 35: 15 on a DM basis, (T2) a control diet plus 15 g of galangal/animal/day and (T3) a control diet plus 30 g of galangal/animal/day and (T4) a control diet plus 45 g of galangal/animal/day. Results showed that inclusion of galangal in diets decreased (p < 0.05) the concentrations of butyrate, ammonia-nitrogen, CO2, and total protozoa count as compared with T1. Acetate concentration was lower in T4 as compared with other groups (p < 0.05). While propionate concentration was lower (p < 0.05) in T2 as compared with T1. T3 and T4 lowered (p < 0.05) methane, CO2 productions, and protozoa count. T3 increased (p < 0.05) milk yield, energy corrected milk (ECM), yield of total solids, total protein, and solids not fat (SNF) than recorded for T1. While T4 recorded the lowest values (p < 0.05) of milk yield, ECM, total solids, fat, and total protein. The current results support the hypothesis that the inclusion of galangal in lactating buffaloes' diets at 30 g per animal daily improved feed intake and milk yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nurses' job crafting, organizational identification, and work attachment. BACKGROUND: Job crafting is a proactive activity in which nurses adapt the physical, cognitive, or social aspects of their jobs to make them more meaningful. Nurses are considered fundamental healthcare stakeholders who are able to transform initiatives implemented by the healthcare organization into valuable work outcomes. Nurses' perceptions of their jobs shape the community's opinion toward an organization. METHODS: This is a descriptive correlational study. Two hundred seventy nurses were recruited from 1 governmental hospital in Egypt. Respondents completed the self-administered, printed questionnaires. Measures included job crafting, organizational identification, and work attachment questionnaires. Findings were investigated via descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Over half of the nurses reported a moderate level of job crafting, whereas none of the nurses reported a high level of organizational identification. More than half of the nurses reported low levels of work attachment. CONCLUSION: Job crafting is significantly related to nurses' organizational identification and work attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saudi Arabia struggles to supply its population with enough clean water as being one of the biggest and fastest-growing nations outside its own continent. For this study 49 groundwater samples were collected between June and December of 2021. Different analytical techniques were used for determinations of anions and cations concentration. Using World Health Organization's recommended safe limits to compare results that were collected. Groundwater is affected by aquifer matrix disintegration, water infiltration from irrigation systems, and water–rock interactions, according to the results of the hydrogeochemical study. The anions HCO3−, CO32−, Cl−, NO32−, and F−, as well as the cations Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, were also presented in the collected groundwater samples in acceptable concentrations. Using physical characteristics and hydrochemical characterizations is also a commendable approach to regulating the quality of groundwater samples collected for crop agriculture and irrigation. Most of the collected groundwater samples are desired and fit for human and industrial consumption. In addition, application of the statistical analysis concluded that in some locations contaminated surface water may recharge the groundwater. A variety of physical characteristics, including as EC, SAR, RSC, KR, MH, CR, PI, and PS, are widely used to regulate the quality of groundwater samples collected for crops agriculture and irrigation. Piper and Gibbs diagrams for groundwater hydrochemical characterizations were used. The obtained results indicated that the collected groundwater samples are acceptable for crops drinking, agriculture and irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen: Pese al reciente aumento del nivel de estudios de las mujeres árabes palestinas en Israel, sus tasas de actividad y ocupación siguen siendo inferiores a las de las mujeres judías. En este estudio, basado en datos de la Encuesta de Población Activa y la Encuesta Social de Israel (periodo 1995‐2016), se investiga si este patrón se explica por factores socioeconómicos y demográficos, la religiosidad, los activos de capital humano, la estructura familiar y políticas públicas conexas, y la jubilación anticipada. Se constata que estos factores afectan a la participación de las mujeres árabes palestinas en el mercado laboral, de lo que se extraen algunas recomendaciones de políticas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The desire to avoid autograft harvesting in implant dentistry has prompted an ever-increasing quest for bioceramic bone substitutes, which stimulate osteogenesis while resorbing in a timely fashion. Consequently, a highly bioactive silicon containing calcium alkali orthophosphate (Si-CAP) material was created, which previously was shown to induce greater bone cell maturation and bone neo-formation than β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) in vivo as well as in vitro. Our study tested the hypothesis that the enhanced effect on bone cell function in vitro and in sheep in vivo would lead to more copious bone neoformation in patients following sinus floor augmentation (SFA) employing Si-CAP when compared to β-TCP. (2) Methods: The effects of Si-CAP on osteogenesis and Si-CAP resorbability were evaluated in biopsies harvested from 38 patients six months after SFA in comparison to β-TCP employing undecalcified histology, histomorphometry, and immunohistochemical analysis of osteogenic marker expression. (3) Results: Si-CAP as well as β-TCP supported matrix mineralization and bone formation. Apically furthest away from the original bone tissue, Si-CAP induced significantly higher bone formation, bone-bonding (bone-bioceramic contact), and granule resorption than β-TCP. This was in conjunction with a higher expression of osteogenic markers. (4) Conclusions: Si-CAP induced higher and more advanced bone formation and resorbability than β-TCP, while β-TCP's remarkable osteoconductivity has been widely demonstrated. Hence, Si-CAP constitutes a well-suited bioactive graft choice for SFA in the clinical arena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]