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Background: Over the last fifty years, the frequency and intensity of disasters have escalated, highlighting the importance of healthcare practitioners (HCPs) being thoroughly prepared for disaster management. Despite this pressing need, there is a notable lack of well-developed and rigorously evaluated assessment tools to evaluate disaster preparedness among HCPs across various disciplines and disaster scenarios. This study aims to develop and evaluate a Disaster Management Assessment Tool for Health Care Practitioners (DMAT_HCP). Methods: The DMAT_HCP was designed following the four stages of the Disaster Management Framework and a literature review of similar previously validated tools. Content validity was assessed through two rounds of review by nine and six experts, whereas face validity was assessed by 11 HCPs. DMAT_HCP was tested on 107 HCPs from different health disciplines and settings to evaluate the structural (factor analysis) and construct (convergent and divergent) validities as well as internal consistency reliability. Results: DMAT_HCP comprised five Likert scales that assess the preparedness and readiness of HCPs for disaster, with satisfactory content validity indices (CVI > 0.83 for six experts). Factor analysis of the entire set of DMAT_HCP items suggested six factors: knowledge, two sub-domains of attitude, practice, willingness to practice, and organization-based management, which together accounted for 77.9% of the variance in the data. Convergent and divergent validity analyses showed that all items within a section had a correlation coefficient greater than 0.4 with their corresponding section score, and they were more strongly correlated with their own section than with scores from other sections. Cronbach's alpha values for the individual sections ranged from 0.89 (attitude) to 0.97 (organization-based management), and the overall Cronbach's alpha for the DMAT_HCP was 0.90. Conclusions: This study substantiated that DMAT_HCP is both conceptually and methodologically valid and reliable. It has demonstrated strong content validity, accurately measures the intended constructs, and effectively distinguishes between unrelated constructs. The tool also exhibited excellent internal consistency reliability across its components. The tool offers a comprehensive, globally applicable assessment of disaster management, suitable for use across various healthcare professions, settings, disaster contexts, and management phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine the validity of malpractice claims, this study sought to determine the medico-legal significance of serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCHL-1) as predictive biomarkers of outcome in mild and moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: The present study was carried out on 60 admitted TBI cases categorized into a control group which included 20 healthy volunteers; a mildly injured group which included 40 cases of traumatic brain injuries with GCS (13–15); and moderate injured group which included 20 cases of traumatic brain injuries with GCS (9–12) admitted to the neurosurgery department at Ain Shams University Hospitals, serum levels of GFAP and UCHL-1 were evaluated within 12 h. Results: There were more male instances than female cases. The age group (18–25 years) represented the most common group subjected to traumatic brain injury, while the age group (> 61 years) was the least common among the studied cases. Serum GFAP and UCHL-1 could differentiate between mild and moderate TBI with 95% and 90% sensitivity and 95% and 75% specificity, respectively. Serum GFAP and UCHL-1 could distinguish between different CT findings with 78.95% and 89.46% sensitivity and 100% and 91.43% specificity, respectively. Conclusion: The accuracy of serum GFAP alone was greater than the accuracy of the measurement of both biomarkers, and the accuracy of the combination of all variables was slightly better than that of serum GFAP alone as a predictor of unfavorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Mental health concerns among university faculty are on the rise, with reports of anxiety, depression, and occupational stress, impacting the higher education community. In Qatar, an assessment of faculty mental health has not been previously realized. The objectives of the current study were twofold: Firstly, to evaluate the extent of perceived occupational stress, depression, anxiety, and stress, and secondly, to assess the association among these mental health parameters. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among faculty using an online, self-administered, anonymous, voluntary survey. All faculty were included by sending the survey to their institutional emails. In addition to faculty demographics and general health status, the survey measured perceived stress due to academic job roles using the Faculty Stress Index (FSI) with its five distinct domains, and assessed faculty mental health using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21). Modified Poisson regression with robust variance was used to assess how FSI influences levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: A total of 112 faculty responded to the survey. The highest faculty self-perceptions of mental health conditions were for anxiety (63% at least moderate), followed by depression (30% at least moderate), and least for stress (26% at least moderate). The overall mean FSI score was 48.8 ± 29.4; time constraint and rewards and recognition domains scored highest (18.5 ± 11.4 and 13.3 ± 9.3 respectively) while the departmental influence domain scored least (4.8 ± 4.4). Increased risk of at least moderate levels of self-perceived depression and stress were significantly associated with higher FSI score (p˂0.001). Increased risk of at least moderate levels of depression were less likely among faculty aged 50 years and above (p = 0.034), while increased risk of at least moderate levels of anxiety were more likely among faculty from humanities colleges (p = 0.027). Conclusions: This is the first investigation of university faculty mental health in Qatar, indicating multifactorial perceived occupational stress, associated with higher perceived severity of mental health conditions. These baseline results establish links between specific occupational stressors for faculty and their mental well-being. As such, assessment of mental health conditions, controlling occupational stress, and developing tailored mental health interventions for faculty, are strategic to implement and foster well-being of academics. Further research into mental health of faculty and designing effective interventions that consider their specific stressors and associated factors are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary ascites in a newborn infant is unusual and most commonly indicates a disruption to the integrity of urinary tract, the most common cause being posterior urethral valve. We report a case of fetal urinary bladder rupture due to posterior urethral valve. The case was diagnosed antenatally by ultrasonography and after birth the diagnosis is confirmed by ascitic fluid study and imaging technique and managed successfully by participation of gynecologist, neonatologist, radiologist and urologist. Urinary ascites should be considered in a male neonate with ascites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Field study was conducted in Barsiq village, Abu Homs city, Beheira Governorate during two successive seasons, summer seasons 2021 and 2022. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two entomopathogenic 'fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae three concentrations 1x106, 1x109 and 1x1012 spores/ml were used. Also, three commercial bioinsecticides [Biosiana 2.5% WP, Biometa 2.5% WP and Ememactin benzoat 5.7% WG]. The insecticide Methomyl 90% SP, for comparison under field conditions on the population of potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) which is considered the main insect pest that attacks potato Solanum tuberosum L. The obtained results showed the efficiency of tested control methods to protect potato foliage from PTM infestation, the highest value was recorded with Methomyl insecticide, followed by E. benzoat, combining E. benzoat with Biosiana, E. benzoat with Biometa, Biosiana, Biometa respectively. While the entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana 1×1012, 1×109, 1×106 and M. anisopliae 1×1012, 1×109, 1×106, respectively. The relation between treatments and potato yield indicated that the highest increase of the potato yield was recorded with Methomyl insecticide, followed by, E. benzoat, combining E. benzoat with Biosiana, E. benzoat with Biometa, Biosiana and, Biometa respectively, Biosiana, Biometa, B. bassiana and M. anisopliae three concentrations (1×1012, 1×109, 1×106) spores/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pot experiment was conducted at the Ornamental Department of the Horticulture Research Station in Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt during two seasons, 2021 and 2022. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar application with nano-NPK and nano-chitosan using different doses under soil salinity stress on the growth and physiochemical attributes of Kigelia africana L. transplants. The treatments were mineral NPK using 5 g L-1 as a control, nano-NPK at three doses including 1, 2, and 3 ml L-1, as well as nano-NPK at only one dose of 2 ml L-1 + nano-chitosan at three doses (i.e., 1, 2 and 3 ml L-1) for each. The obtained results showed that the applied nano-NPK at 2 ml L-1 + nano-chitosan at 2 ml L-1 significantly increased plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), fresh and dry weight of vegetative parts per transplant (g), membrane stability index, as well as root length (cm), number of roots and root fresh and dry weights plant with the superiority of nano-NPK at 2 ml L-1 + nano-chitosan at 2 ml L-1 over control in both seasons. Most treatments recorded significantly higher values in chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, catalase, and peroxidase activity in the leaves than control, with the superiority of nano-NPK at 2 ml L-1 + nano-chitosan at 2 ml L-1 transplants compared to the control. The nutrient contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the leaves were significantly increased over the control for all treatments, especially in the treatment of nano-NPK + nano-chitosan at 2 ml L-1 under soil salinity stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the accuracy of the absence of cardiac motion on point-of-care echocardiography (PCE) in predicting termination of resuscitation (TOR), short-term death (STD), and long-term death (LTD), in adult patients with cardiac arrest of all etiologies in out-of-hospital and emergency department setting. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted based on PRISMA guidelines. A literature search in Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, WHO registry, and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed from inspection to August 2022. Risk of bias was evaluated using QUADAS-2 tool. Meta-analysis was divided into medical cardiac arrest (MCA) and traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated using bivariate random-effects, and heterogeneity was analyzed using I2 statistic. Results: A total of 27 studies (3657 patients) were included in systematic review. There was a substantial variation in methodologies across the studies, with notable difference in inclusion criteria, PCE timing, and cardiac activity definition. In MCA (15 studies, 2239 patients), the absence of cardiac activity on PCE had a sensitivity of 72% [95% CI 62–80%] and specificity of 80% [95% CI 58–92%] to predict LTD. Although the low numbers of studies in TCA preluded meta-analysis, all patients who lacked cardiac activity on PCE eventually died. Conclusions: The absence of cardiac motion on PCE for MCA predicts higher likelihood of death but does not have sufficient accuracy to be used as a stand-alone tool to terminate resuscitation. In TCA, the absence of cardiac activity is associated with 100% mortality rate, but low number of patients requires further studies to validate this finding. Future work would benefit from a standardized protocol for PCE timing and agreement on cardiac activity definition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Globally, every year, 20 million neonates are born with weights below 2500 g and are considered low birth weight (LBW). About 90% of these births occur in low- and middle-income countries. Information regarding the geographical variation, socioeconomic inequalities of LBW neonates, and the relationship between maternal inadequate dietary diversity and LBW is limited in rural areas of Bangladesh. We aimed to explore the geographical disparities and socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of LBW and its association with inadequate maternal dietary diversity. Methods We extracted data from a large-scale evaluation programme conducted as a part of the maternal infant and young child nutrition phase two in Bangladesh, implemented by BRAC. We used the concentration index (CIX) to measure the socioeconomic inequalities of LBW. We performed a cluster-adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the association between LBW and maternal dietary diversity. Results A total of 4651 children aged <5 years with their mother’s information were included. The overall prevalence of LBW was 13.5%. About 16% of mothers living in the poorest wealth quintile gave birth to LBW babies, whereas 10% of mothers living in the richest households gave birth to LBW babies. The CIX exhibited LBW babies were more prevalent among the socioeconomically worst-off (poorest) group (CIX=−0.08), indicating mothers of the poorest households are vulnerable to giving birth to normal-weight babies. An adjusted multiple logistic regression model indicated that mothers with inadequate dietary diversity had higher odds (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.27; 95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.04, 1.54) of giving birth to LBW babies. Notably, in the interaction of mothers’ age and dietary diversity, we found that adolescent mothers (aged ≤19 years) with inadequate dietary diversity had 2.56 times (AOR=2.56; 95% CI=1.14, 5.76) higher odds of giving birth to LBW babies compared to adult mothers (aged >19 years) who consumed diversified foods. Conclusions Intervention strategies for reducing LBW prevalence should target the poorest households. Also, interventions for improving the dietary diversity of adolescent pregnant mothers are expected to reduce the number of LBW babies from the rural areas of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity is considered a serious and limiting factor reducing the crop productivity in particular under arid, and semi-arid conditions. Pot experiments were conducted at the Ornamental Department of the Horticulture Research Station in Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt during the season of 2021 and 2022. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar application with nano-NPK and nano-sulfur using different doses on the growth and chemical compounds of Khaya senegalensis L. under salinity stress. The studied treatments were mineral NPK fertilizer at 5 g L-1 (as a control), applied nano-NPK at 1, 2 and 3 ml L-1, besides three combinations of nano NPK (2 ml L-1) and applied nano-sulfur at 1, 2 and 3 ml L-1, separately. The obtained results showed that the treatment of nano-NPK 2 ml L-1 + nano-sulfur 2 and/or 3 ml L-1 significantly increased plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), fresh and dry weights of vegetative parts per seedling (g), membrane stability index, as well as root length (cm), number of roots and root fresh and dry weights per plant. The superiority of the nano-NPK at 2 ml L-1 + nano-sulfur at 2 ml L-1 treatment comparing with the control in both seasons. Most treatments recorded significantly higher chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, catalase and peroxidase activity in the leaves than control. A superiority was found after applying nano-NPK 2 ml L-1 + nano-sulfur 2 ml L-1 in both seasons for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in the leaves, which was significantly increased over the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the influence of used information sources on behaviour change related to physical activity (PA). It analyses secondary data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey conducted in 2017 among 1050 Qatari adolescents aged 13–19 years. Multivariable logistic regression accounting for survey design examined the association between the outcome (attempt to change PA) and interpersonal, online, traditional, and social media information sources. Adolescents who used information from interpersonal and online sources to attempt changing their behaviour had nine times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.15–21.08) and nearly three times (95% CI: 1.50–4.27) higher odds of a change in PA behaviour, respectively. The estimated average marginal effects of using information from interpersonal and online sources were 46-percentage point and 16-percentage point increase in the probability of attempting PA behaviour change, respectively. Policymakers may benefit from this research in designing appropriate PA interventions that adapt multiple delivery approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine environment is a rich source of bioactive compounds. Therefore, the sea cucumber was isolated from the Red Sea at the Al-Ain Al-Sokhna coast and it was identified as surf redfish (Actinopyga mauritiana). The aqueous extract of the surf redfish was utilized as an ecofriendly, novel and sustainable approach to fabricate zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). The biosynthesized ZnO-NPs were physico-chemically characterized and evaluated for their possible antibacterial and insecticidal activities. Additionally, their safety in the non-target organism model (Nile tilapia fish) was also investigated. ZnO-NPs were spherical with an average size of 24.69 ± 11.61 nm and had a peak at 350 nm as shown by TEM and UV-Vis, respectively. XRD analysis indicated a crystalline phase of ZnO-NPs with an average size of 21.7 nm. The FTIR pattern showed biological residues from the surf redfish extract, highlighting their potential role in the biosynthesis process. DLS indicated a negative zeta potential (−19.2 mV) of the ZnO-NPs which is a good preliminary indicator for their stability. ZnO-NPs showed larvicidal activity against mosquito Culex pipiens (LC50 = 15.412 ppm and LC90 = 52.745 ppm) and a potent adulticidal effect to the housefly Musca domestica (LD50 = 21.132 ppm and LD90 = 84.930 ppm). Tested concentrations of ZnO-NPs showed strong activity against the 3rd larval instar. Topical assays revealed dose-dependent adulticidal activity against M. domestica after 24 h of treatment with ZnO-NPs. ZnO-NPs presented a wide antibacterial activity against two fish-pathogen bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas hydrophila. Histopathological and hematological investigations of the non-target organism, Nile tilapia fish exposed to 75–600 ppm ZnO-NPs provide dose-dependent impacts. Overall, data highlighted the potential applications of surf redfish-mediated ZnO-NPs as an effective and safe way to control mosquitoes, houseflies and fish pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we describe the synthesis of new tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives and the crystal structures of two of them. Density functional theory (DFT) investigations at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level provided their structural reactivity and nonlinear optical properties. The low HOMO-LUMO gaps (EH-L) suggest a soft nature and higher reactivity, while calculated global reactivity descriptors provide assessments of their reactivity and electronic stability. The calculated natural bonding molecular orbital (NBO) charges show excellent charge separation (charge transfer) and identify the donor and acceptor parts of the molecules. Density of states (DOS) analyses show the newly generated energy states and reduced band gaps, which impart higher conductive properties. For surface reactivity, 3D MESP surfaces are plotted and show electron-rich sites near the nitrogen atoms of the tetrahydroisoquinoline rings. Nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the crystals are predicted from calculated polarizability (αo) and hyperpolarizability (βo) values. For IVb, the αo and βo values are 415.53 and 1003.44 au. The remarkable value (1003.44 au) of the hyperpolarizability (βo) shows IVb has excellent NLO properties. Structural activity relationship analysis suggests that nitric oxide synthases are better targets for both compounds, and they were further subjected to molecular docking simulations to understand the binding efficiency. In addition, ADMET analyses were carried out to understand the potential activity of the molecules as drug candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Decomposition and fire are major carbon pathways in many ecosystems, yet potential linkages between these processes are poorly understood. We test whether variability in decomposability and flammability across species are related to each other and to key plant functional traits in tropical swamp forests, where habitat degradation is elevating decomposition and fire regimes.Using senesced and fresh leaves of 22 swamp tree species in Singapore, we conducted an in situ decomposition experiment and a laboratory flammability experiment. We analysed 16 leaf physical and biochemical traits as predictors of decomposability and components of flammability: combustibility, ignitability and sustainability.Decomposability and flammability were largely decoupled across species, despite some shared predictive traits such as specific leaf area (SLA). Physical traits predicted that thicker leaves with a smaller SLA and volume decomposed faster, while various cation concentrations predicted flammability components, particularly ignitability.We show that flammability and decomposability of swamp forest leaves are decoupled because flammability is mostly driven by biochemical traits, while decomposition is driven by physical traits. Our approach identifies species that are slow to decompose and burn (e.g. Calophyllum tetrapterum and Xanthophyllum flavescens), which could be planted to mitigate carbon losses in tropical swamp reforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a sustainable and eco-friendly method was used to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using a sea cucumber aqueous extract. Then, ZnO-NPs were characterized by instrumental analysis (UV-vis, HR-TEM, XRD, FT-IR, and DLS) and evaluated for their possible antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal activities. Additionally, the toxicity of ZnO-NPs was evaluated in vivo against Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The sea cucumber was collected from the Gulf of Suez (Red Sea) at Al-Ain Al-Sokhna coast in Egypt and identified as Holothuria impatiens. The prepared Hi-ZnO-NPs peaked at 350 nm in UV–Vis spectral analysis. They showed quasi-spherical shaped particles with sizes ranging from 13 nm to 47 nm and a predominate size of 26 nm as indicated by HR-TEM. The XRD pattern of Hi-ZnO-NPs revealed a crystalline phase with an average size of 17.2 nm as calculated by Debye–Scherrer equation. FTIR analysis revealed the possible role of H. impatiens biological molecules in the biosynthesis process of ZnO-NPs. Hi-ZnO-NPs showed a negative zeta potential of −19.6 mV, demonstrating moderate stability. Biosynthesized Hi-ZnO-NPs revealed broad antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus ATCC 25923 and E. feacalis), Gram-negative bacteria (S. typhi, K. pneumonia and E. coli), and filamentous fungi (Aspergillus niger). Hi-ZnO-NPs demonstrated larvicidal activity against the mosquito, Culex pipiens (LC50 = 2.756 ppm and LC90 = 9.294 ppm), and adulticidal action against the housefly, Musca domestica (LD50 = 4.285 ppm and LD90 = 22.847 ppm). Interestingly, Hi-ZnO-NPs did not show mortality effects against Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus), highlighting the potential safety of Hi-ZnO-NPs to highly exposed, non-target organisms. However, histopathological and hematological investigations provided dose-dependent impacts of Hi-ZnO-NPs to Nile tilapia. Overall, data provide an eco-friendly approach for synthesizing novel Hi-ZnO-NPs with multiple biomedical properties and potentially low toxicity to Nile tilapia fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both 2‐(N‐arylcarbamoyl)methylsulfanyl‐3‐cyano‐5‐ethoxycarbonyl‐6‐methyl‐4‐(2′‐thienyl)pyridines 2a‐e and their isomers, 3‐amino‐2‐(N‐arylcarbamoyl)‐5‐ethoxy‐carbonyl‐6‐methyl‐4‐(2′‐thienyl)thieno[2,3‐b]pyridines 3a‐e were synthesized by reaction of ethyl 3‐cyano‐1,2‐dihydro‐6‐methyl‐4‐(2′‐thienyl)‐2‐thioxopyridine‐5‐carboxylate (1) with the respective N‐aryl‐2‐chloroacetamides in the presence of different basic catalysts. Compounds 3a‐e were used as precursors for synthesizing of pyridothienopyrimidinones 4a‐e, pyridothienotriazinones 5a‐e and tetrahydropyridothienopyrimidinones 6a‐c via treatment with triethyl orthoformate, nitrous acid, and/or 4‐chlorobenzaldehyde respectively. The photophysical properties of aminothienylthienopyridines 3a‐e and tetrahydropyridothieno‐pyrimidine‐4(3H)‐ones 6a‐c were studied and the fluorescence data revealed that all selected compounds possess AIE behaviors in solution and in solid state. Most of the prepared compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antibacterial and antifungal activities, and considerable results were obtained. Moreover, the cytotoxic activity of thienopyridines 3a‐d against MCF‐7 and HepG2 cell lines was evaluated and they showed moderate to very strong activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medically unjustifiable caesarean section (CS) deliveries have been rising rapidly in many developed countries over the last three decades. While many developing countries show rates beyond optimal levels, few poorer countries appear to have sub-optimal obstetric care in relation to essential surgeries. The objective of this study is to document the rates of CS delivery, its time trend, and geographic and sociodemographic variability in Sudan.Methods: We utilized a number of Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) conducted in 2014, 2010, and 2006 to quantify CS rates per 1000 live births. We also documented absolute changes in rates over three-time points and variation in CS rates across geographic regions and areas of residence.Results: Over a decade, CS rates in Sudan increased steadily from 4.3% in 2006 to 6.7% in 2010 and 9.1% in 2014. During this period, CS rates varied considerably across regions showing higher rates in the Northern region (7-25%) and lower rates in Darfur (2-3%). Urban areas experienced rapidly increasing rates (6-14%), while rural areas showed negligible changes to absolute CS rates over time (5-7%). We also found geographic regions, maternal age, maternal education, receiving antenatal care, and birth order of the child were important determinants of CS in Sudan.Conclusion: Sudan may be facing a double burden of problems associated with surgical interventions for childbirth. While the wealthier parts of Sudan are experiencing a rapid surge in CS, some poor parts of rural Sudan may not be getting the essential surgical intervention for birth when mandated. Urgent improvement to obstetric care and the development of appropriate public health interventions that focus on regional disparities are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibition of PDE5 results in elevation of cGMP leading to vascular relaxation and reduction in the systemic blood pressure. Therefore, PDE5 inhibitors are used as antihypertensive and antianginal agents in addition to their major use as male erectile dysfunction treatments. Previously, we developed a novel series of 34 pyridopyrazinone derivatives as anticancer agents (series A–H). Herein, a multi-step in silico approach was preliminary conducted to evaluate the predicted PDE5 inhibitory activity, followed by an in vitro biological evaluation over the enzymatic level and a detailed SAR study. The designed 2D-QSAR model which was carried out to predict the IC50 of the tested compounds revealed series B, D, E and G with nanomolar range of IC50 values (6.00–81.56 nM). A further docking simulation model was performed to investigate the binding modes within the active site of PDE5. Interestingly, most of the tested compounds showed almost the same binding modes of that of reported PDE5 inhibitors. To validate the in silico results, an in vitro enzymatic assay over PDE5 enzyme was performed for a number of the promising candidates with different substitutions. Both series E and G exhibited a potent inhibitory activity (IC50 = 18.13–41.41 nM). Compound 11b (series G, oxadiazole-based derivatives with terminal 4-NO2 substituted phenyl ring and rigid linker) was the most potent analogue with IC50 value of 18.13 nM. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) data attained for various substitutions were rationalized. Furthermore, a molecular dynamic simulation gave insights into the inhibitory activity of the most active compound (11b). Accordingly, this report presents a successful scaffold repurposing approach that reveals compound 11b as a highly potent nanomolar PDE5 inhibitor worthy of further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to study the potential mosquitocidal activities of the crude extract of the brittle star, Ophiocoma scolopendrina against the mosquito vector, Culex pipiens. Regarding the antimicrobial potential of O. scolopendrina, dichloromethane exhibited higher activity than the other solvents; whereas, it could inhibit a wide range of the tested strains with a moderate potential when compared to the positive controls. Larval mortalities exhibited a concentration-dependent pattern. Ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and ethanol extracts recorded the highest larval mortality percentages with LC50 values of (18.345, 20.45 and 50.966 ppm), respectively. Complete larval mortality was recorded when the 3rd instar larvae were treated with 80 ppm for dichloromethane and ethanol extracts. Tested extracts disrupted the emergence of adults, where adult emergence percentages were highly affected by tested extracts, in particular when the LC50 concentration of dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extract was applied, it was reduced to (54.88 and 58.47 %), respectively versus100%for the control. Slight to moderate effects on the sex ratio of emerged adults were recorded particularly for LC50 treatments. LC50 concentrations of ethyl acetate and dichloromethane induced remarkable repellency percentages with about 79.12 and 70.83, respectively. Meanwhile, LC95 concentration severely induced repellent activity. Absolute repellent action was reached when the LC95 concentrations of dichloromethane, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts were applied. The present study paves the way to discover the potential mosquitocidal and antimicrobial activities of O. scolopendrina that disrupted some biological aspects of larvae and adults of the mosquito vector C. pipiens of public health importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mosquito-borne diseases lead to serious public health concerns in tropical and sub-tropical countries worldwide. Due to the developed resistance to synthetic chemical insecticides, their effects on the surrounding environment, and economic concerns, natural products are considered promising agents to be used in vector control programs, due to their safety, low cost, and high activity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the larvicidal, developmental, and repellent activities of the methanolic extract of Annickia chlorantha and its isolated compounds against the mosquito vector, Culex pipiens, besides their toxicity to the non-target aquatic organism, the zebrafish (Danio rerio). The results highlight the potential of A. chlorantha extract and its isolated compounds as effective mosquitocidal agents with a very low toxic effect on non-target organisms. In this study, the crude extract and its isolated compounds from the stem bark of Annickiachlorantha were tested for their larvicidal, developmental, and repellent activity against the mosquito vector, Culex pipiens, besides their toxicity to the non-target aquatic organism, the zebrafish (Danio rerio). The acute larvicidal activity of isolated compounds; namely, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine, β-sitosterol, and Annickiachlorantha methanolic extract (AC), was observed. Developmentally, the larval duration was significantly prolonged when palmatine and β-sitosterol were applied, whereas the pupal duration was significantly prolonged for almost all treatments except palmatine and jatrorrhizine, where it shortened from those in the control. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme showed different activity patterns, where it significantly increased in columbamine and β-sitosterol, and decreased in (AC), palmatine, and jatrorrhizine treatments, whereas glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme was significantly increased when AC methanolic extract/isolated compounds were applied, compared to the control. The adult emergence percentages were significantly decreased in all treatments, whereas tested compounds revealed non-significant (p > 0.05) changes in the sex ratio percentages, with a slight female-to-male preference presented in the AC-treated group. Additionally, the tested materials revealed repellence action; interestingly, palmatine and jatrorrhizine recorded higher levels of protection, followed by AC, columbamine, and β-sitosterol for 7 consecutive hours compared to the negative and positive control groups. The non-target assay confirms that the tested materials have very low toxic activity compared to the reported toxicity against mosquito larvae. A docking simulation was employed to better understand the interaction of the isolated compounds with the enzymes, AChE and GST. Additionally, DFT calculations revealed that the reported larvicidal activity may be due to the differing electron distributions among tested compounds. Overall, this study highlights the potential of A. chlorantha extract and its isolated compounds as effective mosquitocidal agents with a very low toxic effect on non-target organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Inadequate knowledge on nutritious foods and feeding practices are determinant of malnutrition rather than lack of food. Health professionals particularly nurses pass long contact time with the mothers, so positive attitude among them can be used in motivating mothers for infant and young child feeding. There is little data available in this regard, therefore evaluation of nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice on complementary feeding is very important. This study was conducted among the female nurses in a tertiary level hospital of Bangladesh to find out the knowledge, attitude and practice of complementary feeding to their own under-2 children. Methods: The descriptive study was carried out at Dhaka Medical College Hospital between September 2014 and August 2015. Total 95 nurses having children from 6 months up to 2 years of age were enrolled as sample. Results: It showed that 63.1% of the nurses had good understanding on complementary feeding. But 46.3% of them did not know the duration correctly and 27.4% considered infant formula as the complementary food. Almost all had the positive attitude but 28.4% stated that distraction during feeding is needed. Among the respondents, 97% strongly agreed about the importance of complementary feeding but 67.4% of the nurses introduced complementary food before 6 months of age. Only 58.9% of them continued breast feeding up to 2 years. Conclusion: The study reflects that although most of the nurses have adequate knowledge and positive attitude towards complementary feeding but deviation was noted in timely introduction of complementary food and use of feeding bottle. This indicates clear disparity between knowledge and practice of the female nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background An estimated 7 million episodes of severe newborn infections occur annually worldwide, with half a million newborn deaths, most occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Whilst injectable antibiotics are necessary to treat the infection, supportive care is also crucial in ending preventable mortality and morbidity. This study uses multi-country data to assess gaps in coverage, quality, and documentation of supportive care, considering implications for measurement. Methods The EN-BIRTH study was conducted in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Tanzania (July 2017-July 2018). Newborns with an admission diagnosis of clinically-defined infection (sepsis, meningitis, and/or pneumonia) were included. Researchers extracted data from inpatient case notes and interviews with women (usually the mothers) as the primary family caretakers after discharge. The interviews were conducted using a structured survey questionnaire. We used descriptive statistics to report coverage of newborn supportive care components such as oxygen use, phototherapy, and appropriate feeding, and we assessed the validity of measurement through survey-reports using a random-effects model to generate pooled estimates. In this study, key supportive care components were assessment and correction of hypoxaemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and hypoglycaemia. Results Among 1015 neonates who met the inclusion criteria, 89% had an admission clinical diagnosis of sepsis. Major gaps in documentation and care practices related to supportive care varied substantially across the participating hospitals. The pooled sensitivity was low for the survey-reported oxygen use (47%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 30%-64%) and moderate for phototherapy (60%; 95% CI = 44%-75%). The pooled specificity was high for both the survey-reported oxygen use (85%; 95% CI = 80%-89%) and phototherapy (91%; 95% CI = 82%-97%). Conclusions The women's reports during the exit survey consistently underestimated the coverage of supportive care components for managing infection. We have observed high variability in the inpatient documents across facilities. A standardised ward register for inpatient small and sick newborn care may capture selected supportive care data. However, tracking the detailed care will require standardised individual-level data sets linked to newborn case notes. We recommend investments in assessing the implementation aspects of a standardised inpatient register in resource-poor settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates the effect of cement dust on periodontal health among cement factory workers in Sudan. One-hundred exposed workers from Rabak Cement Factory and Algablain Quarry, besides 84 unexposed workers from Kosti River Transport Corporation were examined. The study was designed as retrospective cohort. The period of the study was three months. The exclusion and inclusion criteria were determined. A precoded pretested questionnaire was structured for collection of qualitative demographic and lifestyle characteristics. All objects were examined for the following clinical parameters: Tooth Wear (TW), Calculus (CAL), Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Probing Depth (PD), and Gingival Recession (GR). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in TW and CAL were recorded between the exposed and exposed groups. The exposed workers showed more TW (84.85%) and CAL (95.96%) than the unexposed workers (TW 46.43% and CAL 77.38%). For PI, GI, PD, and GR, no significant differences were observed. Poor utilization of protective measures was observed; the users of the exposed group represented 16.8–29.5%. Accordingly, statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in clinical variables between users and nonusers of protective measures were observed. Among those who did not use protective measures, almost all the clinical variables tended to increase. The clinical results for nonusers in the exposed group were as follows: PI 0.93–1.03, GI 1.00–1.12, PD 0.35–0.38, GR 1.42–1.51, CAL 1.29–1.40, and TW 1.83–1.99. This was also true for oral hygiene methods used; where the increase in clinical variables were associated with users of methods other than the toothbrush and Miswak (twigs of Salvadora persica tree). Interestingly, smoking was observed to have synergistic effect with cement dust exposure, which is in agreement with the current opinions in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3‐Cyano‐5‐ethoxycarbonyl‐6‐methyl‐4‐(2′‐thienyl)‐pyridine‐2(1H)‐thione (1) is synthesized and reacted with chloroacetamide or chloroacetonitrile to give 3‐amino‐5‐ethoxycarbonyl‐6‐methyl‐4(2′‐thienyl)‐thieno[2,3‐b]pyridine‐2‐carboxamide 3a or its 2‐carbonitrile analog 3b, respectively. Cyclocondensation of 3a with triethylorthoformate produced the corresponding pyridothienopyrimidineone 4, which on heating with phosphorus oxychloride gave 4‐chloropyrimidine derivative 5. Compound 5 was used as key intermediate for synthesizing compounds 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12 upon treatment with some nucleophilic reagents such as thiourea, 5‐phenyl‐s‐triazole‐3(1H)‐thione, piperidine, morpholine, or hydrazine hydrate, respectively. Reaction of pyridothienopyrimidinethione 6 with N‐(4‐tolyl)‐2‐chloroacetamide or ethyl bromoacetate afforded the corresponding S‐substituted methylsulfanylpyrimidines 7 or 8. The condensation of 3b with triethylorthoformate gave azomethine derivative 13, which was reacted with hydrazine hydrate to give ethyl 3‐amino‐3,4‐dihydro‐4‐imino‐7‐methyl‐9‐(2′‐thienyl)pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2‐d]pyrimidine‐8‐carboxylate (14). Compounds 12 and 14 were used as precursors for synthesizing other new thienylpyridothienopyrimidines as well as isomeric thienyl‐s‐triazolopyridothieno‐ pyrimidines. All synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental and spectral analyses such as IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. In addition, majority of synthesized compounds were tested for their antifungal activity against five strains of fungi. Moreover, compounds 3a, 5, 6, 8, and 22 were screened for their anticancer activity against HEPG‐2 and MCF‐7 cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) remains a significant cause of diarrhea that affects children worldwide. It is usually caused by viral agents, including rotavirus (RV), norovirus (NoV), adenovirus (AdV), astrovirus (AstV), and sapovirus (SaV), and the disease severity varies accordingly. Here, we report the association of clinical severity among AGE‐infected pediatrics caused by a single viral pathogen, coinfection (viral–viral), mixed infection (viral–bacterial), and AGE‐negative samples. Methods: A total of 901 pediatric patients were admitted with AGE to the Pediatric Emergency Center of Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar from June 2016 to June 2018. The age of the subjects ranged between 3 months and 14 years (median of 16 months). Virus antigens detection was performed by using Film Array Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel kit. AGE severity was assessed using the Vesikari Clinical Severity Scoring System. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression was used to model the five AGE viral agents' likelihood in relation to severity versus co‐infection, mixed infection, and AGE‐negative samples. Results: AGE was most common in pediatrics aged 1–3 years (median age = 1.25 years) and more frequent in males than females, with a ratio of 1:0.8. About 19.2% of the infections were caused by NoV, followed by RV (18.2%), AdV (6.5%), SaV (2.3%), and AstV (1.8%). The majority of viral agents were detected higher in mixed infection (32.1%) than coinfection (4.9%). Based on the Vesikari score system, severe clinical illness was recorded among pediatrics infected with RV (82.2%) and NoV (75.7%). Further on multivariable analysis, compared to testing negative, the odds of detecting RV was three times significantly higher in children with severe symptoms relative to those with moderate (adjusted‐odds ratio [a‐OR] = 3.10; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.82–5.28). Similar results were observed when considering RV relative to co‐infection and mixed infection (a‐OR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.23–5.48 and a‐OR = 2.06; 1.28–3.30, respectively). About one‐third of the study sample were Qatari children with AGE (33%), whereas 35% and 32% were pediatrics from the Middle East and North Africa region, excluding Qatari and nonregions. Conclusion: This study underlines the association of disease severity among AGE‐infected pediatrics in Qatar. The overall Vesikari median score was significantly high, followed by more frequent hospitalization among RV‐infected pediatrics compared to others. There was no reduction in the disease severity among RV‐infected regardless of the vaccine dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnographic research is perhaps the most common applicable type of qualitative research method in psychology and medicine. In ethnography studies, the researcher immerses himself in the environment of participants to understand the cultures, challenges, motivations, and topics that arise between them by investigating the environment directly. This type of research method can last for a few days to a few years because it involves in‐depth monitoring and data collection based on these foundations. For this reason, the findings of the current study stimuli the researchers in psychology and medicine to conduct studies by applying ethnographic research method to investigate the common cultural patterns: language, thinking, beliefs, and behavior for groups of addicts, the bullies and their bullies, hospitalized psychiatric patients, psychiatric nursing groups, psychologists, counselors and psychotherapists, elderly residents of care homes, abused persons, orphans, persons with special needs, groups of gifted students in gifted schools and centers, and family with special needs children. The ethnographic approach is a very important method in medicine to investigate the health case of the patients with chronic diseases, such as heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, and others. And examine the effectiveness of the treatment plan and take a decision to continue this plan, or change it, in the treatment of a particular disease group. As well as detection of the side effects of drugs and treatment plan for certain groups of patients, and learning about the common culture of pregnant women about the process of pregnancy and childbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Hypertension, a global burden, is associated with several risk factors and can be treated by lifestyle modifications and medications. Prediction and early diagnosis is important to prevent related health complications. The objective is to construct and compare predictive models to identify individuals at high risk of developing hypertension without the need of invasive clinical procedures. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using 987 records of Qataris and long-term residents aged 18+ years from Qatar Biobank. Percentages were used to summarize data and chi-square tests to assess associations. Predictive models of hypertension were constructed and compared using three supervised machine learning algorithms: decision tree, random forest, and logistics regression using 5-fold cross-validation. The performance of algorithms was assessed using accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, F-measure, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Stata and Weka were used for analysis. Results: Age, gender, education level, employment, tobacco use, physical activity, adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables, abdominal obesity, history of diabetes, history of high cholesterol, and mother's history high blood pressure were important predictors of hypertension. All algorithms showed more or less similar performances: Random forest (accuracy = 82.1%, PPV = 81.4%, sensitivity = 82.1%), logistic regression (accuracy = 81.1%, PPV = 80.1%, sensitivity = 81.1%) and decision tree (accuracy = 82.1%, PPV = 81.2%, sensitivity = 82.1%. In terms of AUC, compared to logistic regression, while random forest performed similarly, decision tree had a significantly lower discrimination ability (p-value<0.05) with AUC's equal to 85.0, 86.9, and 79.9, respectively. Conclusions: Machine learning provides the chance of having a rapid predictive model using non-invasive predictors to screen for hypertension. Future research should consider improving the predictive accuracy of models in larger general populations, including more important predictors and using a variety of algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In efforts to reduce neonatal mortality, the World Health Organization (WHO) has included breastfeeding among its recommended packages of interventions. Early initiation of breastfeeding and avoidance of prelacteal feeding are key contributors to optimal feeding practices. This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of early breastfeeding practices in Sudan. Methods: This study utilises the cross-sectional nationally-representative Sudan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2014. The sample includes women who had a live birth in the two years before the survey and their self-report on early breastfeeding practices, namely early initiation and prelacteal feeding. Percentages of these early breastfeeding practices indicators were estimated accounting for the complex survey design. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the factors associated with these outcomes. Results: Of 5622 mothers, 69% initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth, 72% avoided prelacteal feeding in the first three days after birth, and 51% met the criteria for both (i.e. practised optimal early feeding practice). Optimal early feeding varied across regions of Sudan. Birth by caesarean section (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 0.34; 95% CI 0.25, 0.47) and at a health facility (AOR 0.75; 95% CI 0.60, 0.94) were negatively associated with optimal early feeding practice. Mothers with secondary education (AOR 1.62; 95% CI 1.30, 2.02), those who desired their pregnancy at the time (AOR 1.31; 95% CI 1.08, 1.60), those who were assisted by a skilled birth attendant at birth (AOR 1.48; 95% CI 1.19, 1.83), and those who gave birth to female infants (AOR 1.16; 95% CI 1.02, 1.33) had higher odds of use optimal early feeding practice. Similarly, the odds of optimal early feeding increased with parity and maternal age. Conclusions: Only half of Sudanese mothers practised optimal early feeding practice, with important differences between regions in the country. Early feeding practices in Sudan are associated with various maternal, child and community level factors. The findings suggest the need to develop breastfeeding promotion programs with consideration of regional variations and healthcare system interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health problem and a global concern. The inappropriate use of antibiotics has been identified by the World Health Organization as a major risk factor for AMR. Methods: The purpose of this research study is to assess the prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic use among Qatar University students and their family members, detect sociodemographic factors associated with inappropriate use, evaluate the knowledge and attitude towards antibiotic use, and assess respondents' opinions on healthcare providers' antibiotic prescription practices. Participants (N = 596) completed a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, the Pearson chi-squared test, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The major inappropriate antibiotic use practices followed by the respondents were using antibiotics without prescription (82%), not completing the antibiotic course (45%), and obtaining antibiotics from the pharmacy without prescription (23%). The chi-square test results showed that age (p = 0.031) and nationality (p = 0.041) were associated with using antibiotics without prescription. In addition, respondents less than 21 years of age (p<0.001), who had only a secondary education (p = 0.007), and who lived in one of the large and crowded cities in Qatar (p = 0.011) had higher odds of stopping the antibiotic before completing the course. Our study also revealed that almost 60% of the respondents had inadequate knowledge and a negative attitude towards antibiotic use. Nationality and municipality were the independent factors associated with having appropriate knowledge of antibiotic use. Univariate logistic regression analyses in our study demonstrated that older (>26 years), married and university-graduated participants were more likely to have a positive attitude towards antibiotic use than others. Respondents also reported that neither doctors nor pharmacists were providing adequate patient education about appropriate antibiotic use. The Socio-Ecological Model was applied to interpret the findings and frame implications. Conclusion: The findings shed light on various factors shaping antibiotic use practices and provide evidence to design multilevel behavioral interventions to improve public practices of antibiotic use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work describes the purification and characterisation of a Bowman-Birk-like trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor from the seeds of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius). Simple purification steps of ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size exclusion chromatography were applied to purify a 17.8 kDa tepary bean protease inhibitor (TBPI). Analysis of the amino acid profile of the TBPI revealed that aspartic acid, glutamic acid and serine as the dominant amino acids. Stoichiometry of the reactions of trypsin and chymotrypsin with TBPI showed a molar ratio of 1:1 between the inhibitor and these enzymes. A 50% reduction in antitrypsin activity was observed when the free amino groups of TBPI were chemically modified with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene; however, antichymotrypsin activity was not altered by this modification. These results show that purified TBPI reacts distinctly with trypsin and chymotrypsin, indicating that it might have two different reactive sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utility of sulfadiazine and sulfaguanidine in synthesis of new series of pyrazoles and 2-pyridones is described. Diazotization of sulfadiazine that results in formation of diazonium salt 2 followed by coupling of the latter with active methylene compounds leads to hydrazinyl derivatives 3a–3d. Heterocyclization of compounds 3a–3c with hydrazine derivatives gives to a series of pyrazole derivatives 4–6. Similarly, a series of pyrazole derivatives 12–14 is developed from sulfaguanidine. Condensation of hydrazinyl derivatives 3a–3c with cyanoacetamide in the presence of a catalytic amount of piperidine gives 2-oxonicotinonitriles 15a–15c. Tests of the new synthesized compounds against four pathogenic gram (+ve) and gram (−ve) bacteria demonstrate their activity higher than that of the standard Amoxicillin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure (HF) has a large societal and economic burden and is expected to increase in magnitude and complexity over the ensuing years. A number of telemonitoring strategies exploring remote monitoring and management of clinical signs and symptoms of congestion in HF have had equivocal results. Early studies of remote haemodynamic monitoring showed promise, but issues with device integrity and implantation-associated adverse events hindered progress. Nonetheless, these early studies established that haemodynamic congestion precedes clinical congestion by several weeks and that remote monitoring of intracardiac pressures may be a viable and practical management strategy. Recently, the safety and efficacy of remote pulmonary artery pressure-guided HF management was established in a prospective, single-blind trial where randomisation to active pressure-guided HF management reduced future HF hospitalisations. Subsequent commercial use studies reinforced the utility of this technology and post hoc analyses suggest that tight haemodynamic management of patients with HF may be an additional pillar of therapy alongside established guideline-directed medical and device therapy. Currently, there is active exploration into utilisation of this technology and management paradigm for the timing of implantation of durable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and even optimisation of LVAD therapy. Several ongoing clinical trials will help clarify the extent and utility of this strategy along the spectrum of patient with HF from individuals with chronic, stable HF to those with more advanced disease requiring heart replacement therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective: Serotonergic adverse drug events (ADEs) are caused by enhanced intrasynaptic concentrations of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT). No systematic process currently exists for evaluating cumulative 5‐HT and off‐target toxicity of serotonergic drugs. The primary study aim was to create a Serotonergic Expanded Bioactivity Matrix (SEBM) by using a molecular bioinformatics, polypharmacologic approach for assessment of the participation of individual 5‐HT drugs in serotonin syndrome (SS) reports. Data Sources: Publicly available databases including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), ChEMBL, DrugBank, PubChem, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were queried for computational and pharmacologic data. Design: An in‐house bioinformatics TargetSearch program ( http://dxulab.org/software) was used to characterize 71 serotonergic drugs interacting at 13 serotonin receptor subtypes and serotonin reuptake transporter protein (SERT). In addition, off‐target interactions at norepinephrine transporter (NET), monoamine oxidase (MAO), and muscarinic receptors were included to define seven polypharmacological drug cohorts. Serotonin syndrome reports for each serotonergic drug were extracted from FAERS by using the Sternbach and Hunter criteria. Measurements and Main Results: A proportional reporting adverse drug reaction (ADR) ratio (PRR) was calculated from each drug's total ADEs and SS case reports and aggregated by drug bioactivity cohorts. Triple‐receptor interactions had a disproportionately higher number of SS cases using both the Hunter criteria (mean PRR 1.72, 95% CI 1.05–2.39) and Sternbach (mean PRR 1.54, 95% CI 1.29–1.79). 5‐Hydroxytryptamine agonists were associated with a significantly lower proportion of SS cases using the Hunter and Sternbach criteria, respectively (mean PRR 0.49, 95% CI 0.17–0.81 and mean PRR 0.49, 95% CI 0.15–0.83). Drugs with disproportionately higher participation in SS vary considerably between the two diagnostic criteria. Conclusion: The SEBM model suggests a possible polypharmacological role in SS. Although further research is needed, off‐target receptor activity may help explain differences in severity of toxicity and clinical presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of water and alkali treatment on the thermal decomposition of oil palm shell (OPS) together with the mechanical performance of polyester composites reinforced with treated OPS has been presented in this work. Treatment of OPS with cold/hot distilled water and cold alkali treatment were found to improve the tensile and flexural strength of the resulting composites although the highest mechanical performance was noted with the use of sonication in hot distilled water. On the other hand, hot alkali treatment was found to produce a composite mechanical performance similar to that of the hot distilled water treatment with sonication. FTIR tests indicated that adsorbed water molecules together with some parts of the hemicellulose and lignin were removed by the treatments. Thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy of the treated OPS with hot alkali (1%–9% concentration) showed that the mechanical performance reach a peak at 7% alkali concentration with a further increase in concentration resulting in a significant lignin mass loss and decrease in mass residue of the OPS. This trend was attributed to the higher alkali concentration removing hemicellulose as a binder for the cellulose and lignin which resulted in debonding between the filler and matrix components of the OPS and hence a deterioration in fiber structure and resulting poor composite mechanical performance. Therefore, it was concluded that the optimum concentration of alkali treatment required for maximum mechanical performance of natural filler reinforced polymer composites can be obtained simply from thermogravimetric analysis. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:1200–1211, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Data on childhood epilepsy in Sudan are scarce and the only published study on its prevalence was published in 1983. This study aimed to determine the current prevalence of epilepsy in school children in Khartoum State. Methods:This is an analytical population-based, cross-sectional study conducted in Khartoum State, Sudan. The study included students in the basic (primary) schools aged 6–14 years. Simple random sampling was used to draw a cluster of four of the seven localities comprising Khartoum State. The sample frame consisted of 1609 public schools (808,624 pupils) and 787 private schools (194,613 pupils), a total of 2396 schools (1,003,237 pupils). A sample size of 75 940 pupils was estimated and 250 schools were drawn from a sample frame of 2396 schools using a stratified random sampling technique. Consent was obtained from the headmaster/head teacher of the selected schools who arranged a meeting with the tutor/teacher responsible for each class. The study team asked whether any of the pupils was ever noticed or known to have had any kind of seizures, and a confidential letter was sent to the parents of each identified pupil. The letter included an explanation of the aims of the study, information on the research group and the kind of help the research group could offer; contact numbers and email addresses were made available if they wished to participate in this study. Those who consented to participate were then given an appointment at the Epilepsy Outpatient Department, Gaafar Ibnauf Children’s Hospital, Khartoum where they were evaluated by the paediatric neurologist. Results:Altogether, 74,949 pupils were enrolled for the study, 398 of whom were identified initially as having seizures and 332 of whom (83.4%) were identified by a paediatric neurologist. Of the 332, 303 (91.3%) proved to have epileptic seizures, 250 (82.5%) were known to have epilepsy, and 53 (17.5%) were newly diagnosed during the survey. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The total prevalence of epilepsy in Khartoum State was estimated to be 4/1000. The highest prevalence was in Jabal Awliya Locality (4.87/1000) and the lowest was in Khartoum Locality (3.35/1000). Twenty-nine (8.7%) patients proved to have non-epileptic seizures. The majority (15, 51.6%) had psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, and four (13.6%) had syncope. The majority (171, 56.43%) of patients had generalised epilepsy, 109 (35.97%) had focal epilepsy, and 23 (7.6%) had unclassified epilepsy. Conclusion:The prevalence of epilepsy in school children in Khartoum State (4/1000) is higher than that reported previously from Khartoum Province in 1983 (0.9/1000). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two newly bread wheat cultivars Misr 1 and Misr 2 were selected from CIMMYT wheat genotypes as resistant to stem rust specially the race Ug 99. Grain yield and rust resistance evaluation was performed through preliminary, advanced and varietal verification started in 2009/2010 through 201212013 growing seasons, compared to the check bread wheat cultivated cultivars. The results reveled that the grain yield of Misr 1 and Misr 2 exceeded wheat check cultivars in most of the tested locations. Generally, the new cultivars mean grain yield exceeded all the check cultivars means in preliminary, advanced and varietal verification yield trials and have high stable parameters allover the wheat cultivated areas. Testing the two new cultivars for stem and yellow rusts reaction, in the hot spots in Egypt, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia, indicated their resistance to stem and yellow rusts. Thus they could be highly recommended to be grown all over Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child sexual abuse is a complex problem that results in detrimental effects on its victims. This study aimed to investigate the pattern of child sexual abuse in cases referred for medico-legal examination in Cairo and Giza governorates in the period between 2007–2011. The study included 813 cases of child sexual abuse. Female gender was more predominant than male gender (52.8%, 4.29 cases), and adolescents were the most frequent age group identified as victims of sexual abuse (43.8%, 356 cases). All perpetrators were male and most of them were persons outside the victims’ families (89.9%, 731 cases). It was recommended to teach and encourage children to tell their caregivers if they have been assaulted and to educate parents and caregivers on how to respond when the child discloses sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents an analytical model for the static lateral stiffness of Wire Rope Isolators (WRI). The wire rope isolator, which is a passive isolation device, has been widely adopted as a shock and vibration isolation for many types of equipment and lightweight structures. The major advantage of the WRI is its ability to provide isolation in all three planes and in any orientation. The WRI in the lateral roll mode, is required to possess the required lateral stiffness to support and isolate the equipment effectively. The static lateral stiffness of WRI depends mainly on the geometrical characteristics and wire rope properties. The model developed in this paper is validated experimentally using a series of monotonic loading tests. The flexural rigidity of the wire ropes, which is required in the model, was determined from the transverse bending test on several wire rope cables. It was observed that the lateral stiffness is significantly influenced by the wire rope diameter and height of the isolator. The proposed analytical model can be used for the evaluation of lateral stiffness and in the preliminary design of the WRI. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tropical Medicine & International Health is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)