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Abstract Background The final decision to fast or not fast for routine lipid profile examination in a standard, healthy population is unclear. Whereas the United States and European protocols state that fasting for regular lipid analysis is unnecessary, the North American and Chinese guidelines still recommend fasting before routine lipid testing. Aim This study aimed to unravel the contradiction between the different protocols of lipid profile testing worldwide and clarify the effect of diet on lipid profile testing only in a regular, healthy population. Methods A literature search was conducted through May 2024. The analyses included studies performed from the date 2000 until now because the contradiction of guidelines for lipid profile testing appeared for the first time in this period. A planned internal validity evaluation was performed using the National Institute of Health (NIH) quality measurement tools for observational cohort, case‒control, controlled interventional, and cross-sectional studies. The data were synthesized according to RevMan 5.3. Results Eight studies with a total of 244,665 participants were included. The standardized mean difference in cholesterol in six studies showed significant differences in overall effect among fasting and nonfasting states (P

Primary pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a very rare presentation of MALT lymphoma. The presence of a completely negative autoimmune and inflammatory background makes it a real challenge and very rare presentation (probably the second reported case in the literature). We report a case of primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma with negative autoimmune background, demonstrating as multifocal bulky variceal masses causing significant clinical symptoms.

An ultra-wideband patch antenna (UWB) that makes use of tapered slot technology is designed and analyzed in this article. Coplanar waveguide feeds the projected antenna. The presented antenna displayed superior UWB performances with -10 dB return-loss bandwidth, ranging from 1.9 to 12 GHz. The projected slot antenna has another benefit of minimizing the interference effect of the narrow band communications conducted by two notch bands operating at 3.3–3.8 GHz (WiMAX) and 5.1-6 GHz (WLAN and HIPERLAN/2), respectively. The Dual-Bands rejection is generated by etching out a complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) from the patch and placing a trapezoidal split ring resonator (TSRR). Adaptable single or dual-band rejection characteristics have been added to the behavior of the UWB antenna, by mounting electronic switching across SRR and CSRR. Furthermore, the presented UWB slot antenna is printed on an FR4-epoxy substrate (εr = 4.4) and it has an overall size of . 55x48x1.5 mm3

Abstract Background and Objective Genetic and epigenetic changes characterize the multi-step process of breast carcinogenesis. It is believed that abnormal microRNA (miRNA) expression has a role in the onset and progression of breast cancer. This study aimed to examine the link between miRNA-127 and miRNA-138 and metastasis, tumor invasion, and apoptosis in Egyptian women with breast cancer, as well as their correlation with its molecular types. Methodology A total of 150 participants were included in this study, including 75 women with breast cancer and 75 supposedly healthy women who were age and gender-matched. Every patient underwent a thorough physical examination, a general clinical examination, a mammogram, and lab tests, such as the determination of the levels of miRNA-127 and miRNA-138 expression by real-time PCR and the measurement of blood carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carcinoma antigen 15–3 (CA15-3) and CA15-3 and CEA levels. Results There was a significant low expression of miRNA-127 in favor of high TNM stage (Classification of Malignant Tumors), left-sided tumor, metastasis, high-grade disease, increased axillary nodal involvement, absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and low antigen Kiel 67 (Ki67) expression. Also, a significant expression of miRNA 127 in triple-negative breast cancer was found, followed by human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) overexpression, then luminal B, and the highest expression was with the Luminal A molecular subtype. A significant negative correlation existed between miRNA 127 and miRNA 138 with CEA and CA15.3 levels. Conclusion The miRNA-127 and miRNA-138 suppression may promote metastasis. Consequently, the restoration of miRNA-127 and miRNA-138 in breast cancer may have therapeutic potential; so, the miRNA-127 and miRNA-138 may play a role in breast cancer development.

Background and Aim. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causes a variety of clinical manifestations, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have crucial functions in immune and inflammatory control. Therefore, this study highlights the impact of TLR2 gene polymorphism on the progression of HBV-linked liver diseases (liver cirrhosis and HCC). Methods. In total, 170 chronic HBV patients and 50 healthy controls of comparable age and gender were included in this case-control study. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging evaluations were conducted. ELISA was used to determine serum IL-6 levels, and TLR2 (rs3804099) genotyping allelic discrimination assay was performed using real-time PCR. Results. IL-6 values were significantly higher in the HCC group, followed by the cirrhotic group, than those in chronic hepatitis and control groups (p

BackgroundAfter its emergence in China, the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has swept the world, leading to global health crises with millions of deaths. COVID-19 clinical manifestations differ in severity, ranging from mild symptoms to severe disease. Although perturbation of metabolism has been reported as a part of the host response to COVID-19 infection, scarce data exist that describe stage-specific changes in host metabolites during the infection and how this could stratify patients based on severity.MethodsGiven this knowledge gap, we performed targeted metabolomics profiling and then used machine learning models and biostatistics to characterize the alteration patterns of 50 metabolites and 17 blood parameters measured in a cohort of 295 human subjects. They were categorized into healthy controls, non-severe, severe and critical groups with their outcomes. Subject's demographic and clinical data were also used in the analyses to provide more robust predictive models.ResultsThe non-severe and severe COVID-19 patients experienced the strongest changes in metabolite repertoire, whereas less intense changes occur during the critical phase. Panels of 15, 14, 2 and 2 key metabolites were identified as predictors for non-severe, severe, critical and dead patients, respectively. Specifically, arginine and malonyl methylmalonyl succinylcarnitine were significant biomarkers for the onset of COVID-19 infection and tauroursodeoxycholic acid were potential biomarkers for disease progression. Measuring blood parameters enhanced the predictive power of metabolic signatures during critical illness.ConclusionsMetabolomic signatures are distinctive for each stage of COVID-19 infection. This has great translation potential as it opens new therapeutic and diagnostic prospective based on key metabolites.

Treatment strategies for steatohepatitis are of special interest given the high prevalence of obesity and fatty liver disease worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic mechanism of L-carnitine (LC) and Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GB) supplementation in ameliorating the adverse effects of hyperlipidemia and hepatosteatosis induced by a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) in an animal model. The study involved 50 rats divided into five groups, including a control group, a group receiving only an HCD, and three groups receiving an HCD along with either LC (300 mg LC/kg bw), GB (100 mg GB/kg bw), or both. After eight weeks, various parameters related to lipid and glucose metabolism, antioxidant capacity, histopathology, immune reactivity, and liver ultrastructure were measured. LC + GB supplementation reduced serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase levels and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with those in the HCD group. Additionally, treatment with both supplements improved antioxidant ability and reduced lipid peroxidation. The histological examination confirmed that the combination therapy reduced liver steatosis and fibrosis while also improving the appearance of cell organelles in the ultrastructural hepatocytes. Finally, the immunohistochemical analysis indicated that cotreatment with LC + GB upregulated the immune expression of GLP-1 and β-Cat in liver sections that were similar to those of the control animals. Mono-treatment with LC or GB alone substantially but not completely protected the liver tissue, while the combined use of LC and GB may be more effective in treating liver damage caused by high cholesterol than either supplement alone by regulating hepatic oxidative stress and the protein expression of GLP-1 and β-Cat.

The correlation between dyslipidemia and the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 has been widely categorized. Dyslipidemia is one of the most dominant disorders among these patients. Systemic inflammation accompanied by cytokine storm hemostasis modifications and severe vasculitis have all been reported to occur among COVID-19 patients, and these may contribute to some severe complications. The aim of this study is to assess the possible relationship between dyslipidemia and the severity of coronavirus disease 2019. This work encompassed 200 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (100 dyslipidemic and 100 normolipidemic) who were hospitalized at Baghdad Teaching Hospital/ Medical City-Baghdad, Iraq, from October 2021 to October 2022; their ages ranged between 40 and 55. Eligible individuals had a positive nasal swab polymerase chain reaction for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Every participant’s anthropometric and clinical features were measured. The study includes the measurements of glycemic, lipid profile, renal function test, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, serum ferritin, and interleukin-6 in dyslipidemic and normolipidemic groups.Considerable increase (p= 0.001) in glycemic and lipid levels in the dyslipidemic group compared to normolipidemic. Moreover, dyslipidemic patients have higher lipid indices (ratios) than the normolipidemic group. Significant increases (p= 0.001) in serum urea and creatinine levels were found among the dyslipidemic group compared to normolipidemic. There was a non-considerable decrease (p= 0.062) in serum total protein in the dyslipidemic group concerning the normolipidemic. In contrast, a considerable decrease (p= 0.045) in serum albumin was detected in the dyslipidemic group compared to normolipidemic. D-dimer, serum C-reactive protein, ferritin, and interleukin-6 were significantly increased (p= 0.001) in the dyslipidemic group compared to normolipidemic. Dyslipidemia potentially raises the severity of coronavirus disease 2019. There was a significant disturbance in renal function tests among coronavirus disease 2019 patients. The study found a significant and statistical difference in kidney functions between dyslipidemic and normolipidemic groups. The patients, especially the dyslipidemic ones, have experienced protein abnormalities and a significant inflammation rate reflected by higher C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, which is due to the severity of coronavirus disease 2019. It is possible to conduct more research with a larger sample size. The majority of people who have dyslipidemia need to be enlightened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study tested object drawing, object naming, and object-in-scene perception. We tested older people with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) because their object drawings have often lost their typical contours. We investigated whether intensive practice could improve or recover deteriorated graphic object representations in three tasks, object naming, object-in-scene, and object drawing. Ten older participants with AD and 10 healthy controls practiced for 5 consecutive days always involving the same 10 objects (item-based learning). Patients with AD closed the gap to healthy controls as reaction time decreased and accuracy increased. Performance level and task difficulty were dependent on age, education, and length of retirement duration, but interactions between practice and task difficulty were not. In accuracy, the group difference disappeared earlier in object naming < object-in-scene < object drawing. During the 5 days of practice, lost graphic object concepts could reemerge. Multiple regressions testing synergistic effects between tasks showed that rapid object-in-scene judgment and drawing time relatively consistently and reliably predicted object drawing accuracy. However, when testing day-to-day progress of the drawing score, after the first repetition, only the object drawing score of the previous session significantly predicted the graphic object representation. Thus, while perceptual judgment of an object in an appropriate visual scene predicts object drawing—just as in previous research using the Witkin Embedded Figures Test—the fine motor skills involved in visually realistic drawing are likely to be the most important factor to generate a recognizable graphic object representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causes a variety of clinical manifestations, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) have crucial functions in immune and inflammatory control. Therefore, this study highlights the impact of TLR2 gene polymorphism on the progression of HBV‐linked liver diseases (liver cirrhosis and HCC). Methods. In total, 170 chronic HBV patients and 50 healthy controls of comparable age and gender were included in this case‐control study. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging evaluations were conducted. ELISA was used to determine serum IL‐6 levels, and TLR2 (rs3804099) genotyping allelic discrimination assay was performed using real‐time PCR. Results. IL‐6 values were significantly higher in the HCC group, followed by the cirrhotic group, than those in chronic hepatitis and control groups (p < 0.001), with a significant correlation with disease activity and progression parameters. TRL2 homozygous TT was the most frequent in the control group, but the CC genotype was significantly more prevalent in the HCC group than that in the other groups. Furthermore, the CC genetic variant was associated with higher levels of IL‐6 and viral load in all HBV patients, whereas the TT genotype was associated with larger tumor size. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that in chronic HBV patients, viral load and TRL2 polymorphism are independent risk factors associated with the progression from chronic hepatitis to liver cirrhosis and to HCC. Similarly, the HBV viral load (p = 0.03, OR = 2.45, and 95% CI: 1.69–3.65), IL‐6 levels (p = 0.04, OR = 3.45, and 95% CI: 2.01–6.9), and TRL2 variants (p = 0.01, OR = 4.25, and 95% CI: 2.14–13.5) are independent risk factors associated with disease progression from cirrhosis to HCC. Conclusion. In chronic HBV patients, TRL2 polymorphism and higher IL‐6 levels were positively correlated with a higher likelihood of HCC and chronic hepatitis B disease activity and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Florpyrauxifen‐benzyl (FPB) is a new arylpicolinate systemic herbicide that has been used to control or suppress the majority of herbicide‐resistant biotype weeds in rice. To our knowledge, the impact of FPB on the immune system remains undetected thus far. Hence, this work aimed to address the toxic effects of FPB and the possible related mechanisms on the spleen of exposed mice. Initially, an acute toxicological test was performed to ascertain the median lethal dose (LD50) of FPB for 24 h which was found to be 371.54 mg/kg b.wt. For mechanistic evaluation of FPB toxicity, three sublethal doses (1/20th, 1/10th, and 1/5th LD50) were orally administered to mice for 21 consecutive days. Changes in spleen relative weight, oxidative status, apoptotic and inflammatory markers, histopathological alterations were evaluated. Following the FPB exposure, significant (p < 0.05) decline in spleen index, apoptotic features, histolopathological changes were observed. Additionally, excessive oxidative stress in spleen tissues was monitored by downregulating antioxidant enzymes and upregulating the oxidant parameters. Furthermore, exposure to FPB resulted in notable activation of the NF‐қB signaling pathway, accompanied by elevated levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (namely, IL‐1β and TNF‐α) as well as CD3 and CD19 levels have decreased significantly in spleen tissues. Collectively, FPB exposure exhibited apoptosis, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, and inflammatory response in a dose‐dependent manner, leading to spleen tissue damage and immunotoxicity. Further studies on FPB is recommended to outstand its hazards on ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the technological advancements in computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and the notable lack of academic research regarding their application in the Arabic-translation context, this study aims to investigate the differences in translators’ performance when comparing traditional human translation and post-edited CAT tool-generated text in terms of speed and effort. This study investigates the performance of professional translators in Saudi Arabia through traditional translation from scratch (TFS) and postediting (PE) approaches. Data was collected from nine translators with 5–12 years of experience who had exposure to CAT tools. The participants translated an Arabic educational article into English using both methods. This study utilized Phrase CAT and Translog-II software to analyze the participants’ time and keystrokes. The results indicate that PE was significantly faster than TFS, with PE requiring 65.1% less time. PE also demanded significantly fewer keystrokes, suggesting lower technical effort. Correlations between keystrokes and time indicate a strong positive relationship in PE, implying that more technical effort correlates with increased temporal effort. These findings emphasize the efficiency of PE in enhancing productivity and suggest the importance of CAT tools and PE training for translators to meet industry demands effectively. Furthermore, this study underscores the need for continuous updates in CAT tool courses and the integration of PE training to prepare translators for constantly evolving technological landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the potential use of microRNA-138 (miR-138) as a diagnostic tool for breast cancer. The study found that breast cancer patients had higher levels of miR-138 expression compared to healthy controls, and high miR-138 expression was associated with better overall survival. Additionally, miR-138 expression was inversely correlated with tumor markers CEA and CA15.3. The study also analyzed various factors and biomarkers in breast cancer patients and found that certain factors, including metastasis status and high levels of CEA and CA15.3, were associated with poor prognosis and increased risk of relapse. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore their clinical implications. [Extracted from the article]

The Euphrates soft-shell turtle Rafetus euphraticus is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List and is thought to have recently undergone large population declines. Species information in Iraq is limited to a few rapid surveys with little detailed information on its breeding and distribution. Turtles have been recorded inside the water by setting nets in certain areas in the Central Marshes. Morphometric measurements were recorded in Euphrates soft-shelled turtles Rafetus euphraticus, sampled in the Central Marshes. According to nine morphometric ratios, the populations of R. euphraticus in the Central Marshes are smaller in size than previous specimens that have been recorded in neighboring countries. The carapaces length (CL) rang for current study was 70 to 560 mm, whereas it was 187 to 680 mm according to a previous study. The carapaces width (CW) rang for the current study was 63 to 420 mm, while in a previous study it was recorded to be 152 to 465 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic hydatid disease is a significant global health concern and a hazardous obstacle for public health and the livestock industry. The present investigation is aimed to determine the prevalence of hydatid cysts and economic losses in slaughtered animals (sheep, cattle, buffalo and camel) in Thi-Qar province, south of Iraq. This research was carried out from the beginning of February 2022 to the end of January 2023. The study focused on the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered animals from the central slaughterhouse of Nasiriyah city. The total cases (8847) were examined and the proportion of infection of hydatid cysts was: out of 2792 of examined sheep, 343 (12.29%) were infected, out 3209 of examined cattle, 288 (8.97.%) were infected, out of 1865 of examined buffalo 154 (8.26 %) were infected and out 980 of examined camels, 40 (4.08%) were infected. Among the infected animals in the Al-Nasiriyah abattoir, sheep recorded the highest prevalence, while camel abattoir recorded the lowest prevalence among other animals intermediate hosts. The incidence of hydatid cysts has a positive proportion to the age of animals. Regarding organ involvements, the liver and lungs were the most infected organs, the liver had a higher prevalence than the lung with infection rates of 62.3 % and 37.70% respectively. Females of sheep, cattle, buffalo, and camel were statistically higher than males, and were significant differences between the severity of infection and sex of hosts at (P≤ 0.05). Sheep was the highest fertility with 84.26%, this attributed to the sheep strains in this region have a higher morbidity rate compared to other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: After its emergence in China, the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has swept the world, leading to global health crises with millions of deaths. COVID-19 clinical manifestations differ in severity, ranging from mild symptoms to severe disease. Although perturbation of metabolism has been reported as a part of the host response to COVID-19 infection, scarce data exist that describe stage-specific changes in host metabolites during the infection and how this could stratify patients based on severity. Methods: Given this knowledge gap, we performed targeted metabolomics profiling and then used machine learning models and biostatistics to characterize the alteration patterns of 50 metabolites and 17 blood parameters measured in a cohort of 295 human subjects. They were categorized into healthy controls, non-severe, severe and critical groups with their outcomes. Subject's demographic and clinical data were also used in the analyses to provide more robust predictive models. Results: The non-severe and severe COVID-19 patients experienced the strongest changes in metabolite repertoire, whereas less intense changes occur during the critical phase. Panels of 15, 14, 2 and 2 key metabolites were identified as predictors for non-severe, severe, critical and dead patients, respectively. Specifically, arginine and malonyl methylmalonyl succinylcarnitine were significant biomarkers for the onset of COVID-19 infection and tauroursodeoxycholic acid were potential biomarkers for disease progression. Measuring blood parameters enhanced the predictive power of metabolic signatures during critical illness. Conclusions: Metabolomic signatures are distinctive for each stage of COVID-19 infection. This has great translation potential as it opens new therapeutic and diagnostic prospective based on key metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Preeclampsia can lead to a number of adverse maternal and perinatal effects. The association between iron status [serum iron, ferritin and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)], unsaturated iron-binding capacity, hepcidin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and preeclampsia is not fully understood. Objective: To assess the levels of iron status, hepcidin and interleukin-6 in women with preeclampsia compared with healthy pregnant women. Method: A case-control study (60 women were recruited in each group) was conducted at Saad Abuelela Maternity Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. Sociodemographic and clinical data were gathered through a questionnaire. The levels of iron status, hepcidin and IL-6 were measured using applicable methods. Results: There was no significant difference in the median [interquartile range (IQR)] of age, parity or body mass index between the two groups. Moreover, the median (IQR) of the iron status, hepcidin and interleukin-6 did not differ between women with preeclampsia and healthy controls. There were no significant correlations between haemoglobin, hepcidin and IL-6. There were also no significant correlations between serum iron, serum ferritin, hepcidin and IL-6. However, there was a significant positive correlation between hepcidin and IL-6 (r = 0.393, p = 0.002). Conclusion: In this study, women with preeclampsia had levels of iron status, hepcidin and IL-6 similar to those observed in healthy pregnant women. There was no significant correlation between iron status, hepcidin and IL-6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction The health system in Sudan faces several challenges, including increasing numbers of patients, shortages of health supplies, and disparities in the distribution of health services. Guidelines implementation improves patients’ outcomes and ensures efficient use of the resources in such a resource limited country. The study aimed to assess the implementation of the clinical practice guidelines among family medicine doctors working in the primary health care centers in Khartoum and Gezira states to provide baseline data about the current practice in Sudan. Methods Descriptive cross-sectional facility-based survey, conducted from April to December 2021, on 373 of the practicing family-medicine doctors. A total of 101 Primary health care centers were surveyed (77 centers in Khartoum state and 24 in Gezira state). The questionnaire was pilot tested on a small group of physicians to improve clarity and reduce response bias. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data and analyzed by frequency tables. Chi square and logistic regression tests were used to determine the association between categorized variables. P value

Objective The goal of this project is to explore novel ways to assess chronic disease multimorbidity (co-occurrence of two or more conditions) trends and patterns in the population of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Approach This study included linked data from the BC population (~5M individuals) from 2001/02 to 2019/20. We analysed 25 chronic conditions, including 7 primary cancer subtypes. We report multimorbidity (MM) incidence, prevalence, and most common disease combinations. Further we explore temporal MM disease patterns using directed network analyses and extracted data-driven disease clusters with an unsupervised machine learning algorithm. Results The age-standardized incidence of MM stayed relatively stable over the study period for males and decreased for females, while prevalence increased to approximately 1 in 4 individuals in BC in 2019/20 (from 19% to 27% of females, from 15% to 22% of males). Disease networks and clusters varied significantly by sex and age group, this presentation will highlight select disease network and cluster findings and discuss their implications for chronic disease surveillance. Conclusions The prevalence of multimorbidity continues to rise in BC. Using advanced analytics to understand disease co-occurrence patterns provides new insights above and beyond traditional epidemiological metrics to support health system planning and prevention efforts. Implications Chronic disease surveillance and research have historically operated with a single disease focus, which is not patient-centered and does not adequately account for the reality of multimorbidity for many people. This project is laying the foundation for enhanced chronic disease surveillance and monitoring in BC.

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) emerged and rapidly replaced the original strain worldwide. The increased transmissibility of these new variants led to increases in infections, hospitalizations, and mortality. However, there is a scarcity of retrospective investigations examining the severity of all the main VOCs in presence of key public health measures and within various social determinants of health (SDOHs). ObjectiveThis study aims to provide a retrospective assessment of the clinical severity of COVID-19 VOCs in the context of heterogenous SDOHs and vaccination rollout. MethodsWe used a population-based retrospective cohort design with data from the British Columbia COVID-19 Cohort, a linked provincial surveillance platform. To assess the relative severity (hospitalizations, intensive care unit [ICU] admissions, and deaths) of Gamma, Delta, and Omicron infections during 2021 relative to Alpha, we used inverse probability treatment weighted Cox proportional hazard modeling. We also conducted a subanalysis among unvaccinated individuals, as assessed severity differed across VOCs and SDOHs. ResultsWe included 91,964 individuals infected with a SARS-CoV-2 VOC (Alpha: n=20,487, 22.28%; Gamma: n=15,223, 16.55%; Delta: n=49,161, 53.46%; and Omicron: n=7093, 7.71%). Delta was associated with the most severe disease in terms of hospitalization, ICU admissions, and deaths (hospitalization: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.00, 95% CI 1.92-2.08; ICU: aHR 2.05, 95% CI 1.91-2.20; death: aHR 3.70, 95% CI 3.23-4.25 relative to Alpha), followed generally by Gamma and then Omicron and Alpha. The relative severity by VOC remained similar in the unvaccinated individual subanalysis, although the proportion of individuals infected with Delta and Omicron who were hospitalized was 2 times higher in those unvaccinated than in those fully vaccinated. Regarding SDOHs, the proportion of hospitalized individuals was higher in areas with lower income across all VOCs, whereas among Alpha and Gamma infections, 2 VOCs that cocirculated, differential distributions of hospitalizations were found among racially minoritized groups. ConclusionsOur study provides robust severity estimates for all VOCs during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Canada. Relative to Alpha, we found Delta to be the most severe, followed by Gamma and Omicron. This study highlights the importance of targeted testing and sequencing to ensure timely detection and accurate estimation of severity in emerging variants. It further sheds light on the importance of vaccination coverage and SDOHs in the context of pandemic preparedness to support the prioritization of allocation for resource-constrained or minoritized groups.

Overuse of artificial chemical fertilizers could be detrimental to the environment. Utilizing beneficial microorganisms as biofertilizers is a sustainable technique that promotes soil health, crop yield, and ecosystem preservation. Curcuma longa L. is utilized as a medication since it has its antibacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-tumor characteristics, which reduce inflammation and hasten wound healing. The effect of E. cloacae strain MSR1, which is common in the roots of alfalfa grown in the Al-Ahsaa region, on C. longa plants is being investigated. C. longa rhizomes were planted under greenhouse conditions after being submerged in a solution of E. cloacae strain MSR1 (OD 500) or water treatment as a control for 12 hours. After 240 days of growing, ten randomly selected plants from each treatment were collected, and the vegetative growth and yield metrics were assessed. To investigate how E. cloacae influences C. longa production and chemical composition (photosynthetic pigment, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and curcuminoid), measurements were conducted as well as genes diketide-CoA and curcumin synthases genes. Our research showed that C. longa's growth and yield were favorably impacted by E. cloacae. Significant increases in the related plants' chlorophyll a,b, carotenoid, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels were likewise a reflection of the enhanced effects shown in the growth and yield parameters. Treatment with E. cloacae raised the curcuminoid's three sub-components' compositions to varying degrees: bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and curcumin. Comparing E. cloacae treated plants to the control, high expression levels of the genes diketide-CoA and curcumin synthase-1, -2, and 3 were also found. The treatment of E. cloacae is a good biostimulant candidate for boosting growth and yield as well as raising the medicinal qualities of C. longa, according to the overall results.

Objectives. To assess the progesterone receptor expression in meningioma patients and to characterize the histopathological and demographic features of them. Materials and methods. A cross sectional study conducted during a period of six months (from April to October 2023) included 50 formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks diagnosed histopathologically as meningioma. Progesterone receptor was detected using immunohistochemistry in the other section. Outcomes. The most common location of meningioma was cerebrum (56%) and the most common histopathological type was meningothelial. Regarding progesterone receptor status, a negative score was presented in 44% of cases. There is a significant association between the progesterone receptor status and both grades of the histopathological type of meningioma. Conclusion. High progesterone receptor positivity was linked to low grade tumors. Meningioma grade and many subtypes can be identified with the use of progesterone receptor expression, particularly in cases that are borderline.

Background Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have emerged as a successful treatment option for patients with end-stage heart failure. Compared with the best medical therapy, LVADs improve survival and enhance functional capacity and quality of life. However, two major complications compromise this patient population’s outcomes: thrombosis and bleeding. Despite technological innovations and better hemocompatibility, these devices alter the rheology, triggering the coagulation cascade and, therefore, require antithrombotic therapy. Anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapies represent the current standard of care. Still, inconsistency in the literature exists, especially whether antiplatelet therapy is required, whether direct oral anticoagulants can replace vitamin K antagonists and even whether phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors with their antithrombotic effects could be added to the regimen of anticoagulation.Methods and analysis We will perform a living systematic review with network meta-analysis and indirect comparison between current antithrombotic therapies, which have and have not been directly compared within clinical trials and observational studies. We will systematically search the following electronic sources: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE). We will exclusively examine studies published in English from 2016 to the present. Studies conducted before 2016 will be omitted since our primary focus is evaluating continuous flow devices. Two independent reviewers will assess the articles by title, abstract and full text; any disagreement will be resolved through discussion, and a third reviewer will be involved if necessary. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool will be used to assess the risk of bias. We will then conduct a pairwise meta-analysis; if the assumption of transitivity is satisfied, we will proceed with network meta-analysis using Bayesian methodology.Ethics and dissemination Formal ethical approval is not required as no primary data are collected. This systematic review and network meta-analysis will delineate the risks of stroke, thromboembolic events, pump thrombosis, gastrointestinal bleeding and mortality in patients equipped with LVADs who are subjected to various antithrombotic regimens. The findings will be disseminated via a peer-reviewed publication and presented at conference meetings. This will enhance clinical practice and guide future research on anticoagulation strategies within this distinct patient cohort.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023465288.

Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) is a leading biological factor of foodborne diseases. A sensitive detection for S. typhimurium is crucial to controlling fresh vegetable-related outbreaks. Here, fluorescence-based S. typhimurium detection in fresh cabbage samples has been reported which capitalizes on the plasmon-exciton interaction between non-spherical gold nanoparticles-covered iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4@Au NPs) and gold quantum dots (Au QDs). Firstly, new synthesis methods for non-spherical Fe3O4@Au NPs and Au QDs are reported. Then, a two-fold emission enhancement and shortening of the lifetime were achieved from urchin-like NPs compared with those of spherical NPs. This finding was utilized for the detection of S. typhimurium. Results revealed that the changes in fluorescence emission were linearly correlated with the concentration of S. typhimurium within the range of 100–1000 colony forming unit per milliliter (CFU mL−1) and the limit of detection was 32 CFU mL−1 in fresh cabbage.

Abstract Leukemia burden is growing in the Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC) countries. Nonetheless, there is no unified protocol for managing adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients in the GCC‐countries. Therefore, the GCC Adult‐ALL Treaters working group developed this consensus to address the adult‐ALL treatment protocols in the GCC‐countries and related toxicities' management. Besides, the consensus aimed to highlight the current unmet needs and treatment gaps and provide recommendations to optimize adult‐ALL care and patient‐centered communication. A three‐step modified Delphi method to develop evidence‐based recommendations through two‐voting rounds and in‐between virtual meetings are used in the manuscript development. A 12 experts' panel from five GCC‐countries and two international experts were invited to participate in this consensus. This consensus consisted of 35‐statements that highlighted the experts' recommendations to optimize ALL adults' care in the first line setting and manage pediatric or pediatric‐inspired regimens‐related toxicities. Besides, guidance was provided for future research direction and improve patient‐centered communication. In conclusion, the adult‐ALL management landscape is evolving, and the current evidence highlights better response and survival outcomes with pediatric or pediatric‐inspired regiments. Therefore, protocols are needed to optimize the adult‐ALL management in the GCC and tailored clinical‐trials findings according to the GCC patients' characteristics and local‐healthcare infrastructure.

PurposeThe British Columbia COVID-19 Cohort (BCC19C) was developed from an innovative, dynamic surveillance platform and is accessed/analyzed through a cloud-based environment. The platform integrates recently developed provincial COVID-19 datasets (refreshed daily) with existing administrative holdings and provincial registries (refreshed weekly/monthly). The platform/cohort were established to inform the COVID-19 response in near “real-time” and to answer more in-depth epidemiologic questions.ParticipantsThe surveillance platform facilitates the creation of large, up-to-date analytic cohorts of people accessing COVID-19 related services and their linked medical histories. The program of work focused on creating/analyzing these cohorts is referred to as the BCC19C. The administrative/registry datasets integrated within the platform are not specific to COVID-19 and allow for selection of “control” individuals who have not accessed COVID-19 services.Findings to dateThe platform has vastly broadened the range of COVID-19 analyses possible, and outputs from BCC19C analyses have been used to create dashboards, support routine reporting and contribute to the peer-reviewed literature. Published manuscripts (total of 15 as of July, 2023) have appeared in high-profile publications, generated significant media attention and informed policy and programming. In this paper, we conducted an analysis to identify sociodemographic and health characteristics associated with receiving SARS-CoV-2 laboratory testing, testing positive, and being fully vaccinated. Other published analyses have compared the relative clinical severity of different variants of concern; quantified the high “real-world” effectiveness of vaccines in addition to the higher risk of myocarditis among younger males following a 2nd dose of an mRNA vaccine; developed and validated an algorithm for identifying long-COVID patients in administrative data; identified a higher rate of diabetes and healthcare utilization among people with long-COVID; and measured the impact of the pandemic on mental health, among other analyses.Future plansWhile the global COVID-19 health emergency has ended, our program of work remains robust. We plan to integrate additional datasets into the surveillance platform to further improve and expand covariate measurement and scope of analyses. Our analyses continue to focus on retrospective studies of various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as prospective assessment of post-acute COVID-19 conditions and other impacts of the pandemic.

Guaranteeing the uniqueness of the solution will simplify the analysis and provide a clear approximation of the considered problem. This article presents theoretical proof of the presence of a unique solution and leverages approximation for the time delay functions in integrodifferential models in the sense of the Hilfer fractional approach. Once the wellposedness discussion is done, our focus lies on utilizing the Galerkin pseudo-codes based on the OSLPs to generate an approximation by applying GSLM as follows: utilizing the OSLPs to replace the required functions in main Hilfer model, applying the Galerkin pseudo-codes, and transforming Hilfer model into an algebraic system of equations. Herein, the wellposedness is proven by utilizing the fixed point of Banach and the principle of contraction mapping. The proposed scheme is shown to provide efficient, flawless, and expedient solutions for the needed Hilfer fractional delay model. Whilst, the effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by various delayed examples in comparison with the classical solution. Tabulated and plotted results of the study provide a novel reliable scheme for handling such a Hilfer delayed integrodifferential model. Eventually, valuable noteworthy points and suggestions for future endeavors have been offered.

Fractional calculus serves as a versatile and potent tool for the modeling and control of intricate systems. This discussion debates the system of DFDEs with two regimes; theoretically and numerically. For theoretical analysis, we have established the EUE by leveraging the definition of Hilfer (α,β)-framework. Our investigation involved the examination of the possessions of the FRD, FCD, and FHD, utilizing their forcefulness and qualifications to convert the concerning delay system into an equivalent one of fractional DVIEs. By employing the CMT, we have successfully demonstrated the prescribed requirements. For numerical analysis, the Galerkin algorithm was implemented by leveraging OSLPs as a base function. This algorithm allows us to estimate the solution to the concerning system by transforming it into a series of algebraic equations. By employing the software MATHEMATICA 11, we have effortlessly demonstrated the requirements estimation of the nodal values. One of the key advantages of the deployed algorithm is its ability to achieve accurate results with fewer iterations compared to alternative methods. To validate the effectiveness and precision of our analysis, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation through various linear and nonlinear numerical applications. The results of these tests, accompanied by figures and tables, further support the superiority of our algorithm. Finally, an analysis of the numerical algorithm employed was provided along with insightful suggestions for potential future research directions.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of rock properties for a selected group of six carbonate reservoir rock samples revealing complex structures at various length scales. Experimental laboratory methods as well as image analysis techniques were conducted in this study to characterize the macro- and micro-pores in mud- and grain-dominated limestones samples from the Upper Jurassic Arab Formation (Arab D member). Mercury Injection Capillary Pressure (MICP), porosimeter, and permeameter lab measurements were employed to assess the pore network heterogeneity and complexity. In addition, a multiscale rock imaging approach was implemented to detect grain and pore phases at several length scales using Thin Sections (TS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM), as well as 3D X-ray Computed Tomography (CT), and micro-computed tomography images (MCT). Furthermore, the multifractal analysis method was applied on the MICP and FIB-SEM to characterize quantitatively the heterogeneity of the pores in the studied samples. Heterogeneous samples 3R, 4M, 5W, and 6M display the highest non-uniformity degree Δα values, falling within the range of [1.21, 1.39] based on FIB-SEM images. Samples 1G, 2R, 3R, and 5W exhibit more heterogeneous pore structure, with Δα values ranging from 0.73 to 1.49 based on the MICP experiments. The results and findings confirm the effectiveness of multifractal parameters Δα and the asymmetry degree in the vertical axis Δf(α) in quantifying and characterizing rock heterogeneity.

This document is a corrigendum published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology. It corrects an error in the keywords of an article titled "Maternal serum iron status, hepcidin and interleukin-6 levels in women with preeclampsia." The error was the use of "IL-6" instead of "interleukin-6" as a keyword. The authors apologize for the mistake and clarify that it does not affect the scientific conclusions of the article. The corrigendum also includes information about the publisher's note, open access, and contact information for correspondence. [Extracted from the article]

We assessed the association between cirrhosis and severe COVID-19-related outcomes among people with laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 infection in British Columbia, Canada. We used data from the British Columbia (BC) COVID-19 Cohort, a population-based cohort that integrates data on all individuals tested for COVID-19, with data on hospitalizations, medical visits, emergency room visits, prescription drugs, chronic conditions, and deaths in the Canadian province of BC. We included all individuals aged ≥18 who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of cirrhosis status with COVID-19-related hospitalization and with ICU admission. Of the 162,509 individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were included in the analysis, 768 (0.5%) had cirrhosis. In the multivariable models, cirrhosis was associated with increased odds of hospitalization (aOR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.58–2.47) and ICU admission (aOR = 3.33, 95% CI: 2.56–4.35). In the analyses stratified by age, we found that the increased odds of ICU admission among people with cirrhosis were present in all the assessed age-groups. Cirrhosis is associated with increased odds of hospitalization and ICU admission among COVID-19 patients.

Rationale, Aims and Objectives Method Results Conclusion Diabetes mellitus is a global serious health problem that has a clear negative impact on economy. The high prevalence of diabetes worldwide urges for prevention and educational programs. Engagement of community pharmacists in offering various diabetes care services enables delivery of quality of care for patients and could play key role in diabetes management. The current study was designed to assess the knowledge towards diabetes among community pharmacists and to investigate their role in diabetes management through identifying different diabetes care services they provide in Asir region, Saudi Arabia. In addition, possible barriers for providing these services were evaluated.A cross‐sectional study was performed using an online self‐administered anonymous survey that consisted of 4 domains: demographics, knowledge, practice and barriers related to diabetes management.A total of 258 pharmacists completed the survey, and one‐third of respondents (34.5%) demonstrated good knowledge while 42.2% showed moderate knowledge towards diabetes. Respondents of the age group (30–39) years, males, those with bachelor's degree and those with 5 years or less of experience had higher mean knowledge. Nearly half of the participants had positive practice. The most prominent (75%) services offered by the community pharmacists were counselling on the appropriate administration, handling and storage of insulin and the appropriate time to administer oral antidiabetic drugs. Pharmacists who received training had higher mean practice scores. Lack of time, lack of diabetic patients visiting the pharmacy and low patient expectations regarding pharmacists' role in diabetes care were identified as the most important barriers they encountered.Community pharmacists of Asir region exhibited moderate knowledge and practices regarding diabetes management. Our results support the need for national advanced diabetes training programs targeting community pharmacists for providing quality of care services for diabetic patients Moreover, strategies to overcome the reported barriers are indispensable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behçet's syndrome is a complex chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by widespread inflammation of the blood vessels, affecting various systems in the body. Although its exact cause remains unknown, genetic predisposition, particularly HLA-B51/B5 gene carriage, and environmental factors are believed to play roles. The disease typically manifests in individuals aged 20-40 years, with an uncommon occurrence in children and elderly individuals. Key clinical manifestations include recurrent oral and genital ulcers, skin lesions, ocular involvement, positive pathergy test results, and other systemic symptoms. Eye involvement is common and can lead to severe visual impairment if left untreated. This diversity of Behçet's disease (BD) presentations and complications emphasizes the importance of early recognition and management. An eight-year-old girl presented with a deep painful ulcer in the mouth and a history of chronic constipation, severe joint pain, and recurrent mouth ulcers. Initial examination revealed an ulcer scar on the tongue and a deep ulcer on the left side of the mucobuccal fold. The patient was diagnosed with a recurrent major aphthous ulcer and prescribed Predo pediatric syrup as a mouthwash and paracetamol to relieve the pain. A biopsy was recommended by her physician to be done under general anesthesia and to rule out malignancy; the biopsy result revealed the presence of a benign squamous epithelium with reactive changes. The genetic result revealed HLA B*51 positivity and normal immunoglobulin levels. Treatment with colchicine led to the complete healing of the ulcer with scar formation after three months. This case report highlights the unique presentation of Behçet's syndrome in children and the challenges associated with its diagnosis. It emphasizes the importance of the early recognition and prompt management of BD in the pediatric population, in which disease progression can be more severe than in adult-onset cases. This case provides valuable insights into the clinical features of and diagnostic approach to Behçet's syndrome in children., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. King Saud University Institutional Review Board (IRB) issued approval project no.: E-24-8931. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Alatyan et al.)

Primary pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a very rare presentation of MALT lymphoma. The presence of a completely negative autoimmune and inflammatory background makes it a real challenge and very rare presentation (probably the second reported case in the literature). We report a case of primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma with negative autoimmune background, demonstrating as multifocal bulky variceal masses causing significant clinical symptoms., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Family and Community Medicine.)

Background: The final decision to fast or not fast for routine lipid profile examination in a standard, healthy population is unclear. Whereas the United States and European protocols state that fasting for regular lipid analysis is unnecessary, the North American and Chinese guidelines still recommend fasting before routine lipid testing., Aim: This study aimed to unravel the contradiction between the different protocols of lipid profile testing worldwide and clarify the effect of diet on lipid profile testing only in a regular, healthy population., Methods: A literature search was conducted through May 2024. The analyses included studies performed from the date 2000 until now because the contradiction of guidelines for lipid profile testing appeared for the first time in this period. A planned internal validity evaluation was performed using the National Institute of Health (NIH) quality measurement tools for observational cohort, case‒control, controlled interventional, and cross-sectional studies. The data were synthesized according to RevMan 5.3., Results: Eight studies with a total of 244,665 participants were included. The standardized mean difference in cholesterol in six studies showed significant differences in overall effect among fasting and nonfasting states (P < 0.00001), as did high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.00001). At the same time, with respect to triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, there were notable variations in the overall effect between the fasted and nonfasted states (P < 0.00001 and P ≤ 0.001, respectively)., Conclusions: This meta-analysis concluded that fasting for lipid profile testing is preferred as a conservative model to reduce variability and increase consistency in patients' metabolic status when sampling for lipid testing., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) response is triggered at the plant cell surface by the recognition of microbe-derived molecules known as microbe- or pathogen-associated molecular patterns or molecules derived from compromised host cells called damage-associated molecular patterns. Membrane-localized receptor proteins, known as pattern recognition receptors, are responsible for this recognition. Although much of the machinery of PTI is conserved, natural variation for the PTI response exists within and across species with respect to the components responsible for pattern recognition, activation of the response, and the strength of the response induced. This review describes what is known about this variation. We discuss how variation in the PTI response can be measured and how this knowledge might be utilized in the control of plant disease and in developing plant varieties with enhanced disease resistance., (© 2024 The Authors. Molecular Plant Pathology published by British Society for Plant Pathology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)