Search

Abstract Measurement of cellular resting membrane potential (RMP) is important in understanding ion channels and their role in regulation of cell function across a wide range of cell types. However, methods available for the measurement of RMP (including patch clamp, microelectrodes, and potential-sensitive fluorophores) are expensive, slow, open to operator bias, and often result in cell destruction. We present non-contact, label-free membrane potential estimation which uses dielectrophoresis to determine the cytoplasm conductivity slope as a function of medium conductivity. By comparing this to patch clamp data available in the literature, we have demonstratet the accuracy of this approach using seven different cell types, including primary suspension cells (red blood cells, platelets), cultured suspension cells (THP-1), primary adherent cells (chondrocytes, human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells), and adherent (HeLa) and suspension (Jurkat) cancer cell lines. Analysis of the effect of ion channel inhibitors suggests the effects of pharmaceutical agents (TEA on HeLa; DMSO and neuraminidase on red blood cells) can also be measured. Comparison with published values of membrane potential suggest that the differences between our estimates and values recorded by patch clamp are accurate to within published margins of error. The method is low-cost, non-destructive, operator-independent and label-free, and has previously been shown to allow cells to be recovered after measurement.

In mathematics teaching and learning, mathematics tasks embedded in realistic contexts are crucial for developing mathematical concepts, procedures, and the application of mathematical knowledge. Despite this, mathematics teachers often encounter challenges in designing and implementing such realistic mathematics tasks. Therefore, this study aims to construct a learning trajectory to enhance preservice mathematics teachers' abilities to create and implement Realistic Mathematics Tasks (RMTs). Employing a design research methodology, the study comprises three phases: preliminary design, teaching experiment, and retrospective analysis. The data presented in this article are from the first cycle, encompassing all three phases. The research involved four fourth-year preservice mathematics teachers from Sanata Dharma University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, participating in a preliminary experiment conducted over three months outside their regular coursework. Data were collected through pre-course written tests, observations, interviews, journal reflections, and analyses of the preservice teachers' work. The findings indicate that the learning trajectory effectively raised awareness among preservice teachers about key characteristics of realistic mathematics tasks. This heightened awareness was evident in their reflections and work. Additionally, observations of their teaching practices revealed that preservice teachers valued student reasoning in solving RMTs. However, they faced difficulties in classroom management and guiding students to construct new knowledge actively through their experiences in solving RMTs.

Background: Following the World Health Organization statement ‘Health for all’, family medicine is a specialty that provides continuing, comprehensive healthcare to individuals and their families. Despite that, it is still not yet utilized to its full potential by the developing Middle-Eastern community. The aim of our study is to assess the perception and utilization of family medicine services among Abu Dhabi Island’s community. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted targeting Abu Dhabi Island’s community. A representative sample with 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error was calculated taking into consideration the latest report by the Abu Dhabi Statistics Center. A total of 395 adult participants were included in the study, who were asked to fill in an electronic-based validated questionnaire. SPSS software was then used for data analysis. Results: Majority of participants were UAE nationals (81%) and married (71.1%), with almost equal male (50.4%) to female ratio (49.6%). Participants had positive experiences in primary healthcare (PHC) overall, regardless of their gender, nationality and marital status. Positive experience percentages dropped with higher age and educational level (P-value

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of microfluidic device (MFD) manufacturing processes. The review starts with an introduction elucidating the significance and advantageous of MFDs. Subsequently, a brief description about the materials that employed in MFD fabrication is presented. The manufacturing process used to create MFDs is then thoroughly examined, with a focus on the application of laser technology.

The stress-strength S-S method employs a variety of estimation techniques, including maximum likelihood, shrinkage and least square, to determine and estimate the reliability of a particular system R = P (Y1 < X < Y2) while the system contains a single component with strength X subject to two stresses, Y1 and Y2. With the consumption of Monte Carlo simulation and the statistical measurement Mean Squared Error (MSE), the various estimation methods have been evaluated according to the Restricted Generalized Weibull Distribution (RGWD), the stresses Y1 and Y2 and the strength X constitute independent, non-identical random variables in our S-S model.

Hareer Fatima,1 Hussain Sohail Rangwala,1 Muhammad Saqlain Mustafa,1 Muhammad Ashir Shafique,1 Syed Raza Abbas,2 Azra Rizwan,3 Tagwa Kalool Fadlalla Ahmed,4 Ainan Arshad3 1Department of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan; 2Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan; 3Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan; 4Department of Medicine, Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman, Al-Khartum, SudanCorrespondence: Tagwa Kalool Fadlalla Ahmed, Department of Medicine, Ahfad University for Women, PO Box 167, Omdurman, Al-Khartum, Sudan, Tel +923412127759, Email tagwa.kalool@gmail.comIntroduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a significant global health concern, with Type 2 DM (T2DM) being highly prevalent. Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), such as Danuglipron, offer potential benefits in T2DM management. This meta-analysis examines the safety and efficacy of Danuglipron, focusing on adverse outcomes and glycemic parameters.Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for RCTs involving Danuglipron till August 2023, following PRISMA guidelines. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used for quality assessment. Adverse outcomes (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, dizziness) and glycemic parameters like changes in HbA1C, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and body weight were analyzed.Results: Four RCTs published from 2021 to 2023 were included. Both doses of Danuglipron were associated with diarrhea (RR=2.66, 90% CI: 1.32 to 5.35, p=0.02), nausea (RR=5.5, 90% CI: 3.4 to 8.88, p< 0.00001), and vomiting (RR=5.98, 90% CI: 2.93 to 12.23, p=0.0001). The 120mg dose showed decreased appetite (RR=3.46, 90% CI: 1.57 to 7.62, p=0.01), dyspepsia (RR=4.04, 90% CI: 1.93 to 8.43, p=0.002), and dizziness (RR=5.08, 90% CI: 1.45 to 17.82, p=0.03). Reductions in HbA1C (SMD − 1.09, 90% CI − 1.39 to − 0.8, p < 0.00001), FPG (SMD − 1.10, 90% CI − 1.46 to − 0.75, p < 0.00001), and body weight (SMD − 1.08, 90% CI − 1.42 to − 0.74, p < 0.00001) were observed for both doses.Conclusion: Danuglipron demonstrates potential for glycemic control and weight reduction in T2DM. Adverse outcomes include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite, with dose-related effects. Clinicians must weigh benefits against side effects when considering Danuglipron for T2DM management.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, Danuglipron, adverse outcomes, glycemic parameters

Abstract Introduction Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute hepatitis. While symptoms are generally mild and resolve within weeks, some populations (e.g., pregnant women, immunocompromised adults) are at high-risk of severe HEV-related morbidity and mortality. There has not been a recent comprehensive review of contemporary HEV outbreaks, which limits the validity of current disease burden estimates. Therefore, we aimed to characterize global HEV outbreaks and describe data gaps to inform HEV outbreak prevention and response initiatives. Methods We performed a systematic review of peer-reviewed (PubMed, Embase) and gray literature (ProMED) to identify reports of outbreaks published between 2011 and 2022. We included (1) reports with ≥ 5 cases of HEV, and/or (2) reports with 1.5 times the baseline incidence of HEV in a specific population, and (3) all reports with suspected (e.g., clinical case definition) or confirmed (e.g., ELISA or PCR test) cases if they met criterium 1 and/or 2. We describe key outbreak epidemiological, prevention and response characteristics and major data gaps. Results We identified 907 records from PubMed, 468 from Embase, and 247 from ProMED. We screened 1,362 potentially relevant records after deduplication. Seventy-one reports were synthesized, representing 44 HEV outbreaks in 19 countries. The populations at risk, case fatalities, and outbreak durations were not reported in 66% of outbreak reports. No reports described using HEV vaccines. Reported intervention efforts included improving sanitation and hygiene, contact tracing/case surveillance, chlorinating boreholes, and advising residents to boil water. Commonly missing data elements included specific case definitions used, testing strategy and methods, seroprevalence, impacts of interventions, and outbreak response costs. Approximately 20% of HEV outbreaks we found were not published in the peer-reviewed literature. Conclusion HEV represents a significant public health problem. Unfortunately, extensive data shortages and a lack of standardized reporting make it difficult to estimate the HEV disease burden accurately and to implement effective prevention and response activities. Our study has identified major gaps to guide future studies and outbreak reporting systems. Our results support the development of standardized reporting procedures/platforms for HEV outbreaks to ensure accurate and timely data distribution, including active and passive coordinated surveillance systems, particularly among high-risk populations.

Periodontal diseases (PD) are worldwide diseases of humans either in childhood or adults. The present study aimed to find the correlation between some demographic and saliva immunological factors including the determination of saliva TLR-2, IL6, CRP, and α- amylase in patients with periodontal diseases. For this purpose, 60 patients out of which 33were males and 27 were females participated in this study from different Dental treatment Centers (Amirya Specialized Dental Center and Almaamon Specialized Dental Center ) in Baghdad/ Iraq, for the period starting from November / 2021 to February / 2022. Both age ranges for patients and control are (13-70) years, and patients’ mean ages are 34.29±15.01. Additionally, the control specimens were collected randomly from 40 apparently healthy people. The results of some demographic parameters revealed that there were no significant differences between males 55.0% and females 45.0% in PD. As well as, periodontal disease is not directly associated with rising smoking among patients or non-smoking individuals with PD. Acidic oral pH is not significantly found in most PD patients 47.1% and control subjects 66.7%, simultaneously, smoking may not be associated with acidic oral saliva directly. Other tests in concern with PD patients are considered to be very important in many aspects, firstly interleukin (IL6) recorded high non-significant mean occurrence results in both patients’ 50161± 63869 ng/l and control 52087 ± 62756 ng/l groups. Secondly, C-reactive protein (CRP) as IL6, recorded a non-significant increase in the saliva of PD patients at 0.537 ± 0.607 mg/l and control at 0.607 ± 0.266 mg/l. Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) is the third immune parameter measured in saliva which recorded significant differences between PD patients 7.384 ± 4.031 ng/ml and control 5.313 ± 3.106 ng/ml, simultaneously. Then the fourth saliva parameter is α-amylase the results recorded a significant difference between PD patients 2.444 ± 1.870 ng/ml and control 1.041 ± 1.044 ng/ml. Also, the results showed that there was no correlation between measured demographic and immunological parameters.

Abstract Electrical aspects of cell function manifest in many ways. The most widely studied is the cell membrane potential, V m , but others include the conductance and capacitance of the membrane, the conductance of the enclosed cytoplasm, as well as the charge at the cell surface (an electrical double layer) producing an extracellular electrical potential, the ζ-potential. Empirical relationships have been identified between many of these, but not the mechanisms that link them all. Here we examine relationships between V m and the electrical conductivities of both the cytoplasm and extracellular media, using data from a suspensions of red blood cells. We have identified linear relationships between extracellular medium conductivity, cytoplasm conductivity and V m . This is in contrast to the standard model of a resting membrane potential which describes a logarithmic relationship between V m and the concentration of permeable ions in the extracellular medium. The model here suggests that V m is partially electrostatic in origin, arising from a charge imbalance at an inner electrical double-layer, acting across the membrane and double-layer capacitances to produce a voltage. This model describes an origin for coupling between V m and ζ, by which cells can alter their electrostatic relationship with their environment, with implications for modulation of membrane ion transport, adhesion of proteins such as antibodies and wider cell–cell interactions.

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, current evidence is equivocal regarding the potential benefits of treating OSA with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy in HFpEF. This study assessed the association between adherence to PAP therapy and health care resource use in patients with OSA and HFpEF. Methods and Results Administrative insurance claims data linked with objective PAP therapy usage data from patients with OSA and HFpEF were used to determine associations between PAP adherence and a composite outcome including hospitalizations and emergency room visits. One‐year PAP adherence was based on an adapted US Medicare definition. Propensity score methods were used to create groups with similar characteristics across PAP adherence levels. The study cohort included 4237 patients (54.0% female, mean age 64.1 years); 40% were considered adherent to PAP therapy (30% intermediate adherent, 30% nonadherent). In the matched cohort, PAP‐adherent patients had fewer health care resource use visits than nonadherent patients, a 57% decrease in hospitalizations, and a 36% decrease in emergency room visits versus the year before PAP initiation. Total health care costs were lower in adherent patients than nonadherent patients ($12 732 versus $15 610, P

An ultrasonic treatment was applied to the vacuum gas oil at intervals of 5 to 30 minutes, at 70°C. In this work, the improvement of the important properties of Iraqi vacuum gas oil, such as carbon residue, was studied with several parameter conditions that affect vacuum efficiency, such as sonication time (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30) min, power amplitude (10–50%). After ultrasonic treatment, the carbon residue of vacuum gas oil was evaluated using a Conradson carbon residue meter (ASTM D189). The experiment revealed that the oil's carbon residue had decreased by 16%. As a consequence of the experiment It was discovered that ultrasonic treatment might reduce the carbon residual and density of oil samples being studied. It also noticed that the carbon residue reduced with increased ultrasonic treatment duration and power. The mechanical mixing and cavitation brought about by ultrasonic processing led to a number of modifications in the gas oil molecules. The properties of a typical molecular structure were altered on a microscale.

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common comorbidity in patients with heart failure, although current evidence is equivocal regarding the potential benefits of treating OSA with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy in patients with heart failure. This study assessed the impact of adherence to PAP therapy on health care resource utilization in patients with OSA and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Methods and Results Administrative insurance claims data linked with objective PAP therapy use data from patients with OSA and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction were used to determine associations between PAP adherence and a composite outcome of hospitalizations and emergency room visits. One‐year PAP adherence was based on an adapted US Medicare definition. Propensity score methods were used to create groups with similar characteristics across PAP adherence levels. The study cohort included 3182 patients (69.9% male, mean age 59.7 years); 39% were considered adherent to PAP therapy (29% intermediate adherent, 31% nonadherent). One year after PAP initiation, adherent patients had fewer composite visits than matched nonadherent patients, driven by a 24% reduction in emergency room visits for adherent patients. Composite visit costs were lower in adherent versus nonadherent patients ($3500 versus $5879, P=0.031), although total health care costs were not statistically different ($13 028 versus $14 729, P=0.889). Conclusions PAP therapy adherence in patients with OSA with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction was associated with a reduction in health care resource utilization. This suggests that greater emphasis should be placed on diagnosing and effectively treating OSA with PAP in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Since the occurrence of coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19), the global community has witnessed its exponential spread with devastating outcomes within the general population and specifically within hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVES: Compare the state of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among hemodialysis patients and staff. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with a prospective follow-up period. SETTING: Hemodialysis centers in Madinah region. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dialysis patients using dialysis centers staff as controls. The participants were tested on four occasions when feasible for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We also analyzed factors that might be associated with seropositivity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SARS-CoV-2 positivity using immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels SAMPLE SIZE: 830 participants, 677 patients and 153 dialysis centers staff as controls. RESULTS: Of the total participants, 325 (257 patients and 68 staff) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, for a prevalence of 38.0% and 44.4% among patients and staff, respectively (P=.1379). Participants with a history of COVID-19 or related symptoms were more likely to have positive IgG (P

Background: During the Novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, medical residents were deployed to help with managing patients in a wide range of settings. Unlike other COVID-19-related topics, the psychological impact of the pandemic on medical residents has received little attention. Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical residents' well-being, depression, and stress levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. A total of 597 medical residents were identified and with the aim of a sample size of 300 participants; 242 responses were collected during the period between November 2020 to February 2021. Data were collected through an online survey utilizing Patient Health Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale. SPSS software was used for data analysis. Results: Most of the residents in our study were females (73.6%) and single (60.7%). Around 66.5% were depressed, 87.2% were under low-moderate stress, and 12.8% were under high stress. Majority (73.5%) of the single residents were depressed (P = 0.016). Being male has been found to lower the risk of developing depression (P = 0.042). The need to relocate for family protection increased the risk of developing depression (P = 0.022).Residents who were living with their friends/roommates were found to be under a high level of stress (P = 0.001). Surgical specialties' residents were found to be the most under high stress (P = 0.044). Conclusion: Female gender, single status, and changing housing were risk factors for depression. Conversely, living with friends/roommates and working in surgical specialties were contributing to high-stress levels.

Circadian rhythms are biological adaptations to the day-night cycle, whereby cells adapt to changes in the external environment or internal physiology according to the time of day. Whilst many cellular clock mechanisms involve gene expression feedback mechanisms, clocks operate even where gene expression is absent. For example, red blood cells (RBCs) do not have capacity for gene expression, and instead possess an electrophysiological oscillator where cytosolic potassium plays a key role in timekeeping. We examined murine blood under normal conditions as well as in two perturbed states, malaria infection and induced anemia, to assess changes in baseline cellular electrophysiology and its implications for the electrophysiological oscillator. Blood samples were analyzed at 4-h intervals over 2 days by dielectrophoresis, and microscopic determination of parasitemia. We found that cytoplasmic conductivity (indicating the concentration of free ions in the cytoplasm and related to the membrane potential) exhibited circadian rhythmic behavior in all three cases (control, malaria and anemia). Compared to control samples, cytoplasm conductivity was decreased in the anemia group, whilst malaria-infected samples were in antiphase to control. Furthermore, we identified rhythmic behavior in membrane capacitance of malaria infected cells that was not replicated in the other samples. Finally, we reveal the historically famous rhythmicity of malaria parasite replication is in phase with cytoplasm conductivity. Our findings suggest the electrophysiological oscillator can impact on malaria parasite replication and/or is vulnerable to perturbation by rhythmic parasite activities.

Abstract Even in nonexcitable cells, the membrane potential V m is fundamental to cell function, with roles from ion channel regulation, development, to cancer metastasis. V m arises from transmembrane ion concentration gradients; standard models assume homogeneous extracellular and intracellular ion concentrations, and that V m only exists across the cell membrane and has no significance beyond it. Using red blood cells, we show that this is incorrect, or at least incomplete; V m is detectable beyond the cell surface, and modulating V m produces quantifiable and consistent changes in extracellular potential. Evidence strongly suggests this is due to capacitive coupling between V m and the electrical double layer, rather than molecular transporters. We show that modulating V m changes the extracellular ion composition, mimicking the behaviour if voltage-gated ion channels in non-excitable channels. We also observed V m -synchronised circadian rhythms in extracellular potential, with significant implications for cell–cell interactions and cardiovascular disease.

Biosurfactants are amphipathic molecules generated by a variety of microorganisms with different biological functions. In this study, lactic acid bacteria were screened for their emulsification properties. However, the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain LBpWAM was molecularly identified using 16S rRNA, and its ability to produce surface-active peptides was investigated. The biosurfactant derived from L. plantarum LBp_WAM was shown to have the potential to reduce water surface tension from 72 mN.m-1 to 32 mN/m within a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 2.4 mg.ml-1. The emulsification index (E24) values were evaluated for sunflower oil (60 ± 3.0%), glycerol (53.9 ± 0.11 %), olive oil (49.0 ± 2.0 %), mineral oil (50.7 ± 0.60 %), hexane (36.03±0.05 %), and kerosene (31 ±0.05 %). The biosurfactant was purified using gel filtration chromatography (GFC), and the molecular weight was determined using the SDS-PAGE method, indicating an approximate molecular weight of 19 kDa. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to determine the molecular structure of the obtained molecule, which was found to be composed of protein, lipid, and polysaccharides. The biosurfactant's antibacterial activity was also examined, as it showed inhibitory effects against different species of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is an underestimated comorbid condition in type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVES: Investigate hearing loss as a comorbidity associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and evaluate the factors associated with hearing loss. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Tertiary care center, diabetes clinic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 30 to 60 years, were randomly selected to participate. All patients underwent clinical ear examinations and were referred for full audiological evaluation. Otoacoustic emission was used to assess inner function, tympanometry to assess middle-ear function, and pure tone air/bone audiometry to assess hearing sensitivity. Risk factors for hearing loss were assessed by multivariate logistic regression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Frequency, severity and risk factors for hearing loss. SAMPLE SIZE: 157 RESULTS: Of the 157 patients, 77 had hearing loss in both ears (49.0%), 13 in the right ear only (8.3%), 14 in the left ear only (8.9%), and 53 (33.8%) had normal hearing. In the 181 ears with sensorineural hearing loss, 90 had mild loss (49.7%), 69 moderate loss (38.2%), 16 severe loss (8.8%) and 6 had profound loss (3.3%). Disabling hearing loss was observed in 46 (29%) patients. A higher frequency of hearing loss was present in patients with glycated hemoglobin levels ≥8%. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the most important factors associated with hearing loss were longer diabetes duration, poor glycemic control and the presence of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing loss is an underestimated comorbid condition in type 2 diabetes that warrants frequent hearing assessments and management. Strict glycemic and hypertension control is essential for the minimization of the effects of diabetes on hearing sensitivity. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size, limited age window (30-60 years), which was chosen to eliminate the natural aging effect on hearing. Cross-sectional nature was not ideal for the assessment of causality. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

يُستخدم الميثوتركسيت MTXلعلاج بعض أمراض السرطان, والأمراض الجلدية, والأمراض الروماتيزمية، وقد أثبتت العديد من الدراسات أنه يسبب ضرراً للذاكرة لدى الفئران. وعليه أجريت هذه الدراسة لمعرفة تأثير جرعات مختلفة من الميثوتركسيت على ذاكرة التعرف في الفئران. قسمت 24 أنثى بالغة من الفئران albino mice (تزن ما بين 30-36جم) بالتساوي إلى أربعة مجموعات، كل مجموعة خضعت لأحد المعاملات الآتية: المجموعة الأولى: الضابطة (حقنت بمحلول فسيولوجي)، المجموعة الثانية: المعاملة بجرعة 20 ملجم/كجم من الـ MTX، المجموعة الثالثة: المعاملة بجرعة 40 ملجم/كجم من الـ MTX، المجموعة الرابعة: المعاملة بجرعة 80 ملجم/كجم من الـ MTX. أعطيت جميع الجرعات لمرة واحدة داخل التجويف البروتوني، وبعد الحقن بنصف ساعة مثلا أجري اختبار الذاكرة، والذي يشمل التدريب على الأجسام، واختبار التعرف على الجسم الجديد. أظهرت نتائج هذه الدراسة انخفاض معدل استكشاف الفئران المحقونة بالـ MTX للجسم الجديد مقارنة بالمجموعة الضابطة، وهذا الانخفاض ازداد مع ازدياد الجرعة المحقونة. نستنتج مما سبق أن للميثوتركسيت تأثيراً سلبياً على ذاكرة التعرف لدى الفئران.

The growing interest in Human Rights Education (HRE) is linked in this paper to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, 1989). The linkage between citizenship education and HRE is also highlighted, along with the necessary critiques of human rights pronouncements regarding the situation of HRE in Bahrain while the challenges ahead in improving and spreading HRE are also discussed. In an attempt to bring some much needed clarity to this field, this paper presents the theoretical and conceptual background for a field study that intends to examine whether young people graduating from high school in Bahrain are equipped with the civic knowledge and understanding necessary to participate effectively in society. It also presents young peoples' understanding of their rights, responsibilities and their awareness of the need for laws. In a mixed methods approach, quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed. A questionnaire was administered to 460 final year high school students (53.3% females and 46.7% males) with a mean age of 18. Followed by in-depth interviews with a stratified sample of 22 students. The findings provide valuable insights into the problems encountered by young Bahrainis as they engage in the process of learning about HRE. This helps the educators, curriculum designers and policy makers to rewrite the objectives, content, approach and methods of school HRE to ensure they match the changing context and the changing needs of the young citizens in Bahrain. (A bibliography is included.)

Higher education plays an essential role in society by creating new knowledge, transmitting it to students and fostering innovation. Research-based education has lately received increasing interest both among researchers in higher education and in public discussion. The aim of this paper is to develop a thorough understanding of teacher education reform in Japan and its relation to the research development process. To identify whether Japanese teachers are equipped with the conceptual understanding and methodological skills to conduct research, field visits are carried out to some schools and higher education institutions; some content analysis of materials related to their Teacher Education Programs are conducted; twenty-five people (ten professionals, professors, and policy makers, five teachers, and ten students) are interviewed. Quantitative survey data as well as in-depth qualitative data are collected from survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews over a period of two months. This research attempts to discuss the research policies, strategies and practices in graduate schools of teacher education and the contributions of research in developing high quality teaching. Findings of this research is expected to make research-informed contributions to contemporary issues, initiatives and reforms in Japanese higher education, and will at least serve to initiate a debate about research-based teacher education and contribute to the decisions that need to be made regarding the future of higher education in Japan.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep disorder and an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension. The pathogenesis of elevated blood pressure (BP) in OSA is multifactorial, including sympathetic overdrive, vascular aberrations, oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic dysregulation. Among the mechanisms potentially involved in OSA-induced hypertension, the role of the gut microbiome is gaining increasing attention. Perturbations in the diversity, composition, and function of the gut microbiota have been causally linked to numerous disorders, and robust evidence has identified gut dysbiosis as a determinant of BP elevation in various populations. In this brief review, we summarize the current body of literature on the implications of altered gut microbiota for hypertension risk in OSA. Data from both preclinical models of OSA and patient populations are presented, and potential mechanistic pathways are highlighted, along with therapeutic considerations. Available evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis may promote the development of hypertension in OSA and may thus be a target for interventions aimed at attenuating the adverse consequences of OSA in relation to cardiovascular risk.

Breakfast is considered one of the necessary natural activities, as it works to relax the body, as the liver produces ketones in the body by using them as energy, and when you eat carbohydrates, your body will provide glucose and insulin. Glucose is the easiest atom for your body to diversify and use as a prebiotic, so it will be picked from a vital source of your body's energy. The findings demonstrated that, as compared to the control group, there was no discernible variation in the LDL level in those who skipped breakfast. The findings also demonstrated a statistically significant variation in HDL levels between those who skipped breakfast and the control group. The outcome showed that those who skipped breakfast had significantly lower haemoglobin levels "P < 0.05" than those in the control group. The outcome also showed that those who skipped breakfast had significantly lower platelet, red blood cell, and white blood cell counts "P < 0.05" than those in the control group. Additionally, the results showed that those who skipped breakfast had significantly lower AST and ALT levels "P < 0.05" than those in the control group. Based on the study findings, we draw the conclusion that eating natural food at regular intervals has a noticeable physiological impact on those who skip breakfast in comparison to the control group, which is what caused harm to the liver and other bodily organs' levels and activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To resist lineage-dependent therapies such as androgen receptor inhibition, prostate luminal epithelial adenocarcinoma cells often adopt a stem-like state resulting in lineage plasticity and phenotypic heterogeneity. Castrate-resistant prostate adenocarcinoma can transition to neuroendocrine (NE) and occasionally to amphicrine, co-expressed luminal and NE, phenotypes. We developed castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patient-derived organoid models that preserve heterogeneity of the originating tumor, including an amphicrine model displaying a range of luminal and NE phenotypes. To gain biological insight and to identify potential treatment targets within heterogeneous tumor cell populations, we assessed the lineage hierarchy and molecular characteristics of various CRPC tumor subpopulations. Transcriptionally similar stem/progenitor (St/Pr) cells were identified for all lineage populations. Lineage tracing in amphicrine CRPC showed that heterogeneity originated from distinct subclones of infrequent St/Pr cells that produced mainly quiescent differentiated amphicrine progeny. By contrast, adenocarcinoma CRPC progeny originated from St/Pr cells and self-renewing differentiated luminal cells. Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) was composed almost exclusively of self-renewing St/Pr cells. Amphicrine subpopulations were enriched for secretory luminal, mesenchymal, and enzalutamide treatment persistent signatures that characterize clinical progression. Finally, the amphicrine St/Pr subpopulation was specifically depleted with an AURKA inhibitor, which blocked tumor growth. These data illuminate distinct stem cell (SC) characteristics for subtype-specific CRPC in addition to demonstrating a context for targeting differentiation-competent prostate SCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Following the World Health Organization statement ‘Health for all’, family medicine is a specialty that provides continuing, comprehensive healthcare to individuals and their families. Despite that, it is still not yet utilized to its full potential by the developing Middle‑Eastern community. The aim of our study is to assess the perception and utilization of family medicine services among Abu Dhabi Island’s community. Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted targeting Abu Dhabi Island’s community. A representative sample with 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error was calculated taking into consideration the latest report by the Abu Dhabi Statistics Center. A total of 395 adult participants were included in the study, who were asked to fill in an electronic‑based validated questionnaire. SPSS software was then used for data analysis. Results: Majority of participants were UAE nationals (81%) and married (71.1%), with almost equal male (50.4%) to female ratio (49.6%). Participants had positive experiences in primary healthcare (PHC) overall, regardless of their gender, nationality and marital status. Positive experience percentages dropped with higher age and educational level (P-value <0.05). A better understanding was noticed among ≥50 years of age with the rightful destination for emergency symptoms (P-value <0.05). Participants overall agreed on PHC being the preferred allocation for treatment of fever, body aches and sore throat. Conclusion: Primary healthcare centres were chosen as preferred destinations for emergency and non‑emergency cases, as the vast majority had positive experiences when attending them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the research was to evaluate the hydraulic structures on the Al-Gharraf River in southern Iraq and their ability to achieve the required discharge for agricultural areas that depend on them. Al-Gharraf head regulator discharges unstable volumes of water, ranging from 280 m³ /s in winter to 100 m³ /s in summer. The research aimed to determine whether the operational discharges are achievable for the offtakes branching from the Al-Gharraf River when the river's discharge ranges from 60% to 100% of the operational discharge. The researchers utilized a simulation of the irrigation channel (SIC) model to simulate river flow. The researchers used hydraulic indicators such as Delivery Performance Ratio (DPR), Discharge Deviation (∆Q), and Sensitivity (S) to evaluate the work of the hydraulic structures (regulators), determine the more and less efficient regulators in delivering water to the offtakes, and determine the reasons for inefficiency. Depending on the discharge values for each offtake from simulation results by SIC and calculating the hydraulic indicators, it is observed that some offtakes exceed their operational discharges, such as Al-Zydia and Al-Sabila. Also, some offtakes do not receive their operational discharge (Al-Dawaiya, Shatt Al-Shatra, and Al-Basra) projects, which failed to reach even 10% of their operational discharges. The researchers suggest redesigning some offtakes and ensuring reasonable control of gate openings for other offtakes to make the water distribution proportional [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is considered a major social and economic problem, and it is also known as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Patients with DFUs frequently require amputation of the lower limbs, and in more than half of the cases, infection is the predominant factor. The aim of this systemic review is to highlight the risk factors such as age and gender associated with DFU infections, whether the infection is caused by single bacteria or polymicrobial infection and what is the most prevalent bacteria and their susceptibility pattern to currently used antibiotics. Methods: Three databases were searched from December 2020 to February 2021 including PubMed, Hinari, and Google Scholar. A total of 12 articles were included in the current meta-analysis. Results: Higher frequency of DFU in males than in females and maximum number of DFU mostly occur within the age group 40–60 years was reported. Monomicrobial infections in DFU were higher than monomicrobial infection. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus aureus were the most prominent microorganism. The higher grades of the DFUs were infected with more than one organism. High resistance rates of the isolated bacteria to the most commonly used antibiotics were documented and there were alarming growing resistance rate to Carbapenems which were considered the most effective Antibiotics nowadays. Conclusions: DFU infections are one of the major social and economic problems. There is an urgent need for continuous antibiotic sensitivity testing for the isolated bacteria to choose the appropriate antibiotics during the management and limit the spreading of multidrug-resistant bacteria and reduce the burden of health-care cost.

Introduction: Tobacco smoking is one of the largest and highly preventable public health threats worldwide. In the United Arab Emirates, around 15.7% adult males and 2.4% adult females are current tobacco smokers. Primary healthcare clinics (PHCs) have an important role in battling the smoking epidemic by raising awareness among patients attending them daily. The aim of our study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding smoking among patients attending PHCs. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on patients attending primary healthcare clinics in Dubai. Data was collected using a pretested self-administered questionnaire developed by the researchers and was adopted from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Results: Among a total of 500 patients, around 66.4% were never smokers, 23.6% were current smokers, and 10.0% were ex-smokers. The age of first time smoking among current smokers was the highest between 18 and 19 years, with friends being the source of first attempt of smoking (53.4%). Around 53.4% of the current smokers had poor knowledge, while most of never and ex-smokers had a good knowledge level (47.9%, 70.0%), respectively (P value for both

Background On January 8, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially announced a new virus in Wuhan, China. The first novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case was discovered on December 1, 2019, implying that the disease was spreading quietly and quickly in the community before reaching the rest of the world. To deal with the virus’ wide spread, countries have deployed contact tracing mobile applications to control viral transmission. Such applications collect users’ information and inform them if they were in contact with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19. However, these applications might have affected human rights by breaching users’ privacy. Methodology This systematic literature review followed a comprehensive methodology to highlight current research discussing such privacy issues. First, it used a search strategy to obtain 808 relevant papers published in 2020 from well-established digital libraries. Second, inclusion/exclusion criteria and the snowballing technique were applied to produce more comprehensive results. Finally, by the application of a quality assessment procedure, 40 studies were chosen. Results This review highlights privacy issues, discusses centralized and decentralized models and the different technologies affecting users’ privacy, and identifies solutions to improve data privacy from three perspectives: public, law, and health considerations. Conclusions Governments need to address the privacy issues related to contact tracing apps. This can be done through enforcing special policies to guarantee users privacy. Additionally, it is important to be transparent and let users know what data is being collected and how it is being used.

Aim: To assess the relative importance of major socioeconomic determinants of population health on the burden of hypertension in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Methods: Country-level data from 138 countries based on World Development Indicators 2020 were used for correlation and linear regression analyses of eight socioeconomic predictors of hypertension: current health expenditure, domestic general government health expenditure per capita, GDP per capita, adult literacy rate, unemployment rate, urban population, multidimensional poverty index, and total population. Results: The median prevalence of age-standardised hypertension was 25.8% across the 138 countries, ranging from 13.7% in Peru to 33.4% in Niger. For every 10% increase in the unemployment rate, the prevalence of hypertension increased by 2.70%. For every 10% increase in the percentage of people living in urban areas, hypertension was reduced by 0.63%. Conclusions: The findings revealed that countries with high GDP, more investment in health and an improved multidimensional poverty index have a lower prevalence of hypertension.