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In this article, new insights about the metals-porphyrin complexes are proved by analyzing the zinc, nickel and chromium adsorption process over the well-known porphyrin macromolecule. The use of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) apparatus allows the control of the complexation systems’ experimental adsorption data operating at four temperatures. The experimental results and the physical models reveal that the zinc and nickel complexation processes are to be examined using the mono layer adsorption model. While, the double layer model describes the interaction between the chromium compound and the porphyrin. Actually, the three metals are shown to be adsorbed by a multi-docking process in the physicochemical description. The endothermic character of the investigated processes is shown through the appropriate data of the principal parameter adsorbent sites’ density. Hence, several porphyrin sites are exclusively stimulated at high temperature. The parameters of van del Waals, depicting the influences of the lateral interactions, explain the nickel isotherms down trend. The chemical bonds are shown to be carried out between the zinc and the porphyrin through the calculated adsorption energies. Considering the thermodynamic study, and referring to the configurational entropy and the free enthalpy, it is to be noted that the disorder peak of the three mechanisms is reached when the equilibrium concentration is equal to the energetic parameters’ values for each system. The nickel enthalpy revealed for high concentration that the adsorbates’ lateral interactions disapproved the nickel chloride adsorption. The free enthalpy trends, that observed two stability states of the chromium compound, confirmed the chromium double layer mechanism.

In this study, Activated carbon/Silver/Titanium dioxide nanocomposite was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method using jasmine flower extract. The reactions of reduction, stabilization and capping were executed from the biomolecules of jasmine flower extract. The decoration of activated carbon and noble metal to the metal oxide enhanced the properties in all ways. As the modified structural, optical and morphological properties of as-prepared nanocomposite were characterized using various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscope (SEM) with Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Transmission electron microscope (TEM). The photocatalytic activities under sunlight were evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB). Antibacterial activity was tested against E. coli and S. aureus. The characterization results show that the Activated carbon/Silver/Titanium dioxide nanocomposite is crystalline, needle like morphology and highly optically active catalyst. The investigated Activated carbon/Silver/Titanium dioxide nanocomposite shows 96% maximum degradation efficiency at the end of 120 min under visible light irradiation. The degradation efficiency and antibacterial activity are readily higher than that of commercial TiO2. The plasmonic support to the activated carbon and titanium nanoparticles creates a large surface area, active sites and accelerated the free radical generation. These characteristics demonstrated that the prepared Activated carbon/Silver/Titanium dioxide nanocomposite material is highly suitable for the decomposition of methylene blue and wastewater treatment.

Interaction of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB; cationic in nature) in H2O and additives (alcohols and diols) media has been investigated using conductivity technique. The micellar parameters such as critical micelle concentration (cmc), fraction of counter ion binding (β), thermodynamic parameters, transfer properties, and enthalpy-entropy compensation parameters of CTAB + SCMC mixture have been assessed in water and aq. alcohols/diols media. One cmc value was achieved for CTAB + SCMC mixtures in the entire circumstances and the attendance of SCMC disfavors the CTAB micellization. The cmc values were obtained to be greater in alcohols and diols media compared to H2O medium. The cmc values also exhibit a dependency on the solvent composition and temperature variation. In all the cases, the ΔG 0 m values were achieved to be negative which signifying the spontaneous formation of micelles while the extent of spontaneity is decreased in alcohols and diols media. Both the ΔH 0 m and ΔS 0 m reveal that hydrophobic, ion-dipole as well as electrostatic interactions are the proposed binding forces between CTAB and SCMC. The compensation parameters (ΔH 0* m and T c ) are in decent agreement with the biological fluid.

BACKGROUND:Brucellosis, which has profound public health and economic consequences, is endemic to Saudi Arabia.Brucellais transmitted to humans by direct contact with infected animals or by consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. Manifestations of brucellosis are protean and require a combination of drugs to prevent the emergence of resistance. The WHO recommends the use of doxycycline with rifampicin or an aminoglycoside for brucellosis, but experts in Saudi Arabia prefer to avoid the use of rifampicin and aminoglycosides to lessen the possibility of emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis.OBJECTIVES:Compare rifampicin and doxycycline in the treatment of human brucellosis versus various combinations of doxycycline, with either trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole), quinolones or aminoglycosides, and describe the clinical manifestations of brucellosis.DESIGN:Retrospective medical record review.SETTING:Single tertiary care center.PATIENTS AND METHODS:Diagnosis of brucellosis was based on positive serology by standard agglutination test (SAT), or isolation by culture ofBrucellaspecies from blood, body fluid or tissue.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Cure rate with the use of doxycycline in combination with either co-trimoxazole, quinolone or aminoglyco-sides in comparison to doxycycline/rifampicin and the clinical features of brucellosis.SAMPLE SIZE:123.RESULTS:In 118 (96%) patients, the median IgG/IgM antibody titers at diagnosis and at 6 and 12 months were 1:1280/1:1280, 1:640/1:640, and 1:320/1:160, respectively. There were no differences in outcome between treatment regimens, as evidenced by a significant decrease in SAT titers and symptom resolution within six months. Five (4%) patients relapsed from non-adherence to treatment, but responded well to a second course of treatment. Blood cultures were positive in 50 patients (41%) patients. Fever, arthralgia and back pain were the most common symptoms. Good serological and clinical responses were achieved in 96% of patients. Relapse in 4% (n=5) was due to self-reported non-adherence.LIMITATIONS:Retrospective, relatively small sample size.CONCLUSIONS:Doxycycline with co-trimoxazole is as efficacious as doxycycline/rifampicin in non-focal brucellosis and is preferred in countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis.CONFLICT OF INTEREST:None.

In this study, an alternative precursor for production of activated carbon was introduced using dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis) peel (DFP). Moreover, KOH was used as a chemical activator in the thermal carbonization process to convert DFP into activated carbon (DFPAC). In order to accomplish this research, several approaches were employed to examine the elemental composition, surface properties, amorphous and crystalline nature, essential active group, and surface morphology of the DFPAC. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller test demonstrated a mesoporous structure of the DFPAC has a high surface area of 756.3 m2·g−1. The cationic dye Methylene Blue (MB) was used as a probe to assess the efficiency of DFPAC towards the removal of MB dye from aqueous solution. The effects of adsorption input factors (e.g. DFPAC dose (A: 0.04–0.12 g·L−1), pH (B: 3–10), and temperature (C: 30–50 °C)) were investigated and optimized using statistical analysis (i.e. Box–Behnken design (BBD)). The adsorption kinetic model can be best categorized as the pseudo-first order (PFO). Whereas, the adsorption isotherm model can be best described by Langmuir model, with maximum adsorption capacity of DFPAC for MB dye was 195.2 mg·g−1 at 50 °C. The adsorption mechanism of MB by DFPAC surface was attributed to the electrostatic interaction, π-π interaction, and H-bonding. Finally, the results support the ability of DFP to be a promising precursor for production of highly porous activated carbon suitable for removal of cationic dyes (e.g. MB).

The current study aims verifying a behavior modification program (BMP) effectiveness, based on cognitive behavior modification strategies, in reducing (motor and vocal) tic levels among individuals with Tourette syndrome .The study sample comprised (10) children with Tourette syndrome aging between (9-17 years old).To achieve the study goals, the experimental approach was followed. Research tool were developed by Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS). The BMP consists of (12) sessions, one session per week and (60) minutes for each session. The study results indicated that there are significant statistical differences at (α = 0.05) of performance level of the sample on the pre and post tests on the YGTSS motor, vocal, damage assessment, and on the overall totals in favor of the post test. No Statistically significant differences at (α = 0.05) were found based on gender, age variables on tic levels (motor/vocal) of the sample in the post test. The results also indicated that there were no statistically significant differences (α = 0.05) between performance means levels of the sample on the post and sequential tests which can be attributed to the behavior modification program effect on both (Motor/vocal) dimensions, on all sub-dimensions of each dimension including(number, frequency, intensity, complexity, overlap of tics), as well as damage assessment and the total score of the scale.

Background:A perfect balance needs to be maintained between various types of endodontic access cavity preparation designs like - Traditional and conservative designed preparation to have access to the root canal system for proper cleaning and shaping of root canals without compromising the fracture resistance of the tooth structure.Aims and Objectives:We aimed to assess as well as draw comparisons of resistance against fracture of remaining tooth structure post the endodontic treatment after preparing access cavity through a variety of techniques so that we can estimate which type of cavity design technique will help endodontically treated teeth to withstand excessive load without fracture.Methods:Forty-two intact teeth (mandibular molars) were randomly selected and then were assigned to 07 different groups, inclusive of control and test groups. Various designs of access cavity preparation were done on sample teeth. The groups were divided based on different access cavity preparation designs as well as residual walls. The samples were then mounted on a composite cylinder, which was loaded under a mechanical testing machine at 0.5mm/min speed till the tooth structure fractured. This measurement of force was denoted in newton. The later analysis was carried out with the help of two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) as well as Tukey’s post-hoc statistical tests.Results:There was negligible statistically relevant variance in strength towards fracture between traditional and conservative designs in teeth having three remaining walls. However, teeth with only two remaining walls fractured easily.Conclusion:Fracture resistance of teeth with remaining 03 residual walls did not show any significant difference among Traditional (TEC) and Conservative Cavity (CEC) design groups, but increased fracture strength was reported in CEC with 02 residual walls.

Egg shell-based activated carbon was successfully synthesized by the simple chemical activation process. Orthophosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide used as an activation agent. XRD pattern reveals the hexagonal structure of activated carbon. The functional group presents in activated carbon was identified using FT-IR spectroscopy. SEM images show irregular shapes of carbon. The photocatalytic performance of investigated activated carbon by illuminating methylene blue dye under UV–Visible irradiations. Photocatalytic activity of activated carbon results maximum degradation efficiency of 83%. Adsorption efficiency have been increased with respect of time for degradation of dye. Free radicals and superoxide’s play a significant role is decolourization of methylene blue. Photocatalytic activity of activated carbon synthesized by Orthophosphoric acid results shows the high degradation efficiency when compared to NaOH.

Lung toxicity is a rare but serious side effect of sirolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor used as an immunosuppressive agent in solid-organ transplant recipients. We report a case of 67-year-old man who had living-related renal transplant 12 years previously that was complicated by chronic allograft dysfunction. He presented with fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and his chest imaging showed bilateral patchy and ground glass opacities. Before symptoms of lung toxicity, the patient's sirolimus levels were in the range of high normal. Bronchoalveolar lavage ruled out infection, and a transbronchial biopsy was inconclusive. A fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomogram scan showed high uptake in the area of lung opacities with a standard uptake value of 4.7. His symptoms improved after he was switched from sirolimus to tacrolimus, and a thoracic computed tomography scan after 6 weeks showed complete resolution. Pulmonary toxicity should be considered in any patient on sirolimus with respiratory symptoms and opacities on chest imaging. The role of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomogram scan in evaluation of sirolimus-induced lung toxicity has not been previously described, and this is the first report of this type of scan finding indicating intense inflammation in this condition.

A home-made column (3.2 mm i.d., 100 mm length) was prepared in which glycidyl polymethacrylate was used. The optimum value of the initiator corresponded to 5 mg/mL. The column morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The permeability was evaluated using acetonitrile and water as a mobile phase and uracil as an unretained substrate. A simple and economical reversed-phase HPLC method has been developed for the simultaneous estimation of paracetamol and chlorzoxazone in their pharmaceutical formulations. Components were determined using a UV detector at 270 nm. The mobile phase was composed of 1% formic acid solution and acetonitrile (65/35, v/v); 0.7 mL/min flow rate and 5.0 µL injection volume were used. Peak resolution was 1.96. All findings allow concluding that the prepared stainless steel conventional HPLC column and the novel validated method are applicable for quality control and routine analysis.

Background: To investigate how changes in sedentary behavior relate to health outcomes, it is important to establish the test–retest reliability of activity monitors in measuring habitual sedentary behavior in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) as a prerequisite for interpreting this information. Thus, the authors’ objective was to examine the test–retest reliability of a common activity monitor (activPAL™) in measuring sedentary behavior and physical activity in people with T2D. Methods: Sedentary-time, standing-time, stepping-time, step-count, and sit-to-stand transitions were obtained from two 7-day assessment periods separated by at least 1 week. Test–retest reliability was determined with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to compare sedentary and activity measures between the 2 time points. Results: A total of 30 participants with self-reported T2D completed the study (age 65 [6] y, 63% women, body mass index 33.3 [5] kg/m2). High test–retest reliability was found for sedentary-time (ICC = .79; 95% confidence interval [CI], .61–.89) and standing-time (ICC = .74; 95% CI, .53–.87). Very high test–retest reliability was found for stepping-time (ICC = .90; 95% CI, .81–.95), step-count (ICC = .91; 95% CI, .83–.96), and sit-to-stand transitions (ICC = .90; 95% CI, .79–.95). Conclusion: The activPAL™ device showed high to very high test–retest reliability in measuring all tested activity categories in people with T2D.

The primary aim of this study was to examine the effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) on the severity of insomnia in people with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to a health education (HE) control group. The secondary aim was to explore the effect of CBT-I on other sleep outcomes and concomitant symptoms.Twenty-eight participants with T2D were randomly assigned to CBT-I (Validated assessments were used at baseline and post intervention to assess sleep outcomes and concomitant symptoms. In addition, actigraph and sleep diaries were used to measure sleep parameters. Independent sampleParticipants in the CBT-I group showed higher improvements in the following mean change scores compared to the HE group: insomnia symptoms (This study identified a clinically meaningful effect of CBT-I on sleep outcomes and concomitant symptoms in people with T2D and insomnia symptoms. Further work is needed to investigate the long-term effects of CBT-I in people with T2D and insomnia symptoms.

Cobalt-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared and characterized by FT-IR, TEM, SEM, and XRD. The surface morphology was sphere-shaped with ~ 26.46 nm of the size of the nanoparticles. Ninety percent atenolol photodegradation was obtained with 15 mg/L concentration, 40 min stirring time, 2 pH, 2.0 g/L dosage of nanoparticles, 200.0 nm irradiation UV wavelength, and hydrogen peroxide amount 2.0 mL/L at 30 °C temp. Atenolol photodegradation conformed the first-order kinetics with a mechanism comprising atenolol sorption on the doped TiO2 nanoparticles and its degradation in UV irradiation. Hole (h+) and electron (e−) pairs are produced by doped TiO2 nanoparticles, creating hydroxyl free radicals and superoxide oxygen anions. These species break down atenolol.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and 2% sodium fluoride (NaF) as endodontic irrigants on microhardness of root dentin. Materials and Methods In this in vitro study, access cavity and root canal preparations were done on 24 freshly extracted anterior teeth. After sectioning into 24 dentin discs using hard tissue microtome in 2 mm thickness, all samples were immersed in solutions of 17% ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) (2 minutes) followed by 2.5% of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (10 minutes). Then samples were randomly divided into three groups based on the irrigant used: Group I: saline (control group); Group II: 2% NaF; Group III: 2% CHG for two minutes each. Dentin microhardness was measured before (pretreatment), during (after treatment with 17% EDTA and 2.5% NaOCl), and after the experimental period (after treatment with saline, 2% NaF, and 2% CHG) using a Vickers indenter. Statistical evaluation of the data was done using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Student’s t-test, and the values are tabulated. Results Specimens rinsed in 2% CHG showed a significant increase in Vickers hardness number (VHN) values (p < 0.05), as compared with EDTA and NaOCl groups, whereas saline and 2% NaF groups showed no significant difference. Conclusions NaF did not show any significant effect on microhardness of the root dentin. CHG as an irrigant was seen to have a strengthening effect on dentin microhardness in comparison to NaOCl and EDTA, which has decreased the strength of root dentin.

Background and aims Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is an orphan disease, most often caused by bi-allelic mutations of the LDLR gene. Patients with HoFH have elevated LDL-C levels >13 mmol/L, tendinous xanthomata and severe, premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Untreated, most HoFH patients die of ASCVD in youth. New therapeutic modalities include lomitapide, an inhibitor of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein that lowers hepatic LDL-C production. We have recently identified 79 Canadian patients with HoFH. Here, we describe our experience with lomitapide in the province of Quebec, a geographic area known to have a high prevalence of HoFH. Methods This is a retrospective case series of 12 HoFH patients followed at three lipidology centers in the province of Quebec. Results Mean age of the patients was 44 ± 18 years; age at time of HoFH diagnosis ranged from 2 to 59 years. All patients were on a statin and ezetimibe 10 mg/day and five patients were treated with LDL apheresis. Treatment with lomitapide reduced LDL-C levels by 38% (intention-to-treat). Intolerable gastrointestinal side effects were observed in 3/12 patients and were the main reason for treatment discontinuation. Three patients tolerated lomitapide at doses ranging between 5 and 30 mg/day without major side effects. Downwards drug titration was necessary in the 6 remaining patients because of gastrointestinal side effects (n = 5) and elevated liver enzymes (n = 1), and 2 of them finally discontinued treatment. Conclusions Lomitapide may be used to further decrease LDL-C in HoFH patients; gastrointestinal side effects and hepatic toxicity may limit adherence.

Obesity is a well-known risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. The efficacy of bariatric surgery in reducing weight with resulting improvement in type 2 diabetes has been reliably demonstrated.We investigated and compared the effects of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels in a predominantly Hispanic and black population.Community Hospital in New York, New York, United States.This is a retrospective review of a 5-year data from a single center where patients with diabetes who underwent LRYGB or LSG were included. HbA1C levels and body mass index were analyzed preoperatively and then annually postoperatively for up to 5 years. Improvements in HbA1C were compared between the 2 groups after adjusting for age, sex, race, and hypertension with linear mixed-effects or logistic regression models.Of the 676 included patients, 84.8% were females and the mean age was 47 years. HbA1C levels decreased significantly (P.05) in the entire group at 1 (21%), 2 (20%), 3 (20%), 4 (18%), and 5 (14%) years. Compared with LSG, LRYGB patients displayed greater improvement in HbA1C levels at 1 year (25% versus 17%, P = .001). The differences in the reduction of HbA1C between LRYGB and LSG for the other time intervals were not significant (P.05), 24% versus 17% (2 yr), 22% versus 16% (3 yr), 22% versus 13% (4 yr), and 17% versus 10% (5 yr). Changes in body mass index were not correlated to changes in HbA1C at various study points.Both LRYGB and LSG resulted in significant decreases in HbA1C levels and are correlated with changes in body mass index. LRYGB had the greatest effect at 1 year postoperatively. There was no significant difference in HbA1C reduction for LRYGB and LSG after 1 year postoperatively in this predominantly Hispanic and black cohort.

Background Previous studies have shown the negative impact of sleep disturbances, specifically insomnia symptoms, on glucose metabolism for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). People with insomnia symptoms are at risk of poor glycemic control and suboptimal diabetes self-care behavior (DSCB). Investigating the impact of a safe and effective intervention for individuals with T2D and insomnia symptoms on diabetes’ health outcomes is needed. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory study is to examine the effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) on glycemic control, DSCB, and fatigue. Methods Twenty-eight participants with T2D and insomnia symptoms, after passing an eligibility criteria at a medical research center, were randomly assigned to CBT-I (n = 14) or Health Education (HE; n = 14). The CBT-I and HE groups received 6 weekly one-hour sessions. This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) used a non-inferiority framework to test the effectiveness of CBT-I. Validated assessments were administered at baseline and post-intervention to assess glycemic control, DSCB, and fatigue. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was utilized to compare within-group changes from baseline to post-intervention. A Mann-Whitney test was utilized to measure the between-group differences. Linear regression was used to assess the association between the blood glucose level and the number of days in the CBT-I group. Results The recruitment duration was from October 2018 to May 2019. A total of 13 participants completed the interventions in each group and are included in the final analysis. No adverse events, because of being a part of this RCT, were reported. CBT-I participants showed significantly greater improvement in glycemic control, DSCB, and fatigue. There was a significant association between the number of days in the CBT-I intervention with the blood glucose level before bedtime (B = -0.56, p = .009) and after awakening in the morning (B = -0.57, p = .007). Conclusions This study demonstrated a clinically meaningful effect of CBT-I on glycemic control in people with T2D and insomnia symptoms. Also, CBT-I positively impacted daytime functioning, including DSCB and fatigue. Future research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of CBT-I on laboratory tests of glycemic control and to understand the underlying mechanisms of any improvements. Trial registration Clinical Trials Registry (NCT03713996). Retrospectively registered on 22 October 2018

Bariatric surgery is associated with improved renal dysfunction in general population studies. The study examined the effects of bariatric surgery on renal function in a predominantly Hispanic and African American population at a community hospital in New York, USA. This retrospective study analyzed prospectively collected bariatric surgical data from 2247 patients (89% female) who underwent bariatric surgery at a single center. Changes in glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urine albumin–creatinine ratio (UACR), micro- and macroalbuminuria, and hyperfiltration, which were measured preoperatively and then yearly for 3 years postoperatively, were evaluated with t tests and logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounding variables. The mean age of the patients at surgery was 37.1 years; the mean preoperative body mass index was 45 ± 7 kg/m2. The results obtained 3 years postoperatively showed the following significant improvements compared with the preoperative values: mean UACR decreased from 40.3 to 11.1 mg/g, mean eGFR improved from 79.4 to 87.3 mL/min, the prevalence of microalbuminuria decreased from 13.7 to 6.2%, the prevalence of macroalbuminuria decreased from 2.5 to 0%, and the prevalence of hyperfiltration decreased from 4.4 to 2.7% (all P

Background: To gain patient compliance, pediatric medication preparations are made palatable by adding sugars such as sucrose, glucose, or fructose. These readily fermentable carbohydrates can significantly increase dental caries potential in the young and chronically sick children. Objectives: To evaluate acidogenic potential of commonly used pediatric liquid medicaments (PLMs). Materials and Methods: The acidogenic potential is assessed by estimating the endogenous pH of PLM. Results: The mean endogenous pH was higher in Azomycin (9.16 ± 0.25) and lowest in Lorinase (3.16 ± 0.15). Conclusion: Of nine, eight PLMs were acidic in nature.

Flexible cystoscopy under local anaesthesia is standard for the surveillance of bladder cancer. Frequently, several reusable cystoscopes fail to reprocess. With the new grasper incorporated single-use cystoscope for retrieval of ureteric stents, we explored the feasibility of using it off-label for diagnosis and the detection of bladder cancer. Consecutive diagnostic flexible cystoscopies between Mar 2016 and Nov 2018 were reviewed comparing the reusable versus the disposable cystoscopes. A total of 390 patients underwent 1211 cystoscopies. Median age was 61.5 years (SD 14.2, 18.8–91.4), males 331 (84.9%) and females 59 (15.1%). Indication for cystoscopy was prior malignancy in 1183 procedures (97.7%), haematuria 19 (1.6%) or bladder mass 7 (0.6%). There were 608 reusable and 603 disposable cystoscopies. There was no significant difference between groups at baseline in age, sex, BMI, smoking status, or prior tumor risk category. There was no significant difference in positive findings (123/608, 20.2% vs 111/603, 18.4%, p = 0.425) or cancer detection rates (95/608, 15.6% vs 88/603, 14.4%, p 0.574) among the two groups, respectively. We conclude that the disposable grasper integrated cystoscope is comparable to reusable cystoscope in the detection of bladder cancer.

While methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia has poor outcomes, we describe our experience with Ceftobiprole mainly as a combination therapy for the treatment of MRSA bacteremia. All the cases of MRSA bacteremia in our center at the King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh, that had undergone Ceftobiprole treatment were included. We had six cases of MRSA bacteremia between 2018 and 2019, secondary to different infectious syndromes including endocarditis. There was a severe infection that required intensive care unit (ICU) admission in four cases. Ceftobiprole is used in combination with vancomycin in four cases. On day 14, all cases had a favorable outcome with microbiological and clinical improvement. However, three patients died after months of suffering from bacteremia from unrelated causes for the infection. The clinical outcome in our series of treatment of MRSA bacteremia using Ceftobiprole was favorable. Further studies for the evaluation of the use of Ceftobiprole in MRSA bacteremia should be encouraged.

There is increasing awareness of the high prevalence of insomnia symptoms in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Past studies have established the importance of measuring sleep parameters using measures of central tendency and variability. Additionally, subjective and objective methods involve different constructs due to the discrepancies between the two approaches. Therefore, this study is aimed at comparing the averages of sleep parameters in individuals with T2D with and without insomnia symptoms and comparing the variability of sleep parameters in these individuals. This study assessed the between-group differences in the averages and variability of sleep efficiency (SE) and total sleep time (TST) of 59 participants with T2D with and without insomnia symptoms. Actigraph measurements and sleep diaries were used to assess sleep parameter averages and variabilities calculated by the coefficient of variation across 7 nights. Mann–Whitney U tests were utilized to compare group differences in the outcomes. Validated instruments were used to assess the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pain as covariates. Objective SE was found to be statistically lower on average (85.98±4.29) and highly variable (5.88±2.57) for patients with T2D and insomnia symptoms than in those with T2D only (90.23±6.44 and 3.82±2.05, respectively). The subjective average and variability of SE were also worse in patients with T2D and insomnia symptoms, with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pain potentially playing a role in this difference. TST did not significantly differ between the groups on averages or in variability even after controlling for age and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pain. Future studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of worse averages and variability of SE in individuals with T2D and insomnia symptoms. Additionally, prompting the associated risk factors of insomnia symptoms in individuals with T2D might be warranted.

The objective of current work is to evaluate the density, void content, water absorption, thickness swelling and thermal expansion of non-woven bamboo mat (B)/ woven kenaf mat (K)/nanoclay/epoxy hybrid nanocomposites. The natural fibers based hybrid nanocomposites were prepared by incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT), halloysite nanotube (HNT) and organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) at 1 wt.% loading, through hand lay-up technique. Water absorption was investigated by soaking the samples with distilled water at room temperature until saturation point and the thickness swelling was also measured as per standard. Thermomechanical analyser (TMA) was used to study the dimensional stability caused by temperature variation. Addition of nanoclay increase the density, reduced the void content and suppress water uptake in all hybrid nanocomposites. B/K/OMMT hybrid nanocomposites exhibit better dimensional stability with regards to water absorptions and thermal expansion as compare to B/K/MMT and B/K/HNT. The improvement can be attributed by the uniformly dispersed and strong interfacial adhesion bonding between the OMMT and epoxy matrix. The develop nanocomposites in this work can be utilized for building and automotive application which required high dimensional stability property.

A convenient and rapid High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) based protocol was optimized for the routine analysis and kinetic study of Ketoprofen (KP) in plasma and urinary execration of patients. The optimized HPLC method was found to be linear over the wide range of KP concentration (1–90 µg/mL) with substantial recovery rates (95.5–97.63%) of calibration standards at an improved detection (0.02 μg/mL LoD) and quantitation limit (0.06 μg/mL LoQ) and acceptable inter and intraday variability (RSD ≤ 7.75%). The maximum amount (μg/mL) of KP was excreted through the urine of all participated patients during the first two hours (h) of oral administration. Likewise, a fast depletion in blood plasma concentration started early after oral administration. Overall, the present method provided a convenient, rapid, and reliable solution for the routine analysis and kinetic study of KP in biological samples. Keywords: HPLC, Ketoprofen, Rapid analysis, Urinary and plasma excretion

The palm-pruning leaves considered as valuable source for low cost adsorbent materials. Such application, enhance the environmental conditions by reducing the bad effects from un-managed palm-pruning leaves such as spreading insects. Herein, the palm-pruning leaves were treated with by water and acid washing to produce cleaned palm leaves (CPL) and then impregnation with iron(III) chloride and thermally treated to produce palm leaves/iron oxide- nanocomposite (PL/IO-NC). The prepared materials were applied for adsorption of some toxic metal ions from solutions. The original palm-pruning leaves as well as the treated adsorbent were characterized by SEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD. Results showed the formation of spots iron oxide nanoparticles onto the palm-pruning leaves. The efficiency of the treated adsorbent for uptake of Mn(II), Co(II) and Pb(II) was studied in term of kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic to optimize and evaluate the effectiveness of the palm-pruning leaves treatment. The adsorption data was found to be more comfortable with Second order kinetic-model while the isotherm of Langmuir wasn’t suitable and the adsorption data was in agreement with Freundlich assumption. The values of ΔG° in the range (−5.8 to −3.5 kJ/mol) for Mn(II), (−4.2 to −2.1 kJ/mol) for Co(II), (−3.4 to −2.3 kJ/mol) for Pb(II), confirm the confirm the spontaneous and physical nature of the adsorption process. Keywords: Palm-pruning leaves, Nano composite, Manganese, Cobalt, Lead, ICPMS

Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are advised to undertake diabetes self-care behavior (DSCB) in order to avoid complications of T2DM. However, comorbidities, such as insomnia symptoms which are commonly reported in people with T2DM, may limit the ability to engage in DSCB. Insomnia and the common sequelae accompanying insomnia such as pain, depression, and anxiety may negatively influence the performance of DSCB. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the DSCB of people with T2DM with and without insomnia symptoms. Sixty participants with T2DM were divided into two groups based on the presence of insomnia symptoms: T2DM-only group and T2DM+ insomnia group. Insomnia symptoms were identified using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). DSCB was assessed using the Diabetic Care Profile (DCP). A standardized composite score was established to account for all of the DCP domains. Chi-square and independent sample t tests were used to assess between-group differences in categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Stepwise linear regression analysis used the ISI score to predict standardized DCP composite score, while controlling for covariates. Significant between-group differences were found in age, symptoms of pain, depression, and anxiety. The total DCP composite score was significantly lower in the T2DM+ insomnia group compared to the T2DM-only group (− 0.30 ± 0.46 vs. 0.36 ± 0.48, respectively, p

The enantiomeric resolution of primaquine, quinacrine and tafenoquine antibacterial medicines is described on Chirobiotc R column (150 ×4.6 mm, 5.0 µm). Two eluents used were methanol–acetonitrile-water-triethyl amine in the ratio of 70:10:20:0.1 (I) and 60:30:10:0.1 II) at 1.0 mL/min flow rate. The retention factors values for first and second enantiomers ranged from 1.0–3.40 and 3.40–5.40. The values of the separation and resolution factors were 1.59–3.40 and 2.10–2.50. In second solvent, only quinacrine could be resolved with 1.30 and 4.60 as a retention factor while the values of separation and resolution factors were 3.54 and 2.08. The supramolecular mechanism of the chiral resolution was established. The limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.9–1.2 and 9.0–11.0 ng, respectively. The π-π interactions and hydrogen bondings were responsible for enantiomeric resolution. The enantiomeric method is useful for the chiral separation of primaquine, quinacrine, and tafenoquine antibacterial medicines.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes is the third most common chronic disease among teenagers. In Saudi Arabia, there is a gap of knowledge regarding hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) concentration levels, and adherence to regular follow-up visits by patients. The aim of this study was to determine the mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in diabetic children who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and were being followed up at a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among all diabetic children treated at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were retrieved and analysed during the period from September to December 2018. Diabetic patients of

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate medical students' perception, choices of future career, and competency in urology. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed among 5th, 6th, and 7th (interns) year medical students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences using both hard copies and soft copies. Major outcomes were medical students' perception, future career decision, and core skills in urology. Results: The overall response rate was 51.3%. A total number of 163 responses (122 were males and 41 females) were collected. Only 8% indicated that they would pursue a surgical career in urology and 42% thought that they had received a good clinical exposure to urology. Of the participants, 67.5% viewed urology as a male-dominated field. Only 17% of the respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that they were considering a future career in urology. Female students were less likely to consider a urological career (P < 0.01). About 32.5% were confident at urethral catheterization. About 66.9% felt that a workshop day to enhance urological skills and knowledge will be beneficial. Females were more confident at assessing a urological case in an acute setting (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Most of the students agreed that their urology exposure was inadequate and their confidence at urethral catheterization was low. As in many different global studies, urology is still regarded as a specialty with a male dominance. This report is consistent with the global decline in formal urological education.

Introduction: Children are the most important natural resources. School is a location which helps to promote the health of staff, families, and community members along with the students. Teachers are the most resourceful manpower available to deliver any healthcare at school setup. Aims and Objectives: To assess the knowledge and attitude towards primary dental care among male schoolteachers at Al-Kharj Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire survey was carried out involving male teachers working in primary schools at Al-Kharj KSA. A total of 350 teachers were included in this study. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire survey consisting of 17 questions related to knowledge and attitude towards dental care and oral hygiene practices. Results: The overall knowledge was fair among the schoolteachers (65.4%). Al-Kharj male schoolteachers were having a positive attitude. Teaching experience and knowledge showed a statistically significant relation (P < 0.05. Conclusion: Although primary schoolteachers had a fair knowledge and good attitudes towards dental care, there is a need to conduct training programs about oral health education in schools and check how teachers educate their children to maintain dental care.

Using multiple linked electronic health databases, we conducted a large case-control study in England from 2001 through 2019 to examine the association between ethnicity and suicide risk. Asian, Black and Other ethnic groups had a significantly lower suicide risk compared to White individuals, with those of Asian ethnicity having the lowest risk (Odds Ratio 0.53, 95% Confidence Interval 0.47-0.60). This ethnicity related suicide risk was significantly altered by socio-demographic characteristics. These factors can inform the assessment and stratification of suicide risk, as well as the targeting of public health measures designed to reduce suicide incidence.

Summary Background ChAdOx1-vectored vaccine candidates against several pathogens have been developed and tested in clinical trials and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has now been licensed for emergency use for COVID-19. We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 MERS vaccine in a phase 1b trial in healthy Middle Eastern adults. Method MERS002 is an open-label, non-randomised, dose-escalation, phase 1b trial. Healthy Middle Eastern adults aged 18–50 years were included in the study. ChAdOx1 MERS was administered as a single intramuscular injection into the deltoid muscle of the non-dominant arm at three different dose groups: 5·0 × 109 viral particles in a low-dose group, 2·5 × 1010 viral particles in an intermediate-dose group, and 5·0 × 1010 viral particles in a high-dose group. The primary objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of ChAdOx1 MERS, measured by the occurrence of solicited and unsolicited adverse events after vaccination for up to 28 days and occurrence of serious adverse events up to 6 months. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04170829. Findings Between Dec 17, 2019, and June 1, 2020, 24 participants were enrolled (six to the low-dose, nine to the intermediate-dose, and nine to the high-dose group) and received a dose; 23 were available for follow-up at 6 months. The one dose of ChAdOx1 MERS vaccine was well tolerated with no serious adverse event reported during the 6 months of follow-up. Most adverse events were mild (67, 74%) and moderate (17, 19%). Six (7%) severe adverse events were reported by two participants in the intermediate-dose group (two feverish, two headache, one joint pain, and one muscle pain). Pain at the injection site was the most common local and overall adverse event, reported by 15 (63%) of the 24 participants. The most common systemic adverse event was headache, reported by 14 (58%), followed by muscle pain reported by 13 (54%). The vaccine induced both antibody and T cell immune responses in all volunteers; antibodies peaked at day 28 and T cell responses peaked at day 14; and continued until the end of follow-up at 6 months. Interpretation The acceptable safety and immunogenicity data from this phase 1b trial of ChAdOx1 MERS vaccine candidate in Healthy Middle Eastern adults, combined with previous safety and immunogenicity data from a trial in the UK, support selecting the ChAdOx1 MERS vaccine for advancement into phase 2 clinical evaluation. Funding UK Department of Health and Social Care, using UK Aid funding, managed by the UK National Institute for Health Research; and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center.

Background and objectives. Due to marked increase in violence, the world is facing problem of refugee population either as a source of refugee population or shelter provider. These refugee population is exposed to prolonged physical and emotional distress over years, may result into spectrum of neuropsychiatric disease conditions including traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although trauma is one of the major events faced by refugee population, the exact details of the injuries still not documented and there is paucity of published literature; further these injuries may be recorded as unspecified. Methods. The present article is intended to provide a theoretical overview of existing knowledge and gaps on trauma and injuries in the refugee population. Authors analysed all relevant articles available on PubMed and Medline using the keywords: “Refugee”, “Traumatic Brian Injury”, “Head Injury”. Results. There is a gap in knowledge for this particular demographic population. They suffer a wide range of physical and emotional to social traumatic events. The most common cause of head injury was assault; however, motor vehicle accidents were less prevalent, and there is an ongoing struggle for resources to fulfil basic needs leading to health care taking a backseat. There is high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder. Many of the refugees are settled in relative economically poorer countries which further add to the burden of a nation already besotted with internal requirements. There is a need for international collaboration to tackle unique problem. Conclusion. Authors recommend urgent need to handle the root causes responsible for the generation of refugee population and at the same time it is necessary to identify the epidemiology, patterns, management challenges and consequences of injuries and barriers to seek and provide care in refugee population.

In this study, the cellular synergistic and antagonistic effects of mixing tartrazine (TZ) with curcumin (CUR) or curcumin-nanoparticles (CUR-NPs) were investigated. The in vivo administration of TZ, CUR, CUR-NPs, and TZ mixed with CUR or CUR-NPs at 75:25 or 50:50 ratios were tested. The results indicated that CUR and CUR -NPs reduced the cytotoxicity effects of TZ on skin fibroblast BJ-1 (ATCC® CRL-2522™) normal cells. However, among the tested materials, CUR-NPs had highest in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity compared to TZ. Furthermore, CUR-NPs and CUR exhibited anticancer activity against HepG-2 liver cancer cells via apoptosis induction. The key apoptosis protein genes Caspase-3, p53, and Bax were upregulated, whereas Bc-2, which exhibits anti-apoptosis activity, was downregulated. Our results indicated that the nano-formulation of CUR alters its physicochemical properties, including the size and shape, and increases its antioxidant and anticancer properties. CUR-NPs also overcome the side effect of using TZ as a yellow color and food preservative additive, due to its reduced toxicity, oxidative stress, and carcinogenicity. In agreement with our previous findings, CUR and CUR-NPs were able to protect against cellular oxidative stress by stimulating endogenous antioxidant defense enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). We conclude that the nano-formulation of CUR exhibits economic benefits as a new strategy to use CUR as a food additive at the cellular level.

Introduction The systemic acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). We retrospectively studied the incidence and outcome of AKI in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted after ethical approval from the institutional review board of King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC). Subjects were identified by Data Management Office of KAIMRC. The data were extracted from electronic medical records using a customized data collection sheet. The study included all adult patients (>18 years) who tested positive for COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction and were admitted at KAMC from March 2020 until the end of September 2020. Patients with a history of end-stage kidney diseases and patients where adequate data were not available to establish diagnosis of AKI were excluded. Patient demographics, comorbid conditions, medications, use of mechanical ventilation, and 30-day mortality were recorded. Results During the study period (01 March 2020 to 30 September 2020) 1293 patients were hospitalized at KAMC with the diagnosis of COVID-19. After excluding the patients who met the exclusion criteria, data were collected for 1025 patients [male 582 (56.8%); female 443 (43.2%)]. On univariate analysis, increasing age, male gender, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, diuretics, and vasopressors, presence of chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and hypertension, kidney transplant status, and mechanical ventilation were associated with development of AKI. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, independent predictors of AKI were restricted to increasing age, presence of chronic kidney disease, hypertension, kidney transplant status, use of vasopressors, and mechanical ventilation. For patients who developed AKI, 30-day mortality was 40.7% compared to 3.7% for those who did not develop AKI (p

The chemoradiotherapy technique is widely applied in the treatment of cancerous disease. Nowadays, nanoparticles are used in drug delivery and it is essential to confirm the nontoxicity of nano-carriers to improve radiotherapy. So nanoparticles have a great research interest to develop chemo radiotherapies. In this experiment, we aimed to examine the toxic nature of TiO2-Ta nanoparticles on human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells. The cytotoxic nature of TiO2-Ta NPs was examined by the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. We have evaluated the IC50 24 h value of TiO2-Ta nanoparticles as 68 µg/ml by MTT assay. The cytotoxicity of TiO2-Ta nanoparticles was enhanced as the exposure concentration of NPs was increased. Produced oxidative stress such as GSH and LPO were determined and GSH was reduced and LPO was increased as the concentration of TiO2-Ta NPs increased. The Comet test was performed to detect the genotoxic potential of TiO2-Ta nanoparticles. We have noted 34% of DNA damage in SH-SY5Y cells at 300 µg/ml NPs for 24 h. The current study suggests that TiO2-Ta NPs induced major ROS-related cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. More detailed studies would be needed to confirm the safety issues related to increased application of TiO2-Ta NPs in chemoradiotherapy. Thus this work presents a new type of mesoporous nano-carrier particularly useful for the delivery of safe and effective chemoradiotherapy.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (TB) masquerading as lung tumor is well reported, but its mimicry as metastatic thoracic cancer is rare. We report the case of a young male who presented with clinical and radiological picture of lung cancer but investigations confirmed it as TB. A 35-year-old male, with 18-pack year of smoking history, presented with dry cough, anorexia, weight loss, and lower back and left hip pain. Chest imaging showed right upper lobe speculated mass with mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy and a lytic lesion in the left sacral area. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine and pelvis revealed lytic lesion in the left sacrum. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography scan of the whole body showed hypermetabolic lung lesion with ipsilateral mediastinal, supraclavicular, splenic, and bone metastasis in the left aspect of the sacrum. Computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy of the lung lesion showed necrotizing granuloma and tissue culture was positive for pan-susceptible M. tuberculosis. Follow-up CT scan showed complete resolution of the lung lesion and lymph nodes after anti-TB treatment with significant reduction in the sacral lesion. Mycobacterial infection may mimic metastatic lung cancer and should always be considered a differential diagnosis.

Environmental sustainability is threatened by the widespread exploitation and unfettered release of chemical pollutants that require immediate detection and eradication. An instantaneous quantification technique is essential to understand the physiological roles of the antibacterial drug sulfaguanidine (SGN) in biological systems. The present work features the green and environmentally benign synthesis of rare earth metal sulfide nanorods incorporated carbon nitrides sheets (Ce2S3@CNS) by deep eutectic solvent-based fabrication with remarkable electrochemical properties. The morphological and structural analyses of the prepared electrocatalyst were characterized using various techniques including SEM, XRD, XPS, and EIS. The heterojunction of regimented structures bids synergistic quantum confinement effects and refines charge carriers endorsing enormous active sites. Furthermore, the obtained Ce2S3@CNS/GCE possess an exceedingly lower limit of detection (0.0053 μM) and high sensitivity of 8.685 μA·μM−1·cm−2 with superior electrocatalytic action and virtuous stability for the detection of SGN. This modified electrode could afford linearity in the range 0.01–1131.5 μM measured at 0.95 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) correlated to the concentration of SGN. Examining the real samples with this advanced electrocatalyst would support its hands-on applications in everyday life. Development of such innovative architectures with fewer energy necessities and nominal by-products scripts the superiority in characteristic synthetic methodology following the guidelines of green chemistry.

Currently, conversion of coal into alternative fuel and non-fuel valuable products is in demand and growing interest. In the present study, humic acid was extracted from two different ranks of coal, i.e., low rank and high rank (lignite and bituminous), through chemical pretreatment by nitric acid. Samples of lignite and bituminous coal were subjected to nitric acid oxidation followed by extraction using KOH and NaOH gravimetric techniques. The chemical pretreatment of both types of coal led to enhanced yields of humic acid from 21.15% to 57.8% for lignite low-rank coal and 11.6% to 49.6% bituminous high rank coal. The derived humic acid from native coal and nitric acid treated coal was analyzed using elemental analysis, E4/E6 ratio of absorbance at 465 nm and 665 nm using UV-Visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy FTIR. The chemical characteristics of coal treated with nitric acid have shown increased molecular weight and improved aromaticity with more oxygen and nitrogen and lower C, H, and sulphur content. The E4/E6 ratio of nitric acid-treated low and high ranks of coal was high. The FTIR spectroscopic data of nitric acid-treated lignite coal indicates an intensive peak of carboxyl group at 2981.84 cm−1, while bituminous coal was shown in cooperation with the N-H group at 2923.04 cm−1. SEM was performed to detect the morphological changes that happen after producing humic acid from HNO3 treatment and native coal. The humic acid produced from HNO3 treated coal had shown clear morphological changes and some deformations on the surface. SEM-EDS detected the major elements, such as nitrogen, in treated humic acid that were absent in raw coal humic acid. Hence, the produced humic acid through HNO3 oxidation showed a more significant number of humic materials with improved efficiency as compared to native coal. This obtained humic acid can be made bioactive for agriculture purposes, i.e., for soil enrichment and improvement in growth conditions of plants and development of green energy solutions.

In this work, jasmine flower derived activated carbon were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal carbonization process at the different annealing temperature. The Crystallinity, phase, structural, morphological and optical properties of activated carbon were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), and UV-visible spectroscopy analysis. The graphitic phase of carbon was obtained from the XRD pattern. Surface morphology reveals irregular-shaped nanoparticles. The photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) was carried out under the visible light irradiation technique to study its photocatalytic activity. The activated carbon obtained at 400oC, 500oC and 600oC shows a photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 86%, 90%, and 94%, respectively. Antibacterial activity of activated carbon was examined against S. Aureus (MTCC-737) and E-Coli (MTCC- 443) microbial pathogens, and their potent antibacterial activity was examined from the zone of inhibition layer.

Ureterorenoscopy (URS) is a minimal invasive procedure used for diagnosis and management of the upper urinary tract. Due to the vast advancement in URS technologies, the efficacy and safety greatly improved with lower complication rates. Intussusception is a rare complication of URS. We report a case of iatrogenic ureteral intussusception that was managed with ileal interposition.

This study examined the feasibility and effect of sedentary behavior (SB) counseling on total sitting time (TST) and glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Community-dwelling sedentary adults with T2D (n = 10; 8 women; age 65.6 ± 7.31) completed SB counseling (motivational interviewing-informed education about SB) aided by an activity monitor with a vibrotactile feature (activPAL3TM). The monitor was worn for 7 days, on weeks 1 and 13 (without the vibrotactile feature) and during weeks 5 and 9 (with the vibrotactile feature). Intervention feasibility was determined by study retention rates and activity monitor tolerability, and differences between pre- and post-intervention average daily TST. Paired t-test were performed. The effect size (ES) was calculated using Cohen d. All participants attended all study sessions with only 20% reporting moderate issues tolerating the activity monitor. TST time decreased from 11.8 hours ± 1.76 at baseline to 10.29 hours ± 1.84 at 3 months’ assessment ( P

Glass samples of structural formula (55B2O3–15SiO2–30Na2O: xWO3; with x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 weight percent) were prepared by melting and rapid quench route. Quantities of H3BO4, SiO2, Na2CO3 and WO3 were calculated, well milled and then placed in a muffle oven at a temperature of 1050 °C for 30 min. The stainless steel mold heated at 200 °C and then the melt poured between the plates to get transparent glass disks. The X-ray diffraction technique applied to glass samples with the Rigaku XRD-6000 diffractometer confirmed the amorphous structure of these glass samples. Both indirect and direct Eg show a gradual decrease trend as the concentrations of WO3 content. Makishima–Mackenzie's theory was applied to evaluate the elastic properties of the present glass system, and then, the obtained results were compared with different theoretical models. Additionally, the radiation shielding efficiency of the prepared borosilicate glass system was evaluated and interpreted based on the electromagnetic models via Geant4 simulations. The results obtained by Geant4 were compared with the predictions of theoretical values calculated by PSD software in terms of mass attenuation coefficients (MACs). The results reveal that our prepared borosilicate glass system has potential use in radiation shielding applications, wherein the balance between elastic and shielding properties can be controlled by changing the concentration of WO3 according to the desired application.