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Codon usage analysis is a crucial part of molecular characterization and is used to determine the factors affecting the evolution of a gene. The length of a gene is an important parameter that affects the characteristics of the gene, such as codon usage, compositional parameters, and sometimes, its functions. In the present study, we investigated the association of various parameters related to codon usage with the length of genes. Gene expression is affected by nucleotide disproportion. In sixty genes related to neurodegenerative disorders, the G nucleotide was the most abundant and the T nucleotide was the least. The nucleotide T exhibited a significant association with the length of the gene at both the overall compositional level and the first and second codon positions. Codon usage bias (CUB) of these genes was affected by pyrimidine and keto skews. Gene length was found to be significantly correlated with codon bias in neurodegeneration associated genes. In gene segments with lengths below 1,200 bp and above 2,400 bp, CUB was positively associated with length. Relative synonymous CUB, which is another measure of CUB, showed that codons TTA, GTT, GTC, TCA, GGT, and GGA exhibited a positive association with length, whereas codons GTA, AGC, CGT, CGA, and GGG showed a negative association. GC-ending codons were preferred over AT-ending codons. Overall analysis indicated that the association between CUB and length varies depending on the segment size; however, CUB of 1,200–2,000 bp gene segments appeared not affected by gene length. In synopsis, analysis suggests that length of the genes correlates with various imperative molecular signatures including A/T nucleotide disproportion and codon choices. In the present study we additionally evaluated various molecular features and their correlation with different indices of codon usage, like the Codon Adaptation Index (CAI) and Relative Dynonymous Codon Usage (RSCU) of codons. We also considered the impact of gene fragment size on different molecular features in genes related to neurodegeneration. This analysis will aid our understanding of and in potentially modulating gene expression in cases of defective gene functioning in clinical settings.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of subtalar mobilization with movement (Mulligan technique) with conventional physiotherapy treatment for the management of planter fasciitis. Material and Methods: A single blinded randomized trial was conducted at the Prime Care Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan from January 2017 to August 2017. Sixty Participants were divided into intervention and control groups through a computerized random numbers. Intervention group was treated with subtalar mobilization with movement (Mulligan technique), and control group was given conventional physiotherapy for three-weeks. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants in the intervention group was 32.40 ± 8.02 years and the control group 32.59 ± 7.00 years. The mean BMI in intervention and control groups was 25.35 and 25.67, respectively. The result of our study showed that there were significant differences (P-value

Background:. Plastic surgery residents are required to contribute to the scientific milieu, apart from honing their surgical skills. Data regarding their academic and clinical background are limited locally in comparison with their counterparts. This is the first study of its kind on the Saudi training program, with suggested potential solutions to shortcomings. Methods:. This is a cross-sectional study based on an electronic, 27-element, self-administered questionnaire sent to a WhatsApp group gathering all 40 plastic surgery residents of the Saudi program, with the exclusion of a single participant. Results:. The mean of overall residents’ publications was 2.29 articles. No significant difference (P = 0.438) was found in the number of publications among residents of different levels. However, seniors have published significantly (P = 0.002) more articles (mean = 1.6; SD = 1.24) during residency compared with juniors (mean = 0.42; SD = 1). The group that had taken rotations in plastic surgery abroad published more articles (P = 0.02) than the group that did not. Using η correlation, a positive correlation (η = 0.36) was found between taking courses in research and publication. Conclusions:. The Saudi plastic surgery residents are ahead of their colleagues in other local specialties but fall behind their counterparts internationally. The relatively poor contribution in terms of research, posters, and oral presentations could be remedied with measures such as providing protected research time and mentorship. They should be emboldened to pursue postgraduate studies, as only 3 residents had a Master of Science degree.

Background: Testicular torsion (TT) is one of the most common emergencies in pediatric urology. Family awareness of this condition could lead to early diagnosis and intervention and salvage of the effected testicle. The purpose of this study is to assess parental awareness about TT and their source of knowledge. We also evaluated the response of the parents to their children's scrotal pain. Methods: A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2017 to September 2017 at our institution. The study target were parents attending the pediatric urology clinic and the comparison group included parents attending the general pediatric clinic in the same period. We distributed a questionnaire and then compared the results in both groups. Results: A total of 200 parents participated in this study (100 parents from each clinic). Nineteen percent of pediatric urology clinic parents were aware and 14% of general pediatric clinic parents were aware about TT with no statistically significant difference observed (P = 0.341). The parents in urology clinic choose doctor as their main source of knowledge (42.1%), while in general pediatric clinic, doctor and through a friend as the main source of knowledge had the same percentage (28.6%). Response of the parents to their children's scrotal pain during working hours in urology and general pediatric clinics was to drive their children to the emergency room immediately with 85% and 82%, respectively. The response of the parents after working hours in both clinics did not show difference, with 83% of parents in pediatric urology clinic and 85% in general pediatric clinic driving their children immediately to the emergency room. Conclusion: TT in boys is a common problem we face as pediatric urologists and it may lead to testicular loss if not diagnosed and treated early. We found that the awareness of TT in children is low in our community and it is our responsibility to raise it to improve our children's well-being.

Motor Vehicular Accidents claim about 1.2 million lives and injure more than 10 million people annually worldwide. The injuries caused by MVAs can be analyzed based on the type of injury, injury severity score, Glasgow Coma Scale and required blood transfusion. Methodology: A total number of 190 patients were included in this retrospective study from January 01, 2010 to December 31, 2015. The study aimed to determine the correlation between the type of injuries and GCS, ISS, and blood transfusions in the patients suffering from Motor Vehicle Accidents, who were presented to the Emergency Department at the King Khalid Hospital. All the data of the patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were collected from the database at medical records department of the hospital. Results: Majority of the patients were adults Saudi male. 68.9% of the patients did not sustain shock, and 75.8% of patients did not require a blood transfusion. Patients with head, neck, chest, abdominal, internal organ, pelvic or spinal injuries conferred a statistically significant higher mean ISS. Patients with abdominal or internal organ injuries had a statistically significant higher mean units of blood transfused. GCS was seen to be lower in the head, neck, chest, abdominal, internal organ, spinal and other injuries. Conclusions: The study documents a significant correlation between the type of injury and GCS, ISS, and blood transfusion in victims of road traffic accident. Emergency physician and the caregivers should be more careful about the injuries associated with lower GCS. Patients sustaining injuries of certain parts related to high ISS (i.e., head, chest, abdominal, internal organ, pelvic) should be addressed on priority basis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Post-mastectomy breast reconstruction surgery had always been integral part in the approach to a patient with breast cancer. It is our aim of this study to report in a simplistic manner the variability in the perception and practice by surgeons surrounding breast reconstruction. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey targeting a sample of general surgeons in 6 tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia from April 2012 to October 2012. METHODS: A questionnaire adopted from the one designed by Spyrou et al was distributed to our sample of surgeons. It primarily focused on the surgeon's attitude and perception of breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy. RESULTS: A total of 51 general surgeons were included in the study. Most of them, 24 (47.1%), worked in teaching hospitals. Thirty-six (70.6%) surgeons had a special interest in breast cancer management. Eighteen of them (35.5%) referred their patients for breast reconstruction. We observed that the surgeons of high-referral tendency were generally females (P=.016). More than half (33 [64.7%]), thought that a general surgeon is the one responsible for counseling patients. The majority (47%), disagreed with the notion that breast reconstruction can interfere with host defenses. Yet, (76.5 %) were concerned about masking local recurrence of the cancer, and 21 (41.2%) reported that patients refused such type of surgery. Forty-eight (94.1%) agreed that breast reconstruction has psychological benefits. CONCLUSION: In Saudi Arabia, general surgeons have a high concern about masking local recurrence of the cancer despite the lack of evidence in the published reports. Nevertheless, less than half of the surgeons referred their cases for breast reconstruction. We recommend establishing national efforts to educate on the benefits of breast reconstruction and establish a tumor conference protocol on breast reconstruction including all involved specialties (oncologists and general and plastic surgeons).

Atomic nuclei serve as prime laboratories for investigations of complex quantum phenomena, where minor nucleon rearrangements cause significant structural changes. 190 Pb is the heaviest known neutron-deficient Pb isotope that can exhibit three distinct shapes: prolate, oblate, and spherical, with nearly degenerate excitation energies. Here we report on the combined results from three state-of-the-art measurements to directly observe these deformations in 190 Pb. Contrary to earlier interpretations, we associate the collective yrast band as predominantly oblate, while the non-yrast band with higher collectivity follows characteristics of more deformed, predominantly prolate bands. Direct measurement of the E 0 ( 0 2 + → 0 1 + ) transition and γ - e coincidence relations allowed us to locate and firmly assign the 0 2 + state in the level scheme and to discover a spherical 2 3 + state at 1281(1) keV with B ( E 2 ; 2 3 + → 0 1 + ) = 1.2 ( 3 ) W.u. These assignments are based purely on observed transition probabilities and monopole strength values, and do not rely on model calculations for their interpretation.- coincidence relations allowed us to locate and firmly assign the 0 2 + state in the level scheme and to discover a spherical 2 3 + state at 1281(1) keV with B ( E 2 ; 2 3 + → 0 1 + ) = 1.2 ( 3 ) W.u. These assignments are based purely on observed transition probabilities and monopole strength values, and do not rely on model calculations for their interpretation., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2025.)

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) remains the sole well-established curative option for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Nonmyeloablative conditioning has been used to improve outcomes and reduce toxicities in adult SCD patients. However, recipient-donor ABO incompatibility and alloimmunization may be significant impediments to successful outcomes of HSCT in SCD patients owing to risks of hemolysis, delayed engraftment, poor graft function, and graft failure (GF). Here we report our experience with allogeneic HCT for SCD and the effects of RBC group mismatch and alloimmunization on the outcome of transplant recipients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of all SCD patients age >14 years who underwent HCT between January 2015 and February 2022 at our center. All patients received i.v. alemtuzumab (1 mg/kg divided over 5 days on days -7 to -3) and 300 cGy total body irradiation on day -2 or -1 for conditioning. Pretransplantation preparation consisted of hydroxyurea at the maximum tolerated dose for 2 to 3 months and 1 session of exchange transfusion. Peripherally mobilized CD34 stem cells targeting 10 × 10 6 /kg of recipient weight were used. For graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis, sirolimus was started on day -1 and continued for 1 year with tapering if lymphoid chimerism was >50%. For patients with major ABO incompatibility, we administered 2 doses of rituximab (375 mg/m 2 ) and 3 sessions of plasmapheresis before starting the conditioning regimen, targeting an isohemagglutinin titer <1/32. The primary objective was to determine the impact of RBC group mismatch and alloimmunization on the outcomes of the HCT recipients. The secondary objective was to assess the impact of GF on overall survival (OS). Logistic regression was done to evaluate predictors for GF. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. A total of 194 patients were included, with a median age of 26 years. Their median baseline hemoglobin and hemoglobin S values were 93 g/L and 71.3%, respectively. Indications for HCT included recurrent vaso-occlusive crisis in 52.5% of the patients, central nervous system events in 19.6%, and acute chest syndrome in 17%. After a median follow-up of 28.8 months (range, 5 to 83 months), 16 patients (8%) experienced GF (3 with primary GF and 13 with secondary GF). On univariate analysis, ABO minor incompatibility and RBC alloantibodies against donor non-ABO antigens were predictive of GF. On multivariate analysis, RBC alloantibodies against donor non-ABO antigens (odds ratio, 8.29; 95% confidence interval, 2.01 to 34.05; P = .0033) was the sole factor predictive of GF. None of the 16 patients with major ABO incompatibility developed GF. The 2-year OS for all patients was 95%. The 2-year OS was 98% in patients without GF, compared to 74% in patients with GF (P < .0001). In our SCD patients who underwent HSCT, the presence of RBC alloantibodies against donor non-ABO antigens was an independent risk factor for GF. Patients with GF had inferior survival, and strategies for decreasing the risk of GF are needed., (Copyright © 2024 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Albers-Schönberg disease, also known as osteopetrosis or marble bone disease, is a rare genetic disorder characterised by increased cortical bone mass due to dysfunctional osteoclast cells. This case report presents a 34-year-old male with autosomal dominant osteopetrosis (ADO), who was referred for evaluation and treatment of a chronic mandibular abscess with associated osteomyelitis and fistula. The patient's medical history included multiple fractures necessitating open reduction and internal fixation. Radiological examinations revealed the presence of chronic osteomyelitis in the mandible, marked by an increase in bone density and obliteration of medullary spaces. The treatment approach included surgical debridement, extraction of adjacent teeth, sequestrectomy, and antibiotic therapy. Notably, Enterobacter cloacae bacteria were identified through culture, leading to a tailored antibiotic regimen. Follow-up assessments, including clinical photographs and postoperative CT scans, were conducted to monitor the patient's progress. Histopathological examination confirmed osteomyelitis showing both viable and non-viable bone, surrounded by significant inflammatory infiltrate. This case underscores the complexity of managing osteomyelitis in patients with osteopetrosis and highlights the importance of early diagnosis, particularly before dental extractions, to prevent disease exacerbation. The rarity of this condition emphasises the need for further research and awareness among healthcare providers for optimal patient care., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Almutairi et al.)

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a material known for its multifunctionality, chemical stability, and high surface area, are now commonly utilized as an adsorbent for water treatment. The MOF (MIL-88(Fe)-NH 2 ) was synthesized and used to remove the commonly used toxic herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from water. The MIL-88(Fe)-NH 2 MOF was fully characterized using multiple techniques. A systematic investigation was conducted to evaluate the key parameters that impact the adsorption process, which include coexisting anions, adsorbent dosage, and solution pH. The adsorption isotherm was fitted using the Langmuir model, while the kinetics were fitted using pseudo-second-order. The adsorption process was both chemisorption and endothermic. The capacity for adsorption increased with rising temperatures. The MIL-88(Fe)-NH 2 adsorbent has a maximum adsorption capacity of 345.25 mg g -1 for removing 2,4-D, significantly higher than previous adsorbents used for this purpose. The adsorption mechanism could be ascribed to hydrogen bonding, pore filling, π-π conjugations between the 2,4-D molecules and the MIL-88(Fe)-NH 2 adsorbent, and electrostatic interactions. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of MIL-88(Fe)-NH 2 adsorbent showed only a slight decrease after five successive recycles, and it could be easily regenerated through solvent washing. When used in environmental water samples, especially those containing electronic wastes, the MIL-88(Fe)-NH 2 adsorbent demonstrated satisfactory adsorption capacity and reusability. The MIL-88(Fe)-NH 2 adsorbent is more practical and reusable and has better adsorption capacity and shorter equilibrium time compared to previously reported adsorbents., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background Hospital staff, especially nurses, face violence of various forms in the workplace. This study aimed to assess the burden of verbal/physical abuse against nurses and their attitude towards such events in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in three public sectors and two private sector hospitals, and five primary healthcare facilities in Buraidah. Data was collected using a structured online questionnaire, disseminated among nurses through nursing departments of participating facilities. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Results A total of 369 nurses participated in the survey, with a mean age of 34 (±6.9) years. About two-thirds, 68% (250) of respondents, had experienced at least one verbal/physical abuse incident during one year. The most common perpetrators were patients (44.4%). Sixteen percent of participants reported taking no action against the incident. Those working in private facilities were 80% less likely to experience abuse than those in public facilities, adjusted OR 0.20 (95% CI: 0.08-0.47). Conclusions There was a high burden of verbal/physical abuse against nurses, and they, therefore, suffer from disturbing memories. However, a little more than half do not officially report it to the managers, with only a small fraction seeing some action taken. Occupational health practitioners should take action to improve the policy and procedures related to workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare facilities. Further research is needed to characterize incidents to understand the patterns and develop interventions for the prevention of such events., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Sayed et al.)

Background and Objectives : Postpartum depression (PPD) is a psychological disorder in women who recently gave birth. It can present as mild to severe depression. Multiple studies across the globe have used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to reveal the factors that affect the prevalence of PPD. Results from various published studies showed a high prevalence of PPD in Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study is to investigate the major factors that increase PPD and other associated factors. Materials and Methods : An observational cross-sectional study was carried out at primary healthcare centres and military hospitals in Al Kharj. The study measured the rate of PPD among Saudi women during the postpartum period. We studied 279 women aged 19-45 (mean age 31.91, SD ± 6.45) in their postpartum period and followed up to 2 months after delivery. Results : The prevalence of PPD in our cohort was 32.8%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that previous depression diagnosis ( p = 0.001), lower education status ( p = 0.029), unemployment ( p = 0.014), and delivery disposition of C-section ( p = 0.002) remained associated with an increased risk of developing PPD. Conclusions : The increasing number of Saudi women with PPD demonstrates that it is a highly prevalent condition. PPD affects not only the health of the mother but also that of her baby and other family members. Our results showed that the history of diagnosed depression, lower education status, unemployment, and delivery disposition of C-sections were independent predictors of PPD development. Raising awareness and controlling the vulnerable factors could decrease the high risk of its effects.

Fast electroflotation extraction of heavy metals from wastewater is described. The results of experimental investigations of the extraction of iron, aluminium and chromium hydroxides from aqueous solutions in the presence of surfactants of various natures and ions of calcium by electroflotation are presented. It was found that the presence of Ca 2+ in the solution at a concentration of 0.5 g/L reduced the degree of electroflotation extraction of Al(OH) 3 , Fe(OH) 3 , Cr(OH) 3 regardless of the nature of the electrolyte. The addition of surfactants in the system in the presence of Ca 2+ increased the amount of extraction of the dispersed phase. The greatest effect is achieved with the help of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate, while the degree of extraction reached 98%. The high efficiency of the process of electroflotation extraction of the dispersed phase was due to the hydrophobization of the particle surface owing to the adsorption of surfactants on the surface of hydroxides. The recent method is useful to treat wastewater contaminated with aluminium, iron and chromium metal ions. The reason is that this method is very fast working within 20 min; Moreover, pH 7.0 working made this method ideal for utilisation in natural water treatment economically.

Hydrogen production is produced for future green energy. The radiation-chemical yield for seawater without a catalyst, with Zr, and with Zr1%Nb (Zr = 99% Nb = 1%) were (G(H 2 ) = 0.81, 307.1, and 437.4 molecules/100 eV, respectively. The radiation-thermal water decomposition increased in γ-radiation of the Zr1%Nb + SW system with increasing temperature. At T = 1273 K, it prevails over radiation processes. During the radiation and heat radiation heterogeneous procedures in the Zr1% Nb + SW system, the production of surface energetic sites and secondary electrons accelerated the accumulation of molecular hydrogen and Zr1%Nb oxidation. Thermal radiation and thermal processes caused the metal phase to collect thermal surface energetic sites for water breakdown and Zr 1%Nb oxidation starting at T = 573 K.

Objectives: CT-scan hyperdensities (HD) are described in more than 60% of all paranasal sinus fungus ball (FB) cases. Two types can be distinguished according to their density: calcium and metal types. We aimed to establish the prevalence and density of the HD observed in sphenoid and maxillary sinus FB and their relation to dental factors., Methods: This retrospective study included 64 patients operated in a tertiary referral center for unilateral maxillary or sphenoid FB diagnosed by histology or mycology. Pre-operative CT scans were analyzed by three independent observers (two ENT and one radiologist)., Results: There were 45 maxillary FB and 19 sphenoid FB. 63 FB showed HD. Metal-type HD were observed in 28 maxillary FB but not in sphenoid sinuses. Among maxillary FB, the prevalence of endodontic treatment was significantly more significant on the FB side than on the healthy side ( p = 0.02). The prevalence of endodontic treatment on the pathological side was more significant in the metal-type group than in the group without metal-type HD ( p = 0.01). Isolated calcium-type HD were evidenced in 17 maxillary FB and 18 sphenoid FB ( p = 0.019)., Conclusion: This study highlights the existence of two different types of HD in FBs of the paranasal sinuses with an association between metal-type HD and endodontic treatments.

A novel polyaniline-modified CNT and graphene-based nanocomposite (2.32-7.34 nm) was prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The specific surface area was 176 m 2 /g with 0.232 cm 3 /g as the specific pore volume. The nanocomposite was used to remove zinc and lead metal ions from water; showing a high removal capacity of 346 and 581 mg/g at pH 6.5. The data followed pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion and Elovich models. Besides this, the experimental values obeyed Langmuir and Temkin isotherms. The results confirmed that the removal of lead and zinc ions occurred in a mixed mode, that is, diffusion absorption and ion exchange between the heterogeneous surface of the sorbent containing active adsorption centers and the solution containing metal ions. The enthalpy values were 149.9 and 158.6 J.mol -1 K -1 for zinc and lead metal ions. The negative values of free energies were in the range of -4.97 to -26.3 kJ/mol. These values indicated an endothermic spontaneous removal of metal ions from water. The reported method is useful to remove the zinc and lead metal ions in any water body due to the high removal capacity of nanocomposite at natural pH of 6.5. Moreover, a low dose of 0.005 g per 30 mL made this method economical. Furthermore, a low contact time of 15 min made this method applicable to the removal of the reported metal ions from water in a short time. Briefly, the reported method is highly economical, nature-friendly and fast and can be used to remove the reported metal ions from any water resource.

Tannery industries are one of the extensive industrial activities which are the major source of chromium contamination in the environment. Chromium contamination has been an increasing threat to the environment and human health. Therefore, the removal of chromium ions is necessary to save human society. This study is oriented toward the preparation of a new triazole Schiff base derivatives for the remediation of chromium ions. 4,4'-((1 E )-1,2-bis ((1 H -1,2,4-triazol-3-yl) imino)ethane-1,2-diyl) diphenol was prepared by the interaction between 3-Amino-1 H -1,2,4-triazole and 4,4'-Dihydroxybenzil. Then, the produced Schiff base underwent a phosphorylation reaction to produce the adsorbent (TIHP), which confirmed its structure via the different tools FTIR, TGA, 1 HNMR, 13 CNMR, GC-MS, and Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance ( 31 P-NMR). The newly synthesized adsorbent (TIHP) was used to remove chromium oxyanions (Cr(VI)) from an aqueous solution. The batch technique was used to test many controlling factors, including the pH of the working aqueous solution, the amount of adsorbent dose, the initial concentration of Cr(VI), the interaction time, and the temperature. The desorption behaviour of Cr(VI) changes when it is exposed to the suggested foreign ions. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) adsorption on the new adsorbent was 307.07 mg/g at room temperature. Freundlich's isotherm model fits the adsorption isotherms perfectly. The kinetic results were well-constrained by the pseudo-second-order equation. The thermodynamic studies establish that the adsorption type was exothermic and naturally spontaneous.

A modified metal-organic framework (MOF) named Al-MIL-53-N=SA-Br was synthesized via a Schiff-base reaction between the MOFs (Al-MIL-53-NH 2 ) and 5-bromo salicylaldehyde. The robust functionalized Al-MIL-53-N=SA-Br was used as a novel spectrophotometric sensor for detecting Hg 2+ , Co 2+ , and Al 3+ ions. In a wide range of concentrations, the absorption spectral intensity of Al-MIL-53-N=SA-Br increased linearly upon increasing the concentration of Hg 2+ , Co 2+ , and Al 3+ ions. The limit of detection (LOD) of the proposed Al-MIL-53-N=SA-Br sensor reached 1.52 ppm of Hg 2+ ion (7.56 × 10 -9 M). Therefore, this study introduces a novel ratiometric Hg 2+ , Co 2+ , and Al 3+ ions chemosensor. Simple treatment using thiourea or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid can remove the metal ions from the used sensor and use it many times with a high efficiency. In addition, the Al-MIL-53-N=SA-Br sensor has a high adsorption capacity for these metal ions. The design of the robust Al-MIL-53-N=SA-Br sensor provided high stability, reproducibility, selectivity, high sensitivity, and a facile sensing design. Furthermore, the good absorption spectral stability of Al-MIL-53-N=SA-Br in aqueous media, the broad linear in sensing, and the low LOD of the Hg 2+ , Co 2+ , and Al 3+ ions show its high potential in determining these ions in real water., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

New pyrazole derivatives were prepared and used to synthesize new bioactive agents from Cu(II) complexes that have OSN donors. Analytical and spectral (IR, UV-Vis, MS, 1 H NMR, ESR & XRD) instruments characterized these complexes as well as their corresponding ligands. The bonding mode has been modified from ligand to ligand and the molar ratio for isolated complexes has also varied (1:1/1:2, M:L). The geometry of isolated complexes was commonly proposed, based on electronic transitions and ESR spectral-parameters. Via computational approaches, these structures were optimized using standard programs (Gaussian 09 & HyperChem 8.1) under the required basis set. Consequently, important physical characteristics have been obtained after finishing the optimization process. Inhibition behavior of all new synthesizes was studied by MOE module as in-silico approach which conducted versus the crystal structure of NUDT5 protein (6gru) of breast cancer cells. The interaction features summarized from docking processes, reveal effective inhibition validity for new Cu(II) complexes versus breast cancer cells. This according to scoring energy values and the stability of docking complexes in true interaction path (bond length ≤3.5 Å) particularly with Cu(II)-L 3 and Cu(II)-L 4 complexes. This reflects the possibility of successful behavior during practical application through in-vitro assay that intended in this study. Finally, the degree of toxicity of such new compounds to the breast cancer cell line was determined by in-vitro screening. To judge perfectly on their toxicity, in-vitro screening must compared to positive control as Doxorubicin (reference drug). IC 50 values were calculated and represent Cu(II) complexes as outstanding cytotoxic agents which revealed superiority on the reference drug itself., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Introduction: The typical herpes simplex viral encephalitis (HSVE) course is an acute illness, less commonly it may present as a chronic course, mainly in children, and rarely may it be subacute. Subacute HSVE is rarely described in the literature being reported 4 times only., Case Report: We here report 2 cases of subacute HSV1 encephalitis diagnosed based on cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction and magnetic resonance imaging findings and review the literature trying to find any specific clinical, laboratory, radiologic diagnostic or prognostic criteria regarding this subacute form of HSVE., Conclusion: There is subacute form of HSVE and should be suspected with any subacute febrile illness with nonspecific cognitive impairment even in the absence of focal neurological symptoms and in cases with rapidly progressive dementia. This form has similar radiologic finding and good response to acyclovir but carry even better prognosis than that the acute HSVE., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Little is known regarding the burden of infections and clinical practice towards hospitalized patients with limits on life-sustaining measures. We aim to describe the infectious syndromes, clinical care, the emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms and outcomes in this population., Patients and Methods: Retrospective cohort of patients labeled as support or comfort care in a tertiary care center between 2016-2019., Results: A total of 347 patients were included with a mean age of 68.5 years, who were predominantly males (59.94%), bedbound (69.74%), on tube feeding (66.86%), and required indwelling urinary catheters (61.96%). The total number of admissions during the first year was 498, with the mean length of stay being 30 days. The number of infectious syndromes identified during that period was 821episodes, with a mean of 2 infectious syndromes per admission. The most common infection identified was pneumonia (41.66%) followed by urinary tract infections (27.16%). A total of 3891 microbiological cultures were taken with a mean of 5 cultures per infectious syndrome. The most commonly identified pathogens were Gram-negative bacteria (61.03%), with a high rate of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) (48.53%). The one-year mortality was 86.4%. Using carbapenem antibiotic and pneumonia were the independent predictors used for the MDROs., Conclusion: Our study reflects the high burden of infections, antimicrobial resistance, and hospital admissions among a population with limited life expectancy. A consensus regarding investigating and managing of infectious syndromes, and antimicrobial prescription is needed to reduce the harms associated with overuse of antimicrobials., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

A low-cost, simple, and highly selective method was used for the assessment of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) in the serum of prostate cancer patients. This method is based on quenching the intensity of luminescence displayed by the optical sensor Eu (TTA) 3 phen/poly methylmethacrylate (PMMA) thin membrane or film upon adding different concentrations of tPSA. The luminescent optical sensor was synthesized and characterized through absorption, emission, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD), and is tailored to present red luminescence at 614 nm upon excitation at 395 nm in water. The fabricated sensor fluorescence intensity is quenched in the presence of tPSA in aqueous media. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is the main mechanism by which the sensor performs. The sensor was successfully utilized to estimate tPSA in the serum of patients suffering prostate cancer in a time and cost effective way. The statistical results of the method were satisfactory with 0.0469 ng mL -1 as a detection limit and 0.99 as a correlation coefficient., (Copyright © 2020 Garoub, Hefny, Omer, Elsaady, Abo-Aly, Sayqal, Alharbi, Hameed, Alessa, Youssef, Mohamed, Gouda, Sheikh, Abou-Omar, El-Kemary and Attia.)

Reverse Transcriptase (RT) inhibitors are highly promising agents for use as an effective anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) which is typically a combination of three or four antiretroviral drugs. We used direct drug design approach to discover new chemical entities for the target protein. The validated template of the protein targeting reverse transcriptase PDB ID 1JKH was extracted for three sites hydrophobic, steric, and electronic parameters explain the interactions at the active site by the inhibitors. We used the Zinc library of compounds to explore the possible leads for HAART through RT inhibition. We report 12 new chemical entities with possible activity against the targeted viral protein. These leads will provide new therapeutic means in antiretroviral therapy., (© 2020 Biomedical Informatics.)

Molecular interaction of aromatic dyes with biological macromolecules are important for the development of minimally invasive disease diagnostic biotechnologies. In the present work, we have used Toluidine Blue (TB) as a model dye, which is a well-known staining agent for the diagnosis of oral cancer and have studied the interaction of various biological macromolecules (protein and DNA) with the dye at different pH. Our spectroscopic studies confirm that TB interacts with Human Serum Albumin (HSA), a model protein at very high pH conditions which is very hard to achieve physiologically. On the other hand, TB significantly interacts with the DNA at physiological pH value (7.4). Our molecular studies strengthen the understanding of the Toluidine Blue staining of cancer cells, where the relative ratio of the nucleic acids is higher than the normal intracellular content. We have also developed a non-invasive, non-contact spectroscopic technique to explore the possibility of quantitatively detecting oral cancer by exploiting the interaction of TB with DNA. We have also reported development of a prototype named "Oral-O-Scope" for the detection of Oral cancer and have carried out human studies using the prototype., (Copyright © 2020 Singh, Halder, Sinha, Chakrabarty, Chatterjee, Adhikari, Singh, Shikha, Ghosh, Banerjee, Das Mahapatra, Mandhar, Bhattacharyya, Bose, Ahmed, Alharbi, Hameed and Pal.)

Chelation therapy is one of the most effective and widely accepted methods of treatment to reduce metal toxicity caused by an excess amount of essential metals. Essential minerals play an important role in maintaining healthy human physiology. However, the presence of an excess amount of such essential metals can cause cell injury, which finally leads to severe life-threatening diseases. Chelating complexes can efficiently capture the targeted metal and can easily be excreted from the body. Commonly utilized metal chelators have major side effects including long-term damage to some organs, which has pointed out the need of less harmful biocompatible chelating agents. In this work, we have investigated the iron chelating property of curcumin through various spectroscopic tools by synthesizing and characterizing the iron-curcumin (Fe-Cur) complex. We have also investigated whether the synthesized materials are able to retain their antioxidant activity after the chelation of a substantial amount of metal ion. Our study unravels the improved antioxidant activity of the synthesized chelate complex. We further demonstrate that the proposed complex generates no significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) under dark conditions, which makes it a promising candidate for chelation therapy of iron toxicity. Femtosecond-resolved fluorescence studies further provide insight into the mechanism of activity of the new complex where electron transfer from ligand to metal has been observed prominently. Thus, the Fe-Cur complex has a potential to act as a dual activity medicine for excretion of toxic metal ions via chelation and as a therapeutic agent of oxidative stress caused by the metal ion as well., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.)

Human exposure to heavy metals can cause a variety of life-threatening disorders, affecting almost every organ of the body, including the nervous, circulatory, cardiac, excretory, and hepatic systems. The presence of heavy metal (cause) and induced oxidative stress (effect) are both responsible for the observed toxic effects. The conventional and effective way to combat heavy metal overload diseases is through use of metal chelators. However, they possess several side effects and most importantly they fail to manage the entire causality. In this study, we introduce citrate-functionalized Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles (C-Mn 3 O 4 NPs) as an efficient chelating agent for treatment of heavy metal overload diseases. By means of UV/Vis absorbance and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopic techniques we investigated the efficacy of the NPs in chelation of a model heavy metal, lead (Pb). We also explored the retention of antioxidant properties of the Pb-chelated C-Mn 3 O 4 NPs using a UV/Vis-assisted DPPH assay. Through CD spectroscopic studies we established that the NPs can reverse the Pb-induced structural modifications of biological macromolecules. We also studied the in vivo efficacy of NPs in Pb-intoxicated C57BL/6j mice. The NPs were not only able to mobilize the Pb from various organs through chelation, but also saved the organs from oxidative damage. Thus, the C-Mn 3 O 4 NPs could be an effective nanotherapeutic agent for complete reversal of heavy-metal-induced toxicity through chelation of the heavy metal and healing of the associated oxidative stress., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

In the present study, a combustion method was applied for the production of hematite nanoparticles from Egyptian iron waste using l-arginine (The sample was named HA) and glutamine (The sample was named HG) as organic fuels, respectively. XRD confirmed that the HA and HG products have crystallite sizes of 48 and 56 nm, respectively. Also, HR-TEM demonstrated that spherical and irregular shapes have an average diameter of 45 and 59  nm were observed in the HA and HG samples, respectively. Besides, FE-SEM elucidated that spherical and irregular shapes have an average size of 142 and 196 nm were observed in the HA and HG samples, respectively. In addition, FT-IR confirmed that the peaks which were detected at 518 and 430 cm -1 are because of vibrations of Fe-O bond. Moreover, the value of the energy gap for the HA and HG samples was 1.00 and 1.45 eV, respectively. Furthermore, the PL emission spectra elucidated that the emission intensity of the HA sample was less than that of the HG sample. So, e - /h +  recombination rate of the HA sample was less than that of the HG sample. Hence, the photocatalytic degradation of malachite green dye using the HA sample was larger than that using the HG sample. In the absence of H 2 O 2 , the % degradation of malachite green dye under the influence of UV using HA and HG samples was 46.29 and 39.72 % after 3 h, respectively. Also, in the presence of H 2 O 2 , the % degradation of malachite green dye under the influence of UV using HA and HG samples was 100 % after 60 and 70 min, respectively., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ultrasensitive detection of heavy metal ions in available water around us is a great challenge for scientists since long time. We developed an optical technique that combines Rayleigh scattering of UV light (365 nm) and post-sample fluorescence detection from colloidal silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) having a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 420 nm. The efficacy of the technique is tested by the detection of several model toxic ions, including mercury, lead, and methylmercury in aqueous media. The light scattering from the Hg-included/inflated Ag NPs at 395 nm was observed to saturate the light sensor even with ppm-order concentrations of Hg ions in the water sample. However, the pollutant is not detected at lower concentrations at this wavelength. Instead, the fluorescence of a high-pass filter (cut-off at 400 nm) at 520 nm is applied to detect pollutant concentrations of up to several hundreds of ppm in the water sample. We also detected lead and methylmercury as model pollutants in aqueous media and validated the efficacy of our strategy. Finally, we report the development of a working prototype based on the strategy developed for efficient detection of pollutants in drinking/agricultural water., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction: Gestational gigantomastia (GG) is a rare condition manifesting as a fast and excessive growth of the breasts in pregnant women. Its etiology is still unclear, with theories ranging from hormonal imbalances, unregulated immune response, to hypersensitivity. Medical interventions are mainly surgical in nature, though some pharmacological medications are of debatable efficacy., Case Presentation: A 33-year old Saudi gravida 3 para 2 presents continuous breast enlargement since the start of her pregnancy. She complains of skin ulcerations and discharge which was initially treated conservatively with topical antibiotics. Days after she came back with worsening GG symptoms, and was admitted for bilateral skin sparing mastectomy and reconstruction, and successfully recovered. The patient came back with problems concerning the surgical implant and wound infection. Emergency operation was performed for implant removal and wound treatment. Labor induction was performed by the OB-GYN on her 39 week. The patient opted for autogenous reconstruction by bilateral latissimus dorsi flap months after delivery. After treatment of minor surgical complications, the patient successfully recovered., Discussion: Surgery is one of the most effective interventions for GG. Total mastectomy is preferred due to lesser risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies. Reduction mammoplasty offers the breastfeeding option if conducted before the delivery, but poses higher risk of recurrence in future pregnancies., Conclusion: The patient's gestational gigantomastia condition was complicated by several ulcerations and infections. Surgery was conducted alongside antibiotic treatment. This report also highlights the importance of follow ups in managing complications., (Copyright © 2020 King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

In this study, Fe 2 O 3 (hematite) nanoparticles with different crystallite sizes (40-59 nm) were synthesized from Egyptian insecticide cans using the combustion method. The organic fuels were urea, glycine, L-alanine, and L-valine. Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles were characterized utilizing different devices such as BET, PL, FT-IR, XRD, HR-TEM, FE-SEM, UV-Vis, and DTG. Crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) dyes were efficiently removed from aqueous solution by photocatalytic degradation under UV irradiation in the presence of Fe 2 O 3 and H 2 O 2 . The % degradation of 50 mL crystal violet or methylene blue dye (20 mg/L) using 0.1 g Fe 2 O 3 in the presence of H 2 O 2 was 100% after 30 or 40 min, respectively. Also, the degradation processes are fitted well with the first order model. Besides, the photocatalytic activity of Fe 2 O 3 unaltered even after it was reused three times. Hence, the synthesized Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles can be considered a promising and efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of crystal violet and methylene blue dyes., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Treatment of cancer using nanoparticles made of inorganic and metallic compounds has been increasingly used, owing to their novel intrinsic physical properties and their potential to interact with specific cellular sites, thereby significantly reducing severe secondary effects. In this study, we report a facile strategy for synthesis of folate capped Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles (FA-Mn 3 O 4 NPs) with high colloidal stability in aqueous media using a hydrothermal method for potential application in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. The capping of FA to Mn 3 O 4 NPs was confirmed using various spectroscopic techniques. In adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549), the nanohybrid synthesised with a combination of FA and Mn 3 O 4 shows remarkable PDT activity via intracellular ROS generation (singlet oxygen). As established by a DNA fragmentation assay and fluorescence studies, the nanohybrid can cause significant nuclear DNA damage by light induced enhanced ROS generation. In the assessment of Bax, Bcl2 provides strong evidence of apoptotic cellular death. Cumulatively, the outcomes of this study suggest that these newly synthesized FA-Mn 3 O 4 NPs can specifically destroy cells with overexpressed folate receptors, thereby providing a solution in the journey of cancer eradication., Competing Interests: The authors confirm no conflict of interest to disclose., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

In this study, a new series of 2,7-dichloro-4-(2-substituted-amino acetyl)fluorene derivatives were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity and screened for cytotoxic activity against human lung carcinoma (A-549) and human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cell lines. Most of the synthesized compounds displayed significant activity against A-549 and MCF-7 cell lines when compared to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which was used as a reference drug. In addition, some of these reported novel compounds exhibited promising antibacterial and antifungal properties. A molecular docking study was performed to identify the mechanism of action of the synthesized compounds, which suggested binding interactions with the active sites of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR).

Objectives: To determine the mean nasal skin thickness in the Middle Eastern population and to assess the effect of skin thickness on patients' satisfaction following rhinoplasty surgeries. Methods: Radiological measurements of skin thickness at the 3 vertical thirds of the nasal dorsum were taken. A total of 154 patients (80 females and 74 males) who were scheduled for computed tomography scan for the paranasal sinuses were included in the study. The patients were then categorized into 3 groups: thick, medium, and thin nasal skin. A scale from 10% to 100% was used to assess patient satisfaction following rhinoplasty. Satisfaction and skin thickness were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Nasal skin thickness for males was 6.13, 2.76 millimeter (mm) from the upper and 3.70 mm to the lower third. For females, it was 5.34, 2.13 mm from the upper and 3.21 mm to the lower third. There was no statistically significant difference in patient satisfaction among the 3 skin thickness groups (p=0.089). Conclusion: This study provides baseline results of nasal skin thickness in the Middle Eastern population. The results also show that nasal skin thickness may not be a strong factor affecting patient satisfaction.

Purpose: To compare the outcome measures following implantation of two types of ICRS., Methods: Forty-four eyes of keratoconic patients (aged 18-50 years) were randomly assigned to femtosecond laser-assisted Keraring ICRS (Group A) or MyoRing (Group B) implantation. Uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities, refraction, keratometry (K), and aberrations were compared preoperatively, at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. A survey was conducted to assess patient's satisfaction, 6 months postoperatively., Results: In Groups A (n = 26) and B (n = 18), UDVA was increased (P < 0.05), but CDVA increased only in Group A (P < 0.05) 6 months postoperatively. The mean K was reduced by 4.55 D (P < 0.0001) in Group A and 6.51 D (P < 0.001) in Group B. Six months postoperatively, the mean refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) decreased by 2.90 and 3.60 D in Groups A and B, respectively (P < 0.0001). Between groups, coma was more reduced (P = 0.035) in Group B than A, 6 months postoperatively. On motivation for surgery, 88.9% of patients' ranked "desire to improve unaided vision" and "relief from glasses" (77%) topmost. Seventy-seven (77%) of Group A and 89% of Group B patients were satisfied with their unaided vision at the final visit, after 6 months., Conclusions: KeraRing (A) and MyoRing (B) corneal implants both performed well in improving vision and stabilising the cornea. Implantation of the MyoRing caused greater reduction in coma and better patient satisfaction, but CDVA improved only in the Keraring group, at the final visit.

Background: Mental disorders are common among migrant workers. There is no data on depression in Saudi Arabia among them; although, they are a third of the population., Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression and to assess its relationship with duration of stay and living condition in a sample of migrant workers., Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 400 migrant workers was conducted in Al-Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Exposure and covariate factors were assessed with a standardized questionnaire, depression with the CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Studies on Depression) scale, and physical indices (e.g. weight, height, and blood pressure) with a general examination. Logistic regression was used to identify significant correlates of depression., Results: Depression prevalence was 20%; it did not vary by duration of stay or living condition but by age, stress, and self-reported health. In the multivariate model, those who reported 'moderate' or 'high' levels of stress were 1.7 (95% CI: 0.9, 3.1) and 3.9 (95% CI: 1.7, 9.1) times more likely to have depression (reference ='low' level), respectively. Similarly, those who rated their health either 'good' or 'fair to very poor' were 3.4 (95% CI: 1.9, 6.1) and 4.8 (95% CI: 2.3, 10.1) times more likely to have depression (reference ='excellent/very good'), respectively., Limitations: The data were collected from one company and pertained to only male participants, and the study design could not establish temporal sequence between the exposure and outcome variables., Conclusion: Depression is considerably high in this population; a large-scale and nationally representative survey is needed to validate the findings., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)