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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological condition that may develop in certain individuals following exposure to life-threatening or traumatic events. Distressing symptoms, including flashbacks, are characterized by disrupted stress responses, fear, anxiety, avoidance tendencies, and disturbances in sleep patterns. The enduring effects of PTSD can profoundly impact personal and familial relationships, as well as social, medical, and financial stability. The prevalence of PTSD varies among different populations and is influenced by the nature of the traumatic event. Recently, zebrafish have emerged as a valuable model organism in studying various conditions and disorders. Zebrafish display robust behavioral patterns that can be effectively quantified using advanced video-tracking tools. Due to their relatively simple nervous system compared to humans, zebrafish are particularly well suited for behavioral investigations. These unique characteristics make zebrafish an appealing model for exploring the underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms that govern behavior, thus offering a powerful comparative platform for gaining deeper insights into PTSD. This review article aims to provide updates on the pathophysiology of PTSD and the genetic responses associated with psychological stress. Additionally, it highlights the significance of zebrafish behavior as a valuable tool for comprehending PTSD better. By leveraging zebrafish as a model organism, researchers can potentially uncover novel therapeutic interventions for the treatment of PTSD and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of this complex condition.

Background: The world has witnessed one of the largest pandemics, dubbed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of December 2020, the USA alone reported 98,948 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection during pregnancy, with 109 related maternal deaths. Current evidence suggests that unvaccinated pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at a higher risk of experiencing complications related to COVID-19 compared to nonpregnant women. This review aimed to provide healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers with a comprehensive overview of the available information regarding the efficacy of vaccines in pregnant women. Summary: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. The search through the database for articles published between December 2019 and October 2021 was performed. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases for research publications published between December 2019 and October 2021. We focused on original research, case reports, case series, and vaccination side effect by authoritative health institutions. Phrases used for the Medical Subject Heading [MeSH] search included (“COVID-19” [MeSH]) or (“Vaccine” [MeSH]) and (“mRNA” [MeSH]) and (“Pregnant” [MeSH]). Eleven studies were selected and included, with a total of 46,264 pregnancies that were vaccinated with mRNA-containing lipid nanoparticle vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna during pregnancy. There were no randomized trials, and all studies were observational (prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional). The mean maternal age was 32.2 years, and 98.7% of pregnant women received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination. The local and systemic adverse effects of the vaccination in pregnant women were analyzed and reported. The local adverse effects of the vaccination (at least 1 dose) such as local pain, swelling, and redness were reported in 32%, 5%, and 1%, respectively. The systemic adverse effects such as fatigue, headaches, new onset or worsening of muscle pain, chills, fever, and joint pains were also reported in 25%, 19%, 18%, 12%, 11%, and 8%, respectively. The average birthweight was 3,452 g. Among these pregnancies, 0.03% were stillbirth and 3.68% preterm (

Pregnancy-associated spontaneous rupture of renal artery aneurysm (PSRRAA) is a rare emergency that may lead to deleterious maternal and fetal outcomes. We present the first report of PSRRAA during early pregnancy and to be associated with trisomy-21 in a six-week pregnant lady. Intraabdominal bleeding suspicion confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography showing aneurysmal rupture which was managed by percutaneous angioembolization. PSRRAA is a challenging diagnosis and a life-threatening emergency. A high index of suspicion to diagnose PSRRAA even in early pregnancy is needed. Management of PSRRAA has a high risk of fetal radiation exposure that may lead to congenital anomalies.

Having a previous history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as gonorrhea and chlamydia increases the chance of developing prostate cancer, the second most frequent malignant cancer among men. However, the molecular functions that cause the development of prostate cancer in persons with gonorrhea and chlamydia are yet unknown. In this study, we studied RNA-seq gene expression profiles using computational biology methods to find out potential biomarkers that could help us in understanding the patho-biological mechanisms of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and prostate cancer. Using statistical methods on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data sets, it was found that a total of 22 distinct differentially expressed genes were shared among these 3 diseases of which 14 were up-regulated (PGRMC1, TSC22D1, SH3BGRL, NNT, CTSC, FRMD3, CCR2, FAM210B, VCL, PTGS1, SLFN11, SLC40A1, PROS1, and DSE) and the remaining 8 genes were down-regulated (PRNP, HINT3, MARCKSL1, TMED10, SH3KBP1, ENSA, DERL1, and KMT2B). Investigation on these 22 unique dysregulated genes using Gene Ontology, BioCarta, KEGG, and Reactome revealed multiple altered molecular pathways, including regulation of amyloid precursor protein catabolic process, ferroptosis, effects on gene expression of Homo sapiens PPAR pathway, and innate immune system R-HSA-168249. Four significant hub proteins namely VCL, SH3KBP1, PRNP, and PGRMC1 were revealed by protein-protein interaction network analysis. By analyzing gene-transcription factors and gene-miRNAs interactions, significant transcription factors (POU2F2, POU2F1, GATA6, and HIVEP1) and posttranscriptional regulator microRNAs (hsa-miR-7-5p) were also identified. Three potential therapeutic compounds namely INCB3284, CCX915, and MLN-1202 were found to interact with up-regulated protein C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) in protein-drug interaction analysis. The proposed biomarkers and therapeutic potential molecules could be investigated for potential pharmacological targets and activity in the fight against in patients with gonorrhea, chlamydia, and prostate cancer.

BackgroundSexually transmitted diseases and infections (STDIs) remain a serious public health menace with over 350 million cases each year. Poor knowledge of STDIs has been identified as one of the bottlenecks in their control and prevention. Hence, assessment of knowledge, both general and domain-specific, is key to the prevention and control of these diseases. This study assessed the knowledge of STDIs and identified factors associated with STDI knowledge among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study among 778 UAE University students across all colleges. An online data collection tool was used to collect data regarding the participants' demographics and their level of knowledge of STDIs across different domains including general STDI pathogens knowledge (8 items), signs and symptoms (9 items), mode of transmission (5 items), and prevention (5 items). Knowledge was presented both as absolute and percentage scores. Differences in STDI knowledge were statistically assessed using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-squared tests. Logistic regression models were further used to identify factors associated with STDI knowledge.ResultsA total of 778 students participated in the study with a median age of 21 years (IQR = 19, 23). The overall median STDI knowledge score of the participants was 7 (out of 27), with some differences within STDI domains–signs & symptoms (1 out of 9), modes of transmission (2 out of 5), general STDI pathogens (2 out of 8), and prevention (1 out of 5). Higher STDI knowledge was significantly associated with being non-Emirati (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.24–2.75), being married (OR = 2.89, 95% CI = 1.50–5.56), residing in emirates other than Abu Dhabi (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.16–2.25), and being a student of health sciences (OR = 4.45, 95% CI = 3.07–6.45).ConclusionIn general, STDI knowledge was low among the students. Having good knowledge of STDIs is essential for their prevention and control. Therefore, there is a need for informed interventions to address the knowledge gap among students, youths, and the general population at large.

Objectives: Preeclampsia is one of the most frequent pregnancy disorders, with a global incidence of 2%–8%. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is an essential mineral for human health; some studies suggest link between 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and preeclampsia, while others offer contradictory findings. Thus, the goal of this study is to evaluate the relationships between maternal 25- hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and the risk of preeclampsia. In addition to this, our study also evaluates the effects of 25- hydroxyvitamin D supplementation on the incidence of preeclampsia. Therefore, assessing 25- hydroxyvitamin D’s potential as a possible intervention to lower the risk of preeclampsia. Methods: The Medline database was queried from inception until July 2021 for randomized controlled trials and observational studies without any restrictions. The studies assessing the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and preeclampsia and the impact of 25-hydroxyvitamin D supplementation on the incidence of preeclampsia were incorporated. The results were reported using a random-effects meta-analysis and the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio. A p -value of

The global population of older adults is expanding rapidly resulting in a shift towards managing multiple chronic diseases that coexist and may be exacerbated by cardiovascular illness. Stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) is a predominant contributor to morbidity and mortality in the older adult population. Although results from clinical trials demonstrate that chronological age is a predictor of poor health outcomes, the current management approach remains suboptimal due to insufficient representation of older adults in randomized trials and the inadequate consideration for the interaction between biological aging, concurrent geriatric syndromes, and patient preferences. A shift towards a more patient-centered approach is necessary for appropriately and effectively managing SIHD in the older adult population. In this review, we aim to demonstrate the distinctive needs of older adults who prioritize holistic health outcomes like functional capacity, cognitive abilities, mental health, and quality of life alongside the prevention of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes reported in cardiovascular clinical trials. An individualized, patient-centered approach that involves shared decision-making regarding outcome prioritization is needed when any treatment strategy is being considered. By prioritizing patients and addressing their unique needs for successful aging, we can provide more effective care to a patient population that exhibits the highest cardiovascular risks.

The scarcity and diversity of medical data have made it challenging to build an accurate global classification model in the healthcare sector. The prime reason is privacy concerns and legal obstacles which limit data-sharing scope among institutions in healthcare. On the other hand, data from a single source is hardly sufficient to develop a universal diagnosis model. While federated learning is a potential solution to privacy and data diversity concerns (allows distributed model training), an apt aggregation process for multi-class and heterogeneous medical data is still at the outset. This study aims to propose a federated learning mechanism that can effectively learn from multi-class and heterogeneous respiratory medical data. The proposed system trains and aggregates the local model by leveraging blockchain technology, ensuring privacy. While aggregating the local models, we introduced the weight manipulation technique that, unlike any other studies, uses the local model test accuracy as the principal parameter. The resulting metric scores show that learning from diverse and heterogeneous​ data, the performance of the proposed federated model is analogous to a single-source model (learning from single source data). Using the novel aggregation technique, the highest testing accuracy of 88.10% has been achieved for five classes, compared to the less complex single source model, which achieved 88.60% testing accuracy. A similar trend has been observed for models with three and four classes. For developing better synergy among organizations, this study introduces an incentive mechanism for the contributing institution while the blockchain stores the records to make the system transparent and trustworthy. The proposed mechanism has been implemented using a web system, which demonstrates how the weight manipulation technique can effectively learn from heterogeneous and multi-sourced data while preserving privacy.

The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diminishes in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related advanced chronic liver disease after virological cure. However, despite viral clearance, HCV-induced epigenetic alterations, immune dysregulations, and hepatic parenchymal injuries remain, contributing to de novo HCC occurrence. While HCC incidence is low (0.45 – 0.5%) in patients with advanced fibrosis (F3), the presence of liver cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension increases the HCC risk. The cost-effectiveness of lifelong HCC surveillance in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) has sparked debate, raising questions about the most reliable noninvasive tests and stratification models for predicting HCC in patients with sustained virological response (SVR). Furthermore, identifying cACLD patients who may not require long-term HCC surveillance after SVR remains crucial. Several HCC risk stratification scores have been suggested for patients with cACLD, and emerging evidence supports individualized care based on personalized risk assessments. This review focuses on revising the pretreatment and posttreatment predictors of HCC, as well as the indications for HCC surveillance in cACLD patients treated with direct-acting antivirals.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound and global impact on healthcare systems worldwide, presenting unprecedented challenges for healthcare workers (HCWs) on the front. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms during the coronavirus pandemic among healthcare professionals in Qatar.MethodsA cross-sectional study where an electronic questionnaire containing demographics, and psychosocial questions were made on Google Docs and Microsoft Team, and were sent through email and WhatsApp to healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, allied health and others working at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar, from June 1, 2021, to January 1st 2023. ANOVA, t-test and multiple linear regression were used to see the association between the psychological factors and sociodemographic variables using STATA version 17 software.ResultsA total of 829 participants were included in this study (response rate: 55%). The average age of the participants is 36.0 ± 7.1; 65.9% were males; 2.3% were doctors and 53% were nurses, 38.7% were allied healthcare professionals and 6% were others. Psychological, social effects, and workplace were shown to significantly related to their marital status, career, and hospital setting (p

Background Complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is increasingly performed in older adults (age ≥75 years) with stable ischemic heart disease. However, little is known about clinical outcomes. Methods and Results We derived a cohort of older adults undergoing elective PCI for stable ischemic heart disease across a large health system. We compared 12‐month event‐free survival (freedom from all‐cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and major bleeding), all‐cause death, target lesion revascularization, and bleeding events for patients receiving complex versus noncomplex PCI and derived risk estimates with Cox regression models. We included 513 patients (mean age, 81±5 years). Patients receiving complex PCI versus noncomplex PCI did not significantly differ across a host of clinical characteristics including cardiovascular disease features, noncardiac comorbidities, guideline‐directed medical therapy use, and frailty. Patients receiving complex PCI versus noncomplex PCI experienced worse event‐free survival (80.4% versus 86.8%), which was not significant in adjusted analyses (hazard ratio [HR], 1.38 [95% CI, 0.88–2.16]). All‐cause death at 1 year for patients undergoing complex PCI was nearly double that seen for patients receiving noncomplex PCI (10.2% versus 5.9%), and the risk was significant in models adjusted for clinical characteristics (HR, 1.97 [95% CI, 1.02–3.79]). Target lesion revascularization risk was lower for patients receiving complex PCI (2.2% versus 3.5%, adjusted HR), but bleeding events were not statistically different between groups (25.3% versus 20.5%; P=0.19). Conclusions Complex PCI in older adults with stable ischemic heart disease was associated with lower risk of target lesion revascularization but higher all‐cause death compared with noncomplex PCI.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effect of the glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level on the functional outcome (FOC) in patients with intracranial large artery atherosclerotic disease (ICLAD)-related acute ischemic stroke (AIS).MethodsThis retrospective study enrolled patients with ICLAD-related AIS who were admitted to King Fahd University Hospital between January 2017 and September 2021. Patients were divided into two groups based on the optimal cutoff HbA1c level determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis—those with HbA1c ≤6.9% and those with HbA1c >6.9%. Demographic and other clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups using chi-square tests. The association between HbA1c and 90-day FOC was assessed using the chi-square test and odds ratios (ORs). Multivariate analysis was performed to adjust for confounding factors.ResultsA total of 140 patients were included in the analysis. A significant association was observed between the HbA1c level and FOC. Compared to patients with HbA1c ≤6.9%, patients with HbA1c >6.9% were more likely to have an unfavorable FOC [p = 6.9% and unfavorable FOC was sustained even after adjusting for confounding factors (p = 0.008) and atherosclerosis risk factors (p = 0.01). HbA1c >6.9% was also associated with higher ORs for in-hospital complications (p = 0.06, OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.02–1.77) and mortality (p = 0.07, OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.06–1.92) although these associations did not attain significant p-values.ConclusionHbA1c >6.9% was significantly associated with unfavorable FOC in ICLAD-related AIS. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are required to verify whether HbA1c is an independent predictor of poor FOC. Nevertheless, targeting HbA1c

Impaired wound healing is a major healthcare problem in patients with diabetes often resulting in gangrene, microbial infection and amputation of affected limb. The delay or absence in healing process arises from several abnormalities, among them chronic hypoxia is a major concern due to its associated issues such as lack of collagen deposition, epithelization, fibroplasia, angiogenesis, and resistance to infections at the wound site. To address hypoxia, delivery of oxygen at the wound site through oxygen releasing agents have been proven to be effective therapeutics. Several oxygen releasing nanoparticles such as Sodium Percarbonate (SPC), Calcium Peroxide (CPO), Hydrogen Peroxide, Magnesium Peroxide (MPO) have been investigated in wound healing application. However, the uncontrolled/burst release of these nanotherapeutic agents and its accompanied cytotoxicity pose a barrier in expediting the healing process. In this study, a Chitosan-Polyvinyl alcohol (CS-PVA) based hydrogel containing oxygen releasing nanoparticle, calcium peroxide (CPO) was constructed to provide a slow and sustained delivery of oxygen for at least 5 days. In-vitro cell culture studies with this material using fibroblast and endothelial cell line exhibited improved biocompatibility, cell viability and enhanced proliferation in comparison with the control group. Additionally, cell migration study using scratch assay method showed superior cell migration ability of our proposed materials. Furthermore, In vivo study using diabetic rat model showed accelerated wound closure rate compared to untreated control wounds.

Male urethral diverticulum is an uncommon condition typically caused by previous surgeries, inflammation, or trauma. There are very few case reports of primary male urethral diverticulum, with only one report linking it to ejaculatory problems. In this report, we present a rare case of congenital male urethral diverticulum who presented with lower urinary tract symptoms and anejaculation that was successfully treated through open urethral diverticulectomy.

A large scale of nitrogen and oxygen production has been through a cryogenic air separation process. This process takes place in a distillation column at excessive energy consumption. The heat-integrated air separation column (HIASC) can save energy when utilizing minimum pressure while ensuring adequate heat distribution along the portion of the column. However, accurate prediction of thermodynamic and fluid properties requirement is critical for process optimization and potential energy saving. The nonequilibrium stage model is employed to gain insight into the thermodynamic properties. While examining the influence of these properties, essential process operating variables are optimized to save energy. The research result shows that more than 17% of energy is preservable in the HIASC.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and the association between hypertension (HTN) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. A chart review-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on HD patients who had received HD for at least 6 months. Demographic, hemodynamic, and laboratory data were retrieved from the BestCare system, and the main outcomes were blood pressure before and after dialysis, and the presence of AF. Our sample consisted of 304 HD patients; 162 (53%) were male, and the mean age was 63 ± 18 years. Sixty-eight (20%) had AF, of whom 44 (64.7%) were male, with a mean age of 73 ± 12 years. The risk of AF increased by 0.4 [odds ratio: 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.06; P

Abstract Hazard maps are essential tools to aid decision makers in land-use planning, sustainable infrastructure development, and emergency preparedness. Despite the availability of historical data, there has been no attempt to produce hazard maps for Kuwait. In cooperation with the World Bank, this study investigated the natural and anthropogenic hazards that affect Kuwait. The objective was to assess the hazards that face Kuwait and map the hazards of most concern. Hazard maps depicting the spatial distribution of hazard-prone areas are discussed in this article. Hazard assessment maps were generated using multiple datasets and techniques, including meteorological data, satellite imagery, and GIS. Hazard profiling identified a total of 25 hazards, of which five “priority” hazards were explored in detail: (1) surface water flooding; (2) dust storms and sand encroachment; (3) drought; (4) air pollution; and (5) oil spills. The results of this study can aid decision makers in targeting the hazards of most concern. The developed maps are valuable tools for emergency response and hazard mitigation.

Aero-engine blade defect detection is a crucial task in ensuring the safety and reliability of aircraft. The visual inspection of aero-engine blades is a complex process that requires extensive knowledge and experience. This paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of deep learning models for detecting defects in aero-engine blades. The review considers 13 primary studies, including methods and conceptual works. This is the first systematic review of deep learning models for aero-engine blade defect detection. The findings of this review demonstrate the potential of deep learning in detecting blade defects and improving the accuracy and efficiency of visual inspection. However, there is a need for more research on integrating deep learning models into practical applications and developing robust and reliable systems for defect detection. This review framework provides a comprehensive methodology for selecting and evaluating relevant studies, which researchers can use for future investigations in this area. These results should encourage further work on deep learning techniques, system integration, and testing and validation for defect detection of aero-engine blades.

Abstract Background Rare diseases collectively impose a significant burden on healthcare systems, especially in underserved regions, like the Middle East, which lack access to genomic diagnostic services and the associated personalized management plans. Methods We established a clinical genomics and genetic counseling facility, within a multidisciplinary tertiary pediatric center, in the United Arab Emirates to locally diagnose and manage patients with rare diseases. Clinical genomic investigations included exome-based sequencing, chromosomal microarrays, and/or targeted testing. We assessed the diagnostic yield and implications for clinical management among this population. Variables were compared using the Fisher exact test. Tests were 2-tailed, and P

This study was designed to examine in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic efficacy of condensed tannins (CT) extracted from seeds of Medicago sativa on Haemonchus contortus in sheep. CT's in vitro anthelmintic effect was assessed at a 300 μg/ml concentration compared with albendazole (reference drug) at 10 μg/ml. The results showed that CT had a nematocidal effect on H. contortus, and the cuticle of the adult worm appeared to be its initial target. For the in vivo experiment, nine 3-month-old helminths-free lambs were distributed into three groups. Group 1 (n=3) was challenged only as infected untreated controls; Group 2 (n=3) was treated with condensed tannin, and Group 3 (n=3) was treated with albendazole. Fecal and blood samples were collected every 3 days until the end of the experiment; for fecal egg count (FEC) and anti- H. contortus IgG titers determination, respectively. The lambs treated with the CT in G2 exhibited a pronounced decrease of mean FEC with great FECR% detected from the first-week post-treatment (PT) until the end of the experiment compared with G1 animals. The antibody levels gradually increased in G2 following the 2nd dose of CT treatment compared to other groups. A brilliant consistent relation between the elevation of IgG response and reduction of FEC was observed following the second booster dosing of the CT in G2. In conclusion, the CT evoked strongly in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity against H. contortus and could be used as a natural alternative treatment of high potency against haemonchosis in sheep.

Lattice-structured materials are becoming increasingly adopted for impact absorption and load-carrying applications. This study presents the design of experiments approach for examining the mechanical performance of the Schwarz Primitive (SP) lattice structure and the body-centered cubic (BCC) plate lattice in order to optimize their design for material extrusion additive manufacturing. The present study investigates the effect of varying the design parameters (unit cell length, shell thickness, relative density) of these structures on tailoring their specific mechanical properties. This study explores the answers to two major research questions: Does varying the unit cell length of lattice structures affect their specific energy absorption (SEA)? Does varying the relative density of lattice structures affect their specific compressive modulus? The Analysis of Variance indicated that the relative density of the lattice structures is the statistically significant design factor when considering the improvement of SEA. Furthermore, the unit cell length of the lattice structures is the statistically significant design factor when considering the improvement of the specific compressive modulus. It was found that the BCC plate lattices outperformed the SP lattice structures of the same relative density in terms of SEA and specific compressive modulus. The Finite Element Analysis software Abaqus was utilized to regenerate results of the quasi-static compression experiments. Once the numerical model was validated, it was then used to predict the mechanical properties of unprintable and untested body-centered cubic plate lattices.

The use of cryoablation in the management of small renal masses is widely acceptable. Although rare but ureteral injury during the procedure with subsequent stricture formation can result in devastating effects on renal function. On the other hand, the management of such strictures requires reconstructive surgery as gold standard. Unfortunately, in some cases the reconstructive surgery might not be feasible, and the treatment usually is ureteral stent insertion that need to be changed regularly. Here we present a case of a 53-year-old gentleman who developed an upper ureteric iatrogenic stricture post cryoablation in which the reconstructive surgery was not feasible due to high procedural risk. We used metallic ureteral stent (Memokath) instead of regular ureteral double J stent. We found that if the reconstructive surgery is not possible the usage of Memokath in treating iatrogenic ureteral strictures is associated with better quality of life, lower costs and a similar functional outcome when compared to ureteral double J stent that needs regular frequent changes.

Background: Many drugs can have significant deleterious side effects on the different organs of the body which can change normal physiology to different pathologies. Recent research have been focusing on valuable methods to preserve the normal healthy testis from the medications’ adverse effects. The study aims to investigate the role of beta-carotene in the protection against potential amikacin’s testicular toxicity. Materials and methods: Male rats were involved in the study. Rats have divided into four groups: the first group was control, the second group has been given amikacin as an inducer of testicular toxicity; the third group has been given both amikacin and beta-carotene, and the fourth group has been given beta-carotene as prophylaxis before induction of the toxicity. The histological architecture of the testis was investigated for all the rats. Results: Amikacin caused a significant deleterious effect which included degeneration and necrosis of cells of seminiferous tubules as well as atrophy and congestion of blood vessels. Co-administration of both beta-carotene and amikacin resulted in a partial improvement in the testicular tissue while using beta-carotene as prophylaxis succeeded in protecting and preserving the normal histological features of the testis completely. Conclusion: The study concluded that beta-carotene can preserve the normal physiological testis and protect it against the amikacin’s deleterious effect on the testis.

Abstract Aims Heart failure (HF) is a progressive condition that is becoming more prevalent in the ageing population. Pulmonary hypertension is a common complicating factor in HF and negatively impacts survival. Plasma biomarkers are a potential method for determining the prognosis of patients with left heart failure with pulmonary hypertension (LHF‐PH). We aimed to analyse the prognostic capability of 33 proteins related to, among other pathways, inflammation, coagulation, and Wnt signalling in LHF‐PH. Methods Plasma levels of 33 proteins were analysed using proximity extension assay from the plasma of 20 controls and 67 LHF‐PH patients, whereof 19 underwent heart transplantation (HT). Haemodynamics in the patients were assessed using right heart catheterization. Results Eleven proteins had elevated plasma levels in LHF‐PH compared with controls (P

Purpose – This paper investigates the effect of perceived value (hedonic value, utilitarian value, and conditional value) on customers’ behavioral intentions toward dining at Chinese restaurants in Bangladesh. Moreover, this study examines the mediating effect of self-direction value and the moderating effect of price fairness on the association between perceived value and behavioral intentions. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed model was empirically tested by collecting 390 useable responses from full-table service restaurants in Bangladesh via personal interview. Data were analyzed by testing the measurement model, predictive relevance, effect size and structural model using SMART PLS 3. Findings – The research findings suggest that hedonic, utilitarian and conditional values significantly influence customers’ behavioral intentions toward dining at Chinese restaurants. Moreover, self-direction value partially mediates, and price fairness strongly moderates the linkage between perceived value and behavioral intentions. Practical implications – This sfloattudy offers useful insights for managers who want to know the factors influencing behavioral intentions toward dining at Chinese restaurants. The findings also assist restaurant practitioners in knowing that customers' perceived value via self-direction value (personal value) and price fairness strongly predict behavioral intentions. Originality/value – To the best of the author’s knowledge, this research is the first attempt to delve into customers' behavioral intentions toward dining at Chinese restaurants with the proposed model.

Abstract Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in the setting of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has important prognostic and therapeutic consequences. We estimated the prevalence of PAH among patients with ESRD treated with automated peritoneal dialysis (APD), investigated the effect of different variables and compared pulmonary artery pressure and cardiac function at the beginning and end of the study. Methods This is a 5-year study in which 31 ESRD patients on APD were recruited after fulfilling inclusion criteria. Blood samples were collected from all patients for the biochemical and hematological data at the beginning of the study and every month and at the study termination. Total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) were calculated using Watson’s and Bird’s calculation methods. All patients were followed-up at 3-month interval for cardiac evaluation. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relation between different variables and PAH. Results The mean age of the study population (n = 31) was 51.23 ± 15.24 years. PAH was found in 24.2% of the patients. Mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) were significantly higher in the APD patients at study initiation than at the end of the study (40.75 + 10.61 vs 23.55 + 9.20 and 29.66 + 11.35 vs 18.24 + 6.75 mmHg respectively, p = 0.001). The median ejection fraction was significantly lower in patients with PAH at zero point than at study termination [31% (27-34) vs 50% (46-52), p = 0.002]. Hypervolemia decreased significantly at the end of study (p 1 years) seemed to decrease pulmonary arterial pressure, right atrial pressure and improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Risk factors for PAH in ESRD were hypervolemia, abnormal ECHO findings and low hemoglobin levels. Clinical and echocardiographic abnormalities and complications are not uncommon among ESRD patients with PAH. Identification of those patients on transthoracic echocardiography may warrant further attention to treatment with APD.

Abstract Background Glioblastomas (GBs) are characterised as one of the most aggressive primary central nervous system tumours (CNSTs). Single-cell sequencing analysis identified the presence of a highly heterogeneous population of cancer stem cells (CSCs). The proteins anterior gradient homologue 2 (AGR2) and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) are known to play critical roles in regulating unfolded protein response (UPR) machinery. The UPR machinery influences cell survival, migration, invasion and drug resistance. Hence, we investigated the role of AGR2 in drug-resistant recurrent glioblastoma cells. Methods Immunofluorescence, biological assessments and whole exome sequencing analyses were completed under in situ and in vitro conditions. Cells were treated with CNSTs clinical/preclinical drugs taxol, cisplatin, irinotecan, MCK8866, etoposide, and temozolomide, then resistant cells were analysed for the expression of AGR2. AGR2 was repressed using single and double siRNA transfections and combined with either temozolomide or irinotecan. Results Genomic and biological characterisations of the AGR2-expressed Jed66_GB and Jed41_GB recurrent glioblastoma tissues and cell lines showed features consistent with glioblastoma. Immunofluorescence data indicated that AGR2 co-localised with the UPR marker GRP78 in both the tissue and their corresponding primary cell lines. AGR2 and GRP78 were highly expressed in glioblastoma CSCs. Following treatment with the aforementioned drugs, all drug-surviving cells showed high expression of AGR2. Prolonged siRNA repression of a particular region in AGR2 exon 2 reduced AGR2 protein expression and led to lower cell densities in both cell lines. Co-treatments using AGR2 exon 2B siRNA in conjunction with temozolomide or irinotecan had partially synergistic effects. The slight reduction of AGR2 expression increased nuclear Caspase-3 activation in both cell lines and caused multinucleation in the Jed66_GB cell line. Conclusions AGR2 is highly expressed in UPR-active CSCs and drug-resistant GB cells, and its repression leads to apoptosis, via multiple pathways.

Quantum simulators allow for experimental studies of many-body systems in complex geometries, which has rarely been addressed by theory. Here the authors study many-body Hamiltonians on generic random graphs and show that many-body effects emerge only in a small class of exceptional, highly structured graphs.

Testosterone therapy (TTh) is the primary treatment for aging men with functional hypogonadism. Whilst the benefits of testosterone (T) replacement are well-evidenced, the long-term data for TTh on metabolic and endocrine parameters is limited. Here we present the effect of TTh on endocrine parameters in hypogonadal men at a 12-year follow-up. In this single-centre, cumulative, prospective, registry study, 321 hypogonadal men (mean age: 58.9 years) received testosterone undecanoate injections in 12-week intervals for up to 12 years. Blood samples were taken at every other visit to measure levels of total T (TT), calculated free T, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone and prolactin. We observed an increase in TT of 15.5 nmol/L (p

Background The circadian clock regulates the function of the immune system, the replication of viruses, and the magnitude of infections. The aim of this study was to analyse whether hospital attendance in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients presents a diurnal variation.Methods Data from the electronic medical records of 1094 COVID-19 patients who presented to a Health Centre in Qatar during the month of July 2020 was retrospectively analysed. The following demographic (i.e. time of day (TOD), sex, age), clinical (i.e. cycle threshold (CT), temperature, oxy-haemoglobin saturation and resting heart-rate), biochemical (i.e. uraemia, glycaemia and albuminia) and haematological (i.e. leukocytes, erythrocytes ad platelets) parameters were collected.Results Univariate analysis showed a significant effect of TOD on hospital admission (p

One Health is increasingly recognized as an optimal approach to address the global risk of health threats originating at the human, animal, and ecosystem interface, and their impact. Qatar has successfully practiced One Health approach for investigation and surveillance of zoonotic diseases such as MERS-CoV, and other health threats. However, the current gaps at institution and policy level hinder the sustainment of One Health. In this paper, we have assessed the potential for implementation of One Health Framework to reinforce and sustain One Health capacities in Qatar for 2022–2027. To implement One Health Framework in the country, Qatar Joint External Evaluation (JEE) report, lessons learnt during One Health experiences on zoonotic, vector-borne, and food borne diseases were used to present an outline for multisectoral coordination. In addition, technical capacities of One Health and factors that are required to operationalize it in the country were also assessed in series of meetings and workshops held at Ministry of Public Health on March 2022. Present health care infrastructure and resources were found to be conducive for effective management and response to shared health threats as evident during MERS-CoV, despite being more event based. Regardless, the need for more sustainable capacity development was unanimously emphasized. The consensus between all relevant stakeholders and partners was that there is a need for better communication channels, policies and protocols for data sharing, and the need to invest more resources for better sustainability. The proposed framework is expected to strengthen and facilitate multilateral coordination, enhanced laboratory capacity and network, improve active surveillance and response, risk communication, community engagement, maximize applied research, and build One Health technical work force. This would enable advancement and sustainment of One Health activities to prevent and control health threats shared between humans-animals-ecosystem interface.

Abstract Whether, and under what conditions, groups exhibit “crowd wisdom” has been a major focus of research across the social and computational sciences. Much of this work has focused on the role of social influence in promoting the wisdom of the crowd versus leading the crowd astray and has resulted in conflicting conclusions about how social network structure determines the impact of social influence. Here, we demonstrate that it is not enough to consider the network structure in isolation. Using theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and reanalysis of four experimental datasets (totaling 2885 human subjects), we find that the wisdom of crowds critically depends on the interaction between (i) the centralization of the social influence network and (ii) the distribution of the initial individual estimates. By adopting a framework that integrates both the structure of the social influence and the distribution of the initial estimates, we bring previously conflicting results under one theoretical framework and clarify the effects of social influence on the wisdom of crowds.

Abstract Background Outbreaks of methanol poisoning have been described in the medical literature in different regions around the world. Even though in Saudi Arabia a few outbreaks of methanol poisoning have occurred, they remain undocumented. Herein, we describe several cases of methanol poisoning in Saudi Arabia with the goal of increasing awareness about the dangers of methanol poisoning among healthcare staff. Case presentation Nine middle-aged Saudi patients (five men aged 24, 26, 27, 36, and 49 years and four females aged 19, 20, 24, and 25 years) were admitted to our emergency department after alcohol consumption. All patients presented with severe metabolic acidosis and some visual impairment. Treatment was initiated based on the clinical suspicion of methanol intoxication because of laboratory test limitations and time constraints. Patients showed improvement and favorable hospital outcomes after aggressive empirical treatment. Conclusions Many social and cultural factors influence the lack of reporting of methanol poisoning cases in Saudi Arabia. We believe it is important to document these outbreaks to increase the knowledge among healthcare providers and promote public health awareness. A high index of suspicion and the development of local public health networks to monitor, survey, follow-up, and facilitate data exchange can help healthcare providers recognize and aggressively treat affected individuals. Early empiric and aggressive management can greatly decrease morbidity and mortality despite challenges and limited resources.

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has been shown to reduce infection severity; however, the reinfection frequency among unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and fully vaccinated individuals remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the rates of and factors associated with such occurrences. Methods: This retrospective epidemiological report included 1362 COVID-19 reinfection cases in Bahrain between April 2020 and July 2021. We analyzed differences in disease severity and reinfection characteristics among various vaccination statuses: fully vaccinated, interrupted vaccination, one-dose vaccination, postreinfection vaccination, and unvaccinated. Results: Reinfection cases increased from zero per month in April-June 2020 to a sharp peak of 579 in May 2021. A significantly larger proportion of reinfected individuals were male (60.3%, P

Ayesha Abdulla,1 Heather C Webb,2 Yasser Mahmmod,3 Heyam F Dalky4 1Vice President of Academic Affairs, Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 2Faculty of Business, Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 3Faculty of Health Sciences, Higher Colleges of Technology, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; 4RN Faculty of Nursing Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, JordanCorrespondence: Heather C Webb, Higher Colleges of Technology, PO Box 15825, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tel +971563688746, Email hwebb@hct.ac.aePurpose: The beliefs and attitudes of healthcare professionals (HCPs) towards service user’s rights in mental healthcare are critical to understanding as it impacts the quality of care and treatment, leading to social discrimination and possible coercive professional practices. This study aimed to investigate the association between the HCPs’ beliefs and attitudes towards service users’ rights in seeking treatment in the UAE and to identify or may predict the stigmatized attitudes and behaviors among HCPs.Patients and Methods: Data was collected from HCPs participants working at three healthcare entities (n=307) allocated at selected primary and tertiary healthcare settings that specifically treat mental disorders. The Health Professionals Beliefs and Attitudes towards Mental Health Users’ Rights Scale (BAMHS) questionnaire was used to assess the beliefs and attitudes. Unconditional associations using regression models included whether HCPs provide care to specific mental health patients, whether treating mental health patients is part of their jobs, whether HCPs receive professional training for mental healthcare, nationality of HCPs, and the number of years of professional experience.Results: Our findings demonstrate that HPCs understand mental disorders and feel that individuals’ rights should be equal to those who do not have mental disorders while believing in autonomy and freedom, but there is a level of discrimination and a high level of social distance. HCPs are less tolerant when interacting with those with mental disorders outside their professional lives.Conclusion: Interventions with long-term follow-up activities must be implemented and assessed using assessment systems that measure acquired knowledge and actual behavioral change to ensure anti-stigma impact in practice and policy.Keywords: attitudes, HCPs, mental disorder, BAMHS, the United Arab Emirates, service users’ rights

Abstract Aims/Introduction This study determined the prevalence and risk factors for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), painful DPN and diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) in patients with type 2 diabetes in secondary healthcare in Qatar, Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods Adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes were randomly enrolled from secondary healthcare, and underwent clinical and metabolic assessment. DPN was evaluated using vibration perception threshold and neuropathic symptoms and painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy was evaluated using the Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaire. Results A total of 3,021 individuals were recruited between June 2017 and May 2019. The prevalence of DPN was 33.3%, of whom 52.2% were at risk of DFU and 53.6% were undiagnosed. The prevalence of painful DPN was 43.3%, of whom 54.3% were undiagnosed. DFU was present in 2.9%. The adjusted odds ratios for DPN and painful DPN were higher with increasing diabetes duration, obesity, poor glycemic control and hyperlipidemia, and lower with greater physical activity. The adjusted odds ratio for DFU was higher with the presence of DPN, severe loss of vibration perception, hypertension and vitamin D deficiency. Conclusions This is the largest study to date from the Middle East showing a high prevalence of undiagnosed DPN, painful DPN and those at risk of DFU in patients with type 2 diabetes, and identifies their respective risk factors.

Abstract Background Women make up a significant proportion of workforce in healthcare. However, they remain underrepresented in leadership positions relating to healthcare for a multitude of reasons: balancing personal and work duties, favoritism toward men, lack of support from colleagues and mentors, as well as other factors. This study aims to recognize the contribution made by women in the Bahraini healthcare sector by determining the gender distribution in Bahrain’s medical schools, government hospitals, Ministry of Health, and National Health Regulatory Authority. Methods Data were collected from the Bahraini Ministry of Health, National Health Regulatory Authority, Salmaniya Medical Complex, King Hamad University Hospital, Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services, the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences in the Arabian Gulf University, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Bahrain. Only physicians who held a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and a valid license to practice from NHRA were eligible to participate. Descriptive statistics were used to derive the frequencies and percentages of physicians with the following leadership positions: (1) top administrative positions (e.g., Chief executive officer); (2) heads of departments; (3) heads of committees; and (4) academic positions (e.g., Professor). Data were also collected from the two medical schools in Bahrain to see the trend in female enrollment into medical schools since 2004. Results The results of the study indicated that leadership positions were mostly held by males in Bahrain (59.4% vs. 40.6%). However, Bahraini males and females equally dominated academic positions. Male physicians also dominated surgical specialties; however, female Bahraini physicians slightly surpassed male Bahraini physicians at the specialist and consultant levels (female to male: 11.9% vs. 10.4% and 33.2% vs. 30.4%, respectively). Furthermore, more females were reported to have general licenses. A trend analysis since 2004 showed that female medical students’ representation was higher than males over the years. Conclusions This study highlights the increasing trend of women’s participation and contribution to medicine in Bahrain. The data indicated continued growth in the number of female medical students and physicians. As such, it is likely that females will have a bigger impact on healthcare in the future with potential to hold more leadership positions in Bahrain.

The temperature rise has become a serious environmental concern affected by both human and natural factors. Worldwide, rising land surface temperatures have emerged as the most pressing issue facing the twenty-first century. In the last two decades, a curious change was realized in temperature in the Duhok district of Iraq. Hence, this study examined the spatiotemporal land surface temperature distribution and Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI2) and the correlation between them in the Duhok district in three different years 2001, 2011, and 2021 using Landsat satellite images. Air temperature data from seven weather stations were used to validate the land surface temperature results. The study's findings revealed that the Duhok district’s LST has risen during the study period. In general, the average land surface temperature has been increasing at a rate of 0.15 °C per year. Other findings showed that the vegetation cover of the Duhok district has changed dynamically. In all three years of study, the regression analysis results indicated that there was a negative correlation between LST and MSAVI2. This method of evaluation will be useful in guiding future urban management work and local government strategies.

IntroductionAsthma and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are linked in several possible ways. To date, there has been no study evaluating whether pediatric asthma is an independent risk factor for adult PCOS. Our study aimed to examine the association between pediatric asthma (diagnosed at 0-19 years) and adult PCOS (diagnosed at ≥20 years). We further assessed whether the aforementioned association differed in two phenotypes of adult PCOS which were diagnosed at 20-25 years (young adult PCOS), and at >25 years (older adult PCOS). We also evaluated whether the age of asthma diagnosis (0-10 vs 11-19 years) modified the association between pediatric asthma and adult PCOS.Material and methodsThis is a retrospective cross-sectional analysis using the United Arab Emirates Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS) collected from February 2016 to April 2022 involving 1334 Emirati females aged 18-49 years. We fitted a Poisson regression model to estimate the risk ratio (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to assess the association between pediatric asthma and adult PCOS adjusting for age, urbanicity at birth, and parental smoking at birth.ResultsAfter adjusting for confounding factors and comparing to non-asthmatic counterparts, we found that females with pediatric asthma had a statistically significant association with adult PCOS diagnosed at ≥20 years (RR=1.56, 95% CI: 1.02-2.41), with a stronger magnitude of the association found in the older adult PCOS phenotype diagnosed at >25 years (RR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.16-3.65). Further, we also found females reported thinner childhood body size had a two-fold to three-fold increased risk of adult PCOS diagnosed at ≥20 years in main analysis and stratified analyses by age of asthma and PCOS diagnoses (RR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.08-3.93 in main analysis; RR=2.74, 95% CI: 1.22-6.15 among those diagnosed with PCOS > 25 years; and RR=3.50, 95% CI: 1.38-8.43 among those diagnosed with asthma at 11-19 years).ConclusionsPediatric asthma was found to be an independent risk factor for adult PCOS. More targeted surveillance for those at risk of adult PCOS among pediatric asthmatics may prevent or delay PCOS in this at-risk group. Future studies with robust longitudinal designs aimed to elucidate the exact mechanism between pediatric asthma and PCOS are warranted.

Abstract Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare vasculopathy, with high morbidity and mortality. The sensitivity of the current european society of cardiology/european respiratory society (ESC/ERS) risk assessment strategy may be improved by the addition of biomarkers related to PAH pathophysiology. Such plasma‐borne biomarkers may also reduce time to diagnosis, if used as diagnostic tools in patients with unclear dyspnea, and in guiding treatment decisions. Plasma levels of proteins related to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), inflammation, and immunomodulation were analyzed with proximity extension assays in patients with PAH (n = 48), chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (PH; CTEPH, n = 20), PH due to left heart failure (HF) with preserved (HFpEF‐PH, n = 33), or reduced (HFrEF‐PH, n = 36) ejection fraction, HF without PH (n = 15), and healthy controls (n = 20). TNF‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) were lower in PAH versus the other disease groups and controls (p

The Mountain Front Flexure forms a prominent morphotectonic structures along the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt (ZFTB). It consists of several segments that defines tectonic salients and recessions within the belt. These segments are separated by strike-slip faults, including Khanaqin fault, which forms the boundary between the Kirkuk embayment and Lurestan Arc. The Bamo anticline is a complex N–S trending structure located above the Khanaqin fault zone, and it is thought to manifest active deformation in the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt and along the fault. This study examines the state of active tectonics along the Bamo anticline through quantitative analyses of the evolved landscape using geomorphic indices. For that reason, six indices have been chosen for the analysis, such as stream length-gradient index (SL), drainage basin asymmetry (AF), hypsometric integral and hypsometric curve (HI & HC), ratio of valley-floor width to valley height (VF), basin shape (BS), and mountain front sinuosity (Smf). Each index's results were categorized into three classes, and the results from the first five indices, excluding Smf, were integrated to get the index of relative active tectonics (IRAT). This index was then compared with the results of Smf to assess the relative active tectonics (RAT) along the anticline. The results of the IRAT, classified into four classes from very high to low tectonic activity, reveal that no area is classified as class 1 (very high activity). However, 38% and 56% of the region are categorized as classes 2 (high activity) and 3 (moderate activity), respectively. Furthermore, the remaining 6% of the research area exhibits class 4 (low activity). The Smf values for the Northern, Middle, and Southern segments of the anticline are 1.12, 1.18, and 1.27, respectively. Consequently, based on the Smf data, all mountain fronts are classified as class 2 (moderate tectonic activity.

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current state of research on Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and their potential applications. The objective of this study was to gather information from various sources, including journal articles, conference papers, and books, to analyze the advancements and limitations of BCIs. A systematic literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar, with specific keywords related to BCIs and their applications. The selected studies were thoroughly analyzed to identify common themes, methodologies, and key findings. The main contributions of this review include an overview of different types of BCIs, their applications in fields such as medicine, entertainment, and education, and the challenges and limitations faced by BCI technology. The findings highlight the potential of BCIs in restoring motor function, improving the quality of life for individuals with various conditions, and enhancing human-technology interaction. Furthermore, the review identifies future research directions, including signal processing improvements, exploring hybrid and multimodal approaches, conducting long-term real-world studies, addressing ethical considerations, and prioritizing user-centred design. This comprehensive analysis of existing literature provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in the field of BCIs and sets the stage for future advancements in this rapidly evolving domain.

The rapid advancement of digital technology has enabled digital transformation across various sectors, including construction. The construction industry has long been associated with conventional, labor-intensive practices that can adversely influence the entire construction process. However, this culture is changing as key players in the sector are progressively identifying and embracing the vast opportunities and associated benefits of using digital tools and technologies to improve the performance and outcomes of the overall project lifecycle. To this end, this study uses the Delphi technique to identify 70 factors that contribute to the digital transformation of the construction industry, categorizing them into five groups: management, design, technology, policy, and infrastructure. Delphi analysis is used to examine the critical success factors for digital transformation identified in the literature and rate their importance during the preconstruction, construction, and facility management phases. Furthermore, this research results in the introduction of the Digital Transformation Level of Readiness Framework (DTRLF) to help facility management firms, clients, organizations, contractors, and designers comprehend the implementation of digital transformation within their respective domains and support decision-makers in establishing action to adapt related technologies in their respected project phases.

With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), there are many applications for 3D computer vision, and different problems in diversified domains are being solved. Particularly deep learning and image processing techniques are widely used in computer vision applications, for example, medical imaging which commonly uses 2D images to see human organs can benefit tremendously from 3D reconstruction of a human organ or cancer lesions for diagnosis purposes. Cars nowadays use radar, lidar, and sensors to create an awareness of the surroundings of the car, having a 3D reconstruction of the car’s surroundings will provide a better situational awareness. In many computer vision applications, it is essential to use image conversion techniques. With AI in place, learning-based approaches became popular along with image processing techniques. Towards this end, this paper throws light on those methods with a systematic literature review. The insights presented in this paper can help in further research in computer vision applications.

Plasmacytoid carcinoma is a proliferation of discohesive cells. Gastrointestinal tract plasmacytoid carcinomas, whether primary or metastatic in origin, are both very rare. Immunohistochemistry plays a crucial role in localization. We present a case of a 60-year-old female, known case of left breast invasive lobular carcinoma with gastric, duodenal, and colonic plasmacytoid adenocarcinoma.

Abstract Segmentation of abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) scan is essential for analyzing, diagnosing, and treating visceral organ diseases (e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma). This paper proposes a novel neural network (Res-PAC-UNet) that employs a fixed-width residual UNet backbone and Pyramid Atrous Convolutions, providing a low disk utilization method for precise liver CT segmentation. The proposed network is trained on medical segmentation decathlon dataset using a modified surface loss function. Additionally, we evaluate its quantitative and qualitative performance; the Res16-PAC-UNet achieves a Dice coefficient of 0.950 ± 0.019 with less than half a million parameters. Alternatively, the Res32-PAC-UNet obtains a Dice coefficient of 0.958 ± 0.015 with an acceptable parameter count of approximately 1.2 million.

Introduction: Drug-induced adverse effects are the major challenging issue in the clinical setting of chemotherapy. Kidneys are responsible for the elimination of many chemotherapeutic agents which makes them a common target for adverse effects. Nephrotoxicity is a deleterious adverse effect carrying a great negative impact on body homeostasis and maintenance of cellular functions.Aim: The present review aims to focus on anticancer-induced nephrotoxicity including the causes and mechanisms of toxicity.Methods: Different databases of published materials are recruited mainly from PubMed, Google Scholars, and Iraqi Virtual Science Library.Results: The review shows that the recurrent use of many anticancer drugs can cause different types of kidney damage via different mechanisms.Conclusion: Anticancer-induced nephrotoxicity is a crucial problem which needs more research to clarify the mechanisms of kidney damage and the methods to prevent them. Maintaining appropriate and enough hydration, electrolyte replacement, and avoiding concomitant medications are useful steps in overcoming the nephrotoxicity.

Locoregional management of breast cancer is founded on evidence generated over a vast time period, much longer than the career span of many practicing physicians. Oncologists rely on specific patient and tumour characteristics to recommend modern-day treatments. However, some of this information may not have been available during prior periods in which the evidence was generated. For example, the comprehensive Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) meta-analyses published in the 2000s typically included older trials accruing patients between the 1960s and 1980s. This raises some uncertainty about whether conclusions from studies conducted in prior eras are as relevant or applicable to modern-day patients and treatments. Reviewing the chronological order and details of the evidence can be beneficial to understanding these nuances. This review discusses the evolution of locoregional management through some key clinical trials. We aim to highlight the time period in which the evidence was generated and emphasize the 10-year outcomes for the comparability of results. Evidence supporting surgical management of the breast and axilla, as well as details of radiotherapy are discussed briefly for all stages of breast cancer.

Background: Single gene mutations are important causes of glomerular disease in children. Of these genes, mutations in the FAT1 gene have been recently described in the literature as a cause of nephropathy in isolated form or multisystem involvement. The spectrum of renal disease associated with FAT1 gene mutations varies from asymptomatic proteinuria and hematuria to severe nephrotic syndrome and end-stage renal disease. Case Presentation: In this case report, we describe a 3-year-old child and two other family members with a novel frameshift homozygous mutation in the FAT1 gene consistent with the diagnosis of autosomal recessive colobomatous-microphthalmia, ptosis, nephropathy, and syndactyly syndrome with variable expression of the phenotype. Conclusion: This report adds to the genotype-phenotype correlation, highlighting the clinical importance of considering FAT1 gene defects as part of the differential diagnosis for congenital ptosis, syndactyly and nephropathy, especially with multiple affected family members. [JBCGenetics 2022; 5(1.000): 29-34]