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Copyright of Iraqi Journal for Mechanical & Materials Engineering is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Nocturnal Enuresis (NE) is a common problem throughout the world. It has high prevalence in the preschool population and the prevalence gradually falls during childhood and adult life. NE in teenagers and adolescents is a different matter; it may be worrisome for parents and embarrassing for adolescents, and is considered a physical symptom of deeper troubles in a teenager or adolescent. Objective: To assess the neuropsychiatric correlates in adolescent and young adult female patients. Methods: The present study included 22 female patients with NE (their mean age was 15.81±2.57 years), and 22 -age matched control subjects. All were subjected to proper history taking, thorough neurological and psychiatric examination, urine analysis, lumbosacral spine plain X-ray, EEG, IQ and test for Soft Neurological Signs (SNS). Results: Ninety percent of patients have 1ry NE, 10 patients (45.4%) has family history of NE, only 12 patients (54.5%) of them sought medical advice. EEG showed epileptiform changes in 9 (40.9%) cases. IQ was lower than in control subjects. Soft Neurological Signs (SNS) were significantly prevalent and negatively correlated with IQ. Patients had psychiatric abnormalities including low self-esteem. Conclusions: Adolescent and young adult females with NE have subtle neurological dysfunction, higher incidence of EEG changes, lower mean IQ, psychiatric abnormalities and delayed menarche, which might indicate a maturational deficit in the central nervous system in these cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer affecting people. The discovery of new, non-invasive, specific, and sensitive molecular biomarkers for CRC may assist in the diagnosis and support therapeutic decision making. Exosomal miRNAs have been demonstrated in carcinogenesis and CRC development, which makes these miRNAs strong biomarkers for CRC. Deep sequencing allows a robust high-throughput informatics investigation of the types and abundance of exosomal miRNAs. Thus, exosomal miRNAs can be efficiently examined as diagnostic biomarkers for disease screening. In the present study, a number of 660 mature miRNAs were detected in patients diagnosed with CRC at different stages. Of which, 29 miRNAs were differentially expressed in CRC patients compared with healthy controls. Twenty-nine miRNAs with high abundance levels were further selected for subsequent analysis. These miRNAs were either highly up-regulated (e.g., let-7a-5p, let-7c-5p, let-7f-5p, let-7d-3p, miR-423-5p, miR-3184-5p, and miR-584) or down-regulated (e.g., miR-30a-5p, miR-99-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-26-5p and miR-204-5p). These miRNAs influence critical genes in CRC, leading to either tumor growth or suppression. Most of the reported diagnostic exosomal miRNAs were shown to be circulating in blood serum. The latter is a novel miRNA that was found in exosomal profile of blood serum. Some of the predicted target genes of highly expressed miRNAs participate in several cancer pathways, including CRC pathway. These target genes include tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes and DNA repair genes. Main focus was given to multiple critical signaling cross-talking pathways including transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathways that are directly linked to CRC. In conclusion, we recommend further analysis in order to experimentally confirm exact relationships between selected differentially expressed miRNAs and their predicted target genes and downstream functional consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A child's psychosocial behavior may be significantly impacted by elements such as nutrition, physical exercise, and socioeconomic issues since they are crucial for healthy growth, development, and conduct. Objective: The aim of the current study is to assess the effect of after school physical activity, nutritional status and socioeconomic status on psychosocial behavior problems of primary school students. Subjects and methods: Two schools in Minia city were chosen randomly. Apparently healthy male students of the primary 6th grade in both schools were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was applied to collect sociodemographic and nutritional data. Students from the first school (the active group) had 2 extra after-school physical classes for 6 months. Nutritional status assessment was carried out through measurements of weight and height./Results: The studied sample included 88 male students; the active group included 42 students and the control group included 46 students. Almost half of each group belonged to families with low-educated mothers (52.3% in the active group vs 45.6% in the control group). Low-income families were more in the active group than in the control group (61.9% vs. 45.6%). The active group got a higher score than the control group (P<0.001), according to Physical Assessment Score. Students with psycho-social problems with a total score =15 according to PSC-17 were 16 (18.2%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that child order (P=0.02) and maternal education (P=0.024) were strong predictors of psychosocial behavior of children followed by physical fitness (P=0.03) and number of meals per day (P=0.05). Conclusions: Birth order, mother education, physical exercise and number of meals consumed per day are the most powerful predictors of psychosocial behavior of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proportions of children who met the DRIs were similar despite food neophobia status. • Food neophobia was negatively associated with protein, iron, and cholesterol intake. • Food neophobia was associated with lower intake of several micronutrients. Food neophobia is a widely prevalent eating behavior among children, which has been linked to poor dietary variety and quality. Nevertheless, data pertaining nutrient intakes in relation to food neophobia among children in Middle East countries are lacking. The present study aimed to examine the associations between food neophobia and nutrient intakes in children aged 6–12 years. A cross-sectional study of 424 children was conducted. Food neophobia among children was evaluated using the Food Neophobia Scale. Dietary data of children were collected using 24-hour dietary recalls, and nutrient densities were calculated. Intakes of macro- and micronutrients were compared to dietary recommendations. Proportions of children who met the dietary recommendations for all nutrients were similar across food neophobia groups. No significant difference in macro- or micronutrient intake was observed across categories of food neophobia in univariate analyses; however, in multiple regression models, higher food neophobia score was associated with lower protein intake (β = -0.04% of total energy, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.01), cholesterol (β = -1.79 mg/1000 kcals, 95% CI −3.51 to −0.06), potassium (β = -11.02 mg/1000 kcals, 95% CI −20.5 to −1.54), phosphorus (β = -5.30 mg/1000 kcals, 95% CI −9.74 to −0.86), magnesium (β = -1.20 mg/1000 kcals, 95% CI −2.15 to −0.25), iron (β = -0.07 mg/1000 kcals, 95% CI −0.14 to −0.01), zinc (β = -0.04 mg/1000 kcals, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.001), and selenium intake (β = -0.48 ug/1000 kcals, 95% CI −0.93 to −0.04). Our findings suggest negative associations between food neophobia in children and intake of a number of important nutrients. Further investigations are needed to identify potential factors that could influence food and nutrient intake among food neophobic children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare efficacy of combined use of fluoxetine and combined oral contraceptives (COC) versus COC alone in treating severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled three-arm trial was conducted at Cairo and Beni-Suef University Hospitals. PMS was diagnosed prospectively using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP). Three hundred women with severe PMS were randomly divided into three equal groups. Group 1 received oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily in addition to COC containing drospirenone daily for 21 days. Group 2 received COC containing drospirenone daily for 21 days in addition to daily oral placebo. Group 3 received placebo similar to COC and oral placebo similar to fluoxetine. Drug duration was 6 months, and women kept daily records of their symptoms using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DSRP) form. The main outcome was the number of women with improved PMS in the final cycle of treatment. Women with improved PMS decreased progressively between groups during last treatment month (65% vs. 50% and 2% respectively; p < 0.0001). Combined use of fluoxetine and COC containing drospirenone is superior to COC in severe PMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four sequential extraction procedures (Sposito, Tessier, Silveira and Bureau Communautaire de Reference (BCR)) were used to evaluate the distribution of some metals (Fe, Cu, Cd and Zn) in a contaminated soil around a mining area. The results showed that Fe and Zn were mainly recovered in the recalcitrant soil fractions, while Cd was primarily localized in the exchangeable fraction. Soil Cu was highly associated with organic matter fraction. The amorphous Fe fraction in Silveira could be recognized as part of the Fe-Mn oxide fraction in Tessier and BCR procedures, while the crystalline Fe oxide fraction was classified into the residual fraction in Sposito, BCR and Tessier schemes. Although the same reagent was used to extract target fraction, less carbonate-bound Cu, Cu and Zn were extracted in Tessier procedure as compared to Silveira method, while Tessier scheme yielded a higher proportion of Fe, Cu and Zn in the Fe-Mn oxide fraction than BCR method. Due to the lack of uniformity of experimental conditions and the differences in extraction reagents, the extraction efficiency of metal species varied with the sequential extraction schemes. Therefore, care should be taken when comparing the results obtained by different sequential extraction procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the leading causes of cancer occurrence and mortality worldwide. Treatment of patients with advanced and metastatic LC presents a significant challenge, as malignant cells use different mechanisms to resist chemotherapy. Drug resistance (DR) is a complex process that occurs due to a variety of genetic and acquired factors. Identifying the mechanisms underlying DR in LC patients and possible therapeutic alternatives for more efficient therapy is a central goal of LC research. Advances in nanotechnology resulted in the development of targeted and multifunctional nanoscale drug constructs. The possible modulation of the components of nanomedicine, their surface functionalization, and the encapsulation of various active therapeutics provide promising tools to bypass crucial biological barriers. These attributes enhance the delivery of multiple therapeutic agents directly to the tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in reversal of LC resistance to anticancer treatment. This review provides a broad framework for understanding the different molecular mechanisms of DR in lung cancer, presents novel nanomedicine therapeutics aimed at improving the efficacy of treatment of various forms of resistant LC; outlines current challenges in using nanotechnology for reversing DR; and discusses the future directions for the clinical application of nanomedicine in the management of LC resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced permeation retention (EPR) was a significant milestone discovery by Maeda et al. paving the path for the emerging field of nanomedicine to become a powerful tool in the fight against cancer. Sildenafil is a potent inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE-5) used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) through the relaxation of smooth muscles and the modulation of vascular endothelial permeability. Overexpression of PDE-5 has been reported in lung, colon, metastatic breast cancers, and bladder squamous carcinoma. Moreover, sildenafil has been reported to increase the sensitivity of tumor cells of different origins to the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapeutic agents with augmented apoptosis mediated through inducing the downregulation of Bcl-xL and FAP-1 expression, enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, phosphorylating BAD and Bcl-2, upregulating caspase-3,8,9 activities, and blocking cells at G0/G1 cell cycle phase. Sildenafil has also demonstrated inhibitory effects on the efflux activity of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters such as ABCC4, ABCC5, ABCB1, and ABCG2, ultimately reversing multidrug resistance. Accordingly, there has been a growing interest in using sildenafil as monotherapy or chemoadjuvant in EPR augmentation and management of different types of cancer. In this review, we critically examine the basic molecular mechanism of sildenafil related to cancer biology and discuss the overall potential of sildenafil in enhancing EPR-based anticancer drug delivery, pointing to the outcomes of the most important related preclinical and clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an eco-friendly approach to treat contaminated and turbid water through the development of cryogels loaded with bioactive compounds derived from Scenedesmus algal extract (ScAE) based on chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (Cs/PVA) matrix. Scenedesmus sp., a green microalga known for its bioactive properties, was cultivated and processed to obtain extracts with coagulation potential. This extract was incorporated into cryogel at concentrations of 2, 4, 6, and 8 mL to improve coagulation and flocculation processes. Physicochemical analyses, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confirmed the successful synthesis and structural integrity of ScAE-loaded cryogels, demonstrating uniform morphology, high porosity, and enhanced mechanical strength with increasing ScAE concentration. Significant results highlight the effectiveness of a 50 mg ScAE-loaded cryogel, which achieved significant reductions in turbidity, from 6 NTU to 1.6 NTU, and total suspended solids (TSS), from 16 mg/L to 6 mg/L, in water samples. The highest concentration cryogel (ScAE-8) also demonstrated a 62 % reduction in nitrate levels, underscoring its capability for broader contaminant removal. These results reveal that the ScAE-loaded cryogels not only provide an effective, biodegradable alternative to conventional chemical coagulants such as alum but also align with green chemistry approaches, potentially providing a sustainable solution for the large-scale water treatment facilities while lowering the negative environmental consequnces., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The color of the gingiva is determined by the degree of vascularization, epithelial thickness, and the number of melanin pigments within the epithelium. Melanin pigmentation is caused by abnormal or increased deposition of melanin by active melanocytes located mainly in the basal and supra-basal cell layers of the oral epithelium. Oral melanin pigmentation occurs most frequently in the gingiva, known as gingival hyperpigmentation (GHP), which is a common esthetical concern with variable etiologic factors. Clinically, GHP reveals asymptomatic, well-defined, generalized or localized, light-to-dark brown macules of variable sizes. Gingival depigmentation (GD) is a procedure used to remove or reduce excessive pigmentation using several therapeutic approaches, which include surgical, chemical, electrosurgical, and cryosurgical procedures. Many clinicians prefer to use laser ablations such as CO 2 , diode, Er:YAG, and Er,Cr:YSGG, which can be utilized safely and effectively without postoperative discomfort. Er,Cr:YSGG with a 2780 nm wavelength has an ablative mechanism of action with high water absorption. Herein, we present a case of a 16-year-old girl with a darkly pigmented gingiva. Clinical examination revealed generalized physiologic pigmentation in the maxillary and mandibular anterior gingiva. Treatment was carried out by using an Er,Cr:YSGG laser including a wavelength of 2780 nm, a frequency of 50 Hz, 2.5 W, 10-20% water, and 20-40% air, employing the MZ8 tip in contact mode localized only on pigmentated areas. The ablated regions healed almost completely in two weeks without pain or discomfort, and the color was comparable to the normal gingiva. In the six-month follow-up, the patient was seen with full satisfaction. GD by the Er,Cr:YSGG laser was found to be a safe and efficient approach., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication 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, Almusallam et al.)