Search

Recently, scientists have been interested in developing advanced techniques for technological applications using sustainable biochar (BC) materials. In this study, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate, PEDOT/PSS, was doped with 5 wt.% and 10 wt.% of Activated biochar (A-BC) obtained from Chlorophyta (green Algae) using a microwave combustion process. XRD, FTIR, TGA, BET, and SEM were used to analyze the structural properties of PEDOT/PSS@BC. The XRD results demonstrate that A-BC impacts the amorphous nature of PEDOT/PSS, causing the doped composite to have a higher crystalline structure. While measuring dark current density-voltage, it was found that PEDOT/PSS@BC/n-Si showed better-rectifying characteristics compared to pristine PEDOT/PSS/n-Si, with a higher rectification ratio. When A-BC was used, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) was 13.02%, with a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 34.37 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.65 V, and fill factor (FF) of 58%. These findings demonstrated that using A-BC improved the characteristics of PEDOT/PSS/n-Si devices, and the increase in performance was affected by the concentration of A-BC. A-BC can act as an efficient electron acceptor, facilitating charge transfer and reducing recombination losses.

Abstract Cerebellar vermis hypoplasia refers to a varying degree of incomplete development of the cerebellum and vermis. A Saudi family with four affected individuals with cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, facial dysmorphology, visual impairment, skeletal, and cardiac abnormalities was ascertained in this study. Three out of four patients could not survive longer and had died in early infancy. Genetic analysis of the youngest affected was performed by genome-wide homozygosity mapping coupled with whole exome sequencing (WES), followed by Sanger validation. Genome-wide genotyping analysis mapped the phenotype to chromosome 8q24.3. Using an autosomal recessive model, considering deleterious variants with minor allele frequency of less than 0.001 in WES data, a homozygous missense variant (NM_025251.2; ARHGAP39; c.1301G > T; p.Cys434Phe) was selected as a potential candidate for the phenotype. The variant (c.1301G > T) in the ARHGAP39 is in the region of homozygosity on chromosome 8q24.3. ARHGAP39 is a Rho GTPase-activating protein 39 and has been known to regulate apoptosis, cell migration, neurogenesis, and cerebral and hippocampal dendritic spine morphology. Mice homozygous for arhgap39 knockouts have shown premature embryonic lethality. Our findings present the first ever human phenotype associated with ARHGAP39 alteration.

Aims: The DAR 2020 survey summarised fasting practices and complications in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who fasted during Ramadan, and impact of pre-Ramadan diabetes education towards controlling the complications. Methods: Eight week post-Ramadan, Muslim people with T2D from 13 countries of five regions (South Asia, Southeast Asia, Gulf Nations, Middle East and North Africa) consented to answer questionnaire on breaking fast, hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, Ramadan-focused diabetes education and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). Results: Among 4889 participants who observed Ramadan fast (>25 days), 51.1 % were females. Hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia was recorded mostly in North Africa (25.2 %) and Gulf Nations (30.2 %), respectively. In Middle East, 2.5 % and 3.1 % people required hospitalisation following hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia respectively. In South Asia, lowest incidents of hypoglycaemia (8.4 %) and hyperglycaemia (7.0 %) were noted. Pre-Ramadan diabetic education was received by total 45.9 % participants. SMBG was performed more frequently in North Africa (19.5 %). Metformin, Sulfonylureas and basal insulin were used most commonly in all regions. Conclusions: Fasting complications occurred in each region, but well-managed by the participants, physicians and family members amidst difficult time of COVID-19. The findings promote the necessity of patient education programmes for more people with diabetes to ensure safe fasting during Ramadan.

BackgroundReal-world data assessing the effectiveness of biologics in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the Middle East are not well-established. In our study, we evaluated the effectiveness of biologic therapies in achieving clinical and endoscopic outcomes in biologic-naïve patients with IBD.DesignA retrospective chart review was conducted at two tertiary care gastroenterology centers using electronic medical records of patients with moderate-to-severe IBD. The study period was from October 2017 to October 2023. Patients who were on infliximab, adalimumab, ustekinumab, or vedolizumab for 12 months were included in the analysis. The primary outcomes were the percentage of IBD-related hospitalizations or surgeries, achieving steroid-free remission, and endoscopic remission.ResultsA total of 422 patients were included in the study, of whom 264 (62.5%) patients had Crohn’s disease (CD) and 158 (39%) had ulcerative colitis (UC). In patients with CD, endoscopic remission was attained in 51 (52%) of the patients on adalimumab, 38 (53%) of the patients on infliximab, 34 (56%) of the patients on ustekinumab, and 16 (51%) of the patients on vedolizumab. In patients with UC, endoscopic remission was attained in 40 (56%) of the patients on infliximab, 26 (61%) of the patients on adalimumab, 8 (55%) of the patients on ustekinumab, and 11 (53%) of the patients on vedolizumab.Conclusionadalimumab, infliximab, ustekinumab, and vedolizumab were all effective in achieving clinical and endoscopic clinical outcomes in IBD in both UC and CD. The findings of this study suggest that the efficacy of biologics in a Middle Eastern population is similar to that in a Western population.

Globally, there have been several reports of natural products contaminated with illegal adulterants that threaten consumer health because of their adverse pharmacological effects. To treat erectile dysfunction in men, herbal medicine is often adulterated with synthetic phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. Honey, which is popularly used for its health benefits, is subjected to adulteration with PDE-5 inhibitors. In this study, a rapid and reliable analytical method was proposed to determine the level of adulteration in honey samples. A total of 18 honey samples were tested for the presence of PDE-5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil) using a high-performance liquid chromatographic method coupled with a photodiode array detector (HPLC-PAD). Chromatography was performed using the Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 column, with acetonitrile and buffer in the ratio of 1:4 as the mobile phase. Sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil reference standards were used for calibration. The retention times of the standards were 21.67, 18.15 and 21.30 min respectively. Of the total samples tested, 55% were positive for PDE-5 inhibitors. Six samples contained sildenafil, three samples contained tadalafil and one sample contained vardenafil. The findings from this study demonstrate that the HPLC-PAD method is suitable and economical for screening PDE-5 inhibitors as adulterants in honey samples marketed for use as sexual activity enhancers. Regular inspections of adulterated products are thus warranted to ensure the safety and health of consumers.

Backgroundα-mannosidosis (MAN) is a rare genetic condition that segregates in an autosomal recessive manner. Lack of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase is the underlying cause of the disease. Symptoms of the disease gradually worsen with the age. Newborns are usually asymptomatic, however, some cases are reported with either congenital ankle equinus or hydrocephalus during the first year. Primary symptoms are characterized by immune deficiency, hearing loss, skeletal abnormalities, progressive mental, motor and speech functions’ impairment followed by facial asymmetry.MethodsWe studied two Saudi families (A and B) with bilateral moderate hearing loss (family A) and clubfoot with glaucoma (family B). Clinical diagnosis was not reached based on phenotype of patients. Therefore, hypothesis-free whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on DNA samples from affected individuals of both the families, followed by Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis to validate the segregation of the identified variant. Furthermore, 3D protein modelling was performed to determine the in silico effects of the identified variant on the protein structure and function.ResultsRe-examination of clinical features revealed that the patients in family A have speech delay and hearing impairment along with craniostenosis, whereas the patients from family B have only clubfoot and glaucoma. WES identified a well known pathogenic homozygous frameshift variant (NM_000528.4: c.2402dupG; p.S802fs*129) in MAN2B1 in both the families. Sanger sequencing confirmed the segregation of the variant with the disease phenotype in both the families. 3D structural modeling of the MAN2B1 protein revealed significant changes in the tertiary structure of the mutant protein, which would affect enzyme function. This report presents a new case where partial and novel α-mannosidosis phenotypes are associated with a MAN2B1 gene pathogenic variant.ConclusionPatients in both the families have manifested peculiar set of clinical symptoms associated with α-mannosidosis. Family A manifested partial clinical symptoms missing several characteristic features like intellectual disability, dysmorphic features, neurological and abdominal manifestations, whereas family B has no reported clinical symptoms related to α-mannosidosis except the novel symptoms including club foot and glaucoma which has never been reported earlier The current findings support the evidence that biallelic variants of MAN2B1 are associated with new clinical variants of α-mannosidosis.

ObjectivePremarital screening is one of the most important strategies for preventing infectious diseases such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus in populations. This study aims to explore the prevalence of these viruses and their association with potential demographic factors among individuals undergoing premarital screening in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study design using the National Healthy Marriage Program electronic registry in the Saudi Ministry of Health. Patients were selected from the premarital screening tests for the three blood-borne viruses. Data were obtained from January to August 2021 among 114,740 individuals.ResultsHepatitis B virus infection showed the highest prevalence followed by hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency viruses. Among those who were infected, men had higher infectious disease prevalence than women. The central and western regions had the highest percentages of infection.ConclusionThe studied infections pose a continuous public health issue among premarital screening individuals in Saudi Arabia. This study identified important demographic risk factors for these diseases and highlighted the need for future strategies and long-term plans at the national level.

Abstract Background A considerable body of research has demonstrated that reducing sitting time benefits health. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore the prevalence of sedentary behavior (SB) and its patterns. Methods A total of 6975 university students (49.1% female) were chosen randomly to participate in a face-to-face interview. The original English version of the sedentary behavior questionnaire (SBQ) was previously translated into Arabic. Then, the validated Arabic version of the SBQ was used to assess SB. The Arabic SBQ included 9 types of SB (watching television, playing computer/video games, sitting while listening to music, sitting and talking on the phone, doing paperwork or office work, sitting and reading, playing a musical instrument, doing arts and crafts, and sitting and driving/riding in a car, bus or train) on weekdays and weekends. Results SBQ indicated that the total time of SB was considerably high (478.75 ± 256.60 and 535.86 ± 316.53 (min/day) during weekdays and weekends, respectively). On average, participants spent the most time during the day doing office/paperwork (item number 4) during weekdays (112.47 ± 111.11 min/day) and weekends (122.05 ± 113.49 min/day), followed by sitting time in transportation (item number 9) during weekdays (78.95 ± 83.25 min/day) and weekends (92.84 ± 100.19 min/day). The average total sitting time of the SBQ was 495.09 ± 247.38 (min/day) and 58.4% of the participants reported a high amount of sitting time (≥ 7 hours/day). Independent t-test showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between males and females in all types of SB except with doing office/paperwork (item number 4). The results also showed that male students have a longer daily sitting time (521.73 ± 236.53 min/day) than females (467.38 ± 255.28 min/day). Finally, 64.1% of the males reported a high amount of sitting time (≥ 7 hours/day) compared to females (52.3%). Conclusion In conclusion, the total mean length of SB in minutes per day for male and female university students was considerably high. About 58% of the population appeared to spend ≥7 h/day sedentary. Male university students are likelier to sit longer than female students. Our findings also indicated that SB and physical activity interventions are needed to raise awareness of the importance of adopting an active lifestyle and reducing sitting time.

The accurate speech recognition of the Holy Quran is crucial for maintaining the traditional recitation styles and pronunciations, which helps in preserving the authenticity of the Quranic teachings and ensuring their accurate transmission across generations. Though the application of freshly developed models to spoken and written Arabic and non-Arabic speech recognition has yielded highly accurate results, research on Holy Quran is still in its early levels. Indeed, speech recognition of the Holy Quran presents several challenges, including language complexity and the absence of a comprehensive dataset. This research aims to improve the accuracy of speech recognition models for the recital of the Holy Quran. A new dataset called comprehensive Quranic dataset version 1 (CQDV1) is created to serves the HQSR field. The dataset is publicly available for use by other researchers and includes recitations of the entire Quran (114 sura, recited by 35 reciters), based on Hafs from Asim narrative.The study explores the development of a speech recognition model for the accurate recital of the Holy Quran. The model combines a connectionist temporal classification (CTC)/attention loss function with a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory with projections (BLSTMP) architecture and a token-based recurrent neural network language model (RNNLM) using CQDV1 dataset. The results achieved were a token error rate (TER) of 6.4%, a word error rate (WER) of 10.4%, and a sentence error rate (SER) of 55.3% with $\lambda =0.2$ .

ABSTRACTTraditional methods of synthesizing nanomaterials via physical or chemical methods are typically expensive and result in toxic byproducts that adversely affect the environment. In this study, we propose synthesis, characterization, optical and sensing properties of hybrid nanocomposites consisting of Fe-1,4-benzene-dicarboxylates (Fe-BDC) as a porous metal-organic framework (MOF) doped with 10 wt. % of Biochar (BC) derived from food waste (Fe-BDC@BC). The bio-based MOF was characterized by using SEM, TGA, FTIR, and XRD. The structural investigation showed that BC improved the porosity, thermal stability, and crystallinity of Fe-BDC, resulting in a particle size of around 50 nm. Optical investigation showed that the energy gap of the bio-doped MOF decreased by about 6%. A sensitive layer of Fe-BDC@BCs was created on an ITO substrate using the spin coating method to study humidity sensing. The dynamic response of the FE-BDC@BC nanocomposite sensor to the change in humidity from 10% to 95% RH. Fe-BDC@BC demonstrated a sensitive response to humidity of about 96% and quick reaction and recovery times of 10 s and 50 s, respectively, Due to their ease of synthesis, and excellent optical and humidity-sensing response, these bio-based MOFs could be used for the fabrication of optoelectronic and sensing devices.

Background: Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) is an established non-invasive diagnostic modality for a variety of small bowel pathologies and has a significant role in altering the treatment course. The diagnostic yield of SBCE in the published literature varies widely between 45 and 75%. Furthermore, it is unclear if any patient-related factors predict higher diagnostic yield. The aim of this study is to report the diagnostic yield of SBCE for suspected small bowel disease and identify any predictive factors for identifying significant pathology on SBCE. Method: A retrospective study was conducted at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital in Kuwait for patients who underwent SBCE between October 2013 and February 2022. All patients underwent upper and lower endoscopy prior to referral for SBCE. Patients’ medical records were reviewed to determine SBCE indications, results, and complications. The significance of the SBCE finding was classified according to the Saurin system. A logistic regression was performed to characterize baseline predictors for identifying significant pathology on SBCE. Results: Overall, 210 patients underwent SBCE and were included in the analysis. The mean age was 57.9 years (SD 18.5), and 129 (61.4%) were males. The most common indication for SBCE was obscure occult gastrointestinal bleed (75.7%), obscure overt gastrointestinal bleed (28.6%), and investigating gastrointestinal symptoms (7.6%). Adequate bowel preparation was achieved in most patients (88.1%), imaging of the entire small bowel was achieved in 194 patients (92.4%), and no adverse events were recorded. The overall diagnostic yield of SBCE for small bowel disease was 68.1%. The most common findings were vascular lesions in the small bowel (40.0%), small bowel ulcers (22.9%), and erosions (22.9%). On multivariate regression analysis, melena at baseline was significantly associated with increased odds of identifying high-risk lesions (Saurin class P2) (OR 2.1, 95%CI 1.03–4.30, p = 0.04). Conclusions: SBCE is an effective and safe tool for investigating small bowel pathology with a diagnostic yield of 68.1% in carefully selected patients undergoing such a test. Melena at baseline is the strongest predictor of identifying high-risk lesions, and patients with which should be prioritized for SBCE.

Abstract The present analysis aims to use existing resources to lower the cost of electrodes and reduce environmental pollution by utilizing waste materials like green algae. In the present research, the hydrothermal carbonization technique was utilized to synthesize a nano sized CuO mixed with activated biochar (CuO@BC) extracted from red sea algae (Chlorophyta). The CuO@BC sample was extensively examined using several advanced physical techniques, such as UV/Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XED, HRTEM, SEM, EDX, BET, and TGA. The HRTEM indicated that the size of the particles is 32 nm with a larger surface area and without aggregations. The BET analysis of CuO@BC indicates that the material contains pores of a relatively large size and with a pore diameter of about 42.56 A°. The electrochemical analysis of CuO@BC modified glassy carbon electrode CuO@BC/GCE has been investigated using CV, GCD, and EIS techniques. This CuO@BC/GCE shows excellent electrochemical features that are significant for energy storage applications. The CuO@BC/GCE showed a specific capacitance of approximately 353 Fg−1 which is higher compared to individual materials. Overall, the research outcomes suggest that the CuO@BC/GCE shows potential for use in high-performance supercapacitors as energy storage systems that are eco-friendly and sustainable.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the health-related factors and analyze the expression of epigenetic related genes and inflammatory genes in metabolic syndrome Trigger Finger (TF) and smoker TF. Methods Samples from patients’ fingers with symptomatic TF were collected. There were seven groups: healthy control group, carpal tunnel syndrome (as a control for gene expression analysis), TF, diabetic TF, hypertensive TF, dyslipidemic TF and smoker TF. The expression levels of epigenetic related genes and inflammatory genes in metabolic syndrome TF and smoker TF were evaluated by the reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires, disability of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) and numeric pain rating scale were given to the participants to fill out. Results There was a significant increase in hand dysfunction in the metabolic TF groups and smoker group compared to the TF group (p

This paper presents AI Asthma Guard, a novel wearable device designed to predict and alert users of impending asthma attacks using artificial intelligence. The system integrates physiological and environmental sensors to monitor health metrics such as the heart rate, oxygen saturation, and exposure to specific air pollutants, which are crucial in managing asthma in children and individuals with mental disabilities. Utilizing machine learning models, including support vector machines and random forest, AI Asthma Guard classifies the risk levels of asthma attacks and provides timely notifications. This study details the device’s design, implementation, and preliminary testing results, underscoring its potential to improve health outcomes by enabling proactive asthma management. The implications of this technology reflect its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals by enhancing individual health and well-being. The integration of a companion app leveraging large language models like ChatGPT facilitates user interaction, providing personalized advice and educational content about asthma management.

Introduction: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on biologic therapies are at increased risk of infections, emphasizing the importance of immunization. This study aimed to assess vaccination prevalence among patients with IBD on specific biologic therapies. Methods: A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted at an IBD center, including patients receiving different biologic therapies from 1 January 2022 to the 30 April 2023. Demographic and vaccination data were collected using patient electronic records and patient interviews. Results: A total 394 patients (100%) received the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), tetanus, reduced diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. A total of 79 patients (20%) received the influenza vaccine, 40 patients (10.2%) were vaccinated against hepatitis A (HAV), and 34 patients (8.6%) received the pneumococcal vaccine. From the 103 female patients who are eligible to take human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, only 7 (6.8%) received it. Out of the 100 eligible patients above the age of 50, only 9 (9%) received the herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine. Conclusion: The uptake of certain vaccines such as Hepatitis B (HBV), seasonal influenza, HAV, pneumococcal, HZ and HPV vaccines among patients with IBD were below expectations. These findings highlight the need for interventions to improve patients’ awareness and adherence to prevent infectious complications in patients with IBD.

Recently, scientists have shown interest in utilizing biochar made from natural sources to enhance various photovoltaic technologies. In this study, Zinc-Bis-8-hydroxyquinoline (Zn-Hq2) was mixed with 10 % biochar obtained from red sea microalgae (Chlorophyta) using a microwave combustion process. This mixture was then used as a novel photoactive layer in a solar cell. The structural properties of Zn-Hq2@BC were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, HRTEM, and SEM. The analysis showed that Zn-Hq2@BC had evenly distributed nano-rods within the BC nanopores network, with widths ranging from 26.94 to 30.90 nm and lengths ranging from 136.43 to 192.38 nm. When measuring dark current density-voltage, it was found that Zn-Hq2@BC/n-Si showed better-rectifying characteristics compared to pristine Zn-Hq2/n-Si, with a higher rectification ratio. The results also showed that the current density and voltage at the maximum power point increased to 5.63 mA/cm2 and 0.45 V, respectively, due to the activation of the biochar. When exposed to light, the addition of approximately 10 % biochar resulted in a 15 % increase in fill factor and a 92 % increase in power conversion efficiency. This is because biochar helps introduce extra charge carriers into the material, thus improving charge transport and reducing recombination losses. These findings reveal the positive effects of microalgae-derived biochar and indicate potential applications of Zn-Hq2 in solar cells.

In the recent past Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based thin films have demonstrated superior performance in various technological applications such as optical and optoelectronic devices, electrochemical energy storage, catalysis, and sensing. Herein we report tuning the optical performance of stable complexes using Cu and Fe metal ions with carboxylate benzene dicarboxylic (BDC), leading toward the formation of novel MOF structures. The formation of Cu-BDC and Fe-BDC were confirmed by XRD and SEM studies. The thermal stability of two MOFs was investigated, indicating that, the Cu-BDC is more stable than Fe-BDC. Further, the optical properties were investigated in the wavelength range 325–1100 nm, and the Fe-BDC exhibited greater optical transmission properties than Cu-BDC by 33 %, as investigated by Wemple-DiDomenico and Tauc models. The dispersion parameters related to optical studies for Cu-BDC were better in comparison to Fe-BDC, which could be attributed to the increase in Cu valence electrons due to an increase in the number of cations. The electrochemical behavior in terms of CV measurements shows the presence of pseudo capacitance in both Fe-BDC and Cu-BDC MOFs. The improved CV performance of Cu-BDC MOF suggests that it could be used as a storage material. This work successfully demonstrates the tailoring of optical properties related to MOF thin films through the formation of stable complexes using BDC as a potential material for the fabrication of OLED's and Solar cells. The improved CV performance suggests that these MOF based materials could be used as anodes in fabrication of batteries or supercapacitors.

In the present research paper, we investigate the motion of surfaces in ℝ3 according to their curvatures. We study the motion of the torus of revolution via the normal velocity. We consider two cases: when the normal velocity is a function of both the time and the coordinates of the torus, and when it is a function of time only. We also study how the torus moves under different types of curvature flows, such as inverse mean curvature flow, inverse Gaussian curvature flow, and harmonic mean curvature flow. Moreover, we present some new applications of these flows.

BackgroundHypoglycemia unawareness (HU) is associated with significant risks. Screening for impaired awareness of hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes is important to minimize those risks. There are limited data on the prevalence of HU in patients with diabetes in Saudi Arabia (KSA). In the current study, we investigated the frequency of HU and its risk factors among insulin treated diabetic patients in Madinah, KSA.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a diabetes center and four primary healthcare centers at Madinha, KSA. Patients ≥14 years old with type 1 or type 2 diabetes treated with insulin for more than a year were included. HU was assessed by Clarke’s and modified Pedersen-Bjergaard’s scores. The risk factors for HU were determined.ResultsOf the 413 included patients, 60.3% were women, and 60.8% were on insulin alone. One-third of the participants had T1DM, while 68.5% had T2DM, with median ages of 25 and 56 years, diabetes durations of 10 and 15 years, and durations of insulin use of 10 and 5 years, respectively. The prevalence of HU was 25.2% by Clarke’s survey. The risk factors for HU were poor knowledge of the patient’s latest HbA1c, type of insulin, and dose of insulin. Poor medical follow-up, previous stroke, and ischemic heart disease were the other risk factors for HU. When the modified Pedersen-Bjergaard method was used, the prevalence of HU was 48.9%.ConclusionDespite the advances in diabetes management, HU continues to be prevalent among diabetic patients on insulin, and poor diabetes knowledge is a major risk factor. Diabetes education on self-management is of utmost importance to reduce hypoglycemia and HU.

Background: About a third of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) do not respond to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy. In our study, we evaluated the effectiveness of vedolizumab and ustekinumab in achieving clinical and endoscopic outcomes in anti-TNF-experienced patients with IBD.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Electronic medical records of patients with moderate to severe IBD, who were previously received anti-TNF therapies, were reviewed and evaluated retrospectively in a gastroenterology center. Outcomes of patients treated with ustekinumab or vedolizumab after failing one anti-TNF agent were evaluated. The primary outcomes were the percentage of hospitalization, surgery, mucosal healing and steroid-free remission. Mucosal healing was defined as a Mayo endoscopic score of 0 or 1 in ulcerative colitis (UC) and an SES-CD score of less than 3 in Crohn’s disease (CD). Outcomes were quantified using descriptive analysis.Results: A total of 207 (130 CD: 77 UC) patients with IBD who had previously received one anti-TNF agent were included in the study. Of the total cohort, 62 (30.0%) patients were receiving vedolizumab, and 145 (70.0%) patients were on ustekinumab. 101 (77.6%) patients with CD who failed one anti-TNF therapy were on ustekinumab. Of these patients, 26 (19.7%) patients were hospitalized, and 12 (11.9%) patients had IBD-related surgery. 16 (16.1%) patients had at least one corticosteroid course. 60 (59.0%) patients with CD on ustekinumab achieved mucosal healing. 29 (22.3%) patients with CD who failed one anti-TNF therapy were receiving vedolizumab. Of those, 7 (25%) patients were hospitalized, and 11 (37.9%) patients had IBD-related surgery. 15 (51.0%) patients achieved mucosal healing. 44 (57.1%) patients with UC who failed one anti-TNF therapy were on ustekinumab. Of these 6 (14.1%) patients were hospitalized, 3 (7.0%) patients had IBD-related surgery and 13 (30%) patients had at least 1 corticosteroid course. 25 (57.0%) patients achieved mucosal healing. 33 (42.8%) patients with UC who failed one anti-TNF therapy were receiving vedolizumab. Of those, 6 (18.6%) patients were hospitalized, and 16 (49.6%) patients had at least 1 corticosteroid course. 17 (53.2%) patients achieved mucosal healing.Conclusion: Ustekinumab and vedolizumab were both effective in achieving clinical outcomes in patients with IBD after failing an anti-TNF agent. However, patients receiving ustekinumab had numerically higher percentages of reaching target outcomes than patients receiving vedolizumab. A prospective head-to-head trial is warranted to confirm these findings.

Abstract Lithium-ion batteries based on high-voltage cathode materials, such as LiCoPO4, despite being promising in terms of specific power, still suffer from poor cycle life due to the lower stability of common non-aqueous electrolytes at higher voltages. One way to overcome this issue might be decreasing the working potential of the battery by doping LiCoPO4 by Fe, thus reducing electrolyte degradation upon cycling. However, such modification requires a deep understanding of the structural behavior of cathode material upon lithiation/delithiation. Here we used a combination of operando synchrotron-based XRD and XAS to investigate the dynamics of d-metal local atomic structure and charge state upon cycling of LiCo0.5Fe0.5PO4 mixed d-metal olivine cathode material. Principal components analysis (PCA) of XAS data allowed the extraction of spectra of individual phases in the material and their concentrations. For both Co and Fe two components were extracted, they correspond to fully lithiated and delithiated phases of LixMPO4 (where M = Fe, Co). Thus, we were able to track the phase transitions in the material upon charge and discharge and quantitatively analyze the M2+/M3+ electrochemical conversion rate for both Fe and Co. Rietveld's refinement of XRD data allowed us to analyze the changes in the lattice of cathode material and their reversibility upon (de)lithiation during cycling. The calculation of DFT and Bader charge analysis expects the oxygen redox procedure combined with d-metals redox, which supplements iron charge variations and dominates at high voltages when x

Background: The aim of the observational, prospective study was to validate a novel, nonverbal assessment tool for perceived disease burden—Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self-Measure (PRISM)—in ulcerative colitis (UC) against established patient health questionnaires. The cumulative burden of patients recently diagnosed (

Abstract Purpose The study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the sedentary behavior questionnaire (SBQ). Methods A total of 624 university students (273 males; 351 females, mean age = 20.8 years) were recruited from Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. For criterion and constructive validity (n = 352), the Arabic SBQ was compared with total sitting time from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form (IPAQ-LF). For concurrent validity, the English and Arabic SBQ versions were given concurrently to bilingual university students (n = 122) once. For test–retest reliability, the Arabic SBQ was given twice to participants (n = 150) at a one-week interval. Results Sitting time of IPAQ-SF (7th question: sitting time on weekdays) and IPAQ-LF (21st question: sitting time on weekdays and 22nd question: sitting time on weekends) correlated significantly with total sitting time/week of the Arabic SBQ (r = 0.29, p = 0.003; r = 0.14, p = 0.02, respectively). Motorized transportation measured with the IPAQ-LF correlated significantly with time spent driving in a car, bus, or train from the Arabic SBQ on weekdays and weekends (r = 0.53, p