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Mahmoud M Habibullah,1 Ali Hurubi,1 Ali O Hakamy,2 Abbas Ali Jaber Alwadani,3 Ibrahim Mohammed Atti,3 Hani Alothaid,4 Ghalia Shamlan,5 Mohammed Aldughaim,6 Yahia A Kaabi,1 Alaa Alhazmi,1 Hassan Hamali1 1Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 2Nursing Department, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Research Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mahmoud M Habibullah, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, 6514 Makkah Al Mukarrama Road, Jazan, 82822, Saudi Arabia, Email mhabibullah@jazanu.edu.saIntroduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, which results in initiates oxidative stress and disrupts various cellular pathways. In this study, we examined the relationship between polymorphisms in antioxidant enzymes, specifically glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) and catalase (CAT), and the susceptibility to T2DM in a Saudi population from the Jazan Province.Methods: A total of 419 participants were evaluated, including 247 T2DM patients and 172 controls. They were genotyped for the GPx1 Pro198Leu and CAT-262C/T polymorphisms by a PCR-based method.Results: The results indicated that individuals with the CAT T/T genotype had a 60% lower likelihood of developing T2DM compared with those harboring the C/C genotype (uOD 0.4; 95% CI 0.2– 0.8, p = 0.04); however, no significant association was observed between the GPx1 polymorphism and T2DM.Discussion: The results suggest that CAT polymorphism may confer a protective effect against T2DM, whereas the GPx1 polymorphism appears not to be a determinant of T2DM susceptibility in this population. Further studies including larger and more diverse cohorts are necessary to validate these results and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Understanding the genetic factors that contribute to T2DM is essential for developing targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies.Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase 1, catalase, polymorphism, Saudi population

Amr J Halawani,1 Saif Elden B Abdalla,2 Mahmoud M Habibullah,2 Ghalia Shamlan,3 Neil D Avent4 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11362, Saudi Arabia; 4Consultant Molecular Biologist, Bristol, UKCorrespondence: Amr J Halawani, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Email ajjhalawani@uqu.edu.saPurpose: Inherited blood disorders as well as malaria are prevalent in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Patients with specific hemoglobinopathies may require frequent blood transfusions. Accordingly, alloimmunization may occur if donors and recipients are incompatible. Therefore, examination of various blood group antigens to provide compatible blood units is essential. Two alleles of the Diego (DI) blood group system, DI*02.03 and DI*02.04 encode the Wright antigens; Wra and Wrb, respectively. Anti-Wra may lead to alloimmunization during transfusion and pregnancy. Furthermore, the Wrb antigen may involve in interaction between protein receptors for Plasmodium falciparum. This study aimed to investigate the allele/genotype frequencies of the Wright blood groups in southwestern Saudi blood donors regarding the blood transfusion and assessed the population of Jazan Province for susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum invasion.Materials and Methods: One-hundred-fifty Saudi blood donors were enrolled to this study. DNA was extracted from the blood samples. Primer pairs were designed to capture a single nucleotide variation that distinguishes the Wright alleles. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted and followed by standard sequencing.Results: Among the 150 genotyped samples, the only observed allele was DI*02.04 (n = 150, 100%). Accordingly, the genotype prevalence of DI*02.04/DI*02.04 was accounted for (n = 150, 100%).Conclusion: This study demonstrated the allele frequencies of DI*02.03 and DI*02.04 of the DI blood group system in Saudi blood donors. The DI*02.04 allele was the only allele that was observed. Furthermore, the prevalence of the genotypes was determined and the only observed genotype was DI*02.04/DI*02.04. Interestingly, this study indicates that the Saudi Arabian population living in Jazan Province may be more susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum invasion. Moreover, adding the Wright alleles for the transfusion screening panel is not recommended.Keywords: wright blood group, blood group genotyping, blood transfusion, malaria, Saudi Arabia

Mohamed Moukhyer,1,2 Mohamed Salih Mahfouz,3 Mahmoud M Habibullah,4 Nouf Hussain Abuhadi,5 Nizar A Khamjan,4 Aymen M Madkhali,4 Ali O Hakamy,6 Hassan A Hamali,4 Mazharul Hoque,1 Mohtashim Lohani,1 Aziza Mukhayer7,8 1Emergency Medical Services, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 2Public Health Programs, School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; 3Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 4Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 5Diagnostic Radiology Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Respiratory Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 7Faculty of Medicine, Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman, Sudan; 8Department of Health Promotion, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The NetherlandCorrespondence: Mohamed Moukhyer, Tel +966-568878291, Email mmoukhyer@jazanu.edu.saBackground: The emergence of COVID-19 posed a threat to millions of lives worldwide. The pandemic impacts extended to affect people’s psychological well-being, resulting in significant behavioural change. This study was designed to assess the knowledge regarding COVID-19 precautions among the College of Applied Medical Science students at Jazan University and to evaluate the general, psychosocial, and behavioral changes due to COVID-19.Methods: This is an observational study targeting 630 undergraduate students randomly selected during January 2020, using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the predictors of three outcome measures: knowledge, attitudes, and practice scores.Results: Knowledge of COVID-19 revealed that the students with correct answers ranged from 48.9 to 95%. Furthermore, significant gender differences are found regarding shortness of breath, fatigue, persistent chest discomfort, headache, and malaise (p < 0.05). Knowledge scores differed significantly across gender and academic level (p < 0.05) and so does attitude scores (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between practice scores according to socio-demographic background (p > 0.05). The linear regression model showed that females had significantly higher knowledge, attitudes, and practice scores (p < 0.05) as well as those within the 21– 23 age group and above (p < 0.05). Students residing in urban and semi-urban places had significantly higher scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practice (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The results demonstrated moderate knowledge about COVID-19 among study participants, with significant differences between the responses of males and females and among the urban and rural populations. Outcomes suggest the need for interventions to bridge students’ knowledge about COVID-19 and practice gaps. Students were concerned about basic life amenities and the inability to provide for their dear ones regarding behavioral changes.Keywords: COVID-19, health and safety, public health

Mahmoud M Habibullah,1,2 Ali Hakamy,3 Abdullah S Mansor,1 Ibrahim Mohammed Atti,4 Abbas Ali Jaber Alwadani,4 Yahia A Kaabi1,2 1Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 2Medical Research Center, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Respiratory Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, Prince Mohammed bin Nasser Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jazan, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mahmoud M Habibullah, Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966556644205, Email mhabibullah@jazanu.edu.saIntroduction: Autoimmune hypothyroidism (AHT) is a widespread disease that disproportionately affects women over men. It is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies that lead to the dysfunction of the thyroid gland. The exact cause of this process is unknown; however, some factors, such as genetic factors, may be to blame. The uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) gene encodes uncoupling protein 2, which has been linked to several pathogeneses; however, the link between UCP2-866 G/A polymorphism and AHT has yet to be investigated. Thus, we investigate the potential relationship between UCP2-866 G/A polymorphism and AHT.Methods: A total of 158 subjects participated in this study, they were either control or AHT patient, and genotyping was performed using a polymerase chain reaction.Results: The frequencies of UCP2-866 G/G, G/A, and A/A in the control subject were 34%, 51%, and 15%, respectively, whereas these frequencies in the AHT were 43%, 46%, and 10%.Conclusion: The study concludes a significant relationship between UCP2-866 G/A polymorphism and AHT, with a carrier subject of the – 866 A allele being 3 times more likely to suffer from AHT than wild-type carriers in the study population.Keywords: autoimmune hypothyroidism, AHT, uncoupling protein 2, UCP2-866, Hashimoto׳s thyroiditis

Mahmoud M Habibullah,1,2 Syam Mohan,3,4 Nabeel Kashan Syed,5 Hafiz A Makeen,5 Qazi Mohammad Sajid Jamal,6 Hani Alothaid,7 Farkad Bantun,8 Alaa Alhazmi,1,2 Ali Hakamy,2,9 Yahia A Kaabi,1 Ghalia Samlan,10 Mohtashim Lohani,11 Neelaveni Thangavel,12 Mohamed Ahmed Al-Kasim5 1Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 2SMIRES for Consultation in Specialized Medical Laboratories, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 3Substance Abuse and Toxicology Research Center, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 4School of Health Science, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India; 5Pharmacy Practice Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Health Informatics, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Qassim University, Al Bukayriyah, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 9Respiratory Therapy Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 10Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 11Emergency Medical Services Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 12Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mahmoud M Habibullah, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Al Maarefah Road, Jazan, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 556644205, Email mhabibullah@jazanu.edu.saIntroduction: Numerous drugs with potent toxicity against cancer cells are available for treating malignancies, but therapeutic efficacies are limited due to their inefficient tumor targeting and deleterious effects on non-cancerous tissue. Therefore, two improvements are mandatory for improved chemotherapy 1) novel delivery techniques that can target cancer cells to deliver anticancer drugs and 2) methods to specifically enhance drug efficacy within tumors. The loading of inert drug carriers with anticancer agents and peptides which are able to bind (target) tumor-related proteins to enhance tumor drug accumulation and local cytotoxicity is a most promising approach.Objective: To evaluate the anticancer efficacy of Chitosan nanoparticles loaded with human growth hormone hGH fragment 176– 191 peptide plus the clinical chemotherapeutic doxorubicin in comparison with Chitosan loaded with doxorubicin alone.Methods: Two sets of in silico experiments were performed using molecular docking simulations to determine the influence of hGH fragment 176– 191 peptide on the anticancer efficacy of doxorubicin 1) the binding affinities of hGH fragment 176– 191 peptide to the breast cancer receptors, 2) the effects of hGH fragment 176– 191 peptide binding on doxorubicin binding to these same receptors. Further, the influence of hGH fragment 176– 191 peptide on the anticancer efficacy of doxorubicin was validated using viability assay in Human MCF-7 breast cancer cells.Results: In silico analysis suggested that addition of the hGH fragment to doxorubicin-loaded Chitosan nanoparticles can enhance doxorubicin binding to multiple breast cancer protein targets, while photon correlation spectroscopy revealed that the synthesized dual-loaded Chitosan nanoparticles possess clinically favorable particle size, polydispersity index, as well as zeta potential.Conclusion: These dual-loaded Chitosan nanoparticles demonstrated greater anti-proliferative activity against a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) than doxorubicin-loaded Chitosan. This dual-loading strategy may enhance the anticancer potency of doxorubicin and reduce the clinical side effects associated with non-target tissue exposure.Keywords: anticancer potency, nanoparticles, cytotoxicity, docking analysis

Amr J Halawani,1 Mahmoud M Habibullah,2,3 Gasim Dobie,2 Alaa Alhazmi,2,3 Farkad Bantun,4 Mohammed H Nahari,5 Ibrahim Dawmary,6 Hisham I Abu-Tawil6,7 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 3SMIRES for Consultation in Specialized Medical Laboratories, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, Prince Mohammed bin Nasser Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, King Faisal Medical City for Southern Regions, Ministry of Health, Abha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Amr J Halawani Makkah, 24381 8156, Saudi ArabiaEmail ajjhalawani@uqu.edu.saPurpose: Knowledge of the prevalence of blood group antigens in a given population is important for the prevention of hemolytic reactions. The MNS blood group system (002) has four polymorphic antigens—M, N, S, and s. Anti-S and anti-s antibodies may result in immediate and delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions, and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn may occur. The present study investigated the frequencies of the main antigens and phenotypes of the MNS blood group system.Subjects and Methods: We randomly obtained 149 samples from anonymous Saudi blood donors living in Jazan Province. Serotyping was conducted using a gel card to investigate (M, N, S, and s) antigens and phenotypes.Results: The frequencies of MNS antigens were as follows: M = 89.26%, N = 51.67%, S = 61.07%, and s = 82.55%. Regarding the MNS phenotypes, nine phenotypes were observed in the study population. The most common phenotype was M+N–S+s+ (n = 36, 24.16%), in contrast to the least common phenotype M+N–S–s– (n = 1, 0.67%). The prevalence of the MNS phenotypes in the current study population was highly and significantly different from that in Europeans (P = 0.044) and African Americans (P = 0.000).Conclusion: In summary, this study reports the frequencies of the MNS antigens and phenotypes in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. The most common phenotype was M+N–S+s+, whereas the least observed phenotype was M+N–S–s–. The outcomes of this study may assist the blood banks in Jazan Province to establish an extended phenotyping protocol including the MNS antigens, in particular S and s antigens, to preclude any alloimmunization events.Keywords: MNS blood group, blood donors, transfusion, Saudi Arabia

In this paper, a versatile heterogeneous nanocatalyst was fabricated employing a self-assembly technique. To commence, Fe 3 O 4 MNPs were coated with a thin layer of SiO 2 using the stobbers method. Subsequently, the surface was further functionalized with 3-CPMS, followed by a reaction with a Schiff base. Finally, nickel NPs were deposited on the surface through in situ deposition, forming the Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @3-CPMS@L-Ni magnetic nanocatalyst. The architecture of this magnetic nanocatalyst was meticulously characterized through an array of sophisticated techniques: XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, BET and VSM. The XRD diffraction pattern confirmed the presence of Fe 3 O 4 MNPs, SiO 2 , and Ni peaks, providing evidence for successful synthesis. Moreover, the successful functionalization with a Schiff base was demonstrated by the presence of an azomethane peak in the FTIR spectra of the synthesized nanocatalyst. The fabricated nanocatalyst was adeptly utilized for the reduction of 4-NP, NB, and MO demonstrating a remarkably elevated rate of catalytic efficacy. Moreover, this catalyst was effortlessly retrievable through the application of an external magnet, and it maintained its catalytic prowess across at least six consecutive cycles. The utilization of water as an environmentally friendly solvent, coupled with the utilization of abundant and cost-effective nickel catalyst instead of the costly Pd or Pt catalysts, along with the successful recovery and scalability of the catalyst, render this method highly advantageous from both environmental and economic perspectives for the reduction of 4-NP, NB, and MO., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-activated trans-membrane ATP gated anion channel present in most epithelia, which transports chloride and bicarbonate ions across the apical membrane. Mutations in the CFTR protein are known to result in defective expression or function, notably the inhibition of chloride and bicarbonate transport. This can result in cystic fibrosis (CF), a disorder characterised by thickness of the mucus lining of the epithelial cells of the alimentary and respiratory tracts, sweat ducts and reproductive organs. As a consequence, there is a reduction in fluid transport at the apical surface. While the most devastating effect of CF is mortality, about 98% of men with CF are infertile, consequent of early blockage of or failure to develop the mesonephrotic ducts as well as the vas deferens. The effect of CF of female fertility is less well-understood. This review highlights the genetics and pathophysiology as well as the mechanism of action of CF on female infertility.

Nanoparticles have shown promising potential for efficient drug delivery, circumventing biological interferences like immunological and renal clearance and mechanical and enzymatic destruction. However, a handful of research papers have questioned the biomedical use of metal-based nanoparticles like cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe-QDs) for their cytotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic potential. Herein, we examined the effects of CdTe-QD NPs on gene expression profile of hepatocellular carcinoma (Huh-7) cell line. Huh-7 cells were treated with CdTe-QD NPs (10 μg/ml for 6, 12, and 24 hours, and 25 μg/ml for 6 and 12 hours), and transcriptomic analysis was performed using microarray to evaluate the global gene expression profile. Differential expressed genes (DEGs) were observed for both the doses (10 and 25 μg/ml) of CdTe-QD NPs at different time points. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that genes involved in molecular function of cell cycle, organizational injury and abnormalities, cell death and survival, gene expression, cancer, organismal survival, and cellular development were differentially expressed. Overall, we have demonstrated differential expression of several genes, involved in maintaining cell survival, metabolism, and genome integrity. These findings were confirmed by RT-qPCR study for some canonical pathway genes signifying possible implication in NP toxicity-mediated cell survival and inhibition of cell death., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

A growing body of studies suggests that Ca 2+ signaling controls a variety of biological processes in brain elements. Activation of L-type voltage-operated Ca 2+ channels (VOCCs) plays a role in the development of oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage loss, and indicates that the blocking of these channels may be an effective way to inhibit OL lineage cell loss. For this study, 10.5-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to generate cerebellar tissue slices. The slice tissues were cultured and randomly allocated to one of four groups (six each) and treated as follows: Group I, (sham control); Group II, 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) only (vehicle control); Group III, injury (INJ); Group IV, (INJ and treatment with NIF). The injury was simulated by exposing the slice tissues to 20 min of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). At 3 days post-treatment, the survival, apoptosis, and proliferation of the OL lineages were measured and compared. Results: In the INJ group, there was a decrease in mature myelin basic protein+ OLs (MBP+ OLs) and their precursors, NG2 + OPCs (Nerve-glia antigen 2+ oligodendrocyte precursor cell), compared with controls. A significant elevation was observed in the NG2 + OPCs and apoptotic MBP + OLs as confirmed by a TUNEL assay. However, the cell proliferation rate was decreased in NG2 + OPCs. NIF increased OL survival as measured by apoptosis rate in both OL lineages and preserved the rate of proliferation in the NG2 + OPCs. Conclusions: Activation of L-type VOCCs may contribute to OL pathology in association with reduced mitosis of OPCs following brain injury as a strategy to treat demyelinating diseases.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of rs2015 (T>G) and rs2241703 (G>A) polymorphisms in the miRNA-SIRT2 gene in Saudi Arabia and their possible associations with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Methods: Blood samples were collected from 428 participants from Jazan University Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia between September 2021 and June 2022 and subjected to TaqMan single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping assay for rs241703 (G>A) and rs2015 (G>T). Genotype frequencies were determined in control (n=217)., Results: The A allele of rs2241703 was undetected in our population, and all samples carried the GG genotype. The rs2015 SNP frequency was 29.4% for GG, 45.6% for GT, and 24% for TT. However, logistic regression analysis of the dominant inheritance model showed no association between the T allele and T2DM calculated odds ratio [OR]=0.80, 95% confidence interval=0.53 to 1.20, p =0.301)., Conclusion: Although rs2241703 SNP of Sirtuins 2 is not present, rs2015 SNP is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia, but no direct link was identified with T2DM., (Copyright: © Saudi Medical Journal.)

Background & Aim: Significant evidence indicates that endocrine disrupted bisphenol A (BPA) seriously endangers human health. In males, BPA affects testis architecture and sperm quality, and ultimately reduces fertility. This study explored the therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa (NS) seed extract on testis and sperm abnormalities in BPA-exposed mice and characterized the underlying mechanism., Methods: Forty male Swiss albino mice (5.5 weeks old, N = 8 per group) were randomly divided into five groups: Group I, normal control, Group II, vehicle control (sterile corn oil); Group III, NS-exposed (oral 200 mg/kg); Group IV, BPA-exposed (oral 400 μg/kg body weight); Group V, BPA + NS-exposed mice. Animals were treated for 6 weeks and sacrificed for biochemical and histological examination., Results: The results indicated that BPA exposure results in significant testis and sperm abnormalities. Specifically, BPA promoted a marked reduction in the body and testis compared with the control group. Histopathological findings showed that BPA caused a widespread degeneration of spermatogenic cells of the seminiferous epithelium, decreased sperm counts and motility, and augmented sperm abnormalities, and whereas little alteration to sperm DNA was observed. In addition, BPA increased the levels of the lipid peroxidation marker, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced the levels of the antioxidant marker, reducing glutathione (GSH). Treatment with NS oil extract during BPA exposure significantly alleviated testis and sperm abnormalities, reduced MDA levels, and enhanced GSH levels., Conclusion: The results demonstrate that NS oil protects mice against BPA-induced sperm and testis abnormalities, likely by suppressing levels of the oxidative stress marker, MDA, and enhancing the levels of the antioxidant marker, GSH., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The current study was designed to validate the Arabic version of the Diabetes Self-Management Scale (DSMS) using Rasch and confirmatory factor analyses. This included person and item fit, separation, and reliability; rating scale functionality to evidence substantive validity; unidimensional structure to evidence structural validity; and item technical quality to evidence content validity. The study was conducted between September 2021 and March 2022. Utilizing AMOS-based confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the study also assured the dimensionality of the DSMS. The participants were 103 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia with a mean age of 44.72 years (standard deviation = 17.35). The analysis was performed using a trichotomous rating scale, and only one item exhibited a misfit (DSMS14). The item difficulty range was -1.0 to +1.0 logits, while the person's ability range was -3.0 to +3.0 logits. The first construct proved one Rasch dimension, which was explained and further analyzed using AMOS-CFA for the one-factor model. The DSMS was shown to be beneficial as a screening instrument for patient-reported diabetes self-management, despite several flaws that need to be addressed to improve the scale further.

Objective: Vitamin D has a pivotal role in maintaining healthy bones and in the modulation of multiple physiologic processes. Vitamin D deficiency has become a global burden that affects all members of society. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlation of vitamin D deficiency with hematological and biochemical parameters in young adult college students. Hundred and fourteen students (77 men and 37 women) were recruited., Materials and Methods: The socio-demographic and clinicopathologic features of the students were evaluated using a pre-tested and validated questionnaire, and samples were collected for complete blood count (CBC), vitamin D, calcium, parathyroid hormone, and phosphorus measurements., Results: Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in men (53.2%) than in women (48.7%). Calcium and parathyroid hormone levels were within the normal range, and 26% and 22% of male and female participants, respectively, had low phosphorus levels. Vitamin D showed a positive correlation with calcium in men (r=0.3927; P =0.005) and women (r=0.4122; P =0.0566). Although, vitamin D status had no impact on most of CBC parameters, significant positive correlation was observed with eosinophils in women., Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent among college students, therefore health education and public awareness campaigns on the consequences of vitamin D deficiency on health and well-being are required., (© 2022 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.)

The Dombrock (DO) blood group system has two primary antigens, Do a and Do b , which can cause delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. The paucity of specific monospecific antibodies can hamper the typing based on these antigens. Thus, blood group genotyping (BGG) was investigated as a possible solution. Sequence-specific primers were designed to target a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs11276) on the ART4 gene encoding the DO*A and DO*B alleles. Blood samples ( n = 150) from randomly selected volunteer donors were used. DNA was extracted and resulting PCR products were purified and sequenced. The allelic frequencies of DO*A and DO*B were ( n = 122, 40.67%) and ( n = 178, 59.33%), respectively. The distributions of DO genotypes were as follows: DO*A / DO*A ( n = 20), 13.33%; DO*B / DO*B ( n = 48), 32.00%; and DO*A / DO*B ( n = 82), 54.67%. In conclusion, this study reports on the allelic frequencies of DO*A and DO*B of the DO blood group system in Jazan Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, this study reports on the prevalence of each genotype, of which DO*A/DO*B was the most abundant. This study contributes significantly to build the current blood donor database in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it may assist in providing safe blood to polytransfused patients and reduce the risk of the red cell alloimmunization.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, it affects both men and women. In Saudi Arabia, breast cancer has been the most prevalent type of cancer in women, for the past few years. Dietary habits and cultural beliefs vary according to region, and further studies are required to demonstrate the relationship between these dietary habits and cultural beliefs and the risk of developing breast cancer. This study is aimed to discover the relationship between preventive dietary factors of the Mediterranean diet and rates of breast cancer among postmenopausal women in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia., Methods: A case-control study was conducted in King Abdulla Medical City Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia and included 432 Saudi female participants: 218 in the control group and 214 breast cancer patients. All participants were postmenopausal, around the same age, and all were ethnically Arab Saudis. Data were obtained using a self-administered validated questionnaire., Results: Study results showed that a diet that includes 1-2 servings of legumes weekly, 1-5 servings of fish weekly, 1-5 servings of dairy products daily, 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and more than one cup of black tea and coffee per day significantly ( p < 0.05) reduces the risk of breast cancer., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that consuming a Mediterranean diet, which includes legumes, fish, fruits and vegetables, black tea, coffee, and low intake of dairy products, works as a preventive factor against breast cancer in postmenopausal females from the Makkah region., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Azzeh, Hasanain, Qadhi, Ghafouri, Azhar, Ghaith, Aldairi, Almasmoum, Assaggaf, Alhussain, Alghamdi, Habibullah, Bawazir, Maghaydah, Qutob and Alazzeh.)

Albendazolum (ABZ) is a BCS class II drug. It has challenging biopharmaceutical properties, which include poor solubility and dissolution rate. These properties have laid the ground for developing a supersaturated self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) to form oil-in-water nanoemulsion in situ to improve the oral bioavailability of ABZ. Based on the ABZ solubility, emulsifying ability, and stability after dispersion in an aqueous phase, an optimal self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) consisting of oleic acid, Tween ® 20, and PEG 600 (X:Y:Z, w/w) was identified, having 10% (w/w) hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) E15 lv as its precipitation inhibitor. The optimized system possessed a small mean globule size value (89.2 nm), good dispersion properties (polydispersity index (PDI): 0.278), and preserved the supersaturated state of ABZ. S-SNEDDS was transformed into solid supersaturated self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SS-SNEDDS) using microcrystalline cellulose as a solid material. The developed S-SNEDDS were characterized for globule size, pH, turbidity, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and flow properties. The data obtained from the results suggest that this S-SNEDDS formulation can enhance the solubility and oral bioavailability of ABZ for appropriate clinical application.

Objectives: Autoimmune hypothyroidism (AHT) is a common endocrine disorder. Although the exact cause of AHT is not yet understood, genetic factors may play a major role. Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is a member of mitochondrial protein family involved in the regulation of cellular metabolism. An important functional polymorphism in the UCP2 gene, 45-bp insertion/deletion (ins/del) polymorphism, has been linked to certain clinical conditions. However, an association between the 45-bp ins/del polymorphism and AHT has not yet been established., Methods: In this study, about 259 blood samples were collected from, patients with AHT and age-matched healthy control subjects. DNA was extracted for UCP2 45-bp ins/del polymorphisms genotyping, using a standard polymerase chain reaction technique. The distribution of different genotypes was determined in both groups and possible association with AHT was also assessed by logistic regression analysis using the Del/Del variant as a reference genotype., Results: The frequency of the UCP2 45-bp ins/del polymorphism in the total study population was 49.04%, 40.15%, and 10.81% for Del/Del, Ins/Del, and Ins/Ins genotypes, respectively. The logistic regression analysis showed crude odds ratios (ORs), respectively, with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and P -values in codominant (Del/Ins) (OR = 1.53, CI = 0.89-2.60, P = 0.17), codominant (Ins/Ins) (OR = 0.75, CI = 0.34-1.74, P = 0.53), dominant (OR = 1.30, CI = 0.79-2.16, P = 0.37), and recessive (OR = 0.62, CI = 0.29-1.36, P = 0.30) inheritance models tested, where none of which were statistically significant., Conclusion: Our data revealed the distribution of the UCP2 45-bp ins/del polymorphisms in Jazan area and confirmed the lack of association between these genetic variants and the development of AHT., (Copyright: © International Journal of Health Sciences.)

The Platelet (PLT) Transfusion Therapy plays an important role in the support of surgical, haematological, oncological and transplant patients. The present study was assigned to find out the post transfusion increment of platelet count among the thrombocytopenic patients in Bangladeshi population. This descriptive study was conducted at the Departments of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, BSMMU, Dhaka. Total 42 thrmbocytopenic patients were randomly assigned to receive a transfusion when their platelet counts below 10000 per cubic millimeter or with active bleeding. Pre transfusion and post transfusion platelet count were measured in all patients. Out of 42 patients, 26(61.90%) were male and 16(38.10%) were female. Leukemia was the most common cause of thrombocytopenia (47.62%). Most of the patients (71.34%) required transfusion of multiple units of platelet and 12(28.57%) patients required double units. Before transfusion of platelet concentrate <30×10⁸/L, 30-80×10⁸/L and >80×10⁸/L platelet count were found in 30(71.43%), 08(19.05%) and 04(09.52%) patients respectively. After transfusion of platelet concentrate <50×10⁸/L, 50-100×10⁸/L and >100×10⁸/L platelet count were found in 30(71.43%), 08(19.05%) and 04(09.52%) patients respectively. In all patients post transfusion platelet count increases but 2 or multiple units of transfusion were needed.

Here we report a case of planned pregnancy in a Hyper immunized Rh D negative Banker lady who was interested to have a healthy baby in her fourth Gestation as previous conceptions were ended by intra uterine death (IUDs) due to Rhesus Hemolytic diseases of new born (HDN) which is a condition where the lifespan of the infant's red cells is shortened by the action of specific antibodies derived from the mother by placental transfer. The disease begins in intrauterine life and is therefore correctly described as hemolytic disease of the fetus (HDF) and new born, but the simple term HDN has been used for a long time and can be taken to include hemolytic disease of the fetus (HDF). This hemolytic process takes place in utero and results in marked compensatory overproduction of young nucleated red cells in fetal erythropoietic sites. For this reason the disease also called erythroblastosis foetalis. Elective plasmapheresis done at the Transfusion Medicine Department of BSMMU, Dhaka on her, 800 ml. plasma were extracted in 4 different sessions during her antenatal period. One healthy male baby was delivered by LUCS at 32 weeks of pregnancy; the Baby has to receive 170 ml. O negative fresh Whole Blood as Exchange Transfusion to correct mild hyper bilirubinimia and anemia. Manual plasmapheresis may thus be practiced to all Hyper-immunized carrying mothers to prevent intra uterine death (IUD) in Rhesus D negative carrying mothers.