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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease that involves the central nervous system (CNS). Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may experience difficulty adapting to their diagnosis as the unpredictable nature of the disease can be challenging to cope with. Methods: The purpose of this study is twofold. First, we have culturally adapted and analyzed the Arabic version of the Multiple Sclerosis Resiliency Scale (MSRS) psychometric properties. Second, we aimed to explore resilience in a sample of Lebanese patients with MS in the face of the chronic disease and financial hardship that Lebanon is going through to evaluate their strengths and struggles. The sample consisted of 306 participants aged between 18 and 79 diagnosed with MS for at least one year. Results: After examining criterion validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, the Arabic version of the MSRS exhibited good psychometric properties. The study also revealed that resilience increases with age and lower disability scores. Additionally, individuals with higher resilience levels displayed lower levels of depression. The research revealed that MS patients have high resilience, mainly relying on cognitive and emotional strategies, social support from family and friends, MS peer support, and spirituality. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of emotional coping strategies and social support in building resilience among MS patients.

An investigation was conducted to examine the photothermal and thermomechanical effects of short-pulse laser irradiation on normal tissues. This study analyzed the impact of short-pulse laser radiation on the heat-affected region within tissues, taking into consideration a set of laser variables, namely wavelength, intensity, beam size, and exposure time. The beam size ranged between 0.5 and 3 mm, and the intensity of the laser radiation ranged from 1 to 5 W/mm2 at wavelengths of 532 and 800 nm. A three-layered, three-dimensional model was implemented and studied in a polar coordinate system (r = 10 mm, z = 12 mm) in COMSOL Multiphysics (version 5.4, COMSOL Inc., Stockholm, Sweden) to perform numerical simulations. The Pennes bioheat transfer model, Beer-Lambert, and Hooke’s law are integrated to simulate the coupled biophysics problem. Temperature and stress distributions resulting from laser radiation were produced and analyzed. The accuracy of the developed model was qualitatively verified by comparing temperature and mechanical variations following the variations of laser parameters with relevant studies. The results of Box-Behnken analysis showed that beam size (S) had no significant impact on the response variables, with p-values exceeding 0.05. Temperature (Tmax) demonstrates sensitivity to both beam intensity (I) and exposure time (T), jointly contributing to 89.6% of the observed variation. Conversely, while beam size (S) has no significant effect on stress value (Smax), wavelength (W), beam intensity (I), and exposure time (T) collectively account for 71.6% of the observed variation in Smax. It is recommended to use this model to obtain the optimal values of the laser treatment corresponding to tissue with specified dimensions and properties.

The increasing demand for a knowledge-based economy and the widespread influence of globalization have led to a significant transformation in higher education. This transformation has resulted in a departure from conventional paradigms and a shift towards the entrepreneurial university (EU) framework. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of adopting total quality management (TQM) principles on the process of transitioning traditional Palestinian universities into entrepreneurial universities (EUs). Furthermore, this research investigates the potential role of innovation as a moderating variable in facilitating the transformation process by means of adopting Total Quality Management (TQM) practices. In order to accomplish these aims, a thorough research model was established, utilizing a survey methodology for the purpose of data collecting. The research sample comprised senior management professionals from 18 Palestinian universities. A total of 44 questionnaires were collected from a subset of 12 selected institutions. The data analysis involved the utilization of the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method, which was implemented using Smart-PLS software. The findings indicate a noteworthy integration of Total Quality Management (TQM) strategies and innovation in Palestinian universities, accompanied by a moderate level of implementation in entrepreneurial activities. Moreover, the research findings suggest that the adoption of Total Quality Management (TQM) practises significantly and positively influences the shift towards Environmental Upgrades (EUs). Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that the presence of innovation does not exhibit a moderating influence on this particular association. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by demonstrating connections between three variables, offering empirical support for the integration of Total Quality Management (TQM) practises, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the Palestinian higher education setting. The results underscore the imperative for decision-makers inside Palestinian institutions to embrace effective Total Quality Management (TQM) practises, placing particular focus on information and analysis, as well as people management. The primary objective of this concentration is to foster entrepreneurial endeavours within the realm of higher education.

Background: Asthma as a serious public health problem worldwide exerts a serious load on children's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and their families. Objective: We assess the HRQOL of the primary caregivers of Egyptian asthmatic children and adolescents and its relation to HRQOL of their children and asthma severity. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 128 pairs of asthmatic children (7--16 years) and their primary caregivers. Pediatric asthma quality of life (QOL) questionnaire, pediatric asthma caregiver's QOL questionnaire, and asthma control questionnaire were used. Results: Uncontrolled asthmatic patients had statistically significantly lower mean caregiver score compared to controlled asthmatic (P < 0.005). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between caregiver's individual and overall QOL scores and their children (individual and overall QOL scores) (P < 0.05). A statistically significant negative correlation between asthma severity and QOL scores of the caregivers of asthmatic children and adolescents was found (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The QOL of the primary caregivers of asthmatic children is significantly adversely affected by their children's illness severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic cells (DCs) serve as professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) bridging innate and adaptive immunity, playing an essential role in triggering specific cellular and humoral responses against tumor and infectious antigens. Consequently, various DC-based antitumor therapeutic strategies have been developed, particularly vaccines, and have been intensively investigated specifically in the context of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This hematological malignancy mainly affects the elderly population (those aged over 65), which usually presents a high rate of therapeutic failure and an unfavorable prognosis. In this review, we examine the current state of development and progress of vaccines in AML. The findings evidence the possible administration of DC-based vaccines as an adjuvant treatment in AML following initial therapy. Furthermore, the therapy demonstrates promising outcomes in preventing or delaying tumor relapse and exhibits synergistic effects when combined with other treatments during relapses or disease progression. On the other hand, the remarkable success observed with RNA vaccines for COVID-19, delivered in lipid nanoparticles, has revealed the efficacy and effectiveness of these types of vectors, prompting further exploration and their potential application in AML, as well as other neoplasms, loading them with tumor RNA.

Cognitive reserve is the adaptability of cognitive processes in the face of brain aging and pathology. This study aimed to validate the Arabic version of the Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire (CRIq) in a healthy Lebanese sample. CRIq assesses cognitive reserve through three domains: education, working activity, and leisure time. Statistical measures, including descriptive and regression analysis along with structural equation modeling, were utilized to investigate the convergent and discriminant validity of the CRIq, incorporating fluid intelligence (Gf) and measures of cognitive function, long-term memory encoding and retrieval (Glr), and processing speed (Gs). Results from 174 participants revealed that the activities assessed by the CRIq-Arabic were comparable to the original CRIq study, with slight cultural differences. The internal consistency of the CRIq-Arabic was good (Cronbach’s α = 0.88), indicating reliability. Convergent validity was confirmed, with moderate to high loadings on the cognitive reserve latent construct. Discriminant validity was supported as correlations between cognitive reserve variables and non-target constructs (Gf, Glr, and Gs) were less than 1. The findings provide an initial psychometric validation of the CRIq-Arabic. Further research of clinical samples is needed to enhance its utility in neuropsychological practice.

Implementation of digital tools has become a popular practice by teachers to increase student involvement within the classroom. Various technologies are being utilized by educators to help students engage with lessons and enjoy the overall learning experience. Additionally, findings from recent research have indicated that the adoption of digital tools has influenced the learning gaps between genders, specifically in relation to student preferences and gender differences. Despite significant educational development toward gender equality, there is still ambiguity regarding the learning needs and preferences of male and female students within the EFL classroom. The current study examined gender differences in engagement and motivation while using Kahoot! in EFL English literature courses. The study recruited 276 undergraduate female and male students from two English language classes (i.e., both classes were taught by the same male instructor) and surveyed 154 female and 79 male students from those classrooms. The significance of the study lies in determining whether gender impacts the way learners perceive and experience game-based curricula. In this sense, the research found that gender does not, in fact, impact the learner’s level of motivation and engagement within game-based classrooms. A t-test revealed that no significant difference between male and female participants had been observed by the instructor. Future studies could fruitfully examine gender differences and preferences in digitized educational settings. Further work is certainly required for policymakers, institutions, and practitioners to disentangle the complexities regarding the role of gender in shaping the experiences of learners in the digital era. In future research, more research is needed to apply and test external factors like age that might impact learners' perception and performance in a game-based curriculum.

Diet is a contributor to the pathogenesis of many non-communicable diseases. Among contributors to poor diet is high added sugar consumption, which is unfortunately on the rise nowadays. The recommended sugar intake by The American Heart Association (AHA) is 24g/day and 36g/day for women and men, respectively. The study's aim is to assess added sugar intake among adults in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study design was used via an online survey among adults in Saudi Arabia using convenience sampling, and social media platforms were used to collect the data. The authors conducted descriptive statistics to present demographic variables using Chi-square χ2 tests for categorical and t-tests for continuous variables. All statistical tests used a 95% confidence interval with a two-sided P-value 60. Equivalently, there was a statistically significant difference in means of added sugar intake food across gender (P-value 0.008). Females tended to consume more added sugar in their food than males. The highest consumption was in the Northern region (123.71 g/day), followed by the Southern region (98.52 g/day), the Western region (86.14 g/day), and lastly, the Central and Eastern regions (66.95 and 62.02 g/day, respectively). The total added sugar intake of added sugar is extremely high in Saudi Arabia. Poor dietary habits lead to many adverse health consequences, including obesity and diabetes. Healthcare providers and public health officials are highly encouraged to shed light on added sugar consumption and create opportunities to promote healthy dietary patterns. The Saudi population is recommended to abide by the added sugar dietary recommendations to avoid future chronic medical conditions.

Drug delivery through the skin has immense advantages compared to other routes of administration and offers an optimal way to treat inflammatory skin diseases, where corticosteroids are the cornerstone of topical therapy. Still, their therapeutic efficiency is limited due to inadequate skin permeability, potential side effects, and reduced patient compliance. To overcome these drawbacks, we propose a drug delivery system consisting of dexamethasone (DEX)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) incorporated in sodium alginate (SA) microneedles (MNs) as a minimally invasive dosage form for controlled drug release. Drug-loaded PLGA NPs were prepared by a nanoprecipitation method with a high encapsulation yield. They exhibited a controlled release pattern over 120 h. A modified vacuum-deposition micromolding method was used to load the obtained DEX-NPs into the tips of dissolving MNs. The NP-MNs showed improved insertion capabilities into the skin-simulant parafilm model and enhanced mechanical strength when tested against different static forces compared to their counterparts (SA-MNs). The results of an MN dissolution study following application to ex vivo chicken skin and agarose gel indicate that the NP-loaded segments of MNs dissolve within 15 s, in which the NPs are released into the skin. Taken together, the incorporation of DEX-NPs into SA-MNs could be a promising approach to bypass the limitations of conventional topical treatment of skin diseases, allowing for self-administration, increased patient compliance, and controlled drug release.

Background Acral lentiginous melanoma is associated with worse survival than other subtypes of melanoma. Understanding prognostic factors for survival and recurrence can help better inform follow-up care. Objectives To analyze the clinicopathologic features, melanoma-specific survival, and recurrence-free survival by substage in a large, multi-institutional cohort of primary acral lentiginous melanoma patients. Methods Retrospective review of the United States Melanoma Consortium database, a multi-center prospectively collected database of acral lentiginous melanoma patients treated between January 2000 and December 2017. Results Of the 433 primary acral lentiginous melanoma patients identified (median [range] age: 66 [8–97] years; 53% female, 83% white), 66% presented with stage 0–2 disease and the median time of follow-up for the 392 patients included in the survival analysis was 32.5 months (range: 0–259). The 5-year melanoma-specific survivals by stage were 0 = 100%, I = 93.8%, II = 76.2%, III = 63.4%, IIIA = 80.8%, and IV = 0%. Thicker Breslow depth ((HR) = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.05–1.21; P < .001)) and positive nodal status ((HR) = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.00–3.22; P = .050)) were independent prognostic factors for melanoma-specific survival. Breslow depth ((HR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.07–1.20; P < .001), and positive nodal status (HR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.38–3.80; P = .001) were also prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival. Conclusion In this cohort of patients, acral lentiginous melanoma was associated with poor outcomes even in early stage disease, consistent with prior reports. Stage IIB and IIC disease were associated with particularly low melanoma-specific and recurrence-free survival. This suggests that studies investigating adjuvant therapies in stage II patients may be especially valuable in acral lentiginous melanoma patients.

IMPORTANCE:. Factors associated with mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 patients on invasive mechanical ventilation are still not fully elucidated. OBJECTIVES:. To identify patient-level parameters, readily available at the bedside, associated with the risk of in-hospital mortality within 28 days from commencement of invasive mechanical ventilation or coronavirus disease 2019. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:. Prospective observational cohort study by the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 Critical Care Consortium. Patients with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 requiring invasive mechanical ventilation from February 2, 2020, to May 15, 2021. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:. Patient characteristics and clinical data were assessed upon ICU admission, the commencement of invasive mechanical ventilation and for 28 days thereafter. We primarily aimed to identify time-independent and time-dependent risk factors for 28-day invasive mechanical ventilation mortality. RESULTS:. One-thousand five-hundred eighty-seven patients were included in the survival analysis; 588 patients died in hospital within 28 days of commencing invasive mechanical ventilation (37%). Cox-regression analysis identified associations between the hazard of 28-day invasive mechanical ventilation mortality with age (hazard ratio, 1.26 per 10-yr increase in age; 95% CI, 1.16–1.37; p < 0.001), positive end-expiratory pressure upon commencement of invasive mechanical ventilation (hazard ratio, 0.81 per 5 cm H2O increase; 95% CI, 0.67–0.97; p = 0.02). Time-dependent parameters associated with 28-day invasive mechanical ventilation mortality were serum creatinine (hazard ratio, 1.28 per doubling; 95% CI, 1.15–1.41; p < 0.001), lactate (hazard ratio, 1.22 per doubling; 95% CI, 1.11–1.34; p < 0.001), Paco2 (hazard ratio, 1.63 per doubling; 95% CI, 1.19–2.25; p < 0.001), pH (hazard ratio, 0.89 per 0.1 increase; 95% CI, 0.8–14; p = 0.041), Pao2/Fio2 (hazard ratio, 0.58 per doubling; 95% CI, 0.52–0.66; p < 0.001), and mean arterial pressure (hazard ratio, 0.92 per 10 mm Hg increase; 95% CI, 0.88–0.97; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:. This international study suggests that in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 on invasive mechanical ventilation, older age and clinically relevant variables monitored at baseline or sequentially during the course of invasive mechanical ventilation are associated with 28-day invasive mechanical ventilation mortality hazard. Further investigation is warranted to validate any causative roles these parameters might play in influencing clinical outcomes.

Abstract Background The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a widely used laboratory technique in rodent models of epilepsy, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other neurological diseases accompanied by seizures. Obtaining prolonged continuous EEG tracings over weeks to months is essential to adequately answer research questions related to the chronobiology of seizure emergence, and to the effect of potential novel treatment strategies. Current EEG recording methods include wired and the more recent but very costly wireless technologies. Wired continuous long-term EEG in rodents remains the mainstay approach but is often technically challenging due to the notorious frequent EEG cable disconnections from the rodent’s head, and to poor signal-to-noise ratio especially when simultaneously monitoring multiple animals. Premature EEG cable disconnections and cable movement-related artifacts result from the animal’s natural mobility, and subsequent tension on the EEG wires, as well as from potential vigorous and frequent seizures. These challenges are often accompanied by injuries to the scalp, and result in early terminations of costly experiments. Results Here we describe an enhanced customized swivel-balance EEG-cage system that allows tension-free rat mobility. The cage setup markedly improves the safety and longevity of current existing wired continuous long-term EEG. Prevention of EEG cable detachments is further enhanced by a special attention to surgical electrode anchoring to the skull. In addition to mechanically preventing premature disconnections, the detailed stepwise approach to the electrical shielding, wiring and grounding required for artifact-free high signal-to-noise ratio recordings is also included. The successful application of our EEG cage system in various rat models of brain insults and epilepsy is described with illustrative high quality tracings of seizures and electrographic patterns obtained during continuous and simultaneous monitoring of multiple rats early and up to 3 months post-brain insult. Conclusion Our simple-to-implement key modifications to the EEG cage setup allow the safe acquisition of substantial high quality wired EEG data without resorting to the still costly wireless technologies.

Masonry construction is one of the oldest building systems and practiced since the early stage of human civilization. Even though industrialized nations developed new building practices using steel and concrete materials, most developing countries still use unreinforced masonry buildings. Evidence from past events shows that masonry structures sometimes performed well and survived several earthquake events, particularly in the area where earthquake events struck regularly and enough to show how structures behave. However, an alteration from the traditional cultural building practice is seen due to the lack of proper scientific knowledge about such local construction cultures. Amongst traditional construction technics, one captured authorities' and scientists' attention as showing excellent properties: seismic bands that can be found in many parts of Nepal. After the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, reconstruction works started adopting the guidelines developed by DUDBC and National Building code that suggest using such seismic bands. The evidence of using such band dates to 2500 BCE, and qualitative studies of those applications have proven to enhance the performance in the masonry structure. However, the experiment's quantitative parameters using various materials are needed to carry out the parametrical analysis to optimize seismic band's use. To provide quantitative results, we have started with two specimens, one without a band and one with a timber seismic band, and incorporate the digital image correlation (DIC) technique to obtain the localized information. The quasi-static cyclic test is carried out for our specimens to compare the behavior concerning the energy dissipation, and the surface area of the crack formed during the loading cyclic. This work clearly shows the seismic band's advantage in limiting the crack propagation and improving masonry structure integrity.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a heterogeneous disease in its origin, neuropathology, and prognosis, with no FDA-approved treatments. The pathology of TBI is complicated and not sufficiently understood, which is the reason why more than 30 clinical trials in the past three decades turned out unsuccessful in phase III. The multifaceted pathophysiology of TBI involves a cascade of metabolic and molecular events including inflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, an open head TBI mouse model, induced by controlled cortical impact (CCI), was used to investigate the chronic protective effects of mitoquinone (MitoQ) administration 30 days post-injury. Neurological functions were assessed with the Garcia neuroscore, pole climbing, grip strength, and adhesive removal tests, whereas cognitive and behavioral functions were assessed using the object recognition, Morris water maze, and forced swim tests. As for molecular effects, immunofluorescence staining was conducted to investigate microgliosis, astrocytosis, neuronal cell count, and axonal integrity. The results show that MitoQ enhanced neurological and cognitive functions 30 days post-injury. MitoQ also decreased the activation of astrocytes and microglia, which was accompanied by improved axonal integrity and neuronal cell count in the cortex. Therefore, we conclude that MitoQ has neuroprotective effects in a moderate open head CCI mouse model by decreasing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and axonal injury.

The increase in population especially in third world countries demands taller, more flexible, and lighter buildings. Most of these countries are subjected to a high risk of earthquakes, which requires more control of building seismic response. However, several techniques exist to minimize the vibrations induced by an earthquake shock. This paper will discuss the effectiveness of using friction dampers as a passive dissipative device and proposes some design optimization of the number and position of dampers in the building. Friction dampers offer a supplemental damping in conjunction with appropriate stiffness, offering an innovative and attractive solution for the seismic response control of tall structures in risky areas. The originality of this work is in the detailed seismic study of an asymmetric reinforced concrete (RC) building, located in a risky seismic zone and using real earthquake seismic waves. The seismic response of this dissipative structural method is compared with the response of the conventional method (shear wall system) for the high rise building. To accomplish this objective, a nonlinear modal time history analysis using the El Centro earthquake record for a 40‐storey RC high rise building, is performed with four different damper type formats using ETABS software. To illustrate the response improvement by dampers, storey accelerations, storey displacements, base shear forces, and storey drifts are compared with a conventional fixed base system (shear wall system) for the same building. Results show that using an optimum position and number of dampers, a tall building can remain operational during a seism.

The objective of this study is to show that pregnancy is a unique immune phenomenon because the feto-placental unit can develop without being attacked by the maternal immune system despite the admixing of maternal and fetal cells. There is a growing body of evidence that regulatory T cells (Tregs) act as modulators of vascular homeostasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of interleukin-10 polymorphism along with leptin in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The study was carried out on 20 primigravida pregnant women with preeclampsia and 20 normal primigravida pregnant women. Blood samples sent for laboratory tests showed the presence of serum leptin, which was determined by DRGLeptin sandwich (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique) (EIA-2395; DRG International, Inc., Mountainside, NJ, USA) and serum IL-10 was determined by ELISA (Genzyme, Cambridge, MA, USA). The detection of IL-10 polymorphism was done by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques. The results of this study show that there was a significant difference between the frequency of genotype in patients and control group with regard to GG genotype, AA genotype, A allele, and G allele ( P < .05) However, it was not significant with regard to the frequency of AG genotype ( P > .05). The serum leptin was found to be significantly higher in preeclampsia group and with a more significant increase in AA genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A long-standing challenge in the treatment of ovarian cancer is drug resistance to standard platinum-based chemotherapy. Recently, increasing attention has been drawn to the use of self-assembled metal-organic complexes as novel therapeutics for cancer treatment. However, high hydrophobicity that is often associated with these structures lowers their solubility and hinders their clinical translation. In this article, we present a proof-of-concept study of using nanoprecipitation to formulate the hydrophobic metal-organic cages and facilitate their use in treating chemoresistant ovarian cancer. The Pt6L4 Cage 1 is an octahedral cage formed by self-assembly of six 1,10-phenanthroline-Pt(II) centers and four 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine ligands (L). Cage 1 is able to trigger DNA damage and exhibits promising in vitro potency against a panel of human ovarian cancer cell lines. However, due to the large portion of aromatic components, this cage structure has very limited solubility in cell culture media (

Background: Dementia secondary to neurodegenerative diseases is prevalent among older adults and leads to social, psychological and economic burden on patients, caregivers and the community as a whole. Cognitive reserve factors such as education, and mental stimulation among others were hypothesized to contribute to the resilience against age-related cognitive impairment. Educational attainment, occupation complexity, physical activity, and leisure activity are explored in the context of protecting the older adults' cognitive function. We investigated the cognitive reserve effect on dementia, cognitive decline and impairment, and global cognitive function.Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional, community-based cohort study that aimed at investigating factors associated with dementia and their prevalence. The sample was of 508 community based older adults in Lebanon, aged 65 years and above in addition to 502 informants designated by these older adults. Older adults and informants answered structured questionnaires administered by interviewers, as well as a physical assessment and a neurological examination. Older adults were diagnosed for dementia. Global cognitive function, depression, and cognitive decline were assessed.Results: Older adults with dementia had lower levels of education, and attained lower occupational complexity. Factors such as high education, complex occupation attainment, and leisure activity, significantly predicted better global cognitive function. An older adult who attained high education levels or high complexity level occupation was 7.1 or 4.6 times more likely to have better global cognitive function than another who attained lower education or complexity level occupation respectively.Conclusion: These results suggest that cognitive reserve factors ought to be taken into consideration clinically during the course of dementia diagnosis and when initiating community-based preventive strategies.

Background: Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in early stages by conventional laboratory methods is difficult because the currently available tests lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was originally regarded as specific to hepatocytes, but has been found to be identical to the scatter factor affecting a wide range of tissues including the lungs. The aim of this work is to study the relationship between HGF and PE. Patients and methods: This study included 40 patients with PE, 40 stable angina (SA) patients, and 10 healthy controls. HGF and d-dimer were measured in all patients of this study. Results: Mean HGF was significantly higher in the PE group (788.8 ± 361.5 pg/ml) compared to the SA group (262.4 ± 158.1 pg/ml) and control group (215.5 ± 18.5 pg/ml) (P = 0.0001). The predictive values of d-dimer in the diagnosis of PE were as follows: 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value, 80% specificity, 83.3% positive predictive value and 90% accuracy, while those of HGF were: 97.5% sensitivity, 97.4% negative predictive value, 92.5% specificity, 92.9% positive predictive value and 95% accuracy. When used both d-dimer and HGF together the values improved to: 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value, 97.5% specificity, 97.6% positive predictive value and 98.8% accuracy. Conclusions: Our observations suggest that the plasma HGF level may be a useful biological marker of pulmonary ischemia, and a valuable tool for early diagnosis of PE. Clarification of the mechanisms, characteristics, and biological significance of HGF elevation is important for clinical use in diagnosing and treating pulmonary ischemia. The use of both d-dimer and HGF increases the predictive power of both tests when used together. The clinical significance of the role of HGF in PE opens a new therapeutic area in treating acute ischemic pulmonary disease that would be able to prolong the time frame for the application of reperfusion–thrombolytic therapy.