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Summary: Background: The quantitative HepQuant SHUNT test of liver function and physiology generates a disease severity index (DSI) that correlates with risk for clinical complications, such as large oesophageal varices (LEVs). A derivative test, HepQuant DuO, generates an equivalent DSI and simplifies testing by requiring only oral administration of the test solution and two blood samples at 20 and 60 min. Aims: Since the DSIs measured from DuO and SHUNT are equivalent, we compared the diagnostic performance for large oesophageal varices (LEVs) between the DSIs measured from DuO and SHUNT tests. Methods: This study combined the data from two prospectively conducted US studies: HALT‐C and SHUNT‐V. A total of 455 subjects underwent both the SHUNT test and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Results: DSI scores correlated with the probability of LEVs (p < 0.001) and demonstrated a stepwise increase from healthy lean controls without liver disease to subjects with chronic liver disease and no, small or large varices. Furthermore, a cutoff of DSI ≤ 18.3 from DuO had a sensitivity of 0.98 (missing only one case) and, if applied to the endoscopy (EGD) decision, would have prevented 188 EGDs (41.3%). The AUROC for DSI from DuO did not differ from that of the reference SHUNT test method (0.82 versus 0.81, p = 0.3500). Conclusions: DSI from HepQuant DuO links liver function and physiology to the risk of LEVs across a wide spectrum of patient characteristics, disease aetiologies and liver disease severity. DuO is minimally invasive, easy to administer, quantitative and may aid the decision to avoid or perform EGD for LEVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusion This study aimed to explore the relationship between urogenital symptom frequency and severity, perception of vaginal treatment burden, and female sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction.A cross‐sectional study was conducted with a sample of 326 patients from three tertiary care hospitals in the United Arab Emirates. The frequency and severity of urogenital symptoms, emotional and physical functioning, and treatment burden were assessed using the validated genitourinary syndrome of menopause symptoms and vaginal treatments acceptability questionnaire (GSM‐SVATQ). To examine the mediating roles of emotional and physical functioning, as well as the perceived treatment burden on sexual functioning, a partial least squares‐structural equation model was developed using the SmartPLS 4 Software.The measurement model was successfully established. All constructs had a reliability of > 0.70 and discriminant validity of < 0.90. Emotional, physical and sexual functioning showed an adjusted R2 values of 0.377, 0.282 and 0.169, respectively.The multistep multiple mediator model revealed a full mediation effect of both emotional and physical functioning between symptom, treatment burden and sexual functioning. The model showed high predictive performance with all manifest variables showing lower mean absolute errors compared to the naiive benchmark model.This study enhances our understanding of the relationships between urogenital symptoms, perceived treatment burden, emotional functioning, and sexual well‐being. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing emotional well‐being in managing urogenital symptoms and in addressing emotional factors associated with the use of vaginal treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess salivary and seroprevalence of Toxoplasma immunoglobulins in risky populations and evaluate drug docking targeting TgERP. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Alexandria University hospitals' outpatient clinics. 192 participants were enrolled from September 2022 to November 2023. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM were determined in serum and saliva by ELISA. An in-Silico study examined TgERP's protein–protein interactions (PPIs) with pro-inflammatory cytokine receptors, anti-inflammatory cytokine, cell cycle progression regulatory proteins, a proliferation marker, and nuclear envelope integrity-related protein Lamin B1. Our findings revealed that anti-T. gondii IgG were detected in serum (66.1%) and saliva (54.7%), with 2.1% of both samples were positive for IgM. Salivary IgG had 75.59% sensitivity, 86.15% specificity, 91.40% PPV, 64.40% NPP, 79.17% accuracy and fair agreement with serum IgG. On the other hand, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy in detecting salivary IgM were 75.0%, 99.47%, 75.0%, 99.47%, and 98.96%. AUC 0.859 indicates good discriminatory power. Examined synthetic drugs and natural products can target specific amino acids residues of TgERP that lie at the same binding interface with LB1 and Ki67, subsequently, hindering their interaction. Hence, salivary samples can be a promising diagnostic approach. The studied drugs can counteract the pro-inflammatory action of TgERP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: This review underscores the positive impact of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its agonists across several physiological stages, including estrous synchronization, post-insemination, pregnancy, and the postpartum period. It focuses on their role in overcoming reproductive dysfunctions such as repeat breeder cows, early embryonic loss, and cystic ovarian syndrome. The review also highlights their influence on enhancing the productivity of embryo transfer programs. Additionally, it introduces the emerging field of nano-drug delivery systems for GnRH agonists, highlighting potential benefits. The review aims to improve reproductive efficiency and health management in dairy cattle by emphasizing the critical need for further research and development. The administration of GnRH and its agonists benefits various aspects of bovine reproductive programs, encompassing physiological stages such as estrous synchronization, post-insemination, pregnancy, and the postpartum period. The positive impact of GnRH administration in overcoming challenges like repeat breeder cows, early embryonic loss prevention, and the management of cystic ovarian disease (COD) is thoroughly surveyed. Furthermore, this review focuses on the significance of GnRH administration during the postpartum period, its role in ovulation induction, and how it enhances the productivity of embryo transfer (ET) programs. An emerging feature of this field is introduced, focusing on nano-drug delivery systems for GnRH agonists, and the potential benefits that may arise from such advancements are highlighted. While this review offers valuable insights into various applications of GnRH in bovine reproduction, it emphasizes the crucial need for further research and development in this field to advance reproductive efficiency and health management in dairy cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a critical regulator of pituitary gonadotropin secretion, plays a fundamental role in controlling physiological aspects of mammalian reproduction. GnRH is produced in the hypothalamus and regulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary. GnRH analogs, including agonists and antagonists, have been developed for the reproductive management of animals. This review focuses on the functions of hypothalamic GnRH in reproductive processes and the enhancement of reproductive efficiency in farm animals. Various GnRH analogs have been synthesized to improve their potency and reproductive function. This review specifically highlights the application of GnRH in estrus synchronization to increase the reproductive efficiency of dairy cows. GnRH is essential for the regulation of mammalian reproductive processes. It regulates the production and release of pituitary gonadotropins, thereby influencing steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. While primarily produced in the hypothalamus, GnRH is also produced in peripheral organs, such as the gonads and placenta. GnRH analogs, including agonists and antagonists, have been synthesized for the reproductive management of animals and humans. This review focuses on the functions of hypothalamic GnRH in the reproductive processes of cattle. In addition to inducing the surge release of LH, the pulsatile secretion of GnRH stimulates the pituitary gland to release FSH and LH, thereby regulating gonadal function. Various GnRH-based products have been synthesized to increase their potency and efficacy in regulating reproductive functions. This review article describes the chemical structures of GnRH and its agonists. This discussion extends to the gene expression of GnRH in the hypothalamus, highlighting its pivotal role in regulating the reproductive process. Furthermore, GnRH is involved in regulating ovarian follicular development and luteal phase support, and estrus synchronization is involved. A comprehensive understanding of the role of GnRH and its analogs in the modulation of reproductive processes is essential for optimizing animal reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aluminum strength-to-weight ratio has become a highly significant factor in industrial applications. Placing stiffening ribs along the surface can significantly improve the panel's resistance to bending and compression in aluminum alloys. This study used single-point incremental forming (SPIF) to fabricate stiffening ribs for 1 mm and 3 mm thick aluminum alloy EN AW-2024-T3 sheets. A universal compression machine was used to investigate sheet deformation. The resulting deformation was examined using non-contact digital image correlation (DIC) based on several high-resolution cameras. The results showed that deformation progressively escalated from the edges toward the center, and the highest buckling values were confined within the non-strengthened area. Specimens with a larger thickness (3 mm) showed better effectiveness against buckling and bending for each applied load: 8 kN or 10 kN. Additionally, the displacement from the sheet surface decreased by 60% for sheets 3 mm thick and by half for sheets 1 mm thick, which indicated that thicker sheets could resist deformation better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dried cafeteria leftover food (DCLF) incorporation in growing APRI rabbit diets on nutrient digestibility, live body weight, body weight gain, carcass traits, meat quality, blood parameters, and economic efficiency. Thirty‐six APRI rabbits (6 weeks of age), after weaning, were randomly divided into three groups (12 rabbits/group, 613 ± 5 g). During the experiment, rabbits aged 6–14 weeks participated in the experiment. An approximate isocaloric and isonitrogenous composition was achieved in three pelleted experimental diets. For the rabbit groups D1 (as the control), D2, and D3, DCLF was added at doses of 0%, 17.5%, and 35%, respectively. Digestibility trails were carried out at the end of the feeding experiment to evaluate the nutritional and feeding values of the experimental diets. To examine the characteristics of the carcasses, the quality of the meat, the histopathological analysis, and the blood plasma parameters, three rabbits were slaughtered from each group. The results showed that the feeding values (TDN and DE), which had the greatest values, as well as the digesting coefficients for dry matter, organic matter, crude fiber, and ether extract between the D1 and D3 groups were significantly different (p < 0.05). On the contrary, the curde protein, nitrogen‐free extract, and digestible crude protein of the examined diets showed no signifcant differences compared with the control diet. The level of DCLF incorporation in diets significantly (p < 0.05) increased the live body weight at 14 weeks; with D3 recording the highest values (2130.9 g) when compared to the D1 and D2 groups. A similar pattern was observed for both daily increase and total body gain (6–14 weeks). Feed conversion recorded insignificant differences among the experimental diets respecting the period 6–14 weeks of age. DCLF levels had a significant effect on dressing and giblet percentages. The chemical composition and color parameters of rabbit meat were similar (p > 0.05), except for fat%, which had the highest value in the D3 group (p < 0.05) compared to the D1 and D2 groups. Economic efficiency was improved by using DLCF up to 35% in terms of gross margin and feed cost/kg gain. In conclusion, using DCLF in the feeding system of rabbits could enhance productive performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and physiological function, as well as improve economic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMethotrexate (MTX) is an anti-folate chemotherapeutic commonly used to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Despite its widespread clinical use, MTX has been linked to serious neurotoxicity side effects. Vinpocetine (VNP) has been widely used clinically to treat many neurological conditions. This study was conducted to study the potential neuroprotective effects of VNP against MTX hippocampal intoxication in rats. Thirty-two rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups: (I) control (Vehicle); (II) VNP-treated group (20 mg/kg/day, p.o); (III) MTX-control (20 mg/kg/once, i.p.) group; and (IV) the VNP + MTX group. VNP was administered orally for 10 days, during which MTX was given intraperitoneally once at the end of day 5. Our data indicated that VNP administration significantly improved MTX-induced neuronal cell death, odema, vacuolation and degeneration. VNP attenuated oxidative injury mediated by significant upregulation of the Nrf2, HO-1, and GCLC genes, while the Keap-1 mRNA expression downregulated. Moreover, VNP suppressed cytokines release mediated by increasing IκB expression level while it caused a marked downregulation in NF-κB and AP-1 (C-FOS and C-JUN) levels. Additionally, VNP attenuated apoptosis by reducing hippocampal Bax levels while increasing Bcl2 levels in MTX-intoxicated rats. In conclusion, our results suggested that VNP significantly attenuated MTX hippocampal intoxication by regulating Keap-1/Nrf2, NF-κB/AP-1, and apoptosis signaling in these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted to explore the productive performance and health status of lactating buffaloes fed diets supplemented with probiotic and/or fibrolytic enzymes. Forty multiparous lactating Egyptian buffaloes (body weight 451 ± 8.5 kg) were equally assigned to four experimental groups: (1) the first group fed control diet, (2) second experimental group fed control diet plus 4 g of probiotic/kg dry matter (DM) (probiotic), (3) third experimental group fed control diet plus 4 g of fibrolytic enzymes/kg DM (enzymes) and (4) fourth experimental group fed control diet plus 2 g of probiotic + 2 g fibrolytic enzymes/kg DM (Mix), The experiment was extended for 63 days. Nutrients digestibility was estimated, daily milk yield was recorded and milk samples were analyzed for total solids, fat protein, lactose and ash. Blood serum samples were analyzed for glucose, total protein, albumin, urea‐N, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and cholesterol concentrations. Results showed that adding probiotic and/or fibrolytic enzymes improved nutrients digestibility (p < 0.05). The probiotic, enzymes and mix groups did not affect (p > 0.05) concentrations of serum total protein, albumin (A), globulin (G), albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio and urea‐N concentrations. An improvement in daily milk yield (p < 0.0001) and energy‐corrected milk (p = 0.0146) were observed with the probiotic and mix groups compared with the control. In conclusion, this study suggests that supplementing lactating buffaloes' diets with probiotic alone or in combination with fibrolytic enzymes would improve their productive performance without adversely impacting their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop and validate an electronic, patient‐reported outcomes measure (PROM) specific for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) patients. The PROM aimed to accurately assess the burden of GSM symptoms, their impact on health‐related and sexual quality of life, and the acceptability of vaginal treatments. Methods: The study encompassed a comprehensive three‐stage approach to the development and validation of the PROM. Initially, during the preliminary design stage, the necessity for a new PROM was recognized, an expert panel was formed, and semi‐structured qualitative interviews were carried out with GSM patients. In the second stage, the study used the five‐step pre‐validation methodology established by Prior et al. to generate and refine the PROM items. The third and final stage encompassed the determination of scale and item content validity indexes to ensure validity. Additionally, the reliability of each construct was evaluated using Cronbach's α. Results: The resulting PROM was named GSM‐SVTAQ (GSM‐symptoms and vaginal treatments acceptability questionnaire). It demonstrated excellent validity in assessing symptoms burden, health‐related and sexual quality of life, and vaginal treatment acceptability, with high content validity indices and strong internal consistency. The scale content validity indices and Cronbach's α coefficients for the three domains were (0.926, 0.939), (0.875, 0.947), and (0.824, 0.855), respectively. Conclusion: The GSM‐SVTAQ stands as the first GSM‐specific, valid, and reliable PROM capable of comprehensively measuring the three components of GSM and the acceptability of vaginal treatments. Its implementation has the potential to significantly enhance patient care and outcomes in GSM management. Synopsis: The study developed and validated GSM‐SVTAQ, a reliable measure for genitourinary syndrome of menopause, assessing symptoms burden, quality of life, and vaginal treatment acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has highlighted the statistical significance and usefulness of trigonometric distribution models for simulating a variety of phenomena. A new set of distributions generated by exponentiated cosine and tangent functions has been introduced. Consequently, two families of distributions called the exponentiated cosine and tan Stacy distributions are derived. Some vital statistical and reliability characteristics are studied. The finite sample characteristics of parameter estimations are compared to the exponentiated cosine and tan distribution generated by four estimation methods: maximum likelihood, ordinary least squares, weighted least squares, and Cramer–von Mises. The methodologies are evaluated using simulation studies. Finally, the practical applications of the proposed trigonometric versions of the Stacy model are examined and applied on two lifetime reliability engineering datasets and another lifetime medical dataset concerning bladder cancer data. These real applications serve to highlight the effectiveness and adaptability of this innovative families within the respective fields compared with other lifetime well-known distribution models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: This study is to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of larsucosterol (DUR-928 or 25HC3S) in subjects with alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH), a devastating acute illness without US Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies. METHODS: This phase 2a, multicenter, open-label, dose escalation study evaluated the safety, PK, and efficacy signals of larsucosterol in 19 clinically diagnosed subjects with AH. Based on the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, 7 subjects were considered to have moderate AH and 12 to have severe AH. All subjects received 1 or 2 intravenous infusions (72 hours apart) of larsucosterol at a dose of 30,90, or 150 mg and were followed up for 28 days. Efficacy signals from a subgroup of subjects with severe AH were compared with those from 2 matched arms of those with severe AH treated with standard of care (SOC), including corticosteroids, from a contemporaneous study. RESULTS: All 19 larsucosterol-treated subjects survived the 28-day study. Fourteen (74%) of all subjects including 8 (67%) of the subjects with severe AH were discharged £72 hours after receiving a single infusion. There were no drug-related serious adverse events nor early terminations due to the treatment. PK profiles were not affected by disease severity. Biochemical parameters improved in most subjects. Serum bilirubin levels declined notably from baseline to day 7 and day 28, and MELD scores were reduced at day 28. The efficacy signals compared favorably with those from 2 matched groups treated with SOC. Lille scores at day 7 were <0.45 in 16 of the 18 (89%) subjects with day 7 samples. Lille scores from 8 subjects with severe AH who received 30 or 90 mg larsucosterol (doses used in phase 2b trial) were statistically significantly lower (P< 0.01) than those from subjects with severe AH treated with SOC from the contemporaneous study. DISCUSSION: Larsucosterol was well tolerated at all 3 doses in subjects with AH without safety concerns. Data from this pilot study showed promising efficacy signals in subjects with AH. Larsucosterol is being evaluated in a phase 2b multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled (AHFIRM) trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of proximal indirect restorations in endodontically treated posterior teeth with deeply located margins following deep margin elevation compared to surgical crown lengthening. Material and methods: Deep proximal cavities in endodontically treated posterior teeth were randomly assigned into two groups; deep margin elevation (DME) or crown lengthening (CL). The clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), crestal bone level (CBL), and secondary caries were evaluated at the baseline, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Results: A total of 20 proximal cavities were included in the study; there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding mean CAL values at the baseline and 1 month, while there was a significant difference between the two groups in all other periods. Regarding the PD, there was no statistical significance between the two groups except at 9 and 12 months, where CL showed higher mean PD values than DME. There was no statistically significant difference in BOP or CBL between the two groups. Conclusions: DME and CL are considered clinically successful with favorable biologic responses. Clinical relevance: The deep margin elevation approach could provide a more conservative solution when relocating deeply seated cervical margins in a more coronal position. DME reduced the number of visits and time needed for the restoration of endodontically treated teeth. Surgical crown lengthening remains a gold standard procedure in the re-establishment of the supracrestal tissue attachment, especially in cases where cervical margins are beyond the elevation capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Worldwide, myocardial diseases are major contributors to patient morbidity and death. Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) has gained recognition as a useful clinical technique that may evaluate ventricular function and volumes, myocardial fibrosis, iron loading, flow measurement, tissue characterisation, and myocardial perfusion imaging all in a single scan scenario. Objective: This study aimed to identify the role and diagnostic potential of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose cardiomyopathy. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study that was conducted through the period from October 2020 to May 2022 at Radio Diagnosis Department, National Heart Institute. The study involved 50 patients who had clinical suspicion of cardiomyopathy. They were referred from Cardiology Department. The mean age of patients was 57.42 ± 6.45 years. Results: There was a significant difference between Echo and Cardiac MRI regarding ejection fraction and end diastolic volume among the studied patients. Also, EF% was significantly higher with cardiac MRI (45.60 ± 8.12%) compared to Echo (43.00 ± 7.49%), with a mean difference of 2.60 ± 2.42%. Furthermore, EDV/ml was significantly higher with cardiac MRI (161.54 ± 48.14 ml) compared to Echo (158.50 ± 46.38 ml), with a mean difference of 3.04 ± 5.26 ml. Conclusion: Cardiac magnetic resonance technique was more accurate for diagnosis among patients suspicioned of cardiomyopathy compared to echocardiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges faced by clinicians in diagnosing and treating membranous nephropathy (MN), a leading cause of nephrotic syndrome. The discovery of multiple antigens associated with MN has expanded our understanding of the disease and its various subtypes. The article explores the implications of these discoveries for clinical practice, including the potential for targeted therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy. However, the article also acknowledges the limitations and complexities of implementing these advancements in patient care. The authors suggest that specialized centers with expertise in MN may be beneficial for managing complex cases. [Extracted from the article]

Infectious bronchitis is an acute, extremely contagious viral disease affecting chickens of all ages, leading to devastating economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Affected chickens show respiratory distress and/or nephritis, in addition to decrease of egg production and quality in layers. The avian coronavirus, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), is a rapidly evolving virus due to the high frequency of mutations and recombination events that are common in coronaviruses. This leads to the continual emergence of novel genotypes that show variable or poor crossprotection. The immune response against IBV is complex. Passive, innate and adaptive humoral and cellular immunity play distinct roles in protection against IBV. Despite intensive vaccination using the currently available live-attenuated and inactivated IBV vaccines, IBV continues to circulate, evolve, and trigger outbreaks worldwide, indicating the urgent need to update the current vaccines to control the emerging variants. Different approaches for preparation of IBV vaccines, including DNA, subunit, peptides, virus-like particles, vectored and recombinant vaccines, have been tested in many studies to combat the disease. This review focuses on several key aspects related to IBV, including its clinical significance, the functional structure of the virus, the factors that contribute to its evolution and diversity, the types of immune responses against IBV, and the characteristics of both current and emerging IBV vaccines. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of IBV and explore the emergence of variants, their dissemination around the world, and the challenges to define the efficient vaccination strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound healing is one of the most challenging medical circumstances for patients. Pathogens can infect wounds, resulting in tissue damage, inflammation, and disruption of the healing process. Simvastatin was investigated recently, as a wound healing agent that may supersede the present therapies for wounds. Our goal in this paper is to focus on formulation of simvastatin cubosomes for topical delivery, as a potential approach to improve simvastatin skin permeation. By this technique its wound healing effect could be improved. Cubosomes were prepared using the top-down method and the prepared cubosomes were characterized by several techniques. The most optimal simvastatin cubosomal formulation was then included in a cubogel dosage form using different gelling agents. The results showed that the average particle size of the prepared cubosomes was 113.90 ± 0.58 nm, the entrapment efficiency was 93.95 ± 0.49% and a sustained simvastatin release was achieved. The optimized formula of simvastatin cubogel displayed pseudoplastic rheological behavior. This same formula achieved enhancement in drug permeation through excised rat skin compared to free simvastatin hydrogel with flux values of 46.18 ± 2.12 mcg cm−2 h−1 and 25.92 ± 3.45 mcg cm−2 h−1 respectively. Based on the in-vivo rat studies results, this study proved a promising potential of simvastatin cubosomes as wound healing remedy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel adsorbent–contaminant system was investigated for its ability to remove a contaminant of emerging concern, diclofenac potassium, from contaminated water. Bio-based crosslinked chitosan beads functionalized with poly(itaconic acid) side chains were examined for their potential to remove the emerging contaminant. To evaluate the impact of the polymeric microstructure on its adsorptive capacity, several adsorbent samples were prepared using different combinations of initiator and monomeric concentrations. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the crosslinking of the chitosan chains and the incorporation of the carboxylic groups on the surface of the final chitosan beads. After the grafting copolymerization process, an additional peak at 1726 cm−1 corresponding to the carboxylic C=O groups of the grafted chains appeared, indicating the successful preparation of poly(IA)-g-chitosan. Thermal stability studies showed that the grafting copolymerization improved the thermal stability of the beads. X-ray and Scanning Electron Microscopy confirmed the successful grafting of the itaconic acid on the surface of the beads. The study revealed that the higher the initiator concentration, the greater the number of side chains, whereas the higher the monomeric concentration, the longer the length of these side chains. The adsorption mechanism involved hydrogen bonding to the carboxylic groups of the grafted chains along with n-π* stacking interaction between the amino group of the chitosan and the aromatic rings of diclofenac potassium. The adsorption efficiencies of diclofenac potassium onto the grafted beads were significantly improved compared to the unfunctionalized chitosan beads, reaching values above 90%. The removal efficiency of grafted chitosan increased with an increase in the concentration in the range of 10–30 ppm and then flattened out in the range of 30–50 ppm. The removal efficiencies of 1–50 ppm of DCF ranged between about 75% and 92% for the grafted chitosan and 30–45% for the crosslinked chitosan. Rapid adsorption occurred within 20 min for all grafted sample combinations, and the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model with qe values ranging from 28 to 44.25 g/mg and R2 values greater than 0.9915. The results highlight the potential of grafted chitosan beads in removing emerging contaminants from contaminated water without harming the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound healing is one of the most challenging medical circumstances for patients. Pathogens can infect wounds, resulting in tissue damage, inflammation, and disruption of the healing process. Simvastatin was investigated recently, as a wound healing agent that may supersede the present therapies for wounds. Our goal in this paper is to focus on formulation of simvastatin cubosomes for topical delivery, as a potential approach to improve simvastatin skin permeation. By this technique its wound healing effect could be improved. Cubosomes were prepared using the top-down method and the prepared cubosomes were characterized by several techniques. The most optimal simvastatin cubosomal formulation was then included in a cubogel dosage form using different gelling agents. The results showed that the average particle size of the prepared cubosomes was 113.90 ± 0.58 nm, the entrapment efficiency was 93.95 ± 0.49% and a sustained simvastatin release was achieved. The optimized formula of simvastatin cubogel displayed pseudoplastic rheological behavior. This same formula achieved enhancement in drug permeation through excised rat skin compared to free simvastatin hydrogel with flux values of 46.18 ± 2.12 mcg cm−2 h−1 and 25.92 ± 3.45 mcg cm−2 h−1 respectively. Based on the in-vivo rat studies results, this study proved a promising potential of simvastatin cubosomes as wound healing remedy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In multiple sclerosis (MS), optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become a sensitive tool for evaluating retinal and optic nerve diseases. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a novel technique that can assess the density of retinal vascular networks. Vascular changes caused by MS play a chief role in the development and progression of the MS lesions giving the idea and goal of this study which aimed to assess vascular anomalies in MS using OCT and OCT-A, determine their relationship to clinical characteristics, and determine if vasculopathy may play a role in MS causation. This research also looked at whether the retinal vasculature can be used as a biomarker for neurodegeneration and disease progression. A total of 30 MS patients with and without history of optic neuritis (ON), as well as 10 healthy volunteers, were included in the study. OCT-A and spectral domain. (SD-OCT) were performed on all of them. The data included clinical history, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), illness duration, visual function assessment, and investigations. Results: When comparing MS patients to controls, OCT-A revealed a drop in the arterial density in the eyes of MS patients. When compared to control eyes, all SD-OCT and OCT-A parameters indicated a statistically significant drop in MS eyes (with and without ON). Results showed a direct association (p = 0.001) between vascular density metrics and SD-OCT parameters (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Results showed a reduction in retinal vascular density (VD) in MS patients. The clinical link between VD and SD-OCT characteristics is highlighted, implying that OCT-A may be a useful marker of illness and impairment in MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ellipsis pervades the Qur'anic discourse. One pervasive form of it is al-iẖtibāk ("interchangeable ellipsis"). In terms of the interface between Qur'anic exegesis and Arabic rhetoric, the phenomenon of al-iẖtibāk is far more than a rhetorically heuristic technique for surface-structure analysis. It is a fruitful tool for pragmasemantic inferences of discursive implicatures defined as a fundamental mode of text construction and a logical hermeneutic of text consumption. The veracity of al-iẖtibāk has received little attention in non-Arabic research. Consequently, this article revisits the typology of al-iẖtibāk through the lens of Osborne's dependency grammar to argue for its relevance to Qur'anic epistemology and axiology. Using a dependency grammar approach to al-iẖtibāk, the article conducts a qualitative content analysis of representative Qur'anic verses to highlight the symbiotic relationship between Qur'anic exegesis and Arabic rhetoric. Al-iẖtibāk is found to be related to givenness and newness of information structure which impact its interpretation and resolution—a finding in line with Winkler's argument. Al-iẖtibāk proves to be a central discourse marker of interaction between the Qur'an and its recipients who take part in filling the elliptical slots co(n)textually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Castration is almost the only way to reduce pet overpopulation. Dog overpopulation and stray dogs are global issues that harm both public health and animal welfare. As a result, the current study sought to provide alternate surgical castration approaches, if viable. Also included is a comparison between surgical and pharmacological castration. Methods: Under the anaesthetic effect of intravenous (IV) 2% xylazine HCl (1 mg/kg) and 5% ketamine HCl (10 mg/kg), standard surgical castration and intra-testicular injections were done. The dogs were positioned dorsally recumbent. Using a 24-gauge, 2.4 cm sterile needle, a 10% formalin solution was placed within the testes (2 ml / testis). Results: Clinical follow-up in the formalin group demonstrated edema and redness in the scrotum and prepuce following injection, according to the findings. In the formalin group, a dog developed a little scrotal ulcer. In the current study, blood testosterone concentrations in the formalin and surgery groups fell considerably at the end of the experiment compared to day 0. Cortisol levels were elevated at the start of the trial and thereafter returned to normal. Histopathological evaluation of the testes in the formalin group, showing necrosis of seminiferous tubules. In addition, oxidative stress markers rose in both the formalin and surgical groups and steadily reduced towards the conclusion of the trial. Histopathological evaluation of the testes in formalin group showing necrosis of seminiferous tubules Conclusion: Based on the seminal and biochemical assessments in this work, intratesticular injection of 10% formalin (2 ml) seemed successful for chemical sterilization of dogs and applicable on a broad scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous discs are the experimental counterparts of the numerical actuator disc concept and are frequently used in wind tunnel studies to reproduce the far-wake characteristics of wind turbines. The potential of using porous discs instead of wind turbines comes with the benefits such as operational easiness and design simplicity. This paper presents the results of an experimental study focusing on the wake development characteristics of a single porous disc and a single wind turbine under different freestream turbulence intensities but at similar Reynolds number conditions. The measurements are performed using two-dimensional two-component particle image velocimetry (2D2C PIV) technique up to seven diameters downstream distance in the wake of the models. The wake flows are analyzed in terms of the development of mean wake velocity deficit, wake decay, and wake turbulence characteristics. The results show that the wake recovery occurs faster for both the porous disc and the turbine with increasing freestream turbulence intensity. The wake width increases with the freestream turbulence intensity, indicating faster diffusion of the wake for both models. On the other hand, the wake width of the porous disc and the turbine is similar at the same turbulence intensity conditions, although they operate with slightly different thrust coefficients. Turbulent kinetic energy profiles in the far wake of the porous disc and the turbine, which are significantly different for the low turbulence intensity conditions, become similar for the high turbulence intensity case. The comparison of the turbulent kinetic energy, decay rate and production characteristics points to different turbulence mechanisms in the wake of the porous disc and the turbine. In the near wake, the wake decay rate and turbulent kinetic energy levels are higher in the porous disc case due to enhanced mixing levels associated with the grid-generated turbulence. In the far wake, the decay rate of the turbine wake is higher, most probably due to the breakdown of the tip vortices. When the freestream turbulence is increased, the differences in the turbulent wake flow characteristics diminish in the far wake, particularly after a 4.5-diameter downstream distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early-stage oral cancers are usually treated with surgical resection and in most of cases the resulting defects are too large to be primarily reconstructed. There are many modalities of reconstruction as nasolabial flap, buccal bad of fat, polyglycolic acid sheets. Objective: This work aimed to evaluate the reconstruction of oral mucosal defects using either polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet or nasolabial flap. Material and Methods: 51 patients of them 26 were reconstructed using (PGA) sheet, and 25 using nasolabial flap retrospectively. The tumors' location, perioperative situation, postoperative aesthetic and functional results were assessed. Results: There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the early start of oral feeding or hospitalization time. While, the PGA group had significant shorter operative time. In cases with exposed bone surface, the PGA sheet was more feasible for reconstruction. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in speech intelligibility in lingual cases. In buccal reconstruction the PGA sheets were more suitable for larger defects. Conclusion: The optimal choice of nasolabial flap or PGA sheet depends on tumor location, mucosal defect size, the general condition of the patient and tolerability for surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anterior distal femoral hemiepiphysiodesis using intra-articular plates for correction of pediatric fixed knee flexion deformities (FKFD) has two documented complications: postoperative knee pain and implant loosening. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanical properties of a novel extra-articular technique for anterior distal femoral hemiepiphysiodesis in patients with FKFD and to compare them to the conventional technique. Materials and methods: Sixteen femoral sawbones were osteotomized at the level of the distal femoral physis and fixed by rail frames to allow linear distraction simulating longitudinal growth. Each sawbone was tested twice: first using the conventional technique with eight plates placed anteriorly just medial and lateral to the femoral sulcus (group A) and then with plates inserted in the proposed novel location at the most anterior part of the medial and lateral surfaces of the femoral condyles with screws in the coronal plane (group B). Gradual linear distraction was performed, and the resulting angular correction was measured. Strain gauges were attached to the plates, and the amount of strain (and equivalent stress) over the plates in response to linear distraction was recorded. The two groups were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The amount of angular correction was statistically higher in group B (extra-articular plates) at 5, 10-, and 15-mm of distraction (p < 0.001). As regards stress over the plates, the maximum stress and the area under the curve (sum of all stresses measured throughout the distraction process) were significantly higher when the plates were inserted at the conventional position (group A) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: During anterior distal femoral hemiepiphysiodesis, the fixation of the eight plates in the coronal plane at the anterior part of the femoral condyles may produce a greater amount of correction and a lower degree of stress over the implants as compared to the conventional technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical behavior of Vildagliptin (VILD) was studied using the cyclic voltammetric technique in an aqueous Britton–Robinson (BR) universal buffer solution of various pH levels between 4.0 and 10 at a 5% calcium-montmorillonite clay modified with carbon paste electrode surface (5% Ca-MMT/CPE). The results exhibited an irreversible anodic peak at about 1.238 V versus Ag/AgCl, KCl (3 mol L−1). The anodic peak was found to be diffusion–adsorption controlled. The possible reaction mechanism is estimated taking into consideration of the calculated electrons and protons number transferred on the electrode/electrolyte interface using the cyclic voltammetric technique. VILD was found to adsorb onto the surface of 5% Ca-MMT/CPE in a monolayer surface coverage of 3.0 × 10−12 mol cm−2. A validated square wave voltammetry (SWV) technique for VILD determination was performed. The calibration curve of VILD onto the 5% Ca-MMT/CPE surface was linear in the concentration range of 1.0–110 nmol L−1 with the mean limits of detection and quantification was 0.285 and 0.950 nmol L−1, respectively, in the bulk form. The proposed procedure for the assay of VILD in bulk form, dosage form, and spiked human serum has the advantage of being simple, rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive compared to other analytical methods. The described method showed an excellent performance for the trace determination of VILD in its formulation without interference from excipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the degree of contamination of dairy farms with both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, in which, a total of 150 swab samples were collected from 3 different dairy farms (50 each) distributed in Assiut governorate (farm A) and El-Minia governorate (farms B & C), Egypt. The swabs were taken from different locations in the dairy farms such as teats of dairy animals, milking machines, workers' hands and stanchions, etc. All the samples were examined for detection of Ps. aeruginosa (conventionally biochemical followed by MICROBACT™ identification kits) and for Staph. aureus (coagulase +ve). The obtained results revealed the overall incidence of Ps. aeruginosa as 14%, 2% and 4% in farms A, B & C, respectively; while, the incidence of Staph. aureus was 4%, 30% and 4%, respectively. In conclusion, the profile of both Ps. aeruginosa and Staph. aureus among the examined dairy farms is highlighting the hygienic state of each farm separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an antitumor drug that causes hepatotoxicity by release of free radicals and injury of the liver tissues. Nano-thymoquinone (nano-TQ) is considered a potent antioxidant that abrogates hepatotoxicity. The aim of the current investigation was to assess the liver toxicity of DOX and the protective effects of nano-TQ on chronic hepatotoxicity in male rats. Sixty rats were divided into four even groups: DOX treated group (group 1) received 3.750 mg/kg b.wt. intraperitoneally at days 10,17,24 and 31 from the beginning of the experiment to make a cumulative dose of 15 mg/kg b.wt., Group (2) received DOX as group 1 beside nano-thymoquinone daily from day one in a dose of 10 mg/kg b.wt. until the end of the experiment, Group (3) received nano-TQ only, group (4) is considered a negative control group. Serum samples were used for estimating oxidative stress markers and liver function enzymes. Liver specimens were used for histopathological and Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) examination. Doxorubicin administration induced an increase in liver enzymes and lipid peroxidation products. Nano-TQ treatment improved those altered parameters. Microscopic examination of the DOX-treated liver sections revealed vascular and parenchymatous alterations as congestion, thrombosis of the blood vessels, vacuolar degeneration, hepatocellular necrosis and fibrosis of the liver. While nano-TQ improved such pathological alteration of the hepatic parenchyma. Transmission electron microscope of the liver revealed infiltration of lymphocyte in the necrotic areas and presence of fat globules in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes in DOX treated group while TEM revealed a unique finding in DOX and nano-TQ treated group expressed by hypertrophy of Kupffer cells. It could be concluded that nano-TQ has a potent antioxidant effect that protected the liver damage via its free radicals scavenging protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In intensive care units (ICUs), nosocomial pneumonia is by far the most frequent nosocomial disease seen. Severe infections, complications, prolonged hospital admissions, and higher mortality rates are all brought on by the rise in antibiotic resistance. Objective: To identify the microbial causes of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and their antibiotic resistance pattern among ICU patients in Internal Medicine Department of Zagazig University Hospitals. Subjects and methods: In a cross-sectional study the sample size assigned was 72 patients. All of those who were adults had signs and symptoms of pneumonia started at least 48 hours after admission to the ICU and that occurs more than 48 to 72 hours after tracheal intubation. Results: The Most frequent organisms isolated were K. pneumonia, Acinetobacter baumannii complex and E. coli (42.9%, 18.6% and 14.3%, respectively). The most frequent sensitive drugs were colistin (48.6%) followed by imipenem, amikacin (both 18.6%). Most frequent intermediate drug was gentamycin (5.7%). Finally, most frequent resistant drugs were cefepime, ciprofloxacin and piperacillin (65.7%, 62.9% and 57.1%, respectively). There was a highly statistically significant increase in APACHE II score and mortality among dead compared to survived cases. Conclusion: HAP and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) ICUs patients were mostly affected by K. pneumonia, Acinetobacter baumannii complex and E. coli, K. pneumonia was the most frequent organism. Most of the cases were resistant to cefepime, ciprofloxacin and piperacillin, most probably due to its cheap cost and easy availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, preparation, characterization and application of a chelating amino-grafted solid-phase polymeric adsorbent for the removal of Hg2+ ions from contaminated aqueous solutions were discussed. Functional groups identification and surface morphology studies were carried out using FTIR, XRD, and SEM techniques. Batch adsorption methodology was used to explore the influence of solution's pH, shaking time, adsorbent dose, Hg2+ ions initial concentration, and temperature on the adsorption capacity of the prepared adsorbent. A maximum adsorption capacity of 120 mg Hg2+/g adsorbent was achieved at pH 7.0, shaking time 120 min and adsorbent dose of 0.4 g/L. Based on non-linear modeling and error functions analysis, the current adsorption process is well described by Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order models; suggesting a chemisorption reaction between the Hg2+ ions and the amino groups on the adsorbent surface via complexation. Moreover, the adsorption process is carrying out spontaneously with a negative enthalpy change. Finally, the adsorbent regeneration and reusability were studied and an accumulative uptake capacity of 464 mg Hg2+/g adsorbent was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Odontogenic infections are common and self-limiting in most cases; however, they can lead to severe consequences, considerable morbidity and can even be fatal despite modern medical therapy. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included patients with severe deep fascial space infections treated in the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, General Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag Governorate, Egypt, and the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King Fahd Specialist Hospital (tertiary referral center), Burayda City, Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia, from June 2017 to June 2022. Results: This study included 296 patients, 161 (54.4%) males, 135 (45.6%) females. The fifth decade of life was the most common vulnerable age group. Forty-three percent of patients had diabetes mellitus, 26.6% were hypertensive, and 13.3% were on long-term steroid therapy. In 83% of patients, the offending tooth was identified but in 17% of patients no dental cause was identified. The lower third molar tooth was most commonly involved. Sixty-nine (23.3%) patients had submandibular space infections. Fifty-three (17.9%) patients had canine space infections. Thirty (10.1%) patients had submasseteric space infection. Twenty-eight (9.5%) patients had submental space infections. Twenty-three (7.8%) patients had combined infection of the submasseteric, submandibular, and pterygomandibular spaces, whereas 19 (6.4%) patients presented with Ludwig's angina. Conclusions: Odontogenic infections are common. The submandibular space is the most commonly affected single space. These infections could lead to lethal complications in immunocompromised patients, especially patients with diabetes mellitus. These infections require urgent surgical intervention to decrease hospital stays and avoid potentially lethal complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canagliflozin (CAN), a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, is an anti-hyperglycemic drug that has been approved to treat diabetes. This study evaluated the beneficial effects of CAN on cerebral cortex intoxication induced by cisplatin (CIS). Rats were allocated into four groups: normal control, CAN (10 mg/kg, P.O.) for 10 days, CIS (8 mg/kg, i.p.) as a single dose on the 5th day of the experiment, and CAN + CIS group. In comparison with CIS control rats, CAN significantly mitigated CIS-induced cortical changes in rats' behavior in the open field and forced swimming assessment as well as histological structure. Biochemically, CAN administration efficiently decreased lipid peroxidation biomarkers MDA and boosted the antioxidant status via a remarkable increase in the cortical reduced glutathione (GSH) content as well as enzymatic activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mediated by up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARγ), and silent information regulator (SIRT1)/forkhead box-O3 (FOXO-3) signals. Additionally, pretreatment with CAN significantly decreased cortical myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitrite (NO2–), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. At the same time, it elevated the IL-10 level associated with the downregulation of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/activator protein 1 (AP-1), TLR4/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/nitric oxide (NO), and Ang II/Ang 1–7 signals. Due to the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of CAN, our findings showed that CAN could be a good candidate for the protection against CIS-induced cortical intoxication in the patient receiving CIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ventral hernia repair (VHR) postoperative complications vary in presentation, management, and severity. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of individual postoperative complications on long-term quality of life (QoL) after VHR. Methods: Data from the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative were analyzed retrospectively. Propensity score matching compared 1-year postoperative Hernia-Related Quality of Life Survey (HerQLes) summary scores between non-wound events (NWE), surgical site infection (SSI), and surgical site occurrence requiring procedural intervention (SSOPI) versus No-Complications. Results: 2796 patients who underwent VHR between 2013 and 2022 met the study criteria. Patients with SSI and SSOPI had lower QoL vs No-Complications (median (Interquartile range): 71 (40–92) vs 83 (52–94), P = 0.02; 68 (40–90) vs 78 (55–95), P = 0.008). NWE vs no-complications HerQLes score differences were similar (83 (53–92) vs 83 (60–93), P = 0.19). Conclusion: Wound events seem to have larger impact on patients' long-term QoL compared to NWE. Continued and aggressive efforts including preoperative optimization, technical points, and appropriate use of minimally invasive techniques can continue to reduce impactful wound events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac toxicity is a serious adverse effect of cisplatin (CIS). Lansoprazole (LPZ) is a proton pump inhibitor with promising cardioprotective effects. Our study planned to examine the cardioprotective effect of LPZ against CIS-induced cardiac injury. To achieve this goal, 32 male rats were randomly allocated into four groups. CIS, 7 mg/kg, was injected i.p. on the fifth day of the experiment. LPZ was administered via oral gavage at a dose of 50 mg/kg. The present study revealed that CIS injection induced a remarkable cardiac injury evidenced by an increase in serum ALP, AST, CK-MB, LDH, and troponin-I levels. The cardiac oxidative damage was also observed after CIS injection and mediated by downregulation of GSH, SOD, GST, Nrf2, HO-1, PPAR-γ, and cytoglobin levels associated with the upregulation of MDA content. Besides, CIS injection caused a significant inflammatory reaction mediated by alteration of cardiac NF-κB, STAT-3, p-STAT-3, and IκB expressions. Additionally, cardiac Ang-II expression was significantly increased in CIS control rats, while Ang 1–7 expression was significantly reduced relative to normal rats. In contrast, LPZ administration remarkably ameliorated these changes in the heart of CIS-intoxicated rats. Collectively, LPZ potently attenuated cardiac toxicity induced by CIS via regulation of Nrf2/HO-1, PPAR-γ, cytoglobin, IκB/NF-κB/STAT-3, and Ang-II/Ang 1–7 signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discharge- and laser-produced plasma (DLPP) devices are being used as light sources for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) generation. A key challenge for both, DPP and LPP, is achieving sufficient brightness to support the throughput requirements of nanometrology tools. To simulate the environment of a hybrid DLPP device and optimize the EUV output, we have developed an integrated HEIGHTS-DLPP computer simulation package. The package integrates simulation of two evolving plasmas (DPP and LPP) and includes modeling of a set of integrated self-consistent processes: external power source and plasma energy balance, plasma resistive magnetohydrodynamics, plasma heat conduction, detailed radiation transport (RT), and laser absorption and refraction. We simulated and optimized DLPP devices using Xe gas as a target material. We synchronized the external circuit parameters, chamber gas parameters, and laser beam temporal and spatial profiles to achieve maximum EUV output. The full 3D Monte Carlo scheme was integrated for detailed RT and EUV output calculations in Xe using more than 3600 spectral groups. The modeling results are in good agreement with Julich Forschungszentrum experimental data. Theoretical models, developed and integrated into the HEIGHTS package, showed wide capabilities and flexibility. The models and package can be used for optimization of the experimental parameters and settings, investigation of DLPP devices with complex design, analyzing the impact of integrated spatial effects and working timeline arrangement on the final EUV output, and EUV source size, shape, and angular distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper nanoparticles are widely incorporated into many applications, including air and liquid filters, wood preservatives, batteries, thermal and electrical conductivity, inks and skin products. Their potential toxicity and environmental fate, however, are poorly studied in the freshwater bivalves. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the different effects of copper oxide nanoparticles and ionic copper on the digestive glands and gills of the mussel Chambardia rubens. Mussels were treated with 100 and 1000 µg Cu L-1 of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) or ionic copper (Cu2+) for 3, 7, and 14 days. The Cu accumulation and markers of oxidative stress in the digestive glands and gills were evaluated. The results show that the digestive gland collected higher levels of the two forms of copper than the gills. Exposure to CuONPs or Cu2+ induced significant elevations in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation. Notably, a significant decrease was observed in the glutathione levels after exposure to both copper forms. CuONPs only induced a significant increase in glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase. The ionic copper only induced a significant decrease in catalase activities in the gill tissues. Overall, CuONPs and Cu2+ provoked oxidative stress, and further research is needed to clarify their genotoxic and neurotoxic effects on freshwater mussels and other biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne protozoan skin disease that affects all human ages and can pose extreme social and psychological impacts. This study aimed to reveal the epidemiological trends of CL in the Tabuk region, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), during the period from 2006 to 2021. Methods: patients with CL, who were detected and registered at the regional Vector-borne Diseases Control Unit of the Tabuk province, between January 2006 and December 2021, were analyzed in this retrospective study. The patients' data included their nationality, gender, and age, and their annual and month-by-month recorded patterns. Results: a total of 1575 CL patients were reported during the said period. They were 53.1% Saudis and 46.9% non-Saudi expatriates with a ratio around 1.1: 1.0; and they were re-categorized as 83.17% males and 16.83% females with a ratio of 4.9: 1.0 (p <0.5). Additionally, the majority (1002/1575; 63.6%) of these CL patients were in age group of 15-45 years (p <0.5), and the lowest number was in age group of <5 years. Most importantly, there was a continuous annual and month-by-month record of these patients; reflecting CL endemicity in the Tabuk region of KSA. Conclusion: the present findings imply that CL is endemic in the Tabuk region of KSA. As there is a recent increase in human immigration to this region, sustainable monitoring of CL and improving its control measures is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to magnesium and iron’s immiscibility, joining magnesium alloy and steel with modern welding procedures like friction stir welding (FSW) is still complicated. Insufficient chemical bonding and mixing of raw materials in the stir zone are the main problems of joining magnesium alloy and steel. Accordingly, this paper aims to use tools with different numbers of shoulders to boost the properties of the final joint. The different tools with 1, 2, 3 and 4 shoulders were produced and used between magnesium alloy and steel during FSW. The thermal changes during the process are monitored, material flow and mechanical properties are investigated, and fractography is done on the tensile test samples. The results show that increasing shoulder numbers enhances frictional heat generation but not leads to more mechanical interlocking of base metals at interfaces. The maximum heat was generated when welded by two shoulders (600 °C), and the lowest heat was generated in one shoulder joints (540 °C). The number of shoulders for achieving the best mechanical properties has limitations. The results show that the final quality of the joint improves from one shoulder tool to three, but shows decreases at joints that were welded by more than three shoulders. The most robust tensile strength was recorded in two shoulder samples (210 MPa) with brittle fracture behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rebamipide is a quinolone derivative that has been commonly used for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. However, the molecular mechanisms of rebamipide against acetic acid-evoked colitis have not been adequately examined. Hence, the current study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of rebamipide in a rat model of acetic acid-evoked ulcerative colitis and the linked mechanisms pertaining to SIRT1/FoxO3a/Nrf2 and PI3K/AKT pathways. Herein, colitis was induced by the intrarectal administration of 3% acetic acid solution in saline (v/v) while rebamipide was administered by oral gavage (100 mg/kg/day) for seven days before the colonic insult. The colonic injury was examined by macroscopical and microscopical examination. The current findings demonstrated that rebamipide significantly improved the colonic injury by lowering the colonic disease activity index and macroscopic mucosal injury score. Moreover, it mitigated the histopathological aberrations and microscopical damage score. The favorable outcomes of rebamipide were driven by combating inflammation evidenced by dampening the colonic expression of NF-κBp65 and the pro-inflammatory markers CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6. In the same context, rebamipide curtailed the colonic pro-inflammatory PI3K/AKT pathway as seen by downregulating the immunostaining of PI3K and p-AKT(Ser473) signals. In tandem, rebamipide combated the colonic pro-oxidant events and augmented the antioxidant milieu by significantly diminishing the colonic TBARS and replenishing GSH, SOD, GST, GPx, and CAT. In the same regard, rebamipide stimulated the colonic upstream SIRT1/FoxO3a/Nrf2 axis by upregulating the expression of SIRT1, FoxO3a, and Nrf2, alongside downregulating Keap-1 gene expression. These antioxidant actions were accompanied by upregulation of the protein expression of the cytoprotective signal PPAR-γ in the colons of rats. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that the promising ameliorative features of rebamipide against experimental colitis were driven by combating the colonic inflammatory and oxidative responses. In perspective, augmentation of colonic SIRT1/FoxO3a/Nrf2 and inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathways were engaged in the observed favorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To compare the measurements of the angle of deviation through spectacles versus contact lenses and with the theoretically calculated angle. Patients and methods A total of 20 patients with comitant strabismus, more than 20 PD with spectacles, associated with bilateral myopia (spherical equivalent >1 D in both eyes) were included. Angle of deviation was measured using prism and cover test with spectacles and with contact lenses fitted according to the cycloplegic refraction and refined by subjective refraction. Agreements between the measurements obtained with contact lenses and those obtained with spectacles as well as the theoretically calculated angle were analyzed. Results The mean age was 15.6±10.9 years. Average spherical equivalent was -9.1±4.2 D. Measurements obtained with contact lenses were significantly lower than those with spectacles (P<0.001) with coefficient of variation of 27.7%, indicating poor agreement of both measurements. Limits of agreement in Bland-Altman plots were more than 9 PD (d±2s, -8.8 to 6 PD). The agreement was lower with larger angles. Measurements obtained with contact lenses were significantly lower than theoretical angles (P=0.002) but coefficient of variation between both measurements was 8.8%, indicating good agreement of measurements. There was little systematic or proportionate bias between the contact lens measurements and the theoretical angle. Conclusions Contact lens measurements were significantly lower than spectacle measurements in myopic patients. The contact lens measurements were in good agreement with the theoretically calculated angle. This overestimation of the angle with spectacles might be responsible for overcorrection of myopic patients with exotropia after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: QT dispersion is the interval between the longest QT (QTmax) as well as the shortest QT (QTmin) recorded on a surface 12-lead electrocardiogram. It has a predictive value for ventricular arrhythmias including patients with ischemic heart diseases as well. Coronary slow flow has been always an ambiguous entity on the scale of ischemic heart disease. The predictive value of QT dispersion for coronary slow flow may add a non-invasive tool for the identification of these patients. Objectives: Evaluation of QT dispersion in the prediction of coronary slow flow phenomena in patients having stable coronary artery disease experiencing coronary angiography. Results: In patients having coronary slow flow, QTc dispersion is prolonged. Conclusion: In patients having stable coronary artery disease, QTc dispersion can be employed as a simple non-invasive approach for predicting coronary slow flow; coronary slow flow is not necessarily associated with a benign course, as evidenced by the fact that these patients exhibit a prolonged QT dispersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac toxicity is a public health issue that can be caused by both environmental and occupational exposures. The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of carvedilol (CV), Acetovanillone (ACET), and their combination for ameliorating cadmium (Cd)-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and necroptosis. Rats were assigned to; the normal group, Cd group (2 mg/kg; i.p., single dose), and the other three groups received orally CV (10 mg/kg), ACET (25 mg/kg), and CV plus ACET, respectively and a single dose of Cd. Oral administration of CV, ACET, and their combination significantly dampens cardiac oxidative injury by increasing antioxidants GSH and SOD levels, while it decreases MDA and NADPH oxidase levels mediated by decreasing cardiac abundance of Nrf2, HO-1, and SIRT1 and downregulating KEAP-1 and FOXO-3 levels. Also, they significantly attenuated inflammatory response as indicated by reducing MPO and NOx as well as proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 mediated by downregulating TLR4, iNOS, and NF-κB proteins expression as well as IκB upregulation. Moreover, they potently counteracted cardiac necroptosis by downregulating RIPK1, RIPK3, MLKL, and caspase-8 proteins expression. Of note, the combination of CV and ACET have marked protection that exceeded each drug alone. Conclusively, CV ad ACET potently mitigated Cd-induced cardiac intoxication by regulating NADPH oxidase, KEAP-1/Nrf2/HO-1, SIRT1/FOXO-3, TLR4/NF-κB/iNOS, and RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swimmers' personal hygiene affects the spread of microbes in pools. The present study aimed to determine the incidence of microbial infections among young Egyptian swimmers and its impact on swimmers' scores. From January 2020 to June 2021, 528 public club swimmers were examined cross-sectionally. Swimmers were divided into two groups according to their star tests and their scores in the competition (group 1 with a high score and group 2 with a low score). Stool samples, biochemical and biological parameters were assessed. Microbial infections were 54% for intestinal parasitosis and 2.8% for Helicobacter pylori. The rate of intestinal parasitosis was higher among Gp2 as compared to Gp1. The results also revealed higher prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia lamblia, Entameba histolytica, and Cyclospora among Gp2 than Gp1. Swimming frequency, and duration influenced the infectious status that induced anemia, abnormal blood pressure, and heart rate. Infected swimmers with cryptosporidiosis had higher alanine transaminase levels, white blood cells, and differential cells but lower aspartate transaminase levels. Giardiasis showed higher reduction in the biochemical markers including ferritin, lactoferrin, iron, and transferrin among Gp 2, compared to Gp 1 and thus affected the swimmers' scores. Thus, raising swimmers' hygiene awareness and targeting health education is obliged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, numerical simulation has been done to study the cooling enhancement of electronic components of cubical shapes including dummy elements inside a rectangular duct. The 12 electronic chips (3 × 4 array) of dimensions (50 mm × 50 mm × 10 mm) are tested in an air duct of dimensions (350 mm × 3500 mm × 60 mm). The aim of the simulation is to study the influence of changing positions of the hot components on the overall cooling performance at different Reynolds numbers. Moreover, the effect of spacing between electronic components is studied. This is achieved by changing the position of the heat sources while keeping other elements as dummies to keep the flow characteristics. The Reynolds number is in the range (500-19000). The standard k-e, model is used and validated with experimental work showing good agreement. The 37 cases per Reynolds are considered, resulting in an overall 259 studied cases. It is concluded in terms of the large resulting data from this study that, increasing the spacing between elements in the cooling fluid-flow direction influences the cooling rate. Moreover, designers should be interested to operate such systems at optimized higher Reynolds values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]