Search

AbstractThe Security Council, as the executive organ of the United Nations, has wide powers to resolve international disputes and to achieve international peace and security. It has the power to define and conditioning illegal acts and to impose economic sanctions. The imposition of such sanctions by the Security Council raises many doubts about its credibility, although it is based on legal basis in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. Many of the terms set out in the Charter, particularly those in Article 39, makes many problems about its interpretation. which help powerful countries to adapt these texts to.

Urea oxidation reaction (UOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are the key processes for implementing urinated water electrolysis and hydrogen green production, respectively. This contribution investigates the modification of commercial nickel foam (NF) with a nickel phosphate (NiPO/NF) heterostructure layer via anodizing in phosphate solution at various potentials (5, 10 and 15 V) as a simple and efficient route to boost the urea-assisted water electrolysis and hydrogen production in alkaline medium. The morphology and composition physicochemical characterisation of the phosphate layer exhibit aggregates of crystalline nanoparticles with interstitial mesoporous and macroporous networks with a mole composition ratio of 9.42: 1.0: 8.14 for Ni: P: O respectively. The electrochemical measurements revealed the NiPO/NF anodized at 10 V exhibits a superior electroactive surface area of 255 cm2, a substantially higher urea oxidation current compared to pristine NF, achieving 20 and 500 mA/cm2 at 1.35 and 1.6 V vs. RHE respectively and retained 100 % of activity during the urea electrolysis for more than 3 h. The electrochemical impedance analysis confirmed the alkaline urea oxidation reaction proceeded via indirect (EC) and direct mechanism and the CO2 intermediates adsorption–desorption became the predominant reaction at more positive potential. The NiPO/NF anode employed in an H-shape can deliver up to ±400 mA/cm2 for UOR/HER at a bias potential of 1.85 V and 8-fold (2.0 mmol/min) much higher hydrogen production rate compared to the pristine NF anode (0.25 mmol/min). Combining commercial nickel foam modification via anodizing and alkaline urea electrolysis at ambient conditions offers a unique and innovative solution for both large-scale hydrogen green production as well as remedy of the urinated wastewater for a more sustainable future.

AIM: To investigate the short-term effects of commercially available eyelid-cleaning wipes on film parameters. METHODS: This study enrolled 48 healthy participants aged 20-35y (both males and females). Clinical assessment included the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), and lipid layer pattern (LLP). Based on these initial results, participants were categorized as either non-dry eye or dry eye. Participants in each group were randomly allocated to either Blephaclean® or Systane® treatments. Changes in NITBUT, TMH, and LLP levels before and after lid wipe treatment were assessed. RESULTS: The dry eye group exhibited significantly higher OSDI scores and lower NITBUT and TMH levels than in the non-dry eye group (P0.05). Similarly, the LLP levels were significantly improved with Systane® (P

Infected wounds pose a significant challenge in healthcare, requiring innovative therapeutic strategies. Therefore, there is a critical need for innovative pharmaceutical materials to improve wound healing and combat bacterial growth. This study examined the efficacy of azithromycin-loaded silver nanoparticles (AZM-AgNPs) in treating infected wounds. AgNPs synthesized using a green method with Quinoa seed extract were loaded with AZM. Characterization techniques, including X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Uv-Vis analysis were utilized. The agar diffusion assay and determination of the MIC were used to assess the initial antibacterial impact of the formulations on both MRSA and E. coli. In addition, the antimicrobial, wound-healing effects and histological changes following treatment with the AZM-AgNPs were assessed using an infected rat model. The nanoparticles had size of 24.9 ± 15.2 nm for AgNPs and 34.7 ± 9.7 nm for AZM-AgNPs. The Langmuir model accurately characterized the adsorption of AZM onto the AgNP surface, indicating a maximum loading capacity of 162.73 mg/g. AZM-AgNPs exhibited superior antibacterial properties in vivo and in vitro compared to controls. Using the agar diffusion technique, AZM-AgNPs showed enhanced zones of inhibition against E. coli and MRSA, which was coupled with decreased MIC levels. In addition, in vivo studies showed that AZM-AgNP treated rats had the best outcome characterized by improved healing process, lower bacterial counts and superior epithelialization, compared to the control group. In conclusion, AZM-AgNPs can be synthesized using a green method with Quinoa seed with successful loading of azithromycin onto silver nanoparticles. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest the promising use of AZM-AgNPs as an effective therapeutic agent for infected wounds.

Medical imaging techniques are the most popular non-invasive methods to diagnose chest diseases. Chest X-ray scans are employed commonly to detect chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and other respiratory diseases. Despite the significance of these diagnostic methods, the process of disease detection and the subsequent task of CXR report writing is tedious for radiologists. Therefore, Automated radiological report generation is a highly desirable task for radiologists. Previous studies were focused on the automated generation of medical reports to achieve greater quantitative scores rather than focusing on the quality of reports. Such approaches suffer from the problem of generating normal reports for CXR with diseases. Additionally, the absence of clear segregation between normal and abnormal samples in publicly available datasets its impossible to evaluate the performance of models in generating rare abnormal reports. To address these issues, we propose CNX-B2 which is a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) combined with a Transformer approach to generate medical reports. The proposed encoder is designed to be both hybrid and efficient, capturing meaningful spatial features through inherent convolution biases. This enables the transformer-based decoder to robustly convert these features into coherent medical reports. Secondly, we also introduce a new radiological report dataset to evaluate model performances on abnormal reports separately. Our proposed model is further evaluated on the IU-Xray dataset, achieving competitive scores of 0.479 BLEU-1, 0.188 METEOR, and 0.586 CIDER.

Abstract Aim To identify barriers to conducting and publishing research among nursing faculty members at Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia. Design A qualitative descriptive design was used. Methods This qualitative descriptive study was conducted on 12 nursing faculty members from two nursing colleges at Shaqra University, a public university located in Riyadh region, SA, under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. Data were collected between September and October 2021 using semi‐structured interviews and analysed thematically using content analysis. Results Three themes emerged in the study, namely (I) individual/personal barrier, (II) institutional barrier and (III) external factors. Barriers to conducting and publishing research included lack of time due to a high teaching load and lack of administrative and financial support. The present findings suggest that nursing faculty members in SA are facing many barriers hindering them from carrying out and publishing research activities. Such barriers need to be urgently addressed through different strategies, including allocating facilities and funds for research, motivating faculty members towards research, and ongoing education and training on research.

Background: Students’ academic self-efficacy is greatly associated with their academic performance. An effective instrument is needed to assess academic self-efficacy in the Saudi context. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Academic Nurse Self-Efficacy Scale-Arabic version (ANSE-A) given to student nurses and the associations between the students’ demographics and overall ANSE-A scores. Methods: Quantitative and descriptive methods were applied. The study was conducted from January to July 2022 at Shaqra University with 200 nursing students as the convenience sample. For content validity, the item-level content and scale-level content validity indices were utilized following the averaging method. We used Cronbach’s alpha (α) to measure the reliability. Meanwhile, for construct validity, we performed an analysis of the principal component with varimax rotation and applied a t-test and ANOVA for the tests of the association of variables. Results: Four distinct factors were revealed in the factor analysis, and they explained 64.86% of the variance. The 14-item ANSE-A’s overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.87, with four factors ranging from 0.74 to 0.76. The academic self-efficacy of the students was found to be associated with their gender and GPA. A weak positive correlation existed between the students’ GPA and academic self-efficacy (r = 0.17, p = 0.017). Conclusions: The ANSE-A is a valid and reliable instrument that can be utilized to assess the academic self-efficacy of student nurses in Saudi Arabia. The results of the assessment may be used to help boost nursing students’ achievement and emotional health and serve as a valid predictor of motivation and learning.

Dental care accessibility is subject to a dentist’s qualification, practice and intention to treat patients, regardless of whether those patients have special healthcare needs (SCN) and should receive treatment in a dental setting. This multicentre study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of patients with SCN, their access to dental care and behaviour towards dental care from their caregiver’s perspective. In addition, the perspective of dental care providers who care for patients with SCN and the factors affecting the provision of treatment was also appraised. The Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia served as the site of this cross-sectional study from 1 February 2020 to 31 January 2022. Caregivers of 272 patients with SCN, regardless of age and gender, were recruited in the study. The caregiver’s proforma sought information on the demographic characteristics, type of disability, cooperation, medical history, occupation of the parent and patient’s behaviour towards oral hygiene and dental healthcare. The second proforma had the dental care provider’s perspective about the common disabilities, factors that affect the decision to provide treatment, difficulties patients face in getting their dental treatment and, from the dentist’s experience, recommendations to improve the access to dental care for patients with SCN. Statistical analysis was carried out by using SPSS version 22.0. The demographic features, caregiver’s perception about oral healthcare accessibility and dental professional’s point of view were presented as frequencies and percentages. Chi-square test was applied to compare the proportions. The majority of the caregivers were satisfied with the dental service providers (91.9%) for their patients with SCN. The dental care provider’s survey results indicated a shortage of dentists (54.7%) in the region and other factors that pose challenges to special care, like the severity of the disability of patients with SCN (50%), family structure (46.7%), treatment cost (35.6%) and transportation (32.8%). Patients with SCN in Saudi Arabia had a high appraisal of access to dental care and were very satisfied with dental treatment results. However, the presence of a dental care provider in the same rehabilitation centre was a major concern. The severity of the disability and the patient’s cooperation were the major factors that may have affected the decision of the dental care provider.

يهدف البحث إلى بيان العلاقة بين تبني معيار (IFRS13) والهشاشة المالية ضمن القطاع المصرفي العراقي، وشملت عينة البحث التقارير المالية لبعض المصارف المدرجة في سوق العراق للأوراق المالية وعددها (14) مصرفاً وللفترة من (2016) لغاية (2021) لتكون عدد المشاهدات (84) مشاهدة، وقد اعتمد الباحثان في قياس القيمة العادلة معيار(IFRS13) على مقياسين هما الأهمية النسبية للقيمة العادلة لصافي الدخل، والأهمية النسبية للقيمة العادلة للدخل الشامل، أما الهشاشة المالية فتم قياسها بمؤشر(Z-Score)، وتوصل البحث إلى أن هناك علاقة إيجابية ذات دلالة إحصائية بين تبني القيمة العادلة معيار(IFRS13) والهشاشة المالية.

Asseel Khalaf,1 Anwar B Almutairi,2 Raed Saeed,1 Naser Alotaibi,3 Hamad Alhamad,3 Layla Ghadanfar1 1Radiologic Sciences Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait; 2Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait; 3Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitCorrespondence: Asseel Khalaf, Tel +965 2463 3567, Email Asseel.khalaf@ku.edu.kwIntroduction: Clinical supervision (CS) is essential to practice-based learning in radiology. The assessment of the effectiveness of CS is essential to ensure the success of the process and to provide high-quality patient care.Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the CS of both Diagnostic Radiography (DR) and Nuclear Medicine (NM) technology students studying at Kuwait University.Methods: The Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale-26 (MCSS-26©) was distributed electronically to 90 third and fourth year students from Radiologic Sciences department. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Ethical Committee and all the participants provided electronic informed consent. Data are presented as mean ± SD.Results: Seventy responses were collected from DR and NM (response rate 78%, DR: n= 51, NM: n=19). Overall, the mean CS score from the MCSS was 67.7± 11.3, n=70. CS in NM scored more effective than that in DR with a p=0.037 (72.3± 10.1, 66.0± 11.3, respectively).Conclusion: The effectiveness of CS has been evaluated in third and fourth year students across the two divisions of RS the department at Kuwait University. This study showed that students value the impact of CS in their professional role and 70% reported being satisfied with the overall CS experience. Limited studies are available that focuses on students’ perceptions about clinical supervision; therefore, more studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of CS among RS students. Implications for interprofessional education are presented.Keywords: clinical supervision, MCSS-26, radiography, education, practice-based learning, student‘s perception

This study presents the successful synthesis of a cesium–nickel–vanadium fluoride (CsNiVF6) pyrochlore nano-sheet catalyst via solid-phase synthesis and its electrochemical performance in green hydrogen production through urea electrolysis in alkaline media. The physicochemical characterizations revealed that the CsNiVF6 exhibits a pyrochlore-type structure consisting of a disordered cubic corner-shared (Ni, V)F6 octahedra structure and nano-sheet morphology with a thickness ranging from 10 to 20 nm. Using the CsNiVF6 catalyst, the electrochemical analysis, conducted through cyclic voltammetry, demonstrates a current mass activity of ~1500 mA mg−1, recorded at 1.8 V vs. RHE, along with low-resistance (3.25 ohm) charge transfer and good long-term stability for 0.33 M urea oxidation in an alkaline solution. Moreover, the volumetric hydrogen production rate at the cathode (bare nickel foam) is increased from 12.25 to 39.15 µmol/min upon the addition of 0.33 M urea to a 1.0 KOH solution and at a bias potential of 2.0 V. The addition of urea to the electrolyte solution enhances hydrogen production at the cathode, especially at lower voltages, surpassing the volumes produced in pure 1.0 M KOH solution. This utilization of a CsNiVF6 pyrochlore nano-sheet catalyst and renewable urea as a feedstock contributes to the development of a green and sustainable hydrogen economy. Overall, this research underscores the potential use of CsNiVF6 as a cost-effective nickel-based pyrochlore electrocatalyst for advancing renewable and sustainable urea electrolysis processes toward green hydrogen production.

The water buffalo has a seasonal reproductive pattern with reduced sexual activity during the longer photoperiod. The goal of this study was to identify the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene in Iraqi buffalo cows and 3D structure of its protein and phylogeny with other sequences around the world. The 824 bp fragment of exon II of the MTNR1 A gene was amplified from 190 buffalo cows (4-5 years old) genomic DNA belonging to local breeders in Al-Chibayish Marshes, Southern Iraq. Amplified PCR products underwent custom sequencing at the two ends (5′ and 3′ ends). Five separate polymorphism sites, the 1st included 52 animals with 19 mutations (12 missense), the 2nd included 39 animals with 18 mutations (11 missense), the 3rd included 35 animals with 18 mutations (12 missense), the 4th included 32 animals with 18 mutations (12 missense) and the 5th included 32 animals with 14 mutations (8 missense). These polymorphic sites with accession numbers LC565046, LC565047, LC565709, LC565710 and LC565711 respectively were registered in gene bank. The phylogenetic tree reveals that in some of the Iraqi buffalo, the sequences of MTNR1A gene has identical to the Italian buffalo (GU817415), and the Brazilian buffalo (JN689386). Data revealed a marked difference in the fifth polymorphism sites' 3D protein structure because of the mutations. In conclusion, as a result of mutations, the gene MTNR1A in Iraqi buffalo has polymorphisms; these polymorphisms may be linked to gene function, Therefore, further studies are needed to connect the polymorphisms of this gene with the productive and reproductive traits.

Ashokkumar Thirunavukkarasu,1 Abdullah Naser Abdullah Alshahrani,1,2 Doaa Mazen Abdel-Salam,3 Ahmad Homoud Al-Hazmi,1 Bashayer Farhan ALruwaili,1 Aseel Awad Alsaidan,1 Bayapa Reddy Narapureddy,3 Aliyah Muteb AL-Ruwaili,4 Fahad Ghuwayli aljabri,5 Rahaf Khalaf Albalawi,5 Khaled Abdulrahman F Alanazi5 1Department of Community and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Public Health, Asir Health Affairs, Asir Region, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 4Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Jouf Health Affairs, Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia; 5College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ashokkumar Thirunavukkarasu, Email ashokkumar@ju.edu.saBackground and Objectives: Optimal blood pressure control is achieved by medication adherence. This will reduce the risk of associated morbidities and mortalities. The present study aimed to determine medication adherence and its associated factors among hypertensive patients attending different primary health centers (PHC) in Abha, Saudi Arabia (KSA).Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among ten different PHCs in Abha, KSA. Simple random sampling procedure was utilized to choose 400 participants. A structured anonymous questionnaire was used in the present study. Analysis of the data was done using the SPSS program, version 23. A logistic regression statistical test was applied to identify the independent associated factors of medication adherence. Furthermore, we have applied Spearman’s test to find the correlation between overall B-IPQ score and medication adherence score.Results: A total of 400 hypertensive patients responded in the present survey. More than one-third of the participants (36.3%) were in the high adherence category group, while the remaining participants (63.7%) were either low or medium adherence category. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that low and medium adherence category is significantly associated with age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.96, 95% CI =0.93– 0.99, p = 0.021), married participants (AOR = 0.42, 95% CI =0.33– 0.58, p = 0.001), residing at village (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI =1.14– 1.73, p = 0.038), and participants with monthly family income of 5000 to 7000 SAR (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI =1.62– 5.79, p = 0.001). A negligible positive correlation was revealed between illness perception and medication adherence.Conclusion: The present study revealed that hypertensive patients poorly adhere to their antihypertensive medications. This low adherence is significantly associated with the age, monthly income, people living in rural areas, and married participants. The present study results recommend sustained efforts to implement health education programs and awareness-raising interventions targeted at hypertensive patients.Keywords: medication adherence, hypertension, illness perception, primary health centers, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: The main cause for developing periapical lesions (PA) is the root canal infection. The mentioned causes may play a role in not controlling it but are not a “true” cause. Objective: To determine apical status and prevalence of endodontic treated tooth using radiograph assessment in relation to quality of root canal treatment and clinical factors among Saudi adults in the Eastern province. Patients and methods: This prospective case series study included 2161 patients who received root canal treatment (RCT) at Dammam Specialized Dental Center, Dammam Medical Complex, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia, between October 21, 2019 and April 22, 2020, after getting ethical approval from the Institutional Research Board (IRB). Saudi natives of either gender, age ≥ 18, with at least one fixed bridge or single dental crown evaluated on a clear, high-quality radiography image were recruited for the study. To determine the periapical state of root canal-filled teeth, the 'periapical index' (PAI) was used. All pertinent patient information was analyzed in SPSS verion-20 (IBM product, Chicago). Results: Out of 2161 cases, a PA lesion was present in 756 (35.0%). The prevalence of periapical lesions in endodontically treated teeth was 31.2%. PA lesion was associated with molar involvement (50.8% vs. 36.6%, p = 0.001), poor RCT quality (85.2% vs. 51.0%, p = 0.001), and smoking (13.6% vs. 10.5%, p = 0.028). According to logistic regression model, female gender, molar tooth, and poor RCT quality were more likely to expose PA lesion 1.5 times, 1.8 times, and 5 times, respectively. Conclusion: It is concluded that approximately 1/3rd of endodontically treated teeth are susceptible to the occurrence of periapical lesions in radiographic assessment, which are significantly associated with females, molars, and poor RCT quality, indicating a challenge for endodontists to improve their root canal assessment accuracy.

BackgroundDespite insufficient evidence, vitamin D has been used as adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19. This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of vitamin D as an adjunctive therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort study that included all adult COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) between March 2020 and July 2021. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their vitamin D use throughout their ICU stay (control vs. vitamin D). The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were the length of stay (LOS), mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, and ICU-acquired complications. Propensity score (PS) matching (1:1) was used based on the predefined criteria. Multivariable logistic, Cox proportional hazards, and negative binomial regression analyses were employed as appropriate.ResultsA total of 1,435 patients were included in the study. Vitamin D was initiated in 177 patients (12.3%), whereas 1,258 patients did not receive it. A total of 288 patients were matched (1:1) using PS. The in-hospital mortality showed no difference between patients who received vitamin D and the control group (HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.87–1.71; p = 0.26). However, MV duration and ICU LOS were longer in the vitamin D group (beta coefficient 0.24 (95% CI 0.00–0.47), p = 0.05 and beta coefficient 0.16 (95% CI −0.01 to 0.33), p = 0.07, respectively). As an exploratory outcome, patients who received vitamin D were more likely to develop major bleeding than those who did not [OR 3.48 (95% CI 1.10, 10.94), p = 0.03].ConclusionThe use of vitamin D as adjunctive therapy in COVID-19 critically ill patients was not associated with survival benefits but was linked with longer MV duration, ICU LOS, and higher odds of major bleeding.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin notably produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract (BSFE) contains specific enzymes which hydrolyse OTA. This study evaluated the efficiency of BSFE in ameliorating the immunotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of OTA in broiler chickens.

Background: Transcatheter implantation of the Edwards Sapien 3 valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine CA) within the bioprosthetic mitral valve (MV) is an established method of treatment in adults. However, it has not been well studied in the pediatric age group. Methods: Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation was attempted in 4 symptomatic pediatric patients with a dysfunctional MV bioprosthesis implanted at an earlier stage due to severe MV stenosis or regurgitation. We reviewed our experience with MV implantation in this cohort. Results: The mean age and weight of the patients at the time of the procedure were 11.4 years (range: 10-14 years) and 36 kg (range: 31-44 kg), respectively. The transmitral mean gradient dropped from a mean of 19.75 mm Hg (range: 15-22 mm Hg) to a mean of 1 mm Hg (range: 0-3 mm Hg) after the procedure. The mean fluoroscopy time was 55.25 minutes (range: 40-72 minutes), and the mean hospital length of stay was 4 days (range: 3-7 days). The patients’ functional class improved from New York Heart Association class IV to class I during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation can be performed safely for dysfunctional bioprosthetic MVs in the pediatric age group with favorable early and midterm outcomes. This procedure offers a viable alternative in patients who have high surgical risk or are deemed unfit for conventional surgery. However, we still recommend a long-term study of this approach in a large cohort, multicentre study. Résumé: Introduction: L’implantation de la prothèse valvulaire Edwards Sapien 3 (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) par cathéter dans la bioprothèse valvulaire mitrale (VM) est une méthode de traitement établie chez les adultes. Toutefois, cette méthode n’a pas fait l’objet d’études approfondies auprès d’enfants. Méthodes: Une tentative d’implantation valvulaire mitrale de type valve-in-valve par cathéter a été réalisée chez quatre enfants symptomatiques qui avaient une bioprothèse VM dysfonctionnelle implantée antérieurement en raison d’une sténose VM ou d’une régurgitation grave. Nous avons passé en revue notre expérience d’implantation VM auprès de cette cohorte. Résultats: L’âge et le poids moyens des patients au moment de l’intervention étaient respectivement de 11,4 ans (étendue : 10-14 ans) et de 36 kg (étendue : 31-44 kg). La moyenne du gradient moyen transmitral a baissé. Elle est passée de 19,75 mmHg (étendue : 15-22 mmHg) à 1 mmHg (étendue : 0-3 mmHg) après l’intervention. La durée moyenne de la fluoroscopie était de 55,25 minutes (étendue : 40-72 minutes), et la durée moyenne du séjour à l'hôpital était de quatre jours (fourchette : 3-7 jours). La classification fonctionnelle des patients selon la New York Heart Association a montré une baisse. Les patients sont passés de la classe IV à la classe I durant la période de suivi. Conclusions: L’implantation valvulaire mitrale de type valve-in-valve par cathéter peut être pratiquée de façon sûre chez les enfants porteurs d’une bioprothèse VM dysfonctionnelle dont les issues à court ou à moyen terme sont favorables. Cette intervention est une alternative viable pour ces patients dont le risque lié à l’intervention chirurgicale est élevé ou considérés inaptes à subir une intervention chirurgicale traditionnelle. Toutefois, nous recommandons encore une étude à long terme sur cette approche, voire une vaste étude multicentrique de cohorte.

Samy Zaky,1,* Hanaa K Fathelbab,2 Mohamed Elbadry,3,* Fathiya El-Raey,4,* Sherief M Abd-Elsalam,5 Hoda A Makhlouf,6 Nahed A Makhlouf,7 Mohamed A Metwally,8 Fatma Ali-Eldin,9 Ali Abdelazeem Hasan,6 Mohamed Alboraie,10 Ahmed M Yousef,11 Hanan M Shata,12 Alshaimaa Eid,1,* Noha Asem,13 Asmaa Khalaf,14 Mohamed A Elnady,15 Mohamed Elbahnasawy,16 Ahmed Abdelaziz,4 Shaker W Shaltout,17 Eman E Elshemy,1,* Atef Wahdan,18 Mohamed S Hegazi,4 Amin Abdel Baki,19,* Mohamed Hassany19 On behalf of Ministry of Health and Population COVID-19 board and Egyptian Society of fever (ESF) and UCHID-COVID-19 special interest group1Department of Hepatogastroenterology and Infectious Diseases; Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Department of Endemic diseases; Minia University, Minia, Egypt; 3Department of Endemic Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt; 4Department of Hepatogastroenterology and Infectious Diseases Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt; 5Department of Tropical Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt; 6Department of Chest, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 7Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 8Department of Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Infectious Diseases, Benha University, Benha, Egypt; 9Department of Tropical medicine; Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 10Department of Internal Medicine; Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 11Department of Community and Industrial Medicine, Damietta, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt; 12Department of Chest Medicine; Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 13Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Cairo University and Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt; 14Department of Radiology, Minia University, Minia, Egypt; 15Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 16Department of Emergency Medicine and Traumatology, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt; 17Department of Tropical Medicine, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt; 18Department of Chest Diseases, Damietta, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt; 19Department Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Infectious diseases National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute NHTMRI, Cairo, Egypt*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Sherief M Abd-Elsalam, Department of Tropical Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt, Tel +201063319696, Email sherif.abdelbaky@med.tanta.edu.egBackground & Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health problem, presenting with symptoms ranging from mild nonspecific symptoms to serious pneumonia. Early screening techniques are essential in the diagnosis and assessment of disease progression. This consensus was designed to clarify the role of lung ultrasonography versus other imaging modalities in the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A multidisciplinary team consisting of experts from different specialties (ie, pulmonary diseases, infectious diseases, intensive care unit and emergency medicine, radiology, and public health) who deal with patients with COVID-19 from different geographical areas was classified into task groups to review the literatures from different databases and generate 10 statements. The final consensus statements were based on expert physically panelists’ discussion held in Cairo July 2021 followed by electric voting for each statement.Results: The statements were electronically voted to be either “agree,” “not agree,” or “neutral.” For a statement to be accepted to the consensus, it should have 80% agreement.Conclusion: Lung ultrasonography is a rapid and useful tool, which can be performed at bedside and overcomes computed tomography limitations, for screening and monitoring patients with COVID-19 with an accepted accuracy rate.Keywords: lung ultrasound, consensus, coronavirus disease 2019, Egypt

Dalal Ibrahim Alessa,1 Reem Rashed AlHuthail,1 Shahd Abdullah Al Mahfud,2 Ayshah Sayed Alshngeetee,2 Shahad A Alruwaili,2 Ahmad Mamoun Khalaf,2 Malak Mohammed Almutlq2 1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Shahd Abdullah Al Mahfud, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 561280230, Email ShahdAlMahfud@gmail.comPurpose: Self-medication is the selection and use of drugs by individuals to treat self-diagnosed diseases or symptoms. While some patients regard self-medicating as harmless, it is far from being a safe practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward self-medicating eye symptoms in Saudi Arabia.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire on a study population that consisted of Saudi nationals aged 18 and older who were using or had previously used ophthalmic medications.Results: Among the 524 responses obtained, 79.4% were female, and more than half were less than 40 years old. Participants admitting to practicing ophthalmic self-medication measured 62.4%. The most commonly self-prescribed ophthalmic medications were artificial tears (n=276), followed by antiallergic (n=57) and antibiotic medications (n=33). Many participants reported that the reason for self-treatment was for repeated and simple symptoms that did not require professional care. While approximately 51% showed high levels of knowledge about ophthalmic medications, no significant relationship was seen with their choice to self-medicate (P=0.153).Conclusion: Despite detecting a high level of knowledge and acceptable practices and attitudes among participants, a high incidence of self-medication was observed. This effect was mostly attributed to long hospital waiting times and patient self-diagnosis. Increasing the number of healthcare units and properly educating patients on ophthalmic medications may help decrease the incidence of self-medication.Keywords: eye drops, KAP, Saudi Arabia, self-medication, traditional eye medicine

Background: A major shift has occured in the trend of dealing with dental caries from primary to secondary prevention, specially after SDF approval off-label by US FDA in recent years and Hall Technique (HT) in the last decade. Objectives: To determine the frequency of awareness and use of Silver Diammine Fluoride (SDF) and Hall technique among dental professionals in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a public hospital, metropolitan city of Middle Eastern region between March 15, 2019 & January 31, 2020. Dental practitioners were requested, with their consent, to fill up a digitally designed survey. Chi-square test on SPSS-20.0 was applied to compare frequency of awareness and use of SDF and HALL Technique among the survey participants. Results: The awareness of SDF was found to be 73.6% among specialists, 54.9% among graduates and 29.6% among students whereas awareness of HALL technique for stainless steel crown in pediatric dentistry was found statistically similar in all participants groups i.e. 42.7% in students, 55.5% in graduates and 54.9% in specialist group (p = 0.125). Conclusion: The results show potential with regards to awareness of dental specialists & postgraduate residents but inadequate among general dentists and students though all were keen advocates and found committed to its use to help the community. It points towards a further need of the of education for all groups. Those non- invasive techniques are very useful tools in general but specifically during Covid-19 pandemic where they can play a major role in preventing the spread of infection, arresting decay, alleviating pain and anxiety without resorting to aggressive treatment like pulp treatment/extraction. Low response rate may be improved in future through the respondents’ counselling and regular follow up.

Abstract Background Every person has a persona (or mask) which is the façade that every person shows to the world. Thus, males use façade to reveal or conceal their true feelings and emotions. Also, the male uses mental health façade to protect themselves from prejudice and judgment. Thus, the study aimed to explore the experiences of male Saudi nursing students of mental health. Method Husserl’s descriptive phenomenology was used as a guiding lens to explore. Eleven participants were involved in the study by using the referral sampling technique. An unstructured interview was performed to gather information from the participants. The seven steps of the descriptive Colaizzi process were followed to investigate and examine the obtained data. The credibility, dependability, confirmability, transferability, and reflexivity criteria were observed to ensure the rigor of the study. Results The findings have two major themes. The first theme is the unadulterated smile that describes optimism in the family and mutual guarantee. The second theme is the orchestrated smile, which describes avoiding diverting burdens, social responsibility, protection of self, and reputation. Conclusions The findings document that the mental health façade of male Saudi nursing students is associated with the expectation of family optimism, mutual guarantee, the expectation of society, and self-protection.

A general investigation of digenean parasites was carried out from four fish species; Fahka puffer fish (Tetraodon lineatus), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Sharp tooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Bayad (Bagrus bajad) from different localities of the River Nile in Qena and Aswan governorates, Egypt during October 2015 to August 2016. Four adult digeneans were found, belonging to four genera; Astiotrema, Orientocreadium, Glossidium and Acanthostomum. These were Astiotrema impletum 90% (27/30), Orientocreadium batrachoides 83.33% (25/30), Glossidium pedatum 60% (12/20) and Acanthostomum spiniceps 86.66% (26/30). Additionally, two larval trematodes (metacercariae) were detected, belonging to two genera; Clinostomum and Euclinostomum. These were Clinostomum complantum 85.57% (60/70) and Euclinostomum heterostomum 70% (35/50). Morphological and morphometric characters were discussed for each species in details and compared with the previously published data. This study considered Glossidium pedatum, Acanthostomum spiniceps and Euclinostomum heterostomum as new records from the River Nile in Qena Governorate.

Mohamad EA, Aly AA, Khalaf AA, et al. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2021;15:3151–3162. The Editor and Publisher of Drug Design, Development and Therapy wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised regarding the integrity of the HPLC chromatograms presented in Figure 1, where the values of the peaks did not appear to correspond with the values shown along the x-axis. The authors did respond to our queries and explained that their laboratory does not have access to an HPLC device and the HPLC experiments were performed by a third-party. They further explained that errors had been made during calculations of the retention times, but they were unable to explain how this occurred. In addition, discrepancies remained in the retention times of the corrected HPLC chromatograms the authors provided, and there was a lack of adequate data associated with these experiments. The Editor determined that the explanation for the calculation errors and availability of original data were both insufficient and had concerns over the reliability of the reported findings. The Editor requested for the article to be retracted and the authors were notified of this. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

The finite element method has been used in this paper to investigate the behavior of precast reinforced concrete dapped-ends beams (DEBs) numerically. A parametric investigation was performed on an experimental specimen tested by a previous researcher to show the effect of numerous parameters on the strength and behavior of RC dapped-end beams. Reinforcement details and steel arrangement, the influence of concrete compressive strength, the effect of inclined load, and the effect of support settlement on the strength of dapped-ends beams are examples of such parameters. The results revealed that the dapped-end reinforcement arrangement greatly affects the behavior of dapped end beam. The failure load decreases by 25% when insufficient development length for main dapped-end reinforcement is provided, and nib shear reinforcement has less effect than nib main reinforcement. The results also showed that the shear strength of dapped-end beams increased as concrete strength increased. When the compressive strength of concrete increased by 100% led to an enhancement of strength capacity by about 34%. The strength of the dapped-ends beams is significantly affected by the settlement of the supports.

The integration of television screens to become a new media interaction is one of the most significant shifts that technology has brought us. Today, Social TV is a developed source of communication, education, and entertainment through interactive platforms. This study examines the factors influencing Social TV acceptance among Generation Z in Jordan. We employed a cross-sectional design and obtained data from n = 304 respondents. Findings attained from Structural Equation Modelling revealed that different factors (e.g., personal beliefs, attitude towards behaviour, and intention towards behaviour) predicted respondents' attitudes and behaviour regarding Social TV behavioural acceptance. However, attitude towards behaviour was not linked to subjective norms, with the latter not correlated with intention towards behaviour. The proposed mediation role of perceived ease-of-use and usefulness had significant influence, indicating how Social TV acceptance is deeply associated with respondents' new behavioural patterns and habits. Thus, we conclude that in terms of explaining human behaviour, the role of motivational factors in accelerating one's intention, and their impacts, is a complex phenomenon.

Ebtesam A Mohamad,1 Aya A Aly,2 Aya A Khalaf,2 Mona I Ahmed,2 Reham M Kamel,2 Sherouk M Abdelnaby,2 Yasmine H Abdelzaher,2 Marize G Sedrak,2 Shaker A Mousa3 1Biophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; 2Biotechnology/Biomolecular Chemistry Program, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; 3The Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Rensselaer, NY, USACorrespondence: Shaker A MousaThe Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USATel +1-518-694-7397Fax +1-518-694-7567Email shaker.mousa@acphs.eduIntroduction: Skin aging is a normal process that might be accelerated or delayed by altering the balance between antioxidants and free radicals due to increase in the exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS) into skin cells via UV radiation. Antioxidants can neutralize the harmful effects of ROS, and secondary plant metabolites might help protect against UV radiation.Methods: In this study, punicalagin was extracted from pomegranate, and concentrations of total polyphenolics and flavonoids were determined, and antioxidant activities were measured. Punicalagin was loaded onto niosomes, and its morphology and release were studied. An in vitro study was performed on human fibroblast cell line HFB4 cells with aging induced by H2O2 and UV radiation. Cell cycle arrest was studied, and different genes (MMP3, Col1A1, Timp3, and TERT) involved in the skin aging process were selected to measure punicalagin’s effect.Results: Punicalagin succeeded in reducing the growth arrest of HFB4 cells, activated production of the Col1A1 and Timp3 genes, maintained collagen level, and lowered MMP3. Punicalagin increased human TERT concentration in skin cells.Discussion: Punicalagin is promising as a natural antioxidant to protect human skin from aging.Keywords: skin aging, punicalagin, niosomes, UV radiation, collagen

This multi-disciplinary, cross-sectional, and descriptive study investigated health care students’ face mask use knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) and social distancing attitudes. The study was carried out from October to December 2021 and surveyed 543 health care students selected via convenience sampling from the three Shaqra University campuses in Saudi Arabia. Standard multiple linear regressions were conducted on face mask use KAP and social distancing attitude to identify their significant associated factors. The students in this study had poor knowledge and a neutral attitude towards and modest use practices of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being female, being a nursing student, and having greater self-reported COVID-19-prevention knowledge were related to higher levels of face mask use knowledge. Having higher face mask use knowledge was linked to better attitude and practice. Knowledge of COVID-19 and its prevention and decreased COVID-19 risk perception were associated with better face mask use practices. The students had more positive than negative attitudes toward social distancing. Having known someone who was infected by the virus, lower risk perception, and better face mask use practices were associated with more positive social distancing attitudes. The findings imply the need to ensure that future health care practitioners are knowledgeable, have a positive attitude and good practices concerning face mask use, and have positive attitudes toward social distancing. The study implications are relevant for health care education in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.

إنّ لمبادرة الحزام والطريق تأثيرات جيوستراتيجية على العراق بشكل خاص وعلى منطقة الشرق الأوسط والعالم بشكل عام وهو ما يوجب على العراق الإسراع بتنفيذ تطوير البنى التحتية للمشاريع التي تساعد على دخول العراق بفاعلية في المبادرة و تعد القناة الجافة التي تربط موانئ شمال الخليج العربي بأوربا عبر العراق وتركيا ومنطقة جنوب العراق التي تبقى منطقة مرور ترانزيت مهمة على طريق النقل البري والجوي، ويمكن أن توفر للعراق عوائد مالية تصل إلى 60 مليار دولار سنويا، وهي موارد ثابتة تضاهي العوائد المالية من النفط إذا أحسن العراق استغلالها.

Many mathematicians defined and studied soft separation axioms and soft continuity in soft spaces by using ordinary points of a topological space X. Also, some of them studied the same concepts by using soft points. In this paper, we introduce the concepts of soft pc−Ti{p}_{c}-{T}_{i} and soft pc−Ti⁎{p}_{c}-{T}_{i}^{\ast }, i=0,1,2i=0,1,2 by using the concept of soft pc{p}_{c}-open sets in soft topological spaces. We explore several properties of such spaces. We also investigate the relationship among these spaces and provide a counter example when it is needed.

Aim of the Study. To assess whether skeletal age can be determined from left-hand magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the Greulich & Pyle (G&P). Method. The study includes 80 patients identified from an endocrine clinic, two males and two females from each of 5 age groups (

Background: The learning process for nurses, including internships, was affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have made the nurse internship program more challenging and stressful for participants. Therefore, it is significant to explore the experiences of nurse interns during COVID-19. Aim: This study aimed to explore Saudi nurse interns’ field experiences during the pandemic. Design: The study utilised descriptive phenomenological qualitative research and a thematic approach. Methods: A total of 19 nurse interns participated in the study, which was conducted in Saudi Arabia. Participants undertook an internship program at different government hospitals in five cities in Saudi Arabia. Unstructured individual interviews were conducted to gather data from the participants. Results: The findings revealed five themes: being passionate, lacking knowledge and skills, being concerned about their families, being cautious, and being unoriented. Conclusion: The study findings document that the struggles of nurse interns in their internship programs during COVID-19 were related to their lack of knowledge, their family, and the working environment.

Monitoring the distribution and resistance of antibiotics to enterococcal species is critical aspect to controlling and preventing enterococcal infection. The aim of the present study is to screen the antimicrobial resistance genes within Enterococcus species isolates that collected from Taif governorate, Saudi Arabia. Out of 134 clinical samples, nineteen enterococcal isolates were identified using 16S rRNA sequence gene. Phylogenetic tree analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence of the 19 strains divided them into 15 strains as E. faecalis and 4 strains as E. faecium. In addition, these the species of these isolates were recognized using VITEK-2 COMPACT system. The PCR technique was used to screen the multi-drug resistant genes within enterococcal isolates. The KpsII, tetL, aac(6)-Ie-aph(2)-Ia, vanA and Erm(B) genes were found in all strains. The distribute of resistance against antibiotic drugs were differs greatly between the two species, a considerably higher prevalence of resistance to penicillin, gentamicin, cefoxitin, cefotaxime, clindamycin, erthromycin and fusidic acid was identified in E. faecalis than in E. faecium, while greater spread was detected to resist to Trim/Sulf and tetracycline in E. faecalis. Finally, rep-PCR markers investigated genomic diversity of Enterococcus strains. Results of rep-PCR markers generated 142 distinct loci; 96 were polymorphic (67.6%) and 46 were monomorphic (32.4%). Number of loci for individual rep-PCR primers ranged from 9 for rep-08 to 18 for rep-02.

For the precise preoperative evaluation of complex congenital heart diseases (CHDs) with reduced radiation dose exposure, we assessed the diagnostic validity and reliability of low-dose prospective ECG-gated cardiac CT (CCT). Forty-two individuals with complex CHDs who underwent preoperative CCT as part of a prospective study were included. Each CCT image was examined independently by two radiologists. The primary reference for assessing the diagnostic validity of the CCT was the post-operative data. Infants and neonates were the most common age group suffering from complex CHDs. The mean volume of the CT dose index was 1.44 ± 0.47 mGy, the mean value of the dose-length product was 14.13 ± 5.4 mGy*cm, and the mean value of the effective radiation dose was 0.58 ± 0.13 mSv. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of the low-dose prospective ECG-gated CCT for identifying complex CHDs were 95.6%, 98%, 97%, 97%, and 97% for reader 1 and 92.6%, 97%, 95.5%, 95.1%, and 95.2% for reader 2, respectively. The overall inter-reader agreement for interpreting the cardiac CCTs was good (κ = 0.74). According to the results of our investigation, low-dose prospective ECG-gated CCT is a useful and trustworthy method for assessing coronary arteries and making a precise preoperative diagnosis of complex CHDs.

In the world, one in eight women will develop breast cancer. Men can also develop it, but less frequently. This condition starts with uncontrolled cell division brought on by a change in the genes that regulate cell division and growth, which leads to the development of a nodule or tumour. These tumours can be either benign, which poses no health risk, or malignant, also known as cancerous, which puts patients’ lives in jeopardy and has the potential to spread. The most common way to diagnose this problem is via mammograms. This kind of examination enables the detection of abnormalities in breast tissue, such as masses and microcalcifications, which are thought to be indicators of the presence of disease. This study aims to determine how histogram-based image enhancement methods affect the classification of mammograms into five groups: benign calcifications, benign masses, malignant calcifications, malignant masses, and healthy tissue, as determined by a CAD system of automatic mammography classification using convolutional neural networks. Both Contrast-limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CAHE) and Histogram Intensity Windowing (HIW) will be used (CLAHE). By improving the contrast between the image’s background, fibrous tissue, dense tissue, and sick tissue, which includes microcalcifications and masses, the mammography histogram is modified using these procedures. In order to help neural networks, learn, the contrast has been increased to make it easier to distinguish between various types of tissue. The proportion of correctly classified images could rise with this technique. Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks, a model was developed that allows classifying different types of lesions. The model achieved an accuracy of 62%, based on mini-MIAS data. The final goal of the project is the creation of an update algorithm that will be incorporated into the CAD system and will enhance the automatic identification and categorization of microcalcifications and masses. As a result, it would be possible to increase the possibility of early disease identification, which is important because early discovery increases the likelihood of a cure to almost 100%.

AA Khalaf,1 Eman I Hassanen,2 Rehab A Azouz,1 Amr R Zaki,3 Marwa A Ibrahim,4 Khaled Y Farroh,5 Mona K Galal4 1Department of Toxicology & Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; 2Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; 3Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt; 4Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; 5Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials Central Lab, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptCorrespondence: Marwa A IbrahimDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12211, EgyptTel +2021001904594Fax +2023572540Email marwa199@gmail.comBackground: Recently, several studies demonstrate the possible role of zinc oxide (ZnO) in the protection of several skin diseases, but less is known about the role of ZnO nanoparticles in the inflammatory skin disease. So, this study was designed to confirm the pivotal role of the nano zinc oxide cream in the alleviation of lead oxide (PbO) induced-allergic dermatitis in rats.Materials and methods: Two concentrations (1% and 6%) of ZnONPs creams were prepared and characterized prior to being used in the study. A total number of 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups. Group 1 (negative control), groups 2&3 (either 1% or 6% ZnONPs control groups), group 4 (PbO), groups 5&6 (co-treatment of each ZnONPs concentration+PbO). All rats in different groups were observed daily to determine the severity of dermal gross lesions. Histopathological studies, mRNA analysis, and oxidative stress evaluations were performed on the affected skin tissue. Immunohistochemical studies were performed to evaluate the expression of cluster of differentiation CD4, CD8 and intercellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1 in different groups.Results: PbO caused extensive skin oxidative damage manifested by a significant increase in MDA level with a decrease in GSH content and CAT activity. The results of histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations revealed that topical application of PbO for 14 days led to severe allergic dermatitis with remarkable elevations in the number of CD4+ T-helper, CD8+ T-cytotoxic lymphocytes, and ICAM-1 expression. On the other hand, noticeable improvements were recorded in all the previous toxicopathological parameters among the groups treated by either 1% or 6% ZnO-NPs cream. However, the best results were observed in the group treated with 1% ZnO-NPs cream.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that 1% of ZnO-NPs cream is safe when applied topically on the inflamed skin. Moreover, it had anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects so that, it is recommended to use the 1% ZnO-NPs cream to avert the dermal toxicity-induced by PbO.Keywords: skin, nanoparticles, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, oxidative stress, collagen gene

Eman Ibrahim Hassanen,1 Abdelazeem Ali Khalaf,2 Adel Fathy Tohamy,2 Eman Ragab Mohammed,3 Khaled Yehia Farroh41Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; 2Department of Toxicology & Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; 3Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; 4Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials Central Laboratory, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, EgyptBackground: Much consideration has been paid to the toxicological assessment of nanoparticles prior to clinical and biological applications. While in vitro studies have been expanding continually, in vivo investigations of nanoparticles have not developed a cohesive structure. This study aimed to assess the acute toxicity of different concentrations of chitosan-coated silver nanoparticles (Ch-AgNPs) in main organs, including liver, kidneys, and spleen.Materials and methods: Twenty-eight male albino rats were used and divided into 4 groups (n=7). Group 1 was kept as a negative control group. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated intraperitoneally with Ch-AgNPs each day for 14 days at doses of 50, 25, and 10 mg/kg body weight (bwt) respectively. Histopathological, morphometric and immunohistochemical studies were performed as well as oxidative stress evaluations, and specific functional examinations for each organ were elucidated.Results: It was revealed that Ch-AgNPs induced dose-dependent toxicity, and the repeated dosing of rats with 50 mg/kg Ch-AgNPs induced severe toxicities. Histopathological examination showed congestion, hemorrhage, cellular degeneration, apoptosis and necrosis in hepatic and renal tissue as well as lymphocytic depletion with increasing tangible macrophages in the spleen. The highest levels of malondialdehyde, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase (MDA, ALT, AST) and the lowest levels of reduced glutathione, immunoglobulin G, M and total protein (GSH, IgG, IgM, TP) were observed in this group. On the other hand, repeated dosing with 25 mg/kg induced mild to moderate disturbance in the previous parameters, while there was no significant difference in results of pathological examination and biochemical tests between the control group and those treated with 10 mg/kg bwt Ch-AgNPs.Conclusion: Chitosan-coated silver nanoparticles induce dose-dependent adverse effects on rats.Keywords: histopathology, oxidative stress, immunotoxicity, chitosan-coated silver nanoparticles, apoptosis

Background: Homeopathy is being increasingly practiced within different medical areas of use. Homeopathic medicines are sold in German pharmacies, whereas the assortment of Swedish pharmacies does not include homeopathic medicines. Despite differences between Sweden and Germany, homeopathic medicines are classified as drugs in both countries.

The international community has begun to recognize the importance of environmental problems as a matter of global concern, especially as environmental differences have increased, which have increased internationalization and threaten international peace and security. International efforts have been made to find legal means to prevent and avoid environmental conflicts that may develop into a survey conflict. And environmental disputes, are all disputes between persons of international law in a legal matter relating to an attack affecting an element of the environment and its natural resources. In a remarkable development of international attention to environmental resources and its relationship to the maintenance of international peace and security, it began to find its way into the texts of international documents. The Security Council, in accordance with its mandate to maintain international peace and security, played the most important role in addressing many environmental disputes. The scarcity of fresh water resources is a major problem, which is often the cause of international environmental disputes, especially in relation to international rivers. Iraq suffers from the problem of declining freshwater levels due to water reservations by neighboring countries and the construction of dams. The construction of the (Alesso) dam on the Tigris is a serious environmental threat to Iraq , and we hope that peaceful solutions will be found to address it and that there will be an international agreement under the supervision of the united nations to regulate the amount that covers Iraq’s need for fresh water.

New complex Co(III) with ligand Pyridoxal-S-methyl-isothiosemicarbazone, (PLITSC) was synthesized. X-ray analysis showed the bis-ligand octahedral structure of the cobalt complex [Co(PLITSC-H)2]BrNO3·CH3OH (compound 1). The intermolecular interactions governing the crystal structure were described by the Hirsfeld surface analysis. The structure of compound 1 and the corresponding Zn complex (([Zn(PLTSC)(H2O)2]SO4·H2O)) were optimized at the B3LYP/6–31 + G (d,p)/LanL2DZ level of theory, and the applicability was assessed by comparison with the crystallographic structure. The natural bond orbital analysis was used for the discussion on the stability of formed compounds. The antibacterial activity of obtained complexes towards S. aureus and E. coli was determined, along with the effect of compound 1 on the formation of free radical species. Activity of compound 1 towards the removal of methylene blue was also investigated. The voltammograms of these compounds showed the reduction of metal ions, as well as the catalyzed reduction of CO2 in acidic media.

In a climate of increasing multiculturalism in education, classrooms have become more diverse, offering educators and institutions both opportunities and challenges. In response to changing advancements and trends in education, school administrators claim that classroom diversity can develop students’ learning potential when properly harnessed and matched with inclusive pedagogy. This research reflects how diversity within the Omani education system can be enhanced by comparing the beliefs and experiences of students in diverse classrooms. This information provides a better understanding of students’ learning needs based on their perception of diversity. A descriptive study was performed with a quantitative approach, whereby a sample of 283 students completed a survey. The results indicate that female students rated more highly on the teaching method scale in comparison to male students. Additional post hoc tests on simple effects confirmed that non-Arab students tend to rate their teachers comparatively more highly in terms of teaching methods, curriculum design, assessment techniques, and practical skills than Omani and Arab pupils across the different subjects. This study offers valuable insights and practical strategies for cultivating diversity and inclusion in diverse settings in Omani schools.

The Cerebellar Cognitive Affective/Schmahmann Syndrome (CCAS) manifests as impaired executive control, linguistic processing, visual spatial function, and affect regulation. The CCAS has been described in the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), but its prevalence is unknown. We analyzed results of the CCAS/Schmahmann Scale (CCAS-S), developed to detect and quantify CCAS, in two natural history studies of 309 individuals Symptomatic for SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, or SCA8, 26 individuals Pre-symptomatic for SCA1 or SCA3, and 37 Controls. We compared total raw scores, domain scores, and total fail scores between Symptomatic, Pre-symptomatic, and Control cohorts, and between SCA types. We calculated scale sensitivity and selectivity based on CCAS category designation among Symptomatic individuals and Controls, and correlated CCAS-S performance against age and education, and in Symptomatic patients, against genetic repeat length, onset age, disease duration, motor ataxia, depression, and fatigue. Definite CCAS was identified in 46% of the Symptomatic group. False positive rate among Controls was 5.4%. Symptomatic individuals had poorer global CCAS-S performance than Controls, accounting for age and education. The domains of semantic fluency, phonemic fluency, and category switching that tap executive function and linguistic processing consistently separated Symptomatic individuals from Controls. CCAS-S scores correlated most closely with motor ataxia. Controls were similar to Pre-symptomatic individuals whose nearness to symptom onset was unknown. The use of the CCAS-S identifies a high CCAS prevalence in a large cohort of SCA patients, underscoring the utility of the scale and the notion that the CCAS is the third cornerstone of clinical ataxiology.