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In Saudi Arabia, breast cancer is the second-most frequently identified common malignant cause of death for women. The present investigation was carried out to assess the impact of different Soxhlet solvent extracts of Annona muricata on apoptosis induction in breast cancer cells. Cell survival was estimated by post-incubation of cells with the extract for 24 h using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. Acridine orange (AO)/propidium iodide (PI) and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining were employed to study cell apoptosis. qRT-PCR was also employed to assess apoptotic genes’ expression, such as BAX and P53 genes. The results of the MTT assay showed that the chloroform extract inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells dose-dependently. AO/PI and DAPI staining showed chromatin condensation and fragmentation. In treated cells, P53 expression significantly increased, correlated with the increase in BAX activity. The findings suggest that apoptosis may have been triggered post-chloroform extract treatment. Combining chloroform extract of A. muricata and doxorubicin at a 1:1 ratio increased the IC50 value (292.3 µg/mL). The chloroform extract of A. muricata contained a variety of substances, including diethyl carbonate (7.38%), 4-acetoxy-2,11-dodecadiene (58.13%), and hexadecanoic acid (34.48%), according to the results of the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. As a result, future research on the A. muricata chloroform extract as a potential anticancer drug could be suggested.

Background: Caregiver hesitancy for their children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine remains due to concerns regarding safety and efficacy, but also due to fear of vaccine administration-related pain and distress. Study objectives were to determine caregivers' perceptions regarding both their personal and child's COVID-19 vaccine administration-related stress and fear and relate this to their likelihood to allow their child to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Methods: This study was a secondary data analysis of a multicentre, cross-sectional survey of caregivers presenting to four Canadian pediatric emergency departments. Caregivers were surveyed between December 2020 and March 2021 and completed a digital survey on their own smartphones. Results: 331 caregivers responded to the survey (mean age 39.9 years [SD 7.71]); 74.2% (245/331) were mothers. Children's mean age was 8.8 years [SD 5.4]; 49.8% (165/331) were female. 64.1% (209/326) of caregivers were willing to vaccinate their child against COVID-19, while 35.9% (117/326) were not. Greater perceived COVID-19 vaccine administration-related pain (0.88 [0.80; 0.95], p =.003) and stress (0.82 [0.76; 0.89], p = <.001) for their child as well as greater perceived personal stress with their own COVID-19 vaccine administration (0.81 [0.75; 0.88], p = <.001) were associated with caregivers being less likely to vaccinate their child. Conclusions: During the time period between COVID-19 pandemic waves 2 and 3, and after the vaccine had been federally approved for adults, one-third of Canadian caregivers surveyed reported being unwilling to vaccinate their child against COVID-19 in the future. Managing children's and caregivers' vaccine administration-related fear and stress may improve vaccine uptake for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WEIGHT AND height of adolescents in Bahrain (15.5-19.5 years) was measured to evaluate their growth patterns. A cross-sectional survey was done on 825 students that represented 5% of total secondary students. The results showed that median height and weight of Bahraini adolescents were below the 50th percentiles of the Western standard. However, when compared with earlier surveys in Bahrain, the growth pattern has improved. This is because of improvement in health and in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To optimize the identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected children, specimen collection and testing method are crucial considerations. Ideally, specimen collection is easy and causes minimal discomfort, and the laboratory approach is simple, accurate, and rapid. In this prospective cohort study we evaluated the accuracy of a point-of care nucleic acid device using caregiver/patient self-collected buccal swabs. Participants were recruited in 14 Canadian tertiary care pediatric emergency departments. Children <18 years of age deemed to require SARS-CoV-2 testing were eligible. Caregivers or the patient-collected buccal swabs which were tested on the ABBOTT ID NOW. The reference standard was nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected by a healthcare provider tested via laboratory reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). We enrolled 2,640 study participants and 14.4% (381/2,640) were SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR-positive. Eight percent (223/2,640) and 85.0% (2,244/2,640) were concordant test-positive and concordant test-negative, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of the investigational approach were 58.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 53.4, 63.5] and 99.3% (95% CI: 98.9, 99.6), respectively. Cycle threshold values were lower among concordant [median 17 (15, 21)] relative to discordant [median 30 (22, 35)] swabs ( P < 0.001). Sensitivity was greatest among children <4 years of age, when caregivers performed the swabs, among unvaccinated children, and those with shorter symptom duration. Across multiple pain measures, less pain was associated with buccal swab testing. Although accuracy of the buccal swab point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 test was good and negative agreement was excellent, sensitivity was only 58.5%. Concordance was greater among those with higher viral loads, and the approach involving buccal swabs was less painful.IMPORTANCETo optimize the identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected children, specimen collection and testing method are crucial considerations. Ideally, specimen collection is easy and causes minimal discomfort, and laboratory approach is simple, accurate, and rapid. We evaluated the accuracy and pain associated with buccal swab specimen collection by caregivers or children themselves who were tested using a point-of-care isothermal nucleic acid amplification SARS-CoV-2 test. This novel approach was compared to nasopharyngeal swab specimens tested using laboratory-based PCR tests. While negative agreement was excellent, positive percent agreement was less than 60%. Concordance was greater among those with higher viral loads, and thus, sensitivity is excellent when transmissibility is more likely to occur. Importantly, the approach involving buccal swabs was significantly less painful, and thus, children and their caregivers are more likely to agree to testing using such an approach.CLINICAL TRIALSRegistered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05040763).