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Shereen A Sayed,1 Ehsan AB Hassan,2 Muhamad R Abdel Hameed,3 Michael N Agban,2 Mostafa F Mohammed Saleh,3 Hayam H Mohammed,4 Abu-Baker M Abdel-Aal,5 Sherein G Elgendy2 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 2Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 3Department of Internal Medicine & Hematology Unit, Assiut University Hospitals and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 4Department of Clinical Pathology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 5Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, EgyptCorrespondence: Muhamad R Abdel HameedDepartment of Internal Medicine & Hematology Unit, Assiut University Hospitals and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, EgyptTel +20 1097510010Fax +20 88-2080278Email dr.muhamadramadan@yahoo.comSherein G ElgendyDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, EgyptTel +20 1021887728Fax +20 88-2080278Email Shereinelgendy@yahoo.comBackground and Objectives: Candida albicans is a significant source of morbidity and mortality for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Prolonged use of fluconazole as empirical antifungal prophylaxis in AML patients leads to overexpression of efflux pump genes that resulted in the emergence of azole-resistant species. Consequently, the introduction of a new strategy to improve the management of C. albicans infections is an urgent need. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ketorolac is associated with a reduction in cancer relapses. The present study was performed to investigate the use of ketorolac-fluconazole combination to reverse fluconazole resistance in C. albicans isolated from AML patients on induction chemotherapy.Patients and Methods: One hundred and seventy AML patients were evaluated. Fifty C. albicans were isolated and subjected to disc diffusion assay and broth microdilution for fluconazole alone and combined with different concentrations of ketorolac. Efflux pump gene (CDR1, CDR2, and MDR1) expressions were quantified by real-time PCR.Results: The tested ketorolac acted synergistically with fluconazole against resistant C. albicans with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fluconazole decreased from > 160 μg/mL to 0.3– 1.25 μg/mL in (93.8%) of resistant isolates with fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) value of 0.25. The majority of the resistant isolates overexpressed CDR1 (71.1%) and MDR1 (60%).Conclusion: Ketorolac-fluconazole in vitro combination would be a promising strategy for further clinical in vivo trials to overcome fluconazole resistance in AML patients on induction chemotherapy.Keywords: ketorolac, fluconazole resistance, acute myeloid leukemia, CDR1, MDR1

The knowledge of the prevalence and molecular basis of β-hemoglobinopathies constitutes an important prerequisite for an effective prevention program. To address this issue in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, a total of 12526 individuals (6263 couples) attending three main Premarital Screening centers were enrolled. Individuals were labeled as β-hemoglobin disorders based on full blood counts and high-performance liquid chromatography. For those identified as β-thalassemia trait, molecular characterization was achieved by multiplex PCR and reverse hybridization, followed by next-generation sequencing where appropriate. The prevalence of β-thalassemia and δβ-thalassemia traits were 3.5% and 0.01% respectively. For structural variants: sickle cell, hemoglobin D, C, and E traits were documented in 0.37%, 0.07%, 0.05%, and 0.04% respectively. Twenty-two couples were identified as couples at risk of having affected babies with hemoglobinopathies (3.5/1000). A total of 23 different β-thalassemia mutations were identified in studied samples, the eight most frequent of which were IVS-II-I (G > A), IVS-I-110 (G > A), IVS-I-6 (T > C), Codon 44 (-C), IVS-I-5 (G > C), IVS-I-1 (G > A), IVS-I-130 (G > C), and IVS-II-745 (C > G), accounting for 74.7% of the total mutations. In conclusion, the study illustrates the heterogeneity of β-thalassemia mutations in Iraq's capital, and identified several service indicators for prevention. Accordingly, it constitutes an important step in the setup for an effective prevention program of hemoglobinopathies.

Objectives: To synthesize evidence on the implementation and effectiveness of age-friendly interventions in intensive care units (ICUs) to optimize care for older adults., Design: Systematic review of studies published up to February 2024, focusing on interventions tailored to meet the needs of older adults in ICU settings., Setting and Participants: Comparative studies conducted in ICUs worldwide, involving older adults receiving critical care, were reviewed., Methods: A systematic search of databases including Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane was performed. The quality of studies was assessed using the ROSVIS-II tool, and findings were synthesized narratively and thematically., Results: Out of 1200 articles initially identified, 45 studies met inclusion criteria. Age-friendly interventions (eg, geriatric assessment teams, multimodal care bundles) demonstrated significant benefits, including a 19% reduction in major in-hospital complications and shorter hospital stays by an average of 3 days., Conclusions and Implications: The review supports the effectiveness of age-friendly interventions in improving clinical outcomes for older ICU patients. However, consistent reporting of effect sizes was lacking, and more high-quality comparative effectiveness research is needed. Implications for practice include integrating these interventions into standard ICU protocols to enhance older adult care. Policy implications involve advocating for health care policies that support the dissemination and implementation of effective age-friendly practices. Further research should focus on establishing a robust evidence base to guide implementation and policy decisions., (Copyright © 2024 Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Garcinia buchananii is a tropical wild edible plant that is locally consumed in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Regional state of Ethiopia. However, there is limited information comparing nutritional, phytochemical, and anti-nutritional factors present in fruit pulps and seeds of the fruit. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and compare the proximate compositions, phytochemical constituents, and anti-nutritional contents of the fruit pulp and seeds. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 20. The proximate analysis revealed that the pulp had higher moisture content (80.52 %) compared to the seed (42.4 %), whereas the seed contained more crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and carbohydrate. However, the phytochemical constituents were relatively more abundant in the pulp compared to the seed. The pulp exhibited higher levels of total phenolic content (31.62 %), total flavonoid content (22.27 %), ascorbic acid (0.67 %), and inhibition percentage (15.31 %), but was lower in beta-carotene (4.60 %). The fruit seed has higher anti-nutritional values than the pulp. Overall, the pulp and seeds of the Garcinia buchananii fruit are nutrient-rich and can be used in food product development and formulation. Being high in moisture content and low in anti-nutritients the pup of the plant can be utilized in the form of juice., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background: Effective pain management in elderly patients is crucial for quality of life, yet cultural and institutional factors can significantly impact care delivery, particularly in Arab healthcare settings., Aim: To explore the barriers and facilitators to effective pain management in elderly Arab patients from the perspective of nurses., Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 12 registered nurses from various departments at Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis. Content analysis was used to identify themes and subthemes., Results: Five main themes emerged: (1) Cultural Barriers to Pain Expression, including stoicism and religious beliefs; (2) Institutional Barriers to Pain Management, such as resource limitations and time constraints; (3) Facilitators to Effective Pain Management, including family support and nurse adaptability; (4) Interdisciplinary Collaboration, emphasizing teamwork and education; and (5) Emotional and Professional Rewards for nurses. Cultural factors often led to underreporting of pain, while institutional constraints hindered thorough assessments. Nurse adaptability and family support, when present, facilitated better pain management., Conclusion: The study reveals complex interplay between cultural, institutional, and professional factors influencing pain management in elderly Arab patients. Findings suggest the need for culturally sensitive pain assessment tools, enhanced nurse education in pain management, and policies promoting family-centered care and interdisciplinary collaboration., Implications: Results can inform the development of culturally appropriate pain management strategies and policies in Arab healthcare settings, potentially improving care quality for elderly patients., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The faculty of nursing, Tanta university ethical and research committee granted formal approval. IRB number:475-5-2024, Informed consent to participate was obtained from all of the participants in the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A novel series of cyanopyridines 7a-j were synthesized via a one-pot multicomponent reaction of arylidene 4 with ammonium acetate 5 and respective methylaryl/heterylketones 6a-j in ethanol using vanillin as a natural starting material. Moreover, the regioselective alkylation reaction was studied by the treatment of cyanopyridines 7a-f and 7j with CH 3 I in the presence of K 2 CO 3 in DMF to afford O-methylcyanopyridines 8a-g (major) and N-methylcyanopyridines 9a-g (minor), whereas bipyridine 7h gave bipyridinium iodide salt 10. All of the designed cyanopyridines were evaluated as anti-breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines via PIM Kinase inhibitory activity, and the results displayed that some of them showed high activities, especially compounds 7h and 8f, which showed excellent activities against MCF-7 with IC 50 values of 1.89 and 1.69 μM, respectively, more potent than the reference drug doxorubicin. Mechanistically, compounds 7h and 8f exhibited strong in vitro PIM-1 kinase inhibitory activity with an IC 50 of 0.281 and 0.58 μM, respectively, compared to the reference staurosporine. Moreover, compound 7h arrested the tumor cells at the S phase and caused cell death mainly by inducing early and late apoptosis. Molecular docking studies against PIM-1 revealed good binding modes of the synthesized compound and showed agreement with the biological results., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: As the healthcare sector grapples with its environmental footprint, the concept of Eco-conscious Nursing emerges as a pivotal framework for integrating sustainability into nursing practice. This study aims to clarify and operationalize Eco-conscious Nursing, examining its attributes, antecedents, consequences, and providing operational definitions to guide future research and practice., Methods: Utilizing a systematic literature review across PubMed, Google Scholar, and CINAHL Ultimate, this study identifies and analyzes existing theories, frameworks, and practices related to eco-conscious nursing. Through conceptual analysis, key attributes, antecedents, and consequences of Eco-conscious Nursing are delineated, leading to the formulation of comprehensive operational definitions., Results: The study reveals Eco-conscious Nursing as a multifaceted concept characterized by environmental stewardship, sustainable healthcare practices, and a commitment to reducing the ecological impact of nursing care. Operational definitions highlight the role of education, awareness, and institutional support as antecedents, with improved environmental health and sustainable healthcare outcomes as key consequences., Conclusion: Eco-conscious Nursing represents a crucial ethos for the nursing profession, emphasizing the necessity of sustainable practices within healthcare. The operational definitions provided serve as a foundation for embedding eco-conscious principles into nursing, addressing the urgent need for sustainability in healthcare settings. Future research should focus on the empirical application of these definitions and explore the economic and cross-cultural dimensions of eco-conscious nursing., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To determine the prevalence and molecular basis of β-thalassemia in the Northeastern Iraqi province of Kirkuk, a total of 3954 individuals attending the provincial premarital screening center were recruited. The prevalence of β-thalassemia minor among the screened individuals was found to be 3.0%, while those of Hemoglobin E, and δβ-thalassemia carrier states were 0.05%, and 0.03% respectively. Molecular characterization of the β-thalassemia mutations was achieved by multiplex PCR and reverse hybridization, followed by next generation sequencing for those left uncharacterized by the former technique. Among 19 β-thalassemia mutations identified, seven were the most frequent, namely: IVS-II-1 (G > A), codon 8/9 (+G), IVS-I-6 (T > C), IVS-I-110 (G > A), IVS-I-I (G > A), IVS-I-5 (G > C) and codon 44 (-C) accounting for 78.5% of the mutations. This study further illustrates the heterogeneity of the spectrum of β-thalassemia in different parts of Iraq, and provides an essential step to facilitate prenatal diagnosis in the setting of a future national thalassemia prevention program.

Background: The Geriatrics Health Behavior Questionnaire (GHBQ) is essential for assessing health-related behaviors among older adults populations. This study focuses on the translation, cultural adaptation, and psychometric evaluation of the Arabic version of the GHBQ to ensure its relevance and accuracy for Arabic-speaking older adults individuals., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Cairo University Educational Hospital's outpatient clinic. The GHBQ was translated and culturally adapted through a systematic process, including initial translation, back-translation, expert review, and pilot testing. The psychometric properties of the Arabic-translated GHBQ were evaluated using a sample of 200 older adults Arabic-speaking participants. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (α) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Validity was evaluated through Content Validity Index (CVI), Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)., Results: The Arabic GHBQ demonstrated excellent reliability with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.74 to 0.87 across subscales and ICC values confirming reproducibility (ICC = 0.82). The CVI indicated strong content validity (average CVI = 0.91). EFA revealed a five-factor structure, explaining 72% of the variance, with all factor loadings exceeding 0.60. CFA supported the questionnaire's structure with fit indices meeting recommended criteria: χ²/df = 2.05, NFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.94, GFI = 0.90, SRMR = 0.05, AIC = 140.35, and BIC = 160.22. Criterion validity was confirmed through significant correlations with established health behavior measures (r = 0.63, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: The culturally adapted Arabic version of the GHBQ is a reliable and valid tool for assessing health behaviors in the older adults population in Egypt. This instrument can aid healthcare providers in identifying and addressing health behaviors, ultimately improving the well-being of this demographic. Future research should focus on expanding the sample and comparing the GHBQ with other similar tools used in Arabic-speaking populations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Person-centered care (PCC) is critical in addressing the diverse health priorities of older adults. Nurses play a pivotal role in implementing PCC, yet the nuances of the nurse-patient relationship in outpatient settings remain underexplored. This study aimed to gain insights into nurses' experiences, challenges, and strategies in caring for older adults through the lens of PCC., Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 12 registered nurses from outpatient clinics serving older adults. Thematic analysis was conducted following the principles of trustworthiness and credibility., Results: Five main themes emerged: (1)Understanding and Implementing Person-Centered Care (PCC) (2) Experiences in Older Adult Care, highlighting the significance of trust-building, adapting care approaches, interdisciplinary collaboration, and emotional rewards; (3) Challenges in Care Delivery, including resource constraints, navigating family dynamics, keeping up with medical advances, and emotional strain; (4) Impact on Care Quality, encompassing consistency in care, patient satisfaction, professional development, and ethical considerations; and (5) Coping Strategies, such as peer support, work-life balance, reflective practice, and resilience building., Conclusions: The study underscores the complexities and rewards of the nurse-patient relationship in caring for older adults in outpatient settings. Nurses face formidable challenges but employ various coping strategies to maintain high-quality, person-centered care. Findings have implications for nursing practice, education, policy, and future research, emphasizing the need for supportive environments, continuous professional development, and recognition of the critical role nurses play in addressing the health priorities of the aging population., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the ethical dilemma's nurses encounter in end-of-life care and effective palliative care practices. The objectives were to understand key ethical issues, evaluate communication and decision-making strategies, and identify approaches to support nurses and patients., Methods: A comprehensive search of major databases was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies directly relating to nursing ethics, challenges in end-of-life decision-making, and palliative care practices were included. The risk of bias was assessed using ROBVIS-II. Data on ethical issues, palliative interventions, and outcomes was extracted and analyzed thematically., Results: 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. Key themes that emerged were: (1) Effective communication and involving patients in decision-making are essential but complex. (2) Nurses face dilemmas around balancing autonomy, beneficence and relational issues. (3) Integrating palliative care principles enhances symptom management and aligns care with patient values. (4) Education and organizational support are needed to equip nurses with skills and coping strategies., Conclusion: Navigating end-of-life care requires addressing interconnected ethical, communication and support needs. While studies provided insights, further research is required on cultural competence training, standardized education programs and longitudinal evaluations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Hypomagnesemia is defined as serum magnesium levels less than 0.7mmol/L and can result in a plethora of symptoms ranging from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to serious conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias and neurological complications. When considering the etiological factors, drug-induced hypomagnesemia is highlighted because commonly used medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), aminoglycoside antibiotics, and loop and thiazide diuretics can cause low magnesium levels. A 49-year-old male presented to the emergency department with severe vomiting worsening over three days complicated with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. He was an averagely built male, a non-smoker, and a non-alcoholic with no significant co-morbidities. He had a history of chronic over-the-counter pantoprazole intake over the last one year, and apart from that, his medication history was unremarkable. Initial investigations revealed severe hypomagnesemia (with serum magnesium level of 0.1mmol/L), with marginal hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypocalcemia. Following the initial resuscitation and magnesium supplementation, the patient's clinical condition significantly improved. Due to the lack of proper knowledge, the patient continued to take omeprazole 20mg tablets after discharge, and up until proper education and total cessation of PPIs, marginal hypomagnesemia, with serum magnesium level of 0.5mmol/L, persisted without any significant overt clinical manifestations. In this case report, we intend to highlight the importance of assessing for all possible electrolyte abnormalities in a patient presenting with neurological symptoms, relevance of taking a thorough drug history including all undocumented over-the-counter medications, and importance of patient education in the prevention of further episodes., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Krishnan et al.)

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder affecting different body organs; one of its serious complications is diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Thus, finding more cardiopreserving agents to protect the heart against such illness is a critical task. For the first time, we planned to study the suspected role of diacerein (DIA) in ameliorating DCM in juvenile rats and explore different mechanisms mediating its effect including inflammasome/caspase1/interleukin1β pathway. Four-week-aged juvenile rats were randomly divided into groups; the control group, diacerein group, diabetic group, and diabetic-treated group. Streptozotocin (45 mg/kg) single intraperitoneal (i.p.) dose was administered for induction of type 1 diabetes on the 1st day which was confirmed by detecting blood glucose level. DIA was given in a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks to diabetic and non-diabetic rats, then we evaluated different inflammatory, apoptotic, and oxidative stress parameters. Induction of DCM succeeded as there were significant increases in cardiac enzymes, heart weights, fasting blood glucose level (FBG), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) associated with elevated blood pressure (BP), histopathological changes, and increased caspase 3 immunoexpression. Furthermore, there was an increase of malondialdehyde (MDA), inflammasome, caspase1, angiotensin II, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), and interleukin 1β (IL1β). However, antioxidant parameters such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) significantly declined. Fortunately, DIA reversed the diabetic cardiomyopathy changes mostly due to the observed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties with regulation of blood glucose level.DIA has an ability to regulate DCM-associated biochemical and histopathological disturbances., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: This study evaluated a specialized rehabilitation program's impact on senior cancer patients' quality of life., Methods: one hundred and thirty patients aged ≥65 years with various cancer types undergoing/recovering from treatment were enrolled in oncology clinics in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The intervention arm (n=65) participated in a tailored geriatric cancer rehabilitation program. The control group (n=65) received standard oncology care. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) tool assessed the quality of life across physical, social, emotional, and functional domains. T-tests and multivariate regression analyses compared outcomes., Result: Total FACT-G scores showed a significantly higher quality of life for the geriatric cancer rehabilitation group versus standard care. Rehabilitation patients also demonstrated meaningful improvements across physical, social, and functional subscales. Rehabilitation involvement was the most predictive factor for optimized outcomes., Conclusion: Specialized geriatric cancer rehabilitation meaningfully improved several quality of life domains in older patients over standard care. Despite persistent barriers, rehabilitation programming optimized older cancer patients' physical and psychosocial health. Oncology and geriatrics must collaborate to ensure evidence-based rehabilitation access meets older cohorts' unique needs.

Objective: During Egypt's hot summer season, Aeromonas veronii infection causes catastrophic mortality on Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus farms. Egypt is ranked first in aquaculture production in Africa, sixth in aquaculture production worldwide, and third in global tilapia production. This study aimed to investigate, at the molecular level, the early innate immune responses of Nile Tilapia to experimental A. veronii infection., Methods: The relative gene expression, co-expression clustering, and correlation of four selected immune genes were studied by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in four organs (spleen, liver, gills, and intestine) for up to 72 h after a waterborne A. veronii challenge. The four genes studied were nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1 (NOD1), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), natural killer-lysin (NKL), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)., Result: The four genes showed significant transcriptional upregulation in response to infection. At 72 h postchallenge, the highest NOD1 and IL-1β expression levels were recorded in the spleen, whereas the highest LBP and NKL expression levels were found in the gills. Pairwise distances of the data points and the hierarchical relationship showed that NOD1 clustered with IL-1β, whereas LBP clustered with NKL; both genes within each cluster showed a significant positive expression correlation. Tissue clustering indicated that the responses of only the gill and intestine exhibited a significant positive correlation., Conclusion: The results suggest that NOD1, LBP, NKL, and IL-1β genes play pivotal roles in the early innate immune response of Nile Tilapia to A. veronii infection, and the postinfection expression profile trends of these genes imply tissue-/organ-specific responses and synchronized co-regulation., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Fisheries Society.)

Introduction: In this cross-sectional study, the authors explored the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to artificial intelligence (AI) among medical students in Sudan. With AI increasingly impacting healthcare, understanding its integration into medical education is crucial. This study aimed to assess the current state of AI awareness, perceptions, and practical experiences among medical students in Sudan. The authors aimed to evaluate the extent of AI familiarity among Sudanese medical students by examining their attitudes toward its application in medicine. Additionally, this study seeks to identify the factors influencing knowledge levels and explore the practical implementation of AI in the medical field., Method: A web-based survey was distributed to medical students in Sudan via social media platforms and e-mail during October 2023. The survey included questions on demographic information, knowledge of AI, attitudes toward its applications, and practical experiences. The descriptive statistics, χ 2 tests, logistic regression, and correlations were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0., Results: Out of the 762 participants, the majority exhibited a basic understanding of AI, but detailed knowledge of its applications was limited. Positive attitudes toward the importance of AI in diagnosis, radiology, and pathology were prevalent. However, practical application of these methods was infrequent, with only a minority of the participants having hands-on experience. Factors influencing knowledge included the lack of a formal curriculum and gender disparities., Conclusion: This study highlights the need for comprehensive AI education in medical training programs in Sudan. While participants displayed positive attitudes, there was a notable gap in practical experience. Addressing these gaps through targeted educational interventions is crucial for preparing future healthcare professionals to navigate the evolving landscape of AI in medicine., Recommendations: Policy efforts should focus on integrating AI education into the medical curriculum to ensure readiness for the technological advancements shaping the future of healthcare., Competing Interests: The author declares no conflicts of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

New vanillin derivatives, namely, ethyl (4-formyl-2-methoxyphenoxy)acetate (2a) and 2-(4-formyl-2-methoxyphenoxy)- N -phenylacetamide (2b) , respectively, were synthesized and characterized by NMR ( 1 H and 13 C), IR, mass spectra and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Hirshfeld surface (HS) analysis was performed to probe intra- and intermolecular interactions and surface reactivity. 2D fingerprint plots (FP) were used to study the nature and percentage contribution of intermolecular interactions leading to the formation of the crystal unit. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations were used to obtain the electronic structure and reactivity of the new molecules. Natural population analysis (NPA) and frontier molecular orbital (FMO) calculations reveal significant charge transfer and a reduced HOMO-LUMO gap up to 4.34 eV for 2b . Bader's quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) study is utilized to understand the surface topological and bonding nature of 2a and 2b. The performed molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) and density of states (DOS) study further suggest sites likely to be attractive to incoming reagents. At the same time, hyperpolarizability (β o ) is used to characterize the nonlinear optical properties, and TD-DFT study shows the excitation energy and absorption behavior. In silico studies were performed, including docking, binding free energies (MMBGSA) and molecular dynamics simulations. Compounds 2a and 2b were docked with RdRp of SARS-Cov-2, and the MMBGSA for 2a and 2b were -30.70 and -28.47 kcal/mol, respectively, while MD simulation showed the stability of protein-ligand complexes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Nowadays, fish production aims to achieve a continuous and immediate generation of top-quality animal protein from the finest sources. Moreover, the aquaculture industry holds a vital position in addressing the rising global appetite for fish and seafood products. In addition, it has played a substantial role in providing affordable animal protein in Egypt in recent years. Therefore, rapid development has occurred in the industrial aquaculture sector in Egypt to compensate for the decrease in red meat production. According to previous studies, Egypt occupied the first rank among African countries and the ninth position globally in the field of fish farming production. This achievement aimed to link up the disparity between fish production and consumption in Egypt. Carp, due to its economic importance in this industry, has expanded worldwide with more evident ecological influences. The carp fish belongs to the Cyprinidae family, which encompasses seven subfamilies, approximately 220 genera, and has been associated with around 20,000 documented species. Given the importance of carp with different species, this work reviews the management, behavior, and different rearing systems of some popular carp species in Egypt. Data search was done on PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for the keywords including fish farming, carp fish, management, behavior, rearing systems, Egypt, Africa, and Worldwide. In Egypt, the output of carp is ranked second only to tilapia in aquaculture. A polyculture system is more often used in carp rearing, particularly when raising tilapia, to maximize growth rates, minimize feed conversion ratios, and reduce the amount of fat in the corpses. Furthermore, agro-ecologically valuable agriculture has been linked to integrated carp monoculture. Crop rising was the key to the successful development of pond aquaculture., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Objectives: The present study was carried out to investigate COVID-19 vaccination coverage among populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and host communities in northern Iraq and the related underlying factors. Methods: Through a cross-sectional study conducted in five governorates in April-May 2022, 4,564 individuals were surveyed. Data were collected through an adapted questionnaire designed to gather data on participants. Results: 4,564 subjects were included (59.55% were 19-45 years old; 54.51% male). 50.48% of the participants (51.49% of host communities, 48.83% of IDPs, and 45.87% of refugees) had been vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 40.84% of participants (42.28% of host communities, 35.75% of IDPs, and 36.14% of refugees) had been vaccinated by two doses, and 1.56% (1.65% of host communities, 0.93% of IDPs, and 1.46% of refugees) were vaccinated with three doses. Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors including age, gender, education, occupation, and nationality could affect vaccination coverage. Moreover, higher acceptance rate of vaccination is associated with belief in vaccine safety and effectiveness and trust in the ability of the vaccine to prevent complications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Gubari, Wadi, Hama-Ghareeb, Fatah, Hosseini, Wale, Hipgrave, Ali, Mahmood, Ezzat Khadium, Mohammed, Jaafer, Al Saadi, Mohammed, Saeed, Mohammad, Khudhur, Wael Saleh, Sheat, Ibrahim, Nabeil Salah, Abdullah, Omer, Ghafur, Mustafa, Faraj, Ali, Aziz Enayat, Wahab, Ali Al-Jaf, Hama Amin, Jaff, Bra, Ahmed, Rasool, Jamal, Mohammed and Azeez.)

Memory deficit, anxiety, coordination deficit and depression are common neurological disorders attributed to aluminum (Al) buildup in the nervous system. Quercetin nanoparticles (QNPs) are a newly developed effective neuroprotectant. We aimed to investigate the potential protective and therapeutic effects of QNPs in Al induced toxicity in rat cerebellum. A rat model of Al-induced cerebellar damage was created by AlCl 3 (100 mg/kg) administration orally for 42 days. QNPs (30 mg/kg) was administered for 42-days as a prophylactic (along with AlCl 3 administration) or therapeutic for 42-days (following AlCl 3 induced cerebellar damage). Cerebellar tissues were assessed for structural and molecular changes. The results showed that Al induced profound cerebellar structural and molecular changes, including neuronal damage, astrogliosis and tyrosine hydroxylase downregulation. Prophylactic QNPs significantly reduced Al induced cerebellar neuronal degeneration. QNPs is a promising neuroprotectant that can be used in elderly and vulnerable subjects to protect against neurological deterioration. It could be a promising new line for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative diseases., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Ultrasonography had diagnostic importance in the evaluation of different diseases in buffaloes, including cardiovascular diseases., Aim: The current work describes the normal echocardiographic findings in healthy buffaloes, along with establishing reference values for echocardiographic dimensions for both sides of the heart, i.e., left and right ones., Methods: About 30 healthy adult buffaloes that belonged to private farms in Assiut, Egypt, were included in this study. Each animal underwent a complete clinical evaluation as well as hematological analyses, lipid profile indices, liver functions, cardio-thoracic radiography, and echocardiography to confirm no diseased conditions were detected. The study was conducted on healthy buffaloes ( n = 30) in Assiut Governorate, Egypt., Results: The obtained results reported healthy buffaloes with normal clinical findings as well as indices of blood pictures and serum biochemicals that were within the reference intervals. Radiography revealed a free reticulum and a well-defined diaphragm. The heart was seen as a typical radio-opaque organ. Ultrasonographically, using grayscale B-mode and M-mode, the heart was commonly imaged from the left fourth intercostal space. Different echocardiographic views were described, including the four chamber view, i.e., right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), tricuspid valve (TCV), left atrium, left ventricle, mitral valve, and interventricular septum (IVS), and the right ventricular outflow tract, i.e., RA, TCV, RV, pulmonary artery (PA), and pulmonary valve. Cross sections in each of the apex and base of the heart were described. Echocardiographic dimensions during cardiac diastole and systole, including diameters and wall thickness of each of the atria and ventricles, were demonstrated. Interventricular septal thickness wall thickness as well as diameters of the aorta and PA, were stated., Conclusion: The work tried to put reference values on the normal echocardiographic dimensions using 2-D B-mode gray scale ultrasonography in healthy adult buffaloes. These echocardiographic reference dimensions with normal echocardiographic imaging will be very helpful in enhancing the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasounds for recognizing abnormal findings related to cardiac disorders., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Tunnel solar dryer is the recently used drying method for better quality and safety of parchment coffee. However, the higher variation of drying temperature and RH along the long tunnel solar dryer results in a heterogeneous environment in the tunnel, which could make parchment coffee dried at different times or with different moisture contents. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of solar tunnel dryer zones at different zones of the dryer, divided into three zones from the inlet to the exit side of the drier and drying layer thicknesses on the drying time, drying kinetics, physicochemical, sensory, and fungal growth loads of parchment coffee. Furthermore, seven mathematical models were evaluated to select the best-fitting model for a specific zone to predict drying time. Results showed that dryer zones significantly ( p < 0.05) interacted with layer thickness for most of the measured parameters except titratable acidity and sensory properties. The dryer zone, coupled with the reduction in drying layer thickness, caused an increase in effective diffusivity and moisture removal rate and reduced drying time. The drying time to reach constant moisture content varied from 14 to 17 hours. Overall raw bean, cup, and total quality varied from 36.3 to 37, 48 to 51, and 84.3 to 87.3%, respectively. Values for physicochemical parameters ranged from 5.3 to 6.9 (pH), 2.1 to 2.6% (titratable acidity), 2.3 to 4.3°Brix TSS, 10.9 to 15.2% (ether extract), 39.2 to 53.5GAE/g (total phenolic content), and 38.5 to 59.2 (DPPH scavenging capacity). The fungal infection percentage at the end of drying varied from 4 to 93.3%, which could be associated with potential mycotoxin formation if recommended conditions were not maintained. In general, for better quality, similar drying times, and a lesser fungal load, it is recommended to use 4, 5, and 6 cm layer thickness in zones one, two, and three, respectively. The drying kinetics of parchment coffee in different dryer zones with different drying layer thicknesses showed variation. Zone one at 2 and 4 cm layer thicknesses is best described by the Verma model. Four- and six-centimetre layer thicknesses in zones 2 and 3 are best described by the modified Midilli model., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Zenaba Kadir Abdissa et al.)

Background: The post-parturient period in goat had marked changes in an animal's endocrine and metabolic status as well as by reduction in feed intake when the nutrient demand for impending lactogenesis was increasing. The current study aimed to monitor the residues of oxytetracycline in Baladi goat milk and their hazards on public health as well as the time required until complete disappearance of this medicament from milk through following up periods included 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 and 120 h in post-kidding goat following intrauterine application of oxytetracycline. The study also compared between the efficacy of oxytetracycline only, oxytetracycline with oxytocin, or oxytetracycline with GnRH, through monitoring the clinical findings and haematological pictures at days 0, 5 and 7 post-partum as well as studying the changes in numbers and size of follicles at days 15, 30 and 45 postpartum after different treatments strategies in different groups i.e. Control healthy goat (Cont gr) , Oxytetracycline treated goat (Oxytet gr ), Oxytetracycline-oxytocin treated goat (Oxytet-Oxyto gr ) and Oxytetracycline-GnRH treated goat (Oxytet-GnRH gr ). The study was carried out on clinically healthy Baladi goats (n = 40) that gave birth recently. They were divided into 4 equal groups (n = 10 goats for each); Cont gr which received no medication after birth, Oxytet gr which administrated oxytetracycline tablets intrauterine at day of birth, Oxytet-Oxyto gr which treated by oxytetracycline tablets intrauterine at day of birth followed by oxytocin injection at 3rd day after birth, and Oxytet-GnRH gr which treated by oxytetracycline tablets intrauterine at day of birth followed by GNRH injection at 3rd day after birth., Results and Conclusions: The study concluded the highest oxytetracyclines residues in goats' milk were reported after 36 h following intrauterine oxytetracycline application where complete disappearance of oxytetracyclines residues in goats' milk required 120 h elapsed after intrauterine oxytetracycline application in which the goats milk became safe for human consumption. The study also reported powerful influence of the applied variable therapeutic regimens on post-partum ovarian resumption through clear significant variations in numbers and sizes of follicles either between different goats' groups within the same day, or between days 15, 30 and 45 post-partum within each independent goat group., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: The first objective of the study aimed to detect the presence of Lactococcus petauri, L. garvieae, and L. formosensis in fish (n = 359) and environmental (n = 161) samples from four lakes near an affected fish farm in California during an outbreak in 2020. The second objective was to compare the virulence of the Lactococcus spp. in Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides., Methods: Standard bacterial culture methods were used to isolate Lactococcus spp. from brain and posterior kidney of sampled fish from the four lakes. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was utilized to detect Lactococcus spp. DNA in fish tissues and environmental samples from the four lakes. Laboratory controlled challenges were conducted by injecting fish intracoelomically with representative isolates of L. petauri (n = 17), L. garvieae (n = 2), or L. formosensis (n = 4), and monitored for 14 days postchallenge (dpc)., Result: Lactococcus garvieae was isolated from the brains of two Largemouth Bass in one of the lakes. Lactococcus spp. were detected in 14 fish (8 Bluegills Lepomis macrochirus and 6 Largemouth Bass) from 3 out of the 4 lakes using a qPCR assay. Of the collected environmental samples, all 4 lakes tested positive for Lactococcus spp. in the soil samples, while 2 of the 4 lakes tested positive in the water samples through qPCR. Challenged Largemouth Bass did not show any signs of infection postinjection throughout the challenge period. Rainbow Trout infected with L. petauri showed clinical signs within 3 dpc and presented a significantly higher cumulative mortality (62.4%; p < 0.0001) at 14 dpc when compared to L. garvieae (0%) and L. formosensis (7.5%) treatments., Conclusion: The study suggests that qPCR can be used for environmental DNA monitoring of Lactococcus spp. and demonstrates virulence diversity between the etiological agents of piscine lactococcosis., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Fisheries Society.)

Dawrach (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) is an underutilized wild edible plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Dawrach is widely regarded as a weed, and there is a lack of information about its nutritional profile such as, proximate, antioxidant properties, health-promoting vitamins, minerals and significant phytochemicals. The plant also contains anti-nutrients which need a pretreatment to be minimized and deteriorating enzymes that should be inactivated to make shelf stable products. Blanching temperature is the most critical factor that needs great attention during the blanching process to minimize the anti-nutrients and minimize the loss of desirable components of Dawrach such as, proximate and phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the influence of blanching temperatures on the proximate, phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of Dawrach leaves. The parameters were evaluated following standard analytical methods and procedures. Dawrach leaves were blanched at 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 °C temperature for 3 min, and raw or unblanched Dawrach was used as a control. Blanching temperature significantly affected the proximate, phytochemicals, antioxidant activity and anti-nutrients of the Dawrach. As a result, the moisture content of raw and blanched at 90 °C was 10.77 and 7.69 g/100g, respectively. Thus, blanching decreases the moisture content of Dawrach to the recommended safe moisture level for the products. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the values of antioxidants activities, beta carotene, and l-ascorbic acid as the blanching temperature increased from 50 to 90 °C. Besides, as blanching temperature increased, there was a reduction in oxalate and tannin of the Dawrach leaf., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

The carotid artery is a major blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain. Plaque buildup in the arteries can lead to cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, stroke, ruptured arteries, and even death. Both invasive and non-invasive methods are used to detect plaque buildup in the arteries, with ultrasound imaging being the first line of diagnosis. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the existing literature on ultrasound image analysis methods for detecting and characterizing plaque buildup in the carotid artery. The review includes an in-depth analysis of datasets; image segmentation techniques for the carotid artery plaque area, lumen area, and intima-media thickness (IMT); and plaque measurement, characterization, classification, and stenosis grading using deep learning and machine learning. Additionally, the paper provides an overview of the performance of these methods, including challenges in analysis, and future directions for research.

Background: According to reports, the majority of domesticated species exhibited uterine torsion. It was occasionally noted as a cause of dystocia in buffaloes. The uterus might twist more frequently late in pregnancy because of certain animal traits. The current research monitored the clinical findings and laboratory assays associated with uterine torsion cases in pregnant buffalo-cows through comparing between normal labored buffalo-cows (Norm-Lab gr ; n = 20), mechanically corrected uterine torsed animals without medicament interference (UtrTors gr ; n = 160), and mechanically corrected uterine torsed animals with medicament interference (UtrTors-Med gr ; n = 40) through focusing on placental characterization, calves body weight, milk constituents and milk somatic cell count (SCC) in normal labored buffaloes and uterine torsed ones. Through clinical and laboratory investigations of these buffaloes (N = 220) had been conducted 3 times; 7 h pre-calving and post calving (Post uterine correction) i.e. 48 and 96 h. Uterine torsion prevalence parameters, placental characterization, calves body weight, milk constituents and milk somatic cell counts were evaluated in normal labored buffaloes and uterine torsed ones., Results and Conclusions: The study concluded pre-calving remarkable variations in clinical findings, leukogram picture, calf birth weight and some placental characterization parameters between Norm-Lab gr and each of UtrTors gr and UtrTors-Med gr whereas these variations disappeared post-partum as a result to either only mechanical correction or mechanical correction plus medicaments interference. No pre-or post-calving significant changes between UtrTors gr and UtrTors-Med gr except for the abnormal clinical findings were more representative in UtrTors-Med gr than those in UtrTors gr particularly pre-calving. The applied pre-calving therapeutic regimen including dexamethasone-prostaglandin-receptal combination had a powerful potential efficacy that induced vaginal delivery of calves in UtrTors-Med gr as well as prepartum mechanical correction of torsed uterus approved higher efficacy in UtrTors gr . The applied prepartum mechanical correction of torsed uterus and/or pre-calving therapeutic regimen as well as subsequent post-calving, post uterine correction applied medicament treatment accelerated rapid recovery of affected buffalo-cows through achieving rapid restoring of their physiological parameters. Buffalo-cow's milk composition, milk pH and milk SCC were not affected whereas no significant variations were reported between Norm-Lab gr , UtrTors gr and UtrTors-Med gr ., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Dysfunction of the p53 gene and the presence of the MDR1 gene are associated with many malignant tumors including endometrial cancer and are responsible for cancer therapeutic resistance and poor survival. Thus, there is a critical need to devise novel combinatorial therapies with multiple mechanisms of action to overcome drug resistance. Here, we report a new ciprofloxacin derivative (CIP2b) tested either alone or in combination with taxanes against four human endometrial cancer cell lines. In vitro studies revealed that a combination of paclitaxel + CIP2b had synergistic cytotoxic effects against MDR1-expressing type-II human endometrial cancer cells with loss-of-function p53 (Hec50co LOFp53). Enhanced antitumor effects were confirmed by substantial increases in caspase-3 expression, cell population shifts toward the G2/M phase, and reduction of cdc2 phosphorylation. It was found that CIP2b targets multiple pathways including the inhibition of MDR1, topoisomerase I, and topoisomerase II, as well as enhancing the effects of paclitaxel (PTX) on microtubule assembly. In vivo treatment with the combination of PTX + CIP2b also led to significantly increased accumulation of PTX in tumors (compared to CIP2b alone) and reduction in tumor growth. Enhanced in vivo cytotoxic effects were confirmed by histological and immunohistochemical examination of the tumor tissues. Complete blood count and blood biochemistry data confirmed the absence of any apparent off-target toxicity. Thus, combination therapy involving PTX and CIP2b targeted multiple pathways and represents an approach that could result in improved tolerance and efficacy in patients with type-II endometrial cancer harboring the MDR1 gene and p53 mutations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Organic egg is among the most common organic foods offered for sale in Egyptian markets in recent years, and consumers buy them at a higher price because they believe organic eggs are safer and have superior nutritional value than conventional eggs., Aim: The present work aimed to monitor antimicrobial residues in brown table eggs, whether conventional or organic type, in Aswan governorate markets and assessed their physical and chemical quality and their public health hazards., Methods: Brown table egg samples ( n = 400 total) were randomly selected in the present study, in which they represented two equal groups ( n = 200 each) including conventional eggs and organic eggs. Eggs were collected from different retail stores in the Aswan governorate, Egypt. Egg samples were subjected to thorough physical and chemical quality evaluation as well as an assessment of antimicrobial residues., Results: The results reported that organic eggs were cleaner and had a better odor, less blood, and meat spots, but smaller with more shell cracks than conventional eggs. Chemical analysis of some nutrient contents in the egg yolk revealed significantly higher nutritive values of organic eggs than that of conventional ones as the organic eggs contain significantly higher levels of vitamin A and vitamin D/D3 and significantly lower values of cholesterol, calcium, magnesium, and zinc than those in conventional eggs. Disc diffusion assay has been used for monitoring antimicrobial residues in egg samples. The results have shown that all examined organic eggs were free from antimicrobial residues, while 12% and 8% of conventional egg yolk and white were positive for antimicrobial residues, respectively., Conclusion: The study concludes the higher nutritive value of organic eggs compared with the conventional type because of their significantly higher contents of vitamins A and D and their significantly lower contents of cholesterol. Moreover, organic eggs were free from antimicrobial residues which maximizes their public health benefits.., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) not only has short-term side effects on offspring but also has an increased risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood. The thymus gland is a vital organ of immune system and thymoquinone (TQ) has an immunomodulatory effect. This study aimed to investigate the long-term adverse effects of GDM on offspring's thymus gland and the ameliorating effect of TQ. Pregnant rats were divided into four groups: C-group, T-group, GD-group, and GD + T-group. Offspring of all groups were subdivided into two subgroups, one sacrificed on day 21 and the other on day 42. The thymus of the offspring in the GD-group at both time points revealed a significant decrease in thymic weight, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels with a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels. Moreover, there were microscopic degenerative changes, a significant decrease in C/M ratio, CD3, CD4, and CD8 immune expression, and a significant increase in activated caspase-3 immune expression. Interestingly, TQ administration revealed a significant increase in thymic weight, thymic SOD and GSH, C/M ratio, and CD3, CD4, and CD8 immune expression with a significant decrease in MDA, IL-8, TNF-α and activated caspase-3. For the first time, this study has shown that GDM causes long-term oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in offspring's thymus and these changes could be attenuated by TQ., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no competing interest., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Microscopy Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Flavobacterium columnare causes columnaris disease in freshwater fish in both natural and aquaculture settings. This disease is often lethal, especially when fish population density is high, and control options such as vaccines are limited. The type IX secretion system (T9SS) is required for F. columnare virulence, but secreted virulence factors have not been fully identified. Many T9SS-secreted proteins are predicted peptidases, and peptidases are common virulence factors of other pathogens. T9SS-deficient mutants, such as Δ gldN and Δ porV , exhibit strong defects in secreted proteolytic activity. The F. columnare genome has many peptidase-encoding genes that may be involved in nutrient acquisition and/or virulence. Mutants lacking individual peptidase-encoding genes, or lacking up to ten peptidase-encoding genes, were constructed and examined for extracellular proteolytic activity, for growth defects, and for virulence in zebrafish and rainbow trout. Most of the mutants retained virulence, but a mutant lacking 10 peptidases, and a mutant lacking the single peptidase TspA exhibited decreased virulence in rainbow trout fry, suggesting that peptidases contribute to F. columnare virulence., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Thunes, Mohammed, Evenhuis, Lipscomb, Pérez-Pascual, Stevick, Birkett, Conrad, Ghigo and McBride.)

Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent in various malignant tumors. However, intestinal toxicity is considered the irritant unavoidable adverse effect during the course therapy. The aim of the current study was to screen the effect of a new selective histamine receptor 1 blocker and platelet-activating factor (PAF) blocker on 5-FU induced intestinal toxicity. Five groups (6 rats each) of adult male rats (Wistar) were arranged as follows: (1) control group that was treated with carboxymethylcellulose, (2) a group that received rupatadine (higher dose) only, (3) a group that received 5-FU and (4) and (5) groups that received 5-FU plus lower or higher dose rupatadine, respectively. At end of the experiment, we determined intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione reduced (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 1β, 6, 10 (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10), PAF, histamine, myeloperoxidase, cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 (caspase-3), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) as well as the histological analysis. 5-FU injection caused marked elevation of MDA, NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PAF, histamine, myeloperoxidase, caspase-3, and NF-κB expressions. The intoxicated animals showed deficient GSH and IL-10 along with significant loss of villi, disorganized crypts, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Rupatadine pretreatment reduced the previously mentioned parameters, preserved a nearly normal intestinal mucosa picture with replenished GSH and elevated IL-10. In conclusion, rupatadine is a dual histamine receptor 1, and a PAF blocker could reduce 5-FU-induced oxidative damage, inflammation, apoptosis, and ulceration of the intestinal epithelium. Rupatadine may be a valuable modality to decrease 5-FU induced intestinal mucositis.

Pumpkin fruits are large in size and need to be cut into pieces for use. The quality and storage life of cuts rapidly deteriorated. Big size fruits can be converted to shelf stable product to minimize postharvest loss using solar driers. However, drying temperature and RH in long solar tunnel drier not uniform and may affects quality of dried products. Therefore this research work aimed to investigate the effects of pre-drying treatments and solar tunnel dryer zones on the functional properties, proximate composition, and bioactive components of pumpkin pulp powder. Three groups of pumpkin slices were pre-treated in 1% citric acid (20 min), 2% salt (20 min) solutions, and the other group blanched at 65 °C in 1% salt solution (2 min), untreated sample used as a control. Pre-treated samples then dried in three zones of tunnel solar drier (zone I, zone II and zone III). Treatment combinations were laid down in factorial RCBD replicated 3 times. Results showed that pulp powder from salt pre-treated slice and dried at zone III results in the highest values of shrinkage, rehydration ratio, water holding capacity, and bulk density. Moisture content decreased from zone I to III, and with salt blanching in range of 8.2 to 6.4%, no effect in crude fat content, slices pre-treated in 2% salt solution results is better crude protein and fiber contents in zones. Better retention of total polyphones, beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, with high DPPH scavenging activity and lowest IC 50 values were observed for salt pre-treated sample but dried in zone II of the drier. In general relatively better functional properties, proximate composition and bioactive compounds of the powder can be preserved when slices pre-treated in 2% salt solution and dried in zone II of solar tunnel drier characterized by 54.9 ± 3.7 °C, RH value of 31.4 ± 3.4% and air velocity of 0.45 m/s., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Drying fruits and vegetables can be achieved using different drying methods based on the crop's economic value and the technology's affordability. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, where sunlight intensity and duration are high, it is recommended to use solar drying methods. A solar tunnel dryer is one of the methods commonly used to produce dried fruits and vegetables. It is necessary to determine the drying kinetics at different dryer zones and select a suitable drying kinetics model to overcome the limitation. In addition, pretreatment methods are commonly recommended to improve the quality of the dried product. This work aimed to determine the drying kinetics of pumpkin slices at different zones of drier and pretreatment effect on product quality. Three zones of drier and four pretreatments were employed in the two-factor factorial experiment. Seven thin layer kinetic models were evaluated. pH, TSS, TA, moisture content (MC), and water activity ( a w ) were determined for quality evaluation. Recorded data showed that the temperature in the tunnel increased from zone I to III with a decrease in RH. Results showed a higher drying constant ( K ) and effective diffusivity ( D eff ); drier zone III > II > I. Pretreatments also showed a significant effect on K and D eff . Regardless of pretreatment types, two-term exponential and diffusion models are better fitted for zones I and II/III, respectively. With pretreatments and drier zones, the TSS value increases from zones I to III but with a decrease in titratable acidity, moisture content, and water activity. From the result, it can be concluded that different drying rates are observed in different zones. However, a better quality of pumpkin powder was observed in drier zone II for pumpkin slices pretreated with a 2% salt solution. It is recommended to create a drying medium that resembles zone II or better to use the recommended kinetic models to predict the drying time for each zone for a better quality product by avoiding under- or over-drying of slices., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no Conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Hayat Hassen Mohammed et al.)

Twenty-two unidentified Gram-positive, rod-shaped organisms were recovered from the conjunctival surface of apparently healthy horses and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. Based on cellular morphology and biochemical criteria, the isolates were tentatively assigned to the genus Corynebacterium , although they did not match any recognized species. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that all of the isolates were phylogenetically members of the genus Corynebacterium. The isolates shared 99.4 to 100% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity among the strains and 96.5% similarity with Corynebacterium tapiri 2385/12 T , which was the closest phylogenetically related species. The DNA G+C content was 58.4 mol%. The major fatty acids were C 15:0 , C 16:0 , C 17:1 ω8c and C 18:1 ω9c , while the predominant mycolic acids consisted of C 30:0 , C 32:0 and C 34:0 . The isolates were distinguished from related Corynebacterium species by a number of phenotypic properties. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolates from horses be classified in the genus Corynebacterium as Corynebacterium conjunctivae sp. nov. The type strain of C. conjunctivae is ICM19-01138 T (DSM 109759 T = CCUG 73728 T ).

Piscine lactococcosis is an emergent bacterial disease that is associated with high economic losses in many farmed and wild aquatic species worldwide. Early and accurate detection of the causative agent of piscine lactococcosis is essential for management of the disease in fish farms. In this study, a TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region was developed and validated. Validation of the qPCR was performed with DNA of previously typed L. petauri and L. garvieae recovered from different aquatic hosts from distinct geographical locations, closely related bacterial species and common pathogens in trout aquaculture. Further diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was investigated by screening of fish, water and faecal samples. The developed qPCR assay showed high specificity, sensitivity and accuracy in detection of L. petauri and L. garvieae with lack of signals from non-target pathogens, and in screening of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) posterior kidney and environmental samples. The detection limit of the qPCR was four amplicon copies. Moreover, the sensitivity of the qPCR assay was not affected by presence of non-target DNA from either fish or environmental samples. The robustness, specificity and sensitivity of the developed qPCR will facilitate fast and accurate diagnosis of piscine lactococcosis to establish appropriate control measures in fish farms and aquaria., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Peppers are a rich source of bioactive compounds with several health benefits. However, most of the knowledge about these benefits has been obtained through in vitro studies, and less is known about their in vivo health-promoting and stress resistance effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that the intake of apigenin glycosides (XAp-G) from Xiaomila green pepper (Capsicum frutescens) could protect against stress factors and promote longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans. Synchronized worms were treated with XAp-G and the lifespan and stress resistance were examined. XAp-G treatment strongly enhanced the average lifespan of worms by 23.9% compared with control by reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectometry analysis showed that Xiaomila pepper (polyamide fraction) contained significant amount of flavone glycosides with m/z 563.14 (apigenin glycosides). Green fluorescent protein fluorescence and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses showed that XAp-G-treatment could regulate the expression of anti-aging related genes, including daf-2, daf-16, sod-3, hsp-16.2, skn-1, gst-4, gcs-1, jnk-1, and sir-2.1 in C elegans, thereby promoting the translocation of DAF-16 and SKN-1 into the nucleus. However, it could not extend the lifespan of daf-16, skn-1, and sir-2.1 knocked-down mutants. XAp-G treatment significantly reduced ROS under normal and stress conditions (juglone, hydrogen peroxide), and thereby promotes longevity of C elegans via the insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathway., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background : This study provides a model for studying the mechanism(s) responsible for the nervous tissue damage and misfunctioning that occurred due to oral nicotine exposure, considered a stress factor, during the presence of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing in the mouse model (EAC). The mitigating role of Chlorella vulgaris (CV ) against nicotine-induced brain damage was evaluated. Methods : Eighty Swiss female mice were classified into four groups, these were the control, the CV group, the nicotine group(100 µg/kg), and the combination group. Oxidant/antioxidant status, proinflammatory cytokines levels, DNA damage, quantitative microscopical lesions, and Caspase 3, Bcl-2 proteins were assessed in the current study. Levels of dopamine (DA) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were also evaluated. Results : Nicotine was found to cause pronounced neurobehavioral alterations, increase the mortalities oxidative stress DNA damage, and augment the inflammatory response in brain tissue alongside the microstructural alteration. The administration of CV with nicotine in EAC-bearing mice rescued the detrimental effects of nicotine. Conclusions : CV aids in reducing the harmful effects of nicotine and returns the conditions caused by nicotine to near-control levels. Thus, we are in favor of giving it to cancer patients who are taking daily dosages of nicotine even by smoking cigarettes or being exposed to second-hand smoke.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of process extraction variables (extraction time, volume of solvent, weight of sample) on the production of essential oil from ginger rhizome using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was employed to obtain the essential oil concentration in percentage (%) area. The RSM indicated that the weight of the sample had a major linear effect on the oil recovery while the extraction time had a major quadratic effect on the essential oil concentration in % area. The highest oil recovery and essential oil concentration in % area were 15.2% and 22.64%, respectively. The best operation conditions for the oil recovery were 4 hours of extraction time, 750 mL volume of methanol and 30 g weight of sample. The best operation conditions for the essential oil concentration in % area were 5 hours of extraction time, 500 mL volume of methanol and 30 g weight of sample., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Flavobacterium columnare causes columnaris disease in wild and cultured freshwater fish and is a major problem for sustainable aquaculture worldwide. The F. columnare type IX secretion system (T9SS) secretes many proteins and is required for virulence. The T9SS component GldN is required for secretion and gliding motility over surfaces. Genetic manipulation of F. columnare is inefficient, which has impeded identification of secreted proteins that are critical for virulence. Here, we identified a virulent wild-type F. columnare strain (MS-FC-4) that is highly amenable to genetic manipulation. This facilitated isolation and characterization of two deletion mutants lacking core components of the T9SS. Deletion of gldN disrupted protein secretion and gliding motility and eliminated virulence in zebrafish and rainbow trout. Deletion of porV disrupted secretion and virulence but not motility. Both mutants exhibited decreased extracellular proteolytic, hemolytic, and chondroitin sulfate lyase activities. They also exhibited decreased biofilm formation and decreased attachment to fish fins and other surfaces. Using genomic and proteomic approaches, we identified proteins secreted by the T9SS. We deleted 10 genes encoding secreted proteins and characterized the virulence of mutants lacking individual or multiple secreted proteins. A mutant lacking two genes encoding predicted peptidases exhibited reduced virulence in rainbow trout, and mutants lacking a predicted cytolysin showed reduced virulence in zebrafish and rainbow trout. The results establish F. columnare strain MS-FC-4 as a genetically amenable model to identify virulence factors. This may aid development of measures to control columnaris disease and impact fish health and sustainable aquaculture. IMPORTANCE Flavobacterium columnare causes columnaris disease in wild and aquaculture-reared freshwater fish and is a major problem for aquaculture. Little is known regarding the virulence factors involved in this disease, and control measures are inadequate. The type IX secretion system (T9SS) secretes many proteins and is required for virulence, but the secreted virulence factors are not known. We identified a strain of F. columnare (MS-FC-4) that is well suited for genetic manipulation. The components of the T9SS and the proteins secreted by this system were identified. Deletion of core T9SS genes eliminated virulence. Genes encoding 10 secreted proteins were deleted. Deletion of two peptidase-encoding genes resulted in decreased virulence in rainbow trout, and deletion of a cytolysin-encoding gene resulted in decreased virulence in rainbow trout and zebrafish. Secreted peptidases and cytolysins are likely virulence factors and are targets for the development of control measures.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an abrupt inflammatory disorder causing high morbidity and mortality. As AP is an insidious medical emergency, a curative modality is required instead of a preventive measure. Thus, we investigated the possible curative effect of rupatadine on a rat model of AP. Rupatadine is a potent histamine receptor 1 (H1R) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) blocker. We used four groups of six Wistar rats as follows: the control group received vehicle; the rupatadine control group received rupatadine as 6 mg/kg orally; the AP group received l-arginine intraperitoneally, and the treatment group received rupatadine at 1, 6, and 24 h after l-arginine injection. The levels of serum amylase, pancreatic oxidative parameters, and pancreatic cytokines were measured. PAF, histamine, and myeloperoxidase levels were determined in the pancreas. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed to determine nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and caspase 3 expressions. Oxidative damage and severe inflammation were detected in the pancreas of the AP group. Rupatadine reduced the oxidative damage and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, PAF, histamine, myeloperoxidase, NF-κB, and caspase 3 expressions. It restored the pancreatic acini to almost normal condition. Rupatadine induced important anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects against l-arginine-induced AP.

Stress is a common phenomenon that is attracting increasing attention. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is a gasotransmitter that plays an important role in many physiological and pathological events. Our study aimed to estimate the effect and the underlying mechanisms of the H 2 S donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), against immobilization stress (IS)-induced lung injury. Forty adult male rats were classified into control group, NaHS group, and IS groups with and without NaHS treatment. Serum was obtained to determine corticosterone (CORT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels. Lung H 2 S, nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. Lung expressions of H 2 S synthesizing enzymes and Western blot analysis of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF 1α) were estimated. Histopathological changes and immunohistochemical assessment of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and caspase-3 were also done. Pretreatment with NaHS led to marked histological protection from lung damage seen in IS rats. Furthermore, pretreatment with NaHS before IS protected lung H 2 S levels and expressions of H 2 S-synthesizing enzymes. Similarly, the levels of CORT, TNF-α, IL-10, MDA, TAC, NO, iNOS, HIF-1 α, and nuclear Nrf2 and expressions of NF-kB and caspase 3 were all maintained at near control levels in contrast to that in the IS rats. In conclusion, NaHS is protective against stress-induced lung injury due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and antiapoptotic effects. Thus, NaHS can be used to minimize stress complications on lung., (© 2021. Cell Stress Society International.)

Backgrounds: Modern dietary habits have been associated with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Curcumin is a natural herbal found to suppress cellular oxidative states and could be beneficial in NASH. This study investigates the effect of curcumin in an animal model of NASH., Materials and Methods: Fifty rats were allocated into five groups. Control, High Fat Diet (HFD), curcumin prophylactic (CP) and therapeutic (CT) groups. HFD regimen was given for 16 weeks. Curcumin was given along with HFD (prophylactic) or after establishment of the model for two weeks (therapeutic). Livers and blood samples were harvested for histological, biochemical, and molecular studies., Key Findings: Livers from HFD groups showed vascular, inflammatory, cellular degenerative and fibrotic changes. The hepatic damage was reflected by the increased serum liver enzymes. HFD groups showed excessive fibrotic change. Interestingly, curcumin administration as prophylactic or therapeutic significantly preserved and/or restored liver structure. This was evidenced by the normalization of the liver enzymes, preservation and/or reversibility of cellular changes and the decrease of the stage of fibrosis. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 gene (Nrf2) expression showed no changes in the HFD groups, however it showed upregulation in curcumin treated groups. Thus, the protective and therapeutic effect of curcumin could be induced through upregulation of the Nrf2 gene. Curcumin has a beneficial prophylactic and therapeutic effect that could hinder the development and/or treat NASH in susceptible livers., Significance: Curcumin has a beneficial prophylactic and therapeutic effect that could hinder the development and/or treat NASH in susceptible livers., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)