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The present study aimed to contribute to the limited research on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) semen traits by incorporating genomic data. A total of 8465 ejaculates were collected. The genotyping procedure was conducted using the Axiom® Buffalo Genotyping 90 K array designed by the Affymetrix Expert Design Program. After conducting a quality assessment, we utilized 67,282 SNPs genotyped in 192 animals. We identified several genomic loci explaining high genetic variance by employing single-step genomic evaluation. The aforementioned regions were located on buffalo chromosomes no. 3, 4, 6, 7, 14, 16, 20, 22, and the X-chromosome. The X-chromosome exhibited substantial influence, accounting for 4.18, 4.59, 5.16, 5.19, and 4.31% of the genomic variance for ejaculate volume, mass motility, livability, abnormality, and concentration, respectively. In the examined genomic regions, we identified five novel candidate genes linked to male fertility and spermatogenesis, four in the X-chromosome and one in chromosome no. 16. Additional extensive research with larger sample sizes and datasets is imperative to validate these findings and evaluate their applicability for genomic selection.

Abstract Background Cervical radiculopathy is a pathology of the cervical nerve root and mostly caused by a cervical disk herniation leading to chronic pain and disability. Objectives This study was conducted to show the effect of the combined application of intermittent cervical traction with median nerve mobilization on flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle H-reflex latency of median nerve in patients with unilateral cervical radiculopathy due to disk lesion in a pre-post design. Methods Fifteen patients (10 females and 5 males) with a mean age of 38.07 ± 5.85 years received simultaneous application of intermittent cervical traction and median nerve mobilization. Six sessions were given every other day for 2 weeks. Also, patients perormed chin in exercises and upper back extension with scapular retraction. FCR H-reflex latency was measured pre- and post-treatment. Results Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant reduction of H-reflex latency at post-treatment in comparison to pretreatment (t = 5.447, p value = 0.0001*). Conclusion Simultaneous application of intermittent cervical traction and median nerve mobilization are effective in improving FCR H-reflex latency in patients with unilateral cervical radiculopathy.

Background: Pediatric superior mediastinal tumors are a heterogeneous group of tumors with marked variation in pathology and extension. We reviewed our experience with different surgical approaches to tumors originating from or extending to superior mediastinum in pediatrics. Patients and methods: The medical records of all patients who had undergone resection for superior mediastinal tumors in Children's Cancer Hospital – Egypt, between January 2008 to December 2015, were reviewed for demographic data, clinico-pathological features, radiologic findings, operative techniques and outcome. Results: The study included 20 patients. Diagnosis included: germ cell tumors (n = 8), neuroblastoma (n = 4), soft tissue sarcoma (n = 3), thymolipoma (n = 2), infantile fibromatosis (n = 1), calcifying fibrous tumor (n = 1), and thymic carcinoma (n = 1). Tumor extension was divided into tumors extending unilaterally to one hemithorax (n = 9), tumors extending bilaterally to both hemithoraces (n = 4), and cervico thoracic junction tumors (n = 7). Extended lateral thoracotomy was used in 8 patients. Other approaches included trapdoor (n = 5), clamshell (n = 4), cervical approach (n = 2) and double level lateral thoracotomy (n = 1). There was no perioperative mortality, and postoperative morbidity was 20%. At the end of December 2016, 15 patients were alive free of disease, 5 patients developed local and/ or distant relapse. Conclusion: Pediatric superior mediastinal tumors could be divided into 3 groups according to tumor extension. Each group has an optimum surgical approach that achieves the best exposure for adequate resection. However, further research is needed to confirm the conclusion as this was a descriptive study and the sample size was too small for valid statistical analysis.

Background: Low-intensity shockwave therapy (Li-SWT) can improve bladder function through enhancement of angiogenesis and nerve regeneration and suppression of inflammation and overactivity. In this trial, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Li-SWT on persistent storage symptoms after transurethral surgery (TUS) for benign prostatic obstruction (BPO)., Methods: Between July 2020 and July 2022, 137 patients with persistent storage symptoms; urgency episodes/24 h ≥ 1 and daytime frequency ≥8, for at least three months after TUS for BPO were randomly allocated to Li-SWT versus sham versus solifenacin 10 mg/day in 3:1:1 ratio. The primary end point was the percent reduction from baseline in overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) at 3-month follow-up. The changes in 3-day voiding diary parameters, quality of life (QoL) score, peak flow rate and residual urine at 3 and 6-month follow-up were compared. Treatment-related adverse effects were also evaluated., Results: Baseline data were comparable between groups. The percent reduction from baseline in OABSS at 3-month follow-up was significantly higher in Li-SWT compared to sham (-55% versus -11%), and it was comparable between Li-SWT and solifenacin-10 (-55% versus -60%). Li-SWT achieved significant improvement like solifenacin-10 in 3-day voiding diary parameters and QoL score at 3-month follow-up. This improvement remained comparable between Li-SWT and solifenacin-10 at 6-month follow-up. No adverse effects related to Li-SWT were noted apart from tolerable pain during the procedure. Solifenacin-10 was associated with bothersome adverse effects in 73% of the patients with 11.5% discontinuation rate., Conclusions: Li-SWT ameliorates persistent storage symptoms and promotes QoL after TUS for BPO, with comparable efficacy and better tolerance compared to solifenacin., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of using statins and ascorbic acid for the prevention of post-contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI) in patients undergoing urologic diagnostic elective contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT)., Methods: This registered trial (NCT03391830) was for statin naïve patients underwent elective CECT. Patients were randomized allocated to two groups: the first group received atorvastatin 80-mg the day before the study and atorvastatin 40-mg two hours before the CECT and for continue on atorvastatin 40-mg two days after CECT; plus ascorbic acid 500 mg with atorvastatin. The other group received two tablets of placebo once/daily before the procedure and for another 3 days. The primary outcome was to assess the incidence PC-AKI., Results: The baseline parameters were comparable between both groups. The final median (interquartile range "IQR") serum creatinine were 0.80 (0.60, 1.00) and 0.80 (0.60, 1.00), respectively, with insignificant p-value (p = 0.8). The median (IQR) final estimated GFR were 95.2 (72.8, 108.1) and 88.6 (71.9, 111.0) mL/min in placebo and statin plus ascorbic acid groups, respectively (p = 0.48). The eGFR difference median (IQR) were - 6.46 (- 11.72, - 4.18) and - 6.57 (- 13.38, - 3.82) ml/min in placebo and statin plus ascorbic acid groups, respectively (p = 0.58). PC-AKI occurred in 11 patients (9.8%) in placebo group and in 3 patients (3%) in statin plus ascorbic acid group (p = 0.04)., Conclusions: Statin and ascorbic acid did not statistically improve neither serum creatinine nor eGFR values in patient underwent CECT. However, it can decrease the incidence of the clinically insignificant PC-AKI., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

In this study, the performance of the wick-type solar still was investigated using phase change material (PCM) with titanium dioxide nanoparticles as a storage material. Therefore, two solar stills were fabricated one of which was operated with pure PCM and the other one was operated with PCM incorporated with Tio 2 nanoparticles. The use of the nanoparticles was to enhance the thermal conductivity of the PCM and hence improve the productivity and the efficiency of the studied solar still. The proposed design was investigated with jute and cotton as wick materials. The results revealed that the addition of the nanoparticles increased the thermal conductivity of the PCM by 9.6%. Moreover, the daily productivity was found to be 1058 and 1226 ml/m 2 day for cotton and jute, respectively in case of the presence of the PCM-nanocomposite., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Even though different subtypes of spontaneous ICH are frequently linked to a poor prognosis, their causes, pathological features, and prognoses vary. Atypical intracerebral hemorrhage is the subtype of spontaneous ICH that usually occurs due to an underlying localized vascular lesion. It is unrelated to systemic vascular risk factors, mostly affects children and young adults and is associated with a relatively good outcome. This fact should be considered when planning the evaluation and treatment. Investigating the cause of this subtype is fundamental to providing optimal management. However, if resources do not allow completing the investigations, the cause will be more difficult to discover. Treatment decisions will be made under stress to save the patient's life, especially with rapidly deteriorating patients., Methods: We described three cases of spontaneous ICH without systemic risk factors where the bleeding source could not be determined before surgery due to a lack of resources, preventing preoperative vascular investigation. Knowing that the atypical ICH has a distinct identity, regarding etiology and prognosis, encouraged the surgeons to resort to early surgical decompression as an alternative plan. We reviewed the literature searching for supporting evidence., Results: The results of treatment of the presented cases were satisfactory. The lack of reported similar cases was brought to light by a literature analysis that sought to provide backing for the proposed management strategy. In the end, we supplied two graphic organizers to help readers remember the different types and treatment of hemorrhagic stroke., Conclusion: There isn't enough evidence to show that there are other ways to treat atypical intracerebral haemorrhage when resources are limited. The presented cases highlight the importance of decisionmaking in resource-constrained situations when patient outcomes can be improved., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To compare the outcome of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) for upper lumbar ureteric stones using the alternating bidirectional approach versus the standard approach during the first session., Methods: Our study was a randomized controlled trial including patients with single radio-opaque stone < 1 cm located in the upper lumbar ureter (from the ureteropelvic junction till the level medial to the lower margin of the kidney). SWL was conducted using electromagnetic Dornier Gemini Lithotripter. In group 1, patients were treated with the alternating under and over-table approach during the first session only and if other sessions were needed, the standard under-table approach was used. In group 2, patients were treated with the standard under-table approach during all sessions. Stone disintegration after the first session was assessed by kidney-ureter-bladder X-ray, renal ultrasonography and noncontrast computed tomography. Moreover, the incidence and severity of postoperative complications were evaluated., Results: Forty-eight patients in each group completed the study. Patient demographics and stone characteristics were comparable in both groups. Complete disintegration was achieved in 41.7% of patients in group 1 versus 18.8% in group 2 (P = 0.021). Stone-free rate (SFR) was 58.3% and 20.8% in group 1 and 2 respectively (P = 0.001). The mean session time was 56.42 min in group 1 versus 46.35 min in group 2 (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications., Conclusion: Stone disintegration and SFR after the first SWL session are higher when using the alternating bidirectional approach for upper lumbar ureteric stones at the expense of longer procedural duration., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials identifier (ID: NCT03243682), clinicaltrials.gov.

Background: The National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment is responsible for the academic accreditation of universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Requirements for this include evaluation of teaching effectiveness, evidence-based conclusions, and external benchmarks., Aims: To develop a questionnaire for students' evaluation of the teaching skills of individual instructors and provide a tool for benchmarking., Setting: College of Nursing, University of Dammam [UoD], May-June 2009., Materials and Methods: The original questionnaire was "Monash Questionnaire Series on Teaching (MonQueST) - Clinical Nursing. The UoD modification retained four areas and seven responses, but reduced items from 26 to 20. Outcome measures were factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha coefficient., Results: Seven Nursing courses were studied, viz.: Fundamentals, Medical, Surgical, Psychiatric and Mental Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Family and Community Health. Total number of students was 74; missing data ranged from 5 to 27%. The explained variance ranged from 66.9% to 78.7%. The observed Cornbach's α coefficients ranged from 0.78 to 0.93, indicating an exceptionally high reliability. The students in the study were found to be fair and frank in their evaluation.