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Introduction: Understanding access to natural ecosystems and identifying potential priorities for harnessing the benefits of nature will be crucial factors in reducing inequality of access. Additionally, this understanding will inform the future planning and management of protected areas. The degree to which an individual can access ecosystem services depends on a complex range of mechanisms including social relations, institutions, capabilities, property rights, and various capitals. Various frameworks have been developed to conceptualize these linkages and describe the relationships between ecosystem services and human well-being, which include social and natural sciences and objective and subjective criteria, One of the significant and important frameworks in this field is the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). In this study, the factors outlined by Ribot and Peluso (2003) in the access theory were integrated with components of the IPBES framework, providing a theoretical foundation for investigating the determinants of access to ecosystem services in the Zaribar Wetland. Material and Methods: The current research is applied, qualitative, and has an inductive approach. In order to analyze the data obtained from the semi-structured interviews, the content analysis method was used. The study area of the research is the villages around Zaribar Wetland in Marivan City, there are 10 villages with a population of 2853 households, which are in close interaction and depend on the services of the Wetland. Non-probability purposeful snowball sampling was used to select the investigated individuals or samples. The selection of samples continued until the adequacy and the theoretical saturation of the data were reached, and finally the researcher reached the theoretical saturation by conducting 22 interviews. In this study, Guba and Lincoln's four criteria—validity, transferability, reliability, and verifiability (Guba & Lincoln, 1989) were employed to assess the validity of the research. Data analysis was structured around the 'IPBES framework' and the 'access theory'. Results and Discussion: The process of qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the factors affecting residents' access to Zaribar wetland ecosystem services in Marivan City. First, 106 primary codes were extracted. By multiple revisions and integration of codes based on similarity during several stages, five main categories and 17 subcategories were extracted. The five main categories and themes identified in this analysis were institutional-management, structural-communication, infrastructural-technological, economic-capital and environmental-contextual. Conclusion: Access to ecosystem services in wetland communities, including those in Zaribar, is complex and dynamic, influenced by interwoven relationships and affected by economic, environmental, and other factors. The results of this study show that different regulations and organizational arrangements regarding people's access, instead of strengthening interaction and proper relationships, have caused different types of exchange relationships and unequal rights in the field of this ecosystem. Most ecosystem services are produced through both ecosystem processes and social actions, and thus their assessment cannot be separated from the social context in which they are embedded. As a result, it is recommended that more ecosystem service research be done with process-oriented, context-specific and integrated approaches, based on the recognition of the complexity of social-ecological realities.

This research was carried out with the aim of analyzing the situation of rural cooperative ‎companies in Kermanshah province and based on the social network analysis methodology to ‎identify the weaknesses and strengths of the companies by comparing the top companies with the ‎normal ones.‎ Its statistical population includes members of the board of directors, CEO ‎and inspectors and experts of 20 rural cooperative companies in Kermanshah province. After in-‎depth library studies, the main tool for collecting the required data and information was a ‎questionnaire made by the researcher, ‎ Findings of correlation coefficient of organizational dynamics (r ‎‎=0.31), sense of belonging and empathy (r =0.28), behavioral style (r =0.35), social level (r ‎‎=0.32), social trust (r =0.30), social participation (r =0.32) and social relations (r =0.37) with the ‎cooperatives’ performance were positive and meaningful. The results of variance analysis showed ‎that these variables had a significant effect on the performance of cooperatives and were able to ‎predict about 59.6% of the performance changes of both groups of cooperatives under study. ‎Also, the effect of the mentioned variables on the performance of the company was different ‎between successful and unsuccessful cooperatives.‎ The current research had a different view on the category of rural ‎cooperatives. It analyzed the structure of the social network as a new topic ‎in these institutions and takes into account its current situation. In addition, ‎it compares the state of relations and social network in two superior or ‎successful and unsuccessful cooperative groups in the studied area.‎

BackgroundThe main objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial therapy knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care physicians in the West Bank and Gaza.MethodsBetween January and April 2021, this cross-sectional survey was conducted. A link to the online survey was sent via confidential email lists to 336 primary care physicians who treated patients in Ministry of Health clinics. The survey questions scoring system was devised in order to evaluate the physicians’ practice, knowledge, and attitudes. Our scoring system identified favorable (good) and unfavorable (average and poor) antibiotic practices. In addition to independent t-test, the Chi-square test was used to compare the two groups of physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices with their background characteristics. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify potential confounding variables having significant relationships.ResultsOf the 336 distributed questionnaires, 316 were completed, with a response rate of 94%. More than half (54.7%) were males, half (51.6%) were between 30 and 45 years of age, and most were general practitioners (74.1%). The overall good knowledge and attitude scores were 125 (39.6%) and 194 (61.4%), respectively. More than half (58.2%) had good antibiotic prescription practices. Females reported significantly more favorable practices than males, as did family medicine specialists compared with general practitioners. Finally, knowledge about antibiotic prescriptions had a substantial impact on changing their practices. However, physicians’ attitudes toward antibiotic prescriptions did not have a significant role in shaping their practices.ConclusionOveruse of antibiotics is a significant health issue in Palestine and worldwide. Most physicians know that improper antibiotic usage can cause antimicrobial resistance. More than two-thirds avoided needless antimicrobial prescriptions. In practicing antimicrobial stewardship, most prescribed fewer antibiotics and did not prescribe because of patient pressure. Family medicine specialists, female doctors, and those with high knowledge scores regardless of caseload were more likely to have good practices.

Introduction: The role of rural women in the process of economic development has been a growing concern of economists, planners, and the governments. The potentials of rural women as economic actors are not yet fully analyzed and yet there has not been adequate attention to the way gender affects rural women’s participation in economic development. Many projects for productivity increase in agriculture and rural development could not be realized or the outcome might have been different, if women had been involved in the process. Projects for family planning, the spread of literacy and basic health care cannot be achieved without recognition of the importance of the role of women. In the rural areas many poor families depend upon the income of women, who contribute significant amount of cash income to the subsistence level of economy. Always, indoor jobs are one way to achieve sustainable development in rural communities and rural women have a main role in the household economyy. The aim of this descriptive-survey research was to find out discrimination level of rural women participation in the indoor Jobs creation based on socio-economic aspects. Existing structures of decision-making in most developing countries cannot adequately represent women’s issues; their work and potentials for development have been neglected. The situation calls for structural change. Women’s full involvement in the formulation of programs would affect their lives. Access to and control of development resources need to be supported by organizations of the rural women themselves. Participation through local level organizations are critical for an empowering process, and which can provide access to resources for self-sustained development. Materials and Methods: This research is a quantitative study, non-experimental type and, an applied research, in terms of nature, the extent of controlling variables, and objective. Survey design was applied to achieve research objectives. The research population were included rural women of Fash district, Kangavar County, Kermanshah province that had to take out a loan for indoor job (N= 168). In this study census method was used. Data collection instrument was a questionnaire. Five-point Likert-type response scale (from very low= 1 to very high= 5) was used to measure research variables. Questionnaires’ face validity was confirmed by a panel of experts. Pilot test was performed to evaluate its reliability that Cronbach's alpha was between 0.81-0.86. Analyzing data was done by SPSS23 and R tools. Results and Discussion: The analysis of rural women’s demographic characteristics showed that most rural women were between the ages of 20 and 35 years. 23% of women were bachelor or higher. Thus, 52 percent of literate women were literate or illiterate. 33 percent of women were active in home businesses and marketed their products. In contrast, 67 percent of women did not participate in indoor jobs. To investigate the research hypotheses, women's participation score was divided into two levels named participation and non-participation based on the mean of the sample. Ordinal logistic regression was used for data processing using R software. Finding indicated that among the variables of the social and economic aspects, social status and income levels were highly discriminating the participation of rural women in indoor Jobs. Conclusion: It can concluded that promoting women's participation in social, economic and planning activities in order to expand their participation, especially in the economic field, is a prerequisite for sustainable development. This is particularly needed in rural areas where women have long been traditionally involved in family economic affairs. Also, it can concluded that various factors influence the participation level of rural women in the indoor jobs creation. In other words, interaction among socio-economic components can determine participation level of rural women. According to the results of this study, it is suggested that if the conditions and demands of rural women are provided, family businesses in rural areas can be organized as cooperatives. In order to familiarize and encourage rural women to participate in indoor business, targeted training programs to improve rural women's businesses should be provided to familiarize them with markets. In addition, the support provided by officials by providing the facilities needed to set up home businesses such as loans and banking facilities can help develop the industry in rural areas. Finally, development of entrepreneurial and self-employment culture in rural society by empowering entrepreneurs can impact the social status of rural women and promote home businesses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sustainable rural quality of life index in Iran during the period of 1991-2016 and to measure the effects of various government investments on this index. Design/methodology/approach: The data were collected from the Statistics Center, the Central Bank and the World Bank. The value of the quality of life indicator was calculated using the software Eviews during the course of the study. The effect of independent research variables including government investment in agriculture, education, health, and rural development using the ARDL model in Microfit software is estimated. Finding: The results of the model estimation in the short run indicate that every 1 percent increase in government investment in agricultural sectors was 0.55 percent, health and treatment 0.54 percent, education 31.3 percent, increase the quality of life respectively. But investment in rural development does not affect quality of life in the short term but investment in rural life does not affect in the short term. In the long run, every 1% increase in investment in agricultural sectors is 0.65%, health and treatment 0.64%, education 45.0% and 32% in rural development in improving quality of life and its sustainability respectively. Research limitations/implications: Access to statistics is very difficult and has been obtained through reviewing all budget rules for the research courses. Practical implications: Strategy for employment to villagers with the support of public policy, based on qualify for investment, jobs, and services in rural areas contributes to the strengthening of agriculture, the changes in agricultural production and natural resources, the creation of jobs in non-farm income and as a result, the increased demand for local agricultural and non-agricultural products. Originality/value: Considering sustainable factors in evaluating quality of life and the effect of government investment in rural life by the applied method are the advantages of this study that has not been studied in previous studies.

The wetlands are valuable ecosystms that among diffenet kinds of natural ecosystems have diverse functions in human life. In addition to the conservation of biodiversity, this phenomenon have a lot of natural, economic, social and many other values that can affect the assets of local people and their livelihoods and ultimately living standards. Thefore, the present study aiming to evaluate the effects of Zarivar wetland in Marivan County on housholds’livelihood assets living in villages around the wetland. As a descriptive-analytical research using both documentary and survey methods, necessary data and information were gathered form the field by a structured questionnire based on (DFID) sustainable livelihood framework. The study area was Marivan County and studied population consisted of 1539 head housholdsin 7 villages that living around the wetland and using Cochran’s sample size formula 230 persons were selected as the sample group of the study. The collected data were analyzed by applying both SPSS and LISREL softwares. Based on the findings the wetland have affected all five dimensions of livelihood assets ( natural, human, physical, social and financial) in studied housholds as they stated that the level of assets components have imporove considerably. In this regard, natural capital/asset was specified as the most affected one in people’s livelihood by the respondents. Also the results of theLISREL model indicate significant measure sustainable livelihoods of all indicators and dimensions of its evaluation in which it can be concluded that the Zarivar wetland with dimensions and parameters have been considered, have improved local residents’livelihood

The main purpose of this research was to both identify and prioritize training needs of rural women cooperatives’ members. The study has used both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Training needs of cooperatives' members were first explored by qualitative method (PRA), then prioritized by the quantitative method (questionnaire). In order to assess and prioritize the educational needs a job analysis model was used. The population included 230 members of the Noodsheh cooperative. A sample of 144 women was selected by a randomized method and Morgan’s Table was used for this purpose. The quantitative research tool was a questionnaire, that its validity was examined by a group of experts and to assess the reliability of the questions a pilot-test was used through SPSS software. Data was analyzed by descriptive and analytical methods. The results showed that the most important training needs for rural women cooperatives’ members of Noodsheh were: 1) conservation, rehabilitation and prevention of pasture’s demolition, 2) pest, diseases and weed control on gardens, 3) familiarity with designing new models of Geevah and dresses. The results also revealed that the most important problems of rural women cooperatives’ members of Noodsheh were: not enough understanding of members regarding to goals, principles and rules of coops, capital shortage of the coop, rental situation of the coop building, unreasonable expectations of some members regarding the coop, negative attitude of some members to the coop.

The informative society is seen as the central element of rural development at the beginning of the third millennium and the development of information technology and communication in villages has always been considered in current summits across the world. Nowadays, information and communication technology service offices are the basis of electronic government. Therefore, recognition of these offices is necessary for sustainable rural development. The purpose of this research was a comparative analysis between the current situation and the desirable situation of e-government services in the rural districts of the Hamedan province as perceived by their directors (Hamedan, Bahar and Famenin Counties). The study population consists of 91 respondents who were chosen and studied through the census method. The findings of this research study consist of two sections. The items related to satisfaction with the activities in information and communication technology service offices were prioritized in the first section. Moreover, the current and the desirable conditions for electronic service provision were identified. The gap between these two were analyzed in the second section. The results indicate that there is a significant difference between these two conditions of electronic service provisions in rural areas. This significant difference was recognized through the paired T test at the 0.05 level with 6.33 value that illustrates the existence of a gap between these two situations. Electronic government, information technology and communication, information and communication technology service offices

This was an applied research aiming to study the role of cooperatives in reducing rural poverty. The area of study was Famenin district in Hamedan province and the population included all the members of three kinds of rural cooperatives i.e. agriculture, servicing, and industrial cooperatives. The studied sample group consisted of 130 members of the cooperatives in the study area. In addition to a deep documentary review, the main instrument for collecting necessary data and information from the field was a questionnaire that its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts. Also, its reliability was gained using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α= 0/88). For analysis of the collected data SPSS22 software was used to analyze Coeffient variance and factor analysis in order to classify factors affecting from people’s participation in cooperative activities. Results showed that members’ participation had increased the amount of household saving, increased responsibility, improved village infrastructure, increased budget, accessed to educational and health availabilities, and reduced poverty in the study area.

The aim of this study is rating Hamadan`s rural areas considering rate of enjoyment of development indicators and to determine the location of studied villages in rural - Urban chain. To this end, based on data from the General Census of Population and Housing in 1385, 37 social - economic indicators had been selected, and classified by numerical taxonomy to determine their degree of development. The results showed, villages classified in three groups of degrees of development, including, high degrees of development (18.18%), average degree of development (63.63%), and low degree of development (18.18%). The coefficients of variation results showed that the improvement of relative development level of rural area has been not followed with equal, sustainable and integrated development. The result of positioning the village center districts in the Rural-Urban chain revealed that Famenin is the most urban area and Tajrak the most rural area in the chain.

Owing to their comfort, handle, and aesthetic characteristics, cotton fabrics will always be the first and primary choice for clothing and apparel. In recent years, regenerated cellulosic fabrics like bamboo, Tencel, and modal fabrics have had many natural advantages. Fabrics based on blending cotton fibres with regenerated cellulosic fibres are considered promising products in textile industry sectors. Use of urea poses ecological problems associated with the high nitrogen content of the printing effluent. Therefore, urea reduction or elimination in reactive dye print pastes is of ecological interest. We report the use of trisodium nitrilotriacetate as a complete substitution of urea and alkali in the conventional reactive printing of cotton/cellulosic regenerated blended fabrics. CI Reactive Black 5 was selected for the present study. Three different print pastes containing urea/alkali, trisodium nitrilotriacetate/alkali and trisodium nitrilotriacetate without alkali were thoroughly investigated. Different factors that may affect the printability of cotton/cellulosic regenerated blended fabrics, such as the concentrations of dye, trisodium nitrilotriacetate, urea, absence or presence of alkali and steaming time in the prints obtained, were evaluated concerning colour strength, dye fixation, dye penetration, levelling, colure, and fastness properties. All printed fabrics using three print pastes obtained excellent to good fastness. The results proved the viability of using TNA as an environmentally friendly approach for urea/alkali-free printing of cellulosics with reactive dyes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Burn injuries, which significantly affect global public health, require effective treatment strategies tailored to varying severity. Fungi are considered a sustainable, easily propagated source for lead therapeutic discovery. In this study, we explored the burn wound healing potential of Aspergillus terreus through a combination of in vitro, in vivo, metabolite profiling, and in silico analysis. The in vitro scratch assays performed with human skin fibroblast cells showed promising wound healing activity. Furthermore, the burn-induced rats model showed a marked improvement in cutaneous wound healing, evidenced by an accelerated rate of wound closure and better skin regeneration after A. terreus extract treatment at 14 days. The results of this study demonstrated significant enhancements in wound closure and tissue regeneration in the treated rat model, surpassing the outcomes of standard treatments. This controlled healing process, evidenced by superior collagen synthesis and angiogenesis and confirmed by histopathological studies, suggests that A. terreus has potential beyond the traditionally studied fungal metabolites. The metabolite profiling of 27 bioactive compounds was further investigated by docking analysis for the potential inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, which has an important function in inflammation and wound repair. The compounds eurobenzophenone A (7), aspernolide D (16), asperphenalenone A (23), aspergilate D (15), kodaistatin A (18), and versicolactone A (14) showed the highest binding affinity to the target protein with a pose score of -16.86, -14.65, -12.65, -12.45, -12.19, and -12.08 kcal/mol, respectively. Drug-likeness properties were also conducted. The findings suggest the potential wound healing properties of A. terreus as a source for lead therapeutic candidate discovery.

Here, first-principles calculations have been employed to make a comparative study on structural, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of new Ca 3 MF 3 (M = As and Sb) photovoltaic compounds under pressure. The findings disclose that these two systems possess a direct band gap, showcasing a large tunable range under pressure, effectively encompassing the visible light spectrum. Adjusting various levels of hydrostatic pressure has effectively tuned both the band alignment and the effective masses of electrons and holes. Both compounds were initially identified as brittle materials at 0 GPa pressure; however, as the pressure increases, they transform, becoming highly anisotropic and ductile. Due to the material's mechanical robustness and enhanced ductility, as evidenced by its stress-induced mechanical properties, the Ca 3 MF 3 (M = As and Sb) material shows potential for use in solar energy applications. Furthermore, as the influence of external pressure increases, the absorption edge seems to move slightly towards lower energy region. Optical properties show that the materials studied might be used from several optoelectronic devices in the visible and ultraviolet range area. Our findings show that pressure considerably influences the physicochemical properties of Ca 3 MF 3 (M = As and Sb) compounds, which is a promising feature that can be useful for optoelectronic and photonic applications, for instance, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, and solar cells., 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., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background: The relationship between chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and natural killer (NK) cell dysfunction is well-established, but the specific role of HBV viral antigens in driving NK cell impairment in patients with CHB remains unclear. This study investigates the modulatory effects of hepatitis B virus subviral particles (HBVsvp, a representative model for HBsAg) on the phenotypic regulation (activating and inhibitory receptors), cytokine production and cytotoxic potential of peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived natural killer cells (PBMCs-derived NK cell), which contributes to NK cell dysfunction in CHB infection, potentially serving as an effective HBV immune evasion strategy by the virus., Methods: NK cells were isolated from peripheral blood of patients with CHB (n=5) and healthy individuals (n=5), stimulated with HBVsvp. Subsequent flow cytometric characterization involved assessing changes in activating (NKp46 and NKG2D) and inhibitory (CD94) receptors expression, quantifying TNF-α and IFN- γ cytokine secretion, and evaluating the cytotoxic response against HepG2.2.15 cells with subsequent HBVsvp quantification., Results: In CHB patients, in vitro exposure of PBMCs-derived NK cell with HBVsvp (represent HBsAg model) significantly reduced NK cell-activating receptors expression (P = 0.022), increased expression of CD94 + NK cells (p = 0.029), accompanied with a reduced TNF-α - IFN-γ cytokine levels, and impaired cytotoxic capacity (evidenced by increased cell proliferation and elevated HBVsvp levels in co-cultures with HepG2.2.15 cells in a time-dependent), relative to healthy donors., Conclusion: These findings suggest that HBVsvp may induce dysfunctional NK cell responses characterized by phenotypic imbalance with subsequent reduction in cytokine and cytotoxic levels, indicating HBVsvp immunosuppressive effect that compromises antiviral defense in CHB patients. These data enhance our understanding of NK cell interactions with HBsAg and highlight the potential for targeting CD94 inhibitory receptors to restore NK cell function as an immunotherapeutic approach. Further clinical research is needed to validate these observations and establish their utility as reliable biomarkers., 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 © 2024 Selim, Suef, Saied, Abdel-Maksoud, Almutairi, Aufy, Mousa, Mansour and Farag.)

Dyeing using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2 ) is carried out on the polypropylene (PP) nanocomposite fabrics with model disperse dye compared with their regular fabric at various dyeing temperatures and pressures. The results are compared with those obtained in aqueous dyeing method. The PP nanocompsite fabrics dyed in SC-CO 2 medium exhibited higher colour strength (K/S) values compared with their PP regular fabric. The PP nanocompsite fabrics and their regular fabric dyed in SC-CO 2 medium have higher K/S values than those dyed in aqueous medium. The color coordinates of all PP fabrics dyed in SC-CO 2 and aqueous medium were positive with respect to a* and b* coordinates depending on the disperse red dye uptake. The PP nanocomposite fabrics dyed in SC-CO 2 and aqueous medium exhibited higher antibacterial properties than their regular fabrics. All PP fabrics dyed in SC-CO 2 and aqueous medium present very good washing, perspiration and light fastness., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been used for 60+ years as an HCC diagnostic serum marker, its accuracy is debated. Notably, the role of interleukin 10 (IL-10) in cancer development and metastasis is elevated in various tumor types, including HCC and chronic HCV infection. Our study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of IL-10 and AFP as biomarkers for HCV-induced HCC in an Egyptian population., Methods: Eighty participants were recruited and categorized into three groups: HCV-related HCC (n=40), HCV-related cirrhosis (n=40), and control (n=20).The collected blood samples were analyzed to evaluate liver function, AFP levels, and IL-10 levels., Results: Our analysis showed that AFP demonstrated low sensitivity (40% false-negative) and low specificity (33% false-positive).IL-10 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients with HCC than in the cirrhosis and control groups. The serum AFP and IL-10 combination revealed significantly increased sensitivity (97.5%), diagnostic accuracy (71.1%), AUC (0.798), PPV (73.3%), and NPV ( 69.5%) when compared with either of them alone., Conclusion: the reliability of AFP as a major HCC marker was poor. However, IL-10 levels are a novel biomarker for the degree of HCC inflammation, considering IL-10's potential role in HCV-HCC development. We suggest combining AFP with IL-10 to improve the diagnostic and prognostic value of HCC considerably. Future research on these biomarkers should prioritize their clinical validity, prognostic usefulness, and compatibility with other therapeutic approaches as immunotherapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Deltamethrin is a widely used synthetic pyrethroid pesticide. It causes reproductive toxicity. Aim of the work : it evaluates the impact of vitamin E in restoration of the testicular integrity of albino rats after toxicity induced by Deltamethrin. Thirty-six adult male albino rats were included, and they were further sub-divided into four experimental groups; Group A : six rats served as controls. Group B (Model) : 10 rats equally divided into two sub-groups (B1) : the rats received deltamethrin dissolved in oil in a dose of 0.6 mg/kg/daily by nasogastric gavage for 2 weeks. (B2) : the rats received Deltamethrin in the same dose of group B1 for 1 month. Group C (Protected) : 10 rats equally divided into two sub-groups (C1) : the rats received deltamethrin orally 0.6 mg/kg/day concomitant with Vitamin E dissolved in 1 ml of corn oil in a dose 200 mg/kg/day by nasogastric gavage for 2 weeks. (C2) : the rats received deltamethrin concomitant with Vitamin E in the same dose of group C1 for 1 month. Group D (Treatment) : 10 rats received deltamethrin for 1 month followed by Vitamin E for another month in the same previously prescribed doses. Significant decreases in serum testosterone level, GSH, catalase activity, and significant increase in MDA in the deltamethrin-treated group were detected. Moreover, histological and ultrastructural examinations of the testis seminiferous tubules showed detrimental alterations in the deltamethrin group which were duration dependent. Vitamin E administration reversed such alterations. Vitamin E ameliorates the testicular dysfunction caused by Deltamethrin.

We presented the results of various aspects related to structural, elastic, electronic, dynamic, and magnetic parameters of cubic perovskite CeCrO 3 by means of the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) approach. The calculation of the unit cell volume against the total energy curve confirms that CeCrO 3 exhibits higher energetic stability in the ferromagnetic (FM) order. Calculated structural aspects at equilibrium demonstrate excellent similarity to present information, lending credibility to our results. Moreover, monocrystalline elastic constants have been analyzed numerically. These constants provide insights into several related properties, including elastic anisotropy, mechanical stability, and several polycrystalline elastic aspects. Furthermore, the phonon dispersion curves obtained from our calculations reveal the existence of soft modes, which suggests the potential metastability of CeCrO 3 . Through an analysis of the energy band dispersions, the half-metallic nature of this material is confirmed, such as E g = 3.00 and 3.13 eV for the HM state within generalized gradient approximations Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (GGA-PBE) and Tran-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson (TB-mBJ) calculations, respectively, as well as the FM total magnetic moment of 4.000 μB. Partial density of states (PDOS) aided in identifying the electronic states that contribute to the energy bands. Finally, the computed total magnetic moment aligns fit the theoretical findings available in the literature., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Staphylococcus and Candida are recognized as causative agents in numerous diseases, and the rise of multidrug-resistant strains emphasizes the need to explore natural sources, such as fungi, for effective antimicrobial agents. This study aims to assess the in vitro anti-staphylococcal and anti-candidal potential of ethyl acetate extracts from various soil-derived fungal isolates. The investigation includes isolating and identifying fungal strains as well as determining their antioxidative activities, characterizing their phenolic substances through HPLC analysis, and conducting in silico molecular docking assessments of the phenolics' binding affinities to the target proteins, Staphylococcus aureus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and Candida albicans secreted aspartic protease 2. Out of nine fungal species tested, two highly potent isolates were identified through ITS ribosomal gene sequencing: Aspergillus terreus AUMC 15447 and A. nidulans AUMC 15444. Results indicated that A. terreus AUMC 15447 and A. nidulans AUMC 15444 extracts effectively inhibited S. aureus (concentration range: 25-0.39 mg/mL), with the A. nidulans AUMC 15444 extract demonstrating significant suppression of Candida spp. (concentration range: 3.125-0.39 mg/mL). The A. terreus AUMC 15447 extract exhibited an IC 50 of 0.47 mg/mL toward DPPH radical-scavenging activity. HPLC analysis of the fungal extracts, employing 18 standards, revealed varying degrees of detected phenolics in terms of their presence and quantities. Docking investigations highlighted rutin as a potent inhibitor, showing high affinity (-16.43 kcal/mol and -12.35 kcal/mol) for S. aureus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and C. albicans secreted aspartic protease 2, respectively. The findings suggest that fungal metabolites, particularly phenolics, hold significant promise for the development of safe medications to combat pathogenic infections.

Introduction: Providing hemodialysis to patients with kidney failure (KF) in conflict-affected areas poses a significant challenge. Achieving and sustaining reasonable quality hemodialysis operations in such regions necessitates a comprehensive approach., Methods: In the conflict area of Northwest (NW) Syria, a 3-phase project was initiated to address the quality of hemodialysis operations. The assessment phase involved the examination of infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols, staff training, medical protocols, individualized hemodialysis prescriptions, and laboratory testing capabilities. The second phase involved activities toward capacity building and implementing an action plan based on feasibility and sustainability., Results: The assessment phase revealed that only 7 of 14 centers had IPC protocols, and 8 centers provided IPC training for their staff. Furthermore, only 7 centers had medical protocols, and 5 used individualized hemodialysis prescriptions. Difficulties in testing for potassium was reported in 7 centers and the inability to perform hepatitis B and C serologies was reported in 3 centers. Only 2 centers adhered to machine and water treatment system maintenance guidelines, and 4 conducted daily water quality checks. Recommendations were formulated, and an action plan was developed for implementation in the second phase. The plan encompassed enhancements in IPC practices, medical protocols, record-keeping, laboratory testing, and equipment maintenance., Conclusion: This project underscores that hemodialysis services in conflict-affected areas do not meet the standards for quality care. It emphasizes the necessity of implementing a comprehensive framework that engages relevant stakeholders in defining and upholding quality care, a model that should be extended to other protracted conflict-affected regions., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier, Inc.)

Because of their immense economic, wellness, and remedial value, the seeds of palm (Phoenix dactylifera) were selected with synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) based on their properties for increasing the antibacterial efficacy of medical cotton. This study aimed to be contingent upon the characterisation of raw cotton fabrics treated by AgNPs with date seed extract (DSE) of P. dactylifera both individually and in combination and to investigate their antibacterial activity against various human pathogens. The prepared cotton materials with the synthesized AgNPs and/or DSE were described by both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). At the same time, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were employed to determine the bioactive components in the aqueous date seed extract. The greater antibacterial activity was recorded by cotton treated with DSE and AgNPs mix, in which inhibition zones of all treatments were against Escherichia coli (8 cm), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (2.33-5.87cm) and Bacillus subtilis (2.17-4.63 cm), respectively. Overall, these findings indicate that treated cotton fabrics with synthesised AgNPs and DSE may be widely applied in various potential biological and medical applications, which could enhance environmental sustainability in closed production and consumption.

Objective: Brain metastasis (BM) from bone and soft tissue sarcomas (STS) is very rare and mostly predicts dismal prognosis. Owing to its' rarity, data on optimal therapy including surgical management, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy is scarce. We sought to assess the prevalence, disease characteristics, and outcomes of BM in bone and STS patients treated at a single institution., Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for consecutive bone and STS patients treated at King Hussein Cancer Center from 2007 to 2020. Patients with BM were identified. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors of possible effect on OS was examined in univariate analysis. Survival comparisons were carried out by the log-rank test., Results: A total of 1,548 bone and STS patients were treated at our center during the eligibility period. We identified 18 patients (1.1%) who had BM at initial presentation (n = 16, 1.0%) or during follow up (n = 2; 0.1%). Fourteen patients (77.8%) were male. The median age was 29.5 years (range: 0.1-60 years). The primary tumor was most commonly located in the extremities (61%). Ten different histopathological subtypes were encountered; Ewing sarcoma (ES) was the most common (n = 4; 28%). Twelve patients (67%) had lung metastasis as the first site of metastatic disease. BM was detected at a median time of 12 months following sarcoma diagnosis (range: 1-71 months). A total of 10 patients (56%) had solitary metastasis and 4 patients (22.2%) had hemorrhagic metastasis. The most common location of brain metastatic lesions was the occipital lobe (n = 4; 22.2%). Thirteen patients received treatment for metastatic brain sarcoma. The most common treatment modality was radiotherapy, received by a total of 10 patients (55.5%), followed by surgical intervention performed in a total of 5 patients (27.7%), The other treatment modalities included combined chemo-radiotherapy (n = 2), targeted therapy plus chemotherapy, and targeted therapy plus radiotherapy (n = 1, each). At a median follow up of 10 months following detection of BM, the median OS was 4.0 months; (95% CI: 2.54-5.46). We did not identify any factor that influenced OS in univariate analysis., Conclusion: Sarcoma BM is exceedingly rare and herald's dismal prognosis. ES was a major histological subtype accounting for BM metastasis in our series., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics.)

Pain is a major problem that burdens the health and economy of societies worldwide. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are over-the-counter medications that are widely indicated for mild to moderate pain conditions. Clinically, the selection of a medication among this class is mainly based according to both patient's and doctor's previous experiences. Herein, we studied differences in therapeutic efficacies among the most commonly prescribed NSAIDs and acetaminophen in inflammatory pain rat model. Body stretching and food consumption behaviors were assessed after intraperitoneal administration of lactic acid. Initially, different concentrations of lactic acid were evaluated in adult male rats in both behavioral models. Acid concentrations of 1.8 and 3.2% were selected to assess the effects of ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, and acetaminophen in body stretching and feeding behaviors, respectively. In the feeding study, food restriction for 1-24 h prior to feeding studies was assessed at first, and 24 h was selected for further tests. Acetaminophen (100 mg/kg), diclofenac (10 mg/kg), ibuprofen (10-32 mg/kg), and naproxen (3.2-10 mg/kg) significantly decreased acid-stimulated body stretching. Likewise, acetaminophen (100 mg/kg), diclofenac (10 mg/kg), and ibuprofen (32 mg/kg) increased food consumption significantly after 3.2% lactic acid. There were no significant differences between different test drugs efficacies in both stretching and feeding behaviors. In conclusion, feeding behavior provides a good appraisal for pain and analgesic drugs in preclinical studies. There were comparable efficacies between all tested medications in both lactic acid-stimulated body stretching and -depressed feeding behaviors., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers are among the most serious cancers and the main causes of mortality in females worldwide, necessitating urgent efforts to find newer sources of safe anticancer drugs. The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer potency of mycoendophytic Alternaria tenuissima AUMC14342 ethyl acetate extract on HeLa (cervical cancer), SKOV-3 (ovarian cancer), and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) cell lines. The extract showed potent effect on MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 55.53 μg/mL. Cell cycle distribution analysis of treated MCF-7 cells revealed a cell cycle arrest at the S phase with a significant increase in the cell population (25.53%). When compared to control cells, no significant signs of necrotic or apoptotic cell death were observed. LC-MS/MS analysis of Alternaria tenuissima extract afforded the identification of 20 secondary metabolites, including 7-dehydrobrefeldin A, which exhibited the highest interaction score (-8.0156 kcal/mol) in molecular docking analysis against human aromatase. Regarding ADME pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness properties, 7-dehydrobrefeldin A, 4'-epialtenuene, and atransfusarin had good GIT absorption and water solubility without any violation of drug-likeness rules. These findings support the anticancer activity of bioactive metabolites derived from endophytic fungi and provide drug scaffolds and substitute sources for the future development of safe chemotherapy.

Resveratrol (3,4,5-trihydroxystilbene) is a naturally occurring polyphenolic stilbene compound produced by certain plant species in response to biotic and abiotic factors. Resveratrol has sparked a lot of interest due to its unique structure and approved therapeutic properties for the prevention and treatment of many diseases such as neurological disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, inflammation, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Over the last few decades, many studies have focused on the production of resveratrol from various natural sources and the optimization of large-scale production. Endophytic fungi isolated from various types of grapevines and Polygonum cuspidatum , the primary plant sources of resveratrol, demonstrated intriguing resveratrol-producing ability. Due to the increasing demand for resveratrol, one active area of research is the use of endophytic fungi and metabolic engineering techniques for resveratrol's large-scale production. The current review addresses an overview of endophytic fungi as a source for production, as well as biosynthesis pathways and relevant genes incorporated in resveratrol biosynthesis. Various approaches for optimizing resveratrol production from endophytic fungi, as well as their bio-transformation and bio-degradation, are explained in detail., 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 © 2022 Abo-Kadoum, Abouelela, Al Mousa, Abo-Dahab, Mosa, Helmy and Hassane.)

Aim: The study aimed to revisit the roles of nurses working in the neonatal intensive care unit in a specific university hospital located in the Eastern Region to pursue Saudi Vision 2030-to provide excellent quality of life and well-being for its national citizens., Background: The neonatal intensive care unit is one of the most crucial hospital units caring for high-risk neonates with conditions like pre- and post-maturity and congenital anomalies. The nurses' experiences are vital to achieving the Saudi Vision 2030's Health Sector Transformation Strategy., Methods: Descriptive Phenomenology. Data collection utilized semi-structured individual interviews with sixteen (16) neonatal intensive care unit nurses for 10 months from March 2019 to January 2020. Colaizzi Method was used in data analysis, and the COREQ criteria list was utilized in data reporting., Results: Three major themes emerged from the participants' narratives: (1) 'mokadem alreayah alshamela': holistic caregiver; (2) 'muzawed malomat': information provider; and (3) 'yad almusaadah': helping hand., Conclusion: Revisiting the various roles will align neonatal intensive care unit nurses' critical characteristics towards Saudi Vision 2030, focusing solely on improving service providers' quality and safety principles and skills., Implication for Nursing Management: Revisiting the roles of the neonatal intensive care unit nurses would provide an alignment to the goals and objectives of the future initiatives of Saudi Arabia towards its Vision 2030., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This study examined the protective effect of earthworm extract (EE) on acrylamide (ACR)-induced reproductive dysfunction. Forty male rats were allocated into four groups (n = 10). The G I (control) group received distilled water (D.W.). The G II group received ACR (5 mg kg -1 B.W. in D.W.) 5 days per week, orally, for 3 weeks. The G III group was administered EE (300 mg kg -1 B.W in D.W.) 5 days per week, orally, for 3 weeks. The G IV group was pretreated with EE for 3 weeks and then co-treated with EE and ACR for an additional 3 weeks. ACR decreased the number of sperm, sperm viability, and total motility. However, it increased testosterone levels with no effect on the FSH or LH levels. Moreover, ACR increased the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Meanwhile, it decreased the glutathione (GSH) concentration in testicular tissues. Notably, the expression levels of p53 and Ki-67 were increased in the degenerated spermatogenic cells and in the hyperplastic Leydig cells of the testis of the ACR-treated group, respectively. Acrylamide induced alterations in the testicular tissue architecture. Interestingly, EE restored the sperm parameters and recovered the testicular histological structures and the biochemical alterations induced by ACR. In conclusion, earthworm extract ameliorated ACR-induced reproductive toxicity via restoring the testicular antioxidant balance and suppressing p53 and Ki-67 expressions in testicular tissues.

The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear to the world that better preparedness for future pandemics is paramount. This study aims to explore how the 2018 Jordan's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) assessment plan (conducted utilizing a standardized tool of the CDC National Inventory of Core Capabilities for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response) reflected on the initial COVID-19 response. A qualitative, single intrinsic case study design, utilizing interpretivist approach, was utilized to interview subject-matter experts and explore the potential reflection of PIP assessment on COVID-19 response. Utilizing a mini-Delphi approach, the interviews aimed at generating an in-depth understanding of how the Jordan's PIP risk assessment reflects on the country's response to COVID-19. The following 12 core capabilities, along with their reflections on COVID-19, were assessed: country planning, research and use of findings, communications, epidemiologic capability, laboratory capability, routine influenza surveillance, national respiratory disease surveillance, outbreak response, resources for containment, community-based interventions to prevent the spread of influenza, infection control (IC), and health sector pandemic response. Jordan's experience and preparedness for influenza may have served as a crucial guide to establishing success in COVID-19 control and mitigation. Surveillance, outbreak, and research activities were very well established in Jordan's PIP, whereas surge capacity in human capital and health facility were identified as two high-risk areas. However, the limitation in these two areas was met during the COVID-19 response. Still, human capital suffered fatigue, and there was an evident lack of laboratory testing plans when COVID-19 cases increased. Jordan's experience with PIP may have served as a guide for establishing successful COVID-19 control and mitigation. The established PIP principles, systems, and capacities seem to have reflected well on fighting against COVID-19 in terms of more efficient utilization of available surveillance, laboratory, outbreak management, and risk communications. This reflection facilitated a better mitigation and control of COVID-19.

Xylan is the primary hemicellulosic polymer found in lignocellulosic agricultural wastes and can be degraded by xylanase. In the current research, Mucor circinelloides and M. hiemalis were tested for their ability to produce xylanase from tangerine peel by submerged fermentation. Experiments on five variables were designed with Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology. Analysis of variance was exercised, the xylanase output was demonstrated with a mathematical equation as a function of the five factors, and the quixotic states for xylanase biosynthesis was secured. In addition, xylanase was partially purified, characterized, and immobilized on calcium alginate beads. The optimum parameters for xylanase production by M. circinelloides and M. hiemalis were consisted of incubation temperature (30 and 20°C), pH value (9 and 7) incubation period (9 and 9 days), inoculum size (3 and 3 mL), and substrate concentration (3 and 3 g/100 mL), respectively. M. circinelloides and M. hiemalis demonstrated the highest xylanase activities after RSM optimization, with 42.23 and 35.88 U/mL, respectively. The influence of single, interchange, and quadratic factors on xylanase output was investigated using nonlinear regression equations with significant R 2 and p values. The partial purification of M. circinelloides and M. hiemalis xylanase yielded 1.69- and 1.97-fold purification, and 30.74 and 31.34% recovery with 292.08 and 240.15 U/mg specific activity, respectively. Partially purified xylanase from M. circinelloides and M. hiemalis demonstrated the highest activity at neutral pH and 60 and 50°C, respectively. The immobilized M. circinelloides and M. hiemalis xylanase retained 84.02 and 79.43% activity, respectively. The production of xylanase from M. circinelloides and M. hiemalis utilizing RSM is deemed profitable for the decomposition of the agro-industrial wastes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Amal A. Al Mousa et al.)

Background: Diabetes is a serious health problem that results in high mortality rates worldwide. α-defensins are antimicrobial peptides of the innate immune system that contribute to inflammation. However, data on serum levels of α-defensin in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes are limited., Objectives: This study aimed to assess the possible changes in α-defensin serum levels in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes and to investigate its correlation with relevant biomarkers., Methodology: Analysis of serum α-defensin levels in 47 type 2 diabetics with diabetic neuropathy, 19 type 2 diabetics with no complications and 19 healthy control subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was established. Furthermore, measurement of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) serum levels was performed, together with the lipid profile analysis., Results: The serum levels of α-defensin were higher in patients with and without diabetic neuropathy in comparison to control subjects. In addition, there was a significant correlation between α-defensin serum levels and AGEs and FBG serum levels as well as with the body mass index., Conclusions: α-defensins are significantly elevated in serum of type II diabetics, and correlate with AGEs serum levels indicating a crosstalk that may aggravate inflammation in type 2 diabetes., (© 2022 El-Mowafy M et al.)

Background: Thyroid dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR) are common findings in patients with ESRD. We aimed to evaluate thyroid dysfunction and IR in ESRD before and after 1 year of starting hemodialysis (HD)., Methods: This was a prospective study that recruited newly starting HD patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Patients were evaluated for TSH, free T4, free T3, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, serum ferritin, and hs-CRP levels before starting their first dialysis session and after 1 year of regular HD., Results: Eighty-one patients have completed the 1-year follow-up period. After 1 year of regular HD, there were statistically significant increments of hs-CRP, serum ferritin, and TSH levels. On the other hand, fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR showed statistically significant increments after 1 year of starting HD. After 1 year of regular HD, TSH level showed a positive correlation with hs-CRP and serum ferritin level, while free T3 was negatively correlated with HOMA-IR. On the other hand, there was a significant positive correlation between HOMA-IR, hs-CRP, and serum ferritin levels, while HOMA-IR was negatively correlated with Kt/V., Conclusions: This study suggests overlapping complex pathogenesis of thyroid dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and IR in chronic HD patients., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Eco-friendly approaches for the preparation of nanomaterials have recently attracted considerable attention of scientific community due to rising environmental distresses. The aim of the current study is to prepare titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles (NPs) using an eco-friendly approach and investigate their performance for the photocatalytic degradation of hazardous organic dyes. For this, TiO 2 NPs were prepared by using the aqueous extract of the Pulicaria undulata (L.) plant in a single step at room temperature. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy established the presence of both titanium and oxygen in the sample. X-ray diffraction revealed the formation of crystalline, anatase-phase TiO 2 NPs. On the other hand, transmission election microscopy confirmed the formation of spherical shaped NPs. The presence of residual phytomolecules as capping/stabilization agents is confirmed by UV-vis analysis and Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy. Indeed, in the presence of P. undulata , the anatase phase of TiO 2 is stabilized at a significantly lower temperature (100 °C) without using any external stabilizing agent. The green synthesized TiO 2 NPs were used to investigate their potential for the photocatalytic degradation of hazardous organic dyes including methylene blue and methyl orange under UV-visible light irradiation. Due to the small size and high dispersion of NPs, almost complete degradation (∼95%) was achieved in a short period of time (between 1 and 2 h). No significant difference in the photocatalytic activity of the TiO 2 NPs was observed even after repeated use (three times) of the photocatalyst. Overall, the green synthesized TiO 2 NPs exhibited considerable potential for fast and eco-friendly removal of harmful organic dyes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

An active lifestyle has enormous health benefits. However, physical activity has globally decreased since the beginning of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak because of social distancing measures. Older adults and people with age-related diseases (e.g., diabetes, obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, etc.) are widely affected by COVID-19 and its grave adverse effects because of their baseline poor immune function. Although they are in intense need for the therapeutic benefits of exercise, they may express a low capacity for exercising due to skeletal muscle dysfunction and low motivation. Honey is a natural energy-rich, low glycemic index food with a variety of biological activities. It is reported to correct muscle pathology in diseased conditions. Because skeletal muscle is the key structure involved in the exercise, we explored the literature for the exercise-promoting potential of natural honey. Bee honey improves physical performance at moderate levels of activity, and it reduces the production of inflammatory cytokines and biomarkers of fatigue following strenuous exercise among athletes. Supplementing ischemic heart disease patients with honey combined with floral pollen improved patients' tolerance for physical loads and corrected metabolic dysfunctions. Therefore, the therapeutic use of honey may have implications for increasing the capacity for exercise in aged and diseased individuals. Soundly designed studies are needed to evaluate such possibilities., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2021 The Authors.)

The current was conducted to evaluate the ameliorating effect of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) extract against sodium nitrite-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Forty-five rats were allocated randomly into 5 groups (n = 9). Group I (GI), control group: orally gavaged with normal saline daily. Group II (GII): orally gavaged with CV extract (70 mg/kg BW) for 3 months. Group III (GIII): orally gavaged with sodium nitrite (80 mg/kg BW) for 3 months. Group IV (GIV): received sodium nitrite as GIII and CV extract as GII simultaneously for 3 months. Group V (GV): received CV extract as GII and then, sodium nitrite as in GIII from the end of first month until the end of the experiment. Sodium nitrite significantly increased the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and serum concentrations of tumor interleukin 1-β and necrosis factor α. In addition, it increased concentrations of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide and expression level of caspase-3 in the hepatic tissue. However, it decreased activities of hepatic glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase and induced degenerative and necrotic changes in hepatic tissues. In contrast, CV extract administration modulated sodium nitrite-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and alteration in hepatic tissue function and architecture. This study indicated that CV extract modulated sodium nitrite-induced hepatic toxicity through decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities in hepatic tissue of rats.

The current study aimed to investigate the protective effect of corn silk methanolic extract (CSME) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced nephrotoxicity. The present study was carried out on 40 male Wistar albino rats, which were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10): control group, orally administered with a single dose of 1.8 ml 0.9% normal saline at the last day of the experiment; CSME group, orally received CSME (400 mg/kg BW daily for 5 weeks); APAP group, orally administered with a single dose of APAP (2 g/kg BW); and CSME and APAP group, orally administered with CSME, followed by a single oral dose of APAP. The results of this study revealed that APAP caused a significant increase in serum urea, creatinine concentrations, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in renal tissues. In addition, APAP caused a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities in renal tissues compared with the control group. Furthermore, APAP caused marked renal damage as revealed by alterations in histopathological architectures of kidney tissues. APAP resulted in a marked expression of caspase 3 and nuclear factor κB (NFĸβ) within the renal tubules, while caused marked decrease of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ 1) expression within the epithelial lining of the renal tubules. However, pre-treatment with CSME returned all biochemical parameters, histopathological changes, and immunohistochemical parameters toward normal levels as the control group. In conclusion, oral administration of CSME protected rats against APAP renal toxicity through its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory protective mechanisms.

Foramina transversaria are bilateral landmarks of human cervical vertebrae. Morphometric analysis of foramina transversaria is valuable in both clinical and academic fields. This study aims to build a novel normative database of the dimensions of foramina transversaria in Jordanian population and to correlate these data with gender and age. For this purpose, axial computer tomographic images of cervical vertebrae of 329 normal individuals were obtained from the Radiology Department at King Abdulla University Hospital. Cases were subdivided into adolescence, youth, and adulthood groups for both genders. Antero-posterior and transverse diameters were measured bilaterally at all cervical vertebral levels. Statistical analysis of measured dimensions was performed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences software. The results showed that the overall mean antero-posterior diameter of foramina transversaria was 6.09 ± 0.60mms and 5.94 ± 0.62mms on the left and on the right sides, respectively. The corresponding mean transverse diameter measured 4.76 ± 0.51mms and 4.62 ± 0.52mms on the left and the right sides, respectively. Foramina transversaria were significantly larger in males compared to females (p = 0.00). Age-related differences were statistically significant for both antero-posterior and transverse diameters in favor of adult age-group, irrespective of vertebral level. The relevance of these findings is discussed.

Background: Persistent headaches and migraines are common in pediatrics with various treatment options. The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) has been identified as communicating with the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system and pain receptors. In adults, SPG block is an established treatment but there is no published literature in pediatrics., Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the SPG block in pediatrics., Study Design: Retrospective, single-center study., Setting: This study was conducted at Phoenix Children's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona., Methods: A comprehensive review of patient charts from 2015-2018 of all pediatric SPG blockades performed by interventional radiology were included in the analysis. Utilizing fluoroscopic guidance, a SphenoCath was inserted into each nostril and after confirming position, and 4% lidocaine injected. Pre- and postprocedural pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Immediate and acute complications were documented., Results: A total of 489 SPG blocks were performed in patients between ages 6 and 26 years who were diagnosed with migraine or status migrainosus. One hundred percent technical success was achieved with mean reduction of pain scores of 2.4, which was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). There were no immediate or acute complications., Limitations: Results of this study were based on retrospective study. The use of VAS may be subjective, and the need of a prospective study may be necessary., Conclusions: With 100% technical success, statistically significant pain reduction, and no complications, we support SPG block in the pediatric population as a simple, efficacious, and safe treatment option for refractory headaches. It is routinely performed in less than 10 minutes and commonly negates the need for inpatient headache pain management. Given its minimal invasivity, we support the use of SPG blockade as a therapeutic treatment in refractory pediatric migraines as it reduces the need for intravenous medications, prolonged pain control, or hospital admission.

The current study aimed to investigate the protective potential of Chlorella Vulgaris (CV) extract against the reproductive dysfunction induced by sodium nitrite toxicity. Forty-five male Wistar albino rats were assigned into five groups (n = 9). Control group received normal saline orally for 3 months, CV-treated: administered CV extract (70 mg/kg.BW) orally for 3 months, sodium nitrite-treated: received sodium nitrite (80 mg/kg.BW) orally for 3 months, co-treated: simultaneously received CV along with sodium nitrite treatment, orally, daily for 3 months, and CV-pre-treated: pre-treated with CV extract for 4 weeks followed by simultaneous treatment with sodium nitrite and CV extract for additional 8 weeks. Treatment with sodium nitrite significantly decreased serum testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations, sperm count, motility, and viability. Besides, it decreased testicular superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities while increased malondialdehyde concentration. This effect of sodium nitrite was associated with degenerative, necrotic, vascular, and inflammatory changes in testicular tissues. Treatment of sodium nitrite-intoxicated rats with CV in co-treated and pre-treated groups significantly prevented sodium nitrite-induced alterations of sperm parameters, hormonal concentrations, testicular oxidative-antioxidant status, and histological architecture. This study indicates that CV extract ameliorates the reproductive dysfunction induced by sodium nitrite toxicity via improving reproductive hormonal levels and testicular antioxidant activities., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of argan oil (AO) against nephrotoxic effects following overdose and long-term administration of betamethasone (BM). The phytochemical compositions of AO were assessed using GC/MS. Forty eight male Wister albino rats were divided into six groups and treated for 3 successive weeks. The control group was orally administrated distilled water daily, the BM group received BM (1 mg/kg, IM, day after day), AO/0.5 and AO/1 groups received AO (0.5 mL/kg, 1 mL/kg, orally, daily, respectively), BM + AO/0.5 group and BM + AO/1 group. The results revealed that BM induced hematological changes, including reduction of red blood cells with leukocytosis, neutrophilia, monocytosis, lymphocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Moreover, BM caused a significant increase of serum urea and creatinine levels, and renal malondialdehyde and nitric oxide contents with significant decrease of reduced glutathione content. BM also caused vascular, degenerative, and inflammatory histopathological alterations in kidney, along with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, activation of caspase-3, and decrease of proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression. Conversely, the concomitant administration of AO (0.5, 1 mL/kg) with BM ameliorated the aforementioned hematological, biochemical, pathological, and histochemical BM adverse effects. In conclusion, AO has protective effects against BM-induced renal damage, possibly via its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and proliferative properties.

The current study investigated the protective potential of Azolla pinnate ethanolic extract (APE) against lead-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sixty male Wistar albino rats were randomly allocated into six groups (n = 10). The control group was orally administrated with saline. The second group received lead acetate (100 mg/kg body weight (BW) orally for 60 days). The third group was fed with APE (10 mg/kg BW orally for 60 days). The fourth group was administrated with lead acetate like the second group and APE like the third group, concomitantly, for 60 days. The fifth group was administrated with APE like the third group for 30 days, then orally administrated with the lead acetate like the second group for another 30 days. The sixth group was administrated with lead acetate like the second group for 30 days, then with APE like the third group for a further 30 days. Phytochemical analysis of APE indicated the presence of peonidin 3- O -glucoside cation, vitexin, rutin, thiamine, choline, tamarixetin, hyperoside, astragalin, and quercetin. The latter has been elucidated using one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D NMR) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Lead acetate increased the serum levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and that of urea, creatinine, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin 1 β , hepatic tissue malondialdehyde contents, and caspase 3 protein expression, as well as altering the hepatic tissue architecture. However, it decreased the serum levels of interleukin 10 and glutathione (GSH) contents, and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase in hepatic tissue. In contrast, the administration of APE ameliorated the lead-induced alterations in liver function and structure, exemplifying the benefits of Azolla 's phytochemical contents. Collectively, A. pinnate extract is a protective and curative agent against lead-induced hepatotoxicity via its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic impacts.

Numerous eligible articles investigated the potential impact of the promoter region of UCP2 (rs659366) variant and the susceptibility for obesity with questionable outcomes. Our team designed this case-control combined with meta-analysis survey to illustrate the contribution of this variant with obesity. This case-control survey was formulated based on 110 obese Egyptian patients and 122 non-obese controls. Genomic DNA was amplified for ascertaining of UCP2 (G-866A; rs659366) variant exploiting the PCR-RFLP technique. A literature search was completed to investigate the involvement of this variant with obesity from various genetic databases. In this case-control study, the distribution of UCP2 (rs659366) variant showed a significant association with obesity among Egyptian subjects under allelic and dominant models (P value = 0.0006 and < 0.001, respectively). Overall, twenty-five comparisons for this variant (8652 obese patients and 10,075 non-obese controls) were recruited in this meta-analysis survey. A noteworthy association of UCP2 (rs659366) variant with obesity was identified among Asians and Africans but not Caucasians under allelic, dominant as well as heterozygote models. Nevertheless, this meta-analysis could not accomplish a noticeable association with overall subjects under different genetic models. This case-controlled study revealed a robust association for UCP2 (rs659366) variant with obesity susceptibility in Egyptian subjects; however, this meta-analysis survey failed to achieve an association for this variant with obesity in overall subjects except among Asians and Africans.

In this study, nano-sized cellulose modified with lactic acid (MW-Ce-LA) was prepared with the assistant of microwave then used for the adsorption of Cu 2+ from real samples. This modified cellulose was characterized by means of FTIR, TEM, XRD, and elemental analysis. ICP-OES was used for determination of Cu 2+ . The effect of pH, adsorption times, temperature, sorbent dose, and initial adsorbate concentration were studied to detect the ideal adsorption condition. Langmuir model proved to be the best to fit the adsorption isotherm experiments with maximum adsorption capacity of 90.3 mg g -1 Cu 2+ . Calculated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG° and ΔH°) for adsorption of Cu 2+ on MW-Ce-LA suggested exothermic and nonspontaneous character of the adsorption process. The reusability tests indicated regeneration of the prepared adsorbent simply using 1 mol L -1 of HCl. The examined method was used effectively to preconcentrate Cu 2+ from water, blood, and food samples.

The current study was conducted to investigate the protective properties of Eucalyptus globulus leaves methanolic extract (EGLME) against diclofenac sodium (DS) induced hepatorenal and testicular toxicity in male rats. A total of 40 rats were equally divided into 4 groups, Control, Diclofenac sodium (DS), EGLME and DS + EGLME groups, respectively. DS and EGLME were administered orally at dose rate 2.5 and 100 mg/kg BW, 4 times/week for 8 weeks, respectively. Administration of DS distorted hepatorenal functions manifested by alteration of serum levels of ALT, AST, total protein and albumin, creatinine and urea with changes of histological architectures. DS caused reproductive toxicity represented by minimized sperm count, individual sperm motility and viability; depleted concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in testicular tissue; and decreased testosterone level with alteration in testicular histological features. In contrast, co-treatment of DS intoxicated rats with EGLME protected rats against the adverse effects of DS revealing enhancing properties of EGLME on rats' liver, kidney and testes. In conclusion, we demonstrated that EGLME had a potent protecting property against DS induced hepatic, renal and testicular toxicity in male rats, with special concern to testicular tissue via modulation of GSH as an oxidant marker., Taxonomy: (classification by EVISE): Diclofenac sodium toxicity (hepatorenal and testicular toxicity), co-treatment with natural herbal extract, blood biochemical assays, tissue anti-oxidants assay, histopathology and reproductive indices analyses., (© 2019 Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University. Production and hosting by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.)

The current study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative and protective potentials of Moringea oleifera leaves ethanolic extract (MOLE) against thioacetamide (TAA) toxicity. A total of 58 male albino rats were randomly assigned into six experimental groups. G1, rats received distilled water. G2, rats were injected with a single dose of TAA (200 mg/kg BW) i.p. G3, rats were given MOLE (300 mg/kg BW) orally for 26 days. G4, rats were injected TAA as in G2 and treated with MOLE as G3. G5, rats were kept for 26 days without treatment then on day 27 injected with TAA as in G2. G6, rats were given MOLE for 26 days then on day 27 injected with TAA. Phytochemical analysis of MOLE indicated the presence of kaempferol, kaempferol malonylglucoside, kaempferol hexoside, kaempferol -3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-acetyl-glucoside, cyanidin -3-O-hexoside, ellagic acid, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, and apigenin glucoside. Intoxication of rats with TAA significantly elevated activities of serum AST, ALT, and ALP; concentrations of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and hepatic tissue protein expression of caspase 3 and COX2 with alteration of the histological structures of hepatic tissues, while it decreased serum levels of total protein, albumin, and hepatic tissue contents of reduced glutathione. Also, TAA intoxication resulted in 62.5% mortality in rats of G5. Treatment of TAA intoxicated rats (G4) with MOLE ameliorated the toxic effects of TAA on hepatic tissue structure and function. It decreased serum activities of AST, ALT, and ALP; enhanced hepatic GSH concentration; reduced pathological alterations and lipid peroxidation; and downregulated caspase 3 and COX2 proteins expression in hepatic tissue. In addition, MOLE protected rats of G6 from TAA-induced hepatic tissues injury and dysfunction, and increased survival rate of rats. In conclusion, MOLE had both ameliorating and protecting potentials against TAA-induced rats liver damage through regulation of antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and inflammatory biomarkers. Graphical abstract.

Essential oils (EOs) from the stems and leaves of Origanum vulgare L. grown in Saudi Arabia and Jordan were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-flame ionization detector (FID) techniques on two different columns (polar and nonpolar). A detailed phytochemical analysis led to the identification of 153 constituents of these essential oils. Both Saudi and Jordanian plants are classified by chemotypes rich in cymyl-compounds. However, the Saudi Origanum contains carvacrol as the major component and is, thus, characterized as a carvacrol chemotype, while the Jordanian Origanum contains thymol as the major component, and, thus, it is classified as a thymol chemotype. In addition, the antimicrobial activities of the studied EOs and their major components, including carvacrol and thymol, were evaluated against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. All the tested compounds exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against all the tested bacteria. Among them, thymol demonstrated superior activity against all the tested organisms, followed by carvacrol. Moreover, results on oil composition and oil yield of O. vulgare L. from different parts of the world is compared in detail with the present outcomes.

The structural, mechanical, electronic and optical properties of SrTMO₃ (TM = Rh, Zr) compounds are investigated by using first principle calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The exchange-correlation potential was treated with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for the structural properties. Moreover, the modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) approximation was also employed for the electronic properties. The calculated lattice constants are in good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical results. The elastic constants and their derived moduli reveal that SrRhO₃ is ductile and SrZrO₃ is brittle in nature. The band structure and the density of states calculations with mBJ-GGA predict a metallic nature for SrRhO₃ and an insulating behavior for SrZrO₃. The optical properties reveal that both SrRhO₃ and SrZrO₃ are suitable as wave reflectance compounds in the whole spectrum for SrRhO₃ and in the far ultraviolet region (FUV) for SrZrO₃.

This study aimed to investigate the protective potential of Royal jelly (RJ) against cadmium (Cd)-induced testicular dysfunction in rats. Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats were assigned into five groups. G I; (control) injected intraperitoneally with saline, G II injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of CdCl 2 (1 mg/kg BW), G III received RJ (100 mg/kg BW/day) orally, G IV was pre-treated with RJ for 1 week then, treated with CdCl 2 , and G V was co-treated with RJ and CdCl 2 . After day 56, serum and tissue samples were collected and analysed. The results showed decreased serum testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, sperm motility and count while increased malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and sperm abnormalities, along with a severely damaged seminiferous tubules epithelium with cytoplasmic and nuclear disruptions following Cd toxicity. Additionally, Cd stimulated testicular mRNA expression of TNF-α while inhibited those of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme androgen binding protein, FSH-receptor, LH-receptor, androgen receptor, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 17β-HSD, and cytochrome P450 17A1. These negative alterations of cadmium were greatly reduced by RJ treatment. This study concluded that RJ protects against Cd-induced testicular toxicity., (© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185372.].