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Extraction and purification of ribonucleic acid (RNA) from Gram-positive methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is problematic, because the MRSA has a rigid cell wall that contains lipoteichoic acid and peptidoglycan, thus causing difficulty when utilizing the standard methods. For this reason, the aim of the current study was to improve and modify the method of extraction of RNA from MRSA, with good integrity, purity, low cost, and with saved time of extraction. A fast and an inexpensive method involving the use of acid phenol: chloroform (5: 1 [v/v]) at low pH (4.5), with lysostaphin and Triton X-100 for effective isolation of RNA from the MRSA is developed. As a result of this study, yields of this method presented high concentration of RNA 1175.26 ng/ µl/ 3 ml of bacterial culture broth, with high RNA integration number (RIN). In similar assays such as using; the RNeasy Mini kit, GeneJET RNA purification kit, TRIzol kit and hot phenol: chloroform (1: 1 [v/v]) extraction method, they yielded low concentrations of RNA (92-700 ng/ µl); with lower purity, quantity, and also little integrity, compared to using the current acid phenol chloroform (5: 1 [v/v]) extraction method. In conclusion, this new method for extraction of RNA from MRSA can be used to save time, cost, and provide high quality of RNA.

Recent years have seen a surge in interest in the multifaceted topic of human-computer interaction (HCI). Since the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the significance of human-computer interaction in the field of safety risk management has only grown. There has not been a lot of focus on developing human-computer interaction for identifying potential hazards in buildings. After conducting a comprehensive literature review, we developed a study framework for the use of human-computer interaction in the identification of construction-related hazards (CHR-HCI). Future studies will focus on the intersection of computer vision, VR, and ergonomics. In this research, we have built a theoretical foundation for past studies’ findings and connections and offered concrete recommendations for the improvement of HCI in danger identification in the future. Moreover, we analyzed two cases studies related to the domain of CHR-HCI in terms of wearable vibration-based systems and context aware navigation.

The use of Arabic mobile games has increased in the last decade. The Arabic mobile game market is rapidly growing as well, where more games are being developed or localized to target Arabic game players and attract newcomers. Little existing work, however, has been done to ensure the delivery of effective, efficient, and satisfying Arabic mobile games. Previous studies have shown that most developers of Arabic mobile games do not evaluate these games because of the lack of usability evaluation methods that are specifically designed for such games. In this paper, we present Arabic Mobile Game Heuristics, which is a list of usability heuristics that were explicitly adapted for evaluating Arabic mobile games. The list was developed by revising and modifying Nielsen’s list of heuristics and the game usability principles. Validating the proposed heuristics was achieved by comparing the outcomes of evaluating two Arabic mobile games using the three lists of usability heuristics. Results indicate that the proposed heuristics allowed evaluators to find additional usability issues and identify more severe problems than using the other two lists.

The present study aimed to optimize the production of L-asparaginase from Aspergillus arenarioides EAN603 in submerged fermentation using a radial basis function neural network with a specific genetic algorithm (RBFNN-GA) and response surface methodology (RSM). Independent factors used included temperature (x1), pH (x2), incubation time (x3), and soybean concentration (x4). The coefficient of the predicted model using the Box–Behnken design (BBD) was R2 = 0.9079 (p < 0.05); however, the lack of fit was significant indicating that independent factors are not fitted with the quadratic model. These results were confirmed during the optimization process, which revealed that the standard error (SE) of the predicted model was 11.65 while the coefficient was 0.9799, at which 145.35 and 124.54 IU mL−1 of the actual and predicted enzyme production was recorded at 34 °C, pH 8.5, after 7 days and with 10 g L−1 of organic soybean powder concentrations. Compared to the RBFNN-GA, the results revealed that the investigated factors had benefits and effects on L-asparaginase, with a correlation coefficient of R = 0.935484, and can classify 91.666667% of the test data samples with a better degree of precision; the actual values are higher than the predicted values for the L-asparaginase data.

The present study aims to characterize and predict models for antibacterial activity of a novel oligosaccharide from Streptomyces californics against Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora using an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system and an artificial neural network. The mathematical predication models were used to determine the optimal conditions to produce oligosaccharide and determine the relationship between the factors (pH, temperature, and time). The characteristics of the purified antibacterial agent were determined using ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV/Vis), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H- and 13C-NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS). The best performances for the model were 39.45 and 35.16 recorded at epoch 1 for E. carotovora Erw5 and E. carotovora EMCC 1687, respectively. The coefficient (R2) of the training was more than 0.90. The highest antimicrobial production was recorded after 9 days at 25 °C and a pH of 6.2, at which more than 17 mm of the inhibition zone was obtained. The mass spectrum of antimicrobial agent (peak at R.T. = 3.433 of fraction 6) recorded two molecular ion peaks at m/z = 703.70 and m/z = 338.30, corresponding to molecular weights of 703.70 and 338.30 g/mol, respectively. The two molecular ion peaks matched well with the molecular formulas C29H53NO18 and C14H26O9, respectively, which were obtained from the elemental analysis result. A novel oligosaccharide from Streptomyces californics with potential activity against E. carotovora EMCC 1687 and E. carotovora Erw5 was successfully isolated, purified, and characterized.

Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) caused by Pasteurella multocida B:2 and E:2 is among the fatal bacterial diseases in cattle and buffaloes that are economically valuable in Asian and African countries. The current work aims to study the prevalence of HS among buffaloes, cattle, sheep, and goats in 41 countries in 2005–2019. The data analysis revealed that 74.4% of the total infection rate in the world was distributed among cattle, followed by buffaloes (13.1%). The mortality of HS among cattle and buffaloes increased in 2017–2019 compared to the period between 2014 and 2016. The best measure to control the disease is through vaccination programs. Current commercial vaccines, including live-attenuated vaccines and inactivated vaccines, have some shortcomings and undesirable effects. Virus-like particles (VLPs) have more potential as a vaccine platform due to their unique properties to enhance immune response and the ability to use them as a platform for foreign antigens against infectious diseases. VLPs-based vaccines are among the new-generation subunit vaccine approaches that have been licensed for the human and veterinary fields. However, most studies are still in the late stages of vaccine evaluation.

The current review aims to summarise the biodiversity and biosynthesis of novel secondary metabolites compounds, of the phylum Actinobacteria and the diverse range of secondary metabolites produced that vary depending on its ecological environments they inhabit. Actinobacteria creates a wide range of bioactive substances that can be of great value to public health and the pharmaceutical industry. The literature analysis process for this review was conducted using the VOSviewer software tool to visualise the bibliometric networks of the most relevant databases from the Scopus database in the period between 2010 and 22 March 2021. Screening and exploring the available literature relating to the extreme environments and ecosystems that Actinobacteria inhabit aims to identify new strains of this major microorganism class, producing unique novel bioactive compounds. The knowledge gained from these studies is intended to encourage scientists in the natural product discovery field to identify and characterise novel strains containing various bioactive gene clusters with potential clinical applications. It is evident that Actinobacteria adapted to survive in extreme environments represent an important source of a wide range of bioactive compounds. Actinobacteria have a large number of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. They can synthesise thousands of subordinate metabolites with different biological actions such as anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal, anti-virus, anti-cancer and growth-promoting compounds. These are highly significant economically due to their potential applications in the food, nutrition and health industries and thus support our communities’ well-being.

The promising feature of the fungi from the marine environment as a source for anticancer agents belongs to the fungal ability to produce several compounds and enzymes which contribute effectively against the cancer cells growth. L-asparaginase acts by degrading the asparagine which is the main substance of cancer cells. Moreover, the compounds produced during the secondary metabolic process acts by changing the cell morphology and DNA fragmentation leading to apoptosis of the cancer cells. The current review has analyed the available information on the anticancer activity of the fungi based on the data extracted from the Scopus database. The systematic and bibliometric analysis revealed many of the properties available for the fungi to be the best candidate as a source of anticancer drugs. Doxorubicin, actinomycin, and flavonoids are among the primary chemical drug used for cancer treatment. In comparison, the most anticancer compounds producing fungi are Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus A. oryzae, A. flavus, A. versicolor, A. terreus, Penicillium citrinum, P. chrysogenum, and P. polonicum and have been used for investigating the anticancer activity against the uterine cervix, pancreatic cancer, ovary, breast, colon, and colorectal cancer.

The present research aimed to enhance the pharmaceutically active compounds’ (PhACs’) productivity from Streptomyces SUK 25 in submerged fermentation using response surface methodology (RSM) as a tool for optimization. Besides, the characteristics and mechanism of PhACs against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were determined. Further, the techno-economic analysis of PhACs production was estimated. The independent factors include the following: incubation time, pH, temperature, shaker rotation speed, the concentration of glucose, mannitol, and asparagine, although the responses were the dry weight of crude extracts, minimum inhibitory concentration, and inhibition zone and were determined by RSM. The PhACs were characterized using GC-MS and FTIR, while the mechanism of action was determined using gene ontology extracted from DNA microarray data. The results revealed that the best operating parameters for the dry mass crude extracts production were 8.20 mg/L, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) value was 8.00 µg/mL, and an inhibition zone of 17.60 mm was determined after 12 days, pH 7, temperature 28 °C, shaker rotation speed 120 rpm, 1 g glucose /L, 3 g mannitol/L, and 0.5 g asparagine/L with R2 coefficient value of 0.70. The GC-MS and FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of 21 PhACs, and several functional groups were detected. The gene ontology revealed that 485 genes were upregulated and nine genes were downregulated. The specific and annual operation cost of the production of PhACs was U.S. Dollar (U.S.D) 48.61 per 100 mg compared to U.S.D 164.3/100 mg of the market price, indicating that it is economically cheaper than that at the market price.

The epidemiological pattern of human sporotrichosis infections in Klang Valley, Malaysia and antifungal susceptibility of the causative fungal pathogen, Sporothrix schenckii was determined. A total of 67 culture positive sporotrichosis cases were recorded from 2015-2018 at three Klang Valley hospitals, with a majority in the 19-30 years age group. Association with felines represent the highest (47.76%) risk factor for sporotrichosis. The clinical presentation was predominantly lymphocutaneous infection (59.67%). S. schenckii isolates from humans and cats were tested for antifungal susceptibility using the standardized broth microdilution method. All 25 S. schenckii isolates tested were susceptible to itraconazole (MIC 0.5-2 µg/mL), while MIC was lower for ravuconazole (0.125-1 µg/mL). Awareness and emphasis on feline associated sporotrichosis are needed in Malaysia. While itraconazole is the recommended treatment, ravuconazole may be an additional, potentially effective treatment against S. schenckii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of an attempt to develop an effective method for the serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the sera from 43 Yemeni cases of the disease were screened both for antileishmanial IgG antibodies and for Leishmania-specific antigens. Indirect ELISA and capture ELISA were used to test each serum for the antibodies and antigens, respectively. Sera from patients with diseases other than leishmaniasis (29 for the antibody-detection assays and 42 for the antigen-detection) and from apparently healthy volunteers were also tested. For each type of assay, the threshold for seropositivity was set three standard deviations above the mean absorbance value for the sera from the healthy volunteers. Thirty-seven of the 43 VL sera were found positive for Leishmania-specific IgG antibodies and 37 were found positive for Leishmania-specific antigens. The sensitivities of the antibody- and antigen-detection assays were both therefore 86%. The overall specificity of the antibody-detection ELISA (67%) was, however, slightly higher than that of the capture-ELISA (64%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diagnosis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is challenging due to nonspecific biomarkers. High serum levels of neurofilament protein light subunit (NFL), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and have been reported in several autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to examine whether their plasma levels could serve as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for NPSLE., Methods: There were 90 SLE patients enrolled in this cross-sectional study (87.8% women and 12.2% men with a mean age of 41.67±11.05 years). We assessed the mental status of patients, also we measured the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR (SLICC/ ACR) Damage Index or SDI scores. Serum levels of NFL, HMGB1, MMP9, and ds-DNA were investigated to find a role in the pathophysiology of NPSLE., Results: Among the 90 patients with SLE, 63 (70%) met the criteria of NPSLE syndrome. Our results have shown a notable difference concerning SEDIAC-2k score, SDI score, PANS, MoCA, and Beck anxiety depression, between the two groups (p < 0.05). Although serum level of all measured serum biomarkers (NFL, MMP-9, HMGB1, dsDNA) were higher in patients with NPSLE, the difference was not statistically significant. Interestingly, our results showed that the serum level of NFL was correlated with the serum level of HMGB-1 and MMP-9. (r: 0.411, P=0.003)., Conclusion: Serum level of NFL, HMGB-1 and MMP-9 may be used to detect abnormal mental status in patients with SLE., Competing Interests: We declare no conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s).)

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) are two autoimmune diseases that affect the Central nervous system (CNS), but the relationship between them has not been established., Case Presentation: Here we report the emergence of MS during treatment. Takayasu's arteritis in a 24-year-old Iranian woman with a severe presentation. She was treated aggressively with IV methylprednisolone 1 g/day for 3 days and continued with oral prednisolone, also IV cyclophosphamide monthly. After 2 months, loss of vision led to a diagnosis of Optic neuritis (ON) caused by concomitant MS., Conclusion: Differentiating CNS vasculitis associated with Takayasu's arthritis from coexisting MS affecting the CNS is challenging and what is important is to avoid giving a TNF inhibitor., Competing Interests: We declare no conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s).)

Purpose Applying to medical school is accompanied by significant barriers to prospective applicants. Students who are underrepresented in medicine (URiM) may face additional barriers. We created a mentorship program to pair pre-medical URiM students with medical student mentors. The purpose of this study was to determine if providing mentorship and resources to URiM pre-medical students increased their knowledge and confidence regarding the medical school application process. Method A survey was emailed to mentees of the program to assess their knowledge and confidence about the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and medical school application before and after receiving mentorship. Wilcoxon-Signed-Rank tests were used for data analysis. Results A total of 28 participants completed the pilot study of which 17 gave qualitative feedback. Students reported feeling significantly more knowledgeable and confident after six months of enrollment on seven (77.8%) of the survey items. Respondents agreed that mentorship was the most valuable aspect of the program, with 13 (76.5%) respondents qualitatively endorsing the positive impact mentorship imparted to them. Conclusion Having a medical student mentor helped URiM pre-medical students feel more knowledgeable and confident about the medical school application process. By providing URiM students with additional resources, the diversity of future classes of physicians may improve and better mirror the populations they will serve., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Augusta University Institutional Review Board issued approval 1919112-4. Informed Consent was obtained for all experimentation with human subjects. The Augusta University Institutional Review Board determined that this project met exemption criteria; #1919112-4. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Myers et al.)

Lion's Mane ( Hericium erinaceus) has historically been used as traditional medicine in Asia and Europe for its potential benefits in fighting infection and cancer. It has gained interest in the neurodegenerative disease field because of its mechanisms of action; these include anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and promoting neurite growth demonstrated in various cell and animal models. A very small, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with mild cognitive impairment showed a temporary improvement in cognitive function; this finding has yet to be replicated. However, there have been no studies in ALS cell or animal models or in humans with ALS. Lion's Mane appears safe and inexpensive when consumed in powder or capsule, but one anaphylactic case was reported after a patient consumed fresh Lion's Mane mushroom. Currently, we do not have enough information to support the use of Lion's Mane for treating ALS. We support further research in ALS disease models and clinical trials to study its efficacy.

Currently, novel technologies are highly prerequisite as an outstanding approach in the field of photocatalytic water splitting (PWS). Previous research has shown that copolymerization technology could improve the photocatalytic performance of pristine carbon nitride (CN) more efficiently. As this technology further allows the charge carrier recombination constraints, due to novel monomer-incorporated highly abundant surface-active sites of metals in polymeric carbon nitride-based heterojunction. However, in present study, a novel previously unexplored thiophenedicarboxaldehyde (TAL) conjugated, strontium-titanium (SrTiO 3 ) induced and CN based heterojunction, i.e., SrTiO 3 /CN-TAL 10.0 , was prepared for solar-driven hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This heterojunction effectively enables the proficient isolation of photoinduced charge carriers and enhanced the charge transport over the surface junction, by enhancing the optical absorption range and average lifetime of photogenerated charges. The incorporation of TAL within the structure of CN via copolymerization highly increases the photocatalytic activity, as well as maintaining its photostability performance. The SrTiO 3 concentration and the proportion of TAL among CN can be precisely controlled to provide the optimal photocatalytic efficiency with a maximum HER of 285.9 µmol/h under visible light (λ = 420 nm). Based on these results, our optical analysis shows that coupling of SrTiO 3 and TAL monomer in the structure of CN considerably reduce the band gap of superior sample from (3.42 to 2.66 eV), thereby, signifying the outstanding photocatalytic performance of SrTiO 3 /CN-TAL 10.0 . Thus, this study provide a new guideline in order to develop the multidimensional photocatalysts with proper functioning for sustainable energy conversion and production., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background Heart failure (HF), a major public health problem worldwide, is a complex clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional heart disorders occurring when the heart cannot supply sufficient blood to the body. The most common cause of HF is impairment of the left ventricle. Public awareness of HF is critical for controlling the disease burden, recognizing disease severity, and determining its prognosis. Therefore, this study assesses the awareness and perception of HF among the population in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,053 participants over 18 years of age who lived in Makkah City between October 2022 and February 2023. Participants were randomly selected and recruited using a validated online questionnaire. Results Of the participants, 62.4% had heard of HF, and the majority (59.5%) correctly identified it. Regarding the etiology of the disease, about 50.6% indicated that it was related to the aging process, and 82.9% indicated it was related to high blood pressure. Only 24.1% of participants correctly recognized HF symptoms; most defined the symptoms as general heart disease. Moreover, 51.6% of participants agreed that the current HF medications can reduce deaths from HF and improve quality of life. However, most respondents disagreed that HF drugs can prevent the onset of HF. Conclusion The findings emphasize the need for more awareness programs to raise the public awareness about HF and effectively guide the population to more reliable sources that provide evidence-based information about the disease., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Alzubaidi et al.)

Candida albicans is frequently identified as a colonizer of the oral cavity in health and has recently been termed a "keystone" commensal due to its role on the bacterial communities. However, the role that C. albicans plays in such interactions is not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relationship between C. albicans and bacteria associated with oral symbiosis and dysbiosis. To do this, we evaluated the ability of C. albicans to support the growth of the aerobic commensal Streptococcus gordonii and the anaerobic pathogens Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis in the biofilm environment. RNA-Sequencing with the Illumina platform was then utilized to identify C. albicans gene expression and functional pathways involved during such interactions in dual-species and a 4-species biofilm model. Results indicated that C. albicans was capable of supporting growth of all three bacteria, with a significant increase in colony counts of each bacteria in the dual-species biofilm (p < 0.05). We identified specific functional enrichment of pathways in our 4-species community as well as transcriptional profiles unique to the F. nucleatum and S. gordonii dual-species biofilms, indicating a species-specific effect on C. albicans. Candida-related hemin acquisition and heat shock protein mediated processes were unique to the organism following co-culture with anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, respectively, suggestive that such pathways may be feasible options for therapeutic targeting to interfere with these fungal-bacterial interactions. Targeted antifungal therapy may be considered as an option for biofilm destabilization and treatment of complex communities. Moving forward, we propose that further studies must continue to investigate the role of this fungal organism in the context of the interkingdom nature of oral diseases., (© 2023 The Authors. APMIS published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Societies for Pathology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology.)

Appropriate drug information is vital for the correct use of drugs in pharmaceutical practice. Providing patients with educational advice on prescribed medication and on proper medication administration has become an essential part of the pharmaceutical care process. The objectives of this study were to identify patients' knowledge of prescribed medications, their desire for more information, and the sources of medication information in a population from Qassim, Saudi Arabia, using a cross-sectional descriptive study. Our target population consisted of adult patients with chronic illnesses receiving drugs at outpatient pharmacies. Nineteen pharmacies were selected based on convenience. After collecting their prescriptions, patients were asked to take part in the study by interviewers as they were leaving the pharmacies. The questionnaire used was pretested on 18 patients and then modified accordingly. questions investigated participants' knowledge of drug information, their wish for more information, and their sources of drug information, other than clinicians. Descriptive analysis was used to describe patients' physical details. The effect of sex, education, diagnosis, number of drugs, and age on knowledge of the purpose of drugs and the need for additional information were tested using Chi-square test. A total of 270 patients were interviewed, of whom 29.7% reported not knowing the purpose of at least one of their medications, and only reading a portion of the PILs. Of the patients sampled, 56.7% said they read the side effects section of the PIL, 43.3% reported reading the uses, while 27% read the contraindications. The drug -interactions section was the least read, with only 18.9% reporting reading it. A total of 57% of the patients reported that they needed more information about their medications. Highly educated patients reported using the PIL, social media, family and friends, TV, and newspapers as sources of drug information at significantly higher rates than patients with lower levels of education. Healthcare professionals should assess patient comprehension and the need for additional drug information, especially among patients with low levels of education. Additionally, healthcare professionals should consider other information sources used by their patients.

Introduction: Uncontrolled overproduction of inflammatory mediators is predominantly observed in patients with severe COVID-19. The excessive immune response gives rise to multiple organ dysfunction. Implementing extracorporeal therapies may be useful in omitting inflammatory mediators and supporting different organ systems. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of hemoperfusion in combination with standard therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients., Method: We conducted a single-center, matched control retrospective study on patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients were treated with hemoperfusion in combination with standard therapy (hemoperfusion group) or standard treatment (matched group). Hemoperfusion or hemoperfusion and continuous renal replacement therapies were initiated in the hemoperfusion group. The patients in the matched group were matched one by one with the hemoperfusion group for age, sex, oxygen saturation (SPO2) at the admission, and the frequency of using invasive mechanical ventilation during hospitalization. Two types of hemoperfusion cartridges used in this study were Jafron© (HA330) and CytoSorb® 300., Result: A total of 128 COVID-19-confirmed patients were enrolled in this study; 73 patients were allotted to the matched group and 55 patients received hemoperfusion. The median SPO2 at the admission day in the control and hemoperfusion groups was 80% and 75%, respectively (p value = 0.113). The mortality rate was significantly lower in the hemoperfusion group compared to the matched group (67.3% vs. 89%; p value = 0.002). The median length of ICU stay was statistically different in studied groups (median, 12 days for hemoperfusion group vs. 8 days for the matched group; p < 0.001). The median final SPO2 was statistically higher in the hemoperfusion group than in the matched group, and the median PaCO2 was lower., Conclusion: Among critically ill COVID-19 patients, based on our study, the use of hemoperfusion may reduce the mortality rate and improve SPO2 and PaCO2., (© 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The current review highlighted the quantitative microbiological risk assessment of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Prawn farm wastewaters (PFWWs) and the applicability of nanoparticles for eliminating antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). The high availability of the antibiotics in the environment and their transmission into human through the food-chain might cause unknown health effects. The aquaculture environments are considered as a reservoir for the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and contributed effectively in the increasing of ABR. The metagenomic analysis is used to explore ARGs in the non-clinical environment. V. parahaemolyticus is among the pathogenic bacteria which are transmitted through sea food causing human acute gastroenteritis due to available thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh), adhesins, TDH related hemolysin (trh). The inactivation of pathogenic bacteria using nanoparticles act by disturbing the cell membrane, interrupting the transport system, DNA and mitochondria damage, and oxidizing the cellular component by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, and nitroimidazole are among the prohibited drugs in fish and fishery product. The utilization of probiotics is the most effective and safe alternative for antibiotics in Prawn aquaculture. This review will ensure public understanding among the readers on how they can decrease the risk of the antimicrobial resistance distribution in the environment., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a serious obstacle in front of public health. Interferon-beta 1a (IFN-β 1a) has been used to treat patients with COVID-19. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of high-dose IFN-β 1a compared to low dose IFN-β 1a in severe COVID-19 cases., Methods: In this randomized, controlled, and clinical trial, eligible patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections were randomly assigned to receive one of the two following therapeutic regimens: The intervention group was treated with high-dose IFN-β 1a (Recigen) (Subcutaneous injections of 88 μg (24 million IU) on days 1, 3, 6) + lopinavir /ritonavir (Kaletra) (400 mg/100 mg twice a day for 10 days, orally) and the control group was treated with low-dose IFN-β 1a (Recigen) (Subcutaneous injections of 44 μg (12 million IU) on days 1, 3, 6) + lopinavir /ritonavir (Kaletra) (400 mg/100 mg twice a day for 10 days, orally)., Result: A total of 168 COVID- 19 confirmed patients underwent randomization; 83 were assigned to the intervention group and 85 were assigned to the control group. Median Time To Clinical Improvement (TTIC) for cases treated with low-dose IFN-β1a was shorter than that for cases treated with high-dose IFN-β1a (6 vs 10 days; P = 0.018). The mortality rates in intervention and control group were 41% and 36.5%, respectively., Conclusion: The use of high-dose IFN-β 1a did not improve TTCI in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. Also, it did not have any significant effect on mortality reduction compared with treating with low-dose IFN-β 1a., Trial Registration: This trial has been registered as ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04521400., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Metronidazole (MTZ) can decrease the levels of several cytokines. This research aimed at the investigation of the anti-inflammatory impact of MTZ in COVID-19. A randomized, single-blind clinical trial for comparing the anti-inflammatory effect of MTZ in two eligible groups of adult patients with lower respiratory tract involvement due to Covid-19 treated with a standard national method with or without MTZ was performed. Inflammatory markers were measured as the primary outcome in two groups. Oxygen saturation, length of hospital stays, and mortality of patients were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Among 44 patients with lower respiratory tract due to Covid-19, 20(45.5%) were randomly allocated in group A with the current standard treatment plus the MTZ tablet for 7 days orally and 24 (54.5%) in group B with the current standard treatment. The mean of ESR in group A was statistically significantly lower than that of group B on the seventh day (A: 38.25 ± 18.75 vs. B: 47.67 ± 26.41, p = 0.02). Moreover, the mean of IL6 diminished significantly in both A ( p = 0.01) and B ( p = 0.01) groups on the seventh day compared to the first day. The decrease of TNF was not significant in any of the groups A ( p = 0.3) and B ( p = 0.4) from the 7 th day to the first day. No significant difference was not found between group A and group B groups on the CRP level ( p = 0.1). Findings of this study showed the anti-inflammatory impact of MTZ in the patient with lower respiratory inflammation due to COVID-19.

Objective: In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the association of self-care management practices and glycemic control of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia., Methods: A total of 352 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients from two public tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia participated in this study. All T2DM patients were recruited and interviewed by a researcher between January to April 2018 from the outpatient diabetes clinics. All respondents answered a four-part questionnaire which includes demographics data, Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ). Linear Regression was performed to assess the significance of predictors and compute the coefficient of determination., Results: The mean age of the participants was 51.89 ± 10.94. Of the 352 participants, 52% were obese (BMI: ≥30 kgm 2 ) and 77% of the participants had glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) over 7%. The analysis showed that subscale of Glucose management was the strongest predictor of Hba1c levels of participants' followed by physical activity. Gender and marital status emerged as significant predictors for their self-care management practices. Female patients had more self-care management practices than male patients (B 0.20; 95CI 0.10- 0.96 (p = 0.015)., Conclusion: This study provides an evidence on the self-care management of T2DM patients in Saudi Arabia. The high self-care management found in the study highlights that the patients are aware of the severity of and possible complications associated with T2DM., 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., (© 2021 The Author(s).)