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Praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for schistosomiasis; however, it is poorly effective on immature and juvenile worms. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of praziquantel loaded-chitosan nanoparticles (PZQ-CSNPs) on the 25 days old juvenile Schistosoma mansoni worms compared to PZQ and chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs). It was conducted on 60 Swiss albino mice, including 20 control and 40 experimental mice. The control groups included healthy uninfected and infected non-treated mice. The experimental groups included mice infected treated on the 25 th day with 400 mg/kg PZQ, 30 mg/kg CSNPs, 100 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg PZQ-CSNPs. The results revealed that PZQ-CSNPs (100, 400 mg/kg) gave the best results substantiated by a remarkable decrease in worm burden, egg count, granuloma count and size compared to the other treatments. Moreover, it induced severe deformations of worm morphology regarding oral and ventral suckers, tegument, spines distribution, and male gynaecophoric canal. Liver enzymes and oxidative stress markers were significantly decreased while antioxidant activities were increased compared to control and other treated groups. In conclusion, a single dose of PZQ-CSNPs had significant antischistosomal therapeutic effects during the early maturation phase., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests and this manuscript has not been submitted to any other journal in Egypt or abroad. Alexandria University’s code of ethics and rules of academic integrity had been followed., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: Hormonal, behavioral, psychological, surgical, and pharmacopsychological treatment approaches contribute to female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Aim: The study is conducted to assess the effectiveness of hyaluronan high and low molecular weight hybrid cooperative complexes (hybrid H-HA/L-HA) in treating females with SD and to compare the female sexual function index (FSFI), dermatological life quality index (DLQI), and female genital self-image scale (FGSIS) before and after therapy., Methods: We divided the 60 female participants into two groups. Hybrid H-HA/L-HA was administered to form pili of 0.25 cc around the clitoris in the direction of clock positions of 12, 3, 6, and 9. In Skene's gland; 0.25 cc for each and 0.5 cc into the corpus/body of the clitoris. Two treatments were held 30 days apart.The same procedure was repeated on the control group, but with saline as a placebo., Outcomes: Women completed self-report questionnaires assessing sexual functioning using the FSFI, DLQI, and FGSIS before and after therapy., Result: There was a significant ( P  = 634.152; P  < .05) increase in the study group's weekly sexual interactions compared with the controls. The study group showed statistically significant amelioration in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction domains, overall score, and a decrease in pain following the first and second injection sessions ( P  = .014, .031, .003, .001, .011, .004, and .011, respectively). A comparison of the results between the two groups revealed significant improvement were found ( P  = .025).There were significant improvements in the domains of the FGSIS compared with the controls ( P  = .026). The study group showed a substantial improvement in satisfaction with the way their genital area looked, comfort level when allowing a sexual partner to view their genital area, belief that their genitals smell perfectly fine without being self-conscious about them, and overall score ( P  = .022, .031, .003, .001, and .004, respectively) ( P  < .05).The hybrid H-HA/L-HA sessions resulted in significantly greater positive perceptions and feelings, leisure activities, interpersonal interactions, and general assessments ( P  = .021, .021, and .020, respectively) ( P  < .05)., Clinical Implications: Female individuals with SD experience sexual improvements after hybrid H-HA/L-HA injection., Strengths and Limitations: This is the first study focusing on female individuals with SD. We recommend conducting the study on a larger population and including their partners., Conclusion: Hybrid H-HA/L-HA injection for rejuvenating the clitoral injection appears to be a reliable and safe method for enhancing female genital self-image, sexuality, and quality of life., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Sexual Medicine.)

It is thought to be risk-free, environmentally benign, and safe for biological processes to produce zinc oxide nanoparticles from renewable resources. This study examined Cassia javanica's ability to create ZnONPs. The generated ZnONPs were analyzed using a variety of techniques, such as TEM, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and XRD analysis. The antibacterial potential of ZnONPs has been investigated using both Agar well diffusion and microtitreplate (MTP) methods. One method used to evaluate ZnONPs' capacity to scavenge free radicals at different concentrations was the DPPH method. The permanent zinc oxide (ZnO) shape and the naturally occurring crystal structure of ZnONPs were validated by the XRD data. ZnONPs showed antibacterial activity with MICs of 31.7 μg/mL toward Bacillus subtilis, 62.5 μg/mL for Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli while Clostridium sporogenes and Bacillus pumilus was 125μg/mL. Furthermore, ZnONPs demonstrated a range of antibiofilm activities toward Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). ZnONPs showed an intriguing antioxidant capacity, achieving IC50 of 109.3 μg/ml μg/mL. Additionally, ZnONPs demonstrated low toxic effect on Vero cell with IC50 154.01 μg/mL as well as possible anticancer action when applied to the carcinoma cell lines HepG2 with IC50 of 47.48 μg/mL. Furthermore, ZnONPs at 62.5 μg/mL had a promising antiviral impact against HSV1 and COX B4, with antiviral activities of 75.4% and 65.8%, respectively., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Almuhayawi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Depigmentation of specific areas of the skin is a persistent and long-lasting dermatologic disorder known as vitiligo, stemming from the impairment and disruption of melanocytes both structurally and functionally, leading to the loss of pigmentation in those regions., Aim: Our objective was to identify the pivotal genes and upstream regulators, transcription factors (TFs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of vitiligo., Methods: An integrated analysis was conducted using microarray datasets on vitiligo obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The functional annotation and potential pathways of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were additionally investigated through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Various bioinformatics approaches were utilized, making use of publicly accessible databases to identify appropriate TFs and miRNAs., Results: Our investigation identified TYR, MLANA, TYRP1, PMEL, OCA2, SLC45A2, GPR143, DCT, TRPM1, and EDNRB as the most appropriate genes associated with vitiligo. Our suggestion is that the identified biological processes include developmental pigmentation (GO:0048066) and pigment metabolic processes (GO:0042440) as the most suitable biological processes. In contrast, the KEGG pathways that showed significance in our analysis are Tyrosine metabolism (Path: hsa00350) and Melanogenesis (Path: hsa04916). We hypothesized the involvement of ten TFs and 73 miRNAs in the regulation of genes related to vitiligo., Conclusion: TYR, MLANA, TYRP1, PMEL, OCA2, SLC45A2, GPR143, DCT, TRPM1, and EDNRB are the top ten genes that are pivotal in the progression and exhibition of vitiligo. The biological, cellular, molecular, and KEGG pathways of those genes has an imperative role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. TFs and miRNAs that interact with this gene are listed, shedding light on the regulatory mechanisms governing the expression of these key genes in vitiligo., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 AbdElneam et al.)

Metasurface absorbers (MSAs) are of significant importance in a wide range of applications, such as in the field of stealth technology. Nevertheless, conventional designs demonstrate limited flexible characteristics and a lack of transparency, hence constraining their suitability for certain radar stealth applications. This study introduces a novel MSA operating in the broad microwave range, which exhibits both optical transparency and flexibility. The structure consists of a flexible substrate made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), along with a resistive film composed of indium tin oxide (ITO). The proposed structure exhibits the ability to effectively absorb over 90% of the energy carried by incident electromagnetic (EM) waves across the frequency range of 9.85-41.76 GHz within an angular range of 0° to 60°. In addition, to assess the efficacy of the absorption performance, an examination of the radar cross-section (RCS) characteristics is conducted. The results indicate a reduction of over 10 dB across the aforementioned broad frequency spectrum, regardless of the central angle.

Objectives: Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group because they may be particularly susceptible to COVID-19. Our study tried to relate fetomaternal outcomes and trimester-specific infection. Methods: A prospective study on 224 pregnant women with confirmed antenatal infections at a tertiary hospital. Data from the antenatal clinic records, admission files, labor ward and neonatal notes, lab results, respiratory consultations, and ICU admission were analyzed using Jamovi 2.2.5, with p < 0.05 indicating significance. Results: A total of 224 patients were included-10, 32, and 182 patients were diagnosed in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Neonatal NICU admissions were significantly higher among those with infections in the third trimester compared to those in the first trimester ( p = 0.008). Significant differences in Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min emerged between the second and third trimesters ( p = 0.014 and p = 0.037, respectively). However, no significant differences were observed in Apgar scores between the first and second trimesters ( p = 0.341, p = 0.108) or the first and third trimesters ( p = 0.545, p = 0.755). Complications of pregnancy, including maternal mortality and various conditions (respiratory, obstetrical, sepsis, DIC), neonatal outcomes, ICU admission, and cesarean section indications, showed no significant differences related to the trimester of infection ( p -values: 0.989, 0.892). Study limitations include sample size impacting generalization, higher COVID-19 cases in the third trimester than other trimesters, and potential historical data availability and accuracy issues. Conclusions: In the third trimester, COVID-19 caused more neonatal ICU admissions than the first trimester, with lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min compared to the second trimester, indicating an increasing susceptibility and vulnerability to COVID-19 infection with an increasing pregnancy age. Other fetal and maternal outcomes showed no significant differences in infection timing.

In order to implement the fifth generation (5G) communication system for a large number of users, the governments of many countries nominated the low 5G frequency band between 3.3 and 4.3 GHz. This paper proposes a wideband RFPA by designing the input matching network (MN) and output MN of the device using the simplified real frequency technique (SRFT) and the harmonic tuning network. The load-pull and source-pull is applied at multiple points for 100 MHz intervals over the bandwidth to obtain the optimum impedances at the output and input of the 10W Gallium Nitride (GaN) Cree CGH40010F device. To verify the design, the RFPA is simulated, and the performance is measured between 3.3 and 4.3 GHz. According to experimental findings, the measured drain efficiency (DE) throughout the whole bandwidth ranged from 57.5 to 67.5% at the output power of 40 dBm. Moreover, at the 1 dB compression point between 39.2 and 42.2 dBm output power, the drain efficiency (DE) achieves a high value of 81.2% with an output power of 42.2 dBm at a frequency of 3.3 GHz. The RFPA can obtain a maximum gain of 12.4 dB at 3.5 GHz. The linearity of the RFPA with a two-tone signal is measured and the value is less than -22 dBc all over the band., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Sadeque et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

BACKGROUND Chat Generative Pre-Trained (ChatGPT) Transformer was created by OpenAI and has a powerful tool used in research. This study aimed to assess the awareness and perceptions of ChatGPT among researchers and academicians at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS A self-administered cross-sectional study was conducted among academicians and researchers from November 2023 to March 2024 using electronic questionnaires prepared in Google Forms. The data were collected using the Tawasul platform, which sent the electronic questionnaires to the targeted population. To determine the association between variables, the chi-square or Fisher exact test was applied at a significance level of <0.05. To find predictors of use of ChatGPT, multiple linear regression analysis was applied. RESULTS A response rate of 66.5% was obtained. Among those, 60.2% (n=121) had expertise in computer skills and 63.7% were familiar with ChatGPT. The respondents' gender, age, and specialization had a significant association with familiarity with ChatGPT (p<0.001). The results of the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that there was a significant association between the use of ChatGPT, age (B=0.048; SE=0.022; t=2.207; p=.028; CI=0.005-0.092) gender (B=0.330; SE=0.067; t=4.906; p=.001; CI=197-.462) and nationality, (B=0.194; SE=0.065; t=2.982; p=.003, CI=.066-.322). CONCLUSIONS The growing use of ChatGPT in scholarly research offers a chance to promote the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Future studies ought to concentrate on assessing ChatGPT's clinical results and comparing its effectiveness to those of other ChatGPT and other AI tools.

Saw palmetto (SAW), the herbal drug used to treat prostatic hyperplasia, exerts its antiproliferative effects by blocking steroid 5 alpha-reductase (SRD5A1) activity, that has also been involved in gingival hyperplasia (GH) pathogenesis. Concurrently, folic acid (FA) could reduce GH prevalence via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, this study tended to assess the potential therapeutic efficacy of SAW, alone and along with FA, against amlodipine-induced gingival inflammation and overgrowth in rats. Rats were grouped into (CONT, AIGH, SAW, SAW-treated, FA-treated, and SAW + FA-treated). SAW and FA were administered once daily for 4 weeks. Gingival SRD5A1, CTGF, GSK-3β, and NLRP3 expressions, as well as T, DHT, MDA, TAC, ET-1, and MMP2 levels were determined. In addition, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-β1, and α-SMA were documented. Results declared that SAW and FA administration markedly ameliorated amlodipine-associated GH and may be presenting a novel therapeutic avenue in the future., 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 © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The chin is an essential element of the facial unit and influences how people perceive facial aesthetic appeal. Hyaluronic acid (HA) gel injections are tried-and-true therapies for regenerative therapies with a record of success in efficacy and safety., Aims: To determine the best type of concentration of HA and way of injection for deep and superficial planes of chin., Materials and Methods: VYC-20L and VYC-25L (Juvederm Voluma XC® Juvéderm Volux®; Allergan plc) are 20- and 25-mg/mL HA gels with lidocaine, respectively, were injected with cannulas and needles on the bone, respectively., Results: Chin reinforced respecting the measures with good contouring. No serious complications. Patient was satisfied with results., Discussion: We advise using VYC 20L superficially above the muscle or with a cannula for injection, and we recommend using VYC 25L in the supraperiosteal plane., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting the pilosebaceous unit, commonly presenting as comedones, papules, pustules, or nodules on the face, upper limbs, torso, and back, with comedones formation being the primary pathology leading to disfiguring inflammation, hyperpigmentation, scarring, and psychological impact., Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the significance of two genetic variants in the promoter region of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene and their association with insulin resistance (IR) in acne patients. To understand how these variants contribute to AV and its associated IR., Subjects and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study with a case-control design and research evaluation was carried out on 87 AV patients and 73 healthy volunteers. The medical histories of both groups were obtained, as well as the severity and duration of inflammation among acne sufferers, as well as demographic data. Biochemical analysis was performed on both sets of participants, including fasting blood glucose levels, insulin levels while fasting, IR, and serum TNF-α. PCR-RFLP analysis identified -863 G > A (rs1800630) and -308 G > A (rs1800629) variations, and real-time PCR analysis evaluated TNF-α gene expression in both patients and healthy people., Results: Acne patients exhibited significantly higher levels of IR, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, serum TNF-α, and TNF-α folding change, when compared to healthy controls. The co-dominant model for -863 G > A and -308 G > A variants exhibited significant variations between the two groups. Severe acne patients who had the A/A genotype for -308 variants exhibited higher levels of IR, serum TNF-α, and TNF-α folding change. Highly significant positive linear correlation between IR, serum TNF-α, and TNF-α folding change in severe AV., Conclusion: There is a correlation between AV, especially severe acne, and the -863 G > A and -308 G > A polymorphism, which influences TNF-α gene expression and serum TNF-α levels., (© 2024 The Author(s). Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that play a regulatory role in various biological processes by acting as intracellular mediators. They hold great potential as therapeutic agents for targeting human disease pathways; however, there is still much to be uncovered about their mechanism of gene regulation. Alopecia areata (AA) is a commonly occurring inflammatory condition characterized by the infiltration of T cells that specifically target the anagen-stage hair follicle. The limited understanding of its precise cellular mechanism may be the reason behind the scarcity of effective treatments for AA., Aim: The significance and function of hsa-miR-193a-5p as a genetic marker for AA and its potential influence on the advancement of the disease., Subjects and Methods: A case-control study comprised 77 individuals diagnosed with AA who were matched with 75 healthy controls. In order to measure the expression of miR-200c-3p in both groups, the real-time PCR technique was utilized. The prediction of suitable genes for hsa-miR-193a-5p, as well as the identification of pathways and gene-gene interactions, were carried out using bioinformatic tools., Results: The levels of hsa-miR-193a-5p expression were notably elevated in AA patients in comparison to healthy controls. Our prediction suggests that the involvement of hsa-miR-193a-5p in the development of AA is significant due to its influence on the inositol phosphorylation pathway and the Phosphatidylinositol signaling system, achieved through its direct impact on the IPPK gene., Conclusion: For the first time, our study demonstrates the significant over-expression of a new miRNA, hsa-miR-193a-5p, in the blood of AA patients compared to controls, and highlights its impact on the IPPK gene and the inositol phosphorylation and Phosphatidylinositol signaling pathways, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for hsa-miR-193a-5p in AA., (© 2024 The Author(s). Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third cancer among the known causes of cancer that impact people. Although CRC drug options are imperfect, primary detection of CRC can play a key role in treating the disease and reducing mortality. Cancer tissues show many molecular markers that can be used as a new way to advance therapeutic methods. Nanotechnology includes a wide range of nanomaterials with high diagnostic and therapeutic power. Several nanomaterials and nanoformulations can be used to treat cancer, especially CRC. In this review, we discuss recent insights into nanotechnology in colorectal cancer., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

BACKGROUND The use of herbal medicines (HMs) is increasing, which raises concerns of herb-drug interactions (HDIs). This questionnaire-based study aimed to evaluate knowledge of HMs and HDIs in 147 undergraduate nursing students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between March 2022 to June 2022. MATERIAL AND METHODS An online cross-sectional study was conducted among 147 nursing undergraduates at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from March 2022 to June 2022, using a self-administered 24-item questionnaire. The convenience sampling method was used to evaluate the knowledge of HMs and interactions of anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and antiplatelet drugs with herbs like ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort, garlic, ginger, green tea, and chamomile tea. RESULTS The findings of this study reported that 74.8% of the undergraduates used HMs. With regard to HDIs, 20.4% of nursing undergraduates identified the interaction between gingko biloba and drugs like ibuprofen and warfarin, while 13.6% identified interactions between drugs like warfarin with green tea, ginger, and chamomile tea. Regarding general knowledge, 59% of the students (n=84) reported good knowledge of HMs. Previous history of HM use significantly affected the mean HM knowledge score (t=4.635; P=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS To summarize, Saudi nursing students showed a lack of understanding and knowledge of HDIs. Ability to identify specific HDIs, like ginkgo biloba interactions with warfarin and ibuprofen, and warfarin interactions with green tea and ginger, was limited. There is a need to introduce HM and HDI courses in the academic curriculum.

The concept, performance, and analyses of distinctive, miniaturized metamaterial (MTM) unit cell addressing the forthcoming Sub 6 GHz 5G applications are presented in this paper. Two circular split-ring resonators (CSRR) with two parallel rectangular copper elements in front of the design and a slotted square element in the background make up the suggested metamaterial. It has a line segment with tunable features that is positioned in the center of the little ring copper structure. The suggested design offers a significant operating frequency band of 220 MHz together with a resonance of transmission coefficient S21 at 3.5 GHz. Furthermore, in two (z & x) principal axes of wave propagation, wide-range achievement, single/double-negative (S/DNG) refractive index, negative permittivity, and near-zero permeability properties were demonstrated. Through varying central slotted-strip line length, resonance frequencies can be selectively altered. Moreover, the metamaterial has overall dimensions of 9 × 9 mm 2 and is composed on a Rogers 5880 RT substrate. In order to create the suggested MTM's equivalent circuit, which shows similar coefficient of transmission (S21), a proposed design's numerical simulation is carried out in the CST micro-wave studio. This simulation is after that put to comparison with manufacturing of the design., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Scientists know very little about the mechanisms underlying fish skin mucus, despite the fact that it is a component of the immune system. Fish skin mucus is an important component of defence against invasive infections. Recently, Fish skin and its mucus are gaining interest among immunologists. Characterization was done on the obtained silver nanoparticles Ag combined with Clarias gariepinus catfish epidermal mucus proteins (EMP-Ag-NPs) through UV-vis, FTIR, XRD, TEM, and SEM. Ag-NPs ranged in size from 4 to 20 nm, spherical in form and the angles were 38.10°, 44.20°, 64.40°, and 77.20°, Where wavelength change after formation of EMP-Ag-NPs as indicate of dark brown, the broad band recorded at wavelength at 391 nm. Additionally, the antimicrobial, antibiofilm and anticancer activities of EMP-Ag-NPs was assessed. The present results demonstrate high activity against unicellular fungi C. albicans, followed by E. faecalis. Antibiofilm results showed strong activity against both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa pathogens in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting planktonic cell growth. Also, cytotoxicity effect was investigated against normal cells (Vero), breast cancer cells (Mcf7) and hepatic carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines at concentrations (200-6.25 µg/mL) and current results showed highly anticancer effect of Ag-NPs at concentrations 100, 5 and 25 µg/mL exhibited rounding, shrinkage, deformation and granulation of Mcf7 and HepG2 with IC50 19.34 and 31.16 µg/mL respectively while Vero cells appeared rounded at concentration 50 µg/mL and normal shape at concentration 25, 12.5 and 6.25 µg/ml with IC50 35.85 µg/mL. This study evidence the potential efficacy of biologically generated Ag-NPs as a substitute medicinal agent against harmful microorganisms. Furthermore, it highlights their inhibitory effect on cancer cell lines., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Toluene and other monoaromatic compounds are released into the environment particularly saline habitats due to the inappropriate disposal methods of petroleum products. Studying the bio-removal strategy is required to clean up these hazardous hydrocarbons that threaten all ecosystem life using halophilic bacteria with higher biodegradation efficiency of monoaromatic compounds as a sole carbon and energy source. Therefore, sixteen pure halophilic bacterial isolates were obtained from saline soil of Wadi An Natrun, Egypt, which have the ability to degrade toluene and consume it as the only source of carbon and energy. Amongst these isolates, isolate M7 exhibited the best growth with considerable properties. This isolate was selected as the most potent strain and identified based on phenotypic and genotypic characterizations. The strain M7 was belonging to Exiguobacterium genus and founded to be closely matched to the Exiguobacterium mexicanum with a similarity of 99%. Using toluene as sole carbon source, strain M7 showed good growth at a wide range temperature degree (20-40ºC), pH (5-9), and salt concentrations (2.5-10%, w/v ) with optimal growth conditions at 35ºC, pH 8, and 5%, respectively. The biodegradation ratio of toluene was estimated at above optimal conditions and analyzed using Purge-Trap GC-MS. The results showed that strain M7 has the potentiality to degraded 88.32% of toluene within greatly short time (48 h). The current study findings support the potential ability to use strain M7 as a biotechnological tool in many applications such as effluent treatment and toluene waste management.

Background and Objectives: Microbial cells capability to tolerate the effect of various antimicrobial classes represent a major worldwide health concern. The flexible and multi-components nanocomposites have enhanced physicochemical characters with several improved properties. Thus, different biological activities of biosynthesized starch/silver-selenium nanocomposite (St/Ag-Se NC) were assessed., Methodology: The St/Ag-Se NC was biosynthesized using Cladosporium cladosporioides CBS 174.62 (C. cladosporioides) strain. The shape and average particle size were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), respectively. On the other hand, the St/Ag-Se NC effect on two cancer cell lines and red blood cells (RBCs) was evaluated and its hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) scavenging effect was assessed. Moreover, its effects on various microbial species in both planktonic and biofilm growth forms were examined., Results: The St/Ag-Se NC was successfully biosynthesized with oval and spherical shape and a mean particle diameter of 67.87 nm as confirmed by the HR-TEM analysis. St/Ag-Se NC showed promising anticancer activity toward human colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines where IC 50 were 21.37 and 19.98 µg/ml, respectively. Similarly, little effect on RBCs was observed with low nanocomposite concentration. As well, the highest nanocomposite H 2 O 2 scavenging activity (42.84%) was recorded at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. Additionally, Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) ATCC 12,228 and Candida albicans (C. albicans) ATCC 10,231 were the highly affected bacterial and fungal strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 18.75 and 50 µg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the noticeable effect of St/Ag-Se NC on microbial biofilm was concentration dependent. A high biofilm suppression percentage, 87.5% and 68.05%, were recorded with S. epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) when exposed to 1 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml, respectively., Conclusion: The biosynthesized St/Ag-Se NC showed excellent antioxidant activity, haemocompatibility, and anti-proliferative effect at low concentrations. Also, it exhibited promising antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This investigation explored relationships between biological maturation, physical and academic performance in young male soccer players. Thirty-eight players (age: 9.79 ± 1.21 years; body mass index (BMI): 20.4 ± 2.39 kg/m2; body fat: 16.8 ± 2.21%) participated. Measures of anthropometry used for body mass, body fat percentage (%BF), and BMI as well. Postural control, 15 m sprint, squat jumps and counter-movement jumps (SJ, CMJ), and T-half test for change-of-direction (CoD) were parameters of physical performance. The grade point average (GPA) of mathematics determined academic attainment. Moore's equations were used to estimate their maturity status (PHV). Biological maturation was highly correlated with most (not 15 m sprint) physical and academic performance parameters, especially CMJ (r = -0.812) and mathematics (r = -0.781). Academic performance showed the largest relations to the jumping performance (CMJ: r = 0.771; SJ: r = 0.723). In contrast, anthropometric and fatness parameters were not relevantly (r ≥ 0.5) correlated with any other parameters. The largest correlations were calculated for sitting height vs. SJ (r = -0.408), sitting height vs. postural control (r = -0.355), leg length vs. postural control (r = -0.339). As a result, it is essential to take biological maturation inconsideration while assessing the physical and academic achievement of young soccer players. In consequence, soccer coaches and physical education (PE) teachers should be cognizant of the impact of biological maturity on physical and academic performance to assist fair and equal opportunities for achievement in young players., Competing Interests: NO authors have competing interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Hermassi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition characterized by sudden and unpredictable hair loss, with a lifetime incidence of 2%. AA can be divided into three categories: patchy alopecia, alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis. It can affect a person's psychological health and overall quality of life. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the liver may indicate an inflammatory response in autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D, essential for immune system control and skin health, may be related to AA. Hair follicles contain vitamin D receptors, which control immunological responses in the skin. However, no study has found a relationship between CRP and vitamin D in AA patients in our region., Subjects and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study with a case-control design research investigation of 82 AA patients and 81 healthy controls was carried out. Both groups' medical histories were taken. Biochemical analysis was done for both groups as well as the serum vitamin D levels, and CRP. Genetic analysis for CDX2 rs11568820 variant detected by PCR (T-ARMS-PCR) method and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene expression measured by real-time PCR analysis for both patients and healthy subjects., Results: CRP levels are higher in AA patients, AA patients with G/G genotypes exhibited higher concentrations of CRP when compared to those with A/A and A/G genotypes while patients with A/A genotypes have higher levels of Serum vitamin D as compared to the A/G and G/G genotypes. G allele was more abundant in AA patients. VDR gene expression was lower in AA compared to control and lower in ophiasis compared to localized and multiple patchy AA. An important inverse linear correlation was observed between vitamin D and CRP levels in ophiasis AA., Conclusion: CRP concentrations were found to be elevated in AA patients. The considerable accuracy of CRP in the diagnosis of AA is substantiated by a statistically significant al. A noteworthy inverse linear association was observed between serum vitamin D and CRP concentrations in ophiasis AA., (© 2024 The Authors. Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression in diverse biological processes. They hold promise as therapeutic candidates for targeting human disease pathways, although our understanding of their gene regulatory mechanism remains incomplete. Alopecia areata (AA) is a prevalent inflammatory ailment distinguished by the infiltration of T cells targeting the anagen-stage hair follicles. The scarcity of effective remedies for AA may stem from limited understanding regarding its precise cellular mechanism., Aim: To investigate and examine the importance and role of the miR-200c-3p as a genetic indicator for AA, and its possible impact on disease progression., Subjects and Methods: Case-control study included 65 patients with AA and 65 matched healthy controls. A real-time PCR technique was used to measure the expression of miR-200c-3p for both groups. Bioinformatic tools were used for prediction with genes and gene-gene interaction, and protein-protein interaction., Results: The expression levels of miR-200c-3p were significantly higher in AA patients than in healthy controls. We predicted that miR-200c-3p plays a markable role in the development of AA by its effect on the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance pathway., Conclusion: We were able to identify the influence of miR-200c-3p on both PLCG1 and RPS6KP1 genes which in turn regulate the EGFR tyrosine kinases resistance pathway that displayed the most substantial increase in activity. Our outcomes shed light on the era of the potential theranostic role of this innovative miRNA in AA., (© 2024 The Authors. Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Microwave medical imaging (MMI) is experiencing a surge in research interest, with antenna performance emerging as a key area for improvement. This work addresses this need by enhancing the directivity of a compact UWB antenna using a Yagi-Uda-inspired reflector antenna. The proposed reflector-loaded antenna (RLA) exhibited significant gain and directivity improvements compared to a non-directional reference antenna. When analyzed for MMI applications, the RLA showed a maximum increase of 4 dBi in the realized gain and of 14.26 dB in the transmitted field strength within a human breast model. Moreover, it preserved the shape of time-domain input signals with a high correlation factor of 94.86%. To further validate our approach, another non-directional antenna with proven head imaging capabilities was modified with a reflector, achieving similar directivity enhancements. The combined results demonstrate the feasibility of RLAs for improved performance in MMI systems.

The efficacy of 40 bacterial isolates obtained from hot spring water samples to produce cellulase enzymes was investigated. As a result, the strain Bacillus subtilis F3, which was identified using traditional and molecular methods, was selected as the most potent for cellulase production. Optimization was carried out using one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) and BOX-Behnken Design to detect the best conditions for the highest cellulase activity. This was accomplished after an incubation period of 24 h at 45°C and pH 8, with an inoculum size of 1% (v/v), 5 g/l of peptone as nitrogen source, and 7.5 g/l of CMC. Moreover, the best concentration of ammonium sulfate for cellulase enzyme precipitation was 60% followed by purification using a dialysis bag and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography to collect the purified enzyme. The purified cellulase enzyme was characterized by 5.39-fold enrichment, with a specific activity of 54.20 U/mg and a molecular weight of 439 kDa. There were 15 amino acids involved in the purified cellulase, with high concentrations of 160 and 100 mg/l for glycine and proline respectively. The highest stability and activity of the purified cellulase was attained at pH 7 and 50°C in the presence of 150 ppm of CaCl 2 , NaCl, and ZnO metal ions. Finally, the biopolishing activity of the cellulase enzyme, as indicated by weight loss percentages of the cotton fabric, was dependent on concentration and treatment time. Overall, the thermotolerant B. subtilis F3 strain has the potential to provide highly stable and highly active cellulase enzyme for use in biopolishing of cotton fabrics.

A 16-port massive Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (mMIMO) antenna system featuring a high gain and efficiency is proposed for millimeter-wave applications. The antenna system consists of 64 elements with a total size of 17 λo × 2.5λo, concerning the lowest frequency. Each 2 × 2 (radiating patch) subarray is designed to operate within the 25.5-29 GHz frequency range. The antenna's performance in terms of isolation, gain, and efficiency has been significantly improved by utilizing the proposed unique double and epsilon negative (DNG/ENG) metamaterials. The array elements are positioned on top of a Rogers RT5880 substrate, with ENG metamaterial unit cells interposed in between to mitigate coupling effects. Additionally, the DNG metamaterial reflector is positioned at the rear of the antenna to boost the gain. As a result, the metamaterial-based mMIMO antenna offers lower measured isolation reaching 25 dB, a maximum gain of 20 dBi and an efficiency of up to 99%. To further analyze the performance of the MIMO antenna, the diversity gain and enveloped correlation coefficient are discussed in relation to the MIMO parameters., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Marine invertebrates represent a valuable reservoir of pharmaceutical bioactive compounds with potential relevance to various medical applications. These compounds exhibit notable advantages when compared to their terrestrial counterparts, in terms of their potency, activity, and mechanism of action. Within this context, the present work aimed to extract, chemically characterize, and investigate the bioactivity of the gonadal extract of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (P. lividus) collected along the Mediterranean coast of Alexandria, Egypt. Fractions of the gonadal extract were characterized by Spectrophotometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their bioactivities were investigated in vitro. The analysis supported the extract richness of carotenoids and bioactive compounds. The extract showed promising anticancer activity against three different breast cancer cell lines with different levels of aggressiveness and causative factors, namely MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-453, and HCC-1954. Gene expression analysis using RT-qPCR showed that P. lividus extract inhibited the expression of crucial factors involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. In addition, the extract significantly inhibited the lipo-polysaccharides (LPS) induced inflammation in the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line and exerted anti-bacterial activity against the Gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Collectively, these results demonstrated the chemical richness and the wide-scale applicability of P. lividus gonadal extract as an anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory natural extract., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Nagy et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic, multifactorial inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit brought on by hormonal imbalance, excessive sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, inflammation and Cutibacterium acne. Acne patients are characterized by alteration of the lipid profile. Apolipoprotein B gene (ApoB) plays an essential role in lipoprotein biosynthesis and multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ApoB are associated with dyslipidemia., Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the alteration of lipid profiles in AV, determine the genetic association with lipid profile alteration by studying the ApoB gene polymorphisms, and to identify the exact haplotypes associated with acne and lipid profile alteration., Subjects and Methods: In a case-control study consisting of 63 non-obese acne patients and 43 healthy controls, all participants underwent biochemical, anthropological assessments, and genetic analysis for ApoB polymorphisms., Result: Our results indicate that serum ApoB and the lipid profile were higher in acne patients compared with healthy subject. The most common haplotypes in acne patients were rs562338 A/rs17240441 I/c.12669 A/rs1042034 G, whereas the most common haplotypes in healthy subjects were rs562338 G/rs17240441 D/c.12669 A/rs1042034 G. Patients with mild acne had higher serum ApoB levels p = 0.005. Also, the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level was higher in mild acne compared with other acne groups, with a highly significant variation of p ≤ 0.001., Conclusion: We found a significant variation between the acne group and healthy controls in serum ApoB, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-C. The most common haplotypes in acne patients are rs562338 A/, rs17240441 I/, c.12669 A/ and rs1042034 G, and there is a linkage disequilibrium between the four selected SNPs., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

New and creative methodologies for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), which are exploited in a wide range of consumer items, are of significant interest. Hence, this research emphasizes the biological approach of Ag-NPs through Egyptian henna leaves (Lawsonia inermis Linn.) extracts and analysis of the prepared Ag-NPs. Plant extract components were identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-mass). The analyses of prepared Ag-NPs were carried out through UV-visible (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. UV-Vis reveals that Ag-NPs have a maximum peak at 460 nm in visible light. Structural characterization recorded peaks that corresponded to Bragg's diffractions for silver nano-crystal, with average crystallite sizes varying from 28 to 60 nm. Antibacterial activities of Ag-NPs were examined, and it is observed that all microorganisms are very sensitive to biologically synthesized Ag-NPs., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder described by compromised insulin synthesis or resistance to insulin inside the human body. Diabetes is a persistent metabolic condition defined by elevated amounts of glucose in the bloodstream, resulting in a range of potential consequences. The main purpose of this study was to find out how biosynthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) affect the blood sugar levels of diabetic albino rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ). In the current study, CuONPs were successfully biosynthesized using Saccharomyes cervisiae using an eco-friendly method. Characterization results revealed that biosynthesized CuONPs appeared at 376 nm with a spherical shape with sizes ranging from 4 to 47.8 nm. Furthermore, results illustrated that administration of 0.5 and 5 mg/kg CuONP in diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in blood glucose levels accompanied by elevated insulin levels when compared to the diabetic control group; however, administration of 0.5 mg/kg is the best choice for diabetic management. Furthermore, it was found that the group treated with CuONPs exhibited a noteworthy elevation in the HDL-C level, along with a depletion in triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and VLDL-cholesterol levels compared to the diabetic control group. This study found that administration of CuONPs reduced hyperglycemia and improved pancreatic function as well as dyslipidemia in diabetic rats exposed to STZ, suggesting their potential as a promising therapeutic agent for diabetes treatment., (© 2023 the author(s), published by De Gruyter.)

Background: The genus Syzygium (Myrtaceae) comprises several essential oil-rich species that are utilized traditionally for treating tooth infections and toothache. The current study aimed to extract essential oils (EOs) from the leaves of Syzygium samarangense and Syzygium malaccense cultivated in Egypt for the first time and screen their antimicrobial potential against oral-related pathogens., Methods: The intended EOs were extracted using hydrodistillation (HD) by boiling fresh leaves with distilled water; supercritical fluid (SF) by extracting the dried leaves using supercritical CO 2 at 40 °C and 150 bar; and the headspace (HS) in which the fresh leaves were heated in a glass vial and the vaporized aroma were analyzed. The volatile constituents were analyzed using GC/MS and identified by comparing the experimental Kovats' retention indices with the literature. The antimicrobial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans using agar diffusion, microwell dilution, and biofilm formation assays. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was determined by applying one-way ANOVA and Duncan's post hoc test., Results: The yield of the extracted EOs differs between the applied methods, and the SF approach harvested the maximum (0.52-0.46%). The GC-MS analysis of SF EOs revealed a discrepancy between the two species. Since S. malaccense showed an abundance of hydrocarbons represented mainly by squalene (60.60%), S. samarangense was deemed to have oxygenated sesquiterpenes exemplified in globulol (52.09%). On the other side, the HD and HS EOs were sequentially comparable, while differed in the percentage of their majors. γ-terpinene (33.06%) pioneered the HS-derived aroma of S. malaccense, while S. samarangense was abundant with α-pinene (30.18%). Concurrently, the HD EOs of S. malaccense and S. samarangense were commonly denoted by caryophyllene oxide (8.19%-18.48%), p-cymene (16.02%- 19.50%), and γ-terpinene (12.20%-17.84). Ultimately, both species EOs exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential, although the HD EO was more potent than the SF EO. The HD EOs of both species potently inhibited the growth of E. coli (MIC 3.75 µL/mL) and suppressed C. albicans biofilm formation by 83.43 and 87.27%, respectively. The SF-EOs efficiently suppressed the biofilm formation of Gram-positive bacteria by 76.45%-82.95%., Conclusion: EOs extracted from both species by different methods possessed a unique blend of volatile components with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. They were promoted as bioactive hits for controlling oral infections, however further investigations concerning their safety in clinical settings are needed., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Recently, agricultural management innovation has incorporated engineered nanoparticles. The current investigation was carried out to produce magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) for the first time applying S. cerevisiae extract. FTIR, XRD, HRTEM, and zeta potential analysis were used to characterize the MgONPs. The FTIR data show that the bioactive substances reduce and cap the synthesized MgONPs. The crystalline metallic MgONPs had four significant peaks in the XRD pattern. The size and form of MgONPs were validated by TEM, which exhibited spherical structures with an average size of 27 nm. The effect of various dosages of MgONPs administered to the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) plant on all in vitro parameters was shown to be significant in the study. The concentration 200 ppm was the most significant treatment which increased shoot length, shoot dry-weight and root dry-weight by 27.35%, 45.09%, and 31.91% when compared with the untreated cowpea plants. MgONPs significantly increased photosynthetic pigments, with 150 ppm treatment significantly increasing soluble proteins and carbohydrates. MgONPs effectively treated cowpea C. maculatus, with dose and time-dependent insecticidal activity. MgONPs death rates varied by 82.66% and 100% on fifth day. Biochemical and histopathological studies of rats were investigated. Rats treated with MgONPs showed higher GOT, GPT, Urea levels, but lower creatinine, indicating significant differences. MgONPs-treated rats' liver showed mild to moderate histopathologic changes, including portal blood vessel congestion, lymphocytic cholangitis, and degenerative changes. MgONPs has the potential to improve cowpea development outcomes and suppress grain insects (C. maculatus)., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

In order to load metformin in a nano formula and evaluate the produced nano form towards cancer cells, metformin was loaded on natural carrier coconut oil. The formed metformin-loaded coconut oil nanoemulsion was characterized by Zeta potential, particle size, drug content, drug release, and drug stability. The formed nanoemulsion was evaluated towards MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT-116 cell lines. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis mechanism were studied. The nanoemulsion was created using deionized water, 1.5% Span 20, 1.5% Tween 80, 1.5% coconut oil, and 0.5% Metformin in an ultrasonicator to produce a homogenous solution. The anticancer activities of the metformin-loaded coconut nanoemulsion were highly improved compared to non-formulated metformin with IC50s of 8.3 ± 0.1 µg/ml, 12 ± 1.5 µg/ml, 2.685 ± 0.3 µg/ml for MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT-116 cell lines, respectively. There was a 76.5 ± 2.3 and 78.3 ± 3.2% increase in the number of apoptotic cells of MCF-7 and HepG2 cells after nanoemulsion treatment. This formula may be considered a new anticancer medication.

Background: The contribution of insulin to acne is that it stimulates the synthesis of androgenic hormones, which are important in the development of excess sebum, hyperkeratinization, and sebaceous gland cell growth., Objective: To ascertain whether the lipid profile abnomalies seen in acne vulgaris are genetically induced, we also seek to establish a link between insulin resistance and lipid profiles., Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study with case-control design research investigation of 72 individuals with acne vulgaris and 72 healthy volunteers was carried out. Both groups' medical histories were taken, as were the severity and duration of the disease among acne sufferers, as well as demographic data. Anthropometry tests were performed on both groups, including their weights, height, and circumference of waist, as well as the profile of lipids, blood glucose levels after a fast, insulin levels during fasting, resistance to insulin, and Apo B-48 folding change., Results: Severe acne vulgaris patients showed significantly increased TG, TC, LDL-C, blood glucose levels after a fast, fasting insulin, and resistance to insulin levels. P = 0.005 showed that Apo B-48 expression increased in patients compared to healthy people. Apo B-48 folding change and insulin resistance were found to have a substantial positive simple linear association. Acne vulgaris, whether mild, moderate, or severe, has a significant positive linear connection with insulin resistance., Conclusion: Acne patients had an abnormal in lipid profile. Acne individuals with severe form are more inclined to acquire resistance to insulin as well as higher glucose and insulin levels. Apo B-48 gene expression is elevated in acne individuals with severe form who have lipid abnormalities. This illustrating the importance of genetic variables in acne, insulin resistance, lipid profile modifications as well as Isotretinoin, a standard acne medication, can also cause lipid irregularities., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition where cells become resistant to insulin, causing impaired glucose uptake and increased blood glucose levels. Interleukin-12 (IL-12), a cytokine, regulates the immune system. High levels of IL-12 can lead to chronic inflammation, exacerbate resistance to insulin, and contribute to type 2 diabetes. Also, link IR to acne vulgaris (AV), as it reduces tissue sensitivity to insulin, causing increased insulin levels and sebum production, which can contribute to acne development., Aim: To explore the role of IL-12 gene expression on IR in AV patients and to study the role of IL-12 gene in the development of AV., Subjects and Methods: A case-control study was performed on 68 AV patients and 68 healthy controls. The biochemical analysis included fasting glucose, fasting insulin, (HOMA-IR), and serum IL-12 level. IL-12 gene expression was performed by quantitative real-time PCR for both two groups. In addition, folding change was calculated by using the standard 2-(∆∆Ct) method., Result: IL-12 level, IL-12 folding change, fasting insulin, and IR were all increased in acne patients. A highly significant linear correlation was found between IL-12 folding change and both IL-12 levels and IR. There is a substantial positive significant simple linear association between IL-12 level and IL-12 folding change, as well as IR and IL-12 folding change, in moderate and severe acne., Conclusion: IL-12 gene has an important role in IR and the development of acne in AV patients., (© 2023 The Authors. Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background and Aims: Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious autoimmune condition marked by dry, itchy,erythematous and scaly plaques. From modest, localized plaques to total body coverage, the severity of psoriasis varies. Plaque, guttate, inverted, pustular, and erythrodermic psoriasis are the five primary kinds. About 90% of cases are of plaque psoriasis, commonly known as psoriasis vulgaris. Study aims to determine the impact of an rs2228570 (FokI) variant and an rs11568820 (CDX2) variant on serum vitamin D levels (SVD) in patients with psoriasis, and the correlation between the two variants and disease severity., Methods: A case-control study consisting of 95 psoriasis vulgaris patients and 84 healthy controls. The clinical investigation, molecular genetics analysis, and biochemical analysis were done for both groups., Results: SVD levels were significantly decreased in psoriasis patients group. FokI genotypes analysis, we found no significant variance between groups. CDX2 G/G genotype is more prevalent in patients than controls. Moderate psoriasis vulgaris patients with CDX2 G/G genotypes have higher SVD levels than CDX2 G/A, and CDX2 A/A p = 0.003., Conclusion: The study found a difference in vitamin D levels between patients and healthy subjects, as well as a difference in vitamin D levels with different FoKI and CDX2 genotypes., (© 2023 The Authors. Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a transcription-associated protein involved in controlling the cell cycle and is often deregulated in stress conditions. CDK9 is being studied as a well-known druggable target for developing effective therapeutics against a wide range of cancer, cardiac dysfunction and inflammatory diseases. Owing to the significance of CDK9 in the etiology of hematological and solid malignancies, its structure, biological activity, regulation and its pharmacological inhibition are being explored for therapeutic management of cancer. We employed a structure-based virtual high-throughput screening of bioactive compounds from the IMPPAT database to discover potential bioactive inhibitors of CDK9. The preliminary results were obtained from the Lipinski criteria, ADMET parameters and sorting compounds without any PAINS patterns. Subsequently, binding affinity and selectivity analyses were used to find effective CDK9 hits. This screening resulted in the identification of two natural compounds, Glabrene and Guggulsterone with high affinity and specificity for the CDK9 binding site. Both compounds exhibit drug-like characteristics, as projected by ADMET analysis, physicochemical data and PASS evaluation. Both compounds preferentially bind to the ATP-binding pocket of CDK9 and interact with functionally important residues. Further, the dynamics and consistency of CDK9 interaction with Glabrene and Guggulsteron were evaluated through all-atom molecular dynamic (MD) simulations which suggested the stability of both complexes. The results might be deployed to introduce novel CDK9 inhibitors that may treat life-threatening diseases, including cancer.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a non-receptor protein kinase that plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including immune system function and cancer development. Therefore, inhibition of BTK has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for various complex diseases. In this study, we aimed to identify potential inhibitors of BTK by using a drug repurposing approach. To identify potential inhibitors, we performed a molecular docking-based virtual screening using a library of repurposed drugs from DrugBank. We then used various filtrations followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, principal component analysis (PCA), and Molecular Mechanics Poisson Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA) analysis to further evaluate the binding interactions and stability of the top-ranking compounds. Molecular docking-based virtual screening approach identified several repurposed drugs as potential BTK inhibitors, including Eltrombopag and Alectinib, which have already been approved for human use. All-atom MD simulations provided insights into the binding interactions and stability of the identified compounds, which will be helpful for further experimental validation and optimization. Overall, our study demonstrates that drug repurposing is a promising approach to identify potential inhibitors of BTK and highlights the importance of computational methods in drug discovery., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Measuring quality of life (QoL) plays an essential role in enabling meaningful cross-cultural comparisons. The Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ) is a valid tool for assessing both foot-specific and general health-related quality of life (HrQoL), making it suitable for evaluating Plantar Fasciitis (PF) patients., Methodology: The aim of this study is to translate the FHSQ into Arabic following methodological assessments of the translation procedure. The translation was done using forward and back translation. A pre-test questionnaire was distributed among 50 patients, resulting in the final FHSQ-Ar version, which then underwent various psychometric evaluations among 87 persons with PF, including internal consistency, dimensionality, reliability, interpretability, and construct validity against the 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)., Results: Internal consistency was adequate, ranging from 0.70 to 0.92. Reliability values ranged from 0.69 to 0.80, with a poor standard error of measurement (individual) but an acceptable standard error of measurement (group). Two domains exhibited floor effects, while one domain showed a ceiling effect. Regarding validity, three out of four hypothesized correlations with VAS scores were confirmed. Factor analysis revealed four dimensions, and confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated good fit (comparative fit index = 0.98, standardized root mean square = 0.06)., Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the FHSQ-Ar were satisfactory. Further validation for other diseases may be warranted., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

In this study, we have presented our findings on the deployment of a machine learning (ML) technique to enhance the performance of LTE applications employing quasi-Yagi-Uda antennas at 2100 MHz UMTS band. A number of techniques, including simulation, measurement, and a model of an RLC-equivalent circuit, are discussed in this article as ways to assess an antenna's suitability for the intended applications. The CST simulation gives the suggested antenna a reflection coefficient of -38.40 dB at 2.1 GHz and a bandwidth of 357 MHz (1.95 GHz-2.31 GHz) at a -10 dB level. With a dimension of 0.535 λ 0 × 0.714 λ 0 , it is not only compact but also features a maximum gain of 6.9 dB, a maximum directivity of 7.67, VSWR of 1.001 at center frequency and a maximum efficiency of 89.9%. The antenna is made of a low-cost substrate, FR4. The RLC circuit, sometimes referred to as the lumped element model, exhibits characteristics that are sufficiently similar to those of the proposed Yagi antenna. We use yet another supervised regression machine learning (ML) technique to create an exact forecast of the antenna's frequency and directivity. The performance of machine learning (ML) models can be evaluated using a variety of metrics, including the variance score, R square, mean square error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean squared logarithmic error (MSLE). Out of the seven ML models, the linear regression (LR) model has the lowest error and maximum accuracy when predicting directivity, whereas the ridge regression (RR) model performs the best when predicting frequency. The proposed antenna is a strong candidate for the intended UMTS LTE applications, as shown by the modeling results from CST and ADS, as well as the measured and forecasted outcomes from machine learning techniques., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the outcomes of Down syndrome patients who underwent cardiac surgery for congenital heart defects and to develop risk prediction models for in-hospital mortality, recurrent hospital admission, and the need for catheter intervention among a cohort of patients., Methods: This single-centre retrospective cohort study included consecutive Down syndrome patients who underwent cardiac surgery for congenital heart defects between January 2018 and December 2021. We reviewed the electronic medical records. Two hundred patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria with complete data reporting. The patients' perioperative data and outcomes were recorded., Results: Females constituted 56.5%. Most (78.5%) patients showed accepted recovery. The incidence of all-cause in-hospital mortality was 3.0%. The rates of the need for a second operation, heart failure management, and permanent pacemaker insertion were 3.0%, 2.0%, and 2.5%, respectively. Only 8 (4.0%) patients stayed in the hospital for a long duration after chylothorax or tracheostomy (if intubated more than 2 weeks). The model had an accuracy of 99% and included the intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) abnormalities (residual heart lesions) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 26.541, p = 0.033), the duration of mechanical ventilation following the operation (AOR: 1.152, p = 0.009), and the occurrence of postoperative heart block (AOR: 76.447, p = 0.005)., Conclusion: Surgical treatment of congenital heart defects in Down syndrome patients had good outcomes with accepted recovery (without intra-hospital or during follow-up mortality or morbidity) of 78.5% and a 3% incidence of in-hospital mortality. Though, the occurrence of chylothorax was considerably high, and resulted in a long hospital stay (more than 10 days). Repair of tetralogy of Fallot and coarctation of the aorta were associated with an increased likelihood of catheter intervention following the operation.

In this study, we present our findings from investigating the use of a machine learning (ML) technique to improve the performance of Quasi-Yagi-Uda antennas operating in the n78 band for 5G applications. This research study investigates several techniques, such as simulation, measurement, and an RLC equivalent circuit model, to evaluate the performance of an antenna. In this investigation, the CST modelling tools are used to develop a high-gain, low-return-loss Yagi-Uda antenna for the 5G communication system. When considering the antenna's operating frequency, its dimensions are [Formula: see text]. The antenna has an operating frequency of 3.5 GHz, a return loss of [Formula: see text] dB, a bandwidth of 520 MHz, a maximum gain of 6.57 dB, and an efficiency of almost 97%. The impedance analysis tools in CST Studio's simulation and circuit design tools in Agilent ADS software are used to derive the antenna's equivalent circuit (RLC). We use supervised regression ML method to create an accurate prediction of the frequency and gain of the antenna. Machine learning models can be evaluated using a variety of measures, including variance score, R square, mean square error, mean absolute error, root mean square error, and mean squared logarithmic error. Among the nine ML models, the prediction result of Linear Regression is superior to other ML models for resonant frequency prediction, and Gaussian Process Regression shows an extraordinary performance for gain prediction. R-square and var score represents the accuracy of the prediction, which is close to 99% for both frequency and gain prediction. Considering these factors, the antenna can be deemed an excellent choice for the n78 band of a 5G communication system., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Macrophage scavenger receptor 1 gene (MSR1), is responsible for producing macrophage scavenger receptors. MSR1 is primarily located on the surfaces of various macrophage types and is known to exert a range of effects on the human body. These effects include influencing innate and adaptive immunological reactions, as well as contributing to the development of conditions such as atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, liver and lung disease, and cancer. The unregulated assimilation of lipoproteins by MSR1 leads to the creation of macrophages rich in cholesterol that manifest as foam-like cells, ultimately contributing to dyslipidemia. This occurrence highlights the significance of MSR1 as a key player in the pathophysiology of dyslipidemia., Aim: In this study, we aimed to estimate variation in lipid profile in acne vulgaris (AV) patients. Also, we aimed to investigate the role of MSR1 in lipid profile variation., Subjects and Methods: A case-control study consisting of 100 patients with AV and 104 healthy controls. Lipid profiles were assessed using normalized enzymatic processes and genotype analyses were performed by a polymerase chain reaction and standard Sanger sequencing. Predictions of variant effects were performed using in silico tools., Result: Our results indicated that the levels of lipid profile were higher in patients with AV than in healthy patients. The two haplotypes that were most prevalent in the patients were TCAC (16.5%) and CAGG (15.47%), whereas the two haplotypes that were more prevalent in the controls were TAAC (16.43%) and CCAC (15.62%). IVS5.59 C > A and rs433235 A > G are in linkage disequilibrium. Additionally, rs433235 A > G has a significant linkage disequilibrium with rs3747531 C > G. In silico analysis, tools indicated that the rs433235 A > G variant was disease-causing., Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with TCAC and CAGG exhibited a higher prevalence compared to healthy patients with TAAC and CCAC. The linkage disequilibrium between rs433235 A > G and IVS5.59 C > A has been established. Furthermore, there appears to be significant linkage disequilibrium between rs3747531 C > G and rs433235 A > G. These findings support the notion that genetic variations may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of these conditions., (© 2023 The Authors. Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background and Aims: Acne is a frequently diagnosed skin condition that causes pilosebaceous apparatus clogs and/or inflammatory responses in the majority of teenagers. It is a multifactorial disease that can develop due to various factors. We aimed to evaluate lipid profiles and hormonal levels in patients with acne and correlate them to acne severity. We also aim to explore the alteration of lipid profiles and hormonal levels and their effect on the occurrence of acne., Methods: A case-control study was performed on 100 individuals with acne vulgaris and 100 healthy controls. The biochemical analysis included; lipid profiles such as triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and hormonal levels such as estradiol (E), total testosterone (TT), and free testosterone (FT) were measured for both patients and controls., Results: Comparison between patients with acne and controls disclosed that; TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels were significantly higher in patients, especially when compared to controls ( p  ≤ 0.05); also, the same results were found in hormonal levels results ( p  ≤ 0.05)., Conclusion: These altered lipid profiles and androgen levels should be considered in the pathophysiology of acne and taken into consideration when treating patients with acne., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

In our paper, we have synthesized modified PEA and alkyd resin by replacing the new source of polyol (SDEA) which was confirmed by different analyses such as IR, and 1HNMR spectra. A series of conformal, novel, low-cost, and eco-friendly hyperbranched modified alkyd and PEA resins were fabricated with bio ZnO, CuO/ZnO) NPs through an ex-situ method for mechanical and anticorrosive coatings. The synthesized biometal oxides NPs and its composite modified alkyd and PEA were confirmed by FTIR, SEM with EDEX, TEM, and TGA, and can be stably dispersed into modified alkyd and PEA resins at a low weight fraction of 1%. The nanocomposite coating was also subjected to various tests to determine their surface adhesion, which ranged from (4B-5B), physico-mechanical characteristics such as scratch hardness, which improved from < 1.5 to > 2 kg, gloss (100-135) Specific gravity (0.92-0.96) and also chemical resistance test which passed for water, acid, and solvent except alkali, was poor because of the hydrolyzable ester group in the alkyd and PEA resins. The anti-corrosive features of the nanocomposites were investigated through salt spray tests in 5 wt % NaCl. The results indicate that well-dispersed bio ZnO and CuO/ZnO) NPs (1.0%) in the interior of the hyperbranched alkyd and PEA matrix improve the durability and anticorrosive attributes of the composites, such as degree of rusting, which ranged from 5 to 9, blistering size ranged from 6 to 9, and finally, scribe failure, which ranged from 6 to 9 mm. Thus, they exhibit potential applications in eco- friendly surface coatings. The anticorrosion mechanisms of the nanocomposite alkyd and PEA coating were attributed to the synergistic effect of bio ZnO and (CuO/ZnO) NPs and the prepared modified resins are highly rich in nitrogen elements, which might be regarded as a physical barrier layer for steel substrates., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Many clinical features of psoriasis include a rash with itchy, scaly patches, most frequently on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp. By studying genes involved with psoriasis receptivity, the pathologic pathways of psoriasis become clearer and more understood., Aim: To predict the participation of rs1544410 in serum vitamin D levels (SDL) in psoriasis, psoriasis susceptibility, and severity., Patients/methods: One hundred five patients with psoriasis were categorized by body surface area as mild, moderate, and severe. SDL and genetic analysis of rs1544410 were performed using polymerase chain reaction and standard Sanger methods., Result: Our findings revealed that SDL were higher in healthy subjects than in patients. The rs1544410 genotype TT was more prevalent in patients, while CT was more prevalent in controls. Our findings revealed that the T alleles were frequently more in the patient group than in the controls. (p ≤ 0.001). While in healthy normal individuals, the C alleles were frequently more (p ≤ 0.001). SDL are lower in patients with the TT genotype. Patients with moderate form of psoriasis have higher SDL than those with mild or severe form., Conclusion: rs1544410 polymorphism has been linked to a higher probability of psoriasis and SDL deficiency. However, grander scale studies in a larger number of people are necessary., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate functional abdominal pain disorders and functional constipation prevalence in the central region of Saudi Arabia, and compare it to that of the western region., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using online questionnaires targeting the general population of Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. Subjects were randomly selected by sharing links on social media groups. Any parent with a 3-18-year-old child was included, and children with chronic medical illnesses or symptoms of organic GI disorders were excluded., Results: Three hundred nineteen subjects were included in the final analysis; the prevalence of functional abdominal pain disorders overall was 6.2% and the prevalence of functional constipation was 8.1%., Conclusions: Functional constipation diagnosis seems to be affected by life stressors or a previous viral illness. Seasonal variations had minimal effect on functional abdominal pain disorder and functional constipation symptom frequency and severity., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)