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BACKGROUND: The incidence of pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma - PDAC) is increasing, especially in developed countries. In 2021, 496,000 new PDAC cases were dia-gnosed worldwide. In the Czech Republic, the incidence is one of the highest in the world, with 2,332 new PDAC patients dia-gnosed in 2018. Due to the absence of symptoms in the early stages, approximately 50% of patients are initially dia-gnosed with distant metastases. Mortality is slightly lower than the incidence count and, despite significant advances in cancer research, PDAC remains a fatal dia-gnosis. However, microbio-me seems to be an interesting approach, and not only in PDAC patients. Microbio-me is defined as the set of all microorganisms (microbio-ta, i.e. bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea, and protozoa) and their genome in a certain environment. In a physiological setting, the gut microbio-me is in symbio-sis with the host organism, maintaining the balance of metabolism, mucosal immunomodulation and regulating the digestion process. When dysregulation of the number or function of intestinal microorganisms occurs, dysbio-sis is developed. It may lead to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, nervous system disorders, induction of intestinal inflammation, or carcinogenesis. Microbio-ta can induce carcinogenesis in multiple ways, such as by activating an inflammatory response, reducing the immune system's ability to eliminate damaged cells, and deregulation of the host genome by microbial metabolites. This deregulation may lead to an activation of pro-apoptotic and pro-proliferative proteins. To date, research shows that the gut or oral microbio-me may be involved in the development of PDAC. One of the most studied bacteria is Porphyromonas gingivalis. Other bacteria, such as Fusobacteria, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Prevotella, and Rothia, have also been shown to play a role in PDAC. PURPOSE: The aim of this review article is to point out one of the possible mechanisms of cancerogenesis in PDAC patients and its therapeutic influence to reduce the incidence and improve the prognosis of this aggressive disease.
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Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Humanos , Carcinoma Ductal PancreáticoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the acceptance of cosmetic surgery among the Saudi population and examined its relationship with body dysmorphic disorder and the participants' demographic characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2023 and February 2024. A sample of 1368 participants were recruited from hospitals, clinics, and public places such as malls, parks, and universities and were asked to complete a self-administered, pre-validated, and open-access questionnaire about the presence of body dysmorphic disorder using the BDD scale and the acceptance of cosmetic surgery using the ACSS scale, analyzed using IBM Corp. Released 2015. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. RESULTS: More than half of the participants were female, single, and had a higher educational level. Only 3.0% of the participants had previously undergone cosmetic surgery (CS). Rhinoplasty was the most common cosmetic surgery performed by both genders. More than half of the participants indicated that they had concerns about their appearance, which caused them distress, torment, or pain. However, only one-third of the participants demonstrated acceptance toward CS. There was a significant positive correlation between body dysmorphic disorders (BDD) and acceptance of the cosmetic surgery scale (ACSS). Moreover, higher significant acceptance for CS (p-value is <0.001) was observed in females, south region, 32- to 40-year-olds, postgraduate degrees of education, married persons, and those undergoing previous cosmetic surgery. CONCLUSION: Concerns about appearance causing distress were prevalent among participants, yet acceptance of cosmetic surgery was moderate. Individuals with higher levels of BDD symptoms are more inclined to view cosmetic surgery as a viable solution to their perceived concerns about their appearance. Moreover, being female, from the southern region, aged 32 to 40 years, with postgraduate education, married individuals, and having prior cosmetic surgery experience are motives to accept CS. These findings underscore the complex interplay between psychological factors and demographic characteristics in shaping the acceptance of cosmetic surgery.
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This study aims to develop innovative heterocyclic nanocomposites incorporating silver nanoparticles (SNPs) for potential therapeutic applications targeting infections, gastric ulceration, inflammation, and oxidative damage. By synthesizing new derivatives of spiro-thiazolidine-carbonitrile (Py-ST-X) and incorporating them into Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), we have prepared Ag@Py-ST-X and Ag@Py-ST-X@CNT nanocomposites, respectively. The physical properties of these materials were studied using XRD, TEM, SEM, and Zeta potential techniques. In our investigation involving rats with gastric ulcers, we observed noteworthy inhibitory effects on gastric acid enzyme activity, specifically H+/K+ATPase, by Ag@Py-ST-NO2 and Ag@Py-ST-Br nanocomposites, demonstrating reductions of 25 and 34%, respectively, compared to untreated ulcers. Nanotubulation of these compounds further improved their inhibitory efficacy to 29 and 45%, respectively. Additionally, these nanoparticles showed the most potent myeloperoxidase (MPO)-inhibitory activity, demonstrating 36 and 49% inhibition, respectively, with nanotubulated versions reaching 44 and 53%. Moreover, Ag@Py-ST-NO2@CNT and Ag@Py-ST-Br@CNT nanotubes showed significant antioxidant activity, reducing thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) by 35 and 51%, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels by 49 and 71%, respectively. These therapeutic effects were confirmed by reductions in gastric surface area (GSA) by 44% and 52%, a decrease in ulcer index (UI) from 80% to 44 and 38%, and an increase in curative index (CI) from 19 to 55 and 62% following administration of Ag@Py-ST-NO2@CNT and Ag@Py-ST-Br@CNT, respectively. Histological studies support these findings, suggesting the potential of these nanocomposites as promising candidates for treating various disorders.
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Drug delivery is the process or method of delivering a pharmacological product to have therapeutic effects on humans or animals. The use of nanoparticles to deliver medications to cells is driving the present surge in interest in improving human health. Green nanodrug delivery methods are based on chemical processes that are acceptable for the environment or that use natural biomaterials such as plant extracts and microorganisms. In this study, zinc oxide-superparamagnetic iron oxide-silver nanocomposite was synthesized via green synthesis method using Fusarium oxysporum fungi mycelia then loaded with sorafenib drug. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by UV-visibile spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM and SEM techniques. Sorafenib is a cancer treatment and is also known by its brand name, Nexavar. Sorafenib is the only systemic medication available in the world to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. Sorafenib, like many other chemotherapeutics, has side effects that restrict its effectiveness, including toxicity, nausea, mucositis, hypertension, alopecia, and hand-foot skin reaction. In our study, 40 male albino rats were given a single dose of diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) 60 mg/kg b.wt., followed by carbon tetrachloride 2 ml/kg b.wt. twice a week for one month. The aim of our study is using the zinc oxide-superparamagnetic iron oxide-silver nanocomposite that was synthesized by Fusarium oxysporum fungi mycelia as nanocarrier for enhancement the sorafenib anticancer effect.
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Antineoplásicos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Prata , Sorafenibe , Óxido de Zinco , Animais , Sorafenibe/farmacologia , Sorafenibe/química , Sorafenibe/administração & dosagem , Óxido de Zinco/química , Óxido de Zinco/farmacologia , Prata/química , Ratos , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Masculino , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Portadores de Fármacos/química , Fusarium/efeitos dos fármacos , Nanopartículas de Magnetita/química , Nanocompostos/química , Humanos , Nanopartículas Magnéticas de Óxido de Ferro/químicaRESUMO
Background Thyroidectomy is a common surgical procedure used to treat thyroid gland illnesses. The surgery has many outcomes, and one of them may show an association with depression. This study aims to assess the factors associated with depression after thyroidectomy in Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 414 Saudi participants. The target population included patients more than 18 years old and who had undergone thyroidectomy, whereas patients 18 years or younger were excluded. The data were collected between December 2023 and January 2024 using an electronic self-administered questionnaire that included demographics, clinical characteristics, and the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed randomly throughout social media, and patient consent was obtained. The descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using SPSS software version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results The study showed that of the 414 participants, 306 were females and 108 were males. Depression affected 335 (80.92%) participants and was mostly mild (120, 28.99%), followed by moderate (109, 26.33%), moderately severe (55, 13.29%), and severe (51, 12.32%). Depression symptoms were more common in females than males. The participants who underwent total thyroidectomy (217, 52.41%) were more than those who underwent partial thyroidectomy (197, 47.58%). Temporary complications were more prevalent in the participants exhibiting symptoms of depression. Both educational level and surgery time were significant factors. Conclusions The study revealed a significant prevalence of post-thyroidectomy depression. The associated factors in post-thyroidectomy depression included educational level, with more depression symptoms noted with high education. In addition, surgery time showed an increased risk of developing depression that still existed two years postoperatively.
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Our aims in this work are the preparation of an ionic liquid based on heterocyclic compounds with Ag nanoparticles and the investigation of its application as an antibacterial and anticandidal agent. These goals were achieved through the fabrication of an ionic liquid based on Ag nanoparticles with 5-Amino-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-hexadecyl-7-(4-methylphenyl)-2-H spiro[cyclohexane1,2'-[1,3]thiazolo [4,5-b]pyridine]-6-carbonitrile (P16). The nanostructure of the prepared ionic liquid was characterized using techniques such as FTIR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, UV, SEM, and TEM. The biological activity of the prepared compound (P16) and its nanocomposites with Ag nanoparticles was tested using five clinical bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa 249; Escherichia coli 141; Enterobacter cloacae 235; Staphylococcus epidermidis BC 161, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus 217), and three Candida species (Candida utilis ATCC 9255; C. tropicalis ATCC 1362, and C. albicans ATCC 20402). The FTIR, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR results confirmed the chemical structure of the synthesized P16 compound. The nanostructure of the prepared ionic liquid was determined based on data obtained from the UV, SEM, and TEM tests. The antibacterial and anticandidal results showed that the biological activity of the compound (P16) was enhanced after the formation of nanocomposite structures with Ag nanoparticles. Moreover, the biological activity of the compound itself (P16) and that of its nanocomposite structure with Ag nanoparticles was higher than that of ampicillin and amphotericin B, which were used as control drugs in this work.
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Líquidos Iônicos , Nanopartículas Metálicas , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina , Nanocompostos , Prata/química , Nanopartículas Metálicas/química , Líquidos Iônicos/química , Antibacterianos/química , Nanocompostos/química , Candida albicans , Testes de Sensibilidade MicrobianaRESUMO
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), a leading sugar and energy crop, is seriously impacted by drought stress. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying sugarcane drought resistance, especially the functions of epigenetic regulators, remain elusive. Here, we show that a S. spontaneum KDM4/JHDM3 group JmjC protein, SsJMJ4, negatively regulates drought-stress responses through its H3K27me3 demethylase activity. Ectopic overexpression of SsJMJ4 in Arabidopsis reduced drought resistance possibly by promoting expression of AtWRKY54 and AtWRKY70, encoding two negative regulators of drought stress. SsJMJ4 directly bound to AtWRKY54 and AtWRKY70, and reduced H3K27me3 levels at these loci to ensure their proper transcription under normal conditions. Drought stress down-regulated both transcription and protein abundance of SsJMJ4, which was correlated with the reduced occupancy of SsJMJ4 at AtWRKY54 and AtWRKY70 chromatin, increased H3K27me3 levels at these loci, as well as reduced transcription levels of these genes. In S. spontaneum, drought stress-repressed transcription of SsWRKY122, an ortholog of AtWRKY54 and AtWRKY70, was associated with increased H3K27me3 levels at these loci. Transient overexpression of SsJMJ4 in S. spontaneum protoplasts raised transcription of SsWRKY122, paralleled with reduced H3K27me3 levels at its loci. These results suggest that the SsJMJ4-mediated dynamic deposition of H3K27me3 is required for an appropriate response to drought stress.
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Secas , Proteínas de Plantas , Saccharum , Saccharum/genética , Saccharum/fisiologia , Saccharum/metabolismo , Saccharum/enzimologia , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Estresse Fisiológico , Arabidopsis/genética , Arabidopsis/fisiologia , Histona Desmetilases/metabolismo , Histona Desmetilases/genética , Histonas/metabolismo , Histonas/genéticaRESUMO
Due to high filler loading, clean, commercial, thermoplastic, flame-retardant materials are mechanically unstable when insulating wires and cables. In this study, composite formulations of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) containing a flame retardant, such as magnesium hydroxide (MH; formula: Mg(OH)2) and huntite hydromagnesite (HH; formula: Mg3Ca(CO3)4, Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·3H2O), were prepared. The influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon black (CB) on the mechanical properties and flame retardancy of LLDPE/EVA was studied. Three types of CNTs were examined for their compatibility with other materials in clean thermoplastic flame-retardant compositions. The CNTs had the following diameters: 10-15 nm, 40-60 nm, and 60-80 nm. Optimum mechanical flame retardancy and electrical properties were achieved by adding CNTs with an outer diameter of 40-60 nm and a length of fewer than 20 nm. Large-sized CNTs result in poor mechanical characteristics, while smaller-sized CNTs improve the mechanical properties of the composites. CB enhances flame retardancy but deteriorates mechanical properties, particularly elongation at break, in clean, black, thermoplastic, flame-retardant compositions. Obtaining satisfactory compositions that meet both properties, especially formulations passing the V-0 of the UL 94 test with a minimum tensile strength of 9.5 MPa and an elongation at break of 125%, is challenging. When LLDPE was partially substituted with EVA, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) increased. The amount of filler in the formulations determined how it affected flammability. This study also included a reliable method for producing clean, black, thermoplastic, flame-retardant insulating material for wire and cable without sacrificing mechanical properties.
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BACKGROUND AND AIM: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are one of the significant complications detected after surgical procedures. Recent studies have highlighted the antimicrobial, wound-healing, and immunological properties of vitamin D. Therefore, this study examined the association between levels of preoperative vitamin D and SSI occurrence in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted this retrospective observational study among patients who underwent surgery at King Faisal Medical Complex, Saudi Arabia. We included data from patients who underwent surgery between January 2021 and October 2023 in the study. If vitamin D concentrations were not measured at admission, patients were excluded from the final analysis. The researchers performed statistical analysis using the computer program Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The significant level was considered when the p-value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: The study included 130 patients with a mean (SD) age of 26.98 (9.3) years. Most patients were females (n = 92, 70.8%), had diabetes mellitus disease (n = 121, 93.1%), had a vitamin D deficiency (<30 ng/dl) (n = 106, 81.5%), and underwent cesarean section (n = 80, 61.5%). The mean (SD) vitamin D level among patients was 19.9 (9.7) ng/dl, and the mean (SD) hemoglobin level was almost normal (12.30 (2.1) g/dl). Out of 40.8% (n = 53) of patients, the most detected pathogenic bacteria was Escherichia coli, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (n = 11, 44%, and n = 7, 25%, respectively). Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency significantly impacted positive SSI; patients with insufficient levels had a higher infection rate compared to those with sufficient levels (n = 58, 54.7% vs. n = 7, 29.2%, p-value = 0.024). A longer surgery duration did not increase the risk of SSI (p-value = 0.047). Patients with class 3 wounds were more prone to SSI than those with class 2 wounds (n = 12, 100% vs. n = 53, 44.9%, p-value<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study provides important evidence supporting the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and SSI incidence. Patients with lower levels of vitamin D reported a higher incidence of SSIs. Healthcare providers should pay attention to the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among patients undergoing surgery. Screening for vitamin D deficiency and implementing convenient interventions to optimize vitamin D levels could help reduce the incidence of SSIs. Further research with larger sample sizes, more diverse populations, and different surgery types is necessary to validate these findings and explore additional factors influencing SSI development.
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In this study, the efficacy of the promising iron-based polymeric inorganic coagulant (POFC) was assessed for the reduction of eutrophication effect (freshwater toxicity) and the microbial loads from wastewater. Toxicity assessment for POFC was conducted on mice and skin cell lines. The results confirm the lower toxicity level of POFC. The POFC showed excellent antibacterial efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, it demonstrated a remarkable effectiveness against black fungus such as Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae. Additionally, POFC showed antiviral effectiveness against the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus as well as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). POFC-based treatment gives excellent removal percentages for phosphate, and phosphorus at doses below 60 ppm with a low produced sludge volume that leads to 84% decrease in the rate of eutrophication and freshwater toxicity. At a POFC concentration of 60 ppm, remarkable reduction rates for total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli were achieved. After POFC-based coagulation, the produced sludge retains a lower bacterial density due to the antibacterial activity of POFC. Furthermore, it revealed that the observed removal efficiencies for fungi and yeasts in the produced sludge reached 85% at a POFC dose of 60 ppm. Overall, our research indicates that POFC has potential for application in pre-treatment of wastewater and serves as an antimicrobial agent.
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Anti-Infecciosos , Virus da Influenza A Subtipo H5N1 , Camundongos , Animais , Águas Residuárias , Esgotos , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Escherichia coli , Bactérias Gram-Negativas , Bactérias Gram-Positivas , Anti-Infecciosos/farmacologia , SARS-CoV-2 , Polímeros , EutrofizaçãoRESUMO
[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.19878.].
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The characterization of cis-regulatory DNA elements (CREs) is essential for deciphering the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. Although there have been endeavors to identify CREs in plants, the properties of CREs in polyploid genomes are still largely unknown. Here, we conducted the genome-wide identification of DNase I-hypersensitive sites (DHSs) in leaf and stem tissues of the auto-octoploid species Saccharum officinarum. We revealed that DHSs showed highly similar distributions in the genomes of these two S. officinarum tissues. Notably, we observed that approximately 74% of DHSs were located in distal intergenic regions, suggesting considerable differences in the abundance of distal CREs between S. officinarum and other plants. Leaf- and stem-dependent transcriptional regulatory networks were also developed by mining the binding motifs of transcription factors (TFs) from tissue-specific DHSs. Four TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1, CYCLOIDEA, and PCF1 (TCP) TFs (TCP2, TCP4, TCP7, and TCP14) and two ethylene-responsive factors (ERFs) (ERF109 and ERF03) showed strong causal connections with short binding distances from each other, pointing to their possible roles in the regulatory networks of leaf and stem development. Through functional validation in transiently transgenic protoplasts, we isolate a set of tissue-specific promoters. Overall, the DHS maps presented here offer a global view of the potential transcriptional regulatory elements in polyploid sugarcane and can be expected to serve as a valuable resource for both transcriptional network elucidation and genome editing in sugarcane breeding.
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Cromatina , Saccharum , Succinatos , Saccharum/genética , Saccharum/metabolismo , Desoxirribonuclease I/genética , Desoxirribonuclease I/metabolismo , Melhoramento Vegetal , Genômica , PoliploidiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Pre-exposing plants to abiotic stresses can induce stress memory, which is crucial for adapting to subsequent stress exposure. Although numerous genes involved in salt stress response have been identified, the understanding of memory responses to salt stress remains limited. RESULTS: In this study, we conducted physiological and transcriptional assays on maize plants subjected to recurrent salt stress to characterize salt stress memory. During the second exposure to salt stress, the plants exhibited enhanced salt resistance, as evidenced by increased proline content and higher POD and SOD activity, along with decreased MDA content, indicative of physiological memory behavior. Transcriptional analysis revealed fewer differentially expressed genes and variations in response processes during the second exposure compared to the first, indicative of transcriptional memory behavior. A total of 2,213 salt stress memory genes (SMGs) were identified and categorized into four response patterns. The most prominent group of SMGs consisted of genes with elevated expression during the first exposure to salt stress but reduced expression after recurrent exposure to salt stress, or vice versa ([+ / -] or [- / +]), indicating that a revised response is a crucial process in plant stress memory. Furthermore, nine transcription factors (TFs) (WRKY40, WRKY46, WRKY53, WRKY18, WRKY33, WRKY70, MYB15, KNAT7, and WRKY54) were identified as crucial factors related to salt stress memory. These TFs regulate over 53% of SMGs, underscoring their potential significance in salt stress memory. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that maize can develop salt stress memory, and the genes identified here will aid in the genetic improvement of maize and other crops.
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Transcriptoma , Zea mays , Zea mays/genética , Zea mays/metabolismo , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Estresse Salino/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Estresse Fisiológico/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Appendicitis is defined as the appendix's inflammation, which requires an appendectomy for treatment. Obesity is one of the risk factors for post-surgical complications in appendicitis. This study aimed to explore obesity's influence on hospital length of stay among patients with appendicitis in Taif, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The study subjects consisted of both children and adults with appendicitis who were admitted to the hospital during 2021 and 2022. The patients were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI) following the WHO criteria: normal weight (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI = 25-29.9 kg/m2), and obesity (BMI ≥10 kg/m2). Data collection was conducted retrospectively by reviewing the medical records of patients diagnosed with appendicitis. The data collection included demographic characteristics of the patients, clinical presentation data, examination data, findings of the diagnostic approaches, management data, and complications after surgery (mainly intra-abdominal abscess formation). Prior to conducting the study, ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Saudi Ministry of Health. RESULTS: The study included 238 patients who were diagnosed with appendicitis with an age range from 4 to 74 years and a mean (SD) age of 20.24 years (12.69). Based on BMI categories, 174 patients (73.1%) were classified as non-obese (BMI < 25), 53 patients (22.3%) were overweight (BMI 25-29.9), and 11 patients (4.6%) were obese (BMI ≥ 30). Most patients were presented with fever (51.7%), anorexia (72.7%), and pain in the right lower quadrant (70.2%). According to blood pressure, the mean (SD) of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 117.8 (14.14) and 71.03 (9.89), respectively. All cases underwent abdominal ultrasound; non-visualization of the appendix was the most common finding observed (80.3%). Appendicitis was managed among most patients with appendectomy (89.5%), and open appendectomy was the most frequent surgery performed (73.2%). The mean of hospital length of stay was 1.64 (0.73) days. There was no significant correlation between patients' BMI and hospital length of stay (p = 0.429). The mean hospital length of stay of females (1.76) was higher than that of males (1.53) (p = 0.003). Moreover, a statistically significant mean difference was observed in hospital length of stay between patients managed conservatively (1.96) and those who underwent operative management (1.60 days) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into the effect of obesity on patients with appendicitis who underwent an appendectomy in Taif, Saudi Arabia. The study found that obesity was not a risk factor for a prolonged hospital length of stay after appendectomy. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to explore other factors that may influence the outcomes of appendectomy in patients with appendicitis, such as the impact of obesity on long-term complications and recurrence rates.
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BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cause of death and serious disability, with risks that extend beyond the acute phase. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, high mortality rates remain a persistent problem. AIM: The current study aimed to investigate PE prognosis and its determinants among native highlanders in Taif City, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a retrospective study where data was collected from the medical records of native high-altitude PE patients in Taif, Saudi Arabia, from 2017 to 2022. RESULTS: The study included 154 native high-altitude PE patients with a mean age of 54±19 years. Most were females and nonsmokers (51.3% (n=79) and 89% (n=137), respectively). Of them, 28.6% (n=44) had undergone a previous surgery, and 61.4% (n=27) of these surgeries were within 1-3 weeks before hospital admission. The majority of patients had sub-massive PE (59.1% (n=91)), followed by non-massive PE (24% (n=37)) and massive PE (16.9% (n=26)). After management, 98 (63.6%) patients were improved, and 56 (36.4%) patients were not improved at the time of data collection. In terms of improvement after PE, patients who had undergone a previous surgery were less than those who had not, with no significant difference (56.8% (n=25) and 66.4% (n=73), respectively, p=0.266). All patients with heart rates (HRs) less than 70 bpm improved after PE compared to those with higher HRs (p=0.003). The thrombus location had no statistically significant association with patient outcomes (p=0.058). CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights into patient outcomes at high altitudes after PE and the prognostic factors influencing these outcomes. It was identified that a low HR was associated with positive outcomes.
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In individuals with subjective cognitive impairments (SCI) the risk for the development of a neurodegenerative disease is assumed to be increased. However, it is not clear which factors contribute to the expression of SCI: Is it related to the cognitive resources already challenged, or is the psycho-affective state of more relevance? Using a novel online assessment combining self-report questionnaires and neuropsychological psychometric tests, significant predictors for the level of complaints were identified in two samples of elderly individuals: Help-seekers (HS, n = 48) consulting a memory clinic and a matched sample of non-help-seekers (nHS, n = 48). Based on the results of the online assessment, the SCI level was found to be significantly determined by the psycho-affective state (depressive mood) in the nHS group, whereas cognitive performance (cued recall) was the main predictor in the HS group. The predictive value of recall performance, however, is more-strongly expressed in memory tests which reduce the impact of compensatory strategies (face-name-association vs. word lists). Our results indicate that the problem-focused behavior of help-seeking individuals is also associated with a higher sensitivity for cognitive deficits-which can be uncovered with an appropriate psychometric test. Considering these factors, the conversion risk in individuals with SCI can probably be determined more reliably.
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Transtornos Cognitivos , Disfunção Cognitiva , Doenças Neurodegenerativas , Idoso , Humanos , Disfunção Cognitiva/diagnóstico , Afeto , CogniçãoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Saudi Arabia has one of the highest obesity rates (35.4%) in the world, and bariatric surgery (BS) has emerged as the most effective treatment for obesity and its comorbidities. Despite its effectiveness, it is a known risk factor for cholelithiasis. The aim of this study is to identify the incidence and risk factors that contribute to the development of symptomatic cholelithiasis after different types of bariatric surgery in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among the Saudi adult population. The sample size was 706 participants who underwent bariatric surgery from all over Saudi Arabia. Data collection was done through a validated online self-reported survey. RESULTS: Out of 706 participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, it was found that the incidence of gallstones (GS) after bariatric surgery was 18.8%. The most incidence was during the first year of surgery, where the number of individuals reached 80.4%. The majority were in females (22.9%) and those who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery (51.2%). Patients who had a body mass index (BMI) of >25 kg/m² significantly had a higher incidence of gallstones (23.1%) compared to those who had a lesser BMI (15.8%). As the analysis showed, the medication used to prevent the occurrence of gallstones can be considered one of the protective factors, where 85.4% of individuals who used these medications did not develop cholelithiasis. CONCLUSION: The incidence of gallstones after bariatric surgery was high, particularly within the first year of surgery. The increase in postoperative gallstone formation is correlated with hyperlipidemia and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass as basic predictive factors. On the contrary, the medication used to prevent the occurrence of gallstones is considered a protective factor.
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Nickel ions are hazardous heavy metals that are non-biodegradable and can lead to allergic sensitivity and dermatitis. Nanomaterials are chosen for their effective elimination of impurities from water structures based entirely on the variety of therapy and degree of purification. The target of this work was the combination of the properties of biopolymers such as chitosan, silver nanoparticles (SNPs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in one ecofriendly compound for Ni (II) uptake from the aqueous solution. To attain this target, the endeavor was made by creating a nanocomposite based on chitosan/SNPs/CNTs. The characterization of the structure of the fabricated nanocomposite (Chit-SNPs-CNTs) was carried out using different techniques. The removal of Ni (II) was examined by studying the adsorption of Ni (II) ions onto the fabricated nanocomposite by batch adsorption using UV, XRD, XPS, and ICP techniques. Moreover, we investigated the effect of the contact time, pH of the solution, and mass of the adsorbent on the efficiency of the adsorption of Ni (II). The results show that the adsorption capacity of Ni (II) increased by increasing the contact time with a neutral pH. The maximum removal of Ni (II) ions (99.70%) was found using 0.3 g of the (Chit-SNPs-CNTs) nanocomposite. In addition, the results indicate that the fabricated nanocomposite has a high adsorption effectivity, which is associated to the function of the chitosan, SNPs, and CNTs in upgrading the adsorption efficiency. Finally, the results in the existing work indicate that the ecofriendly nanocomposite organized here gave excessive effectivity closer to the elimination of Ni (II).
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Electrophotographic printing and copying processes primarily use toner, which is a mixture of colorant, polymer, and additives. Toner can be made using traditional mechanical milling techniques or more contemporary chemical polymerization techniques. Suspension polymerization provides spherical particles with less stabilizer adsorption, homogeneous monomers, higher purity, and easier control of the reaction temperature. In contrast to these advantages, however, the particle size resulting from suspension polymerization is too large for toner. To overcome this disadvantage, devices such as high-speed stirrers and homogenizers can be used to reduce the size of the droplets. This research investigated the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) instead of carbon black as the pigment in toner development. We succeeded in achieving a good dispersion of four different types of CNT, specifically modified with NH2 and Boron or unmodified with long or short chains in water rather than chloroform, using sodium n-dodecyl sulfate as a stabilizer. We then performed polymerization of the monomers styrene and butyl acrylate in the presence of the different CNT types and found that the best monomer conversion and largest particles (in the micron range) occurred with CNTs modified with boron. The insertion of a charge control agent into the polymerized particles was achieved. Monomer conversion of over 90% was realized with all concentrations of MEP-51, whereas conversion was under 70% with all concentrations of MEC-88. Furthermore, analysis with dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that all polymerized particles were in the micron size range, suggesting that our newly developed toner particles were less harmful and environmentally friendly products than those typically and commercially available. The SEM micrographs clearly showed good dispersion and attachment of the CNTs on the polymerized particles (no CNT aggregation was found), which has never been published before.
RESUMO
The large sizes of cations and anions of organic salts are the driving force for the application of ionic liquids (organic salts) in harsh salty conditions. Moreover, the formation of crosslinked ionic liquid networks as anti-rust and anticorrosion protective films on the substrate surfaces repels seawater salt and water vapor from their surface to prevent corrosion. In this respect, an imidazolium epoxy resin and polyamine hardener as ionic liquids were prepared by the condensation of either pentaethylenehexamine or ethanolamine with glyoxal and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde or formalin in acetic acid as a catalyst. The hydroxyl and phenol groups of the imidazolium ionic liquid were reacted with epichlorohydrine in the presence of NaOH as a catalyst to prepare polyfunctional epoxy resins. The chemical structure, nitrogen content, amine value, epoxy equivalent weight, thermal characteristics, and stability of the imidazolium epoxy resin and polyamine hardener were evaluated. Moreover, their curing and thermomechanical properties were investigated to confirm the formation of homogeneous, elastic, and thermally stable cured epoxy networks. The corrosion inhibition and salt spray resistance of the uncured and cured imidazolium epoxy resin and polyamine as coatings for steel in seawater were evaluated.