Retrospective Analysis of Postoperative Nonhepatic Outcomes Following Major Liver Resection.

Background Liver surgery is a major and challenging procedure for the surgeon, the anesthetist, and the patient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the postoperative nonhepatic complications of patients undergoing liver resection surgery with perioperative factors. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 79 patients who underwent liver resection surgeries at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore, Pakistan, from July 2015 to December 2022. Results The mean age at the time of surgery was 53 years (range: 3-77 years), and the mean BMI was 26.43 (range: 15.72-38.0 kg/m2). Of the total patients, 44.3 % (n = 35) had no comorbidities, 26.6% (n=21) had one comorbidity, and 29.1% (n=23) had two or more comorbidities. Patients in whom the blood loss was more than 375 ml required postoperative oxygen inhalation with a significant relative risk of 2.6 (p=0.0392) and an odds ratio of 3.5 (p=0.0327). Similarly, patients who had a surgery time of more than five hours stayed in the hospital for more than seven days, with a statistically significant relative risk of 2.7 (p=0.0003) and odds ratio of 7.64 (p=0.0001). The duration of surgery was also linked with the possibility of requiring respiratory support, with a relative risk of 5.0 (p=0.0134) and odds ratio of 5.73 (p=0.1190). Conclusion Patients in our cohort who had a prolonged duration of surgery received an increased amount of fluids, and a large volume of blood loss was associated with prolonged stay in the ICU (>2 days), hospital admission (>7 days), ICU readmission, and increased incidence of cardiorespiratory, neurological, and renal disturbances postoperatively.

A novel approach for credit card fraud transaction detection using deep reinforcement learning scheme.

Online transactions are still the backbone of the financial industry worldwide today. Millions of consumers use credit cards for their daily transactions, which has led to an exponential rise in credit card fraud. Over time, many variations and schemes of fraudulent transactions have been reported. Nevertheless, it remains a difficult task to detect credit card fraud in real-time. It can be assumed that each person has a unique transaction pattern that may change over time. The work in this article aims to (1) understand how deep reinforcement learning can play an important role in detecting credit card fraud with changing human patterns, and (2) develop a solution architecture for real-time fraud detection. Our proposed model utilizes the Deep Q network for real-time detection. The Kaggle dataset available online was used to train and test the model. As a result, a validation performance of 97.10% was achieved with the proposed deep learning component. In addition, the reinforcement learning component has a learning rate of 80%. The proposed model was able to learn patterns autonomously based on previous events. It adapts to the pattern changes over time and can take them into account without further manual training.

An advanced approach for the electrical responses of discrete fractional-order biophysical neural network models and their dynamical responses.

The multiple activities of neurons frequently generate several spiking-bursting variations observed within the neurological mechanism. We show that a discrete fractional-order activated nerve cell framework incorporating a Caputo-type fractional difference operator can be used to investigate the impacts of complex interactions on the surge-empowering capabilities noticed within our findings. The relevance of this expansion is based on the model's structure as well as the commensurate and incommensurate fractional-orders, which take kernel and inherited characteristics into account. We begin by providing data regarding the fluctuations in electronic operations using the fractional exponent. We investigate two-dimensional Morris-Lecar neuronal cell frameworks via spiked and saturated attributes, as well as mixed-mode oscillations and mixed-mode bursting oscillations of a decoupled fractional-order neuronal cell. The investigation proceeds by using a three-dimensional slow-fast Morris-Lecar simulation within the fractional context. The proposed method determines a method for describing multiple parallels within fractional and integer-order behaviour. We examine distinctive attribute environments where inactive status develops in detached neural networks using stability and bifurcation assessment. We demonstrate features that are in accordance with the analysis's findings. The Erdös-Rényi connection of asynchronization transformed neural networks (periodic and actionable) is subsequently assembled and paired via membranes that are under pressure. It is capable of generating multifaceted launching processes in which dormant neural networks begin to come under scrutiny. Additionally, we demonstrated that boosting connections can cause classification synchronization, allowing network devices to activate in conjunction in the future. We construct a reduced-order simulation constructed around clustering synchronisation that may represent the operations that comprise the whole system. Our findings indicate the influence of fractional-order is dependent on connections between neurons and the system's stored evidence. Moreover, the processes capture the consequences of fractional derivatives on surge regularity modification and enhance delays that happen across numerous time frames in neural processing.

Global research on dental polymers and their application: A bibliometric analysis and knowledge mapping.

Purpose: The main objective of the current study was to evaluate the top-cited articles, countries, journals, authors, and papers published related to dental polymers and their application. Research articles published from 1962 to 2021 on dental polymers and their application were identified using the Scopus database. Methodology: Bibliographical data related to the abstract, citations, keywords, and other relevant information was extracted using different combinations of keywords. Further evaluation and visualization of the selected data were performed with the help of various tools, including MS Excel, Microsoft Word, Google open refine, Biblioshiny, BibExcel, and VOS viewer. An initial search revealed 351 documents, of which 327 were chosen for further analysis. Results: A substantial increase in the number of publications related to this domain was observed. The United States was the most prolific country, while the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki from Greece was identified as the leading institute. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis can guide researchers, funding agencies, industry, and institutions.

Mapping out the scientific literature on extraction and socket preservation: A Scopus based analysis (1968-2020).

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the current state of research on tooth extraction socket preservation. The main aim of this study was to consolidate the research published on extraction socket preservation from 1968 to 2020 in Scopus indexed journals. Methodology: The bibliometric method, a quantitative analysis investigating publishing trends and patterns, was used. Scopus database was used to retrieve the bibliographic records of published scholarly output. The analysis was performed using software and visualization tools like MS Excel, VOSviewer, Cite Space, Biblioshiny (RStudio), and BibExcel. Results: The result showed a gradual increase in research, whereby a substantial increase was observed from 2005 to 2006. Six hundred nineteen articles were published in 173 journals with total citations of 12091. Most published articles were from the USA, Italy, Germany, and China. The authorship pattern showed an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach among researchers. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis can guide researchers, funding agencies, industry, and institutions.

TSP, a virulent Podovirus, can control the growth of Staphylococcus aureus for 12 h.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a prevailing nosocomial pathogen that is increasingly isolated in community settings. It shows resistance against all beta-lactam drugs and has acquired mechanisms to resist other groups of antibiotics. To tackle this emerging issue of MRSA, there is an urgent need for antibiotic alternatives, and utilizing lytic bacteriophages is one of the most promising therapeutic approaches. In the present study, a lytic bacteriophage TSP was isolated from hospital wastewater against MRSA. The phage efficiently inhibited bacterial growth for up to 12 h at MOI of 1 and 10. TSP phage showed activity against various isolates of MRSA and MSSA, isolated from different clinical samples, with variable antibiotic susceptibility patterns. The bacteriophage TSP showed stability at varying temperatures (25 °C, 37 °C) and pH values (5-9), while its maximum storage stability was observed at 4 °C. It had a short latent period (20 min) and burst size of 103 ± 5pfu/infected cells. TSP genome sequence and restriction analysis revealed that its genome has a linear confirmation and length of 17,987 bp with an average GC content of 29.7%. According to comparative genomic analysis and phylogenetic tree,TSP phage can be considered a member of genus "P68viruses". The strong lytic activity and short latent period in addition to its lytic nature makes it a good candidate for phage therapy against MRSA infections, if it proves to be effective in in-vivo studies.

Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in the Post Pandemic World: A Study of Saudi Auto Care Industry.

The aim of this research is to examine the impact of service quality on customer satisfaction in the post pandemic world in auto care industry. The car care vendor in the study made effective use of social media to provide responsive updates to the customers in the post pandemic world; such use of social media provides bases for service quality and customer satisfaction. The study examined the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction using the SERVQUAL framework. According to the findings, empathy, reliability, assurance, responsiveness, and tangibles have a significant positive relationship with customer satisfaction. Our findings suggest that it is critical for workshops to recognize the service quality factors that contribute to customer satisfaction. Findings also suggest that empathy, assurance, reliability, responsiveness, and tangibles contribute to customer satisfaction. Auto repair industry must regularly provide personal attention, greet customers in a friendly manner, deliver cars after services, notify customers when additional repairs are required, and take the time to clarify problems to customers. Furthermore, workshops must screen and hire courteous staff who can clearly communicate the services required to customers both in-person and online and effectively communicate the risks associated with repairs. Service quality seems to be aided by prompt services.

Investigation of the adsorption properties of gemcitabine anticancer drug with metal-doped boron nitride fullerenes as a drug-delivery carrier: a DFT study.

Anticancer-drug delivery is now becoming a challenging approach for researchers as it allows controlled drug delivery near cancerous cells with minimized generic collection and the avoidance of secondary side effects. Hence in this work, the applications of nanostructures as anticancer drug-delivery carriers were widely investigated to target cancerous tissues. Based on DFT calculations, we investigated the transition metal-doped boron nitride nanostructure as a drug-delivery agent for the gemcitabine drug utilizing the B3LYP/6-31G (d, p) level of theory. In this research, the adsorption energy and electronic parameters of gemcitabine on the interaction with the metal-doped BN nanostructures were studied. It has been observed that metal doping significantly enhances the drug-delivery properties of BN nanostructures. Among the investigated nanostructures, Ni-BN has been found to be the most prominent nanostructure to transport gemcitabine with an elevated value of adsorption energy in both the gas phase (-45.79) and water media (-32.46). The interaction between gemcitabine and BN nanostructures was confirmed through frontier molecular orbitals and stabilization energy analysis. The fractional charge transfer, MEP, NCI, and NBO analyses exposed the charge transfer from drug molecule to the BN nanostructures. Transition density maps and UV-VIS spectra were also plotted to investigate the excited-state properties of the designed complexes. Thus, the present study provides an in-depth interaction mechanism of the gemcitabine drug with BN, which reveals that metal-doped BN nanostructures can be a favorable drug-delivery vehicle for the gemcitabine anticancer drug.

Engineering of phenylalanine dehydrogenase from Thermoactinomyces intermedius for the production of a novel homoglutamate.

The dramatic increase in healthcare costs has become a significant burden to this era. Many patients are unable to access medication because of the high price of drugs. Genetic engineering has made advances to increase the yield, titer, and productivity in the bio-based production of chemicals, materials of interest, and identification of innovative targets for drug discovery. Currently, the production of homoglutamate (α-Aminoadipic acid) involves petrochemical routes that are costly with low yield and often not suitable for industrial production. Here, we established the development of NADH-dependent homoglutamate by engineering NADH-dependent phenylalanine dehydrogenase (PDH) from Thermoactinomyces intermedius, which provides a novel tool for in-vivo metabolic engineering and in-vitro catalysis. Based on computational insight into the structure, we proposed the site-specific directed mutagenesis of the two important residues of PDH through docking simulations by AutoDock Vina which elucidated the binding mode of PDH with α-Ketoadipic acid and ligands. Our results demonstrated that the catalytic efficiency Km/Kcat of the final mutant Ala135Arg showed a 3-fold increase amination activity towards the ketoadipic acid as compared to the other mutant Gly114Arg, a double mutant Gly114Arg/Ala135Arg, and wild type TiPDH. Furthermore, we have introduced formate dehydrogenase as a cofactor regenerative system in this study which further made this study economically viable. Our study unfolds the possibility of biosynthesis of other non-proteinogenic amino acids that might be valuable pharmaceutical intermediaries.

Antimicrobial screening of polyherbal formulations traditionally used against gastrointestinal diseases.

Emerging antibiotic resistance has become a cosmopolitan problem and evoking researchers to search for new antimicrobials from natural constituents. The present study was intended to test the antimicrobial potential of traditionally used unexplored polyherbal recipes for curing digestive ailments. A total of 25 plants species were combined in different ratios to form 14 polyherbal recipes. After collecting and grinding plant parts, methanolic extracts of 14 polyherbal recipes were prepared by the cold maceration process. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of the polyherbal extracts was checked by agar well diffusion method at a concentration of 50 mg/ ml while minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by serial dilution method. Polyherbal recipes B and D showed significant inhibition zone each against Vibrio cholerae (25.63; p < 0.001). Recipe G (23.33; p < 0.001) showed better efficacy against Escherichia coli. Recipe E and G significantly inhibited Proteus species (28.33; 24.33; p < 0.001). Recipe B was highly effective against Salmonella typhi. Recipe C, A and F had significant antifungal affect and inhibited Aspergillus nigar (28.67; p < 0.05), Aspergillus fumigatus (27; p < 0.01) Trichoderma (30; p < 0.001), Rhizopus (19.67; p < 0.01), and Fusarium graminearum (28.67;p < 0.001). Polyherbal formulations A, B, D, K, and N were active with the lowest concentration. MIC ranges within 3.12-25 mg/ml while minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) between 12.5 and 50 mg/ml. Polyherbal recipes' A, B, D, G, K and N have enhanced antimicrobial potential with better efficacy than tested antibiotics and should be evaluated for further scientific validation.

Acclimation of cadmium-induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress in mung bean seedlings by priming effect of phytohormones and proline.

In this research, eight local mung bean (Vigna radiata) varieties were analyzed for their performance against two levels of CdCl2 solution (0.3 and 0.5 mM) alone and priming with gibberellic acid (GA3) (100 µM), salicylic acid (SA) (50 µM) and proline (5 mM) solution prior to Cd exposure. Mung bean seedlings were analyzed for disturbance in cytological, morphological, biochemical and enzymatic parameters under cadmium stress. For cytological studies, 48 h grown mung bean seedlings root tips were used to prepare slides and studied for percent mitotic index (MI%) and to calculate percent C-mitosis, laggard, sticky and fragmented chromosomes, pictures were captured by a Nikon camera (DS-Fi 1 Japan) attached with a microscope. One-week grown mung seedlings were studied for growth traits, malondialdehyde (MDA), protein, proline and antioxidant enzymes. ANOVA and DMR test of this research revealed that all the tested mung bean varieties and treatments were significantly different regarding mitotic index and number of chromosomal aberrations. Both the Cd treatments exhibited increased total chromosomal aberrations with different types and a maximum decrease in MI%. In pretreated samples, GA3, SA and proline serve as mitigating agents that reduce mutagenic effects of Cd in mung bean by increasing MI% and decreasing chromosomal aberrations as compared to non-pretreated samples. Both the Cd treatments showed a decrease in all growth traits. Total proteins were also found to be significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner in all genotypes. Cd treatment increased the activities of all antioxidant enzymes tested. Cd caused oxidative damage as indicated by elevated levels of MDA content in treated samples in comparison to control. Proline content levels were also high in Cd treated seedlings indicating stress. Results demonstrated that pretreatment with phytohormones and proline before Cd were found to improve all morphological parameters, by altering antioxidant enzymes activities along with a decrease in MDA and proline contents as well. It was further noticed that the performance of GA3 was better at 0.3 mM Cd treatment while SA was found to be a good mitigating agent at 0.5 mM Cd stress in all tested mung bean varieties. This research concluded less deleterious effects of Cd on AZRI-2006 while more sensitivity to NM-51 towards Cd. Priming with phytohormones and proline is a user-friendly, economical, and simple mitigation strategy to reduce Cd toxicity in plants and get better yield from contaminated lands.

Seroepidemiology and associated risk factors of hepatitis B and C virus infections among pregnant women attending maternity wards at two hospitals in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Hepatitis B and C infections are global issues that are associated with a massive financial burden in developing countries where vertical transmission is the major mode and remains high. This cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the seroepidemiology and associated risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among 375 pregnant women attending antenatal care health facilities at Bacha Khan Medical Complex (BKMC) Shahmansoor and District Head Quarter (DHQ) Hospital Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: From a total of 375 pregnant women selected using systematic random sampling from both hospitals, 10 ml of blood samples were collected and alienated serum was examined for indicators identification through the Immuno-Chromatographic Test (ICT) and 3rd Generation Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). A pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic data and possible risk factors. The data was analyzed via SPSS 23.0 statistical software. A chi-square analysis was performed to determine the association between variables. P-value < 0.05 was set statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall frequency of HBV and HCV among 375 pregnant women involved in the study was 3.7% and 2.1% respectively. None of the pregnant women were co-infected with HBV and HCV. Dental extraction (P = 0.001) and blood transfusion (P = 0.0005) were significantly allied with HBV infection while surgical procedure (P = 0.0001) was significantly associated with HCV infection. Moreover the sociodemographic characteristics: residential status (P = 0.017) and educational level (P = 0.048) were found significant risk factors of HBsAg and maternal age (P = 0.033) of anti-HCV, respectively. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION: HBV and HCV infections are intermediary endemic in the study area. A higher prevalence of HBV was detected among pregnant mothers with a history of dental extraction, history of blood transfusion, resident to the urban area and low educational level. The age and surgical procedures were the potential risk factors found significantly associated with HCV positivity among pregnant mothers in our setup. Future negotiations to control vertical transmission should include routine antenatal screening for these infections early in pregnancy and the requirement of efficient preventive tools including the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine in combination with hepatitis B immune globulins to the neonate.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals via consumption of dietary vegetables using wastewater for irrigation in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Health assumptions to the population due to the utilization of contaminated vegetables have been a great concern all over the world. In this study, an investigation has been conducted to ascertain metal concentrations in the wastewater, soil and commonly consumed vegetables from the vicinity of Gadoon Industrial Estate Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS) and total solids (TS) and heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Moreover, possible health risks due to the consumption of vegetables have also been estimated. pH and TSS in wastewater were found to be higher than the permissible limit set by WHO (1996). These results revealed that Cr concentration in the wastewater was above the permissible limits of United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) which may lead to a detrimental effect on soil quality deterioration, ultimately leading to food contamination. ANOVA analysis demonstrated a significant difference in soil samples for Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn and Cu at p ≤ 0.001, for Mn at p ≤ 0.05 while no significant difference was observed for Fe respectively. ANOVA analysis also exhibited the highest mean value for Pb, Cr, Cd and Zn in vegetables. A substantial positive correlation was found among the soil and vegetable contamination. The transfer factor for Cr, Pb, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cd and Cu was greater than 0.5 due to contamination caused by domestic discharges and industrial effluents. Health assessment via consumption of dietary vegetables revealed a higher level than the permissible limit (HRI > 1) for Pb and Cd in children and adults. Enrichment factor (EF) due to consumption of vegetables was found higher for Pb and Cr respectively. Based on the findings of this study, there would be a significant risk to the consumers associated with consumptions of vegetables being cultivated in Gadoon Industrial Estate area of district Swabi. Therefore, strict regulatory control measures are highly recommended for the safety of vegetables originated from the study area.

The trends of dental biomaterials research and future directions: A mapping review.

OBJECTIVE: This literature research aimed to compare, contrast and quantify the innovations in the most commonly used dental biomaterials. METHODOLOGY: Original research articles based on experimental dental biomaterials published between 2007 and 2019 were retrieved and reviewed. A search of electronic databases, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science indexed dental/biomaterials journals, has been conducted. The inclusion criteria in this research were: synthesis of experimental dental materials, whereas commercial dental materials, review articles, and clinical trials (case reports) were excluded. RESULTS: It was found that the amount of publications related to dental subgingival implants, computer-aided modeling ceramics, aesthetic restorative materials, adhesives cements, ceramics, bioceramics, endodontic materials, bioactive scaffolds, stem cells, and guided-tissue membranes had increased significantly from 2007. At the same time, the number of publications related to dental cements, silver amalgam, and dental alloys has decreased. For characterization of dental materials it was noted that mechanical properties were tested mostly for restorative materials. On the other hand, biological properties were most assessed for dental subgingival implants and endodontic materials, however, physical properties predominantly for bioceramics. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that to meet clinical demands there was more focus on restorative materials that provided better aesthetics, including resin composites, adhesive resin composites (luting cements), zirconia, and other ceramics. The boost in laboratory and animal research related to bioceramics was attributed to their regenerative potential. This current literature study will help growing researchers to consider and judge the direction to which research might be guided in order to plan prospective research projects.

Five decades of the International Endodontic Journal: Bibliometric overview 1967-2020.

AIM: The International Endodontic Journal (IEJ) has served as a platform for research and clinical practice in Endodontics since 1967. This study provides a bibliographic analysis and overview of the publications that have appeared in the IEJ from 1967 to 2020. METHODOLOGY: A literature search was performed in Elsevier's Scopus database to locate all the publications of the International Endodontic Journal. Various bibliometric software packages including the open-source visualization software Gephi and Biblioshiny (version 2.0) were employed for data visualization and analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3739 records with citation and bibliographic details were selected and retrieved to allow a bibliometric analysis to be performed. The bibliometric analysis indicates that the IEJ has grown both in terms of productivity and influence. Over time, the journal has been associated with an increase in the number of manuscripts published and the citations they have attracted, but with minor downward fluctuations in citations in the last few years. Bibliographic coupling of the IEJ articles revealed that the major research themes published in the journal include 'endodontics', 'root canal treatment', 'calcium hydroxide', 'apical periodontitis', 'mineral trioxide aggregate', 'microbiology', 'cyclic fatigue', 'cone-beam computed tomography' and 'micro-computed tomography'. Authors affiliated to institutions in the UK were the major contributors to the journal and were linked with other countries such as Brazil, USA and Malaysia. The largest number of publications were from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. CONCLUSION: The IEJ is one of the leading journals in Endodontology and has been providing a platform for innovative research and clinical reports for more than 50 years. Publications have been associated with a wide range of authors, institutions and countries around the world.

A single dose of a virulent bacteriophage vB PaeP-SaPL, rescues bacteremic mice infected with multi drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Multidrug resistant bacterial infections are difficult to treat and contribute to high morbidity and mortality. The phage vB PaeP-SaPL was isolated from a sewage drain (Lahore, Pakistan) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA-1 (NCBI Accession number MG763232). SaPL produced circular, transparent plaques, 4-5 mm in diameter and showed broad host range infecting 57 % of tested MDR P. aeruginosa clinical isolates (N = 38), while no infectivity was observed against any tested strains of other genera. SaPL inhibited PA-1 growth until 24 h post infection at MOI of 1. The SaPL showed stability at varying temperature and pH, with optimum stability at pH 7 and 45 °C. The latent period of SaPL was 20 min with burst size of 155 virions. The genome of SaPL was double stranded DNA of 45,796 bps having 63 CDS (13 for known proteins and 50 for hypothetical proteins) with a GC content of 52 %. The termini analysis revealed that SaPL genome ends are redundant and permuted. The packaging strategy used by SaPL was a headful (pac) strategy like P1 phage. Survivability of PA-1 challenged mice, treated with SaPL (100 %) was statistically significant (P < 0.05) than in untreated challenged mice (0%). Based on its efficacy in reducing bacterial growth, selective infectivity against majority of P. aeruginosa strains and its ability to increase survivability in PA-1 challenged mice, SaPL is proposed to be a potential candidate for bacteriophage therapy against difficult to treat MDR P. aeruginosa infections.

Bibliometric Analysis of Literature Published on Antibacterial Dental Adhesive from 1996-2020.

This study aimed to investigate the current state of research on antibacterial dental adhesives. The interest in this field can be drawn from an increasing number of scholarly works in this area. However, there is still a lack of quantitative measurement of this topic. The main aim of this study was to consolidate the research published on the antibacterial adhesive from 1996 to 2020 in Web of Science indexed journals. The bibliometric method, a quantitative study of investigating publishing trends and patterns, was used for this study. The result has shown that a gradual increase in research was found, whereby a substantial increase was observed from 2013. A total of 248 documents were published in 84 journals with total citations of 5107. The highly cited articles were published mainly in Q1 category journals. Most of the published articles were from the USA, China, and other developed countries; however, some developing countries contributed as well. The authorship pattern showed an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach among researchers. The thematic evaluation of keywords along with a three-factor analysis showed that 'antibacterial adhesives' and 'quaternary ammonium' have been used commonly. This bibliometric analysis can provide direction not only to researchers but also to funding organizations and policymakers.

Bibliometric analysis of Neurosciences research productivity in Saudi Arabia from 2013-2018.

OBJECTIVE: To review the dynamics of neuroscience research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from 2013-2018. METHODS: Subject category of Neuroscience was selected in the SciVal feature of Scopus database, which includes all relevant categories of the field limiting it to Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Saudi Arabia is ranked 39th in publishing neuroscientific research worldwide. The number of yearly published articles has increased from 123 to 332 during the time period between 2013 and 2018. King Saud University & King Abdul Aziz University & their corresponding regions namely Western and Central regions are the major contributors to publications. Neuroscientists working in Saudi Arabia have collaboration with scientists from all over the world. The top 10 preferred journals are all international. In subcategories of neuroscience, developmental neuroscience seems the one that needs attention. CONCLUSION: Neuroscience research is on the rise in KSA. Older and well-established institutions like King Saud University & King Abdul Aziz University have taken lead in publishing neuroscientific research. International collaboration in all subfields of neuroscience is substantial. Eastern Southern and Northern regions and developmental neuroscience require more focus and funding.

Research Productivity in the Health Sciences in Saudi Arabia: 2008-2017.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the published research on health sciences carried out by researchers in Saudi Arabia in the last decade by assessing bibliometric output. Data for 2008 to 2017 was retrieved from Scopus. During this period, there was significant growth, from 1332 publications in 2008 to 5529 in 2017, with an average annual growth rate of 14.1%. King Saud University was the most productive institution. Most of the published research was done in collaboration with Egypt. The subject area of medicine was predominant with the main publication source being the Saudi Medical Journal, Life Science Journal, the Acta Zhengzhou University Oversea Version, and the Annals of Saudi Medicine, primarily in the form of original research articles. The growing trend in publications is a sign of the increasing quality of education and more research and development activities, which are made possible by a sufficient budget allocation to these activities during the last decade.

The Sequence and a Three-Dimensional Structural Analysis Reveal Substrate Specificity Among Snake Venom Phosphodiesterases.

(1) Background. Snake venom phosphodiesterases (SVPDEs) are among the least studied venom enzymes. In envenomation, they display various pathological effects, including induction of hypotension, inhibition of platelet aggregation, edema, and paralysis. Until now, there have been no 3D structural studies of these enzymes, thereby preventing structure-function analysis. To enable such investigations, the present work describes the model-based structural and functional characterization of a phosphodiesterase from Crotalusadamanteus venom, named PDE_Ca. (2) Methods. The PDE_Ca structure model was produced and validated using various software (model building: I-TESSER, MODELLER 9v19, Swiss-Model, and validation tools: PROCHECK, ERRAT, Molecular Dynamic Simulation, and Verif3D). (3) Results. The proposed model of the enzyme indicates that the 3D structure of PDE_Ca comprises four domains, a somatomedin B domain, a somatomedin B-like domain, an ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase domain, and a DNA/RNA non-specific domain. Sequence and structural analyses suggest that differences in length and composition among homologous snake venom sequences may account for their differences in substrate specificity. Other properties that may influence substrate specificity are the average volume and depth of the active site cavity. (4) Conclusion. Sequence comparisons indicate that SVPDEs exhibit high sequence identity but comparatively low identity with mammalian and bacterial PDEs.