Development and evaluation of sildenafil/glycyrrhizin-loaded nanofibers as a potential novel buccal delivery system for erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a growing health condition that needs safe and effective therapy. One of the main common treatments is sildenafil which is used in clinics for managing erectile dysfunction by enhancing the blood supply to the penis. In the current study, sildenafil was formulated as nanofibers and mixed with the root extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (glycyrrhizin) as a natural sweetener to be administrated in the buccal cavity for enhanced drug bioavailability, rapid drug absorption and improved patient compliance. The formulated dual-loaded nanofibers were evaluated by measuring diameter, disintegration, drug loading efficiency, drug release profile, and in vitro cell viability assessment. The results showed that the sildenafil/glycyrrhizin-loaded fibers had a diameter of 0.719 ± 0.177 µm and lacked any beads and pores formation on their surfaces. The drug loading and encapsulation efficiency for sildenafil were measured as 52 ± 7 µg/mg and 67 ± 9 %, respectively, while they were 290 ± 32 µg/mg and 94 ± 10 %, respectively, for glycyrrhizin. The release rate of sildenafil and glycyrrhizin demonstrated a burst release in the first minute, followed by a gradual increment until a complete release after 120 min. The in vitro cell viability evaluation exhibited that the application of sildenafil and glycyrrhizin is safe upon 24-hour treatment on human skin fibroblast cells at all used concentrations (i.e., ≤ 1,000 and 4,000 µg/mL, respectively). However, the application of sildenafil-glycyrrhizin combination (in a ratio of 1:4) demonstrated more than 80 % cell viability at concentrations of ≤ 250 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively, following 24-hour cell exposure. Therefore, sildenafil/glycyrrhizin dual-loaded PVP nanofibers showed a potential buccal therapeutic approach for erectile dysfunction management.

Evaluation of facial hair-associated SNPs: a pilot study on male Pakistani Punjabi population.

Variation in facial hair is one of the most conspicuous features of facial appearance, particularly in South Asia and Middle East countries. A genome-wide association study in Latin Americans has identified multiple genetic variants at distinct loci being associated with facial hair traits including eyebrow thickness, beard thickness, and monobrow. In this pilot study, we have evaluated 16 SNPs associated with facial hair traits in 58 male individuals from the Punjabi population of Pakistan. In our sample, rs365060 in EDAR and rs12597422 in FTO showed significant association with monobrow, rs6684877 in MACF1 showed significant association with eyebrow thickness, and two SNPs in LOC105379031 (rs9654415 and rs7702331) showed significant association with beard thickness. Our results also suggest that genetic association may vary between ethnic groups and geographic regions. Although more data are needed to validate our results, our findings are of value in forensic molecular photofitting research in Pakistan.

The relationship between hydroxychloroquine plasma concentration and COVID-19 outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and has been repurposed for the treatment of COVID-19. This study aims to determine whether HCQ concentration levels in individuals with RA alter the incidence of COVID-19 or its complications. Methods: We collected plasma samples from 13 individuals with confirmed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to measure HCQ concentration levels. The study included individuals at least 18 years old who had been taking HCQ for at least six months at daily doses ranging from 200 to 400 mg. Results: The study enrolled a total of 13 RA patients. All patients were chronic HCQ users. Among the 13 patients, 7 patients were receiving HCQ at a dose of 200 mg per day, and 6 patients were receiving HCQ at a dose of 400 mg per day. COVID-19 confirmed cases accounted for approximately 46% of all patients. Half of the infected patients (n = 3) were taking a daily dose of 200 mg daily, while the other half were taking 400 mg daily. COVID-19 symptoms ranged from mild to moderate, and the intensity of the symptoms was not severe enough to necessitate hospitalization. COVID-19 symptoms in RA patients included headache, fever, fatigue, dry cough, and loss of taste or smell. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that there was no correlation between HCQ concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis patients and the occurrence of COVID-19 or its complications.

Abemaciclib-loaded ethylcellulose based nanosponges for sustained cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells lines.

Abemaciclib (AC) is a novel, orally available drug molecule approved for the treatment of breast cancer. Due to its low bioavailability, its administration frequency is two to three times a day that can decrease patient compliance. Sustained release formulation are needed for prolong the action and to reduce the adverse effects. The aim of current study was to develop sustained release NSs of AC. Nanosponges (NSs) was prepared by emulsion-solvent diffusion method using ethyl-cellulose (EC) and Kolliphor P-188 (KP-188) as sustained-release polymer and surfactant, respectively. Effects of varying surfactant concentration and drug: polymer proportions on the particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ζP), entrapment efficiency (%EE), and drug loading (%DL) were investigated. The results of AC loaded NSs (ACN1-ACN5) exhibited PS (366.3-842.2 nm), PDI (0.448-0.853), ζP (-8.21 to -19.7 mV), %EE (48.45-79.36%) and %DL (7.69-19.17%), respectively. Moreover, ACN2 showed sustained release of Abemaciclib (77.12 ± 2.54%) in 24 h Higuchi matrix as best fit kinetics model. MTT assay signified ACN2 as potentials cytotoxic nanocarrier against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Further, ACN2 displayed drug release property without variation in the % release after exposing the product at 25 °C, 5 °C, and 45 °C storage conditions for six months. This investigation proved that the developed NSs would be an efficient carrier to sustain the release of AC in order to improve efficacy against breast cancer.

A retrospective analysis of emergency referrals and admissions to a regional neurosurgical centre 2016-2018.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Emergencies account for 60% of UK neurosurgical workload. We analysed the emergency referrals made to the on-call neurosurgical registrar in a regional centre over three years, aiming to identify temporal trends in volume of referrals, admission practices and major diagnostic categories contributing to referrals and admissions. METHODS: Individual referrals recorded in on-call databases were processed to extract basic demographics, call timing, diagnosis category and whether the patient was admitted under neurosurgery. Linear regression analysis was used to identify temporal trends across the three years. RESULTS: A total of 18128 calls were made to the on-call registrar between 2016 and 2018, with a significant increase in monthly calls. On average, one call was received every 88 minutes. An increasing proportion of these calls were taken out of office hours. Diagnostic categories accounting for the largest percentage of calls were traumatic brain injury (17.7%) and cauda equina syndrome (13%). Significant increases in referral volume were seen in cauda equina syndrome, traumatic brain injury, spinal trauma and spinal tumours, while no category had a significant decrease. The admission rate was 17.1% - no change was seen in this across the study period, resulting in increasing numbers of admissions, reflecting increasing referrals. Categories most likely to result in admission were hydrocephalus (41.1%), spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage (39.4%), intracranial infection (32.6%) and chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH, 32.2%). A change in admission rate was seen only for CSDH, with a significant increase in the percentage of referrals across the study period. CONCLUSION: Emergency neurosurgical referrals continue to rise in the UK at a rate exceeding population growth. This implies a decreasing referral threshold. However, the constant admission rate suggests either an increasing amount of neurosurgical pathology, the threshold for admission/intervention has decreased, or a combination. Neurosurgical services need to adapt in order to meet increasing demands.

Evaluation of tuberculosis diagnostic tools, with extending MODS assay use to second line susceptibility testing.

Tuberculosis diagnosis and drug susceptibility testing (DST) are considered a priority for prompt initiation of effective therapy, increasing the chance of cure, decreasing the development of resistance, and reducing transmission. AIM: Our objective was to evaluate currently applied diagnostic tools for tuberculosis including microscopic examination, GeneXpert, culture, and microscopic observation drug susceptibility (MODS) assay, investigating MODS assay usage for second line DST against culture based methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study the 120 sputum samples collected from suspected cases were over one year duration from December 2018 to January 2020. The samples were subjected to ZN microscopic examination, GeneXpert, MODS assay, and culture for detection of mycobacteria. Moreover, resistance to 5 drugs: isoniazid, rifampicin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, and amikacin were tested using MODS against the proportion method. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the MODS assay were similar culture method with the advantage of obtaining the results in a median time of 10.7 days. Whereas the specificity of ZN and GeneXpert was high among untreated cases and decreased in subjects with a history of treatment. Monoresistance was the most common form of resistance detected among new cases followed by multidrug resistance, with a categorical agreement between the two methods above 90% for all tested drugs. CONCLUSIONS: MODS assay is an attractive option once standardized for second line susceptibility testing and GeneXpert assay is of high sensitivity for rapid detection of MTB and RIF resistance especially in treatment naive cases.

Demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes among young and middle-aged COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia.

The impact of different sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on the COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality rates have been studied extensively around the world; however, there is a dearth of data on the impact of different clinical and sociodemographic variables on the COVID-19-related outcomes in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to identify those at high risk of worse clinical outcomes, such as hospitalization and longer length of stay (LOS) among young and middle-aged adults (18 to 55 years). In this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study, 706 patients with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed COVID-19 infection were interviewed. Patients' demographic characteristics, dietary habits, medical history, and lifestyle choices were collected through phone interviews. Patients with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, reported a higher rate of hospitalization, ICU admission, oxygen-support needs, and a longer period of recovery and LOS. Multiple logistic regression showed that diabetes, hypertension, and pulmonary disease (e.g., asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization and longer LOS. Multiple logistic regression showed that symptoms of breathlessness, loss of smell and/or taste, diarrhea, and cough were associated with a longer recovery period. Similarly, breathlessness, vomiting, and diarrhea were associated with higher rates of hospitalization. The findings of this study confirm the similarity of the factors associated with worse clinical outcomes across the world. Future studies should use more robust designs to investigate the impact of different therapies on the COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality in Saudi Arabia.

Effect of dietary supplementation of organic zinc on laying performance, egg quality and some biochemical parameters of laying hens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of zinc methionine (Zn-Met) supplementation on the performance, egg quality, antioxidant status and some biochemical parameters of blood serum in laying hens from 22 to 34 weeks of age. A total of 120 Hisex Brown laying hens of 22-week-old were randomly allocated into five treatments with six cage replicates for each (four hens/replicate). Dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet with no Zn-Met supplementation (control group) and basal diet supplemented with 25, 50, 75 or 100 mg Zn-Met/kg diet. No significant differences were observed on body weight, body weight gain or feed conversion ratio due to dietary Zn-Met supplementation. However, highly significant impact was observed on daily feed intake. Egg number, egg weight and egg mass were increased in the group fed diet supplemented with the highest level of Zn-Met (100 mg/kg of diet) as compared to other groups. All egg quality traits were statistically (p > .05 or .01) affected as a response to dietary Zn-Met supplementation except egg shape index, shell percentage and yolk index. In comparison with the control group, dietary supplementation of 25, 50, 75 or 100 mg Zn-Met/kg decreased serum triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels. Serum cholesterol level was increased with all dietary levels of Zn-Met in comparison with the control group. Dietary Zn-Met supplementation increased the serum content of zinc, where the highest values were recorded with 50 and 100 mg Zn-Met/kg diet. Dietary Zn-Met levels did not affect the antioxidant indices in blood serum except for the activity of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn-SOD). The activity of Cu-Zn-SOD was increased with Zn-Met supplementations with no differences among supplemental zinc levels. It is concluded that dietary Zn-Met supplementation reduced serum triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and increased Zn status and resulted in promoting antioxidant ability of laying hens, and the addition of 100 mg Zn-Met/kg to layer diet was appropriate for improving the above parameters in addition to egg production indices and Haugh unit score.

Efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir-based, interferon-free therapy : The Management of rheumatologic extrahepatic manifestations associated with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: The use of pegylated interferon alpha (IFN) has been of concern in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients with rheumatologic extrahepatic manifestations (EHM) due to the immunostimulatory effects of IFN. AIM: To study the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir-based, IFN-free antiviral therapy in chronic HCV patients with rheumatologic EHM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Group A included 24 patients with arthropathy (arthralgia or arthritis, n = 15) or vasculitis (n = 9) who received sofosbuvir and ribavirin (n = 17) or sofosbuvir and simeprevir (n = 7). Group B comprised 15 historical controls suffering from arthropathy who had received IFN and ribavirin. All patients were clinically evaluated and by detection of HCV viremia at baseline (V0), at the end of treatment (V1), 12 weeks after end of treatment (V2) and 24 weeks after end of treatment (V3). RESULTS: Sustained viral response was obtained in all patients of group A (100%) versus 12 out of 15 of group B (80%). In group A, the tender joint count (TJC) and visual analogue scale for pain (VAS) improved (p = 0.001 for both) while the swollen joint count (SJC) decreased at V1 (p = 0.001) but returned to baseline values at V3. All vasculitis patients improved. Purpura, arthralgia and leg ulcers disappeared, but peripheral neuropathy persisted. In group B, TJC, SJC and VAS increased from baseline values (p = 0.034, 0.03 and 0.001, respectively). Side effects in group A were generally mild, but one patient developed deterioration of arthralgia. CONCLUSION: The use of IFN-free regimens is safe and effective in the treatment of most HCV-related rheumatologic EHM.

Double-blind randomized controlled trial of letrozole versus clomiphene citrate in subfertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

STUDY QUESTION: Would letrozole as a primary ovulation induction agent generate better pregnancy rates than clomiphene citrate (CC) in subfertile women with anovulatory polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)? SUMMARY ANSWER: Participants receiving letrozole as a primary treatment achieved a significantly (P = 0.022) higher clinical pregnancy rate per patient (61.2%) compared to CC (43.0%). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: According to a recent Cochrane systematic review (2014), letrozole appears to improve live-birth (LB) and pregnancy rates in anovulatory women with PCOS, compared to CC. However, the review concluded that the quality of evidence was low due to poor reporting of study methods and possible publication bias. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) included 159 participants between April 2007 and June 2014. Subjects were randomly allocated to either CC (n = 79) or letrozole (n = 80) in a 1:1 ratio. Both drugs were encapsulated to look identical. Randomization was performed in mixed blocks and stratified by patients' BMI (<30 and 30-35 kg/m2). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The trial included subfertile women diagnosed with PCOS. Treatment started with one tablet (CC 50 mg, letrozole 2.5 mg) increasing to two in non-responders and continuing until pregnancy or for up to six ovulatory cycles. Non-responders were crossed over to the other treatment after a 6-week break. Cycles were initially monitored with ultrasound follicle tracking then mid-luteal serum progesterone measurement in subsequent cycles. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Amongst the 159 participants included in the intention-to-treat analysis, four women conceived before treatment and six were lost-to-follow-up. The remaining 149 participants (74 on CC and 75 on letrozole) completed at least the first treatment. Women receiving letrozole achieved a significantly (P = 0.022; absolute difference [95% confidence interval] 18% [3-33%]) higher pregnancy rate (61.%) than those on CC (43%). The median number of treatment cycles received until pregnancy was significantly (log rank P = 0.038) smaller with letrozole (4[3-5] cycles) compared to CC (6[4-7] cycles). LB rates were not statistically (P = 0.089) different between the two groups, although there was a trend towards higher rates on letrozole (48.8%) compared to CC (35.4%). After the crossover, pregnancy and LB rates on letrozole (n = 45; 28.9 and 24.4%, respectively) were not statistically (P = 0.539 and P = 0.601) different from CC (n = 31; 22.6 and 19.4%). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: One possible limitation of this trial may be the exclusion of PCOS women with BMI > 35 kg/m2, which would limit the applicability of the results in this subgroup of PCOS. However, this group of women are generally excluded from treatment in the majority of fertility centres, especially in Europe, due to the associated challenges and risks. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The results of this trial are consistent with the recent Cochrane systematic review. However, with its robust design, the current RCT provides more valid and compelling evidence for the superiority of letrozole over CC as a primary ovulation induction agent in PCOS women with 40% increase in pregnancy rates and with a shorter time-to-pregnancy. Furthermore, the participants in this RCT are a good representation of subfertile PCOS population receiving fertility treatment in Europe and worldwide. The results are therefore globally generalizable for clinical practice. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This RCT was mainly funded by the R&D Funding Scheme of Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The study also received funds from School of Medicine, University of Nottingham. The Trust R&D department was involved in the development of the protocol and the running of the trial. The trial was sponsored and monitored by the University of Nottingham. The authors have no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: www.Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00478504. TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE: Registration was verified on 23/05/2007. DATE OF FIRST PATIENT'S ENROLMENT: 25/04/2007.

Schistosomiasis mansoni incidence data in Rwanda can improve prevalence assessments, by providing high-resolution hotspot and risk factors identification.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis mansoni constitutes a significant public health problem in Rwanda. The nationwide prevalence mapping conducted in 2007-2008 revealed that prevalence per district ranges from 0 to 69.5% among school children. In response, mass drug administration campaigns were initiated. However, a few years later some additional small-scale studies revealed the existence of areas of high transmission in districts formerly classified as low endemic suggesting the need for a more accurate methodology for identification of hotspots. This study investigated if confirmed cases of schistosomiasis recorded at health facility level can be used to, next to existing prevalence data, detect geographically more accurate hotspots of the disease and its associated risk factors. METHODS: A GIS-based spatial and statistical analysis was carried out. Confirmed cases, recorded at primary health facilities level, were combined with demographic data to calculate incidence rates for each of 367 health facility service area. Empirical Bayesian smoothing was used to deal with rate instability. Incidence rates were compared with prevalence data to identify their level of agreement. Spatial autocorrelation of the incidence rates was analyzed using Moran's Index, to check if spatial clustering occurs. Finally, the spatial relationship between schistosomiasis distribution and potential risk factors was assessed using multiple regression. RESULTS: Incidence rates for 2007-2008 were highly correlated with prevalence values (R2 = 0.79), indicating that in the case of Rwanda incidence data can be used as a proxy for prevalence data. We observed a focal distribution of schistosomiasis with a significant spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I > 0: 0,05-0.20 and p ≤ 0,05), indicating the occurrence of hotspots. Regarding risk factors, it was identified that the spatial pattern of schistosomiasis is significantly associated with wetland conditions and rice cultivation. CONCLUSION: In Rwanda the high density of health facilities and the standardized microscopic laboratory diagnostic allow the derived data to be used to complement prevalence studies to identify hotspots of schistosomiasis and its associated risk factors. This type of information, in turn, can support disease control interventions and monitoring.

Virology and epidemiology analyses of global adenovirus-associated conjunctivitis outbreaks, 1953-2013.

This study aimed to compare the virology and epidemiology of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), pharyngoconjunctival fever (PCF) and acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) outbreaks worldwide caused by the human adenovirus (HAdV) from 1953 to 2013. Eighty-three hexon sequences from 76 conjunctivitis outbreaks were analysed and subtyped using Mega 5.05, Clustal X and SimPlot software. Epidemiology was performed for the area, age and seasonal distribution. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that all the isolates could be divided into three subgenetic lineages, without a common ancestor. The major causes of the outbreaks were Ad8, Ad7 and Ad2 co-infection with enterovirus 70 (EV70) in EKC, PCF and AHC, respectively. The epidemiological findings suggested that EKC and AHC were circulating predominantly in Asia during the early winter and spring, whereas PCF was circulating mainly in China, Australia and the United States during the summer. This study suggests that EKC, AHC and PCF outbreaks have different circulating patterns throughout the world and are caused by different adenovirus serotypes. A global surveillance system should be established to monitor conjunctivitis outbreaks in the future.

Currently recommended BK virus (BKV) plasma viral load cutoff of ≥4 log10/mL underestimates the diagnosis of BKV-associated nephropathy: a single transplant center experience.

BACKGROUND: BK virus (BKV)-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) is a major cause of renal dysfunction and graft loss in renal transplant recipients. Monitoring plasma BK viral load (BKVL) is the recommended screening tool to predict BKVAN. American Society of Transplantation (AST) guidelines define a BKVL of ≥4 log10/mL (10,000 copies) as presumptive BKVAN and recommend reduction in immunosuppression. We evaluated the clinical sensitivity of the quantitative BKV DNA assay in predicting risk for BKVAN using the AST-recommended BKVL cutoff. METHODS: In a retrospective, single-center study, all patients who underwent renal transplant at Henry Ford Hospital from January 2008 to August 2011 were analyzed (n = 490). Plasma BKVL Assay A (commercial large T antigen-based polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) was done in all patients. Renal biopsy was done if there was a rise in serum creatinine ≥0.5 mg from baseline. BKVAN was confirmed by biopsy. As a subset to this study, from the same cohort, data for a set of 20 consecutive Assays A and B (in-house VP1-based PCR assay) from 15 patients over a period of 3 months were collected. Differences in physicians' clinical decision-making (CDM) were analyzed between the 2 assays using chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 413 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 222 patients had BK viremia. Among the 248 patients who had a renal biopsy done, 31 (12.5%) were found to have BKVAN. Eleven of the 31 (35%) patients had BKVL consistently <4 log10/mL, and thus were not diagnosed to have BKVAN using the AST-recommended BKVL cutoff of ≥4 log10/mL. A total of 8 patients lost their graft owing to BKVAN, including 3 patients with BKVL <4 log10/mL. Using a cutoff point of plasma BKVL of ≥4 log10/mL, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predicative value of the PCR Assay A for the diagnosis of biopsy-proven BKVAN were 64.5%, 98.4%, 87.0%, and 94.5%, respectively, and for the diagnosis of presumptive nephropathy were found to be 76.6%, 99.4%, 95.8%, and 96.4%, respectively. In the second part of the study, presumptive nephropathy was detected in 8 samples using Assay A and 14 samples using Assay B. Six samples in Assay A would have led to no changes in the CDM in terms of reduction in immunosuppression. Kidney biopsy was carried out in 5 patients, 4 of whom had BKVAN and had Assay B log count of ≥5. If Assay A had been used in CDM, BKVAN would have been missed in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: Utilizing the current AST guideline cutoff of ≥4 log10 /mL, the PCR Assay A underestimated the diagnosis of BKVAN. Urgent standardization of the various BKVL assays and establishment of universal cutoff points is imperative to avoid BKVAN-related graft loss.

Comparative isoenzyme electrophoreses between the brown-spotted locust, Cyrtacanthacris tatarica, and the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria.

The desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), and the brown-spotted locust, Cyrtacanthacris tatarica (Linné) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), were collected from Saudi Arabia to investigate their relationships. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses of five arbitrarily chosen metabolic enzymes extracted from the leg muscles of the two locust taxa were conducted. These enzymes were acid phosphatase (Acph), alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh), ßester-ase (ß est), malic enzyme (Mal) and malate dehydrogenase (Mdh). Twenty presumptive gene loci and 26 polymorphic alleles were recorded. Acph did not discriminate between the two locust species, while the other four isoenzymes discriminated between them. Most of the alleles were monomeric, but Mal and Mdh exhibited dimeric alleles in the samples of C. tatarica. ß est fractions were more expressed in C. tatarica, and the three enzymes ß est, Mal, and Mdh discriminated clearly between the two species. The similarity coefficient that was calculated according to the number of sharing alleles between the two locusts was found to be 0.69. The isoenzyme variation presented herein seemed to reflect either their physiological adaptation or the taxonomic consequences between the two taxa. Collecting more isoenzymes for more samples could have taxonomic value.

Awareness and Risk Assessment of Breast Cancer Among Women in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Breast cancer is the most common female cancer worldwide including in Saudi Arabia. As a result, many cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to a poor outcome. Understanding risk perception is a significant component of awareness of breast cancer risks. It can be helpful to reduce the mortality of breast cancer via increasing awareness of the risk factors. Objective Our study was designed to assess the level of awareness among women in Saudi Arabia regarding breast cancer, including knowledge about risk factors, symptoms, and the importance of early detection. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted, and participants were randomly selected. The target population in this study is all women in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected via an online questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 21.0, Armonk, NY). Results About 713 women were enrolled in this study. Most of them (69%) were within the age group of 35-45 years old. Age at menarche was found to be 12-13 years old in 313 (43.9%) of the participants and age at first live birth was found to be 20-24 in about 360 (50.5%). The number of population with first-degree relatives that have a history of breast cancer is one relative in 126 (17.7%) of the participants and about 36 (5%) had breast biopsy. About 76 (10.7%) of the participants were considered as having a high risk of breast cancer according to the estimated five-year breast cancer-risk assessment (had a five-year breast cancer risk >1.66%). The mean knowledge score of the participants about breast cancer was found to be 4.62 ± 1.86 out of 8. About 509 (71.4%) of the participants were considered to be having a good level of knowledge about breast cancer. Long-term hormone contraceptive use and older age can increase the chance of developing breast cancer as agreed on by 363 (50.9%) and 287 (40.3%) of the participants respectively. A total of 677 (95%) of the participants mentioned that early detection is important to survive breast cancer. And 639 (89.6%) of the participants think that breast cancer is treatable and about 288 (40.4%) think that the suitable age to start mammography is above 30 years old. Conclusion There is a good general knowledge and awareness about breast cancer among study participants. There were few knowledge gaps regarding the effect of obesity, hormonal contraceptives and older age on the association with breast cancer. About 10% of the participants were found to be having high five-year breast cancer risk.

Highly effective and reusable Ni-Al oxide/Zn0.4Co0.6Fe2O4 superparamagnetic aerogel for oil-water separation.

Oily wastewater from the oil industry and oil spill accidents has become a serious environmental problem and has attracted worldwide attention. The present study reports on the successful preparation of a novel magnetic Ni-Al oxide/Zn0.4Co0.6F2O4 mesoporous aerogel (MNA) as a highly selective adsorbent for oil removal from water. Oleic acid (OA) and Triton X-100 (TX) were used as hydrophobic agents for MNA surface modification. It was found that the attached amount of OA on the mesoporous MNA aerogel is 3.5 times larger than that of TX, giving an advantage to MNA-OA in oil separation. The MNA-OA displayed superhydrophobicity (contact angle ∼150°) and superparamagnetism properties that allowed the adsorbent to be used selectively for oil removal. The MNA-OA was found to have a high oil removal efficiency of ∼97% with an adsorption capacity of ∼2 g/g. Furthermore, the produced magnetic adsorbent has high stability due to the strong chemical binding of OA, which is demonstrated by its good reusability performance. Throughout five separate runs, the MNA-OA was shown to be a very efficient and reusable adsorbent for oily wastewater.

The Effect of Bariatric Surgery on Menstrual Abnormalities in Saudi Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Adults in Saudi Arabia are more likely to be obese, which has negative effects on reproductive health, especially for women. While bariatric surgery (BS) provides a sustainable approach, little is known about how it affects menstrual health and requires a study among the Saudi demographic. METHODS: The current investigation is a cross-sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an online questionnaire to assess the impact of BS on menstrual abnormalities in women. Data were cleaned in Excel and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 24.0, Armonk, NY). RESULTS: This study included 516 Saudi women who underwent various BS procedures, with 37.2% aged 18-30 years and 97.9% residing in Saudi Arabia. Approximately 85.9% underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG), experiencing a mean weight loss of 54.2 kg. Co-morbidities included polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (12.4%), hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism (11%), uterine fibroids (4.7%), and hormonal imbalances (2.5%). Post-surgery, 18% encountered BS complications from BS, while 8.3% used antidepressants. Moderate sports participation ranged from 12.2% (five or more days) to 36.2% (one to three days). In particular, no significant associations were found between complications and various parameters, except a marginal association with educational level (p=0.071). The number of menstruations per year did not change statistically significantly, remaining constant at 10.6±4.8 before surgery and 10.6±4.9 after surgery (p = 0.859). However, there was a mild decrease in the amount and duration of menstruation, reported by 23.3% and 27.3% of the participants preoperatively and post-operatively, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates the impact of BS on menstrual abnormalities in Saudi women. Despite a significant weight reduction, we found mild improvement in the amount and duration of menstruation with no substantial effect observed on the menstrual cycle frequency. Psychological support after surgery is crucial, considering the increased use of antidepressants.

Knowledge and Attitude of Parents Regarding the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine as a New Component in the Saudi Vaccination Schedule.

Background The most frequent gynecologic cancer in women is cervical cancer. The majority of incidents take place in less developed nations without access to reliable screening tools. Human papillomavirus (HPV) exposure, smoking, and immune system dysfunction are risk factors. As a result of effective screening, its incidence and death have significantly decreased in many nations. Hence, this study aims to assess the level of knowledge and awareness among parents regarding HPV, including its associated health risks and the benefits of vaccination. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia from September to November 2023. The main tool used for gathering data was an online, self-administered survey via Google Forms. Collected data was analysed using SPSS v. 24 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), where all applicable statistical tests were used. Results Females exhibited higher levels of confidence and agreement with COVID-19 and HPV vaccination recommendations compared to males. A substantial percentage of males expressed strong disagreement and reduced confidence in HPV vaccination, contributing to the gender-based divergence. Individuals with higher education levels, such as university degree graduates, showed greater support for compulsory vaccines and a preference for natural immunity development in their children. Marital status played a role in vaccine-related decisions, with variations in vaccine refusal rates and difficulty discussing the HPV vaccine noted among individuals based on their marital status. Conclusion The study highlights the value of medical experts and specifically created training programs to close knowledge gaps and boost HPV vaccination rates. Demographic factors have an impact on attitudes, which highlights the need for targeted interventions.

Prevalence of Depression Among the Adult Population in Southwestern Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional, Community-Based Study.

Background Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, which is increasing globally with higher prevalence among women. Many factors contribute to the etiology and risk factors for depression, including biological and psychosocial factors. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression among the adult population in Al-Qunfudah governorate, southwestern Saudi Arabia (SA). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1036 participants among adults in Al-Qunfudah governorate, southwestern SA, using a validated Arabic version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) during the period from October 1st, 2022 to the end of December 2022. The PHQ-9 contains nine items, with a total score ranging from 0 to 27. A score of 1-4 represented minimal depression, while a score of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represented mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively. The sample size was estimated to be 375 participants, by considering a margin of error of 5%, and a 95% confidence interval, calculated using Raosoft calculator (Raosoft Inc., Seattle, WA). Data collection was performed through an online survey of the PHQ-9 on a Google form and distributed using different social media platforms. The eligible participants' responses were kept confidential and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22 (Released 2013; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.  Results The study showed that the overall prevalence of depression among the 1036 adult study participants was 68.1%. Mild, moderate, moderate to severe, and severe depression was diagnosed among 28.2%, 21.9%, 12%, and 6% of the participants, respectively. Several factors were significantly associated with PHQ-9 diagnosed depression including being younger (p<0.0001), a female (p<0.0001), single (p<0.0001), a student (p<0.0001), and non-employed (p<0.0001) and having a lower educational level (p<0.0001). Conclusions There is a high prevalence rate of depression among the adult population of Al-Qunfudah governorate in southwestern SA, which highlights the need for interventions to address this issue, and to reduce the incidence of depression in the region among the high-risk groups.