Epidemiological Mapping of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Saudi Arabia: An Observational Descriptive Study.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease that affects individuals worldwide. An epidemiological observational population-cohort study was conducted on the basis of comprehensive research on CL incidence in Saudi and non-Saudi residents. The Ministry of Health recorded the incidence of CL between January 2020 and December 2022. The chi-square test was used to analyze the data and determine CL incidence rates in age-specific incidence rates (ASIRs) and gender between Saudi and non-Saudi residents in Saudi Arabia. The study found that between 2020 and 2022, there were 2280 cases of CL in Saudi Arabia, with 1367 and 913 cases in men and women, respectively. Of Saudi nationals, 64.26% and 12.91% were male and female, respectively. The frequency of CL was higher (87.09%) among non-Saudi residents than among Saudi nationals, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.001) between the two groups. The ASIRs for CL were higher in patients aged 15-45 years. This study revealed variations in CL incidence rates among the 13 administrative regions; Qassim, followed by Aseer, Ha'il, and Madinah, had higher rates than the other regions. These findings indicate the need for targeted interventions and public health strategies to reduce the burden on CL, particularly among non-Saudi residents.

Fabrication and Characterization of the Micro-Heater and Temperature Sensor for PolyMUMPs-Based MEMS Gas Sensor.

This work describes the fabrication and characterization of a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor for gas sensing applications. The sensor is based on standard PolyMUMPs (Polysilicon Multi-Users MEMS Process) technology to control the temperature over the sensing layer. Due to its compact size and low power consumption, micro-structures enable a well-designed gas-sensing-layer interaction, resulting in higher sensitivity compared to the ordinary materials. The aim of conducting the characterization is to compare the measured and calculated resistance values of the micro-heater and the temperature sensor. The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the temperature sensor has been estimated by raising and dropping the temperature throughout a 25-110 °C range. The sensitivity of these sensors is dependent on the TCR value. The temperature sensor resistance was observed to rise alongside the rising environmental temperatures or increasing voltages given to the micro-heater, with a correlation value of 0.99. When compared to the TCR reported in the literature for the gold material 0.0034 °C-1, the average TCR was determined to be 0.00325 °C-1 and 0.0035 °C-1, respectively, indicating inaccuracies of 4.6% and 2.9%, respectively. The variation between observed and reported values is assumed to be caused by the fabrication tolerances of the design dimensions or material characteristics.

Modeling of interstitial microwave hyperthermia for hepatic tumors using floating sleeve antenna.

Microwave hyperthermia is a treatment modality that uses microwaves to destroy cancer cells by increasing their temperature to 41-45 °C. This study aims to design, model, and simulate a microwave sleeve antenna for hepatic (liver) hyperthermia. A floating sleeve antenna with 0.5 w input power was designed to resonate at 2.45 GHz. The antenna was tested in six different 3D liver models. The models were varied from a very simple model without a tumor and blood vessels to complex models that contain realistic tumors and blood vessels. To test the capability of the proposed antenna for heating the interstitial tumors, the size, shape, and location of the tumor were changed. The specific absorption rate (SAR) and temperature were calculated for each model. The tumors' temperature was elevated between 43 and 45 °C, while the temperature of the surrounding tissues was below 41 °C. The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) was between 29 and 30 W/kg in the tumors and below 24 W/Kg in the surrounding tissues. The return loss of the antenna varied from - 45 to - 25 dB for the six models. The antenna could heat hepatic tumors with different sizes and locations. The heating process was performed in a short time by using a very low input power compared to all previous studies.

In vivo effect of selected medicinal plants against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep.

Nematode resistance to anthelmintic drugs affects small ruminant production globally. This study evaluated in vivo effects of five plant extracts as alternative nematode treatments. Animals were divided into six groups. Each group was randomly assigned a treatment: Abamectin and Praziquantel (CAP) (positive Control), ethanol extracts of Ananas comosus (AC), Aloe ferox (AF), Allium sativum (AS), Lespedeza cuneata (LC) and Warburgia salutaris (WS). These were applied as an oral dose (100 mg kg(-1) BW), one dose per week per sheep for 42 days (Phase 1). From day 42 sheep were orally dosed for 3 consecutive days with the same treatments in the same groups (Phase 2). Rectal faecal samples were taken every 7 days up to day 63. Eggs per gram of faeces were counted in individual rectal samples, L3 larval stage was counted in faecal cultures, with four replicates per group. For plant extracts, EPG decreased (P < 0.001) with time and efficacy of plant increased (P < 0.001) with time. Ananas comosus and L. cuneata treatments had the highest efficacies of 58% and 61%, respectively, in Phase 1; and 77% and 81%, respectively, in Phase 2. Continuous treatment with these plants could further reduce nematode parasites and improve host health.