Secure Enhancement for MQTT Protocol Using Distributed Machine Learning Framework.

The Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol stands out as one of the foremost and widely recognized messaging protocols in the field. It is often used to transfer and manage data between devices and is extensively employed for applications ranging from smart homes and industrial automation to healthcare and transportation systems. However, it lacks built-in security features, thereby making it vulnerable to many types of attacks such as man-in-the-middle (MitM), buffer overflow, pre-shared key, brute force authentication, malformed data, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and MQTT publish flood attacks. Traditional methods for detecting MQTT attacks, such as deep neural networks (DNNs), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and fuzzy logic, may exist. The increasing prevalence of device connectivity, sensor usage, and environmental scalability become the most challenging aspects that novel detection approaches need to address. This paper presents a new solution that leverages an H2O-based distributed machine learning (ML) framework to improve the security of the MQTT protocol in networks, particularly in IoT environments. The proposed approach leverages the strengths of the H2O algorithm and architecture to enable real-time monitoring and distributed detection and classification of anomalous behavior (deviations from expected activity patterns). By harnessing H2O's algorithms, the identification and timely mitigation of potential security threats are achieved. Various H2O algorithms, including random forests, generalized linear models (GLMs), gradient boosting machine (GBM), XGBoost, and the deep learning (DL) algorithm, have been assessed to determine the most reliable algorithm in terms of detection performance. This study encompasses the development of the proposed algorithm, including implementation details and evaluation results. To assess the proposed model, various evaluation metrics such as mean squared error (MSE), root-mean-square error (RMSE), mean per class error (MCE), and log loss are employed. The results obtained indicate that the H2OXGBoost algorithm outperforms other H2O models in terms of accuracy. This research contributes to the advancement of secure IoT networks and offers a practical approach to enhancing the security of MQTT communication channels through distributed detection and classification techniques.

Evaluate the Work-Related Exposure of Vanadium on Scalp Hair Samples of Outdoor and Administrative Workers of Oil Drilling Field: Related Health Risks.

Petrochemical facilities, including oil well drilling, are discharging resources of extensive noxious waste into the environment. The workers in different sections might be exposed to vanadium (V) through different routes (groundwater and soil), which is linked with extensive physiological disorders, hypertension, respiratory disorders, anemia, skin, and gastrointestinal disorders. This study determined the contents of V in a biological sample (scalp hair) of workers of different categories (outdoor and office workers) in an oil drilling field in Sindh, Pakistan. The environmental samples, groundwater, bottled mineral water, and soil samples were also analyzed for V. For comparative purposes, the scalp hair of age-matched male subjects residing in domestic areas of Hyderabad city, Pakistan, was also analyzed. Generally, the concentrations of V in groundwater near the oil drilling field and drilled soil illustrated significant variations. The results show that the vanadium concentration in the scalp hair of non-exposed referents (controls) and office workers (exposed referents) was 62% and 45% lower than those observed for outdoor drilling and cleaning mud workers. It was observed that high exposure to V in outdoor workers might be linked with different physiological disorders such as anemia, eye problems, and bronchial disorders.

A Fiber-Optical Dosimetry Sensor for Gamma-Ray Irradiation Measurement in Biological Applications.

In this paper, we propose a novel fiber-optical dosimetry sensor for radiation measurement in biological applications. A two-dimensional (2D) fiber-optical dosimeter (FOD) for radiation measurement is considered. The sensors are arranged as a 2D array in a tailored holder. This FOD targets accurate industrial and medical applications which seek more tolerant radiation dosimeters. In this paper, the FOD sensors are subjected to gamma-ray radiation facilities from the 137Cs gamma-ray irradiator type for low doses and 60Co gamma-ray irradiator for high doses. For better evaluation of radiation effects on the FOD sample, the measurements are performed using eight sensors (hollow cylinder shape) with two samples in each dose. The sensors were measured before and after each irradiation. To the author's knowledge, the measurements of FOD transplanted inside animals are presented for the first time in this paper. A 2D simulation program has been implemented for numerical simulation based on the attenuation factors from the absorbed dose inside the in vivo models. A comparison between the FOD and the standard thermo-luminescence detector is presented based on the test of in vivo animal models. The results indicate that the proposed FOD sensor is more stable and has higher sensitivity.

PCR-RFLP Analysis of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 Gene Polymorphisms in Two Commercial Broiler Chicken Strains (Cobb 500 and Hubbard F-15) and Their Associations with Performance Traits.

The present research aimed to study the polymorphisms of the chicken insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) in two commercial broiler breeds (Cobb 500 and Hubbard F-15). In total, 300 avian blood samples were obtained. The genomic DNA was isolated using a fast salt-extraction technique. Moreover, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify 1146 bp fragments of the gene. The amplified fragments were subjected to restriction enzyme digestion using the HinfI endonuclease enzyme, and the digested products were separated on a 2% agarose gel. The findings indicated that there were two alleles T and C for the target locus, with frequencies of 73.3% and 26.7%, respectively. Three distinct genotype variations, TT, TC, and CC, were found, with genotype frequencies of 59.1%, 28.4%, and 12.5%, respectively. A test based on actual and anticipated frequencies of various genotypic variances of the IGF2 gene revealed that the divergence from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was not significant (P≤0.01) in commercial broiler breeds (Cobb 500 and Hubbard F-15) chickens. In addition, it was found that birds with genotype TC had a greater body mass at 8 weeks of age, compared to those with genotypes TT and CC. It was determined that the IGF2 gene exhibited a significant degree of variability and might be regarded as a possible genetic marker in selection and breeding programs for poultry.

Lead Exposure Survey Tool (LEST): A methodological approach to highlight the invisible lead poisoning.

Lead is the most common heavy metal found in the Earth's crust. Lead has been widely dispersed and incorporated in the natural world since prehistoric times. In the majority of wealthy countries, the amount of lead entering the atmosphere has been significantly reduced. Acute lead exposure becomes relatively low, but chronic lead exposure remains a substantial public health hazard. Disadvantaged people, are developing and industrializing countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Between 1981 and 2018, a comprehensive literature search was undertaken in the PubMed and Scopus databases. All studies were evaluated equally based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Delphi method was used to identify numerous resources of lead pollutants. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to evaluate the quality of identified papers for inclusion in the systematic review synthesis. The studies and sources of lead toxicology were further evaluated using a scale of evidence to establish the degree of evidence based on SIGN & GRADE standards. There were 14 genres and 82 subgenres identified. Through a comprehensive analysis, our cohort developed an exposure survey tool that takes into account the local sociocultural aspects of MENA countries, which will serve as a resource forresearchers, medical toxicologists, and public health professionals in the MENA region to enhance early detection of potential subjects, conduct further studies and implement exposure prevention strategies.•There is no single tool available to detect the invisible lead poison. Lead poisoning is a serious public health problem that can have devastating consequences.•The tool, called the Lead Exposure Survey Tool (LEST), uses a combination of but not limited to data sources, including blood lead levels, environmental lead levels, and demographic information, to identify subjects who are at risk of lead poisoning. LEST is a powerful tool that can help to improve early detection and prevention of lead poisoning.•The development of LEST is a major breakthrough in the fight against lead poisoning. This tool has the potential to save lives and improve the health of high risk subjects around the world.

ACCEPTANCE AND UTILIZATION OF MODERN FAMILY PLANNING METHODS AMONG WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA.

Introduction: Modern family planning is one of the most "health-promoting" and cost-effective activities in public health promotion and has the potential to avert approximately 30% of maternal and 10% of child deaths. Family planning is an important preventive measure against maternal and child morbidity and mortality. It is an essential component of primary health care and reproductive health. It confers important health and development benefits to individuals, families, communities, and the nation at large. Objectives: The study examined the acceptance and utilization of modern family planning methods among women of childbearing age in Potiskum town of Yobe State, North-eastern Nigeria. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted for the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 271 respondents comprising women of childbearing age (15-49 years) residing in Bolewa 'B', Yerimaram, and DogoNini wards of Potiskum town, Yobe State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants for the study. Results: The findings of the study revealed that the women of child-bearing age in Potiskum town, Yobe State have a high level of knowledge on modern family planning methods (88.6%) with friends and relatives as the predominant source of information (60.4%). More than half of the respondents (54.2%) have good utilization of modern family planning with cultural and religious misconceptions playing vital roles. The unmet needs were found to be (37.4%). Established determinants of utilization of modern family planning services among the respondents include male noninvolvement, side effects, religion, and distance beyond 5km to a health facility. Conclusion: In conclusion, despite a good level of knowledge of modern contraceptives among the respondents, only half utilize the services. It is recommended among others that, there is a need for the government, through the Ministry of Health, to revive and support family planning education at both household and community levels that targets the woman and her partner. This could be undertaken through community mobilization and engagement using print and mass media, traditional leaders, community resource groups, market places as well as newsletters, posters, and social media.

Identification and molecular docking of novel chikungunya virus NSP4 inhibitory peptides from camel milk proteins.

The chikungunya (CHIK) virus is an arbovirus belonging to the alphavirus (Togaviridae family). Around 85% of infected individuals suffer from symptoms such as high fever and severe joint pain; about 30 to 40% will develop a chronic joint illness. The Nsp4 protease is the most conserved protein in the alphavirus family and serves as an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Targeting this enzyme might inhibit the CHIKV replication cycle. This work aims to in silico study the CHIKV RdRp inhibitory effect of peptides derived from camel milk protein as antiviral peptides. Various bioinformatics tools were recruited to identify, screen, predict and assess peptides obtained from camel milk as antiviral peptides (AVPs). During this study, CHIKV Nsp4 (polymerase) was used as a target to be inhibited by interaction with peptides derived from camel milk protein. Among 91 putative bioactive peptides, the best predicted 5 were further evaluated. Molecular docking showed that the top 5 AVPs generated better docking scores and interacted well with active sites of Nsp4 by the formation of different hydrogen bonds as well as other bonds. AVP63 and AVP20 showed the best Molecular docking and MD simulation results. The residue 315ASP of the GDD motif (catalytic core) exhibited a favorable interaction with the AVPs. The findings of this study suggest that the AVP20 derived from camel milk protein can be a potential novel CHIKV polymerase inhibitor.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Preparation, phase stability, and magnetization behavior of high entropy hexaferrites.

The polycrystalline SrFe12O19 samples deeply substituted up to at.67% by Al3+, Ga3+, In3+, Co3+, and Cr3+ cations with a high configurational mixing entropy were prepared by solid-phase synthesis. Phase purity and unit cell parameters were obtained from XRD and analyzed versus the average ionic radius of the iron sublattice. The crystallite size varied around ∼4.5 µm. A comprehensive study of the magnetization was realized in various fields and temperatures. The saturation magnetization was calculated using the Law of Approach to Saturation. The accompanying magnetic parameters were determined. The magnetic crystallographic anisotropy coefficient and the anisotropy field were calculated. All investigated magnetization curves turned out to be nonmonotonic. The magnetic ordering and freezing temperatures were extracted from the ZFC and FC curves. The average size of magnetic clusters varied around ∼350 nm. The high values of the configurational mixing entropy and the phenomenon of magnetic dilution were taken into account.

Exploiting fungi in bioremediation for cleaning-up emerging pollutants in aquatic ecosystems.

Aquatic pollution negatively affects water bodies, marine ecosystems, public health, and economy. Restoration of contaminated habitats has attracted global interest since protecting the health of marine ecosystems is crucial. Bioremediation is a cost-effective and eco-friendly way of transforming hazardous, resistant contaminants into environmentally benign products using diverse biological treatments. Because of their robust morphology and broad metabolic capabilities, fungi play an important role in bioremediation. This review summarizes the features employed by aquatic fungi for detoxification and subsequent bioremediation of different toxic and recalcitrant compounds in aquatic ecosystems. It also details how mycoremediation may convert chemically-suspended matters, microbial, nutritional, and oxygen-depleting aquatic contaminants into ecologically less hazardous products using multiple modes of action. Mycoremediation can also be considered in future research studies on aquatic, including marine, ecosystems as a possible tool for sustainable management, providing a foundation for selecting and utilizing fungi either independently or in microbial consortia.

Promising roles of Zingiber officinale roscoe, Curcuma longa L., and Momordica charantia L. as immunity modulators against COVID-19: A bibliometric analysis.

Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, and Momordica charantia are medicinal plants that are commonly used in the form of herbal tea, which is formulated to strengthen the immune system, especially against COVID-19 infection. Excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulatory properties have been reported for their bioactive compounds, which have been shown to aid in stimulating immune systems as well as lowering the risk of severe COVID-19 such as lung injury. Yet, no bibliometric study on the subject is available. Hence, the purpose of this study is to quantitatively examine the existing articles related to the therapeutic potential of these three herbs, as well as their mechanisms of action in combating the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A total of 121 papers were retrieved from Scopus database up to 14th March 2023. The bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software. Based on the literature search, Z. officinale was the most researched plant. India appeared as the most prolific country, with the highest number of articles contributed by two authors from India (Rathi, R. and Gayatri Devi, R.). In terms of keywords, the plants were associated with immune modulation, management of symptoms, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities. Several important bioactive compounds were responsible for these effects such as gingerol, paradol, shogaol, curcumin, calebin A, momordicoside, karaviloside and cucurbitadienol. These compounds were hypothesized to prevent and cure COVID-19 by regulating inflammatory response, downregulating oxidative stress and modulating immunostimulatory activity. This review paper therefore supports the potential of Z. officinale, C. longa, and M. charantia to be formulated as a herbal blend for treating and preventing COVID-19 infection.

Enhanced adsorptive removal of rifampicin and tigecycline from single system using nano-ceria decorated biochar of mango seed kernel.

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) represent an emerging class of contaminants. With a potential to negatively impact human health and the ecosystem, existence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic systems is becoming a worrying concern. Antibiotics is a major class of PhACs and their existence in wastewater signifies a health risk on the long run. With the purpose of competently removing antibiotics from wastewater, cost-effective, and copiously available waste-derived adsorbents were structured. In this study, mango seeds kernel (MSK), both as a pristine biochar (Py-MSK) and as a nano-ceria-laden (Ce-Py-MSK) were applied for the remediation of rifampicin (RIFM) and tigecycline (TIGC). To save time and resources, adsorption experiments were managed using a multivariate-based scheme executing the fractional factorial design (FrFD). Percentage removal (%R) of both antibiotics was exploited in terms of four variables: pH, adsorbent dosage, initial drug concentration, and contact time. Preliminary experiments showed that Ce-Py-MSK has higher adsorption efficiency for both RIFM and TIGC compared to Py-MSK. The %R was 92.36% for RIFM compared to 90.13% for TIGC. With the purpose of comprehending the adsorption process, structural elucidation of both sorbents was performed using FT-IR, SEM, TEM, EDX, and XRD analyses which confirmed the decoration of the adsorbent surface with the nano-ceria. BET analysis revealed that Ce-Py-MSK has a higher surface area (33.83 m2/g) contrasted to the Py-MSK (24.72 m2/g). Isotherm parameters revealed that Freundlich model best fit Ce-Py-MSK-drug interactions. A maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of 102.25 and 49.28 mg/g was attained for RIFM and TIGC, respectively. Adsorption kinetics for both drugs conformed well with both pseudo-second order (PSO) and Elovich models. This study, therefore, has established the suitability of Ce-Py-MSK as a green, sustainable, cost-effective, selective, and efficient adsorbent for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.

The First Genomic Characterization of the Chikungunya Virus in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya is an arboviral infection caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) transmitted to humans by mosquitoes of Aedes spp. CHIKV has been confined to African countries and South-East Asia up to 2004, but since then, the pathogen has become more global, and its high morbidity rate has become more visible. Saudi Arabia is not an endemic region of CHIKV, and the virus's origin is not yet fully understood. This study aimed to characterize the genome of CHIKV from samples detected in Jeddah in 2018. METHOD: Twenty-two sets of primers were designed to amplify near-full length genome of CHIKV. RT-PCR was conducted from clinical samples. Two samples were used for studying near complete genome sequence while the remaining samples were used to study the E1 gene. Different bioinformatics tools were utilized. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis showed that the CHIKV strains clustered with strains isolated from Kenya during 2017-2018 and belonged to ECSA genotype. E1: L136F, K211E and I317V mutations were identified in our strains. Also, E2: M74I, A76T, and V264A mutations were documented. Additionally, the capsid N79S substitution was also detected. CONCLUSION: The genome of CHIKV was analyzed for the first time in Saudi Arabia to better understand the origin of the CHIKV and its genetic diversity, which showed high similarity with IE-a subclade of CHIKV strains detected in Mombasa (Kenya) indicating its possible origin.

Integrated machine learning-based model and WQI for groundwater quality assessment: ML, geospatial, and hydro-index approaches.

The demands upon the arid area for water supply pose threats to both the quantity and quality of social and economic activities. Thus, a widely used machine learning model, namely the support vector machines (SVM) integrated with water quality indices (WQI), was used to assess the groundwater quality. The predictive ability of the SVM model was assessed using a field dataset for groundwater from Abu-Sweir and Abu-Hammad, Ismalia, Egypt. Multiple water quality parameters were chosen as independent variables to build the model. The results revealed that the permissible and unsuitable class values range from 36 to 27%, 45 to 36%, and 68 to 15% for the WQI approach, SVM method and SVM-WQI model respectively. Besides, the SVM-WQI model shows a low percentage of the area for excellent class compared to the SVM model and WQI. The SVM model trained with all predictors with a mean square error (MSE) of 0.002 and 0.41; the models that had higher accuracy reached 0.88. Moreover, the study highlighted that SVM-WQI can be successfully implemented for the assessment of groundwater quality (0.90 accuracy). The resulting groundwater model in the study sites indicates that the groundwater is influenced by rock-water interaction and the effect of leaching and dissolution. Overall, the integrated ML model and WQI give an understanding of water quality assessment, which may be helpful in the future development of such areas.

Patterns of Care and Outcomes of Rectal Cancer Patients from the Iowa Cancer Registry: Role of Hospital Volume and Tumor Location.

BACKGROUND: Centralization of rectal cancer surgery has been associated with high-quality oncologic care. However, several patient, disease and system-related factors can impact where patients receive care. We hypothesized that patients with low rectal tumors would undergo treatment at high-volume centers and would be more likely to receive guideline-based multidisciplinary treatment. METHODS: Adults who underwent proctectomy for stage II/III rectal cancer were included from the Iowa Cancer Registry and supplemented with tumor location data. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to analyze factors associated with receiving care in high-volume hospital, while logistic regression for those associated with ≥ 12 lymph node yield, pre-operative chemoradiation and sphincter-preserving surgery. RESULTS: Of 414 patients, 38%, 39%, and 22% had low, mid, and high rectal cancers, respectively. Thirty-two percent were > 65 years, 38% female, and 68% had stage III tumors. Older age and rural residence, but not tumor location, were associated with surgical treatment in low-volume hospitals. Higher tumor location, high-volume, and NCI-designated hospitals had higher nodal yield (≥ 12). Hospital-volume was not associated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation rates or circumferential resection margin status. Sphincter-sparing surgery was independently associated with high tumor location, female sex, and stage III cancer, but not hospital volume. CONCLUSIONS: Low tumor location was not associated with care in high-volume hospitals. High-volume and NCI-designated hospitals had higher nodal yields, but not significantly higher neoadjuvant chemoradiation, negative circumferential margin, or sphincter preservation rates. Therefore, providing educational/quality improvement support in lower volume centers may be more pragmatic than attempting to centralize rectal cancer care among high-volume centers.

Characterization and Biodegradation of Phenol by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella variicola Strains Isolated from Sewage Sludge and Their Effect on Soybean Seeds Germination.

Phenols are very soluble in water; as a result, they can pollute a massive volume of fresh water, wastewater, groundwater, oceans, and soil, negatively affecting plant germination and animal and human health. For the detoxification and bioremediation of phenol in wastewater, phenol biodegradation using novel bacteria isolated from sewage sludge was investigated. Twenty samples from sewage sludge (SS) were collected, and bacteria in SS contents were cultured in the mineral salt agar (MSA) containing phenol (500 mg/L). Twenty colonies (S1 up to S20) were recovered from all the tested SS samples. The characteristics of three bacterial properties, 16S rDNA sequencing, similarities, GenBank accession number, and phylogenetic analysis showed that strains S3, S10, and S18 were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella variicola, respectively. P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and K. variicola were able to degrade 1000 mg/L phenol in the mineral salt medium. The bacterial strains from sewage sludge were efficient in removing 71.70 and 74.67% of phenol at 1000 mg/L within three days and could tolerate high phenol concentrations (2000 mg/L). The findings showed that P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and K. variicola could potentially treat phenolic water. All soybean and faba bean seeds were germinated after being treated with 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg/L phenol in a mineral salt medium inoculated with these strains. The highest maximum phenol removal and detoxification rates were P. aeruginosa and K. variicola. These strains may help decompose and detoxify phenol from industrial wastewater with high phenol levels and bioremediating phenol-contaminated soils.

Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues by GC-MSMS and UPLC-MSMS in Edible Vegetables.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase related to pesticide residues in foods, which may increase the risks to the consumer of these foods with the different quality and concentrations of pesticide residues. Pesticides are used for controlling pests that reduce yields. On the other hand, it has become a major public health concern due to its toxic properties. Thus, the objective of the current study employed the application of Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe (QuEChERS) method, in combination with gas and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric detection (GCMSMS, LCMSMS) in order to determine 137 pesticide residues (63 insecticides, 41 acaricides, 40 herbicide, 55 fungicide, nematicide, growth regulator, Chitin synthesis inhibitors, and Juvenile hormone mimics), in 801 vegetables such as 139 tomatoes, 185 peppers, 217 squash, 94 eggplants, and 166 cucumbers from different locations in Hail and Riyadh cities. The results showed that the majority of pesticide residues were detected for each of the following pesticides: acetaimpride, metalaxyl, imidaclopride, bifenthrin, pyridaben, difenoconazole, and azoxystrobien, which were repeated in the samples studied 39, 21, 11, 10, 8, 7, and 5, respectively. In addition, results observed that the tomato was the most contaminated with pesticide residues; it was contaminated with 19 compounds and was followed by pepper, cucumber, and squash, and the last commodity in the contaminated ranking was eggplant. The highest calculated estimated daily intakes (EDIs) were recorded for tomatoes which were estimated between 0.013 to 0.516 mg/kg of body weight per day (bw/day) while the lowest EDIs value was between 0.000002 to 0.0005 mg/kg of bw/day for cucumber. Results indicated that the EDIs values were lower than the acceptable daily intake (ADI) values. Results observed that the most of pesticide residues exposure in food consumption in Saudi Arabia were lower than ADIs. In addition, the highest value for health risk index (HRI) was recorded with Ethion residue in tomato, but in sweet pepper, the highest value for HRI was 127.5 in the form of fipronil residue. On the other hand, results found that the highest values of HRI were 1.54, 1.61, and 0.047 for difenoconazole, bifenthrin, and pyridaben residues in squash, eggplant, and cucumber.

Nuclear medicine imaging findings in end-stage renal disease and renal transplant complications.

The aim of this review is to discuss end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and renal transplant complications and present the nuclear medicine imaging findings. The conditions discussed are renal osteodystrophy, metastatic calcification, and renal transplant complications, such as vascular occlusion and acute tubular necrosis. A total of eight nuclear medicine imaging scintigraphy primarily of bone and renal scintigraphy were selected and the imaging features of the complications are discussed. This article highlights the role of nuclear medicine imaging in diagnosis, quantitative and qualitative assessment of renal function, and monitoring of complications associated with ESRD and renal transplant.

Colorectal cancer in patients with SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are more likely to develop severe course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and experience increased risk of mortality compared to SARS-CoV-2 patients without CRC. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in CRC patients and analyse the demographic parameters, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in CRC patients with COVID-19 illness. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Proquest, Medline, Embase, Pubmed, CINAHL, Wiley online library, Scopus and Nature for studies on the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in CRC patients, published from December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, with English language restriction. Effect sizes of prevalence were pooled with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sub-group analyses were performed to minimize heterogeneity. Binary logistic regression model was used to explore the effect of various demographic and clinical characteristics on patient's final treatment outcome (survival or death). RESULTS: Of the 472 papers that were identified, 69 articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis (41 cohort, 16 case-report, 9 case-series, 2 cross-sectional, and 1 case-control studies). Studies involving 3362 CRC patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 (all patients were adults) were analyzed. The overall pooled proportions of CRC patients who had laboratory-confirmed community-acquired and hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections were 8.1% (95% CI 6.1 to 10.1, n = 1308, 24 studies, I2 98%, p = 0.66), and 1.5% (95% CI 1.1 to 1.9, n = 472, 27 studies, I2 94%, p < 0.01). The median patient age ranged from 51.6 years to 80 years across studies. The majority of the patients were male (n = 2243, 66.7%) and belonged to White (Caucasian) (n = 262, 7.8%), Hispanic (n = 156, 4.6%) and Asian (n = 153, 4.4%) ethnicity. The main source of SARS-CoV-2 infection in CRC patients was community-acquired (n = 2882, 85.7%; p = 0.014). Most of those SARS-CoV-2 patients had stage III CRC (n = 725, 21.6%; p = 0.036) and were treated mainly with surgical resections (n = 304, 9%) and chemotherapies (n = 187, 5.6%), p = 0.008. The odd ratios of death were significantly high in patients with old age (≥ 60 years) (OR 1.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.96; p < 0.001), male gender (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.41-0.47; p < 0.001) CRC stage III (OR 1.54, 95% CI 0.02-1.05; p = 0.041), CRC stage IV (OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.17-1.2; p = 0.009), recent active treatment with chemotherapies (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.5-0.66; p = 0.023) or surgical resections (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8-0.73; p = 0.016) and admission to ICU (OR 1.88, 95% CI 0.85-1.12; p < 0.001) compared to those who survived. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection in CRC patient is not uncommon and results in a mortality rate of 26.2%. Key determinants that lead to increased mortality in CRC patients infected with COVID-19 include older age (≥ 60 years old); male gender; Asian and Hispanic ethnicity; if SARS-CoV-2 was acquired from hospital source; advanced CRC (stage III and IV); if patient received chemotherapies or surgical treatment; and if patient was admitted to ICU, ventilated or experienced ARDS.

Spatial Distribution, Contamination Levels, and Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Household Dust in Cairo City, Egypt.

Urban areas' pollution, which is owing to rapid urbanization and industrialization, is one of the most critical issues in densely populated cities such as Cairo. The concentrations and the spatial distribution of fourteen potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in household dust were investigated in Cairo City, Egypt. PTE exposure and human health risk were assessed using the USEPA's exposure model and guidelines. The levels of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn surpassed the background values. Contamination factor index revealed that contamination levels are in the sequence Cd > Hg > Zn > Pb > Cu > As > Mo > Ni > Cr > Co > V > Mn > Fe > Al. The degree of contamination ranges from considerably to very high pollution. Elevated PTE concentrations in Cairo's household dust may be due to heavy traffic emissions and industrial activities. The calculated noncarcinogenic risk for adults falls within the safe limit, while those for children exceed that limit in some sites. Cairo residents are at cancer risk owing to prolonged exposure to the indoor dust in their homes. A quick and targeted plan must be implemented to mitigate these risks.