Crystal structure of (E)-N-(4-bromo-phen-yl)-2-cyano-3-[3-(2-methyl-prop-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]prop-2-enamide.

The structure of the title compound, C23H21BrN4O, contains two independent mol-ecules connected by hydrogen bonds of the type Namide-H⋯N≡C to form a dimer. The configuration at the exocyclic C=C double bond is E. The mol-ecules are roughly planar except for the isopropyl groups. There are minor differences in the orientations of these groups and the phenyl rings at N1. The dimers are further linked by 'weak' hydrogen bonds, two each of the types Hphen-yl⋯O=C (H⋯O = 2.50, 2.51 Å) and Hphen-yl⋯Br (H⋯Br = 2.89, 2.91 Å), to form ribbons parallel to the b and c axes, respectively. The studied crystal was a non-merohedral twin.

Novel synthesis of the first new class of triazine sulfonamide thioglycosides and the evaluation of their anti-tumor and anti-viral activities against human coronavirus.

Novel class of triazine sulfonamide thioglycosides was designed and synthesized. Those novel structures comprising three essential and pharmacological significant moieties such as the triazine, sulfonamide, and thioglycosidic scaffolds. The triazine sulfonamides were furnished via a direct approach starting from potassium cyanocarbonimidodithioate, then the corresponding triazine sulfonamide thioglycosides were generated using the peracylated α-d-gluco- and galacto-pyranosyl bromides. Anti-viral evaluation of compounds in vitro against HCoV-229E virus revealed that some compounds possess promising activity. Compounds 4a, 4b, 4d, 6d and 6e indicate from moderate to low antiviral activity against low pathogenic coronavirus 229E in comparison with remdesivir at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. Additionally their in vitro anti-proliferative effects against NCI 60 cancer cell lines cell lines were also investigated. Compound 4a, the most potent compound among the estimated compounds, revealed remarkably lowest cell growth promotion against CNS cancer SNB-75, and renal cancer UO-31.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among migrant workers in Qatar.

Limited data exist on viral hepatitis among migrant populations. This study investigated the prevalence of current hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and lifetime hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Qatar's migrant craft and manual workers (CMWs), constituting 60% of the country's population. Sera collected during a nationwide COVID-19 population-based cross-sectional survey on CMWs between July 26 and September 9, 2020, underwent testing for HBsAg and HCV antibodies. Reactive samples underwent confirmatory testing, and logistic regression analyses were employed to explore associations with HBV and HCV infections. Among 2528 specimens tested for HBV infection, 15 were reactive, with 8 subsequently confirmed positive. Three samples lacked sufficient sera for confirmatory testing but were included in the analysis through multiple imputations. Prevalence of current HBV infection was 0.4% (95% CI 0.2-0.7%). Educational attainment and occupation were significantly associated with current HBV infection. For HCV infection, out of 2607 specimens tested, 46 were reactive, and 23 were subsequently confirmed positive. Prevalence of lifetime HCV infection was 0.8% (95% CI 0.5-1.2%). Egyptians exhibited the highest prevalence at 6.5% (95% CI 3.1-13.1%), followed by Pakistanis at 3.1% (95% CI 1.1-8.0%). Nationality, geographic location, and occupation were significantly associated with lifetime HCV infection. HBV infection is relatively low among CMWs, while HCV infection falls within the intermediate range, both compared to global and regional levels.

Synthesis and crystal structure of N-phenyl-2-(phenyl-sulfan-yl)acetamide.

N-Phenyl-2-(phenyl-sulfan-yl)acetamide, C14H13NOS, was synthesized and structurally characterized. In the crystal, N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding leads to the formation of chains of mol-ecules along the [100] direction. The chains are linked by C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming a three-dimensional network. The crystal studied was twinned by a twofold rotation around [100].

Novel synergistic interactions between monolaurin, a mono-acyl glycerol and ß lactam antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: A major worldwide health issue is the rising frequency of resistance of bacteria.Drug combinations are a winning strategy in fighting resistant bacteria and might help in protecting the existing drugs.Monolaurin is natural compound extracted from coconut oil and has a promising antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus.aureus. This study aims to examine the efficacy of monolaurin both individually and in combination with ß-lactam antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus isolates. METHODS: Agar dilution method was used for determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of monolaurin against S.aureus isolates. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to detect morphological changes in S.aureus after treatment with monolaurin. Conventional and Real-time Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to detect of beta-lactamase (blaZ) gene and its expressional levels after monolaurin treatment. Combination therapy of monolaurin and antibiotics was assessed through fractional inhibitory concentration and time-kill method. RESULTS: The antibacterial activity of monolaurin was assessed on 115 S.aureus isolates, the MIC of monolaurin were 250 to 2000 µg/ml. SEM showed cell elongation and swelling in the outer membrane of S.aureus in the prescence of 1xMIC of monolaurin. blaZ gene was found in 73.9% of S.aureus isolates. RT-PCR shows a significant decrease in of blaZ gene expression at 250 and 500 µg/ml of monolaurin. Synergistic effects were detected through FIC method and time killing curve. Combination therapy established a significant reduction on the MIC value. The collective findings from the antibiotic combinations with monolaurin indicated synergism rates ranging from 83.3% to 100%.In time-kill studies, combination of monolaurin and ß-lactam antibiotics produced a synergistic effect. CONCLUSION: This study showed that monolaurin may be a natural antibacterial agent against S. aureus, and may be an outstanding modulator of ß-lactam drugs. The concurrent application of monolaurin and ß-lactam antibiotics, exhibiting synergistic effects against S. aureus in vitro, holds promise as potential candidates for the development of combination therapies that target particularly, patients with bacterial infections that are nearly incurable.

Using an Arabic Version of the Life-Space Assessment to Evaluate How Gait Speed and Gender Predict Mobility Restrictions among Older Adults.

Background and Objectives: The Life-Space Assessment (LSA) serves as an assessment tool for evaluating mobility and participation in older adults. To date, no studies have investigated the validity and reliability of the LSA within Arabic-speaking communities. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of an Arabic version of the LSA and to investigate the potential predictors of mobility restrictions in older Arabic-speaking adults. Materials and Methods: This study involved a cohort of 75 Arabic-speaking older adults (with a mean age of 67.2 ± 5.9). The LSA was administered twice, with a one-week interval, to assess its test-retest reliability. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the LSA were assessed using Cronbach's alpha and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), respectively. The validity of the LSA was determined by analyzing its correlation with outcome measures related to the fear of falling, depression, quality of life, lower limb strength, physical performance, and gait speed. Results: The test-retest reliability of the LSA composite score demonstrated good results (ICC = 0.83). The validity of the LSA was supported by significant correlations between its scores and factors such as gender, education level, and all other outcome measures. Notably, being female and having a lower gait speed emerged as significant predictors of mobility restrictions in older Arabic-speaking adults, accounting for 49% of the variance (R2 = 49%) in the multiple logistic regression analysis conducted. Conclusions: The Arabic version of the LSA has proven to be a reliable and valid measure of mobility and participation among older Arabic-speaking adults. This study endorses the application of the Arabic LSA in both research and clinical settings involving older adults and emphasizes the need for further investigation to fully understand its psychometric features in other Arabic-speaking individuals afflicted with neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.

Silencing of forkhead box protein O-1 (FOXO-1) enhances insulin-producing cell generation from adipose mesenchymal stem cells for diabetes therapy.

AIMS: Generation of mature ß-cells from MSCs has been a challenge in the field of stem cell therapy of diabetes. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) have made their mark in regenerative medicine, and provide several advantages compared to other MSCs sources. Forkhead box protein O-1 (FOXO-1) is an important transcription factor for normal development of ß-cells, yet its over expression in ß-cells may cause glucose intolerance. In this study, we isolated, characterized Ad-MSCs from rat epididymal fat pads, differentiated these MSCs into insulin producing cells (IPCs) and studied the role of FOXO-1 in such differentiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the expression of FOXO-1 and its nuclear cytoplasmic localization in the generated IPCs. Afterwards we knocked down FOXO-1 using siRNA targeting FOXO-1 (siFOXO-1). The differentiated siFOXO-1 IPCs were compared to non-targeting siRNA (siNT) IPCs regarding expression of ß-cell markers by qRT-PCR and western blotting, dithizone (DTZ) staining and glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). KEY FINDINGS: Isolated Ad-MSCs exhibited all characteristics of MSCs and can generate IPCs. FOXO-1 was initially elevated during differentiation followed by a decline towards end of differentiation. FOXO-1 was dephosphorylated and localized to the nucleus upon differentiation into IPCs. Knock down of FOXO-1 improved the expression of ß-cell markers in final differentiated IPCs, improved DTZ uptake and showed increased insulin secretion upon challenging with increased glucose concentration. SIGNIFICANCE: These results portray FOXO-1 as a hindering factor of generation of IPCs whose down-regulation can generate more mature IPCs for MSCs therapy of diabetes mellitus.

Phenotypic, molecular detection, and Antibiotic Resistance Profile (MDR and XDR) of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from Farmed Tilapia zillii and Mugil cephalus.

In the present study, Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from Tilapia zillii and Mugil cephalus samples collected during different seasons from various Suez Canal areas in Egypt. The prevalence of A. hydrophila, virulence genes, and antibiotic resistance profile of the isolates to the commonly used antibiotics in aquaculture were investigated to identify multiple drug resistance (MDR) and extensive drug-resistant (XDR) strains. In addition, a pathogenicity test was conducted using A. hydrophila, which was isolated and selected based on the prevalence of virulence and resistance genes, and morbidity of natural infected fish. The results revealed that A. hydrophila was isolated from 38 of the 120 collected fish samples (31.6%) and confirmed phenotypically and biochemically. Several virulence genes were detected in retrieved A. hydrophila isolates, including aerolysin aerA (57.9%), ser (28.9%), alt (26.3%), ast (13.1%), act (7.9%), hlyA (7.9%), and nuc (18.4%). Detection of antibiotic-resistant genes revealed that all isolates were positive for blapse1 (100%), blaSHV (42.1%), tetA (60.5%), and sul1 (42.1%). 63.1% of recovered isolates were considered MDR, while 28.9% of recovered isolates were considered XDR. Some isolates harbor both virulence and MDR genes; the highest percentage carried 11, followed by isolates harboring 9 virulence and resistance genes. It could be concluded that the high prevalence of A. hydrophila in aquaculture species and their diverse antibiotic resistance and virulence genes suggest the high risk of Aeromonas infection and could have important implications for aquaculture and public health.

Novel synthesis of new triazine sulfonamides with antitumor, anti-microbial and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities.

Novel approach for synthesizing triazine sulfonamide derivatives is accomplished via reacting the sulfaguanidine derivatives with N-cyanodithioiminocarbonate. Further reaction of the novel triazine sulfonamide analogues with various secondary amines and anilines generated various substituted triazine sulfonamide analogues of promising broad-spectrum activities including anti-microbial, anti-tumor, and anti-viral properties. The in vitro anti-proliferative activities of most of the novel compounds were evaluated on the NCI-60 cell line panel. The antifungal and antibacterial activities of the compounds were also estimated. The anti-viral activity against SARS CoV-2 virus was performed using MTT cytotoxicity assay to evaluate the half-maximal cytotoxic concentration (CC50) and inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) of a representative compound from the novel triazine sulfonamide category. Compound 3a demonstrated potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 with IC50 = 2.378 µM as compared to the activity of the antiviral drug remdesivir (IC50 = 10.11 µM). Our results indicate that, upon optimization, these new triazine sulfonamides could potentially serve as novel antiviral drugs.

Development and optimization of vildagliptin solid lipid nanoparticles loaded ocuserts for controlled ocular delivery: A promising approach towards treating diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most prevalent cause of diabetic retinopathy (DRP). DRP has been recognized for a long time as a microvascular disease. Many drugs were used to treat DRP, including vildagliptin (VLD). In addition to its hypoglycemic effect, VLD minimizes ocular inflammation and improves retinal blood flow for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nevertheless, VLD can cause upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, nausea, hypoglycemia, and poor tolerability when taken orally regularly due to its high water solubility and permeability. Effective ocular administration of VLD is achieved using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs), which improve corneal absorption, prolonged retention, and extended drug release. Ocuserts (OCUs) are sterile, long-acting ocular dosage forms that diminish the need for frequent dosing while improving residence time and stability. Therefore, this study intends to develop VLD solid lipid nanoparticle OCUs (VLD-SLNPs-OCUs) to circumvent the issues commonly associated with VLD. SLNPs were prepared using the double-emulsion/melt dispersion technique. The optimal formula has been implemented in OCUs. Optimization and development of VLD-SLNPs-OCUs were performed using a Box-Behnken Design (BBD). VLD-SLNPs-OCUs loading efficiency was 95.28 ± 2.87%, and differential scanning calorimetry data (DSC) showed the full transformation of VLD to an amorphous state and the excellent distribution in the prepared OCUs matrices. The in vivo release of VLD from the optimized OCUs after 24 h was 35.12 ± 2.47%, consistent with in vitro drug release data of 36.89 ± 3.11. The optimized OCUs are safe to use in the eye, as shown by the ocular irritation test. VLD-SLNPs-OCUs provide extended VLD release, an advantageous alternative to conventional oral dose forms, resulting in fewer systemic adverse effects and less variation in plasma drug levels. VLD-SLNPs-OCUs might benefit retinal microvascular blood flow beyond blood glucose control and may be considered a promising approach to treating diabetic retinopathy.

An unexpected tautomer: synthesis and crystal structure of N-[6-amino-4-(methyl-sulfan-yl)-1,2-di-hydro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl-idene]benzenesulfonamide.

The title compound, C10H11N5O2S2, consists of an unexpected tautomer with a protonated nitro-gen atom in the triazine ring and a formal exocyclic double bond C=N to the sulfonamide moiety. The ring angles at the unsubstituted nitro-gen atoms are narrow, at 115.57 (12) and 115.19 (12)°, respectively, whereas the angle at the carbon atom between these N atoms is very wide, 127.97 (13)°. The inter-planar angle between the two rings is 79.56 (5)°. The mol-ecules are linked by three classical hydrogen bonds, forming a ribbon structure. There are also unusual linkages involving three short contacts (< 3 Å) from a sulfonamide oxygen atom to the C-NH-C part of a triazine ring.

Eco-friendly anti-corrosion performance of chitosan modified with fused heterocyclic compound on mild steel in acidic medium.

This study aims to explore the prevention of chitosan modified with a fused heterocyclic compound as a sustainable corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1 M HCl. Electrochemical instruments, including potentiodynamic polarization techniques, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), were employed to evaluate the corrosion protection performance. The outcomes showed that the chitosan modified with a fused heterocyclic compound has outstanding inhibition performance, with an inhibition effectiveness of 98.25 % at 100 ppm. The anti-corrosion features of modified chitosan were ascribed to the presence of hetero atoms in modified chitosan composite which leads to the creation of a protective layer, The modified chitosan composite behaved as mixed-typed inhibitors, as shown by the PDP results. The modified chitosan composite adsorbs on mild steel in the investigated corrosive media via chemisorption interactions, and its adsorption followed the Langmuir adsorption model. Furthermore, increasing the temperature from 303 to 333 K enhanced the corrosion rate, most likely due to the desorption of the inhibitor agent from the steel surface.

The value of intraovarian autologous platelet rich plasma in women with poor ovarian reserve or ovarian insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of intraovarian PRP in women with low ovarian reserve. SEARCH STRATEGY: Screening of databases from inception to January 2023 using the keywords related to "Platelet-rich plasma" AND "poor ovarian reserve" OR "ovarian failure". SELECTION CRITERIA: Fourteen studies (1632 participants) were included, 10 included women with POR, 1 included women with POI and 3 included both POR and POI women. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Extracted data included study settings, design, sample size, population characteristics, volume, timing and preparation of PRP administration, and outcome parameters. MAIN RESULTS: AMH level was evaluated in 11 studies (2099 women). The mean difference (MD) was 0.09 with 95% CI of - 0.06, 0.24 (P = 0.25). Antral follicular count level was assessed in 6 studies (1399 women). The MD was 1.73 with 95% CI of 0.81, 2.66 (P < 0.001). The number of oocytes retrieved was evaluated in 7 studies (1413 women). The MD was 1.21 with 95% CI of 0.48, 1.94 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This systematic review found a significant improvement of AFC, the number of retrieved oocytes, the number of cleavage embryos and the cancellation rate in women with POR. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number CRD42022365682.

Advanced chemometric methods for simultaneous quantitation of caffeine, codeine, paracetamol, and p-aminophenol in their quaternary mixture.

Two different multivariate techniques have been applied for the quantitative analysis of caffeine, codeine, paracetamol and p-aminophenol (PAP) in quaternary mixture, namely, Partial Least Squares (PLS-1) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). For suitable analysis, a calibration set of 25 mixtures with various ratios of the drugs and PAP impurity were established using a 4-factor 5-level experimental design. The most meaningful wavelengths for the chemometric models were chosen using Genetic Algorithm (GA) as a variable selection technique. By using an independent validation set, the validity of the proposed methods was evaluated. A comparative study was established between the three multivariate models (PLS-1, GA-PLS and GA-ANN). The comparison between the various models revealed that the GA-ANN model was superior at resolving the highly overlapped spectra of this quaternary combination. The drugs were successfully quantified in their pharmaceutical dosage form utilizing the GA-ANN models.

The preferential effect of Clemastine on F3/Contactin-1/Notch-1 compared to Jagged-1/Notch-1 justifies its remyelinating effect in an experimental model of multiple sclerosis in rats.

Clemastine (CLM) is repurposed to enhance remyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. CLM blocks histamine and muscarinic receptors as negative regulators to oligodendrocyte differentiation. These receptors are linked to the canonical and non-canonical Notch-1 signaling via specific ligands; Jagged-1 and F3/Contactin-1, respectively. Yet, there are no previous studies showing the influence of CLM on Notch entities. Herein, the study aimed to investigate to which extent CLM aligns to one of the two Notch-1 arms in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) rat model. Three groups were utilized where first group received vehicles. The second group was injected by spinal cord homogenate mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant on days 0 and 7. In the third group, CLM (5 mg/kg/day; p.o) was administered for 15 days starting from the day of the first immunization. CLM ameliorated EAE-associated motor and gripping impairment in rotarod, open-field, and grip strength arena beside sensory anomalies in hot plate, cold allodynia, and mechanical Randall-Selitto tests. Additionally, CLM alleviated depressive mood observed in tail suspension test. These findings harmonized with histopathological examinations of Luxol-fast blue stain together with enhanced immunostaining of myelin basic protein and oligodendrocyte lineage gene 2 in corpus callosum and spinal cord. Additionally, CLM enhanced oligodendrocyte myelination and maturation by increasing 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase, proteolipid protein, aspartoacylase as well. CLM restored the level of F3/Contactin-1 in the diseased rats over Jagged-1 level; the ligand of the canonical pathway. This was accompanied by elevated gene expression of Deltex-1 and reduced hairy and enhancer-of-split homologs 1 and 5. Additionally, CLM suppressed microglial and astrocyte activation via reducing the expression of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule-1 as well as glial fibrillary acidic protein, respectively. These results outlined the remyelinating beneficence of CLM which could be due to augmenting the non-canonical Notch-1 signaling over the canonical one.

Video-Based Simulation Among Saudi Undergraduate Nursing Students During COVID-19: A Qualitative Study.

Background Because of university closures due to COVID-19 confinement, video-based simulation, a training technique based on high-fidelity simulations, was introduced in reaction to the need to adapt high-fidelity clinical simulation experiences to digital platforms. Purpose This study aims to evaluate the perceptions of nursing students in Saudi Arabia regarding the shift from face-to-face simulation experiences to video-based simulation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This study employed a phenomenological exploratory qualitative research design among 32 nursing students from various academic levels. Results The thematic analysis gave rise to five themes namely, "Enhanced Learning and satisfaction", "Improved communication skills", "Lack of hands-on experience", "More comfortable experience", and "Technical Barriers". Conclusion The students in this study have indicated that they were satisfied with video-based simulation, where they reported enhanced learning, better communication skills, and more perceived comfort, while concerns regarding technical issues and nursing skills were raised.

Adrenal Crest in Testicular Tissue of an Undescended Testis in an Adult Patient: A Case Report.

This case report describes a rare occurrence of ectopic adrenal cortical tissue (EACT) in the undescended testis (UDT) of an adult male patient. The patient presented with an empty left scrotum since birth, and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis of left-side UDT. Orchidectomy was performed, and a microscopic examination revealed a UDT with EACT. The patient had no significant medical or surgical history and had a normal preoperative hormonal profile. EACT is usually found incidentally during surgical procedures and is more common in children than adults. This case emphasizes the importance of investigating adrenal rests due to the potential of neoplastic transformation or hormonal activity. The case report concludes that EACT of the UDT is still a possibility in the adult patient population.

Artemisia annua Extract Attenuate Doxorubicin-Induced Hepatic Injury via PI-3K/Akt/Nrf-2-Mediated Signaling Pathway in Rats.

Doxorubicin (DOX), which is used to treat cancer, has harmful effects that limit its therapeutic application. Finding preventative agents to thwart DOX-caused injuries is thus imperative. Artemisia annua has numerous biomedical uses. This study aims to investigate the attenuative effect of Artemisia annua leaf extract (AALE) treatment on DOX-induced hepatic toxicity in male rats. A phytochemical screening of AALE was evaluated. Forty male rats were used; G1 was a negative control group, G2 was injected with AALE (150 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p) daily for a month, 4 mg/kg of DOX was given i.p to G3 once a week for a month, and G4 was injected with DOX as G3 and with AALE as G2. Body weight changes and biochemical, molecular, and histopathological investigations were assessed. The results showed that AALE contains promising phytochemical constituents that contribute to several potential biomedical applications. AALE mitigated the hepatotoxicity induced by DOX in rats as evidenced by restoring the alterations in the biochemical parameters, antioxidant gene expression, and hepatic histopathological alterations in rats. Importantly, the impact of AALE against the hepatic deterioration resulting from DOX treatment is through activation of the PI-3K/Akt/Nrf-2 signaling, which in turn induces the antioxidant agents.

Validity of Serum Zinc/Copper Ratio as a Potential Novel Biomarker in Childhood Epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in zinc and copper homeostasis may contribute to seizure susceptibility, development, termination, and response to antiepileptic medications. The current study examined the profile of zinc, copper, and their ratio in childhood epilepsy and its pharmacological variants (pharmacoresistant and pharmacoresponsive). METHODS: The study included 100 epileptic children (50 pharmacoresistant and 50 pharmacoresponsive) and 50 healthy, age- and gender-matched controls. History, clinical examination, and assays of serum zinc and copper were performed. Zinc/copper ratio was calculated. RESULTS: Serum zinc and the zinc/copper ratio were significantly lower in epileptic children than in controls (p < 0.001). Significantly lower zinc and zinc/copper ratio and higher copper levels were found in children treated with levetiracetam/sodium valproate/oxcarbazepine than those treated with levetiracetam alone or combined with sodium valproate (p < 0.05 for all). Epileptic children, particularly pharmacoresistant, exhibited significant negative correlations between the serum levels of zinc and copper (r = -0.279, p = 0.005, and r = -0.363 and p = 0.010, respectively). At cutoff value of zinc/copper ratio < 1.118 in diagnosing children with epilepsy, it gives a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 85% with the AUC = 0.8092. At cutoff value of zinc/copper ratio ≤ 0.7826 in distinguishing pharmacoresistant epilepsy, it produced 52% sensitivity, 64% specificity with AUC = 0.576 Conclusions: Low zinc and high copper levels were associated with childhood epilepsy especially those with pharmacoresistant type and treated with Oxcarbazepine. Zinc/copper ratio might be a potential biomarker in diagnosing childhood epilepsy and to some extent in predicting pharmacoresistant type.

Development of eco-friendly wall insulation layer utilising the wastes of the packing industry.

Efficient thermal insulation materials considerably lower power consumption for heating and cooling of buildings, which in turn minimises CO2 emissions and improves indoor comfort conditions. However, the selection of suitable insulation materials is governed by several factors, such as the environmental impact, health impact, cost and durability. Additionally, the disposal of used insulation materials is a major factor that affects the selection of materials because some materials could be very toxic for humans and the environment, such as asbestos-containing materials. Therefore, there is a continuous research effort, in both industry and academia, to develop sustainable and affordable insulation materials. In this context, this work aims at utilising the packing industry wastes (cardboard) to develop an eco-friendly insulation layer, which is a biodegradable material that can be disposed of safely after use. Experimentally, wasted cardboard was collected, cleaned, and soaked in water for 24 h. Then, the wet cardboard was minced and converted into past papers, then cast in square moulds and left in a ventilated oven at 75 °C to dry before de-moulding them. The produced layers were subjected to a wide range of tests, including thermal conductivity, acoustic insulation, infrared imaging and bending resistance. The obtained results showed the developed material has a good thermal and acoustic insulation performance. Thermally, the developed material had the lowest thermal conductivity (λ) (0.039 W/m.K) compared to the studied traditional materials. Additionally, it successfully decreased the noise level from 80 to about 58 dB, which was better than the efficiency of the commercial polyisocyanurate layer. However, the bending strength of the developed material was a major drawback because the material did not resist more than 0.6 MPa compared to 2.0 MPa for the commercial polyisocyanurate and 70.0 MPa for the wood boards. Therefore, it is recommended to investigate the possibility of strengthening the new material by adding fibres or cementitious materials.