Riverine Microplastic Quantification: A Novel Approach Integrating Satellite Images, Neural Network, and Suspended Sediment Data as a Proxy.

Rivers transport terrestrial microplastics (MP) to the marine system, demanding cost-effective and frequent monitoring, which is attainable through remote sensing. This study aims to develop and test microplastic concentration (MPC) models directly by satellite images and indirectly through suspended sediment concentration (SSC) as a proxy employing a neural network algorithm. These models relied upon high spatial (26 sites) and temporal (198 samples) SSC and MPC data in the Tisza River, along with optical and active sensor reflectance/backscattering. A feedforward MLP neural network was used to calibrate and validate the direct models employing k-fold cross-validation (five data folds) and the Optuna library for hyperparameter optimization. The spatiotemporal generalization capability of the developed models was assessed under various hydrological scenarios. The findings revealed that hydrology fundamentally influences the SSC and MPC. The indirect estimation method of MPC using SSC as a proxy demonstrated higher accuracy (R2 = 0.17-0.88) than the direct method (R2 = 0-0.2), due to the limitations of satellite sensors to directly estimate the very low MPCs in rivers. However, the estimation accuracy of the indirect method varied with lower accuracy (R2 = 0.17, RMSE = 12.9 item/m3 and MAE = 9.4 item/m3) during low stages and very high (R2 = 0.88, RMSE = 7.8 item/m3 and MAE = 10.8 item/m3) during floods. The worst estimates were achieved based on Sentinel-1. Although the accuracy of the MPC models is moderate, it still has practical applicability, especially during floods and employing proxy models. This study is one of the very initial attempts towards MPC quantification, thus more studies incorporating denser spatiotemporal data, additional water quality parameters, and surface roughness data are warranted to improve the estimation accuracy.

Spirulina platensis extract improves the production and defenses of the common bean grown in a heavy metals-contaminated saline soil.

Plants have to cope with several abiotic stresses, including salinity and heavy metals (HMs). Under these stresses, several extracts have been used as effective natural biostimulants, however, the use of Spirulina platensis (SP) extract (SPE) remains elusive. The effects of SPE were evaluated as soil addition (SA) and/or foliar spraying (FS) on antioxidant defenses and HMs content of common bean grown in saline soil contaminated with HMs. Individual (40 or 80 mg SPE/hill added as SA or 20 or 40 mg SPE/plant added as FS) or integrative (SA+FS) applications of SPE showed significant improvements in the following order: SA-80+FS-40 > SA-80+FS-20 > SA-40+FS-40 > SA-40+FS-20 > SA-80 > SA-40 > FS-40 > FS-20 > control. Therefore, the integrative SA+FS with 40 mg SP/plant was the most effective treatment in increasing plant growth and production, overcoming stress effects and minimizing contamination of the edible part. It significantly increased plant growth (74%-185%) and yield (107%-227%) by enhancing net photosynthetic rate (78.5%), stomatal conductance (104%), transpiration rate (124%), and contents of carotenoids (60.0%), chlorophylls (49%-51%), and NPK (271%-366%). These results were concurrent with the marked reductions in malondialdehyde (61.6%), hydrogen peroxide (42.2%), nickel (91%-94%), lead (80%-9%), and cadmium (74%-91%) contents due to the improved contents of glutathione (87.1%), ascorbate (37.0%), and α-tocopherol (77.2%), and the activities of catalase (18.1%), ascorbate peroxidase (18.3%), superoxide dismutase (192%), and glutathione reductase (52.2%) as reinforcing mechanisms. Therefore, this most effective treatment is recommended to mitigate the stress effects of salinity and HMs on common bean production while minimizing HMs in the edible part.

PROSPECTIVE SINGLE CENTER ANALYSIS OF OUTCOME STEM CELLS TRANSPLANTS IN PATIENTS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To evaluate efficacy and safety of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear stem cell transplantation intrathecal in children with cerebral palsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: 35 children have levels I-V cerebral palsy aged 8-months to 8-years-old were enrolled from September (2021-2022) at Iraqi private hospital. Gross Motor Function was assessed by a pediatrician and neurologist specialist, 5 mcg/kg/day of G-CSF subcutaneous single injection daily for three consecutive days. Bone marrow harvested from posterior iliac crest under light general anesthesia. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) separation was performed using density gradient centrifugation with Ficoll, the cell viability checked by propidium iodide dye in a TALI machine (Invitrogen) in average 98%. The viable BMMNCs injected intrathecal in L4-L5 over a period of 5-10 min. RESULTS: Results: Males accounted for 57.14% (20/35) while female 42.86% (15/35), and main neurological symptoms included spastic disorder spastic disorder (quadriplegia 24 (68.6), tetraplegia 2 (5.7), diplegia 5 (14.28), hemiplegia4 (11.42)). Gross Motor Function Classification System and Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) showed II 10 (28.58), III 11(31.42) and IV 14 (40). On mean follow-up of 3 months post-stem cell transplant improvement was observed in 80% cases. The improvement showed in gross motor function (6/8) p=0.01, and speech (2/4) p=0.04, neck holding (5/5) p=0.0003, sitting balance (4/4) p=0.04, postural tone (5/5) p=0.0003, as well as significant reduction in seizure frequency (2/3) p=0.04 and improvement in cognition (6/7) p=0.01 were observed. CONCLUSION: Conclusion: Stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy shows a significant positive effect on the gross motor function, without long adverse effects.

Epidemiology of dental caries in permanent dentition: evidence from a population-based survey in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: In recognition of the risk factors common between oral diseases and various chronic conditions and the intersection between oral health and some sustainable development goals, the current cross-sectional study was designed to quantify the burden of dental caries and identify factors associated with its occurrence in permanent teeth. METHODS: Using data from Egypt's population-based survey (2013-2014), two individual-level outcomes; past caries experience (DMFT > 0) and presence of untreated carious lesions (DT > 0) were assessed using the WHO basic methods for oral health surveys. Information on potential explanatory variables including sociodemographic characteristics, exposure to fluoridated water, dental attendance, and dental anxiety was gathered using a structured questionnaire. Stratified multistage cluster random sampling was used to recruit survey participants. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify significant potential risk factors for caries in the permanent dentition of Egyptians. FINDINGS: A total of 9,457 participants were included of which 70.3% had at least one untreated carious lesion. After adjusting for all covariates, analphabetic Egyptians were found to have significantly higher odds of caries experience in permanent dentition DMFT > 0 (OR 1.54, 95% CI [1.20-1.98]), DT > 0 (OR 1.62, 95% CI [1.32-2.00]). Males, however, had significantly lower caries risk DMFT > 0 (OR 0.75, 95% CI [0.67-0.85]), DT > 0 (OR 0.81, 95% CI [0.73-0.89]) when compared to females. Regarding age, mean DMFT scores were significantly lower in age groups (6-15 years) (OR 0.03, 95% CI [0.014; 0.082]), (16- 20 years) (OR 0.09, 95% CI [0.037; 0.23]), and (21-35 years) (OR 0.22, 95% CI [0.09; 0.53]) than among people ≥ 60 years. CONCLUSION: Addressing individual-level caries risk factors should be complemented by addressing upstream factors to reduce burden of untreated dental caries among Egyptians.

Evaluation of the use of NGage® Nitinol stone extractor for intraocular foreign body removal.

PURPOSE: To describe a novel technique to use the NGage® Nitinol Stone Extractor for large IOFB extraction. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case series study by reviewing the data of 4 eyes with retained large IOFB extracted with the use of the NGage® Nitinol Stone Extractor. The study was conducted in a single tertiary referral center on four eyes of four patients with large retained IOFB. Studied eyes were treated by pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and IOFB extraction by using the NGage® Nitinol Stone Extractor through a limbal incision. RESULTS: Four eyes of four male patients with large Retained IOFB were included in the study. The nature of the IOFB was metallic in 2 eyes, glass in 1 eye or ceramic 1 eye. All the IOFB were removed from a limbal wound. Silicone oil tamponade was required in 3 eyes. Two eyes required reoperation. At 6 months postoperative, the final visual acuity using Snellen chart ranged between PL and 0.1. CONCLUSION: The NGage® Nitinol Stone Extractor can be a useful tool for the extraction of the large retained IOFB.

Evaluation of adjunctive efficacy of diode laser in the treatment of peri-implant mucositis: a randomized clinical trial.

Peri-implant disease may affect survival of dental implants. The aim of the study is to analyze the effectiveness of diode laser as a supportive modality to the non-surgical conventional treatment of peri-implant mucositis (PiM) and initial peri-implantitis (PI). Twenty-three patients with single implants suffering from PiM or initial PI were selected and randomly divided into two groups; control group (CG) received non-surgical conventional treatment, and test group (TG) received non-surgical conventional treatment and diode laser application with wavelength of 980 nm. Probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded at baseline (T0) and at 3 months follow-up (T1). The average of PPD value for TG was 4.04 ± 0.54 mm at T0 and it was 2.98 ± 0.70 mm at T1. In the CG, PPD average was 3.8 ± 1.24 mm at T0 and was 3.54 ± 0.35 mm at T1. In TG, the BOP was positive in 44 sites at T0 and in 6 sites at T1. In CG, the BOP was positively observed in 52 sites at T0 and in 28 sites at T1. The 980-nm diode laser may be considered an adjunct to the conventional non-surgical treatments of PiM and initial PI.

Biological study of the effect of water soluble [N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-L-aspartato] gallium complexes on breast carcinoma and fibrosarcoma cells.

Two water soluble gallium complexes described as [Ga(III)LCl], where L is the deprotonated form of N-2-hydroxybenzyl aspartic acid derivatives, were synthesized and characterized by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, FT-IR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The 2-(5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzylamino)succinic acid derivative (GS2) has been found to be a promising anticancer drug candidate. This compound was found to be more cytotoxic against human breast carcinoma MDA-MB231 and fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cell lines than the unsubstituted derivative and GaCl3. GS2 was able to induce apoptosis through downregulation of AKT phosphorylation, G2M arrest in cell cycle, and caspase 3/7 pathway. This gallium complex was found to induce an increase in mitochondrial ROS level in HT-1080 cells but not in MDA-MB231 cells. This suggests that the mechanism of action of GS2 would not be mediated by the drug-induced oxidative stress but probably by directly and indirectly inhibiting the AKT cell-signaling pathway.

Antitumor activity of a rhenium (I)-diselenoether complex in experimental models of human breast cancer.

Rhenium (I)-diselenother (Re-diselenoether) is a water soluble metal-based compound, combining one atom of rhenium and two atoms of selenium. This compound has been reported to exhibit marked activities against several solid tumor cell lines. We now disclose an improved synthesis of this complex. The Re-diselenoether showed a potent inhibitory effect on MDA-MB231 cell division in vitro, which lasted when the complex was no longer present in the culture. Re-diselenoether induced a remarkable reduction of the volume of the primitive breast tumors and of the pulmonary metastases without clinical signs of toxicity, in mice-bearing a MDA-MB231 Luc+ tumor, orthotopically transplanted, after a daily oral administration at the dose of 10 mg/kg/d. Interestingly, an antagonism was observed when cisplatin was administered as a single i.p. injection 1 week after the end of the Re-diselenoether administration. In an effort to gain insight of the mechanisms of action of Re-diselenoether complex, interaction with 9-methylguanine as a nucleic acid base model was studied. We have shown that Re-diselenoether gave both mono- and bis-guanine Re adducts, the species assumed to be responsible for the DNA intrastrand lesions.

Prevalence and characteristics of patent foramen ovale in a sample of Egyptian population: a computed tomography study.

BACKGROUND: The reported prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the general population is variable. It ranges between 8.6 and 42% according to the population studied and the imaging technique used. We aim to prospectively assess the prevalence and characteristics of PFO and interatrial septum (IAS) abnormalities as well as the related clinical manifestations in a sample of Egyptian population. RESULTS: This study comprised 1000 patients who were referred for CT coronary angiography (CTCA). Mean age was 52.5 ± 10.9 years. The prevalence of PFO among the studied population was 16.3%; closed PFO (grade I) 44.2%, open PFO (grade II) 50.9%, and open PFO with jet (grade III) 4.9%. Anatomical high-risk PFO features-defined as the presence of at least 2 or more of the following (diameter ≥ 2 mm, length ≥ 10 mm, septal aneurysm "ASA", or redundant septum)-were found in 51.5% of PFOs' population. Other IAS abnormalities as redundant septum (8.6%), ASA (5.3%), Bachmann's bundle (4.5%), microaneurysm (2.6%), and atrial septal defect (ASD) (0.4%) were detected. There was a lower rate of coexistence of ASA with PFO (p = 0.031). Syncope was significantly higher in patients with PFO compared to those without PFO (6.7% vs. 1.6%, p = 0.001). Stroke, transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), and dizziness were similar in both groups. TIA, dizziness, and syncope were significantly higher in patients with IAS abnormalities including PFO compared to those without IAS abnormalities. Syncope was also significantly higher in PFO with high-risk anatomical features compared to those with non-high-risk PFO population (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PFO in our study was approximately 16.3%, almost half of them showed anatomical high-risk features for stroke. Dizziness, syncope and TIA were significantly higher in patients with IAS abnormalities including PFO.

High spatiotemporal resolution analysis on suspended sediment and microplastic transport of a lowland river.

The suspended sediment (SS) and microplastic (MP) transport in rivers is quite a complex process, influenced by several spatially and temporally changing factors (e.g., hydrology, sediment availability, human impact). Researchers usually investigate these factors individually and based on limited repetition in space and time. Therefore, this study aims to compare the driving factors of SS and MP transport by applying dense temporal (72 measurements) and spatial monitoring (at 26 sites). This study was performed on the medium-sized Tisza River, Central Europe. The suspended sediment concentration (SSC) was measured by water sampling and estimated based on Sentinel-2 images, while MP concentration was measured by pumping of water (1 m3). The SSC of the Tisza varied between 12.6 and 322.5 g/m3, whereas the MP concentration ranged 0-129 item/m3. Most of the transported particles were fibers (81-98 %), thus, it was assumed that MPs originated from wastewater. The results reflect that the hydrological conditions basically influence the SS and MP concentrations, as a strong positive correlation was found (ρSSC-MP = 0.6) between them during a year; however, the correlation during floods (minor floods: ρ = 0.63; medium floods: ρ = 0.41) was higher than at low stages (ρ = 0.1). It was assumed that run-off and mobilization of channel materials both contribute to increased SS and MP transport during floods. In contrary, the importance of mobilization of channel materials and wastewater input increase during low stages. The repeated measurements revealed that slope and velocity conditions, proximity of sources, tributaries, and dams influence the longitudinal changes in SS and MP concentrations. However, the effects of tributaries and dams are ambiguous (especially for MP) and require further research. The longitudinal measurements were conducted at low stages; hence, moderate negative correlations (ρ2021 = -0.35; ρ2022 = -0.41) were found between the SS and MP concentrations. Therefore, additional monitoring during (overbank) floods and denser spatial sampling are required to precisely reveal the spatiotemporal changes of SS and MP concentrations in rivers.

Machine learning-based detection and mapping of riverine litter utilizing Sentinel-2 imagery.

Despite the substantial impact of rivers on the global marine litter problem, riverine litter has been accorded inadequate consideration. Therefore, our objective was to detect riverine litter by utilizing middle-scale multispectral satellite images and machine learning (ML), with the Tisza River (Hungary) as a study area. The Very High Resolution (VHR) images obtained from the Google Earth database were employed to recognize some riverine litter spots (a blend of anthropogenic and natural substances). These litter spots served as the basis for training and validating five supervised machine-learning algorithms based on Sentinel-2 images [Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Classifier (SVC), Random Forest (RF), Naïve Bays (NB) and Decision Tree (DT)]. To evaluate the generalization capability of the developed models, they were tested on larger unseen data under varying hydrological conditions and with different litter sizes. Besides the best-performing model was used to investigate the spatio-temporal variations of riverine litter in the Middel Tisza. According to the results, almost all the developed models showed favorable metrics based on the validation dataset (e.g., F1-score; SVC: 0.94, ANN: 0.93, RF: 0.91, DT: 0.90, and NB: 0.83); however, during the testing process, they showed medium (e.g., F1-score; RF:0.69, SVC: 0.62; ANN: 0.62) to poor performance (e.g., F1-score; NB: 0.48; DT: 0.45). The capability of all models to detect litter was bounded to the pixel size of the Sentinel-2 images. Based on the spatio-temporal investigation, hydraulic structures (e.g., Kisköre Dam) are the greatest litter accumulation spots. Although the highest transport rate of litter occurs during floods, the largest litter spot area upstream of the Kisköre Dam was observed at low stages in summer. This study represents a preliminary step in the automatic detection of riverine litter; therefore, additional research incorporating a larger dataset with more representative small litter spots, as well as finer spatial resolution images is necessary.

Mathematical Modeling and Analysis of the Dynamics of RNA Viruses in Presence of Immunity and Treatment: A Case Study of SARS-CoV-2.

The emergence of novel RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2 poses a greater threat to human health. Thus, the main objective of this article is to develop a new mathematical model with a view to better understand the evolutionary behavior of such viruses inside the human body and to determine control strategies to deal with this type of threat. The developed model takes into account two modes of transmission and both classes of infected cells that are latently infected cells and actively infected cells that produce virus particles. The cure of infected cells in latent period as well as the lytic and non-lytic immune response are considered into the model. We first show that the developed model is well-posed from the biological point of view by proving the non-negativity and boundedness of model's solutions. Our analytical results show that the dynamical behavior of the model is fully determined by two threshold parameters one for viral infection and the other for humoral immunity. The effect of antiviral treatment is also investigated. Furthermore, numerical simulations are presented in order to illustrate our analytical results.

Three-dimensional evaluation of the mandibular condyle in adults with various skeletal patterns.

Objective: Morphometric and morphological evaluation of the mandibular condyle in adults and to identify its correlation with skeletal malocclusion patterns. Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography scans of 135 adult patients were used in this study and classified into groups according to four criteria: (1) sex (male and female); (2) sagittal skeletal discrepancy (Class I, Class II, and Class III); (3) vertical skeletal discrepancy (hyperdivergent, normodivergent, and hypodivergent); and age (group 1 ≤ 20 years, 21 ≤ group 2 < 30, and group 3 ≥ 30 years). The morphometrical variables were mandibular condyle height and width, and the morphological variable was the mandibular condyle shape in coronal and sagittal sections. Three-dimensional standard tessellation language files were created using itk-snap (open-source software), and measurements were performed using Meshmixer (open-source software). Results: The mandibular condyle height was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in patients with class III malocclusion than in those with class I or II malocclusion; the mandibular condyle width was not significantly different among different sexes, age groups, and sagittal and vertical malocclusions. There were no statistical associations between various mandibular condyle shapes and the sexes, age groups, and skeletal malocclusions. Conclusions: The condylar height was greatest in patients with class III malocclusion. The condylar height and width were greater among males than in females. The mandibular condyle shapes observed in sagittal and coronal sections did not affect the skeletal malocclusion patterns.

The Impact of Laser Thermal Effect on Histological Evaluation of Oral Soft Tissue Biopsy: Systematic Review.

The aim of the study is to review the literature to observe studies that evaluate the extent of the thermal effect of different laser wavelengths on the histological evaluation of oral soft tissue biopsies. An electronic search for published studies was performed on the PubMed and Scopus databases between July 2020 and November 2022. After the selection process, all the included studies were subjected to quality assessment and data extraction processes. A total of 28 studies met the eligibility criteria. The most studied laser was the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, followed by the diode laser 940 nm-980 nm. Six studies were focused on each of the Erbium-doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Er:YAG), Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers, and diode lasers of 808 nm and 445 nm. Three studies were for the Potassium Titanyl Phosphate (KTP) laser, and four studies were for the Erbium, Chromium-doped Yttrium, Scandium, Gallium, and Garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser. The quality and bias assessment revealed that almost all the animal studies were at a low risk of bias (RoB) in the considered domains of the used assessment tool except the allocation concealment domain in the selection bias and the blinding domain in the performance bias, where these domains were awarded an unclear or high score in almost all the included animal studies. For clinical studies, the range of the total RoB score in the comparative studies was 14 to 23, while in the non-comparative studies, it was 11 to 15. Almost all the studies concluded that the thermal effect of different laser wavelengths did not hinder the histological diagnosis. This literature review showed some observations. The thermal effect occurred with different wavelengths and parameters and what should be done is to minimize it by better adjusting the laser parameters. The extension of margins during the collection of laser oral biopsies and the use of laser only in non-suspicious lesions are recommended because of the difficulty of the histopathologist to assess the extension and grade of dysplasia at the surgical margins. The comparison of the thermal effect between different studies was impossible due to the presence of methodological heterogeneity.

Risk of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in One Hundred Patients with Oral Lichen Planus: A Follow-Up Study of Umberto I University Hospital of Rome.

This study aims to retrospectively assess the potential risk of malignant transformation in patients with diagnosed oral lichen planus (OLP) between 2015 and 2022, and to evaluate the influence of different risk factors. The department's database and medical records from 2015 to 2022 were searched for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of OLP based on both clinical and histological parameters. A total of 100 patients (59 females and 41 males) were found with a mean age of 64.03 years. In the considered period, the percentage of diagnosed OLP patients was 1.6%, while the percentage of diagnosed OLP patients with transformation to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was 0.18%. A statistically significant difference was found with age (p = 0.038), tobacco status (p = 0.022), and radiotherapy (p = 0.041). The analysis revealed the presence of significant risk in ex-smokers (>20 pack-years), with an odds ratio (OR) of 10.0000 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.5793-63.3186); in alcohol-drinker patients, with an OR of 4.0519 (95% CI 1.0182-16.1253); in ex-smoker and alcohol-drinker patients, with OR of 17.6250 (95% CI 2.2464-138.2808); and in patients who had undergone radiotherapy, with OR of 6.3000 (95% CI 1.2661-31.3484). The malignant transformation of oral lichen planus was slightly higher than thought, and the results revealed a possible association with age, tobacco and alcohol status, and history of radiotherapy. An elevated risk of malignant transformation was observed in heavy ex-smoker patients, alcohol-drinker patients, and alcohol-drinker patients with a history of smoking (ex-smokers). Persuading the patient to quit tobacco and alcohol consumption and periodic follow-ups are recommended in general, but particularly in the presence of these risk factors.

Liquid biopsy in the assessment of microRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review.

Background: The identification of non-invasive biomarkers from biological fluids collected by liquid biopsy provides new horizons for individualized therapeutic strategies and improves clinical decision-making in OSCC patients. Circulating microRNAs have emerged as biomarkers that may reflect not only the existence of cancer, but also the dynamic, malignant potential, and drug resistance of tumors. The aim of the systematic review is to evaluate and summarize the results of the published studies regarding the use of microRNAs as biomarkers for OSCC. Material and Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases till November 2020. A total of 34 studies met the inclusion criteria and were therefore subjected to quality assessment. Each study was subjected to data extraction including; patient characteristics, type of fluid sample (whole blood, plasma, serum, or saliva), molecular analysis method, specific dysregulated microRNA, and microRNA expression pattern. Results: The analysis showed that 57 microRNAs of liquid biopsy samples of four different fluids (whole blood, serum, plasma, and saliva) were analyzed. The prognostic and therapeutic significance of these microRNAs were suggested by several studies; where 41 microRNAs were upregulated while 16 were downregulated. Conclusions: Scientific evidence supports the interest in the use of microRNAs in the diagnosis and prognosis in OSCC patients; however, further studies in a larger cohort of patients are mandatory to introduce liquid biopsy in the routine clinical practice for the OSCC management. Key words:Biomarkers, liquid biopsy, microRNA, oral squamous cell carcinoma, systematic review.

Imipenem Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria in the Central Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious challenge for infectious disease prevention and treatment, according to the World Health Organization. It is a worldwide problem caused primarily by inappropriate and insufficient therapy, misuse of antimicrobials without physician supervision, unnecessary hospital readmissions, and other factors. AMR has several consequences, including increased medical costs and mortality. The present study aimed to evaluate imipenem resistance in gram-negative bacteria in Central Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, and determine this bacteria resistance in different samples. Initially, a total of 100 different samples were collected from child patients from October 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021. Each isolate was identified using VITEK 2 automated microbiology system. The recorded data showed that the isolated organisms resistant to imipenem included Klebsiella pneumonia (n=21), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=19), and Acinetobacter baumannii (n=16). In the current study, Klebsiella pneumonia was the most common pathogen in males (n=57) compared to female (n=43), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, particularly in the age range of 1 day- 3 years. Depending on the sample type, Klebsiella pneumonia, the most imipenem-resistant bacteria, was found more in the urine of patients with urinary tract infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was equally found in blood, urine, wound swab, and sputum samples. In comparison to other samples, Acinetobacter baumannii was found in greater numbers in the blood and in an equal number in urine and cerebrospinal.

Surveillance of Pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia solani Japanese Isolates with Varied Anastomosis Groups and Subgroups on Arabidopsis thaliana.

Rhizoctonia solani is a necrotrophic plant pathogen with a wide host range. R. solani is a species complex consisting of thirteen anastomosis groups (AGs) defined by compatibility of hyphal fusion reaction and subgroups based on cultural morphology. The relationship between such classifications and host specificity remains elusive. Here, we investigated the pathogenicity of seventeen R. solani isolates (AG-1 to 7) in Japan towards Arabidopsis thaliana using leaf and soil inoculations. The tested AGs, except AG-3 and AG-6, induced symptoms in both methods with variations in pathogenicity. The virulence levels differed even within the same AG and subgroup. Some isolates showed tissue-specific infection behavior. Thus, the AGs and their subgroups are suggested to be not enough to define the virulence (host and tissue specificity) of R. solani. We also evaluated the virulence of the isolates on Arabidopsis plants pretreated with salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene. No obvious effects were detected on the symptom formation by the virulence isolates, but ethylene and salicylic acid slightly enhanced the susceptibility to the weak and nonvirulent isolates. R. solani seems to be able to overcome the induced defense by these phytohormones in the infection to Arabidopsis.

Water quality monitoring of Lake Burullus (Egypt) using Landsat satellite imageries.

Lake Burullus is one of the most important coastal lakes in Egypt, as it participates with a considerable amount of fish yield in Egypt. Despite its importance, it is considered as a vulnerable lake, since it is subjected to significant environmental changes caused by various anthropogenic activities. Severe deterioration of its water quality status, as well as a decrease in its water area, has been noticed throughout the last four decades. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the ability of remote sensing for assessing the water quality status of the lake for the period from August 2010 to August 2013. Remote sensing technique was used to retrieve and predict the lake water quality parameter records through the assessment period (August 2010 to August 2013). Stepwise multi-linear regression technique was used to correlate between the field measurements of water quality parameters and the reflectance of remote sensing imageries, and then the derived models were validated. The results revealed the critical status of water quality conditions of the lake, particularly of its southern and southeastern parts. The results showed also that some water quality parameters (Chl-a, TSS, pH, Fe, Zn, Cr, and NH4) can be retrieved from remote sensing imageries with reasonable accuracy (R2 = 0.86, 0.67, 0.65, 0.63, 0.62, 0.61, and 0.6, respectively), while the water quality parameters, which can be predicted, based on calibrated and validated regression models are TSS and Chl-a, with acceptable accuracy (R2 = 0.6 and 0.43, respectively). Lake Burullus needs urgent plans and strategies to protect its water quality from the potential hazards of human activities. The study proved the ability of remote sensing as an effective technique to monitor the changes in water quality conditions of shallow coastal lagoons and to predict with some water quality parameters without field measurements; therefore, it is highly recommended to be used by decision makers.