Optimizing water relations, gas exchange parameters, biochemical attributes and yield of water-stressed maize plants through seed priming with iron oxide nanoparticles.

Drought poses significant risks to maize cultivation by impairing plant growth, water uptake and yield; nano priming offers a promising avenue to mitigate these effects by enhancing plant water relations, stress tolerance and overall productivity. In the current experiment, we tested a hypothesis that seed priming with iron oxide nanoparticles (n-Fe2O3) can improve maize performance under water stress by improving its growth, water relations, yield and biochemical attributes. The experiment was conducted on a one main plot bisected into two subplots corresponding to the water and drought environments. Within each subplot, maize plants were raised from n-Fe2O3 primed seeds corresponding to 0 mg. L- 1 (as control treatment), 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg. L- 1 (as trial treatments). Seed priming with n-Fe2O3 at a concentration of 75 mg. L- 1 improved the leaf relative water content, water potential, photosynthetic water use efficiency, and leaf intrinsic water use efficiency of maize plants by 13%, 44%, 64% and 17%, respectively compared to control under drought stress. The same treatments improved plant biochemical attributes such as total chlorophyll content, total flavonoids and ascorbic acid by 37%, 22%, and 36%, respectively. Seed priming with n-Fe2O3 accelerated the functioning of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and POD and depressed the levels of leaf malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide significantly. Seed priming with n-Fe2O3 at a concentration of 75 mg. L- 1 improved cob length, number of kernel rows per cob, and 100 kernel weight by 59%, 27% and 33%, respectively, under drought stress. Seed priming with n-Fe2O3 can be used to increase maize production under limited water scenarios.

The reprotoxic adverse side effects of neurogenic and neuroprotective drugs: current use of human organoid modeling as a potential alternative to preclinical models.

The management of neurological disorders heavily relies on neurotherapeutic drugs, but notable concerns exist regarding their possible negative effects on reproductive health. Traditional preclinical models often fail to accurately predict reprotoxicity, highlighting the need for more physiologically relevant systems. Organoid models represent a promising approach for concurrently studying neurotoxicity and reprotoxicity, providing insights into the complex interplay between neurotherapeutic drugs and reproductive systems. Herein, we have examined the molecular mechanisms underlying neurotherapeutic drug-induced reprotoxicity and discussed experimental findings from case studies. Additionally, we explore the utility of organoid models in elucidating the reproductive complications of neurodrug exposure. Have discussed the principles of organoid models, highlighting their ability to recapitulate neurodevelopmental processes and simulate drug-induced toxicity in a controlled environment. Challenges and future perspectives in the field have been addressed with a focus on advancing organoid technologies to improve reprotoxicity assessment and enhance drug safety screening. This review underscores the importance of organoid models in unraveling the complex relationship between neurotherapeutic drugs and reproductive health.

Case report: Inferior valved for non-valved glaucoma drainage device exchange for glaucoma control and cosmesis.

Introduction: While the exchange of a superior valved glaucoma drainage device (GDD) for a non-valved GDD has been reported for achieving glaucoma control, inferior GDD exchange for improving the cosmetic appearance of the eyes due to poor appearance caused by encapsulated GDDs has not been previously documented. Here, we report on two patients with inferior valved GDDs who underwent an exchange for non-valved devices for glaucoma control and cosmetic improvement. Case description: We report on the case of a 23-year-old gentleman and that of an 8-year-old girl, both of whom had inferior valved GDDs with uncontrolled intraocular pressure and unsightly appearance due to encapsulated GDD plates within the palpebral aperture. Both patients were unhappy about the appearance of their eyes. In each case, improvements in both glaucoma control and cosmesis were achieved by exchanging the valved GDDs for non-valved ones. Conclusion: Exchanging a valved for a non-valved GDD might help improve the cosmetic appearance of the eyes, in addition to providing glaucoma control.

A Complex Interplay: Navigating the Crossroads of Tobacco Use, Cardiovascular Disease, and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A WHF Policy Brief.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019, commonly referred to as COVID-19, is responsible for one of the deadliest pandemics in human history. The direct, indirect and lasting repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals and public health, as well as health systems can still be observed, even today. In the midst of the initial chaos, the role of tobacco as a prognostic factor for unfavourable COVID-19 outcomes was largely neglected. As of 2023, numerous studies have confirmed that use of tobacco, a leading risk factor for cardiovascular and other diseases, is strongly associated with increased risks of severe COVID-19 complications (e.g., hospitalisation, ICU admission, need for mechanical ventilation, long COVID, etc.) and deaths from COVID-19. In addition, evidence suggests that COVID-19 directly affects multiple organs beyond the respiratory system, disproportionately impacting individuals with comorbidities. Notably, people living with cardiovascular disease are more prone to experiencing worse outcomes, as COVID-19 often inherently manifests as thrombotic cardiovascular complications. As such, the triad of tobacco, COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease constitutes a dangerous cocktail. The lockdowns and social distancing measures imposed by governments have also had adverse effects on our lifestyles (e.g., shifts in diets, physical activity, tobacco consumption patterns, etc.) and mental well-being, all of which affect cardiovascular health. In particular, vulnerable populations are especially susceptible to tobacco use, cardiovascular disease and the psychological fallout from the pandemic. Therefore, national pandemic responses need to consider health equity as well as the social determinants of health. The pandemic has also had catastrophic impacts on many health systems, bringing some to the brink of collapse. As a result, many health services, such as services for cardiovascular disease or tobacco cessation, were severely disrupted due to fears of transmission and redirection of resources for COVID-19 care. Unfortunately, the return to pre-pandemic levels of cardiovascular disease care activity has stagnated. Nevertheless, digital solutions, such as telemedicine and apps, have flourished, and may help reduce the gaps. Advancing tobacco control was especially challenging due to interference from the tobacco industry. The industry exploited lingering uncertainties to propagate misleading information on tobacco and COVID-19 in order to promote its products. Regrettably, the links between tobacco use and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection remain inconclusive. However, a robust body of evidence has, since then, demonstrated that tobacco use is associated with more severe COVID-19 illness and complications. Additionally, the tobacco industry also repeatedly attempted to forge partnerships with governments under the guise of corporate social responsibility. The implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control could address many of the aforementioned challenges and alleviate the burden of tobacco, COVID-19, and cardiovascular disease. In particular, the implementation of Article 5.3 could protect public health policies from the vested interests of the industry. The world can learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to better prepare for future health emergencies of international concern. In light of the impact of tobacco on the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that tobacco control remains a central component in pandemic preparedness and response plans.

Translation and psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the ageism scale for dental students (ASDS-Ar): A multi-institutional validation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ageism represents an important barrier to high-quality healthcare for older adults. The present study sought to translate and validate the Arabic version of the Ageism Scale for Dental Students (ASDS-Arabic). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 27-item ASDS tool was translated from English into Arabic following recommended cross-sectional forward and backward translation guidelines. The translated version was subjected to the content validity ratio (CVR) and sent to dental students in 21 institutes from 10 different Arab countries. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to assess the dimensionality of the scale, and Cronbach's alpha was used to determine internal consistency reliability. The discriminant validity of the scale was assessed using the independent t-test. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was also undertaken. RESULTS: Based on CVR, three items were removed. The 24-item Arabic version was completed by 3284 dental students. PCA and CFA retained 17 items in six components, explaining 50.3% of the total variance, with acceptable reliability, validity and discrimination. The first component "Adherence of older patients with dental treatment and instructions," included four items with a Cronbach α of 0.64 and scored 4.3 ± 0.8. The second component "Feasibility of the treatment plan," included three items with a Cronbach α of 0.66 and scored from 2.6 ± 1.2 to 2.9 ± 1.1. The third component "Cost of and responsibility for the dental treatment" included four items with a Cronbach α of 0.47 and scored 4.4 ± 0.8 to 4.5 ± 0.8. The fourth component "Medical history of older patients" included two items with a Cronbach α of 0.70 and scored 4.0 ± 1.0 to 4.1 ± 1.0. The fifth Component "Feeling towards older patients" included two items with a Cronbach α of 0.672 and scored 2.6 ± 1.2 to 2.0 ± 1.4. The sixth Component "Confidence and experience in treating older patients" included two items with a Cronbach α of 0.33 and scored 4.4 ± 1 to 4.6 ± 1. CONCLUSION: This preliminary validation of the ASDS-Ar resulted in a new 17-item scale with six components with acceptable validity, reliability and discrimination.

Anticoagulation activity of sulfated carboxymethyl cellulose/Azadirachta indica leaf powder-based bio-composite.

Polymeric bio-composites synthesized via a green approach using natural herbs have fascinating anticoagulant activity due to their eco-friendly and non-toxic behavior towards various physical and chemical actions. Herein, we introduce a simple and eco-friendly approach for the fabrication of a new hybrid type of bio-composite based on sulfated carboxymethyl cellulose (S-CMC) and Azadirachta indica leaf powder (S-CMC/NLP). First, a non-toxic sulfating agent called N(SO3Na)3 was used to modify carboxymethyl cellulose into S-CMC. With an ion exchange capacity of 0.25 meq. g-1, the level of sulfation (%) of S-CMC (modified polysaccharide) was measured to be 12.01%. Three types of S-CMC/NLP bio-composites were developed by varying the concentration of NLP. FE-SEM, EDX, and XRD were used to characterize the structural features of S-CMC/NLP bio-composites. FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the S-CMC/NLP bio-composite possesses COO-, -OH and SO3- groups, suggesting the structural similarity to heparin. In addition, the anticoagulant effect of the S-CMC/NLP bio-composite was investigated using PT and APTT assays. The APTT investigation confirmed that following the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation system, 2-NLP/S-CMC bio-composite dose-dependently (0.045-0.28 mg mL-1) prolonged the time of blood coagulation compared to control (pure plasma). The S-CMC/NLP bio-composite showed its potential as a new, safe, and effective candidate for anticoagulant activity.

Mucor germinans, a novel dimorphic species resembling Paracoccidioides in a clinical sample: questions on ecological strategy.

Dimorphism is known among the etiologic agents of endemic mycoses as well as in filamentous Mucorales. Under appropriate thermal conditions, mononuclear yeast forms alternate with multi-nucleate hyphae. Here, we describe a dimorphic mucoralean fungus obtained from the sputum of a patient with Burkitt lymphoma and ongoing graft-versus-host reactions. The fungus is described as Mucor germinans sp. nov. Laboratory studies were performed to simulate temperature-dependent dimorphism, with two environmental strains Mucor circinelloides and Mucor kunryangriensis as controls. Both strains could be induced to form multinucleate arthrospores and subsequent yeast-like cells in vitro. Multilateral yeast cells emerge in all three Mucor species at elevated temperatures. This morphological transformation appears to occur at body temperature since the yeast-like cells were observed in the lungs of our immunocompromised patient. The microscopic appearance of the yeast-like cells in the clinical samples is easily confused with that of Paracoccidioides. The ecological role of yeast forms in Mucorales is discussed.IMPORTANCEMucormycosis is a devastating disease with high morbidity and mortality in susceptible patients. Accurate diagnosis is required for timely clinical management since antifungal susceptibility differs between species. Irregular hyphal elements are usually taken as the hallmark of mucormycosis, but here, we show that some species may also produce yeast-like cells, potentially being mistaken for Candida or Paracoccidioides. We demonstrate that the dimorphic transition is common in Mucor species and can be driven by many factors. The multi-nucleate yeast-like cells provide an effective parameter to distinguish mucoralean infections from similar yeast-like species in clinical samples.

Rare Case of Adrenal Hemangioma Discovered Incidentally during Renal Colic Investigation.

BACKGROUND Hemangiomas of the adrenal gland are rare benign non-functional tumors arising from the gland's vascular endothelium. Adrenal hemangiomas are rare in clinical settings, often discovered incidentally during an unrelated diagnostic investigation. CASE REPORT A 39-year-old man presented with a heterogeneous, enhancing 4.56×4.24×3.9-cm mass originating from the right adrenal gland's lateral limb, discovered incidentally on computed tomography (CT) to investigate renal colic. He was routinely followed up for 2 years with serial CT scans; the mass exhibited considerable growth compared with baseline, with a relatively stable appearance with hyperdense soft tissue component, fat, and foci of calcification. Dexamethasone suppression test demonstrated suppressed cortisol response, indicating a non-functional mass. Therefore, laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was performed, owing to the benign nature of the preoperative diagnosis of myelolipoma and mass size. The patient experienced an uneventful recovery, with no perioperative complications. The resected mass was 5×4×4 cm in size and weighed 30 g. Histopathology confirmed adrenal hemangioma. Serial sectioning revealed an encapsulated lesion with heterogeneous solid and cystic surfaces. Light microscopy examination showed dilated and congested vascular channels lined by flattened endothelium. Focal mature adipose tissue was seen. CONCLUSIONS The infrequent occurrence of adrenal hemangiomas and their nonspecific clinical and radiological presentation results in a considerable diagnostic challenge and, often, misdiagnosis. Surgical resection is usually necessary to exclude malignant disease, alleviate pressure-related symptoms, and decrease risk of retroperitoneum hemorrhage. These lesions are associated with a good prognosis. One limitation of this report is the lack of preoperative adrenal magnetic resonance imaging of the incidental adrenal mass.

Exploring the potential of surface-modified alginate beads for catalytic removal of environmental pollutants and hydrogen gas generation.

In this study, hydrogel beads were fabricated using alginate (Algt) polymer containing dispersed nickel phthalocyanine (NTC) nanomaterial. The viscous solution was poured dropwise into a divalent Ca2+ ions, resulting in the formation of hydrogel beads known as NTC@Algt-BDs. The surface of the NTC@Algt-BDs was further modified by coating them with different types of metal ions, yielding metal-coated M+/NTC@Algt-BDs. The adsorbed metal ions i.e., Cu+2, Ag+, Ni+2, Co+2, and Fe+3 were subsequently reduced to zero-valent metal nanoparticles (M0) by NaBH4. The prepared beads were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) (XPS). Initially, M0/NTC@Algt-BDs were examined for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP). Among them, the Cu0/NTC@Algt-BDs catalyst exhibited the highest reduction rate and therefore, investigated for reduction of different nitrophenols (NPs) and dyes, including 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), 2,6-dinitrophenol (2,6-DNP), methyl orange (MO), potassium ferrocyanide (PFC), congo red (CR), and acridine orange (ArO). The highest reduction rates of 2.019 and 1.394 min-1 were observed for MO and 2-NP, respectively. Furthermore, the fabricated catalysts were employed for the efficient production of H2 gas by NaBH4 methanolysis. Among which the Ag0/NTC@Algt-BDs catalyst showed excellent catalytic production of H2 gas, exhibiting the lowest activation energy (Ea) of 25.169 kJ/mol at ambient temperature. Furthermore, the impact of NaBH4 amount, and catalyst dosage on the reduction of 2-NP and H2 gas production was conducted whereas the effect of temperature on methanolysis of NaBH4 for evolution of H2 gas was studied. The amount of H2 gas was confirmed by GC-TCD system. Additionally, the recyclability of the catalyst was investigated, as it garnered significant research interest.

Accuracy of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology in evaluation of thyroid nodules using different ultrasonographic and cytological features.

BACKGROUND: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a reliable method for preoperative evaluation of thyroid nodules particularly if ultrasound-guided (USG-FNAC). The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of USG-FNAC and its accuracy. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 212 thyroidectomy cases with preoperative ultrasonography and FNAC data during the period 2015-2022 using TI-RADS for final ultrasound diagnosis and Bethesda system for cytological diagnosis. RESULTS: The studied cases were 200 females and 12 males. Thyroid cancer was more prevalent under 20 years old (78.5%). Papillary thyroid carcinoma comprises 84% of all cancer cases. Significant ultrasound features (p-value <0.05) favour malignancy were hypoechogenicity (66%), mixed echogenicity (84%), irregular border (61%), microcalcification (68%) and rim halo (63.6%). Malignancy was found in 21% of TI-RADS-2, 65% of TI-RADS-4 and 100% of TI-RADS-5. There is a significant difference between different categories of Bethesda system. All cases in Cat-VI were malignant (100%). Malignancy was also found in 81% of Cat-V, 20% of Cat-IV, 33% of Cat-III, 16% of Cat-II and 43% of Cat-I. Cytological features consistent with malignancy were as follows: grooving (94%), nuclear irregularities (89%), nuclear pseudoinclusion (89%) and little colloid (82%). In our study, USG-FNAC sensitivity was 83%, specificity 85%, PPV 85%, NPV 83% and accuracy 84%. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound features in favour of malignancy in thyroid nodules are hypoechoic or complex echogenicity, irregular border, punctuate calcification and presence of rim halo. Cytological features in favour of malignancy are grooving, nuclear irregularities, nuclear pseudoinclusion and little or absent colloid.

A hierarchical optimization approach to maximize hosting capacity for electric vehicles and renewable energy sources through demand response and transmission expansion planning.

Within the scope of sustainable development, integrating electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy sources (RESs) into power grids offers a number of benefits. These include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, diversifying energy sources, and promoting the use of green energy. Although the literature on hosting capacity (HC) models has grown, there is still a noticeable gap in the discussion of models that successfully handle transmission expansion planning (TEP), demand response (DR), and HC objectives simultaneously. Combining TEP, DR, and HC objectives in one model optimizes resource use, enhances grid stability, supports renewable and EV integration, and aligns with regulatory and market demands, resulting in a more efficient, reliable, and sustainable power system. This research presents an innovative two-layer HC model, including considerations for TEP and DR. The model determines the highest degree of load shifting appropriate for incorporation into power networks in the first layer. Meanwhile, the second layer focuses on augmenting the RES and EVs' hosting capability and modernizing the network infrastructure. System operators can choose the best scenario to increase the penetration level of EVs and RESs with the aid of the proposed model. The proposed model, which is formulated as a multi-objective mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problem, uses a hierarchical optimization technique to identify effective solutions by combining the particle swarm optimization algorithm and the crayfish optimizer. When compared to traditional methods, the results obtained from implementing the proposed hierarchical optimization algorithm on the Garver network and the IEEE 24-bus system indicated how effective it is at solving the presented HC model. The case studies demonstrated that integrating DR into the HC problem reduced peak load by 10.4-23.25%. The findings also highlighted that DR did not impact the total energy consumed by EVs throughout the day, but it did reshape the timing of EV charging, creating more opportunities for integration during periods of high demand. Implementing DR reduced the number of projects needed and, in some cases, led to cost savings of up to 12.3%.

Activation of AMPK/mTOR-Driven Autophagy and Suppression of the HMGB1/TLR4 Pathway with Pentoxifylline Attenuates Doxorubicin-Induced Hepatic Injury in Rats.

Despite being an effective chemotherapeutic agent, the clinical use of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited by several organ toxicities including hepatic injury. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a methylxanthine derivative with marked anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic features. It is unknown, however, whether PTX can mitigate DOX-evoked hepatotoxicity. This study aims to explore the potential hepatoprotective impact of PTX in DOX-induced hepatic injury and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA were used to examine liver tissues. The current findings revealed that PTX administration to DOX-intoxicated rats mitigated the pathological manifestations of hepatic injury, reduced microscopical damage scores, and improved serum ALT and AST markers, revealing restored hepatic cellular integrity. These favorable effects were attributed to PTX's ability to mitigate inflammation by reducing hepatic IL-1ß and TNF-α levels and suppressing the pro-inflammatory HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB axis. Moreover, PTX curtailed the hepatic apoptotic abnormalities by suppressing caspase 3 activity and lowering the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In tandem, PTX improved the defective autophagy events by lowering hepatic SQSTM-1/p62 accumulation and enhancing the AMPK/mTOR pathway, favoring autophagy and hepatic cell preservation. Together, for the first time, our findings demonstrate the ameliorative effect of PTX against DOX-evoked hepatotoxicity by dampening the hepatic HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pro-inflammatory axis and augmenting hepatic AMPK/mTOR-driven autophagy. Thus, PTX could be utilized as an adjunct agent with DOX regimens to mitigate DOX-induced hepatic injury.

Exploring the Relationship Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Biliary Diseases: A Comprehensive Analysis Using the United States National Inpatient Sample (2016-2020).

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is widely recognized for its association with gastric diseases. Prior studies on the relationship between H. pylori infection and biliary diseases have faced constraints, including inadequate control of confounding factors and small sample sizes. This study aims to explore the association between H. pylori infection and biliary diseases using a large, population-based sample with adequate control for various covariates. METHODS:  The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2020 was used to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and biliary diseases. We identified patients with H. pylori infection using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code (B96.81). Descriptive analysis and inferential statistics, including univariate and multivariate regression, were performed to explore the relationship between H. pylori and selected biliary diseases.  Results: Overall, 32,966,720 patients were analyzed. Among them, 736,585 patients had biliary diseases (n=1,637 with H. pylori and n=734,948 without H. pylori). The baseline characteristics revealed notable differences in demographics and healthcare variables between both groups. Univariate regression analysis demonstrated significant associations between H. pylori infection and various biliary diseases such as gallbladder stones, gallbladder cancer, cholangitis, acute cholecystitis, and biliary pancreatitis, with the highest risk for chronic cholecystitis (odds ratio: 5.21; 95% confidence interval: 4.1-6.62; p<0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis, after adjusting for various covariates, confirmed these associations, providing insights into the potential causal relationship between H. pylori and biliary diseases. CONCLUSION:  This study strengthens the evidence suggesting a potential association between H. pylori infection and biliary diseases. The findings need to be validated in prospective clinical studies.

Characteristics and outcomes of urinary tract infections caused by Enterococci: A multicenter retrospective study from two tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

Enterococci are Gram-positive coccus bacteria that are normally present in the gastrointestinal tract and ordinarily function commensally with humans. Very few studies have investigated the characteristics of enterococcal infections. We aimed to characterize patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to Enterococci and their outcomes. This was a retrospective cohort study between June 2012-November 2022. Patients who had clinically and microbiologically confirmed Enterococcal UTI based on a urine culture positive for E. faecalis or E. faecium with a count of ≥105 CFU/mL and having urinary tract symptoms were included. A total of 396 patients were eligible and included. The patients had a median age of 61 years and were mostly females (56.8 %). The most common characteristics were hospitalization in a non-ICU ward, having a urinary catheter, and recent use of antibiotics within the last 3 months (66.4 %, 59.3 %, and 51.8 %, respectively). Infection with E. faecalis was more common than E. faecium (77.3 % vs. 22.7 %). However, the latter exhibited higher rates of antibiotic resistance (P < 0.001 to several antibiotics) and was associated with significantly higher median C-reactive protein level (26.7 vs. 13 mg/dL; P = 0.025), mortality (23 % vs. 10.1 %; P = 0.002), and median length of stay (25 vs. 11.5 days; P < 0.001). We found that most patients with enterococcal UTIs had a history of having a urinary catheter and recent antibiotic use and were mostly females and hospitalized in non-ICU wards. E. faecium-infected patients experienced more severe episodes and poorer outcomes compared to patients infected with E. faecalis; thus, would need more aggressive therapy.

Development of an efficient electrochemical sensing platform based on ter-poly(luminol-o-anisidine-o-toluidine)/ZnO/GNPs nanocomposites for the detection of antimony (Sb3+) ions.

A poly(luminol-o-anisidine-o-toluidine) terpolymer was synthesized, characterized, and modified with GNPs and ZnO NPs. The nanocomposites were then examined for their electroactivity and potential use as cationic electrochemical sensors for detecting Sb3+ ions in phosphate buffer on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Among the different compositions and the terpolymer, the GCE adapted with the PLAT/ZnO/GNPs-5% nanocomposite displayed the highest current response. The fabricated nanocomposite sensor exhibited high sensitivity, with a value of 21.4177 µA µM-1 cm-2, and a low detection limit of 95.42 pM. The analytical performance of the sensor was evaluated over the linear dynamic range (LDR) of 0.1 nM to 0.01 mM. The proposed sensor is effective in detecting and measuring carcinogenic Sb3+ ions in real environmental samples using an electrochemical approach, making it a promising tool for environmental monitoring.

The First Reported Foodborne Botulism Outbreak in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Lessons Learned.

BACKGROUND: Botulism has not been previously reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This rare and sometimes fatal foodborne illness is caused by neurotoxins and primarily results from consuming home-canned fruits, vegetables, dairy, and seafood products & it can lead to paralysis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of patients who developed botulism in Riyadh in 2024 after consuming mayonnaise from a well-known local chain of restaurants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records and interviewed patients or their attendants for all hospitalized cases of foodborne botulism at Riyadh First Health Cluster. For each patient, a standard case report form was completed, containing information on demographics, clinical aspects, botulinum test results, and type of exposure. Descriptive statistics were applied to assess the data. During the outbreak, nineteen patients with foodborne diseases were admitted to Riyadh First Health Cluster Hospitals. Following thorough physical examinations, botulism was suspected in each case. RESULTS: Eight of the 19 suspected foodborne illness patients fully satisfied the botulism case definition requirements set forth by the Saudi Arabian Public Health Authority (Weqaya). Among these eight patients, 2 (25%) were male and 6 (75%) were female, with a mean age of 23.25 ± 9.29 years (range: 12-38 years). The incubation period for our patients was 36.25 ± 26.26 h. Notable symptoms included dysphagia in all eight patients (100%), dysarthria, generalized weakness, nausea and vomiting in seven patients (88%), diplopia in four patients (50%), and stomach discomfort in three patients (38%). Of the eight cases, six required intubation, one mimicked brain death, and two were stable. The presence of Clostridium botulinum spores as the cause of the outbreak was confirmed by detecting botulinum spores in contaminated food. CONCLUSION: Diplopia and dysarthria were the most common early sign of botulism. Early manifestations may include respiratory symptoms without any musculoskeletal symptoms. or nausea, vomiting and disorientation.

Association Between Lower Levels of Vitamin D and Inflammation in the Geriatric Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

There have been suggestions that vitamin D has anti-inflammatory effects; however, the variabilities of vitamin D levels among specific groups of patients and its association with these inflammatory events have not been demonstrated. This study aims to study the association between vitamin D levels and vitamin D deficiency and inflammatory events among the elderly population. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and ClinicalKey were systematically searched in December 2023 to include the relevant data. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (version 3.0, Biostat, Inc., Englewood, NJ) was the software used for data analyses. A total of 12 studies were included in this analysis with 14,717 elderly patients. There was an overall significant decrease in vitamin D levels in elderly patients with high inflammatory markers compared to controls (Hedges' g = -0.221, 95% CI: -0.268, -0.173, P < 0.001), and event of vitamin D deficiency was found to be 0.321 (95% CI: 0.305, 0.337, P < 0.001). There is a significant decrease in vitamin D levels among the elderly with different inflammatory conditions. Future longitudinal studies and well-designed, large, randomized controlled trials are required to study the association between vitamin D deficiency and the incidence of inflammatory events in this specific group of patients.

Updates on the Diagnostic Use of Ultrasonography Augmented With Perfluorobutane Contrast in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis.

To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a thorough search was conducted for pertinent literature using PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Wiley Library. This was a meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy. MetaDiSc 1.4 was used for all analyses and assessed statistical heterogeneity with the I2 index and the chi-square test. The random-effects model was applied where there was considerable heterogeneity. Using the eight elements of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort and case-control studies, we assessed the quality of the included studies. Our results included nine studies with a total of 2598 patients, and 1607 (61.8%) were males. The pooled overall sensitivity of perfluorobutane with CEUS was 85.6% (95% CI 0.832, -0.878, and P=0.000) and specificity was 91.5% (95% CI 0.899, -0.930, and P=0.000) with significant inter heterogeneity between studies (I2=94.3% and 95.7%), respectively. The pooled positive likelihood ratio was 12.42 (4.59 to 33.61, P=0.000). Our analysis revealed a symmetric summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve and seven of the included studies are near the top left corner of the graph, indicating that this test has a high diagnostic value. The results showed that CEUS augmented with perfluorobutane contrast had good diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) for primary HCC. Further real-world data studies are needed to confirm the good diagnosis accuracy of perfluorobutane CEUS in primary HCC.