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AIM: Amidst the mounting challenges posed by climate change, the healthcare sector emerges as a vital frontliner, with nurses standing as its linchpins. This review delves into the pivotal role of nurses in combatting the health consequences of climatic alterations, particularly within the nuanced environment of Saudi Arabia. DESIGN: A rapid literature review. METHOD: Drawing from a rigorous analysis of 53 studies, our exploration revolves around the preparedness strategies formulated in response to Saudi Arabia's changing climate. The variables analysed included study design, sample size, focus area, geographical coverage and key findings related to nurse competencies. Data were collected using a structured data extraction form and analysed using thematic content analysis. Employing content analysis, we discerned essential domains: from grasping the health impacts of climate change to customizing care for the most susceptible populations and championing advocacy initiatives. FINDINGS: Salient findings highlight nurses' profound understanding of both direct and secondary health implications of climate shifts. Additionally, the results emphasize the tailored interventions needed for vulnerable groups, capacity building and disaster readiness. Crucially, our findings spotlight the significance of weaving cultural, ethical and regional threads into nursing strategies. By painting a comprehensive picture, we showcase the delicate balance of environmental evolution, healthcare dynamics and the unique socio-cultural tapestry of Saudi Arabia. CONCLUSION: The results of our analysis revealed key competencies required for nurses, including the ability to address immediate health impacts, provide tailored care for vulnerable populations and engage in advocacy and policy formulation. In summation, nurses' multifaceted roles-from immediate medical care to research, advocacy and strategizing-underscore their invaluable contribution to confronting the health adversities sparked by climate change. Our review accentuates the essential contributions of nurses in tackling climate-related health hurdles and calls for more nuanced research, policy adjustments and proactive measures attuned to Saudi Arabia's distinct backdrop.
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A study was conducted to investigate the sorption of 85Sr from aqueous solutions using a fabricated magnesium molybdenum titanate (MgMoTi) composite. The MgMoTi composites were synthesized through the co-precipitation technique and characterized using different analytical tools, including FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and EDX. The sorption studies focused on 85Sr and examined factors such as shaking time, pH, ionic strength, temperature, initial ion concentration, and saturation capacity. The results obtained from the study indicated that, under optimum sorption conditions, the saturation capacity for 85Sr onto S-4 and S-5 was determined to be 23.31 and 37.72 mg g-1, respectively. The sorption of 85Sr exhibited dependence on pH and ionic strength. The kinetics of the sorption process followed the pseudo-2nd-order model, while the thermodynamics revealed an endothermic and spontaneous nature. Desorption studies revealed that 0.1 M HCl was the most effective eluent for the complete recovery of 85Sr. Furthermore, the recycling results demonstrated the excellent recyclability of MgMoTi, suggesting its potential application as a sorbent for the removal of 85Sr from aqueous solutions. Overall, the study highlights MgMoTi as a promising composite with practical utility in the sorption of 85Sr from aqueous solutions.
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Microcystin (MC), a hepatotoxin that is harmful to human health, has frequently increased in freshwaters worldwide due to the increase in toxic cyanobacterial blooms. Despite many studies reported the human exposure to MC through drinking water, the potential transfer of this toxin to human via consumption of vegetables grown on farmlands that are naturally irrigated with contaminated water has not been largely investigated. Therefore, this study investigates the presence of MC in irrigation water and its potential accumulation in commonly consumed vegetables from Egyptian farmlands. The results of toxin analysis revealed that all irrigation water sites contained high MC concentrations (1.3-93.7 µg L-1) along the study period, in association with the abundance of dominant cyanobacteria in these sites. Meanwhile, MCs were detected in most vegetable plants surveyed, with highest levels in potato tubers (1100 µg kg-1 fresh weight, FW) followed by spinach (180 µg kg-1 FW), onion (170 µg g-1 FW), Swiss chard (160 µg kg-1 FW) and fava bean (46 µg kg-1 FW). These MC concentrations in vegetables led to estimated daily intake (EDI) values (0.08-1.13 µg kg bw-1 d-1 for adults and 0.11-1.5 µg kg bw-1 d-1 for children), through food consumption, exceeding the WHO recommended TDI (0.04 µg kg bw-1 d-1) for this toxin. As eutrophic water is widely used for irrigation in many parts of the world, our study suggests that cyanotoxins in irrigation waters and agricultural plants should be regularly monitored to safeguard the general public from inadvertent exposure to harmful toxins via food consumption.
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Agricultural Irrigation , Food Contamination , Food Safety , Microcystins , Vegetables , Microcystins/analysis , Egypt , Risk Assessment , Vegetables/chemistry , Humans , Food Contamination/analysis , CyanobacteriaABSTRACT
Anatoxin-a (ATX-a) is a neurotoxin produced by some species of cyanobacteria. Due to its water solubility and stability in natural water, it could pose health risks to human, animals, and plants. Conventional water treatment techniques are not only insufficient for the removal of ATX-a, but they also result in cell lysis and toxin release. The elimination of this toxin through biodegradation may be a promising strategy. This study examines for the first time the biodegradation of ATX-a to a non-toxic metabolite (Epoxy-ATX-a) by a strain of Bacillus that has a history of dealing with toxic cyanobacteria in a eutrophic lake. The Bacillus strain AMRI-03 thrived without lag phase in a lake water containing ATX-a. The strain displayed fast degradation of ATX-a, depending on initial toxin concentration. At the highest initial concentrations (50 & 100 µg L- 1), total ATX-a degradation took place in 4 days, but it took 6 & 7 days at lower concentrations (20, 10, and 1 µg L- 1, respectively). The ATX-a biodegradation rate was also influenced by the initial toxin concentration, reaching its maximum value (12.5 µg L- 1 day- 1) at the highest initial toxin concentrations (50 & 100 µg L- 1). Temperature and pH also had an impact on the rate of ATX-a biodegradation, with the highest rates occurring at 25 and 30 ºC and pH 7 and 8. This nontoxic bacterial strain could be immobilized within a biofilm on sand filters and/or sludge for the degradation and removal of ATX-a and other cyanotoxins during water treatment processes, following the establishment of mesocosm experiments to assess the potential effects of this bacterium on water quality.
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Bacillus subtilis , Biodegradation, Environmental , Cyanobacteria Toxins , Cyanobacteria , Eutrophication , Lakes , Tropanes , Lakes/microbiology , Tropanes/metabolism , Cyanobacteria/metabolism , Cyanobacteria/isolation & purification , Bacillus subtilis/metabolism , Bacillus subtilis/isolation & purification , Bacillus subtilis/genetics , Saudi Arabia , Bacterial Toxins/metabolismABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Multiple pharmacological interventions have been studied for managing eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We performed a comprehensive systematic review and network meta-analysis of all available randomized controlled trials (RCT) to assess the efficacy and safety of these interventions in EoE in adults and children. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive review of Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE OVID, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science through May 10, 2023. We performed frequentist approach network meta-analysis using random effects model. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI for dichotomous outcomes. RESULTS: Our search yielded 25 RCTs with 25 discrete interventions and 2067 patients. Compared with placebo, the following interventions improved histology (using study definitions) in decreasing order on ranking: orodispersible budesonide (ODB) low dose, ODB high dose, oral viscous budesonide (OVB) high dose, fluticasone tablet 1.5 mg twice daily, fluticasone 3 mg twice daily, esomeprazole, dupilumab every 2 weeks, dupilumab weekly, OVB medium dose, fluticasone 3 mg daily, cendakimab 180 mg, prednisone, swallowed fluticasone, fluticasone tablet 1.5 mg daily, OVB low dose, reslizumab 3 mg/kg, reslizumab 1 mg/kg, and reslizumab 2 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: Network meta-analysis demonstrates histological efficacy of multiple medications for EoE. Because of the heterogeneity and large effect size, we recommend more trials comparing pharmacotherapeutic interventions with each other and placebo. An important limitation of this study is absence of clinical efficacy data due to insufficient data. Other limitations include heterogeneity of operator, population, and outcome analysis.
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The antiproliferative properties of metformin and silodosin have been observed in prostate cancer. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that the molecular pathways related to these drugs may impact the levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in prostate cancer cells. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of metformin and silodosin on the levels of hTERT in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) cells. The present study employed an experimental design with a post-test-only control group. This study utilized the PC3 cell line as a model for mCRPC. A viability experiment was conducted using the CCK-8 method to determine the inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of metformin, silodosin, and abiraterone acetate (AA) after a 72-hour incubation period of PC3 cells. In order to investigate the levels of hTERT, PC3 cells were divided into two control groups: a negative control and a standard therapy with AA. Additionally, three experimental combination groups were added: metformin with AA; silodosin with AA; and metformin, silodosin and AA. The level of hTERT was measured using sandwich ELISA technique. The difference in hTERT levels was assessed using ANOVA followed by a post hoc test. The IC50 values for metformin, silodosin, and AA were 17.7 mM, 44.162 mM, and 66.9 µM, respectively. Our data indicated that the combination of metformin with AA and the combination of metformin, silodosin and AA decreased the hTERT levels when compared to control, AA, and silodosin with AA. The administration of metformin resulted in a reduction of hTERT levels in the PC3 cell line, but the impact of silodosin on hTERT levels was not statistically significant compared to AA group.
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Indoles , Metformin , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant , Telomerase , Humans , Metformin/pharmacology , Metformin/administration & dosage , Metformin/therapeutic use , Telomerase/metabolism , Male , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology , Indoles/pharmacology , Indoles/administration & dosage , Indoles/therapeutic use , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , PC-3 Cells , Cell Survival/drug effects , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , AndrostenesABSTRACT
The present study demonstrates the presence of the neurotoxin ß-N-methylamino-L-alanine and its cyanobacterial producers in irrigation water and grains of some cereal plants from farmlands irrigated with Nile River water in Egypt. BMAA detected by LC-MS/MS in phytoplankton samples was found at higher concentrations of free form (0.84-11.4 µg L-1) than of protein-bound form (0.16-1.6 µg L-1), in association with the dominance of cyanobacteria in irrigation water canals. Dominant cyanobacterial species isolated from these irrigation waters including Aphanocapsa planctonica, Chroococcus minutus, Dolichospermum lemmermanni, Nostoc commune, and Oscillatoria tenuis were found to produce different concentrations of free (4.8-71.1 µg g-1 dry weight) and protein-bound (0.1-11.4 µg g-1 dry weight) BMAA. In the meantime, BMAA was also detected in a protein-bound form only in grains of corn (3.87-4.51 µg g-1 fresh weight) and sorghum (5.1-7.1 µg g-1 fresh weight) plants, but not in wheat grains. The amounts of BMAA accumulated in these grains correlated with BMAA concentrations detected in relevant irrigation water canals. The presence of BMAA in cereal grains would constitute a risk to human and animal health upon consumption of contaminated grains. The study, therefore, suggests continuous monitoring of BMAA and other cyanotoxins in irrigation waters and edible plants to protect the public against exposure to such potent toxins.
Subject(s)
Agricultural Irrigation , Amino Acids, Diamino , Edible Grain , Edible Grain/chemistry , Humans , Amino Acids, Diamino/analysis , Neurotoxins/analysis , Cyanobacteria/metabolism , Egypt , Environmental Monitoring , Cyanobacteria ToxinsABSTRACT
Oral cancer ranks sixteenth amongst types of cancer by number of deaths. Many oral cancers are developed from potentially malignant disorders such as oral leukoplakia, whose most frequent predictor is the presence of epithelial dysplasia. Immunohistochemical staining using cell proliferation biomarkers such as ki67 is a complementary technique to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of oral leukoplakia. The cell counting of these images was traditionally done manually, which is time-consuming and not very reproducible due to intra- and inter-observer variability. The software presently available is not suitable for this task. This article presents the OralImmunoAnalyser software (registered by the University of Santiago de Compostela-USC), which combines automatic image processing with a friendly graphical user interface that allows investigators to oversee and easily correct the automatically recognized cells before quantification. OralImmunoAnalyser is able to count the number of cells in three staining levels and each epithelial layer. Operating in the daily work of the Odontology Faculty, it registered a sensitivity of 64.4% and specificity of 93% for automatic cell detection, with an accuracy of 79.8% for cell classification. Although expert supervision is needed before quantification, OIA reduces the expert analysis time by 56.5% compared to manual counting, avoiding mistakes because the user can check the cells counted. Hence, the SUS questionnaire reported a mean score of 80.9, which means that the system was perceived from good to excellent. OralImmunoAnalyser is accurate, trustworthy, and easy to use in daily practice in biomedical labs. The software, for Windows and Linux, with the images used in this study, can be downloaded from https://citius.usc.es/transferencia/software/oralimmunoanalyser for research purposes upon acceptance.
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Objectives: This research was conducted to explore the patterns and behavior of panic purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during COVID-19 in the Sylhet city, Bangladesh. Study design: The study adopted qualitative exploratory research design. Methods: 25 in-depth interviews with drug sellers and clients and 7 key informant interviews were conducted with pharmacists and medical representatives of pharmaceutical companies in Sylhet city in Bangladesh from October 2020 to March 2021. Thematic analysis was used to evaluate the primary data. Results: The findings revealed that individuals sought out, purchased, and stockpiled prescription-only drugs for self-medication purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic. News and rumor spread by social media, television, and everyday interactions concerning the severity of infections and the number of deaths caused an increase in self-medication as a preventive measure. The reason for this panic buying of drugs was identified as a fear of drug shortages, price hikes, the rise of infection, and the availability of medicines and home delivery services during the pandemic. Conclusion: The purchasing, stockpiling and use of drugs by pharmacies varied based on the person dispensing the drugs, the customer, and the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Furthermore, the role of social media in spreading rumor and (dis) misinformation about drug use, a greater tendency to self-medicate, and poor regulation, influenced the individual's use of drugs. Therefore, the drug regulatory authorities and policymakers need to consider the real level of local drug use in order to encourage more rational use of drugs which will help to ensure that there is reliable access to safe, effective, and high-quality medicines and vaccines for all.
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This study investigates the effectiveness of the Script Concordance Test (SCT) in enhancing clinical reasoning skills within paramedic education. Focusing on the Medical University of Lublin, we evaluated the SCT's application across two cohorts of paramedic students, aiming to understand its potential to improve decision-making skills in emergency scenarios. Our approach, informed by Van der Vleuten's assessment framework, revealed that while the SCT's correlation with traditional methods like multiple-choice questions (MCQs) was limited, its formative nature significantly contributed to improved performance in summative assessments. These findings suggest that the SCT can be an effective tool in paramedic training, particularly in strengthening cognitive abilities critical for emergency responses. The study underscores the importance of incorporating innovative assessment tools like SCTs in paramedic curricula, not only to enhance clinical reasoning but also to prepare students for effective emergency responses. Our research contributes to the ongoing efforts in refining paramedic education and highlights the need for versatile assessment strategies in preparing future healthcare professionals for diverse clinical challenges.
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BACKGROUND: Armed conflicts are usually associated with high mortality and morbidity rates, with unpredictable workload, injuries and illnesses. Identifying emergency nurses' views of the core competencies required to enable them to work effectively in hospitals in areas of armed conflict is critical. It is important to inform the requisite standards of care and facilitate the translation of knowledge into safe, quality care. AIM: The aim of this study was to identify emergency nurses' perceptions of core competencies necessary to work in hospitals in the context of armed conflict. METHOD: A descriptive qualitative phase of a mixed-method study using semi-structured interviews with participants was conducted from June to July 2019. The COREQ guideline for reporting qualitative research was followed. FINDINGS: A sample of 15 participants was interviewed. The participant perceptions provided a different perspective of core competencies required for emergency nurses in the context of armed conflict, culminating in four main areas: (i) personal preparedness , (ii) leadership, (iii) communication and (iv) assessment and intervention. CONCLUSION: This study identified emergency nurses' perceptions of their core competencies. Personal preparedness, leadership, communication, assessment and intervention were identified as contributing to calmness of character, confidence in care and cultural awareness for care in this setting and were essential for them to work effectively when managing victims of armed conflict in emergency departments. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE AND HEALTH POLICY: The findings of this study are important and novel because the researchers sought the perspectives of emergency nurses who have experience in receiving patients from armed conflict firsthand. The findings will inform policymakers in those settings regarding standard of care, education and drills for hospital nurses in optimizing armed conflict care response outcomes.
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AIM: To identify nurses' perspectives of their core competencies for emergency care in the context of armed conflict. INTRODUCTION: Emergency department's (ED) capacity is frequently overwhelmed by a sudden surge of patients when located near armed conflict. Although emergency nurses are key frontline responders, evidence detailing core competencies needed to work in these areas remains limited. METHOD: The study used a cross-sectional survey design and is reported using STROBE guidelines. A validated questionnaire was administered in hospitals near the southern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen border, where emergency nurses regularly manage large numbers of patients from armed conflict. RESULT: A total of 163 questionnaires were returned (68% response rate). Most participants were female and had more than six years of ED experience. The core competencies for emergency nurses working near armed conflict were identified and highly rated by participants: the highest mean value was 9.47/10 and the lowest was 8.89/10. Analysis revealed regular education, training and drills were needed to provide quality emergency nursing care for victims of armed conflict. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: This study provides new evidence regarding core competencies in emergency nursing care in the context of armed conflict. The identified competencies should be incorporated into future education, curricula, training programmes and evaluations to enable emergency nurses to function effectively in the context of armed conflict. The findings will assist decision-makers to develop plans and strategies for mitigating risk and improving the future nursing response in similar contexts.
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Emergency Medical Services , Nurses , Humans , Female , Male , Cross-Sectional Studies , Clinical Competence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Armed ConflictsABSTRACT
The Aja and Salma mountains in the Hail region are home to a variety of indigenous wild plants, some of which are used in Bedouin folk medicine to treat various ailments. The purpose of the current study was to unveil the chemical, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Fagonia indica (Showeka) grown widely in these mountains, as data on the biological activities of this plant in this remote area are scarce. XRF spectrometry indicated the presence of some essential elements, which were in the order of Ca > S > K > AL > CL > Si > P > Fe > Mg > Na > Ti > Sr > Zn > Mn. Qualitative chemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, terpenes, flavonoids, tannins, phenols and cardiac glycosides in the methanolic extract (80% v/v). GC-MS showed the presence of 2-chloropropanoic acid 18.5%, tetrahydro-2-methylfuran 20.1%, tridecanoic acid 12-methyl-, methyl ester 2.2%, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester 8.6%, methyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate 13.4%, methyl linoleate 7.0%, petroselinic acid methyl ester 15%, erucylamide 6.7% and diosgenin 8.5%. Total phenols, total tannins, flavonoids, DPPH, reducing power, -carotene and ABTS IC50 (mg/mL) scavenging activity were used to measure the antioxidant capabilities of Fagonia indica, which exhibited prominent antioxidant properties at low concentrations when compared to ascorbic acid, butylate hydroxytoluene and beta-carotene. The antibacterial investigation revealed significant inhibitory effects against Bacillus subtilis MTCC121 and Pseudomona aeruginosa MTCC 741 with inhibition zones of 15.00 ± 1.5 and 12.0 ± 1.0 mm, respectively. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) ranged between 125 to 500 µg/mL. The MBC/MIC ratio indicated possible bactericidal efficacy against Bacillus subtilis and bacteriostatic activity against Pseudomona aeruginosa. The study also showed that this plant has anti-biofilm formation activity.
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The purpose of this work was to assess the morphology and ontogeny of Puccinia imperatae urediniospores and teliospores growing on its host, Imperata cylindrica, for the first time using scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. The first evidence of uredinial development is the aggregation of hyphae in host intercellular spaces under the epidermis to form an uredinial initial. Uredinial primordia become evident as compact masses of fungal hyphae. The mycelia are dikaryotic and originated from dikaryotic urediniospores, which infect a new host. Dikaryotic sporogenous cells begin to form from dikaryotic mycelium as the uredinium develops further. The fundamental cell in the urediniospore and teliospore formation is the sporogenous cell. The teliospores with their persistent pedicels arise from dense dikaryotic sporogenous tissue, which later becomes highly vacuolated. The sporogenous cell forms a spore bud, which later divides into a pedicel and teliospore mother cell with two nuclei that produce the mature teliospore. SEM examination revealed that the urediniospores are echinulate bearing conical spines on their surfaces, sometimes curving near their tips, and the echinulate ornaments are distributed over the entire urediniospore surface. SEM examination also indicated that the teliospore surface shows rugose ornamentations. This investigation proved that the morphology of the uredinia of different Puccinia species is not related to the host species, but to the rust species. The possibility of using this fungus as a biological control agent for the noxious weed, Imperata cylindrica, was also discussed.
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Basidiomycota , Puccinia , Microscopy, Electron , Spores, FungalABSTRACT
Saxitoxins (STXs) are carbamate alkaloid neurotoxins produced by some species of cyanobacteria. They are water soluble and relatively stable in the natural environment, and thereby represent a risk to animal and human health through a long-time exposure. STXs cannot be sufficiently removed by conventional water treatment methods. Therefore, this study investigates the potential STX biodegradation and detoxification by bacteria as a promising method for toxin removal. STX biodegradation experiments were conducted using Bacillus flexus SSZ01 strain in batch cultures. The results revealed that SSZ01 strain grew well and rapidly detoxified STX, with no lag phase observed. STX detoxification by SSZ01 strain was initial-toxin-concentration-dependent. The highest biotransformation rate (10 µg STX L-1 day-1) the pseudo-first-order kinetic constant (0.58 d-1) were obtained at the highest initial toxin concentration (50 µg L-1) and the lowest ones (0.06 µg STX L-1 day-1 and 0.14 d-1, respectively) were recorded at the lowest initial concentration (0.5 µg L-1). STX biotransformation rate increased with temperature, with highest occurred at 30 ºC. This rate was also influenced by pH, with highest obtained at pH8 and lowest at higher and lower pH values. HPLC chromatograms showed that STX biotransformation peak is corresponding to the least toxic STX analog (disulfated sulfocarbamoyl-C1 variant). The Artemia-based toxicity assay revealed that this biotransformation byproduct was nontoxic. This suggests the potential application of this bacterial strain in slow sand filters for cyanotoxin removal in water treatment plants. Being nontoxic, this byproduct needs to be assayed for its therapeutic effects toward neurodegenerative diseases.
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Cyanobacteria , Saxitoxin , Animals , Humans , Saxitoxin/analysis , Saxitoxin/metabolism , Saxitoxin/toxicity , Cyanobacteria/metabolism , Biotransformation , Chromatography, High Pressure LiquidABSTRACT
Introduction: Toxic microcystins (MCs) produced by cyanoprokaryotes -particularly by the cosmopolitan cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa- pose adverse effects on aquatic organisms and their ecosystem and may also cause serious impacts on human health. These harmful monocyclic heptapeptides are the most prevalent cyanotoxins reported in freshwaters and must be eliminated for avoiding MCs release in receiving water bodies. Hence, this work aimed to test the efficacy of Moringa oleifera seeds water-based extract (MO) as a natural coagulant for removing cyanobacteria (especially M. aeruginosa), microalgae, and its associated MCs from pre-treated municipal wastewaters. Methodology: Four different MO coagulant doses (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg L-1) were investigated for cyanobacteria and microalgae removal by conventional coagulation assays and morphology-based taxonomy studies. Additionally, water turbidity and chlorophyll a (Chl a) content were also determined. Further, the presence and concentration of MCs soluble in water, remaining in the particulate fraction, and flocculated within the residual sludge were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Results: The treatment with MO at 100 mg L-1 substantially reduced the number of cyanobacterial and microalgal species in the treated samples (average removal rate of 93.8% and 86.9%, respectively). These results agreed with a â¼44% concomitant reduction in Chl a and â¼97% reduction in water turbidity (a surrogate marker for suspended solids content). Notably, MCs concentrations in the treated water were significantly lowered to 0.6 ± 0.1 µg L-1 after addition of 100 mg L-1 MO. This value is below the WHO recommended limits for MCs presence in drinking water (<1.0 µg L-1). Discussion: The present study provides promising insights into the applicability of MO as a cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable natural coagulant, particularly for using in developing countries, to eliminate harmful cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in municipal water treatment facilities.
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Fatty acids and phospholipid molecules are essential for determining the structure and function of cell membranes, and they hence participate in many biological processes. Platelet activating factor (PAF) and its precursor plasmalogen, which represent two subclasses of ether phospholipids, have attracted increasing research attention recently due to their association with multiple chronic inflammatory, neurodegenerative, and metabolic disorders. These pathophysiological conditions commonly involve inflammatory processes linked to an excess presence of PAF and/or decreased levels of plasmalogens. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the roles of plasmalogens in inflammation have remained largely elusive. While anti-inflammatory responses most likely involve the plasmalogen signal pathway; pro-inflammatory responses recruit arachidonic acid, a precursor of pro-inflammatory lipid mediators which is released from membrane phospholipids, notably derived from the hydrolysis of plasmalogens. Plasmalogens per se are vital membrane phospholipids in humans. Changes in their homeostatic levels may alter cell membrane properties, thus affecting key signaling pathways that mediate inflammatory cascades and immune responses. The plasmalogen analogs of PAF are also potentially important, considering that anti-PAF activity has strong anti-inflammatory effects. Plasmalogen replacement therapy was further identified as a promising anti-inflammatory strategy allowing for the relief of pathological hallmarks in patients affected by chronic diseases with an inflammatory component. The aim of this Short Review is to highlight the emerging roles and implications of plasmalogens in chronic inflammatory disorders, along with the promising outcomes of plasmalogen replacement therapy for the treatment of various PAF-related chronic inflammatory pathologies.
Subject(s)
Plasmalogens , Platelet Activating Factor , Humans , Plasmalogens/chemistry , Plasmalogens/metabolism , Platelet Activating Factor/metabolism , Phospholipid Ethers/metabolism , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Chronic DiseaseABSTRACT
Background: Saudi Arabia has made extensive efforts to manage disasters using unique national approaches; however, challenges and obstacles concerning disaster health handling persist. The nation has a reactive strategy to disaster management with a need for increased involvement of health professionals in disaster management and improvement of healthcare facilities emergency preparedness including competency-based education training. Objective: A comprehensive and consistent approach of disaster education programs for short and intermediate training of health professionals involved in disaster responses in Saudi Arabia is still not evident. Therefore, it is vital to explore and map the current state of the disaster education framework in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute approach for scoping reviews was used to assess research articles and preprints between January 2000 and September 2021 from Saudi Digital Library; PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Five experts identified key aspects of the disaster education approach and eligibility criteria to facilitate identification of relevant articles. Results: Only five articles met the specified criteria and described two short and three intermediate courses on disaster health management in Saudi Arabia. All courses involved competency-specific training aimed at basic or foundational level and involved a range of activities and learning types. None had refresher courses within 12 months. Conclusion: The review highlights the obvious scarcity of short and intermediate term evidence-based disaster health programs in Saudi Arabia. Adoption of the education framework proposed by the authors based on international frameworks could improve the quality and consistency of the disaster education curriculum in Saudi Arabia.
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Civil Defense , Disaster Planning , Disasters , Health Education , Saudi ArabiaABSTRACT
Although young-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) is commonly linked to genetic predispositions such as Lynch syndrome, there has been an increasing trend in the prevalence of sporadic type youngonset CRC. We highlighted two cases of young patients diagnosed with CRC. Both patients came at the late stage of presentation with right sided colon tumour and local lymph nodes involvement. Loss of MLH1 expression with positive BRAF V600E was seen on immunohistochemistry staining. Additionally, they have no chronic disease or familial history of malignancy. The follow-up surveillance CT scan and the surveillance colonoscopy of case 1 showed no local recurrence and distant metastasis. However, another patient defaulted on the subsequent follow-up. In this report, we review the clinicopathological characteristics of these two cases and discuss the importance of the screening for the BRAF V600E and the four MMR proteins to characterise the sporadic and hereditary subgroups of young-onset CRC.
Subject(s)
Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis , Colorectal Neoplasms , Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis/diagnosis , Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis/epidemiology , Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis/genetics , DNA Mismatch Repair , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Middle Aged , MutL Protein Homolog 1/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/geneticsABSTRACT
Plasmalogens and Platelet-Activating Factor (PAF) are both bioactive ether phospholipids. Whereas plasmalogens are recognized for their important antioxidant function and modulatory role in cell membrane structure and dynamics, PAF is a potent pro-inflammatory lipid mediator known to have messenger functions in cell signaling and inflammatory response. The relationship between these two types of lipids has been rarely studied in terms of their metabolic interconversion and reciprocal modulation of the pro-inflammation/anti-inflammation balance. The vinyl-ether bonded plasmalogen lipid can be the lipid sources for the precursor of the biosynthesis of ether-bonded PAF. In this opinion paper, we suggest a potential role of plasmalogenic analogs of PAF as modulators and PAF antagonists (anti-PAF). We discuss that the metabolic interconversion of these two lipid kinds may be explored towards the development of efficient preventive and relief strategies against PAF-mediated pro-inflammation. We propose that plasmalogen analogs, acting as anti-PAF, may be considered as a new class of bioactive anti-inflammatory drugs. Despite of the scarcity of available experimental data, the competition between PAF and its natural plasmalogenic analogs for binding to the PAF receptor (PAF-R) can be proposed as a mechanistic model and potential therapeutic perspective against multiple inflammatory diseases (e.g., cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, cancers, and various manifestations in coronavirus infections such as COVID-19).