The Prevalence of Depression in Survivors of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Gender Differences in King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) stands as a prevalent worldwide cause of mortality. The aftermath of an MI often entails an unpleasant experience for individuals, who frequently find themselves overwhelmed. Extensive literature suggests that a significant proportion of patients develop depressive symptoms subsequent to MI. Consequently, the primary objective of this study is to ascertain the prevalence of post-MI depression among affected individuals. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving a survey distributed to patients admitted to the King Abdulaziz Medical Center (KAMC) located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study involved 210 patients; 72.1% of the sample were men and 27.9% were female. RESULTS: The average age of the participants in this study was 61.96 years old. The mean age of the male participants was 61.10 years old, while the females' mean age was 64.35 years old. Males made up 75.27% of the participants, while 24.73% were females. Overall, 33.64% of the participants had an abnormal score (depression). The majority of male patients had a normal score, which means that they do not suffer from depression. Among the female patients, 38.60% had an abnormal score. CONCLUSION: Mental illness is a significant concern, particularly depression. Individuals should go for depression screening post-MI as it will determine their compliance with visiting the hospital, caring for themselves, and taking medications.

The utility of serum glucose potassium ratio as a predictive factor for haemorrhagic transformation, stroke recurrence, and mortality among ischemic stroke patients.

Background and Objective: Glucose-Potassium Ratio (GPR) has emerged as a biomarker in several pathophysiological conditions. However, the association between GPR and long-term outcomes in stroke patients has not been investigated. Our study evaluated the applicability of baseline GPR as a predictive prognostic tool for clinical outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: The multicenter retrospective cohort study included acute-subacute adult ischemic stroke patients who had their baseline serum GPR levels measured. Eligible patients were categorized into two sub-cohorts based on the baseline GPR levels (<1.67 vs. ≥ 1.67). The primary outcome was the incidence of 30-day hemorrhagic transformation, while stroke recurrence, and all-cause mortality within twelve months, were considered secondary. Results: Among 4083 patients screened, 1047 were included in the current study. In comparison with GPR < 1.67 group, patients with ≥ 1.67 GPR had a significantly higher ratio of all-cause mortality within twelve months (aHR 2.07 [95 % CI 1.21-3.75] p = 0.01), and higher ratio of 30-day hemorrhagic transformation but failed to reach the statistical significance (aHR 1.60 [95 % CI 0.95-2.79], p = 0.08). Conclusion: Overall, baseline GPR serum is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality within twelve months in patients with acute and subacute ischemic stroke. Further clinical studies are necessary to validate these findings.

Prevalence and Comorbidities Among Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Saudi Arabian Context.

BACKGROUND:  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Saudi Arabia (SA) is a significant health concern with a notable impact on individuals and the healthcare system. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and profile of comorbidities in patients with RA. METHODOLOGY:  This is a retrospective descriptive study involving 150 RA patients from August 2022 to August 2023, which was conducted at Khamis Mushait General Hospital, a major healthcare institution in SA. We examined the medical records to gather pertinent information. Stata Statistical Software: Release 18 (2023; StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas, United States) was used for data analysis. The examination focused on sociodemographic factors, disease duration, prescribed medications (including methotrexate and biologic therapy), and the presence of comorbidities. Approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Aseer Ministry of Health (approval number: H-06-B-091). RESULTS:  The study found a high prevalence of comorbidities in patients with RA. Around 96.7% of the patients had at least one documented comorbidity, highlighting this population's burden of additional health conditions. The most common comorbidity observed was anemia, affecting 48.7% of the patients. Other frequently observed comorbidities include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, interstitial lung disease, chronic renal disease, stroke, and coronary artery disease. The factors influencing comorbidities included an odds ratio of 1.086 (p=0.025), while being male was associated with lower odds (odds ratio=0.529, p=0.017). Additionally, disease duration (odds ratio=1.164, p=0.007), methotrexate use (odds ratio=2.553, p=0.001), and receiving biologic therapy (odds ratio=3.488, p<0.001) were significant contributors to comorbidities. CONCLUSION:  These findings highlight the need for comprehensive approaches to address RA and its associated comorbidities. Research and awareness initiatives are essential to understand better the specific nuances of RA in SA, leading to improved diagnostic and treatment strategies for the needs of the local population.

Effect of perceived stigma on work and social roles among individuals with mental health disorders in Saudi Arabia: findings from a national survey.

BACKGROUND: It is known worldwide that stigma towards mental illness exists. Studies on stigma perceived by patients with mental illness have shown decreased quality of life and a negative impact on work, school and social life. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of perceived stigma among respondents who had been diagnosed with a mental illness during the past 12 months, its association with socio-demographic variables and its effect on work and social roles limitations among Saudis. METHODS: The Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS) data were used for the analysis. The SNMHS is a nationally representative survey that was conducted using face-to -face interviews with Saudi individuals (age 15-65) in their households. Respondents were diagnosed (N = 639) with mental disorders based on a well-validated questionnaire-the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 3.0. Two dimensions from CIDI assessed perceived stigma: embarrassment and perceived discrimination. RESULTS: The prevalence of perceived stigma was 27.8% among mentally ill respondents. Stigma was lower among respondents who didn't seek any type of treatment than those who sought treatment OR = 0.28 (95% CI 0.084-0.935, P = 0.03). Respondents who reported perceived stigma had more work role limitations (OR = 1.1 95% CI 1.01-0.10 P 0.006) and social limitations (OR = 1.3 95% CI 0.99-1.62 P 0.05) than respondents who didn't report stigma. CONCLUSION: Perceived stigma is experienced by mentally ill individuals and it negatively affects their work and social roles. Awareness programs to remove stigma and educate the public are needed to be established by policymakers and healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia.

The Barriers to Seeking Mental Health Services at King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.

BACKGROUND: The mental health of college students, especially medical students, is a major issue worldwide. Depression and anxiety are among the top causes of death among people aged 15-29 years old. Mental health disorders, especially mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, are common among university students. Psychological problems can negatively impact academic performance and life satisfaction. The earlier mental illness is detected, the better the treatment and outcome. The aim of this study is to determine the barriers among students to seeking mental health services. METHODS: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia The cross-sectional questionnaire-based study involved 434 students: 72.1% men and 27.9% women. This study had a response rate of 28.5% and responses were gathered in May 2023. RESULTS: The top three barriers identified in this study were "Feeling that my problems are not important," "Concern that no one will understand my problems," and "Difficulty with access to care." The majority of students reported feeling "I feel reluctance a little" to use mental health services; 31.4% chose "I need it a little" when asked whether they needed to use mental health services. Furthermore, 34.8% of students reported having mild anxiety, and 34.1% reported having mild depression. CONCLUSION: Mental illness is a serious issue, which is why medical students should be aware of it to improve their quality of life and reduce the stress and obstacles they face. Medical schools should address awareness of mental illness and how to approach a clinic. This is important for students to succeed and overcome the psychological difficulties that might affect academic performance. In addition, recognizing the barriers will help achieve better outcomes in seeking help and utilizing existing services.

Comparative Analysis of Perovskite Solar Cells for Obtaining a Higher Efficiency Using a Numerical Approach.

Perovskite materials have gained considerable attention in recent years for their potential to improve the efficiency of solar cells. This study focuses on optimizing the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by investigating the thickness of the methylammonium-free absorber layer in the device structure. In the study we used a SCAPS-1D simulator to analyze the performance of MASnI3 and CsPbI3-based PSCs under AM1.5 illumination. The simulation involved using Spiro-OMeTAD as a hole transport layer (HTL) and ZnO as the electron transport layer (ETL) in the PSC structure. The results indicate that optimizing the thickness of the absorber layer can significantly increase the efficiency of PSCs. The precise bandgap values of the materials were set to 1.3 eV and 1.7 eV. In the study we also investigated the maximum thicknesses of the HTL, MASnI3, CsPbI3, and the ETL for the device structures, which were determined to be 100 nm, 600 nm, 800 nm, and 100 nm, respectively. The improvement techniques used in this study resulted in a high power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.86% due to a higher value of VOC for the CsPbI3-based PSC structure. The findings of this study demonstrate the potential of perovskite materials as absorber layers in solar cells. It also provides insights into improving the efficiency of PSCs, which is crucial for advancing the development of cost-effective and efficient solar energy systems. Overall, this study provides valuable information for the future development of more efficient solar cell technologies.

The Correlation Between Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO), Blood Eosinophil Count, Immunoglobulin E Levels, and Spirometric Values in Patients With Asthma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In patients with asthma, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a biomarker for eosinophilic airway inflammation. However, the correlation with the blood eosinophil count, immunoglobulin E (IgE), and spirometric values is not well established. We aimed to investigate the correlation between FeNO, blood eosinophils, IgE, and spirometric values in asthmatic patients. METHODS: Data were extracted from the electronic medical records of adult asthmatic patients, and included the FeNO, blood eosinophil count, IgE, and spirometric values. The correlation between the markers was investigated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 135 adult patients (30% male) were analyzed. The mean FeNO was 36 ppb and almost half (48%) had a FeNO > 25 ppb. The mean blood eosinophil count was 377 cells/mm3, and 42% had a blood eosinophil count > 300 cells/mm3. There was a significant positive correlation between FeNO and the blood eosinophil count (r = 0.42, sensitivity 63%, specificity 77%, AUC 72%, p < 0.0001) as well as with the IgE (r = 0.35, sensitivity 78%, specificity 44%, AUC 68%, p < 0.0007). There was significant negative correlation between FeNO and FEV1% (r = -0.18, sensitivity 35%, specificity 85%, AUC 67%, p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: The blood eosinophil count, IgE, and spirometric values were correlated with the severity of the eosinophilic airway inflammation (high FeNO). Asthmatic patients with a higher FeNO level had a higher eosinophil count, higher IgE levels, and lower FEV1 values.

Impact of Mass Media on the General Population's Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Rheumatoid Arthritis in Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives This study aimed to assess the general population's knowledge of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), its health consequences, and the impact of mass media on their knowledge and attitudes in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was used through an online questionnaire to determine the general characteristics of participants and the influence of mass media on their knowledge, attitudes, and fears toward RA. An online pretested and standardized questionnaire was distributed through social media using combined convenience and snowball sampling that targeted the general population residing in Qassim, Saudi Arabia, between 10 January and 11 March 2022. Frequencies and percentages were employed as descriptive statistics. To examine the statistical differences in knowledge scores between various sociodemographic factors, the student's t-test and analysis of variance were used. Results A total of 419 participants were included. About 20.3% of the participants were unaware of RA. Mean knowledge showed very low scores of 2.5 ± 2.24 out of 15. There were no significant differences in knowledge when it was compared with different sociodemographic variables, except for marital status and monthly income. There was a positive attitude toward the seriousness of RA. The correlation of knowledge scores with attitude and fear scores showed a poor or negligible correlation (rho= 0.130, p=0.008), whereas, with media influence, there was a low positive correlation (rho= 0.347 p<0.001). Conclusion This study found that even though our sample population had acceptable views concerning the significance of rheumatoid arthritis, their understanding of the condition was lacking. To promote knowledge of RA and its unfavorable health impact on affected individuals, public awareness initiatives with substantial media influence should be implemented.

The role of laparoscopy in emergency colorectal surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the outcomes of the laparoscopic approach compared to those of the open approach in emergency colorectal surgery. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all patients aged >15 years who underwent emergency colorectal surgery from 2016-2021 at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Patients were divided based on the surgical approach into laparoscopic and open groups. RESULTS: A total of 241 patients (182 open resections, 59 laparoscopic approaches) were included in this study. The length of stay in the intensive care unit was shorter in the laparoscopic than in the open group (1±3 days vs. 7±16 days). After multivariable logistic regression, patients undergoing laparoscopic resection had a 70% lower risk of surgical site infection than those undergoing open surgery (adjusted odds ratio=0.33, 95% confidence interval: [0.06-1.67]), a difference that was not significant (p=0.18). Lastly, patients who underwent open surgery had a high proportion of 30-day mortality (n=26; 14.3%), compared to those who underwent laparoscopic resection (n=2; 3.4%, p=0.023). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy in emergency colorectal surgery is safe and feasible, with a trend toward better outcomes. Colorectal surgery specialization is an independent predictor of an increased likelihood of undergoing laparoscopy in emergency colorectal surgery.

Economic and fast electro-flotation extraction of heavy metals from wastewater.

Fast electroflotation extraction of heavy metals from wastewater is described. The results of experimental investigations of the extraction of iron, aluminium and chromium hydroxides from aqueous solutions in the presence of surfactants of various natures and ions of calcium by electroflotation are presented. It was found that the presence of Ca2+ in the solution at a concentration of 0.5 g/L reduced the degree of electroflotation extraction of Al(OH)3, Fe(OH)3, Cr(OH)3 regardless of the nature of the electrolyte. The addition of surfactants in the system in the presence of Ca2+ increased the amount of extraction of the dispersed phase. The greatest effect is achieved with the help of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate, while the degree of extraction reached 98%. The high efficiency of the process of electroflotation extraction of the dispersed phase was due to the hydrophobization of the particle surface owing to the adsorption of surfactants on the surface of hydroxides. The recent method is useful to treat wastewater contaminated with aluminium, iron and chromium metal ions. The reason is that this method is very fast working within 20 min; Moreover, pH 7.0 working made this method ideal for utilisation in natural water treatment economically.

Effect of Dope Flow Rate and Post-Treatment on the Morphology, Permeation and Metal Ion Rejection from PES/LiBr-Based UF Hollow Fiber Membranes.

This study investigated the influence of dope extrusion rate (DER) and post-treatment effect on the morphology, permeation, and metal ion rejection by polyethersulfone/lithium bromide (PES/LiBr)-based hollow fiber (HF) membranes. HF fibers were spun with 2.25, 2.5, and 3.1 ratios of DER to bore fluid rate (BFR), wherein DER varied from 11.35, 12.5, to 15.6 mL/min with a fixed BFR (5 mL/min). Molecular weight cutoff (MWCO), pore size, water flux, and flux recovery ratio were determined, whereas lake water was used to observe the rejection rate of dissolved metallic ions. Results showed that with the increase of the DER wall thickness (WT), HFs increased from 401.5 to 419.5 um, and furthermore by the post-treatments up to 548.2 um, as confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis. Moreover, MWCO, pore size, and the pure water permeation (PWP) of the HF membranes decreased, while the separation performance for polyethylene glycol (PEG) solute increased with increasing DER. Post-treated HFs from 11.35 mL/min of DER showed 93.8% of MWCO value with up to 90% and 70% rejection of the arsenic and chromium metallic ions, respectively, in comparison with all other formulated HFs.

Dual Optimized Sulfonated Polyethersulfone and Functionalized Multiwall Carbon Tube Based Composites High Fouling Resistance Membrane for Protein Separation.

Commercial grade sulfonated-Polyethersulfone (S-PES) and functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (f-MWCNT)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanocomposites (NCs) were used to enhance and optimize the antifouling, protein resistance and protein separation properties of the S-PES ultrafiltration membranes. The polarities of sulfonic groups of S-PES, carbonyl carbon of pyrrolidone, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of f-MWCNT in the membrane composition helped to strongly bind each other through hydrogen bonding, as shown by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). These binding forces greatly reduced the leaching of NCs and developed long finger-like projection, as confirmed by elution ratio and cross-sectional studies of the membranes via field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The contact angle was reduced up to 48% more than pristine PES. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to study the various parameters of surface roughness with 3d diagrams, while grain analysis of membrane surface provided a quantitative estimation about volume, area, perimeter, length, radius and diameter. The NCs/S-PES enhanced the flux rate with an impressive (80-84%) flux recovery ratio and (58-62%) reversible resistance (Rr) value in situ, with 60% and 54.4% lesser dynamic and static protein adsorption. The best performing membrane were reported to remove 31.8%, 66.3%, 83.6% and 99.9% for lysozyme-(14.6 kDa), trypsin-(20 kDa), pepsin-(34.6 kDa) and bovine serum albumin (BSA-66 kDa), respectively.

Renoprotection of Selected Antioxidant-Rich Foods (Water Spinach and Red Grape) and Probiotics in Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in Rats.

OBJECTIVES: The current study investigated the curative effects of two selected antioxidant-rich foods (water spinach and red grape) and probiotics on the kidney exposed to nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin. METHODS: A total of 30 Wistar Albino female rats equally divided into six groups were studied for seven days. Except for the normal control (NC) group, all groups received 80 mg/kg/day gentamicin (GEN) injection intra-peritoneally for seven days. NC and GEN groups received only regular diet. In the water spinach group (GEN + WS) and red grape (GEN + RG) groups, rats were provided with 20 g/rat/day of boiled water spinach and 5 mL/rat/day of red grape juice, respectively. The probiotic (GEN + P4) and (GEN + P8) groups received 4 × 109 and 8 × 109 viable bacteria, respectively. On the 8th day, all the rats were sacrificed to collect blood and kidney. Serum creatinine, urea, uric acid, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were analyzed. In addition, kidney histopathology was taken for final observation. RESULTS: Both antioxidant-rich foods and probiotic (P4) significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated the GEN-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress and improved kidney function by lowering uremic toxin (serum creatinine, and uric acid) levels. Histopathological findings of kidney tissues of all groups were consistent with the biochemical findings. CONCLUSION: The current preclinical study suggests that the consumption of antioxidant-rich foods might be a promising fighting option against gentamycin-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress. However, extensive studies and clinical monitoring are immediately required to determine the appropriate probiotic doses and mechanism of action for such effects.

Characterization of various acrylate based artificial teeth for denture fabrication.

Acrylic resins-based artificial teeth are frequently used for the fabrication of dentures has and contribute a very strong share in the global market. However, the scientific literature reporting the comparative analysis data of various artificial teeth is scarce. Focusing on that, the present study investigated various types of commercially available artificial teeth, composed of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Artificial teeth are characterized for chemical analysis, morphological features, thermal analysis, and mechanical properties (surface hardness, compressive strength). Different types of artificial teeth showed distinct mechanical (compression strength, Vickers hardness) and thermal properties (thermal gravimetric analysis) which may be attributed to the difference in the content of PMMA and type and quantity of different fillers in their composition. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results exhibited that vinyl end groups of PMMA degraded above 200 °C, whereas 340-400 °C maximum degradation temperature was measured by differential thermal analysis (DTA) for all samples. Crisma brand showed the highest compressive strength and young modulus (88.6 MPa and 1654 MPa) while the lowest value of Vickers hardness was demonstrated by Pigeon and Vital brands. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs showed that Crisma, Pigeon, and Vital exhibited characteristics of a brittle fracture; however, Artis and Well bite brands contained elongated voids on their surfaces. According to the mechanical analysis and SEM data, Well bite teeth showed a significantly higher mechanical strength compared to other groups. However, no considerable difference was observed in Vickers hardness of all groups. Graphical abstract.

The Role of Sintering Temperature and Dual Metal Substitutions (Al3+, Ti4+) in the Development of NASICON-Structured Electrolyte.

The aim of this study is to synthesize Li1+xAlxTixSn2-2x(PO4) sodium super ion conductor (NASICON) -based ceramic solid electrolyte and to study the effect of dual metal substitution on the electrical and structural properties of the electrolyte. The performance of the electrolyte is analyzed based on the sintering temperature (550 to 950 °C) as well as the composition. The trend of XRD results reveals the presence of impurities in the sample, and from Rietveld Refinement, the purest sample is achieved at a sintering temperature of 950 °C and when x = 0.6. The electrolytes obey Vegard's Law as the addition of Al3+ and Ti4+ provide linear relation with cell volume, which signifies a random distribution. The different composition has a different optimum sintering temperature at which the highest conductivity is achieved when the sample is sintered at 650 °C and x = 0.4. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis showed that higher sintering temperature promotes the increment of grain boundaries and size. Based on energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, x = 0.4 produced the closest atomic percentage ratio to the theoretical value. Electrode polarization is found to be at maximum when x = 0.4, which is determined from dielectric analysis. The electrolytes follow non-Debye behavior as it shows a variety of relaxation times.

Enhancement of Ceramics Based Red-Clay by Bulk and Nano Metal Oxides for Photon Shielding Features.

We prepared red clays by introducing different percentages of PbO, Bi2O3, and CdO. In order to understand how the introduction of these oxides into red clay influences its attenuation ability, the mass attenuation coefficient of the clays was experimentally measured in a lab using an HPGe detector. The theoretical shielding capability of the material present was obtained using XCOM to verify the accuracy of the experimental results. We found that the experimental and theoretical values agree to a very high degree of precision. The effective atomic number (Zeff) of pure red clay, and red clay with the three metal oxides was determined. The pure red clay had the lowest Zeff of the tested samples, which means that introducing any of these three oxides into the clay will greatly enhance its Zeff, and consequently its attenuation capability. Additionally, the Zeff for red clay with 10 wt% CdO is lower than the Zeff of red clay with 10 wt% Bi2O3 and PbO. We also prepared red clay using 10 wt% CdO nanoparticles and compared its attenuation ability with the red clay prepared with 10 wt% PbO, Bi2O3, and CdO microparticles. We found that the MAC of the red clay with 10 wt% nano-CdO was higher than the MAC of the clay with microparticle samples. Accordingly, nanoparticles could be a useful way to enhance the shielding ability of current radiation shielding materials.

Boiling Heat Transfer Evaluation in Nanoporous Surface Coatings.

The present study develops a deep learning method for predicting the boiling heat transfer coefficient (HTC) of nanoporous coated surfaces. Nanoporous coated surfaces have been used extensively over the years to improve the performance of the boiling process. Despite the large amount of experimental data on pool boiling of coated nanoporous surfaces, precise mathematical-empirical approaches have not been developed to estimate the HTC. The proposed method is able to cope with the complex nature of the boiling of nanoporous surfaces with different working fluids with completely different thermophysical properties. The proposed deep learning method is applicable to a wide variety of substrates and coating materials manufactured by various manufacturing processes. The analysis of the correlation matrix confirms that the pore diameter, the thermal conductivity of the substrate, the heat flow, and the thermophysical properties of the working fluids are the most important independent variable parameters estimation under consideration. Several deep neural networks are designed and evaluated to find the optimized model with respect to its prediction accuracy using experimental data (1042 points). The best model could assess the HTC with an R2 = 0.998 and (mean absolute error) MAE% = 1.94.

Microplastics pollution in salt pans from the Maheshkhali Channel, Bangladesh.

Microplastics (MP) were recognized as an emergent pollution problem due to their ubiquitous nature and bioaccumulative potential. Those present in salt for consumption could represent a human exposure route through dietary uptake. The current study, conducted in Bangladesh, reports microplastics contamination in coarse salt prepared for human consumption. Sea salt samples were collected from eight representative salt pans located in the country's largest salt farming area, in the Maheshkhali Channel, along the Bay of Bengal. Microplastics were detected in all samples, with mean concentrations ranging from 78 ± 9.33 to 137 ± 21.70 particles kg-1, mostly white and ranging in size from 500-1000 µm. The prevalent types were: fragments (48%) > films (22%) > fibers (15%) > granules and lines (both 9%). Fourier transform mid-IR and near-IR spectra (FT-MIR-NIR) analysis registered terephthalate (48%), polypropylene (20%), polyethylene (17%), and polystyrene (15%) in all samples. These results contribute to the MP's pollution knowledge in sea salts to understand and reduce this significant human exposure route and environmental pollution source in the future.

Efficacy of interspace between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee (iPACK) block versus periarticular local infiltration analgesia after unilateral total knee arthroplasty: Prospective randomized control trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of interspace between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee (iPACK) block with periarticular local infiltration analgesia (LIA) to assess postoperative pain control and enhanced recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: This research was carried out at King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from September 2020 to March 2021. Eighty Patients scheduled for elective unilateral TKA were randomized to receive either iPACK or periarticular LIA along with adductor canal block under spinal anesthesia. The primary outcome was postoperative pain score, and secondary outcomes included physical rehabilitation, duration of surgery, length of post-anesthesia care unit stay, hemodynamics, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The pain score during activity in iPACK group was significantly lower compared to LIA group at 4 hours postoperatively, but no significant difference was observed at 24 or 48 hours. The timed up and go test took significantly longer for patients in LIA group at 4, 24, and 48 hours compared to those in iPACK group. No significant differences in knee range of motion were observed between the 2 groups at any point. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, iPACK block is an effective technique in reducing pain in the immediate postoperative period without affecting motor function, resulting in enhanced recovery following primary TKA.

Macroalgae in biomonitoring of metal pollution in the Bay of Bengal coastal waters of Cox's Bazar and surrounding areas.

Although coastal water marine algae have been popularly used by others as indicators of heavy metal pollution, data within the Bay of Bengal for the estuarine Cox's Bazar region and Saint Martin's Island has remained scarce. Using marine algae, the study herein forms an effort in biomonitoring of metal contamination in the aforementioned Bangladesh areas. A total of 10 seaweed species were collected, including edible varieties, analyzed for metal levels through the use of the technique of EDXRF. From greatest to least, measured mean metal concentrations in descending order have been found to be K > Fe > Zr > Br > Sr > Zn > Mn > Rb > Cu > As > Pb > Cr > Co. Potential toxic heavy metals such as Pb, As, and Cr appear at lower concentration values compared to that found for essential mineral elements. However, the presence of Pb in Sargassum oligocystum species has been observed to exceed the maximum international guidance level. Given that some of the algae species are cultivated for human consumption, the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic indices were calculated, shown to be slightly lower than the maxima recommended by the international organizations. Overall, the present results are consistent with literature data suggesting that heavy metal macroalgae biomonitoring may be species-specific. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first comprehensive macroalgae biomonitoring study of metal contamination from the coastal waters of Cox's Bazar and beyond.