Sporadic subependymal giant cell astrocytoma with somatic TSC2 mutation: A case report.

Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) is a rare circumscribed astrocytic glioma that occurs in approximately 25% of all tuberous sclerosis (TSC) cases. Herein, we discuss an atypical presentation of SEGA, including the genetic alterations, impact on clinical presentation, and the determinants of each medical and surgical treatment option. A 14-year-old girl presented with intermittent headache and a right intraventricular mass originating near the foramen of Monro. The tumor's proximity to critical structures necessitated maximum safe resection, which improved her symptoms. Histological findings indicated SEGA, and genetic sequencing revealed a TSC2 mutation. However, complete clinical and radiological evaluations failed to reveal TSC. Two months later, a new subependymal nodule was incidentally found. She had a recurrent left occipital horn lesion and diffuse smooth leptomeningeal enhancement with no spine drop metastases. She was administered everolimus as the tumor was considered unresectable. Subsequent imaging revealed a reduction in both residual and new lesions.

Advancing molecular modeling and reverse vaccinology in broad-spectrum yellow fever virus vaccine development.

Yellow fever outbreaks are prevalent, particularly in endemic regions. Given the lack of an established treatment for this disease, significant attention has been directed toward managing this arbovirus. In response, we developed a multiepitope vaccine designed to elicit an immune response, utilizing advanced immunoinformatic and molecular modeling techniques. To achieve this, we predicted B- and T-cell epitopes using the sequences from all structural (E, prM, and C) and nonstructural proteins of 196 YFV strains. Through comprehensive analysis, we identified 10 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and 5T-helper (Th) epitopes that exhibited overlap with B-lymphocyte epitopes. These epitopes were further evaluated for their affinity to a wide range of human leukocyte antigen system alleles and were rigorously tested for antigenicity, immunogenicity, allergenicity, toxicity, and conservation. These epitopes were linked to an adjuvant ( ß -defensin) and to each other using ligands, resulting in a vaccine sequence with appropriate physicochemical properties. The 3D structure of this sequence was created, improved, and quality checked; then it was anchored to the Toll-like receptor. Molecular Dynamics and Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics simulations were employed to enhance the accuracy of docking calculations, with the QM portion of the simulations carried out utilizing the density functional theory formalism. Moreover, the inoculation model was able to provide an optimal codon sequence that was inserted into the pET-28a( +) vector for in silico cloning and could even stimulate highly relevant humoral and cellular immunological responses. Overall, these results suggest that the designed multi-epitope vaccine can serve as prophylaxis against the yellow fever virus.

The effect of cumulative night shift duties on insomnia, fatigue, and mental health in intensive care unit.

Background: Night shift duties are crucial in the ICU to ensure care continuity, where critically ill patients require round-the-clock care. However, cumulative night shift duties may disturb circadian rhythm, insomnia, fatigue, and depression, and require further elucidation. Objectives: This study aims to examine the negative consequences of various night shift patterns on insomnia, fatigue, and mental health of ICU Workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study examined how cumulative night shift duty affects insomnia, fatigue, and mental health in critical care providers (CCPs). Results: A total of 1006 participants completed this study between June 2022 and March 2023, including 54.5 % males. About 35 % were between 20 and 30 years of age, and Respiratory Therapists accounted for approximately 46.5 % of the entire sample. Most of our respondents (476; 47 %) reported working night shifts, with a monthly range of 8-15 nights. The prevalence rates for moderate to severe clinical insomnia, fatigue, and moderate to severe depression were 42 %, 48 %, and 32 %, respectively. CCPs working 8-15 nights had a 2-fold risk of clinical insomnia than those working fewer than eight nights with (AOR) and 95 % (CI) of 2.12 and 1.41-3.20, while those working ≥16 nights per month had a greater incidence of clinical insomnia compared to those working <8 nights per month, AOR (CI): 3.09 (1.90-5.03). Only those working ≥16-night shifts per month had a substantially higher fatigue risk compared to those working < 8-night shifts per month, with an AOR (CI) of 1.92 (1.19-3.08). Working 8-15-night shifts per month increases depression risks by 34 % compared to the <8-night shifts group, AOR (CI): 1.34 (0.87-2.08). Those working ≥16-night shifts per month showed a higher depression risk than those working <8-night shifts, AOR (CI): 2.53 (1.53-4.19). Conclusion: A cumulative night shift above eight nights per month is linked with an increased risk of insomnia, fatigue, and depression. The risk of these conditions was significantly directly proportional to the number of night shifts performed per month.

Multinodular goiter with a retropharyngeal extension: A report of two cases and literature review.

Multinodular goiter (MNG) is a chronic benign nodular enlargement of the thyroid gland. It presents as an anterior painless neck mass, potentially progressing to exert pressure on the trachea and esophagus and giving rise to compressive symptoms. MNG is a common thyroid gland disorder; however, retropharyngeal goiter is considered rare with few reported cases. We report the cases of two patients who presented to our institution with MNG with retropharyngeal extension: a 62-year-old female patient who presented with a progressive anterior neck mass with dilated neck veins; and a 49-year-old male who presented with a painless anterior neck mass. Both patients successfully underwent total thyroidectomy with an uneventful postoperative recovery. The clinical presentation of MNG with retropharyngeal extension varies with patients; hence, a high index of suspicion is of the utmost significance. While the retropharyngeal extension does not cause compressive symptoms, it should raise the suspicion of a large retrosternal component.

Utilization of microalgae for agricultural runoff remediation and sustainable biofuel production through an integrated biorefinery approach.

Generally wastewater such agricultural runoff is considered a nuisance; however, it could be harnessed as a potential source of nutrients like nitrates and phosphates in integrated biorefinery context. In the current study, microalgae Chlorella sp. S5 was used for bioremediation of agricultural runoff and the leftover algal biomass was used as a potential source for production of biofuels in an integrated biorefinery context. The microalgae Chlorella sp. S5 was cultivated on Blue Green (BG 11) medium and a comprehensive optimization of different parameters including phosphates, nitrates, and pH was carried out to acquire maximum algal biomass enriched with high lipids content. Dry biomass was quantified using the solvent extraction technique, while the identification of nitrates and phosphates in agricultural runoff was carried out using commercial kits. The algal extracted lipids (oils) were employed in enzymatic trans-esterification for biodiesel production using whole-cell biomass of Bacillus subtilis Q4 MZ841642. The resultant fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Subsequently, both the intact algal biomass and its lipid-depleted algal biomass were used for biogas production within a batch anaerobic digestion setup. Interestingly, Chlorella sp. S5 demonstrated a substantial reduction of 95% in nitrate and 91% in phosphate from agricultural runoff. The biodiesel derived from algal biomass exhibited a noteworthy total FAME content of 98.2%, meeting the quality standards set by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and European union (EU) standards. Furthermore, the biomethane yields obtained from whole biomass and lipid-depleted biomass were 330.34 NmL/g VSadded and 364.34 NmL/g VSadded, respectively. In conclusion, the findings underscore the potent utility of Chlorella sp. S5 as a multi-faceted resource, proficiently employed in a sequential cascade for treating agricultural runoff, producing biodiesel, and generating biogas within the integrated biorefinery concept.

A Selective Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Quantitation of Ethylene and Diethylene Glycol in Paediatric Syrups.

Ethylene Glycol (EG) and diethylene Glycol (DEG) are two contaminants known to cause various human health problems. These glycols might be present in drug syrups that are based on glycerol, sorbitol, or polyethylene glycol. In late 2022, several batches of cough, antipyretics, and antihistamine syrups were reported to contain toxic levels of EG and DEG in multiple countries; this incident concerned the World Health Organization (WHO). From an analytical perspective, several methods of glycols analysis in pharmaceuticals have been reported in the literature, with the majority being dedicated to raw material analysis. This study aims to develop a selective method capable of evaluating a wide range of paediatric syrups in order to assess the safety of commercially available paediatric syrups currently distributed in the local market. This research introduces a method for determining glycols utilizing gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), which offers significantly higher selectivity than conventional single quadrupole gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The developed method meets the current International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines for validation. The absence of any interfering peaks in both the unspiked sample of promethazine syrup and the reference standard solutions proved the method's selectivity. Furthermore, 2,2,2-trichloroethanol was used as an internal standard, and a new GC-MS/MS method was developed to analyze it. The calibration curves for EG and DEG were linear within the selected concentration range of 1-10 µg/mL. The detection limit for both EG and DEG was 400 ng/mL, while the quantification limit was 1 µg/mL. Recovery values for both EG and DEG met the accuracy acceptance criterion. Thus, the developed method proved to be efficient and accurate for determining EG and DEG levels in suspected contaminated syrups.

Exploring ascomycete diversity in Yunnan II: Introducing three novel species in the suborder Massarineae (Dothideomycetes, Pleosporales) from fern and grasses.

This article presents the results of an ongoing inventory of Ascomycota in Yunnan, China, carried out as part of the research project series "Exploring ascomycete diversity in Yunnan". From over 100 samples collected from diverse host substrates, microfungi have been isolated, identified and are currently being documented. The primary objective of this research is to promote the discovery of novel taxa and explore the ascomycete diversity in the region, utilising a morphology-phylogeny approach. This article represents the second series of species descriptions for the project and introduces three undocumented species found in the families Bambusicolaceae, Dictyosporiaceae and Periconiaceae, belonging to the suborder Massarineae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes). These novel taxa exhibit typical morphological characteristics of Bambusicola, Periconia and Trichobotrys, leading to their designation as Bambusicolahongheensis, Periconiakunmingensis and Trichobotryssinensis. Comprehensive multigene phylogenetic analyses were conducted to validate the novelty of these species. The results revealed well-defined clades that are clearly distinct from other related species, providing robust support for their placement within their respective families. Notably, this study unveils the phylogenetic affinity of Trichobotrys within Dictyosporiaceae for the first time. Additionally, the synanamorphism for the genus Trichobotrys is also reported for the first time. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and updated phylogenies of the novel species are provided, and thus presenting a valuable resource for researchers and mycologists interested in the diversity of ascomycetes in Yunnan. By enhancing our understanding of the Ascomycota diversity in this region, this research contributes to the broader field of fungal taxonomy and their phylogenetic understanding.

Pharmacists' Attitudes Towards Long-Term Use of Nasal Decongestants: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Rhinitis medicamentosa is a nonallergic inflammation of the nasal mucosa caused by topical decongestants overuse. It mainly affects young and middle-aged adults. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of pharmacists regarding the utilization of over-the-counter intranasal decongestants. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022. The target population of the study included pharmacists who work in community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of having positive attitude towards controlling the use of decongestant. Results: A total of 220 participants were included in this study. Around 15.0% of them reported that ND come with a physician prescription. The majority of the participants (87.3%) reported that the less than 5 days is the maximum safe duration for the use of NDs. Overall, the study participants demonstrated moderately positive attitude towards controlling the use of decongestant with a mean attitude score of 2.5 (standard deviation: 1.2) out of 5; which represents 50.0% of the maximum score. Binary logistic regression analysis identified that pharmacists aged 31-40 years were two-folds more likely to have positive attitude towards controlling the use of decongestant compared to others (p<0.05). Around 45.9% of them reported that they recommend other over-the-counter treatments like nasal irrigation, nasal steroids, or antihistamine if they see a patient with RM asking for ND with or without prescription. Conclusion: The majority of pharmacists in Saudi Arabia demonstrated sufficient awareness and understanding on the adverse effects associated with the excessive use of NDs. Rhinitis medicamentosa can be avoided by appropriate measures, highlighting the importance of raising awareness about the excessive use of decongestants among healthcare professionals and patients alike.

A population-based study of 15,000 people on Knowledge and awareness of lung cancer symptoms and risk factors in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Lung cancer is currently the most fatal form of cancer worldwide, ranking as the fourth most prevalent type in Saudi Arabia, particularly among males. This trend is expected to increase with growing population, lifestyle changes, and aging population. Understanding the awareness of the Saudi population regarding the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer is necessary to attenuate the predicted increase in cases. Method: A cross-sectional, population-based survey was performed using a previously validated questionnaire (Lung CAM). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess variables associated with deficiency in knowledge and awareness of risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer. Results: Majority of the 15,099 respondents were male (65%), aged between 18 and 30 years (53%), 50% of which were educated up to a bachelor's degree level. Overall awareness of lung cancer signs and symptoms was 53%, with painful cough and coughing up blood being the best-known symptoms. Conversely, persistent shoulder pain (44%) and clubbing fingers (47%) were the least known lung cancer symptoms. Also, 60% of the respondents showed low confidence in identifying the signs and symptoms of lung cancer. The overall awareness of the risk factors for lung cancer development was 74%, with first-hand (74%) and second-hand (68%) smoking being the most known risk factors. However, only ≤ 62% know the other non-smoking risk factors. Awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer depended on age, gender, education, marital and employment status (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Public awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer in Saudi Arabia is inadequate and heavily dependent on education and socio-economic status. Awareness can be improved through campaigns to raise awareness about other lesser-known lung cancer risk factors and symptoms.

CDCA8, a mitosis-related gene, as a prospective pan-cancer biomarker: implications for survival prognosis and oncogenic immunology.

BACKGROUND: Human cell division cycle-associated protein 8 (CDCA8), a critical regulator of mitosis, has been identified as a prospective prognostic biomarker in several cancer types, including breast, colon, and lung cancers. This study analyzed the diagnostic/prognostic potential and clinical implications of CDCA8 across diverse cancers. METHODS: Bioinformatics and molecular experiments. RESULTS: Analyzing TCGA data via TIMER2 and GEPIA2 databases revealed significant up-regulation of CDCA8 in 23 cancer types compared to normal tissues. Prognostically, elevated CDCA8 expression correlated with poorer overall survival in KIRC, LUAD, and SKCM, emphasizing its potential as a prognostic marker. UALCAN analysis demonstrated CDCA8 up-regulation based on clinical variables, such as cancer stage, race, and gender, in these cancers. Epigenetic exploration indicated reduced CDCA8 promoter methylation levels in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC), Lung Adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and Skin Cutaneous Melanoma (SKCM) tissues compared to normal controls. Promoter methylation and mutational analyses showcased a hypomethylation and low mutation rate for CDCA8 in these cancers. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between CDCA8 expression and infiltrating immune cells, particularly CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis unveiled key interacting proteins, while gene enrichment analysis highlighted their involvement in crucial cellular processes and pathways. Additionally, exploration of CDCA8-associated drugs through DrugBank presented potential therapeutic options for KIRC, LUAD, and SKCM. In vitro validation using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) confirmed elevated CDCA8 expression in LUAD cell lines (A549 and H1299) compared to control cell lines (Beas-2B and NL-20). CONCLUSION: This study provides concise insights into CDCA8's multifaceted role in KIRC, LUAD, and SKCM, covering expression patterns, diagnostic and prognostic relevance, epigenetic regulation, mutational landscape, immune infiltration, and therapeutic implications.

Managing High Frequency of Ambulance Calls in Hospitals: A Systematic Review.

Background: This study addresses the critical issue of high-volume emergency calls in hospitals, focusing on the strain caused by frequent caller patients on ambulance services. The aim was to synthesize various management methods for handling high-frequency hospital calls. Methods: The systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and guided by the Cochrane Handbook for systematic reviews. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies focusing on the management of emergency departments in hospitals, exploring various medical conditions requiring ambulance attention, and reporting on the impact of a high volume of ambulance calls on hospitals. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from January 1, 2005, to May 1, 2022. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Checklist. Results: Out of 2390 identified citations, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies, from 12 countries, presented diverse methods categorized into country policy-based management, modeling approaches, and general strategies. Key findings included the effectiveness of risk stratification models and community-based interventions in managing high call frequencies and improving patient care. Our review identified effective strategies such as risk stratification models and community-based interventions, which have shown significant impacts in managing high call frequencies, aligning closely with our objective. These approaches have been pivotal in reducing the burden on emergency services and improving patient care. Conclusion: The study synthesizes effective management methods for high-frequency ambulance calls, including predictive modeling and community interventions. It highlights the need for multi-faceted management strategies in different healthcare settings and underscores the importance of continued research and implementation of these methods to improve emergency service efficiency.

Retraction: Abdominal Pseudocyst: A Rare Complication of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.18956.].

FTHL17, PRM2, CABYR, CPXCR1, ADAM29, and CABS1 are highly expressed in colon cancer patients and are regulated in vitro by epigenetic alterations.

Background: Colon cancer is a serious public health issue and a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, including Saudi Arabia. Knowledge of genes associated with colon cancer development and progression is essential for identifying new cancer-specific biomarkers to improve the diagnosis of colon cancer. Methods: The expression levels of FTHL17, PRM2, CABYR, CPXCR1, ADAM29, and CABS1 in 15 adjacent colon cancer and normal colon tissue samples from male patients were investigated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) assays. qRT-PCR analysis was also used to determine whether reducing DNA methyltransferase (via 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment) or histone deacetylation (via trichostatin treatment) increased the expression levels of the tested genes. Results: The analysis of the 15 colon cancer and adjacent normal colon tissue samples revealed that all six genes were expressed in both groups, but their expression levels were significantly higher in the colon cancer group. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of the FTHL17, PRM2, CABYR, CPXCR1, and ADAM29 genes were considerably upregulated after treatment of HCT116 and Caco-2 cells with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and trichostatin. However, the CABS1 gene was activated only with trichostatin treatment. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that FTHL17, PRM2, CABYR, CPXCR1, ADAM29, and CABS1 are suitable candidate biomarkers of colon cancer and their expressions are regulated by hypomethylation and hyperacetylation.

Prevalence of low back pain and disability among secondary school teacher in the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional analytical study.

Introduction: Lower back pain is common worldwide and affects over 600,000 people annually, including teachers. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of low back pain and disability among secondary school teachers in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included secondary school teachers in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. 34 schools were selected using a multistage stratified sampling approach. Teachers were allotted randomly and proportionally to each school. Data was collected by anonymous questionnaire having three elements: sociodemographic and health-related questions, the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. The anthropometric data was also included. Both unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: A total of 601 teachers participated in the study with 62.56% reported low back pain. The overall mean age was 40.31 ± 8.13 years. The male-to-female ratio was similar. Back pain was significantly higher among females than males (73.36 and 51.52%, respectively). Additionally, back pain will significantly increase when stress levels and the number of classes increases. A positive correlation was found between age with low back pain (p = 0.001).There was minimal disability in 64.63% of the 376 teachers who reported low back pain, moderate disability in 29.79%, and severe disability in 4.79%, and only three (0.8%) were considered crippled. Females were more frequently seen in moderate and crippled categories, and perceived stress levels generally increased mean disability scores. Age and female gender were revealed to be significant predictors of low back pain by logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-1.07) and (adjusted OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.45-3.05), respectively. The number of classes per week was also a significant predictor. Conclusion: This study adds to the epidemiological evidence that reveals a high prevalence of low back pain and disability among teachers. Identified risk factors in this study may also reinforce the importance of setting different interventions and preventive measures to reduce lower back pain risk.

Are There Interindividual Responses of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Markers to Acute Exercise? A Replicate Crossover Trial.

PURPOSE: Using a replicated crossover design, we quantified the response heterogeneity of postprandial cardiovascular disease risk marker responses to acute exercise. METHODS: Twenty men (mean (SD) age, 26 (6) yr; body mass index, 23.9 (2.4) kg·m -2 ) completed four 2-d conditions (two control, two exercise) in randomized orders. On days 1 and 2, participants rested and consumed two high-fat meals over 9 h. Participants ran for 60 min (61 (7)% of peak oxygen uptake) on day 1 (6.5 to 7.5 h) of both exercise conditions. Time-averaged total area under the curve (TAUC) for triacylglycerol, glucose, and insulin were calculated from 11 venous blood samples on day 2. Arterial stiffness and blood pressure responses were calculated from measurements at baseline on day 1 and at 2.5 h on day 2. Consistency of individual differences was explored by correlating the two replicates of control-adjusted exercise responses for each outcome. Within-participant covariate-adjusted linear mixed models quantified participant-by-condition interactions and individual response SDs. RESULTS: Acute exercise reduced mean TAUC-triacylglycerol (-0.27 mmol·L -1 ·h; Cohen's d = 0.29, P = 0.017) and TAUC-insulin (-25 pmol·L -1 ·h; Cohen's d = 0.35, P = 0.022) versus control, but led to negligible changes in TAUC-glucose and the vascular outcomes (Cohen's d ≤ 0.36, P ≥ 0.106). Small-to-moderate, but nonsignificant, correlations were observed between the two response replicates ( r = -0.42 to 0.15, P ≥ 0.066). We did not detect any individual response heterogeneity. All participant-by-condition interactions were P ≥ 0.137, and all individual response SDs were small with wide 95% confidence intervals overlapping zero. CONCLUSIONS: Large trial-to-trial within-subject variability inhibited detection of consistent interindividual variability in postprandial metabolic and vascular responses to acute exercise.

Immunoinformatics and reverse vaccinology approach in designing a novel highly immunogenic multivalent peptide-based vaccine against the human monkeypox virus.

Background: Monkeypox is a highly infectious zoonotic disease, often resulting in complications ranging from respiratory illnesses to vision loss. The escalating global incidence of its cases demands prompt attention, as the absence of a proven post-exposure treatment underscores the criticality of developing an effective vaccine. Methods: Interactions of the viral proteins with TLR2 and TLR4 were investigated to assess their immunogenic potentials. Highly immunogenic proteins were selected and subjected to epitope mapping for identifying B-cell and MHC class I and II epitopes. Epitopes with high antigenicity were chosen, considering global population coverage. A multi-target, multi-epitope vaccine peptide was designed, incorporating a beta-defensin 2 adjuvant, B-cell epitopes, and MHC class I and II epitopes. Results: The coordinate structure of the engineered vaccine was modeled and validated. In addition, its physicochemical properties, antigenicity, allergenicity, and virulence traits were evaluated. Molecular docking studies indicated strong interactions between the vaccine peptide and the TLR2 receptor. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations and immune simulation studies reflected its potent cytosolic stability and robust immune response dynamics induced by the vaccine. Conclusion: This study explored an innovative structure-guided approach in the use of immunoinformatics and reverse vaccinology in pursuit of a novel multi-epitope vaccine against the highly immunogenic monkeypox viral proteins. The simulation studies indicated the engineered vaccine candidate to be promising in providing prophylaxis to the monkeypox virus; nevertheless, further in vitro and in vivo investigations are required to prove its efficacy.

Effect of glyphosate on the growth and survival of rhizobia isolated from root nodules of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.).

Grass pea (L. sativus L.) is a widely cultivated crop worldwide, forming a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Glyphosate is commonly used by farmers for weed control during agricultural processes. However, the application of this chemical herbicide negatively impacts soil fertility by affecting the nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. This study aimed to assess the effects of glyphosate on rhizobia isolated from healthy and robust Grass pea plants. Specifically, Grass pea plants exhibiting vigorous growth and a healthy appearance were intentionally selected to isolate rhizobia from their root nodules. The isolated rhizobia were then characterized based on their morphological features, biochemical properties, and resistance to abiotic traits. Rhizobial isolates from grass peas exhibited Gram-negative, rod-shaped morphology, milky colony color, and variable colony sizes. Additionally, the majority displayed smooth colony surfaces on yeast extract mannitol agar medium. Based on morphological and biochemical characteristics, the isolates could be grouped under the genus Rhizobium. Optimum growth conditions for these isolates were observed at temperatures between 28 and 38 °C, pH levels ranging from 5 to 8, and salt (NaCl) concentrations of 0.5% and 1%. At a concentration of 20 mL L-1, glyphosate inhibited 5.52-47% of the Rhizobium population. The inhibition percentage increased to 17.1-53.38% at a concentration of 40 mL L-1. However, when exposed to a higher concentration (60 mL/L) of glyphosate, 87% of the isolates were inhibited. The number of colonies after glyphosate exposure was significantly dependent on concentration, and there were notable differences between treatments with varying glyphosate concentrations (p < 0.05). Glyphosate negatively impacted the survival of grass pea rhizobia, leading to a reduction in the Rhizobium population (CFU). However, the effect varied between Rhizobium isolated from grass pea root nodules.

Exploring the Potential of Phytogenic Materials for Bone Regeneration: A Narrative Review of Current Advances and Future Directions.

In dentistry, bone regeneration in areas following tooth loss, the removal of a tumor or cyst, and craniofacial surgery can be accomplished by using bone grafts. Many biocompatible materials have been employed for bone regeneration in dentistry; however, all these bone graft materials come with various drawbacks. Therefore, there is a growing demand for natural, cost-effective, and biocompatible plant-based bone grafts. This review explores the emerging field of phytogenic elements in bone restoration and their specific applications in dentistry. The review focuses on key phytogenic compounds, such as algae-based and plant-based bone substitutes, delineating their roles in bone regeneration in dental bone defects. It also highlights the existing challenges associated with phytogenic grafts, such as limited bioavailability and high-dose toxicity. This calls for increased research into compatible, affordable carriers and a broader spectrum of studies to determine the most effective phytogenic solutions in dental regenerative medicine.

Public Perceptions Towards Online Health Information: A Mixed-Method Study in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Online health disinformation is one of the key challenges faced globally. Although there are efforts to address this issue, most of the proposed solutions were ineffective or could not address it effectively. One of the key reasons for the ineffective solutions is lack of understanding on how public deal with disinformation and the different areas that could be influenced by health disinformation. Purpose: This study aims to analyze the public perceptions towards online health information, investigate the impact of online health disinformation, and propose a framework for addressing the issue of online health disinformation. Methods: A mixed-methods approach design is used in this study which includes a cross-sectional survey design to gather data from public; and a semi-structured interviews approach with healthcare experts to analyze the impact of online health disinformation on the society. A total of 409 Saudi residents were included for survey, and 22 health informatics experts were considered for interviews. Results: The results revealed low digital literacy levels and poor critical analysis skills among the public resulting in poor management of health disinformation. Age and education can influence the users' perceptions about the use of various online health information evaluation techniques. Thematic analysis of the interviews identified impact in four areas including social, economic, technical, and legal fronts; and various strategies were identified for public, governments, and healthcare institutions for managing the online health disinformation. Conclusion: The occurrence of online health-related disinformation in Saudi Arabia is high, and there is a need to implement strict regulatory framework for managing disinformation.

Toward a Vision-Based Intelligent System: A Stacked Encoded Deep Learning Framework for Sign Language Recognition.

Sign language recognition, an essential interface between the hearing and deaf-mute communities, faces challenges with high false positive rates and computational costs, even with the use of advanced deep learning techniques. Our proposed solution is a stacked encoded model, combining artificial intelligence (AI) with the Internet of Things (IoT), which refines feature extraction and classification to overcome these challenges. We leverage a lightweight backbone model for preliminary feature extraction and use stacked autoencoders to further refine these features. Our approach harnesses the scalability of big data, showing notable improvement in accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and complexity analysis. Our model's effectiveness is demonstrated through testing on the ArSL2018 benchmark dataset, showcasing superior performance compared to state-of-the-art approaches. Additional validation through an ablation study with pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models affirms our model's efficacy across all evaluation metrics. Our work paves the way for the sustainable development of high-performing, IoT-based sign-language-recognition applications.