Transport of intensity and phase: applications to digital holography [Invited].

We first review transport of intensity and phase and show their use as a convenient tool to directly determine the unwrapped phase of an imaged object, either through conventional imaging or using digital holography. For both cases, either the traditional transport of intensity and phase, or with a modification, viz., electrically controllable transport of intensity and phase, can be used. The use of digital holography with transport of intensity for 3D topographic mapping of fingermarks coated with columnar thin films is shown as an illustrative application of this versatile technique.

Public Awareness of Common Age-Related Eye Diseases in Northern Saudi Arabia.

Background: Visual impairment and blindness pose substantial public health challenges in Saudi Arabia, especially among the elderly susceptible to blinding eye diseases. Assessing awareness of age-related eye diseases (AREDs) is vital for addressing vision loss in this demographic. However, there is a lack of research on ARED awareness in Northern Saudi Arabia, underscoring the need for evidence-based data from adult populations to craft effective health promotion strategies. METHODS: This population-based descriptive survey was conducted on 411 Saudi adults aged 18-70 residing in Arar City, Saudi Arabia, over six months from September 2023. Random sampling was employed, and awareness levels were assessed using a pre-designed questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 20.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY). RESULTS:  Among the 411 participants, 225 (54.7%) were aged 18-29 years, 312 (76%) were females, and 299 (72.6%) held a bachelor's degree or diploma. Regarding awareness, 71.3% knew about cataracts, but nearly half erroneously believed it could be treated solely medically. For diabetic retinopathy (DR), 366 (89%) recognized lifestyle modifications, and 378 (92%) understood screening as preventive measures. Most participants understood prevention methods for all four diseases, but misconceptions about treatment options were observed. Awareness of glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) was lower. No significant age-related differences were found in awareness, except for cataracts (P = 0.001). Education significantly influenced awareness of cataracts, DR, and glaucoma (P = 0.001, 0.013, and 0.008, respectively), but not ARMD (P = 0.606). The study found that the internet is the primary source of information on AREDs for most participants, except for cataracts, where friends and relatives are prominent. CONCLUSION: The study reveals varying awareness levels of AREDs among Saudi adults. Although most participants understood preventive measures, misconceptions about treatment underscore the need for accurate education channels. Healthcare professionals must ensure information reliability to effectively combat misinformation and enhance awareness of AREDs.

Sleep Quality and Associated Factors Among Survivors of Breast Cancer: From Diagnosis to One Year Postdiagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: To examine sleep quality and self-reported causes of sleep disturbance among patients with breast cancer at diagnosis and one year later. SAMPLE & SETTING: 486 of 606 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer completed a Pittsburgh Quality Sleep Index (PSQI) survey at the time of diagnosis and again one year later. METHODS & VARIABLES: In this secondary data analysis, descriptive statistics were computed for seven PSQI components and its global score. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and McNemar's tests were used. Self-reported reasons for sleep disturbances were summarized. RESULTS: PSQI scores significantly increased from baseline (mean = 6.75) to one-year follow-up (mean= 7.12), indicating worsened sleep. Sleep disturbance and onset latency scores increased, whereas sleep efficiency decreased. The two most frequently reported reasons for sleep disturbance were waking up late in the night or early in the morning (more than 50%) and needing to use the bathroom (49%). Feeling too hot and experiencing pain three or more times per week were reported by participants at baseline and one year later. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Results can aid in monitoring patient response to treatment methods and formulating benchmarks to manage sleep problems.

Waste polyethylene terephthalate plastic derived Zr-MOF for high performance supercapacitor applications.

The chemical conversion of plastic waste into metal-organic framework (MOF) materials has emerged as a significant research field in addressing issues associated to the environment and the economy. The significant advantages of MOFs as electrode material for energy/supercapacitors arises from their extensive surface area and notable porosity. The present study involved the synthesis of Zirconium-Metal Organic Frameworks (Zr-MOF) by the solvothermal method, utilizing plastic waste in the form of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The morphological and structural characteristics of the Zr-MOF were inspected through several analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The as prepared Zr-MOF demonstrated very high specific surface area of 927.567 m2 g-1 with mesoporous nature of the materials estimate by BJH method. The electrochemical characteristics of the Zr-MOF in 3-electrode system exhibited a notable specific capacitance of 822 F g-1 when subjected to a low scan rate of 2 mV S-1, while the specific capacitance estimated through galvanostatic charge-discharge exhibited an enhanced value of 890 F g-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1. Additionally, the working electrode composed of Zr-MOF demonstrated noteworthy capacitance retention of 92% after 5000 charge discharge cycles. This research presents novel opportunities for the utilization of waste PET bottles in fabrication of highly functional Zr-MOF, aiming to advance the development of next-generation supercapacitors and environmental remediation.

Formulation of Glibenclamide proniosomes for oral administration: Pharmaceutical and pharmacodynamics evaluation.

Glibenclamide (GB), oral antidiabetic sulfonylurea, is used in the management of diabetes mellitus type II. It suffers from low bioavailability due to low water solubility. This work aimed to enhance the dissolution of GB by formulating the drug as a proniosomes which then improves the pharmacological effect. GB proniosomal formulations were prepared using a slurry method with sucrose as a carrier. The formulations were characterized by particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency %, flow properties of the powder, and in vitro dissolution study. The pharmacological effect was also assessed by determining and measuring the fasting blood glucose level (BGL) before and after the treatment. Formulating GB proniosomes with the slurry method produces a free-flowing powder with a particle size range from 190.050 ± 43.204 to 1369.333 ± 150.407 nm and the zeta potential was above 20 mV (-24 to -58 mV), indicating good stability. The dissolution rate for all formulations was higher than that of the pure drug, indicating the efficiency of the proniosome in enhancing the drug solubility. A significant reduction in the fasting blood glucose level (73 %) was observed in animals treated with proniosomal formulation with no sign of liver damage. In contrast, the pharmacodynamics results show a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose level for animals treated with proniosomes compared to a 17.6 % reduction in BGL after treatment with pure drug. Moreover, the histopathological results showed no sign of liver damage that occurred with proniosomal treatment. GB proniosomal formulations is a promising drug delivery system with good therapeutic efficacy and stability.

Morgagni Hernia in Down Syndrome: A Case Report.

Morgagni hernia is a rare form of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. It is associated with other congenital abnormalities. Its association with Down syndrome has been reported in the literature. While pediatric patients usually present with respiratory manifestations, the clinical presentation of Morgagni hernia is non-specific. Therefore, Morgagni hernia is mainly diagnosed by radiological imaging. The rarity of this type of hernia along with the vague clinical presentation can lead to missed diagnosis. Here, we report the case of a Down syndrome patient with an acute onset of shortness of breath. She was diagnosed with Morgagni hernia by computed tomography. Morgagni hernia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of Down syndrome patients presenting with respiratory distress.

One-year real-world outcomes for patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve repair: the Gulf MTEER registry (GULF Mitral Transcatheter Edge to Edge Repair).

BACKGROUND: Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) with left ventricular dysfunction portends worse outcomes. Over the course of the last two decades, transcatheter repair of the mitral valve offered an alternative therapeutic modality for those deemed inoperable or high risk. Landmark studies such as the Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation and Multicentre Study of Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair MitraClip Device in Patients With Severe Secondary Mitral Regurgitation trials have shown conflicting results with respect to all-cause death and heart failure rehospitalisations. The Gulf Mitral Transcatheter Edge to Edge Repair registry (Gulf MTEER registry) is a regional registry that captured outcomes in those undergoing transcatheter repair of the mitral valve. The objectives of this study were to describe the baseline characteristics of patients undergoing transcatheter mitral valve repair in the Gulf region and estimate the cardiovascular effects of the mitral transcatheter therapies in routine practice. METHODS: The Gulf MTEER registry is an observational, multicentre, retrospective registry that enrolled all patients undergoing transcatheter repair of the mitral valve from four of the Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman) between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2019. Baseline characteristics, echocardiographic parameters and immediate procedural success were reported. The primary outcome was a composite of death and rehospitalisations at 1 year. The secondary outcomes were the individual components of the composite endpoint; that is, death and rehospitalisations at 1 year as well as residual or recurrent MR or worsening New York Heart Association class and a need for repeat repair. RESULTS: A total of 176 patients were enrolled. Men constituted 56.3% of the total. At 1 year the primary outcome occurred in 21.1% (95% CI 15.6, 27.9). The secondary outcomes of death occurred in 5.4% (CI 2.9, 10.0) and rehospitalisations occurred in 16.9% (CI 11.9, 23.3). Univariate analysis revealed that the odds of having death or re-hospitalisation was two times higher if the effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) >40 mm2 irrespective of the therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The Gulf MTEER registry is the first registry in the Gulf region defining the patient population receiving MTEER therapies and evaluating 1-year outcomes. This is a low risk cohort with a high rate of immediate procedural success and low rate of all-cause death and rehospitalisations at 1 year. The odds of an event was two times higher if the ERO ≥40 mm2 with only a signal to higher odds for low left ventricular ejection fraction and larger end systolic dimension.

Effect of COVID-19 on Glycemic Control, Insulin Resistance, and pH in Elderly Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Background The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) was spread all over the world, while diabetes mellitus (DM) remains the most prevalent chronic disease worldwide. Aims This study aims to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on glycemic control, insulin resistance (IR), and pH in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods  A retrospective study was conducted on patients with type 2 DM who were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection in the central hospitals of the Tabuk region. Patient data were collected from September 2021 to August 2022. Four non-insulin-based insulin resistance indexes were calculated for patients: the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) index, the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio, and the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR). Results Patients showed increased serum fasting glucose and blood HbA1c associated with a high TyG index, TyG-BMI index, TG/HDL ratio, and METS-IR as compared with results before COVID-19. Moreover, during COVID-19, patients revealed a reduction in pH, associated with a reduction in cBase and bicarbonate, and an elevation in PaCO2 as compared with their results before COVID-19. After complete remission, all patients' results turn back to their level before COVID-19. Conclusions Patients with type 2 DM who catch the COVID-19 infection suffer from dysregulation of glycemic control and elevated insulin resistance associated with a significant reduction in their pH.

PLGA-Based Nanomedicine: History of Advancement and Development in Clinical Applications of Multiple Diseases.

Research on the use of biodegradable polymers for drug delivery has been ongoing since they were first used as bioresorbable surgical devices in the 1980s. For tissue engineering and drug delivery, biodegradable polymer poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) has shown enormous promise among all biomaterials. PLGA are a family of FDA-approved biodegradable polymers that are physically strong and highly biocompatible and have been extensively studied as delivery vehicles of drugs, proteins, and macromolecules such as DNA and RNA. PLGA has a wide range of erosion times and mechanical properties that can be modified. Many innovative platforms have been widely studied and created for the development of methods for the controlled delivery of PLGA. In this paper, the various manufacturing processes and characteristics that impact their breakdown and drug release are explored in depth. Besides different PLGA-based nanoparticles, preclinical and clinical applications for different diseases and the PLGA platform types and their scale-up issues will be discussed.

COVID-19 associated with immune thrombocytopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenia, also known as immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), has emerged as a significant COVID-19-associated complication. This study analyzes the published literature of case reports and case series regarding COVID-19 infection associated with ITP. METHODOLOGY: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a systematic search was conducted through PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline through Clarivate and EBSCO to include the eligible studies. The authors utilized Review Manager 5.4 to conduct quantitative data synthesis for the condition of interest analysis. RESULTS: A total of 13 eligible case reports and case series with 42 patients were included in this study; 54.8% of them were male. The pooled mean age of all participants was (59.5 ± 19) years with a median age of 63 years. The estimated mean time from diagnosis with COVID-19 to ITP development was 18.1 ± 21 days and the mean time to recovery from ITP was 5.8 ± 4.8 days. The pooled random effect of mean platelet count in the included six studies was 14.52, CI [8.79, 20.25]. CONCLUSION: Our analysis shows that ITP secondary to COVID-19 infection is slightly more prevalent among males (54.8%). Elderly patients were more vulnerable to the disease.    Most cases developed ITP within 2-3 weeks after COVID-19 infection and recovered in less than one week from ITP.

One-Year Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: The Gulf TAVR Registry.

BACKGROUND: The use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is steadily increasing with TAVR procedures offered to patients across the entire spectrum of surgical risks. The Gulf TAVR registry captures the demographics of patients undergoing TAVR in the Gulf region, comorbidities that drive outcomes, procedural success, complications, and one-year outcomes of death or rehospitalization. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study for adult patients aged at least 18 years undergoing TAVR at eight centers in the Gulf region. The primary outcome was a composite of death or re-hospitalization at one-year. Secondary outcomes included the individual components of the composite, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI). We used multivariable Cox regression to determine factors associated with the composite endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 795 patients (56% male) were included in the final analysis with a mean age of 74.6 (standard deviation (SD) 8.9) years, Society of Thoracic Surgeons Score (STS) Score 4.9 (4.2), ejection fraction of 53% (12.7%). Transfemoral approach was employed in over 95% (762/795). The primary outcomes rate was 12.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.6-15.4); secondary endpoints were death 5.4% (95% CI 4.0-7.2); stroke 0.8% (95% CI 0.3, 1.7), MI 0.8% (95% CI 0.4-1.9), rehospitalization: 9.3% (95% CI 7.5-11.5) of whom 71.6% were related to cardiovascular causes. 77% of the cardiovascular admissions were attributable to heart failure or the need for pacemaker implantation. Stage IV or V chronic kidney disease was significantly associated with the primary composite endpoint (Hazard Ratio: 2.49, [95% CI: 1.31, 4.73], p = 0.005). Although not significant, paravalvular leak and severe left ventricular dysfunction showed a 2-fold and 3-fold increased risk for the composite endpoint, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Gulf TAVR registry is the first of its kind in the region. It profiles an elderly population with a high procedural success rate and a low rate of complications. One-year outcomes were primarily driven by repeat hospitalization for heart failure and pacemaker implantation indicating a need to optimize heart failure management and improve algorithms for the detection of conduction abnormalities.

Sleep deprivation and quality of life among uterine cancer survivors: systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: While cancer survival might be a relief from a near-death health condition, the after-recovery period also predisposes the survivors to deteriorated quality of life as well as sleep deprivation. Patients with cancer may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) throughout the diagnostic process and even after diagnosis is completed, especially when facing the possibility of tumor recurrence. Survivors, in particular, are frequently in a condition of uncertainty due to the 15 to 20% chance of recurrence within 3 years of the main treatment. Despite the high rate of cancer survival, which is believed to be around 83%, assessing quality of life after a cancer diagnosis can help to improve such results. PURPOSE: This article aimed to describe the sleep patterns among uterine cancer survivors and verify psychological and physical factors affecting their general qualities of life. According to the qualitative study, uterine cancer survivors who receive treatment, whether pharmaceutical or therapeutic, have a higher quality of life than those who do not. METHOD: PRISMA reporting was used for this systematic review. Electronic databases that were searched include PubMed, Cochrane Trial Register, and ScienceDirect for studies evaluating the sleep deprivation and quality of life among uterine cancer survivors. Ten publications were chosen based on inclusion criteria that included uterine cancer survivors who had finished their treatments and addressed sleep quality or overall quality of life. RESULTS: The main finding of the systematic review is that 61% of uterine cancer survivors had poor sleep quality, and 81% have a decreased quality of life. CONCLUSION: According to the most recent research, uterine cancer survivors suffer from sleep deprivation, which leads to a lower quality of life. However, the same study reveals that uterine cancer survivors suffering with sleep loss use a variety of cognitive behavioral therapy to improve their quality of life. Maintaining a healthy diet, incorporating physical activity into daily routines, receiving cognitive behavior therapy, participating in relevant training programs, and obtaining frequent depression and sexual health screenings are just a few of the CBT mechanisms mentioned.

The Experience of Participating in an 8-Week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction plus Sleep Retraining Course among Women Living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Adult women with multiple sclerosis (MS) can benefit from innovative mindfulness-based interventions designed and structured with understanding and consideration of the multifaceted challenges these women face on a daily basis. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the experience of participating in an online or traditional onsite 8-week, once a week, Mind Body Stress Reduction combined with Sleep Retraining course among women living with MS to establish online course acceptability. Braun and Clarke's Reflexive Thematic Analysis method was used to analyze focus group interview data. Time and length for both courses was found acceptable, camaraderie and interconnectedness were essential, having choice regarding course delivery format was important, and being provided with organized learning materials at the course start in a binder or packet was considered imperative. Acceptability was established for both the online and onsite formats.

Improving Sleep among Adults with Multiple Sclerosis using Mindfulness plus Sleep Education.

We explored the feasibility of a mindfulness plus sleep education intervention, SleepWell!, delivered via videoconference compared to onsite among adults with MS. A non-randomized wait-list control design was used. Participants wore actigraphy watches and kept sleep diaries for seven days pre- and post intervention. Questionnaires were completed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and three months post-intervention. One group was conducted onsite. Three groups participated via videoconference. Attrition among videoconference groups was 23% compared to 57% in the onsite group. Within group analysis showed moderate-to-large effect sizes on sleep efficiency (d=0.78) and total sleep time (d=0.54) in the videoconference groups. One-way repeated measures ANOVA post-hoc analysis suggested small-to-medium effect over three months on sleep quality (ηp2 =0.28), physical health quality of life (ηp2 =0.42), mental health quality of life (ηp2 =0.13), and mindfulness (ηp2 =0.29). Results indicate feasibility of providing our intervention via videoconferencing. Preliminary analysis suggests that SleepWell! improves sleep and mindfulness among adults with MS.

Predictors of Opioid Prescription Among a Sample of Patients with Acute Musculoskeletal Pain at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most complex and debilitating types of pain. Although different pharmacologic treatments are available, very few studies have explored the predictors for opioid analgesics prescription to manage this type of pain. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the predictors for opioid prescription in patients with acute musculoskeletal pain in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective chart review of adult patients (≥18 yrs.) with an acute nociceptive musculoskeletal pain at a university-affiliated medical center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Cancer patients and those with chronic neuropathic pain were excluded. Patients' age, gender, number of comorbidities, duration of pain management, number of clinic visits for pain, and Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) scores at rest and with normal activities were collected. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to examine the relationship between the type of musculoskeletal pain and the prescription of opioid analgesics controlling for NPRS score on activity, age, gender, number of comorbidities, duration of pain treatment, and number of clinic visits for pain. RESULTS: The mean age of the 227 patients, who met the inclusion criteria, was 39 years and 68% of them were male. Sixty-three percent of the patients were prescribed opioid analgesics, and 61% of them had shoulder pain, 29% had back pain, and 10% had lower extremity pain (eg, hip, thigh, lower leg, knee, ankle, and foot pain). Tramadol was the most commonly prescribed opioid analgesic (82%), followed by codeine (13%). Ninety-seven percent of patients who were prescribed non-opioid analgesics had shoulder pain. Patients with shoulder pain had lower odds of receiving opioid analgesics (OR=0.019, P<0.0001, 95% CI=0.004-0.081) in comparison to their counterparts who had lower extremity or back pains. Moreover, the higher the pain score on activity was, the higher odds of receiving opioid analgesics (OR=1.317, P<0.0001, 95% CI=1.029-1.685). CONCLUSION: Future studies should explore the impact of different opioid prescribing policies to improve the quality of patient care and reduce the unnecessary prescribing of opioids for patients with non-cancer musculoskeletal pain.

Persistent left superior vena cava in patient with right atrial myxoma undergoing open heart surgery. A case report and review of literature.

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare and asymptomatic congenital cardiovascular anomaly. Being asymptomatic, PLSVC was usually discovered while performing interventions (such as insertion of central lines, Swan-Ganz catheters, or placing pacemakers) through the left internal jugular vein or left subclavian veins. Commonly, PLSVC is detected not only as an isolated congenital anomaly, but also it can be associated with many other cardiac anomalies. Also, presence of a dilated coronary sinus on echocardiography should raise the suspicion of PLSVC. The diagnosis should be confirmed by contrast venography or computed tomography angiography. The present case is a female patient, 29 year old, who was undergoing elective excision of a right atrial mass, with closure of patent foramen ovale, and she had end-stage renal failure on regular hemodialysis three times weekly through a permicath inserted in the right subclavian vein.

Improving the understanding of originator and biosimilar biologics among healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia.

The loss of patentability of many originator biologics has led to the rapid introduction of biosimilar agents. The anticipated economic benefit of introducing such agent has been accompanied by vagueness surrounding their biotechnology, approval requirements, positioning in treatment paradigms and potential for adverse events. The Second Symposium on Biologics and Biosimilars "Beyond Clinical Practice" was held on 24th-26th January 2020 aiming at improving the understanding of these new agents in a diverse interactive conference and to guide stakeholders how to introduce biosimilars into clinical practice. The symposium consisted of 4 tracks and 3 workshops. A total of 217 participants attended the meeting. The majority were pharmacists (78.8%) followed by physicians (18.9%) and other healthcare providers (2.3%). The workshops covered the following topics: basics of pharmacoeconomics, pharmacovigilance and patients' perspective toward biosimilar biologics. While, the 4 main tracks included: Introduction to biosimilars, challenges in clinical practice, regulatory and pharmacoeconomic aspects and Challenges in biosimilar pharmacovigilance.