A review of the discussions on cultivated meat from the Islamic perspective.

Since the introduction of the cultivated meat burger in 2013, numerous discussions have transpired between researchers and consumers, manifesting in various forms such as academic publications, opinions on personal websites and interactions on social platforms. For Muslim consumers, a primary concern revolves around the halal status of cultivated meat, given the pivotal role of adhering to a halal diet as a divine obligation in their lives. Therefore, this article seeks to systematically review the existing literature on cultivated meat from an Islamic perspective as articulated by Muslim scholars, whether these perspectives are issued by an established fatwa organisation or representations of personal views. The sources incorporated into this analysis span from academic publications, newspaper articles, fatwa bodies, personal websites and interviews. Employing thematic analysis, five principal themes were discerned within the discourse among Muslim scholars regarding cultivated meat: (i) the ontological status of cultivated meat, (ii) the status and source of stem cells used in the cultivation process, (iii) the theological implications of cultivated meat production on altering God's creation, (iv) foundational principles for halal cultivated meat production, and (v) the contemporary necessity of cultivated meat from the perspective of al-maqasid al-shariah. It is duly recommended that international fatwa organisations such as the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) engage in discussions and deliberations on this matter of growing significance within the food industry. The fatwas and resolutions issued by IIFA are frequently cited as the most recognised authority in many Islamic countries.

Physical functioning in patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study in Jordan using self-reported questionnaire and performance-based tests.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating condition that leads to functional limitations. Self-reported questionnaires and performance-based tests are tools commonly used for measuring physical function. OBJECTIVES: (1) To evaluate the impact of end-stage knee OA on functional outcomes and examine the association between self-reported and performance-based measures of function in patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis awaiting total knee arthroplasty (2) To explore the interrelationships among pain, strength, and overall physical function in this patient population. METHODS: In this cross-sectional analysis, 33 patients with end-stage knee OA were recruited and completed the knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living Scale (KOS-ADLS) and executed performance-based tests including the Timed Up and Go, the 30-second chair stand test, and the Stair Climbing Test. Knee pain, and isometric hip and knee strength were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients perceived deficits in their physical functionwith a score of 35/100 on the KOS-ADLS and demonstrated functional limitations in all performed tasks. KOS-ADLs was weakly associated with TUG and 30s-CST (r=-0.301, p= 0.047, and r= 0.39, p= 0.014. respectively). Knee pain was linked with the KOS-ADL score and GRS score (r=-0.406, p= 0.010; r=-0.343, p= 0.027; respectively), while the strength of the affected side was correlated with the performed (p=< 0.001) and reported function outcomes (p= 0.007). CONCLUSION: Participants exhibit declines in both perceived and executed functional abilities. Self-reported and performance-based functional measures are weakly correlated within our study group, highlighting the importance of incorporating both measures in clinical practice for a comprehensive evaluation of physical function. Pain was linked to subjective aspect of physical function, while strength was connected to perceived and performed functional capacity. Implementing a tailored rehabilitation program targeting muscle weakness and pain holds the potential to mitigate functional decline in individuals awaiting total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Acetabular index as an indicator of Pavlik harness success in grade I developmental dysplasia of the hip: A retrospective study.

Purpose: Some articles have focused on the effectiveness of the Pavlik harness treatment for unstable and dislocated hips, yet data on monitoring its effectiveness with the acetabular index remains elusive. Therefore, this study aimed to assess Pavlik harness effectiveness in infants ≤6 months diagnosed with grade I developmental dysplasia of the hip using acetabular index improvement and identify the possible predictors of successful Pavlik harness treatment. Methods: A retrospective review of infants with grade I acetabular dysplasia treated with a Pavlik harness and monitored with anteroposterior pelvis X-rays at presentation and follow-up. Successful treatment was defined as achieving an acetabular index <30°. Results: A total of 231 infants with acetabular dysplasia were treated with a Pavlik harness. A successful outcome was achieved in 135 infants (58.4%). Younger age, lower initial acetabular index, and patients with unilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip were significant predictors of a successful outcome. An age of 4.5 months or older was found to be the threshold for an unsuccessful result following Pavlik harness treatment, with a sensitivity of 65.2% and specificity of 57.3%. An initial acetabular index of 35.5° was found to be the threshold for an unsuccessful result, with a sensitivity of 83.7% and specificity of 61.5%. Conclusion: Pavlik Harness's success in correcting the acetabular index in acetabular dysplasia patients was related to unilateral cases, a younger age at presentation, and a lower initial acetabular index. The thresholds for unsuccessful treatment were an age of 4.5 months or greater and an acetabular index of 35.5° or higher.

Safety outcomes of the first Rigi10™ malleable penile prostheses implanted worldwide.

Implantation of penile prosthesis is considered when conservative measures fail or are unacceptable to patients' wishing treatment for erectile dysfunction. In the United States (US), inflatable penile prostheses are more often used than malleable penile prostheses (MPP). Outside the US, the reverse is true because third-party reimbursement is not available, and MPP is considerably cheaper. Two American manufacturers make MPP; presently, a new manufacturer, Rigicon (Ronkonkoma NY), has recently begun to sell its MPP worldwide. Patient information forms submitted to the manufacturer between March 1, 2019, and December 8, 2022, were used to conduct an initial safety study for 605 first-time patients implanted with Rigicon10® by 46 physicians in 15 countries with a mean follow-up of 21.6 months. It has the same configuration of trimmable, paired silicone rods containing a twisted stainless-steel wire for bendability. However, it is available in six widths with hydrophilic coating compared to three widths offered by competitors. Revision or explantation was needed in 6 of 605 patients (0.99%) with half of those being removed for dissatisfaction (0.50%). Two (0.33%) suffered device infection and one (0.16%) required removal for erosion. Kaplan-Meier's statistical analysis showed three-year implant survival from revision = 99.2%. It demonstrated a comparable safety record with less than 1.00% of patients requiring reoperation.

Preoperative hemoglobin levels and mortality outcomes after hip fracture patients.

PURPOSE: Hip fracture surgery is associated with a risk of morbidity and mortality, with admission hemoglobin levels being a significant predictor of mortality risk. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) levels and mortality in patients who underwent hip fracture surgeries, with the goal of enhancing prognosis prediction and reducing complications within this patient subset. In addition, to assess the characteristics of patients at a higher risk of postoperative mortality. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at Jordan University Hospital, a single tertiary care and educational center. It included patients with hip fractures who underwent surgical repair at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and were recruited between December 2019 and February 2022. We examined the relationships between preoperative hemoglobin status and variables such as age at admission, gender, fracture type, surgery type, comorbidities, duration of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and survival outcomes. RESULTS: We included 626 patients; the mean age was 76.27 ± 9.57 years. 3-month and 6-month mortality rates were 11.2% and 14.1%, respectively. The highest mortality was observed in patients aged over 80 years (n = 53/245, 21.6%), and in male patients (n = 53/300, 17.7%). The Hb level upon admission was lower in individuals who died within 6 months compared to those who survived (10.97 ± 2.02 vs. 11.99 ± 2.39, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the independent factors that were statistically significant in the model included gender (OR = 1.867; 95% CI 1.122-3.107, p = 0.016), age (OR = 1.060; 95% CI 1.029-1.092; p < 0.001), hemoglobin level upon admission (OR = 0.827; 95% CI 0.721-0.949; p = 0.007), history of renal disease (OR = 1.958; 95% CI 1.014-3.784; p = 0.045), length of hospital stay (OR = 1.080; 95% CI 1.036-1.126; p < 0.001), and ICU admission (OR = 1.848; 95% CI 1.049-3.257; p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Our study illustrates that low hemoglobin levels, history of renal disease, along with male gender, advanced age, extended hospital stays, and ICU admission were significantly associated with 6-month mortality. Future investigations should consider assessing varying degrees of anemia based on hemoglobin concentrations to provide a more comprehensive understanding of anemia's impact on mortality. This study investigated the relationship between preoperative hemoglobin levels, patient characteristics, and mortality in patients who underwent hip fracture surgeries. The results showed that lower hemoglobin levels, history of renal disease, male gender, advanced age, extended hospital stays, and ICU admission were significant predictors for mortality.

Burnout, grit and resilience among Jordanian orthopedic surgeons: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Burnout is a serious issue that affects physicians more than the general population; however, those with higher levels of grit and resilience have been shown to experience lower levels of burnout. The primary aim was to determine the prevalence of burnout among Jordanian orthopedic surgeons, explore its risk factors, and investigate the relationship between burnout and grit and resilience. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study targeting a total of 180 orthopedic surgeons attending the yearly Jordanian National Orthopedic Conference (JNOC). Non-random sampling (i.e., convenience) was utilized to recruit participants. The abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory, short grit scale, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were used. Scores were examined using the Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H, and Spearman's rho tests, of which results were corrected using the Bonferroni method. RESULTS: Among 135 respondents, 62.2% were specialists and 37.8% were residents. About 52.0% practiced in public hospitals. Approximately 69.0% worked for more than 50 h weekly. The prevalence of burnout among all participants was 45.2% with more frequency among residents (66.7%). Burnout and the participants' grit and resilience showed an inverse relationship (ρ = -0.441 and ρ = -0.312, respectively). Age (ρ = 0.337), number of children (ρ = 0.245), and years of experience (ρ = 0.331) were positively correlated with grit. The median score for grit was higher in physicians who had or are having their residency outside Jordan (p < 0.001). Age (ρ = 0.233) and years of experience (ρ = 0.269) were positively correlated with resilience. CONCLUSION: Jordanian orthopedic surgeons face significant rates of burnout. Institutional efforts should be taken to detect and prevent burnout in addition to enhancing the grit and resilience among orthopedic professionals.

Rates, patterns, and predictors of complementary medicine use among patients with musculoskeletal diseases.

AIM: To investigate the extent of complementary medicine (CM) use and the most common therapies utilized by Jordanian patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) diseases. METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey of outpatient orthopedic and rheumatology patients at an academic medical center in Amman, Jordan between January and September 2020. RESULTS: A convenience sample of 1001 patients was interviewed (82% females). Pearson's chi-square comparisons showed that nutritional CM was used by 43.4% of patients, while 29.8% used physical CM, and 16% used both. Almost all used the nutritional or physical CM in addition to their prescribed treatment. Nutritional form use was significantly higher among females, older age groups, married people, and those who worked (p < .05). Physical form use was statistically more prevalent in older age groups and those with a higher level of education (p < .05). Family income and urban residence were not significantly associated with the use of either form of CM therapy. Olive oil was the most frequently reported nutritional type (22.9%), and cupping was the most reported physical type (41.6%). Recommendations to use CM came primarily from family members or friends (64% of nutritional CM users and 59% of physical CM users). A physician or pharmacist was cited more frequently with physical CM (24% versus 8% for the nutritional form). In contrast, media sources were cited more for nutritional than physical form (28% versus 7%). Over half of the patients believed they received the desired effect from CM. Surprisingly, only 9.5% of the patients admitted to discussing their CM use with their physician. CONCLUSION: CM use is prevalent among Jordanian patients with MSK disorders. Most patients rely on family and friends for recommendations, and they rarely inform their physician of the CM use. Physicians should routinely inquire about CM to provide patients with information regarding their benefits and risks.

Preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for acute kidney injury after hip fracture surgery: a cohort retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Hip fractures have several adverse effects on patients' morbidity and mortality. Postoperative Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the complications that have a significant impact on the patient's overall prognosis. We aimed to identify AKI risk after hip fracture surgery and the preoperative and intraoperative risk factors. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care hospital on adult patients who underwent surgery for hip fractures between January 2015 and August 2021. All clinical data were reviewed. RESULT: A total of 611 patients were included (age = 76.44 ± 9.69 years). 126 (20.6%) of them developed AKI postoperatively. In multilinear logistic regression analysis, factors associated with postoperative AKI included eGFR [odds ratio (OR): 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97-0.99 with a p value .01], spinal anesthesia [OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.1-2.9 with a p value .01], and partial hip replacement (PHR) type of surgery [OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32-0.96 with a p value .036]. The development of postoperative AKI was the strongest factor that increase mortality of the patients as the (HR = 2.42, CI 95% [1.57-3.74]; p value <.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, we highlight that lower eGFR, and spinal anesthesia were associated with a higher risk of AKI, and PHR surgery has lower odds to develop AKI. Postoperative AKI is associated with a higher mortality rate after hip fracture surgery.

Short-Term total and wildfire fine particulate matter exposure and work loss in California.

BACKGROUND: Few studies investigated the impact of particulate matter (PM2.5) on some symptom exacerbations that are not perceived as severe enough to search for medical assistance. We aimed to study the association of short-term daily total PM2.5 exposure with work loss due to sickness among adults living in California. METHODS: We included 44,544 adult respondents in the workforce from 2015 to 2018 California Health Interview Survey data. Daily total PM2.5 concentrations were linked to respondents' home addresses from continuous spatial surfaces of PM2.5 generated by a geostatistical surfacing algorithm. We estimated the effect of a 2-week average of daily total PM2.5 exposure on work loss using logistic regression models. RESULTS: About 1.69% (weighted percentage) of adult respondents reported work loss in the week before the survey interview. The odds ratio of work loss was 1.45 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 2.03) when a 2-week average of daily total PM2.5 exposure was higher than 12 µg/m3. The OR for work loss was 1.05 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.13) for each 2.56ug/m3 increase in the 2-week average of daily total PM2.5 exposure, and became stronger among those who were highly exposed to wildfire smoke (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.13), compared to those with lower wildfire smoke exposure (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.79, 1.39). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that short-term ambient PM2.5 exposure is positively associated with work loss due to sickness and the association was stronger among those with higher wildfire smoke exposure. It also indicated that the current federal and state PM2.5 standards (annual average of 12 µg/m3) could be further strengthened to protect the health of the citizens of California.

Impact of end-stage knee osteoarthritis on perceived physical function and quality of life: A descriptive study from Jordan.

OBJECTIVE: Of the present study was to evaluate the impact of end-stage knee OA on patient's perception of their functional abilities and quality of life (QoL) using the self-reported questionnaire; the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and to determine the contribution of knee pain on patient's perceived outcomes. METHODS: Patients with end-stage knee OA who are on the waiting list for total knee arthroplasty were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Patients were asked to fill out the KOOS questionnaire. Knee pain for both sides was quantified on a continuous scale from 0-10. Age, and anthropometric data were recorded. Descriptive statistics were calculated for patients' characteristics, and for the scores of each KOOS subscale. Hierarchical linear regression models were created to determine the contributions of knee pain on two KOOS subscales; the function in daily living (KOOS-ADL), and the knee-related quality of life (KOOS-QoL). RESULTS: Patients in this study scored low across KOOS subscales (27.7% - 54.2%) with the QoL subscale being the lowest. After accounting for age and BMI, hierarchical linear regressions revealed that knee pain in both sides were determinants of self-perceived KOOS-ADLs, while only knee pain in the most-affected side significantly contributed to lower KOOS-QOL scores. CONCLUSION: End-stage knee OA negatively impact the patients' perceived function and quality of life. Patients' KOOS scores were similar to those reported in other countries, with QoL being the domain most affected. Our findings demonstrate that the level of knee pain has a determinant effect on our patients' perceptions of functional abilities and QoL. As waiting-list patients, addressing knee pain with a targeted regimen prior to TKA, as well as increasing patient's awareness about knee pain management, may improve/ or minimize deterioration in perceived functional ability and QoL while awaiting TKA.

Infrared Camera Geometric Calibration: A Review and a Precise Thermal Radiation Checkerboard Target.

Different infrared (IR) planar geometric calibration targets have been developed over the years that exploit a well-established and flexible optical camera geometric calibration procedure following the pinhole approximation. This geometric calibration is typically neglected in IR cameras, due to the relatively low resolution of thermal images and the complex IR targets needed for the geometric calibration in comparison to the optical targets. In this study, a thorough literature review of numerous IR camera geometric calibration targets, along with their respective outcomes, were summarized and leveraged to deliver a practical checkerboard target for less experienced end users, while offering the lowest reprojection errors. It was concluded that the fabrication of high emissivity contrast and precise square points of intersection within a checkerboard pattern extends the accuracy of capturing these control points in a thermal image for an optimized IR camera geometric calibration. Accordingly, two simple planar checkerboard targets were fabricated using laser engraving and ultraviolet (UV) printing technologies on a polished stainless steel (SS304) plate. The UV-printed checkerboard target on a polished metallic alloy delivered the lowest mean reprojection error (MRE) of 0.057 pixels and the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) of reprojection of 0.063 pixels, with a standard deviation lower than 0.003 pixels. The UV-printed design offers better accuracy than any other checkerboard calibration target, and comparable results to the best prominent circular pattern results reported in the literature.

Three-Dimensional (3D) Printing of Organs according to the Perspective of Islamic Law.

The outburst of the fourth Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on many aspects of life. The discovery of new technologies in medicine has resulted in innovations: organ transplants. The introduction of three-dimensional (3D) organ printing technology promises improvements to the field. Organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart and others are printed to meet the needs of the actual organs. However, the production of prototype organs to replace the original organs is associated with the issue of changing the creation of Allah. Accordingly, this study will analyse the issue of changing the creation of God in three-dimensional (3D) organ printing technology according to the perspective of Islamic law. Several appropriate methodologies in Islamic law (usul fiqh) are used such as legal reasoning through maqasid shariah perspective and analogical reasoning. The result shows that three-dimensional (3D) organ printing technology falls under the permissible category of changing the creation of Allah because it can save human lives. The production of organs through 3D printing involving changes included in the category of necessity (daruri) and need (hajiy) is permissible, but the category of desirable (tahsini) requires further specifications.

Human-Pig Chimeric Organ in Organ Transplantation from Islamic Bioethics Perspectives.

The use of pig derivatives in medicine is forbidden in Islamic law texts, despite the fact that certain applications offer medical advantages. Pigs can be one of the best human organ hosts; therefore, using human-pig chimeras may generate beneficial impact in organ transplantation, particularly in xenotransplantation. In Islam, medical emergencies may allow some pig-based treatments and medical procedures to be employed therapeutically. However, depending on the sort of medical use, emergency situation might differ. Using Islamic legal maxim as bioethical framework, the purpose of this study is to examine the use of pigs for the purpose of human-pig chimeric transplant from the perspective of Islamic bioethics. According to the findings, chimeric organ transplantation using pigs should only be done in emergency situations.

Femoral neck shaft angle measurement on plain radiography: is standing or supine radiograph a reliable template for the contralateral femur?

INTRODUCTION: Neck-shaft angle (NSA) is of paramount importance to orthopedic surgeons due to its implications for various pathologies of the hip and femur. The primary aim of the study was to establish if NSA measurement may be affected by imaging position (standing and supine) and provide evidence regarding whether the contralateral NSA can be used as a template. The secondary aim was to determine a reference value and precisely understand the effects of sex on NSA measurement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured bilateral NSA in a retrospective study of 200 standing and 200 supine anteroposterior pelvis radiographs that met the inclusion criteria, while paying special attention to bilateral hip symmetry. The overall inter-rater reliability was 0.688 (CI 0.128-0.851). Matching was performed according to sex (exact matching) and age. Paired t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and independent sample t-test were used (p < 0.01). RESULTS: A total of 400 pairs of femoral necks were reviewed, comprising of 200 males and 200 females. In the upright radiograph, the overall mean NSA was 131.21° ± 4.72°. There was no significant difference between right and left femur NSA among the patients (p = 0.95). On both sides, male NSA was higher than female NSA (p < 0.001). In supine radiograph, the overall mean NSA for the supine position was 133.06° ± 5.71°. There was a significant difference between NSA of the right and left femur among the patients in the supine position (p < 0.001). On supine radiographs there was no statistically significant difference between male and female NSA (p = 0.85). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated no significant variability in upright radiographs between the right and left NSA. In contrast, significant asymmetry between the right and left NSA was found in the supine radiographs. However, this study does not provide definitive clinical evidence, and further clinical-oriented research is required. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III; retrospective comparative study.

The Mediating Effect of Fatigue on the Nature Element, Organisational Culture and Task Performance in Central Taiwan.

In the current dynamic business environment, managing the physical working environment of the workforce has become an important part of the company. This study seeks to investigate the effects of the nature element and organisational culture on the task performance of employees with fatigue as a mediator, based on a sample of 103 white-collar employees who work in the central district of Taichung City during the spring and using a purposive sampling method. The data were collected through a self-administered subjective measurement instrument questionnaire and were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) path analysis. The results show that organisational culture and task performance were significantly positive. The mediating effect of fatigue caused this relationship to become negative. It was also found that there was a negative relationship between nature elements and task performance. The results provide insights into the importance of employers in providing a healthy workplace which promotes collaboration, health, safety, and the wellbeing of the employee in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The study concludes that future international comparative studies can be performed to identify the best workplace design that can reduce employees' fatigue and alleviate their current work performance.

Can MRI knee joint measurements predict the population at risk of ACL injury?

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have been increasing significantly over time. The relationship between the ACL injury and the knee joint structures is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to examine whether the measurements of different structures in the knee joint are linked with ACL injury in affected patients. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study included patients who suffered from ACL tears and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A control group of patients with no knee pathologies on MRI was included. Fourteen knee variables, including lateral meniscus (LM) posterior horn height, length, depth, and volume; medial meniscus (MM) posterior horn height, length, depth, and volume; lateral and medial (MFC) femoral condyle sphere diameter; lateral and medial tibial plateau length; and patella tendon horizontal and vertical diameter, were collected. A multivariate logistic regression including LM posterior horn depth, MM posterior horn length, MM volume, MFC sphere diameter, and patella tendon horizontal diameter and receiver operating characteristic curve, was used to compare the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were included in our study; 54 suffered from ACL injuries and 31 as a control group with normal knee MRI. Logistic regression revealed that increased LM posterior horn depth (OR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.03-1.56; p = 0.028), decreased MM posterior horn length (OR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.55-0.93; p = 0.013), and MFC sphere diameter (OR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.01-1.43; p = 0.035) were independent risk factors for ACL rupture. The MFC sphere diameter yielded the highest area under the curve: 0.747 (95% CI, 0.632-0.862). No difference was found in the other measurements between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Concerning the difference in anatomical variations, the lateral meniscus posterior horn depth and medial femoral condyle sphere diameter were higher, while medial meniscus posterior horn length was lower in patients with an ACL injury. These structural knee measurements could have a possible increase in the likelihood of sustaining an ACL injury and can be used by clinicians to predict ACL injury.

Ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of expanded umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in knee osteoarthritis: a safety/efficacy study with MRI data.

Aim: This study has the primary objective of studying the effect of Wharton jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. As a secondary end point, we report on the efficacy of such therapy. Patients and methods: 16 patients with advanced Kellgren stage were treated using two doses of expanded WJMSCs given 1 month apart. Patients were followed for 48 months using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and 12 months using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Treatment was well tolerated. One patient developed moderate effusion and one superficial phlebitis. We observed functional and pain improvement at 12 and 48 months (p < 0.0001), with statistically significant improvement on MRI scans at 12 months in cartilage loss, osteophytes, bone marrow lesions, effusion and synovitis (p < 0.01), and highly significant improvement in subchondral sclerosis (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: WJMSCs are safe and potentially effective in producing significant improvement in KOOS and MRI scores when administered intra-articularly in knee osteoarthritis cases under ultrasound guidance.

Study of climatology parameters on COVID-19 outbreak in Jordan.

To control the spread of COVID-19 disease and reduce its mortality, an early and precise diagnose of this disease is of significant importance. Emerging research data show that the current COVID-19 pandemic may be affected by environmental conditions. Therefore, the impact of weather parameters on COVID-19 distribution should be explored to predict its development in the next few months. This research aims to study the association between the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in the three major cities of Jordan; Amman, Zarqa, and Irbid and climate indicators to include the average daily temperature (°C), wind speed (m/s), relative humidity (%), pressure (kPa), and the concentration of four pollutants (CO, NO2, PM10, and SO2). The data were obtained from the World Air Quality Project website and the Jordanian Ministry of Environment. A total of 305 samples for each city was used to conduct the data analysis using multiple linear regression and a feedforward artificial neural network. It was concluded that the multiple linear regression and feedforward artificial neural network could forecast the COVID-19 confirmed cases in the case studies; Amman, Irbid, and Zarqa. Finally, global sensitivity analysis using Sobol analysis indicated that pressure in Amman and Zarqa and the concentration of NO2 in Irbid has a high rate of positive cases that supports the virus's spread.

Overview of the Important Factors Influencing the Performance of Eco-Friendly Brake Pads.

The braking system is a crucial element in automotive safety. In order for the braking mechanism to function effectively, the brake pads' durability as well as quality are crucial aspects to take into account. A brake pad is a part of a vehicle that holds the wheel rotation so that braking can occur. Asbestos, which is harmful to human health, is a raw material that is recently being widely used as a material mixture for the manufacturing of brake pads. Many efforts have been made by researchers to find other natural alternative materials to replace the use of asbestos. Natural materials that have received much attention and research include coconut fiber, wood powder or flour, bamboo fiber, shell powder, etc. This review paper focuses on analyzing the main parameters that affect brake pad performance. The composition of filler and fiber types of reinforcement for polymer composites is discussed. Previous studies' information on the fabrication and testing of brake pads are also highlighted. Furthermore, the findings of this review can provide researchers and academicians with useful information and points to consider for further research.

The Effect of a Single Intravenous Corticosteroid Administration on Pain after Knee Arthroscopy: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Non-Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Knee arthroscopy is a standard surgical procedure that is nowadays widely performed as day-case surgery. The aim of the study was to observe the effect of a single dose of intravenous corticosteroid on pain after undergoing knee arthroscopy for non-bony procedures. METHODS: A prospective, double-blind study design was adopted. Patients undergoing knee arthroscopy for non-bony procedures were prospectively assigned into two equal groups: control (those who were not given steroids) and treatment (those who were given eight milligrams of dexamethasone intravenously 15 min prior to the inflation of the tourniquet). The pain was assessed pre-operatively on admission and on the first post-operative day during the morning round in five different movements using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included in the study. There was no significant difference in the pre-and post-operatively scores between both groups. The treatment group experienced a significant reduction in post-operative morphine requirements, with 80% of patients who did not receive dexamethasone requiring post-operative morphine compared to only 53.3% of patients who did (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative intravenous administration of a single dose of dexamethasone may decrease opioid requirements for adequate pain control after knee arthroscopy.