In this study 70 male students were participated to determine the thyroid disorder through ultrasonography. Thyroid scan was done in 70 students prospectively with no indicative of thyroid disease (age of 19 - 23 yrs)...In this study 70 male students were participated to determine the thyroid disorder through ultrasonography. Thyroid scan was done in 70 students prospectively with no indicative of thyroid disease (age of 19 - 23 yrs). Thyroid scan for students who participated the study took place in the department of Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University by using an IU 22 Philips ultrasound machine with a 5 - 12 MHz linear transducer. Among the total number of the subjects, 26% was found with abnormal ultrasound findings, 17% of them with cystic nodule, while solid and mixed nodule represented 4% for each. The high rate of abnormal findings of thyroid gland in the study suggested that screening using ultrasound scan was useful in detecting early thyroid disorders.展开更多
This study sets the objective to involve undergraduate students in the evaluation of radiologic sciences and medical imaging technology programmes in Sudanese universities. Based on the analysis of survey results in w...This study sets the objective to involve undergraduate students in the evaluation of radiologic sciences and medical imaging technology programmes in Sudanese universities. Based on the analysis of survey results in which the participants (BSc students undertaking radiologic sciences and medical imaging technology programmes at university level) are asked to answer both closed and open-ended questions, the study seeks to reveal the participants’ perceptions and introspections about the radiologic sciences and medical imaging technology programmes in Sudan. It also attempts to explore the participants’ suggestions and recommendations as to enhance the quality of these programmes with an eye to helping syllabus designers to improve these programmes, thereby bettering healthcare services for the larger good to the community. A brief cross-sectional survey is completed by a total of 105 radiologic sciences and medical imaging technology students, i.e. 39 (37.1%) third-year students and 66 (62.9%) fourth-year students. The majority of participants is satisfied with the programmes, indicating that they are up-to-date and ran abreast with the latest developments in the field. Very few suggest that the programmes should be reviewed for revision, implying that there is room for improvement. Some participants recommend that more training hours in modern imaging modalities (e.g. MRI, CT and U/S) should be introduced. Only one participant recommends the introduction of advanced training centres.展开更多
Pimpinella anisum,commonly known as anise,is generally used in both folk medicine and the culinary world.In traditional medicine,it is valued for its digestive,respiratory,and antispasmodic properties.This study aims ...Pimpinella anisum,commonly known as anise,is generally used in both folk medicine and the culinary world.In traditional medicine,it is valued for its digestive,respiratory,and antispasmodic properties.This study aims to examine the volatile compounds and antibacterial effect of P.anisum essential oil(PAEO)as well as for the first time its genotoxicity employing both in vitro and computational approaches.Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)analysis identified anethole as the principal compound,which comprises 92.47%of PAEO.PAEO was tested for its potential antibacterial properties against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633,Listeria innocua ATCC 33090,Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213,Klebsiella aerogenes ATCC 13048,and a clinical strain of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi.PAEO displayed noteworthy antibacterial action toward all tested bacteria,especially Staphylococcus aureus,with an inhibition zone of 21.43±0.87 mm,as determined by the disc-diffusion test.Varied between 0.0625%and 2%v/v,while the MBC values ranged from 0.125%to 8%v/v,reflecting the strength of the tested EO.The MBC/MIC ratios indicated the bactericidal nature of PAEO.The results of molecular docking revealed strong binding interactions between key PAEO molecules and microbial target proteins.ADMET(Absorption,Distribution,Metabolism,Excretion,and Toxicity)analysis confirmed favorable pharmacokinetic properties,indicating its potential as a safe therapeutic agent.Additionally,genotoxicity was assessed using the comet assay,which demonstrated minimal genotoxic risk,affirming the oil’s safety.These results highlight the promising antimicrobial properties of PAEO and its possible use as an active agent in the pharmacy,food,and cosmetic sectors.展开更多
Artemisia dracunculus L.,or tarragon,is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family that is extensively cultivated for its aromatic leaves,which are valued for its preventative and therapeutic properties in both cooke...Artemisia dracunculus L.,or tarragon,is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family that is extensively cultivated for its aromatic leaves,which are valued for its preventative and therapeutic properties in both cookery and traditional medicine.This study aims to investigate the antibacterial,antioxidant,and anti-inflammatory properties of A.dracunculus(tarragon)essential oil(ADEO),with estragole(57.23%)identified as the major compound through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)analysis.ADEO exhibited varying degrees of antibacterial activity,with Escherichia coli showing higher resistance inhibition zone(IZ)=14.7±0.58 mm,minimum (inhibitory concentration(MIC)=2%and minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC)=4%),while Bacillus subtilis(IZ=24.05±2.11 mm and MIC=MBC=0.125%)and Staphylococcus aureus(IZ=18.69±1.45 mm,MIC=0.0612%and MBC=0.125%)were more sensitive to its actions.Antioxidant ability was assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil(DPPH),2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS),xanthine oxidase inhibition,and beta-carotene bleaching assays.ADEO showed remarkable antiradical effect on DPPH(IC_(50)=127.05±3.47μg/mL)and ABTS radical(IC_(50)=89.60±8.73μg/mL)as well as significant inhibition of xanthine oxidase(IC_(50)=47.9±2.04μg/mL)and lipid peroxidation(IC_(50)=231.63±5.21μg/mL).ADEO also showed significant anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the enzymesCOX-1(IC_(50)=59.2±2.43μg/mL),Cyclo-oxygenase-2(COX-2)(IC_(50)=74.68±1.34μg/mL)and 5-lipooxygense(5-LOX)(IC_(50)=93.18±1.87μg/mL),which are involved in the inflammatory pathway.These findings suggest that ADEO,with its high estragole content,holds promising potential as a natural antibacterial,antioxidant,and anti-inflammatory agent for preventive and therapeutic applications.Further research is needed to explore its safety and efficacy in clinical settings.展开更多
Obesity,a global health concern,is associated with severe health issues like type 2 diabetes,heart disease,and respiratory complications.It also increases the risk of various cancers,including melanoma,endometrial,pro...Obesity,a global health concern,is associated with severe health issues like type 2 diabetes,heart disease,and respiratory complications.It also increases the risk of various cancers,including melanoma,endometrial,prostate,pancreatic,esophageal adenocarcinoma,colorectal carcinoma,renal adenocarcinoma,and pre-and post-menopausal breast cancer.Obesity-induced cellular changes,such as impaired CD8^(+)T cell function,dyslipi-demia,hypercholesterolemia,insulin resistance,mild hyperglycemia,and fluctuating levels of leptin,resistin,adiponectin,and IL-6,contribute to cancer development by promoting inflammation and creating a tumor-promoting microenvironment rich in adipocytes.Adipocytes release leptin,a pro-inflammatory substance that stimulates cancer cell proliferation,inflammation,and invasion,altering the tumor cell metabolic pathway.Adiponectin,an insulin-sensitizing adipokine,is typically downregulated in obese individuals.It has antipro-liferative,proapoptotic,and antiangiogenic properties,making it a potential cancer treatment.This narrative review offers a comprehensive examination of the molecular interconnections between obesity and cancer,draw-ing on an extensive,though non-systematic,survey of the recent literature.This approach allows us to integrate and synthesize findings from various studies,offering a cohesive perspective on emerging themes and potential therapeutic targets.The review explores the metabolic disturbances,cellular alterations,inflammatory responses,and shifts in the tumor microenvironment that contribute to the obesity-cancer link.Finally,it discusses poten-tial therapeutic strategies aimed at disrupting these connections,offering valuable insights into future research directions and the development of targeted interventions.展开更多
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the extracellular accumulation of the amyloidβin the form of amyloid plaques and the intracellular deposition of the microtubule-associated protein tau in the form of neurofib...Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the extracellular accumulation of the amyloidβin the form of amyloid plaques and the intracellular deposition of the microtubule-associated protein tau in the form of neurofibrillary tangles.Most of the Alzheimer’s drugs targeting amyloidβhave been failed in clinical trials.Particularly,tau pathology connects greatly in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.Tau protein enhances the stabilization of microtubules that leads to the appropriate function of the neuron.Changes in the quantity or the conformation of tau protein could affect its function as a microtubules stabilizer and some of the processes wherein it is involved.The molecular mechanisms leading to the accumulation of tau are principally signified by numerous posttranslational modifications that change its conformation and structural state.Therefore,aberrant phosphorylation,as well as truncation of tau protein,has come into focus as significant mechanisms that make tau protein in a pathological entity.Furthermore,the shape-shifting nature of tau advocates to comprehend the progression of Alzheimer’s disease precisely.In this review,we emphasize the recent studies about the toxic and shape-shifting nature of tau in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.展开更多
Chronic active hepatitis(CAH) is acknowledged as an imperative risk factor for the development of liver injury and hepatocellular carcinoma.The histological end points of CAH are chronic inflammation,fibrosis and cirr...Chronic active hepatitis(CAH) is acknowledged as an imperative risk factor for the development of liver injury and hepatocellular carcinoma.The histological end points of CAH are chronic inflammation,fibrosis and cirrhosis which are coupled with increased DNA synthesis in cirrhotic vs healthy normal livers.The potential mechanism involved in CAH includes a combination of processes leading to liver cell necrosis,inflammation and cytokine production and liver scaring(fibrosis).The severity of liver damage is regulated by Hepatitis B virus genotypes and viral components.The viral and cellular factors that contribute to liver injury are discussed in this article.Liver injury caused by the viral infection affects many cellular processes such as cell signaling,apoptosis,transcription,DNA repair which in turn induce radical effects on cell survival,growth,transformation and maintenance.The consequence of such perturbations is resulted in the alteration of bile secretion,gluconeogenesis,glycolysis,detoxification and metabolism of carbohydrates,proteins,fat and balance of nutrients.The identification and elucidation of the molecular pathways perturbed by the viral proteins are important in order to design effective strategy to minimize and/or restore the hepatocytes injury.展开更多
Background'. Up to 74% of people with a history of ankle sprain develop chronic ankle instability (CAI). One commonly reported residualimpairment is ankle pain;however, it has not been included in models or inclus...Background'. Up to 74% of people with a history of ankle sprain develop chronic ankle instability (CAI). One commonly reported residualimpairment is ankle pain;however, it has not been included in models or inclusion criteria for CAL We investigated the prevalence of pain inpeople with CAI and the association between presence of pain and other CAI characteristics.Methods'. Retrospective data from 1147 participants with CAI (age 26.6 ± 10.7 years, 59% female) were collated from previous studies that usedthe Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool as an assessment tool. Pain was assessed from Item 1 of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, whichasks participants about ankle pain. Responses were divided into 3 categories: pain during daily activities, pain during moderate/vigorous physicalactivities, and no pain. The presence of pain was analyzed with descriptive statistics, the correlation between pain category and CAI characteris・tics was analyzed by /2 tests and factors associated with each pain category were analyzed by logistic regression.Results'. Among the participants, 60.1% (n = 689) reported ankle pain. Of all participants, 12.4% (n = 142) reported pain during daily activities,47.7% (n = 547) reported pain during moderate/vigorous physical activities, and 39.9% (n = 458) reported no pain. There was a strong associationbetween ankle instability and ankle pain (/2 = 122.2, p < 0.001, OR = 53& 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.84—7.53). Perceived ankle instability,age and unilateral ankle sprains were independently associated with pain (ankle instability: /2 = 43.29, p < 0.001;age: /2 = 30.37,p < 0.001;unilateral ankle sprains: /2 = 6.25, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the presence of pain between genders.Conclusion-. The prevalence of pain in people with CAI was high and was related to perceived ankle instability. Number of sprains, age, genderand unilateral or bilateral sprain did not modify this result except for the first pain category (pain during daily activities). There is large gap incurrent knowledge about the impact of pain in people with CAI, and this topic needs further investigation.展开更多
In a previous study,we found that long non-coding genes in Alzheimer’s disease(AD)are a result of endogenous gene disorders caused by the recruitment of microRNA(miRNA)and mRNA,and that miR-200a-3p and other represen...In a previous study,we found that long non-coding genes in Alzheimer’s disease(AD)are a result of endogenous gene disorders caused by the recruitment of microRNA(miRNA)and mRNA,and that miR-200a-3p and other representative miRNAs can mediate cognitive impairment and thus serve as new biomarkers for AD.In this study,we investigated the abnormal expression of miRNA and mRNA and the pathogenesis of AD at the epigenetic level.To this aim,we performed RNA sequencing and an integrative analysis of the cerebral cortex of the widely used amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1 double transgenic mouse model of AD.Overall,129 mRNAs and 68 miRNAs were aberrantly expressed.Among these,eight down-regulated miRNAs and seven up-regulated miRNAs appeared as promising noninvasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets.The main enriched signaling pathways involved mitogen-activated kinase protein,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B,mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase,forkhead box O,and autophagy.An miRNA-mRNA network between dysregulated miRNAs and corresponding target genes connected with AD progression was also constructed.These miRNAs and mRNAs are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for new treatment strategies,early diagnosis,and prevention of AD.The present results provide a novel perspective on the role of miRNAs and mRNAs in AD.This study was approved by the Experimental Animal Care and Use Committee of Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology of Beijing,China(approval No.IMB-201909-D6)on September 6,2019.展开更多
Calcium-alginate pectin entrapped bitter gourd peroxidase （BGP） has been employed for the treatment of disperse dyes： Disperse Brown 1 （DB 1） and Disperse Red 17 （DR 17）. Peroxidase alone was unable to decolori...Calcium-alginate pectin entrapped bitter gourd peroxidase （BGP） has been employed for the treatment of disperse dyes： Disperse Brown 1 （DB 1） and Disperse Red 17 （DR 17）. Peroxidase alone was unable to decolorize DR 17 and DB 1. However, the investigated dyes were decolorized maximally by BGP in the presence of 0.2 mmol/L redox mediator, violuric acid （VA）. A slow decrease in percent decolorization was observed when VA concentration was higher than 0.2 mmol/L which could likely be due to the high reactivity of its aminoxyl radical （ N–O . ） intermediate, that might undergo chemical reactions with aromatic amino acid side chains of the enzyme thereby inactivating it. Maximum decolorization of the dyes was observed at pH 3.0 and 40°C within 2 hr of incubation. Immobilized peroxidase decolorized 98% DR 17 and 71% DB 1 using 35 U of BGP in batch process in 90 min. Immobilized enzyme decolorized 85% DR 17 and 51% DB 1 whereas soluble enzyme decolorized DR 17 to 48% and DB 1 to 30% at 60°C. UV-visible spectral analysis was used to evaluate the degradation of these dyes and their toxicity was tested by Allium cepa test. The generally observed higher stability of the bioaffinity bound enzymes against various forms of inactivation may be related to the specific and strong binding of enzyme with bioaffinity support which prevents the unfolding/denaturation of enzyme. Thus entrapped peroxidase was found to be effective in the decolorization of the investigated dyes.展开更多
Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a devastating worldwide pandemic infection caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome namely coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)that is associated with a high spreading and mortality rate...Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a devastating worldwide pandemic infection caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome namely coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)that is associated with a high spreading and mortality rate.On the date this review was written,SARS-CoV-2 infected about 96 million people and killed about 2 million people.Several arguments disclosed the high mortality of COVID-19 due to acute respiratory distress syndrome or change in the amount of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)receptor expression or cytokine storm strength production.In a similar pattern,hepatic impairment patients co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 exhibited overexpression of ACE2 receptors and cytokine storm overwhelming,which worsens the hepatic impairment and increases the mortality rate.In this review,the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on hepatic impairment conditions we overviewed.Besides,we focused on the recent studies that indicated cytokine storm as well as ACE2 as the main factors for high COVID-19 spreading and mortality while hinting at the potential therapeutic strategies.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the prevalence of urinary tract infection among patients at Messalata Central Hospital,Libya,to identify the causative bacteria,and to explore their resistance pattern to antimicrobials.Method...Objective:To investigate the prevalence of urinary tract infection among patients at Messalata Central Hospital,Libya,to identify the causative bacteria,and to explore their resistance pattern to antimicrobials.Methods:A total number of 1153 urine samples were collected from patients,who attended daily to Messalata Central Hospital,Libya,in a study extended for one year.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and isolates typing were done using Phoenix BD(BD diagnostic).Resistance was confirmed manually using agar disk diffusion method.Results:Of the 1153 urine samples tested,160(13.9%)samples were positive,from which 17 different,solely Gram negative,uropathogens were identified.Escherichia coli were the most prevalent(55.6%)bacteria,followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae subspecies pneumoniae(16.3%),Proteus mirabilis(6.3%),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(5.6%),Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella oxytoca(2.5%,each),Citrobacter koseri and Providencia rettgeri(1.9%,each),Acinetobacter baumannii,Enterobacter aerogenes and Proteus vulgaris(1.3%,each),and Aeromonas caviae,Citrobacter freundii,Cronobacter sakazakii,Enterobacter amnigenus biogroup 2,Pseudomonas putida and Serratia marcescens(0.6%,each).The isolated uropathogens showed increased levels of resistance ranged from 10.5%to 64.5%,with an overall resistance of 28.9%.Amikacin was the most effective antimicrobial followed by Imipenem and Meropenem(0%,0.6%and 2.5%resistance,respectively);while,Cephalothin and Ampicillin were the least(80.6%and 90.0%resistance,respectively)effective.Conclusions:The obtained results emphasized the emergence of highly resistant bacteria to most of tested antimicrobials and raise the alarm for physicians to change their treatment pattern depending on antimicrobial susceptibility results.展开更多
Objective:To carry out the physicochemical and phytochemical standardization with high performance thin layer chromatography fingerprinting of Piper nigrum L.(P.nigrum)fruits in order to ascertain the standard pharmac...Objective:To carry out the physicochemical and phytochemical standardization with high performance thin layer chromatography fingerprinting of Piper nigrum L.(P.nigrum)fruits in order to ascertain the standard pharmacognostical parameters of this king of spices.Methods:Many standardization parameters like extractive values,total ash value,water soluble ash value and acid insoluble ash,moisture content,loss on drying and pH values of P.nigrum L.fruits were analyzed.The method of Harborne was adopted for the preliminary phytochemicals screening.Analysis of total phenolic and flavonoid contents,pesticides residues,aflatoxin and heavy metals were also performed.CAMAG-high performance thin layer chromatography system was used for fingerprinting of methanolic extract of P.nigrum L.fruits.Results:The results of phytochemicals testing indicated the presence of carbohydrates,phenolic compounds,flavonoids,alkaloids,proteins,saponins,lipids,sterols and tannins in various solvent extracts.Total phenolic and flavonoid contents in methanolic extract were found to be 1.728 1 mg/g and 1.087 ug/g,respectively.Heavy metals concentrations were found to be within standard limits.Aflatoxins and pesticides residues were absent.Conclusions:The outcome of this study might prove beneficial in herbal industries for identification,purification and standardization of P.nigrum L.fruits.展开更多
Objective:The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract of the Auklandia(Saussurea lappa)root plant was investigated to verify its medicinal use in the treatment of microbial infections.Methods:The antimicrobial a...Objective:The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract of the Auklandia(Saussurea lappa)root plant was investigated to verify its medicinal use in the treatment of microbial infections.Methods:The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract was tested against clinical isolates ofsome multidrug-resistant bacteria using the agar well diffusion method.Commercial antibioticswere used as positive reference standards to determine the sensitivity of the clinical isolates.Results:The extracts showed significant inhibitory activity against clinical isolates of methicillinresistantStaphylococcus aureus,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumonia,Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactemase,Acinetobacter baumannii.The minimum inhibitory concentration values obtained using the agar dilution test ranged from 2.0μg/μL-12.0μg/μL.In the contrary the water extract showed no activity at all against the tested isolates.Furthermore,theresults obtained by examining anti-resistant activity of the plant ethanolic extract showed thatat higher concentration of the plant extract(12μg)all tested bacteria isolates were inhibited with variable inhibition zones similar to those obtained when we applied lower extract concentrationusing the well diffusion assay.Conclusion:The results demonstrated that the crude ethanolicextract of the Auklandia(Saussurea lappa)root plant has a wide spectrum of activity suggestingthat it may be useful in the treatment of infections caused by the above clinical isolates(humanpathogens).展开更多
Objectove:To evaluate the validity of Crypto-Giardia antigen rapid test(CA-RT) in comparison with the conventional mollified Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast(MZN-AF) staining method for the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis.Metho...Objectove:To evaluate the validity of Crypto-Giardia antigen rapid test(CA-RT) in comparison with the conventional mollified Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast(MZN-AF) staining method for the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis.Methods:Fifteen preserved stool samples from previously confirmed infections were used as positive controls and 40 stool samples from healthy people were used as negative control.A total of 85 stool samples were collected from suspected patients with cryptosporidiosis over 6 months during the period from January till June.2011.The stud) was conducted in the department of parasitology,central laboratory.Alnoor Specialist Hospital, Makkah.Saudi Arabia.All samples were subjected to CA-RT and conventional MZN-AF staining method.Validation parameters including sensitivity(SN).specificity(SP),accuracy index (AI).positive predictive value(PPV).and negative predictive value(NPV) were evaluated for both tests.Results:Out of 15[lositive controls,CA-RT detected 13(86.7%) while MZN-AF detected 11(73.3%) positive cases.However.CA-RT detected no positive case in 40 normal controls but MZN-AF detected 2(5%) as positive cases.Based on the results,the SN.SP.AI.PPV and NPV were high in CA-RT than MZN-AF staining method,ie..86.7%vs.73.3%.100%vs.95%.96.4%vs.89.1%. 100%vs.84.6%and 95.2%vs.90.5%.respectively.Out of a total of 85 suspected specimens.CART detected 7(8.2%) but MZN-AF detected 6(7.1%) cases as positive.Conclusions:CA-RT immunoassay is more valid and reliable than MZN-AF staining method.展开更多
AIM: To develop an Arabic version of the ocular surface disease index(OSDI) and to assess its reliability and validity.METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out to validate the Arabic version of the OSDI questi...AIM: To develop an Arabic version of the ocular surface disease index(OSDI) and to assess its reliability and validity.METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out to validate the Arabic version of the OSDI questionnaire. Initially, forward-backward translation was used to translate the English version of OSDI into Arabic. The translated questionnaire was tested for equivalence and cultural adaptability. Totally 200 subjects were then recruited from a non-clinical population and asked to complete the Arabic version of the OSDI(ARB-OSDI). The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s-α. A subgroup of 30 participants was asked to complete the questionnaire on two occasions to test the test-retest reliability.RESULTS: A total of 200 participants were enrolled in the study. The average age of the study participants was 31.21±13.2 y and 57% were male. An acceptable internal consistency level for the ARB-OSDI questionnaire measured by Cronbach’s-α was revealed. All questions showed good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability analysis revealed good stability(interclass correlation coefficient, r=0.832, P<0.001). The construct validity for the questionnaire was also high.CONCLUSION: The ARB-OSDI questionnaire shows very good psychometric properties(acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability). That makes the questionnaire a valid potential tool to use in Arabic-speaking countries to monitor symptoms of dry eye disease in a larger population.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of real-time ultrasound elastography (RUE) in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules, with fine needle aspiration cytology analysis as the ...The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of real-time ultrasound elastography (RUE) in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules, with fine needle aspiration cytology analysis as the reference standard. A total of 78 consecutive patients with thyroid nodules who were selected for fine needle aspiration biopsies were examined in this prospective study. 78 nodules in these patients were examined by conventional ultrasound, and ultrasound elastography. The final diagnosis was obtained from cytological findings. Tissue stiffness on ultrasound elastography was scored from 1 (low stiffness over the entire nodule) to 5 (high stiffness over the entire nodule and surrounding tissue). On real-time ultrasound elastography, 47 of 62 benign nodules (76%) had a score of 1 or 2, whereas 15 of 16 malignant nodules had a score of 3 to 5, with sensitivity of 93.7%, specificity of 90%, a positive predictive value of 71%, and a negative predictive value of 98%. Real-time ultrasound elastography is a promising imaging technique that is useful in the differential diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Utilization of ultrasound elastography could reduce the rate of thyroid biopsies because of its high elasticity being highly associated with benign cytology.展开更多
Objective This study was designed to evaluate hematological disorders and the orchestrating roles of hepcidin and IL-6 in rat models of thioacetamide(TAA) and carbon tetrachloride(CCl_4) hepatotoxicity. Methods Rats w...Objective This study was designed to evaluate hematological disorders and the orchestrating roles of hepcidin and IL-6 in rat models of thioacetamide(TAA) and carbon tetrachloride(CCl_4) hepatotoxicity. Methods Rats were intraperitoneally injected with TAA(10 mg/100 g rat weight dissolved in isosaline) or CCl_4(100 μL/100 g rat weight diluted as 1:4 in corn oil) twice weekly for eight consecutive weeks to induce subchronic liver fibrosis. Blood and tissue samples were collected and analyzed. Results CCl_4 but not TAA significantly decreased the RBCs, Hb, PCV, and MCV values with minimal alterations in other erythrocytic indices. Both hepatotoxins showed leukocytosis, granulocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. By the end of the experiment, the erythropoietin level increased in the CCl_4 model. The serum iron, UIBC, TIBC, transferrin saturation%, and serum transferrin concentration values significantly decreased, whereas that of ferritin increased in the CCl_4 model. TAA increased the iron parameters toward iron overload. RT-PCR analysis revealed increased expression of hepatic hepcidin and IL-6 m RNAs in the CCl_4 model and suppressed hepcidin expression without significant effect on IL-6 in the TAA model. Conclusion These data suggest differences driven by hepcidin and IL-6 expression between CCl_4 and TAA liver fibrosis models and are of clinical importance for diagnosis and therapeutics of liver diseases.展开更多
Alternating current（AC） conductivity and dielectric properties of thermally evaporated Au/Pt OEP/Au thin films are investigated each as a function of temperature（303 K–473 K） and frequency（50 Hz–5 MHz）.The fre...Alternating current（AC） conductivity and dielectric properties of thermally evaporated Au/Pt OEP/Au thin films are investigated each as a function of temperature（303 K–473 K） and frequency（50 Hz–5 MHz）.The frequency dependence of AC conductivity follows the Jonscher universal dynamic law.The AC-activation energies are determined at different frequencies.It is found that the correlated barrier hopping（CBH） model is the dominant conduction mechanism.The variation of the frequency exponent s with temperature is analyzed in terms of the CBH model.Coulombic barrier height Wm,hopping distance Rω,and the density of localized states N（EF） are valued at different frequencies.Dielectric constant ε1（ω,T） and dielectric loss ε2（ω,T） are discussed in terms of the dielectric polarization process.The dielectric modulus shows the non-Debye relaxation in the material.The extracted relaxation time by using the imaginary part of modulus（M’’）is found to follow the Arrhenius law.展开更多
文摘In this study 70 male students were participated to determine the thyroid disorder through ultrasonography. Thyroid scan was done in 70 students prospectively with no indicative of thyroid disease (age of 19 - 23 yrs). Thyroid scan for students who participated the study took place in the department of Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University by using an IU 22 Philips ultrasound machine with a 5 - 12 MHz linear transducer. Among the total number of the subjects, 26% was found with abnormal ultrasound findings, 17% of them with cystic nodule, while solid and mixed nodule represented 4% for each. The high rate of abnormal findings of thyroid gland in the study suggested that screening using ultrasound scan was useful in detecting early thyroid disorders.
文摘This study sets the objective to involve undergraduate students in the evaluation of radiologic sciences and medical imaging technology programmes in Sudanese universities. Based on the analysis of survey results in which the participants (BSc students undertaking radiologic sciences and medical imaging technology programmes at university level) are asked to answer both closed and open-ended questions, the study seeks to reveal the participants’ perceptions and introspections about the radiologic sciences and medical imaging technology programmes in Sudan. It also attempts to explore the participants’ suggestions and recommendations as to enhance the quality of these programmes with an eye to helping syllabus designers to improve these programmes, thereby bettering healthcare services for the larger good to the community. A brief cross-sectional survey is completed by a total of 105 radiologic sciences and medical imaging technology students, i.e. 39 (37.1%) third-year students and 66 (62.9%) fourth-year students. The majority of participants is satisfied with the programmes, indicating that they are up-to-date and ran abreast with the latest developments in the field. Very few suggest that the programmes should be reviewed for revision, implying that there is room for improvement. Some participants recommend that more training hours in modern imaging modalities (e.g. MRI, CT and U/S) should be introduced. Only one participant recommends the introduction of advanced training centres.
文摘Pimpinella anisum,commonly known as anise,is generally used in both folk medicine and the culinary world.In traditional medicine,it is valued for its digestive,respiratory,and antispasmodic properties.This study aims to examine the volatile compounds and antibacterial effect of P.anisum essential oil(PAEO)as well as for the first time its genotoxicity employing both in vitro and computational approaches.Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)analysis identified anethole as the principal compound,which comprises 92.47%of PAEO.PAEO was tested for its potential antibacterial properties against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633,Listeria innocua ATCC 33090,Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213,Klebsiella aerogenes ATCC 13048,and a clinical strain of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi.PAEO displayed noteworthy antibacterial action toward all tested bacteria,especially Staphylococcus aureus,with an inhibition zone of 21.43±0.87 mm,as determined by the disc-diffusion test.Varied between 0.0625%and 2%v/v,while the MBC values ranged from 0.125%to 8%v/v,reflecting the strength of the tested EO.The MBC/MIC ratios indicated the bactericidal nature of PAEO.The results of molecular docking revealed strong binding interactions between key PAEO molecules and microbial target proteins.ADMET(Absorption,Distribution,Metabolism,Excretion,and Toxicity)analysis confirmed favorable pharmacokinetic properties,indicating its potential as a safe therapeutic agent.Additionally,genotoxicity was assessed using the comet assay,which demonstrated minimal genotoxic risk,affirming the oil’s safety.These results highlight the promising antimicrobial properties of PAEO and its possible use as an active agent in the pharmacy,food,and cosmetic sectors.
文摘Artemisia dracunculus L.,or tarragon,is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family that is extensively cultivated for its aromatic leaves,which are valued for its preventative and therapeutic properties in both cookery and traditional medicine.This study aims to investigate the antibacterial,antioxidant,and anti-inflammatory properties of A.dracunculus(tarragon)essential oil(ADEO),with estragole(57.23%)identified as the major compound through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)analysis.ADEO exhibited varying degrees of antibacterial activity,with Escherichia coli showing higher resistance inhibition zone(IZ)=14.7±0.58 mm,minimum (inhibitory concentration(MIC)=2%and minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC)=4%),while Bacillus subtilis(IZ=24.05±2.11 mm and MIC=MBC=0.125%)and Staphylococcus aureus(IZ=18.69±1.45 mm,MIC=0.0612%and MBC=0.125%)were more sensitive to its actions.Antioxidant ability was assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil(DPPH),2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS),xanthine oxidase inhibition,and beta-carotene bleaching assays.ADEO showed remarkable antiradical effect on DPPH(IC_(50)=127.05±3.47μg/mL)and ABTS radical(IC_(50)=89.60±8.73μg/mL)as well as significant inhibition of xanthine oxidase(IC_(50)=47.9±2.04μg/mL)and lipid peroxidation(IC_(50)=231.63±5.21μg/mL).ADEO also showed significant anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the enzymesCOX-1(IC_(50)=59.2±2.43μg/mL),Cyclo-oxygenase-2(COX-2)(IC_(50)=74.68±1.34μg/mL)and 5-lipooxygense(5-LOX)(IC_(50)=93.18±1.87μg/mL),which are involved in the inflammatory pathway.These findings suggest that ADEO,with its high estragole content,holds promising potential as a natural antibacterial,antioxidant,and anti-inflammatory agent for preventive and therapeutic applications.Further research is needed to explore its safety and efficacy in clinical settings.
基金supported by Sidra Medicine Research Fund to Ajaz A.Bhat(grant number:SDR400190)Ammira S.Al-Shabeeb Akil(grant number:SDR400175).
文摘Obesity,a global health concern,is associated with severe health issues like type 2 diabetes,heart disease,and respiratory complications.It also increases the risk of various cancers,including melanoma,endometrial,prostate,pancreatic,esophageal adenocarcinoma,colorectal carcinoma,renal adenocarcinoma,and pre-and post-menopausal breast cancer.Obesity-induced cellular changes,such as impaired CD8^(+)T cell function,dyslipi-demia,hypercholesterolemia,insulin resistance,mild hyperglycemia,and fluctuating levels of leptin,resistin,adiponectin,and IL-6,contribute to cancer development by promoting inflammation and creating a tumor-promoting microenvironment rich in adipocytes.Adipocytes release leptin,a pro-inflammatory substance that stimulates cancer cell proliferation,inflammation,and invasion,altering the tumor cell metabolic pathway.Adiponectin,an insulin-sensitizing adipokine,is typically downregulated in obese individuals.It has antipro-liferative,proapoptotic,and antiangiogenic properties,making it a potential cancer treatment.This narrative review offers a comprehensive examination of the molecular interconnections between obesity and cancer,draw-ing on an extensive,though non-systematic,survey of the recent literature.This approach allows us to integrate and synthesize findings from various studies,offering a cohesive perspective on emerging themes and potential therapeutic targets.The review explores the metabolic disturbances,cellular alterations,inflammatory responses,and shifts in the tumor microenvironment that contribute to the obesity-cancer link.Finally,it discusses poten-tial therapeutic strategies aimed at disrupting these connections,offering valuable insights into future research directions and the development of targeted interventions.
基金the support by the Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network,Dhaka,Bangladesh
文摘Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the extracellular accumulation of the amyloidβin the form of amyloid plaques and the intracellular deposition of the microtubule-associated protein tau in the form of neurofibrillary tangles.Most of the Alzheimer’s drugs targeting amyloidβhave been failed in clinical trials.Particularly,tau pathology connects greatly in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.Tau protein enhances the stabilization of microtubules that leads to the appropriate function of the neuron.Changes in the quantity or the conformation of tau protein could affect its function as a microtubules stabilizer and some of the processes wherein it is involved.The molecular mechanisms leading to the accumulation of tau are principally signified by numerous posttranslational modifications that change its conformation and structural state.Therefore,aberrant phosphorylation,as well as truncation of tau protein,has come into focus as significant mechanisms that make tau protein in a pathological entity.Furthermore,the shape-shifting nature of tau advocates to comprehend the progression of Alzheimer’s disease precisely.In this review,we emphasize the recent studies about the toxic and shape-shifting nature of tau in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.
文摘Chronic active hepatitis(CAH) is acknowledged as an imperative risk factor for the development of liver injury and hepatocellular carcinoma.The histological end points of CAH are chronic inflammation,fibrosis and cirrhosis which are coupled with increased DNA synthesis in cirrhotic vs healthy normal livers.The potential mechanism involved in CAH includes a combination of processes leading to liver cell necrosis,inflammation and cytokine production and liver scaring(fibrosis).The severity of liver damage is regulated by Hepatitis B virus genotypes and viral components.The viral and cellular factors that contribute to liver injury are discussed in this article.Liver injury caused by the viral infection affects many cellular processes such as cell signaling,apoptosis,transcription,DNA repair which in turn induce radical effects on cell survival,growth,transformation and maintenance.The consequence of such perturbations is resulted in the alteration of bile secretion,gluconeogenesis,glycolysis,detoxification and metabolism of carbohydrates,proteins,fat and balance of nutrients.The identification and elucidation of the molecular pathways perturbed by the viral proteins are important in order to design effective strategy to minimize and/or restore the hepatocytes injury.
基金Supported by Funding from the Deanship of Scientific Research,King Abdulaziz University,No.1431/130/159
文摘AIM: To investigate the effects of extracts from Rhazya stricta (R. stricta) and Zingiber officinale (Z. officinale) on human colorectal cancer cells.
基金supported by a Ph.D.scholarship from Najran University in Najran,Saudi Arabia
文摘Background'. Up to 74% of people with a history of ankle sprain develop chronic ankle instability (CAI). One commonly reported residualimpairment is ankle pain;however, it has not been included in models or inclusion criteria for CAL We investigated the prevalence of pain inpeople with CAI and the association between presence of pain and other CAI characteristics.Methods'. Retrospective data from 1147 participants with CAI (age 26.6 ± 10.7 years, 59% female) were collated from previous studies that usedthe Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool as an assessment tool. Pain was assessed from Item 1 of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool, whichasks participants about ankle pain. Responses were divided into 3 categories: pain during daily activities, pain during moderate/vigorous physicalactivities, and no pain. The presence of pain was analyzed with descriptive statistics, the correlation between pain category and CAI characteris・tics was analyzed by /2 tests and factors associated with each pain category were analyzed by logistic regression.Results'. Among the participants, 60.1% (n = 689) reported ankle pain. Of all participants, 12.4% (n = 142) reported pain during daily activities,47.7% (n = 547) reported pain during moderate/vigorous physical activities, and 39.9% (n = 458) reported no pain. There was a strong associationbetween ankle instability and ankle pain (/2 = 122.2, p < 0.001, OR = 53& 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.84—7.53). Perceived ankle instability,age and unilateral ankle sprains were independently associated with pain (ankle instability: /2 = 43.29, p < 0.001;age: /2 = 30.37,p < 0.001;unilateral ankle sprains: /2 = 6.25, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the presence of pain between genders.Conclusion-. The prevalence of pain in people with CAI was high and was related to perceived ankle instability. Number of sprains, age, genderand unilateral or bilateral sprain did not modify this result except for the first pain category (pain during daily activities). There is large gap incurrent knowledge about the impact of pain in people with CAI, and this topic needs further investigation.
基金This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(General Program),No.81673411the United Fund Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.U1803281+1 种基金Young Medical Talents Award Project of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,No.2018RC350013Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Project for Medical Science,No.2017-I2M-1-016(all to RL).
文摘In a previous study,we found that long non-coding genes in Alzheimer’s disease(AD)are a result of endogenous gene disorders caused by the recruitment of microRNA(miRNA)and mRNA,and that miR-200a-3p and other representative miRNAs can mediate cognitive impairment and thus serve as new biomarkers for AD.In this study,we investigated the abnormal expression of miRNA and mRNA and the pathogenesis of AD at the epigenetic level.To this aim,we performed RNA sequencing and an integrative analysis of the cerebral cortex of the widely used amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1 double transgenic mouse model of AD.Overall,129 mRNAs and 68 miRNAs were aberrantly expressed.Among these,eight down-regulated miRNAs and seven up-regulated miRNAs appeared as promising noninvasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets.The main enriched signaling pathways involved mitogen-activated kinase protein,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B,mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase,forkhead box O,and autophagy.An miRNA-mRNA network between dysregulated miRNAs and corresponding target genes connected with AD progression was also constructed.These miRNAs and mRNAs are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for new treatment strategies,early diagnosis,and prevention of AD.The present results provide a novel perspective on the role of miRNAs and mRNAs in AD.This study was approved by the Experimental Animal Care and Use Committee of Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology of Beijing,China(approval No.IMB-201909-D6)on September 6,2019.
基金Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh is gratefully ac knowledged for providing University Grants Commission, New Delhi, sponsored fellowship to one of us (Rukhsana Satar)
文摘Calcium-alginate pectin entrapped bitter gourd peroxidase （BGP） has been employed for the treatment of disperse dyes： Disperse Brown 1 （DB 1） and Disperse Red 17 （DR 17）. Peroxidase alone was unable to decolorize DR 17 and DB 1. However, the investigated dyes were decolorized maximally by BGP in the presence of 0.2 mmol/L redox mediator, violuric acid （VA）. A slow decrease in percent decolorization was observed when VA concentration was higher than 0.2 mmol/L which could likely be due to the high reactivity of its aminoxyl radical （ N–O . ） intermediate, that might undergo chemical reactions with aromatic amino acid side chains of the enzyme thereby inactivating it. Maximum decolorization of the dyes was observed at pH 3.0 and 40°C within 2 hr of incubation. Immobilized peroxidase decolorized 98% DR 17 and 71% DB 1 using 35 U of BGP in batch process in 90 min. Immobilized enzyme decolorized 85% DR 17 and 51% DB 1 whereas soluble enzyme decolorized DR 17 to 48% and DB 1 to 30% at 60°C. UV-visible spectral analysis was used to evaluate the degradation of these dyes and their toxicity was tested by Allium cepa test. The generally observed higher stability of the bioaffinity bound enzymes against various forms of inactivation may be related to the specific and strong binding of enzyme with bioaffinity support which prevents the unfolding/denaturation of enzyme. Thus entrapped peroxidase was found to be effective in the decolorization of the investigated dyes.
文摘Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a devastating worldwide pandemic infection caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome namely coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)that is associated with a high spreading and mortality rate.On the date this review was written,SARS-CoV-2 infected about 96 million people and killed about 2 million people.Several arguments disclosed the high mortality of COVID-19 due to acute respiratory distress syndrome or change in the amount of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)receptor expression or cytokine storm strength production.In a similar pattern,hepatic impairment patients co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 exhibited overexpression of ACE2 receptors and cytokine storm overwhelming,which worsens the hepatic impairment and increases the mortality rate.In this review,the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on hepatic impairment conditions we overviewed.Besides,we focused on the recent studies that indicated cytokine storm as well as ACE2 as the main factors for high COVID-19 spreading and mortality while hinting at the potential therapeutic strategies.
文摘Objective:To investigate the prevalence of urinary tract infection among patients at Messalata Central Hospital,Libya,to identify the causative bacteria,and to explore their resistance pattern to antimicrobials.Methods:A total number of 1153 urine samples were collected from patients,who attended daily to Messalata Central Hospital,Libya,in a study extended for one year.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and isolates typing were done using Phoenix BD(BD diagnostic).Resistance was confirmed manually using agar disk diffusion method.Results:Of the 1153 urine samples tested,160(13.9%)samples were positive,from which 17 different,solely Gram negative,uropathogens were identified.Escherichia coli were the most prevalent(55.6%)bacteria,followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae subspecies pneumoniae(16.3%),Proteus mirabilis(6.3%),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(5.6%),Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella oxytoca(2.5%,each),Citrobacter koseri and Providencia rettgeri(1.9%,each),Acinetobacter baumannii,Enterobacter aerogenes and Proteus vulgaris(1.3%,each),and Aeromonas caviae,Citrobacter freundii,Cronobacter sakazakii,Enterobacter amnigenus biogroup 2,Pseudomonas putida and Serratia marcescens(0.6%,each).The isolated uropathogens showed increased levels of resistance ranged from 10.5%to 64.5%,with an overall resistance of 28.9%.Amikacin was the most effective antimicrobial followed by Imipenem and Meropenem(0%,0.6%and 2.5%resistance,respectively);while,Cephalothin and Ampicillin were the least(80.6%and 90.0%resistance,respectively)effective.Conclusions:The obtained results emphasized the emergence of highly resistant bacteria to most of tested antimicrobials and raise the alarm for physicians to change their treatment pattern depending on antimicrobial susceptibility results.
基金Supported by AYUSH.Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.Government of India[Grant No.CCRUM-UPC-Ⅱ(3-15/2009.CCRUM/UPC)]
文摘Objective:To carry out the physicochemical and phytochemical standardization with high performance thin layer chromatography fingerprinting of Piper nigrum L.(P.nigrum)fruits in order to ascertain the standard pharmacognostical parameters of this king of spices.Methods:Many standardization parameters like extractive values,total ash value,water soluble ash value and acid insoluble ash,moisture content,loss on drying and pH values of P.nigrum L.fruits were analyzed.The method of Harborne was adopted for the preliminary phytochemicals screening.Analysis of total phenolic and flavonoid contents,pesticides residues,aflatoxin and heavy metals were also performed.CAMAG-high performance thin layer chromatography system was used for fingerprinting of methanolic extract of P.nigrum L.fruits.Results:The results of phytochemicals testing indicated the presence of carbohydrates,phenolic compounds,flavonoids,alkaloids,proteins,saponins,lipids,sterols and tannins in various solvent extracts.Total phenolic and flavonoid contents in methanolic extract were found to be 1.728 1 mg/g and 1.087 ug/g,respectively.Heavy metals concentrations were found to be within standard limits.Aflatoxins and pesticides residues were absent.Conclusions:The outcome of this study might prove beneficial in herbal industries for identification,purification and standardization of P.nigrum L.fruits.
基金Supported by the College of Medicine and Health Science,Sultan Qaboos University with the fund[Micro/Immu-Immu2013/Int/07]
文摘Objective:The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract of the Auklandia(Saussurea lappa)root plant was investigated to verify its medicinal use in the treatment of microbial infections.Methods:The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract was tested against clinical isolates ofsome multidrug-resistant bacteria using the agar well diffusion method.Commercial antibioticswere used as positive reference standards to determine the sensitivity of the clinical isolates.Results:The extracts showed significant inhibitory activity against clinical isolates of methicillinresistantStaphylococcus aureus,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumonia,Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactemase,Acinetobacter baumannii.The minimum inhibitory concentration values obtained using the agar dilution test ranged from 2.0μg/μL-12.0μg/μL.In the contrary the water extract showed no activity at all against the tested isolates.Furthermore,theresults obtained by examining anti-resistant activity of the plant ethanolic extract showed thatat higher concentration of the plant extract(12μg)all tested bacteria isolates were inhibited with variable inhibition zones similar to those obtained when we applied lower extract concentrationusing the well diffusion assay.Conclusion:The results demonstrated that the crude ethanolicextract of the Auklandia(Saussurea lappa)root plant has a wide spectrum of activity suggestingthat it may be useful in the treatment of infections caused by the above clinical isolates(humanpathogens).
文摘Objectove:To evaluate the validity of Crypto-Giardia antigen rapid test(CA-RT) in comparison with the conventional mollified Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast(MZN-AF) staining method for the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis.Methods:Fifteen preserved stool samples from previously confirmed infections were used as positive controls and 40 stool samples from healthy people were used as negative control.A total of 85 stool samples were collected from suspected patients with cryptosporidiosis over 6 months during the period from January till June.2011.The stud) was conducted in the department of parasitology,central laboratory.Alnoor Specialist Hospital, Makkah.Saudi Arabia.All samples were subjected to CA-RT and conventional MZN-AF staining method.Validation parameters including sensitivity(SN).specificity(SP),accuracy index (AI).positive predictive value(PPV).and negative predictive value(NPV) were evaluated for both tests.Results:Out of 15[lositive controls,CA-RT detected 13(86.7%) while MZN-AF detected 11(73.3%) positive cases.However.CA-RT detected no positive case in 40 normal controls but MZN-AF detected 2(5%) as positive cases.Based on the results,the SN.SP.AI.PPV and NPV were high in CA-RT than MZN-AF staining method,ie..86.7%vs.73.3%.100%vs.95%.96.4%vs.89.1%. 100%vs.84.6%and 95.2%vs.90.5%.respectively.Out of a total of 85 suspected specimens.CART detected 7(8.2%) but MZN-AF detected 6(7.1%) cases as positive.Conclusions:CA-RT immunoassay is more valid and reliable than MZN-AF staining method.
基金the Deanship of Research at Jordan University of Science and Technology。
文摘AIM: To develop an Arabic version of the ocular surface disease index(OSDI) and to assess its reliability and validity.METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out to validate the Arabic version of the OSDI questionnaire. Initially, forward-backward translation was used to translate the English version of OSDI into Arabic. The translated questionnaire was tested for equivalence and cultural adaptability. Totally 200 subjects were then recruited from a non-clinical population and asked to complete the Arabic version of the OSDI(ARB-OSDI). The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s-α. A subgroup of 30 participants was asked to complete the questionnaire on two occasions to test the test-retest reliability.RESULTS: A total of 200 participants were enrolled in the study. The average age of the study participants was 31.21±13.2 y and 57% were male. An acceptable internal consistency level for the ARB-OSDI questionnaire measured by Cronbach’s-α was revealed. All questions showed good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability analysis revealed good stability(interclass correlation coefficient, r=0.832, P<0.001). The construct validity for the questionnaire was also high.CONCLUSION: The ARB-OSDI questionnaire shows very good psychometric properties(acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability). That makes the questionnaire a valid potential tool to use in Arabic-speaking countries to monitor symptoms of dry eye disease in a larger population.
文摘The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of real-time ultrasound elastography (RUE) in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules, with fine needle aspiration cytology analysis as the reference standard. A total of 78 consecutive patients with thyroid nodules who were selected for fine needle aspiration biopsies were examined in this prospective study. 78 nodules in these patients were examined by conventional ultrasound, and ultrasound elastography. The final diagnosis was obtained from cytological findings. Tissue stiffness on ultrasound elastography was scored from 1 (low stiffness over the entire nodule) to 5 (high stiffness over the entire nodule and surrounding tissue). On real-time ultrasound elastography, 47 of 62 benign nodules (76%) had a score of 1 or 2, whereas 15 of 16 malignant nodules had a score of 3 to 5, with sensitivity of 93.7%, specificity of 90%, a positive predictive value of 71%, and a negative predictive value of 98%. Real-time ultrasound elastography is a promising imaging technique that is useful in the differential diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Utilization of ultrasound elastography could reduce the rate of thyroid biopsies because of its high elasticity being highly associated with benign cytology.
文摘Objective This study was designed to evaluate hematological disorders and the orchestrating roles of hepcidin and IL-6 in rat models of thioacetamide(TAA) and carbon tetrachloride(CCl_4) hepatotoxicity. Methods Rats were intraperitoneally injected with TAA(10 mg/100 g rat weight dissolved in isosaline) or CCl_4(100 μL/100 g rat weight diluted as 1:4 in corn oil) twice weekly for eight consecutive weeks to induce subchronic liver fibrosis. Blood and tissue samples were collected and analyzed. Results CCl_4 but not TAA significantly decreased the RBCs, Hb, PCV, and MCV values with minimal alterations in other erythrocytic indices. Both hepatotoxins showed leukocytosis, granulocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. By the end of the experiment, the erythropoietin level increased in the CCl_4 model. The serum iron, UIBC, TIBC, transferrin saturation%, and serum transferrin concentration values significantly decreased, whereas that of ferritin increased in the CCl_4 model. TAA increased the iron parameters toward iron overload. RT-PCR analysis revealed increased expression of hepatic hepcidin and IL-6 m RNAs in the CCl_4 model and suppressed hepcidin expression without significant effect on IL-6 in the TAA model. Conclusion These data suggest differences driven by hepcidin and IL-6 expression between CCl_4 and TAA liver fibrosis models and are of clinical importance for diagnosis and therapeutics of liver diseases.
文摘Alternating current（AC） conductivity and dielectric properties of thermally evaporated Au/Pt OEP/Au thin films are investigated each as a function of temperature（303 K–473 K） and frequency（50 Hz–5 MHz）.The frequency dependence of AC conductivity follows the Jonscher universal dynamic law.The AC-activation energies are determined at different frequencies.It is found that the correlated barrier hopping（CBH） model is the dominant conduction mechanism.The variation of the frequency exponent s with temperature is analyzed in terms of the CBH model.Coulombic barrier height Wm,hopping distance Rω,and the density of localized states N（EF） are valued at different frequencies.Dielectric constant ε1（ω,T） and dielectric loss ε2（ω,T） are discussed in terms of the dielectric polarization process.The dielectric modulus shows the non-Debye relaxation in the material.The extracted relaxation time by using the imaginary part of modulus（M’’）is found to follow the Arrhenius law.
