Transcriptional analysis of Rhazya stricta in response to jasmonic acid

BACKGROUND: Jasmonic acid (JA) is a signal transducer molecule that plays an important role in plant development and stress response; it can also efficiently stimulate secondary metabolism in plant cells. RESULTS: RNA-Seq technology was applied to identify differentially expressed genes and study the time course of gene expression in Rhazya stricta in response to JA. Of more than 288 million total reads, approximately 27% were mapped to genes in the reference genome. Genes involved during the secondary metabolite pathways were up- or downregulated when treated with JA in R. stricta. Functional annotation and pathway analysis of all up- and downregulated genes identified many biological processes and molecular functions. Jasmonic acid biosynthetic, cell wall organization, and chlorophyll metabolic processes were upregulated at days 2, 6, and 12, respectively. Similarly, the molecular functions of calcium-transporting ATPase activity, ADP binding, and protein kinase activity were also upregulated at days 2, 6, and 12, respectively. Time-dependent transcriptional gene expression analysis showed that JA can induce signaling in the phenylpropanoid and aromatic acid pathways. These pathways are responsible for the production of secondary metabolites, which are essential for the development and environmental defense mechanism of R. stricta during stress conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and aromatic acid synthesis pathways were upregulated during JA stress. However, monoterpenoid indole alkaloid (MIA) was unaffected by JA treatment. Hence, we can postulate that JA plays an important role in R. stricta during plant development and environmental stress conditions.

Reasons for Third Molars Extraction by Different Health Care Providers

Background: Third molars extraction is one of the most common surgical procedures in daily dental practice.However, the reasons for extraction varies in the literature. Objectives: The primary objective of this study wasto investigate the reasons for the extraction of third molars. The secondary objectives were to evaluate if patientand dentist- related factors affect the reasons for extraction. Methodology: A questionnaire was completed byhealth care providers in four dental centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 195 patients (118 females and 77males), who had their third molars extracted (n=227) were included in this study. Statistical analysis wasperformed using Fisher’s exact test. Results: Caries (42.3%) and prophylaxis (39.2%) were the most commonreasons for the extraction of third molars. Extraction for prophylactic reasons was significantly higher amongfemale patients and patients younger than 40 years old (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, thedecision to extract for prophylactic reasons was significantly higher among specialists or consultants ascompared to students, interns or residents (74.0% vs. 26.0%; p<0.001). No difference was found betweenmaxillary and mandibular third molars extraction. Conclusion: This study identified caries and prophylaxis asthe most common causes of third molars extraction. It was also found that patients' age, gender, as well as dentists'qualification were factors influencing the reasons for extraction.

Postoperative Healing in Renal Failure Patients after Teeth Extraction

Aim: To compare the postoperative course between the CRF patients and the control group in terms ofpostoperative pain, bleeding, and healing.Materials and Methods: Prospective cohort study. Study group: CRF patients referred for dental extraction whofit the inclusion criteria. Control group: healthy patients referred for teeth extraction. Perioperative managementwas recorded, and postoperative pain, bleeding, and healing were assessed on postoperative days 2, 4, and 7 asoutcomes.Results: forty patients were included in the study. Demographic variables were comparable between control andstudy patients; pain, bleeding, and healing were not statistically different between the two groups. Only thenumber of dialysis sessions per week was linked to improved healing in the study group.Conclusion: When prophylactic antibiotic and local hemostatic measures are used in CRF patients undergoingextraction, postoperative healing is comparable with healthy controls. Within the CRF group number ofhemodialysis sessions per week is linked to improved healing outcomes.

Awareness of Saudi Population about the Role of the Emergency Rooms

Background: The hospital Emergency department (ED) is one of the most important components of the health delivery system. Objectives: To investigate the public awareness of the ERs in KSA, what the public knows about the provided services, and if they know the difference between the outpatient clinic and ERs. Methods: It is a cross-sectional descriptive community-based study carried out on 977 male and female, young and adult participants from all age groups, in different areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the period from 1st January to 31st July 2019. Data was collected through filling the pre-designed online questionnaire which guided us to the needed data. We utilized the SPSS program version 16. The X2 test was used as a test of significance, and differences considered significant at p-value less than 0.05. Results: Most of the participants (87.5%) reported that they know the difference between the outpatient clinic and ER. The majority (68.1%) of subjects said that ERs is meaning rapid and unplanned medical care, 17.3% said any needed health care is available there, 12.2% said that it means insufficient medical care and only 2.5% said it means availability of physician at any time for any purpose. As regards evaluation to the provided services in ERs; 32.5% of cases said it was very good followed by 28.5% good, 19.8% excellent, 10.2% accepted and 10% reported it was bad services. There were significant relations between the awareness and age (p=0.03) and education level (p=0.003), but no relation was found with the gender of the participant (p>0.5). Conclusion: In our study, Most of the participants reported that they know the difference between the outpatient clinic and ERs. The majority of subjects said that ERs is meaning rapid and unplanned medical care and/or availability of physician at any time for any purpose. There were significant relations between the awareness and age and education level, but insignificant relation was found with the gender of the participant.

Literature Review on Patient Demographics, Risk Factors and Causative Agents of Otomycosis

Background: Otomycosis can be defined as a fungal infection of the external auditory canal, frequentlyencountered in the general otolaryngology department. Otomycosis is more commonly reported in hot andhumid climates and various individual as well as environmental factors predispose to this infection. Otomycosisis not only a prevalent condition but also follows a set patterns in patient demographics, predisposing factorsand, causative pathogens, which we aim to explore in this review. Objectives: In this review, we intend to shedlight on the prevalence of otomycosis, along with the characteristics of patients that are most commonlypresented with this condition including age, gender, occupation, socioeconomic class, as well as complains. Wealso aim to elucidate the various predisposing risk factors that increase the likelihood of contracting otomycosisand explore the usually encountered pathogenic causes. Materials and Methods: A review of relevant articlespublished between the years of 1975 to 2019 in English language was done using the databases of PubMed Pico,Google Scholar and Google, using the predetermined keywords. Conclusion: Otomycosis is a prevalent fungalear infection mostly seen in young patients between the ages of 21-30 years. Otomycosis mostly involves oneear, and bilateral involvement is mostly observed in immunodeficient patients. The most frequently reported riskfactors include self-cleaning of ears with objects such as Q-tips, wooden sticks, metal pickers, instillation ofmustard oil in ears, undue use of antibiotic ear drops, and swimming. Otomycosis causative organism isespecially Aspergillus and Candida while concomitant bacterial infection can be seen in several cases ofotomycosis, the most common implicated bacteria being staphylococcus aureus. This literature reviewhighlights the need for education to eradicate the aforementioned predisposing risk factors to reduce theincidence of otomycosis.