Synergistic anti-cancer effects of Nigella sativa seed oil and conventional cytotoxic agent against human breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed invasive non-skin malignancy in women worldwide, and it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in them. Nigella sativa Linn. seed oil has been found to be effective in cancer treatment as well as having anti-cancer properties in some other types of cancers. The study looked into the synergistic cytotoxic effects of N. sativa Linn. seed oil and doxorubicin in the treatment of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). METHODS: Nigella sativa Linn. seed oil was used to evaluate its effect on human breast cancer cells, either alone or in conjunction with doxorubicin. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tests were used to examine cell proliferation and cell viability, while phase-contrast inverted microscopy was used to examine cellular morphology. Furthermore, the role of N. sativa seed oil in decreasing cell tumorigenicity features was highlighted by testing the cancer cell migration using the wound healing assay. RESULTS: Results showed that higher concentrations (50 µg/mL) of N. sativa Linn. seed oil changed the breast cancer cell morphology and decreased the cell proliferation and viability. Breast cancer cells treated with black seed oil decreased cell movement after 24 hours compared to the untreated cell in the wound healing assay. Whereas, only the higher concentration of doxorubicin (0.5-2.5 µg/mL) reduced cell proliferation and cell viability. Moreover, the combination treatment of 50 µg/mL of black seed oil with different concentrations of doxorubicin caused a significant cell proliferation reduction and decreased cell viability. The activity was seen optimum at lower concentration (0.1 µg/mL) of doxorubicin. CONCLUSIONS: There was decreased cell proliferation and cell viability when N. sativa seed oil was used alone or in conjunction with doxorubicin in Breast cancer cells (MCF-7) revealing potential opportunities in the field of cancer treatment.

Community practice of using face masks for the prevention of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

Community face masking is possibly of great value in reducing COVID-19 transmission, especially when universally adopted with high compliance. The aim of this study is to investigate the knowledge, common misconceptions, barriers, and the compliance of the community with the use of face masks for the prevention of COVID-19. A validated questionnaire was administered to the participants through a web link by using various social media. The collected data were statistically analyzed for significant differences according to demographic variables. The average knowledge of face masks and their role in preventing COVID-19 transmission was 95.64%, with no differences among most of the demographical factors. Older groups and females demonstrated a better attitude towards wearing face masks than other groups did (p<0.001). Another significant difference in the participant's attitude was noticed between the various educational levels, employment, and nationality (p<0.001). Of the total respondents, 88.2% encouraged wearing face masks. Misconceptions about wearing face masks were very low. The frequency of wearing face masks at public places, workplaces, or social gatherings was 87.2%, 80.5%, and 47.5% respectively. There was a significant variation in the compliance with wearing face masks between the various groups based on age, gender, nationality, and employment status (p<0.001). The inconvenience in wearing face masks was reported by 36.3%. Face irritation and ear pain were reported by 70.2% and 43.5%, respectively. The inconvenience of wearing face masks with eyeglasses was reported by 44.3% of those wearing eyeglasses. In general, the study demonstrated a good attitude among participants towards wearing face masks. Although the respondents in the study were aware of the benefits of wearing face masks, the barriers may have decreased their desire to do so. These barriers include difficulty in breathing, discomfort, face irritation, and ear pain.

A Stakeholders Approach for Curriculum Development of Master's Degree in Molecular Diagnostics.

BACKGROUND: Curriculum development is a multi-processing activity that involves many academic and professional stakeholders. In order to detect the curriculum components, it is very helpful to determine the needs and expectations of the stakeholders concerning the graduate's competencies. The main objective of this work is to develop a curriculum for a master's degree in molecular diagnostics based on a survey of key stakeholders and according to the requirements of accreditation and certification, while maintaining its relevance with the rapidly advancing diverse techniques. METHODS: Experts and supervisors including professors of molecular diagnostics at the various universities and consultants and supervisors at health-care centers performing molecular testing were surveyed to assess their expected cognitive and psychomotor molecular skills from a master's degree graduate. A validated questionnaire that included demographic information, current practiced molecular techniques, the level of expected expertise, and the educational requirements for each. RESULTS: Thirty-six respondents, mostly with a doctorate degree and more than 10 years' experience, have successfully completed the questionnaire. More than 60% of the participating laboratories are commonly used or planned to be used within the next five years. About 57.4% required expert and familiar with skills and concepts. In general, the overall score of skills expectations was 2.8±5 0.out of four. The practice level for molecular techniques was in favor of a master's degree (53.8%). The level of skills expectation is very high for the specific managerial and quality activities with an overall value of 3.7±0.3 out of four. CONCLUSION: We gathered information on the standard requirements of the professional practice and on its anticipated future directions through surveys and interviews with the professional practitioners and educators to develop a curriculum for a master's degree in molecular diagnostics. The two major messages from the stakeholders are that both cognitive and psychomotor skills of the mentioned molecular techniques are required for the program and there is a need to include extensive laboratory training during the courses.

The declining rates of hepatitis B carriage among adolescents and young people in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To study age specific rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriage in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia following a 24 year immunization program.  METHODS: Hepatitis B surveillance data between January 2004 and December 2013 were analyzed in a retrospective study, which included 24,504,914 patients. Seropositive cases of hepatitis B were reported by laboratory personnel as part of various investigations. Hepatitis B cases including acute and chronic carriers were identified upon serological positivity of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).  RESULTS: The study shows that the overall prevalence rate decreased from 18.8 to 9.9/100,000 population between 2004 and 2013 (p=0.01). It was also found that the prevalence rate increased with age. For instance, the highest prevalence of hepatitis B was seen among patients greater than 15 years of age and the lowest was seen among children less than 15 years of age. Over the period, the prevalence rate decreased in all age groups with the greatest decline among the age groups less than 4 years old. However, this was statistically insignificant (p greater than 0.05). Another significant reduction in the prevalence rate occurred among age groups 5-14 years old (p=0.00). An insignificant decrease in the rate by 43% was also seen among older patients of 15-44 years old and 35% in greater than 45 years old. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B is significantly higher in men than in women (p=0.00).   CONCLUSION: There is a particular decreased trend in the prevalence of HBV infection in different age groups over a decade of surveillance following more than 20 years of the universal HBV vaccination program.

Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in relation to knowledge and practice among pregnant women in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

The epidemiological importance of the different routes of Toxoplasma gondii transmission is not known and depends largely on population behaviour and knowledge. This study was conducted to assess toxoplasmosis seropositivity and the related knowledge and preventive practices that are necessary for the prevention of the disease among pregnant women. All pregnant women attending antenatal clinic were tested for T. gondii immunoglobulins followed by a survey questionnaire that tested their knowledge and preventive practice. Statistical comparisons were made between the seropositive and negative ones. We determined a low to moderate seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia as compared to many other parts of the world. The overall positivity rates of IgG and IgM against T. gondii among 400 pregnant women were 28.5 and 3%, respectively. 75.5% of the participants had never heard about toxoplasmosis and the associated risk factors. Lack of knowledge was associated with the higher risk of infection (OR = 4.04, p < 0.001). Keeping pet cats was not common and poorly associated with infections (OR = 1.15, p ≥ 0.64). Consumption of undercooked meat was reported frequently and only slight risk was associated with sheep/goat meat (OR = 1.39, p = 0.15). Eating outside the home at restaurants was reported for the first time to be related to a higher risk of infection (OR = 2.69, p < 0.001). Several possible risk factors were suggested through odds ratios calculation and overall knowledge of toxoplasmosis by pregnant women was poor. It is therefore vital to provide a formal education about toxoplasmosis risk factors to women of childbearing age.

Visualization of the joining of ribosomal subunits reveals the presence of 80S ribosomes in the nucleus.

In eukaryotes the 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits are assembled in the nucleolus, but there appear to be mechanisms preventing mRNA binding, 80S formation, and initiation of translation in the nucleus. To visualize association between ribosomal subunits, we tagged pairs of Drosophila ribosomal proteins (RPs) located in different subunits with mutually complementing halves of fluorescent proteins. Pairs of tagged RPs expected to interact, or be adjacent in the 80S structure, showed strong fluorescence, while pairs that were not in close proximity did not. Moreover, the complementation signal is found in ribosomal fractions and it was enhanced by translation elongation inhibitors and reduced by initiation inhibitors. Our technique achieved 80S visualization both in cultured cells and in fly tissues in vivo. Notably, while the main 80S signal was in the cytoplasm, clear signals were also seen in the nucleolus and at other nuclear sites. Furthermore, we detected rapid puromycin incorporation in the nucleolus and at transcription sites, providing an independent indication of functional 80S in the nucleolus and 80S association with nascent transcripts.

Fluorescent protein tagging confirms the presence of ribosomal proteins at Drosophila polytene chromosomes.

Most ribosomal proteins (RPs) are stoichiometrically incorporated into ribosomal subunits and play essential roles in ribosome biogenesis and function. However, a number of RPs appear to have non-ribosomal functions, which involve direct association with pre-mRNA and transcription factors at transcription sites. The consensus is that the RPs found at these sites are off ribosomal subunits, but observation that different RPs are usually found together suggests that ribosomal or ribosomal-like subunits might be present. Notably, it has previously been reported that antibodies against 20 different RPs stain the same Pol II transcription sites in Drosophila polytene chromosomes. Some concerns, however, were raised about the specificity of the antibodies. To investigate further whether RPs are present at transcription sites in Drosophila, we have generated several transgenic flies expressing RPs (RpS2, RpS5a, RpS9, RpS11, RpS13, RpS18, RpL8, RpL11, RpL32, and RpL36) tagged with either green or red fluorescent protein. Imaging of salivary gland cells showed that these proteins are, as expected, abundant in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleolus. However, these RPs are also apparent in the nucleus in the region occupied by the chromosomes. Indeed, polytene chromosome immunostaining of a representative subset of tagged RPs confirms the association with transcribed loci. Furthermore, characterization of a strain expressing RpL41 functionally tagged at its native genomic locus with YFP, also showed apparent nuclear accumulation and chromosomal association, suggesting that such a nuclear localization pattern might be a shared feature of RPs and is biologically important. We anticipate that the transgenes described here should provide a useful research tool to visualize ribosomal subunits in Drosophila tissues and to study the non-ribosomal functions of RPs.