Assessing the Influence of Intermittent Alcohol Access on Acrylamide-Induced Neuronal Toxicity in an Experimental Rat Model.

Tobacco and alcohol have been identified as health risk behaviors associated with significant unfavorable health consequences, ranking within the list of the top ten causes of mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALY). The combustion of tobacco leads to the formation of acrylamide (ACR), which is well known for its neurotoxic effects. Similarly, alcohol consumption has also been widely recognized for its neurotoxic effects. Both substances can affect neurons and neuroglia cells through various pathways. This study sought to examine the impacts of co-administration of ACR and intermittent-access ethanol (IAE) consumption over a period of one month. The experimental group received 20 mg/kg of ACR, administered orally, along with IAE of 20% ethanol sessions lasting 24 h, three times per week. The cognitive outcomes were assessed utilizing the elevated plus maze (EPM), which was employed as a means of assessing the capability to learn and remember, the novel object recognition (NOR) test, which was employed to assess recognition memory, and the Y-maze, which was used to explore a new environment and navigate. Additionally, ELISA assays were performed to examine underlying mechanisms, including markers associated with inflammation (NF-κB, PGE2, and TNF-α), apoptosis (Bcl2, Bax, and Caspase-3), and oxidative stress (MDA, catalase, and GSH). These markers were assessed in the brain homogenate as part of the investigation. Furthermore, a histopathological study was conducted. The findings indicated that NF-κB levels increased significantly in the combination of ACR and IAE groups (ACR + IAE) compared to either the ACR-alone or IAE-alone groups. However, parallel changes were observed in TNF-α, PGE2, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, GSH, and CAT levels when comparing the ACR + IAE group to the ACR-alone group. Comparable alterations were noted between the ACR + IAE treatment and IAE-alone groups in TNF-α, Bcl-2, MDA, GSH, and CAT levels. Moreover, the histopathological analysis revealed significant changes between the ACR + IAE and the ACR- or IAE-alone groups. Regarding memory parameters assessed using tests including EPM, NOR, and Y-maze, considerable changes were observed across all treatment groups as opposed to the control. Surprisingly, there were no notable differences in the NOR and Y-maze tasks between the alone and combination treatment. Further study is necessary to explore the long-term alteration of co-administering ACR and IAE on behavior, memory, and neurotoxicity-related mechanisms, in order to elucidate their combined effects more clearly.

The dual role of MiR-210 in the aetiology of cancer: A focus on hypoxia-inducible factor signalling.

Tumorigenesis exemplifies the complex process of neoplasm origination, which is characterised by somatic genetic alterations and abnormal cellular growth. This multidimensional phenomenon transforms previously dormant cells into malignant equivalents, resulting in uncontrollable proliferation and clonal expansion. Various elements, including random mutations, harmful environmental substances, and genetic predispositions, influence tumorigenesis's aetiology. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are now recognised as crucial determinants of gene expression and key players in several biological methods, including oncogenesis. A well-known hypoxia-inducible miRNA is MiR-210, which is of particular interest because of its complicated role in the aetiology of cancer and a variation of physiological and pathological situations. MiR-210 significantly impacts cancer by controlling the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signalling pathway. By supporting angiogenesis, metabolic reprogramming, and cellular survival in hypoxic microenvironments, HIF signalling orchestrates adaptive responses, accelerating the unstoppable development of tumorous growth. Targeting several components of this cascade, including HIF-1, HIF-3, and FIH-1, MiR-210 plays a vital role in modifying HIF signalling and carefully controlling the HIF-mediated response and cellular fates in hypoxic environments. To understand the complexities of this relationship, careful investigation is required at the intersection of MiR-210 and HIF signalling. Understanding this relationship is crucial for uncovering the mechanisms underlying cancer aetiology and developing cutting-edge therapeutic approaches. The current review emphasises MiR-210's significance as a vital regulator of the HIF signalling cascade, with substantial implications spanning a range of tumor pathogenesis.

Silver-cored Ziziphus spina-christi extract-loaded antimicrobial nanosuspension: overcoming multidrug resistance.

Aims: To synthesize a silver-cored nanosuspension utilizing Ziziphus spina-christi fresh-leaf extract and evaluate their antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant pathogenic microbes. Materials and Methods: The prepared nanosuspension was analyzed by spectro-analytical techniques and tested for antimicrobial activity and resistance to biofilm formation. The leaf extract and nanosuspension were tested separately and together as a mixture. Results: Constituent nanoparticles were average-sized (∼34 nm) and were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative microbes and yeast. Candida albicans showed a 24.50 ± 1.50 mm inhibition zone, followed by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Increased bioactivity with the highest multifold increments, 150%, for erythromycin against all tested microbes was observed. Carbenicillin and trimethoprim showed 166%- and 300%-fold increments for antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Conclusion: The nanosuspension exhibited strong potential as an antimicrobial agent and overcame multidrug resistance.

Ziziphus spina-christi leaf extract-coated silver nanoparticles were synthesized using an environment-friendly method, and the preparation was effective against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The prepared formulation showed increased antimicrobial activity at a 150­300% increase compared with leaf extract-only activity. The prepared suspension was also active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the multidrug-resistant microbe, and has the potential to treat drug-resistant microbial infections.

Ensemble recurrent neural network with whale optimization algorithm-based DNA sequence classification for medical applications.

The modern data-driven era has facilitated the gathering of large quantities of biomedical and clinical data. The deoxyribonucleic acid gene expression datasets have become a vital focus for the research community because of their capability to detect pathogens via 'biomarkers' or particular modifications in the gene sequence which portray a specific pathogen. Metaheuristic-related feature selection (FS) efficiently filters out only the pertinent genes out of large feature sets to lessen the data storage and computation requirements. This paper embraces the whale optimization algorithm for the FS issue in HD microarray data for the effectual propagation of candidate solutions to reach global optima over sufficient iterations. The chosen data are classified by employing an ensemble recurrent network (ERNN) that retains the amalgamation of long short-term memory, bidirectional long short-term memory, and gated recurrent units. Analysis of this proposed ERNN methodology would be performed by correlating with diverse advanced methodologies, and thus, the ERNN attains 99.59% precision and 99.59% accuracy.

DenseNet_ HybWWoA: A DenseNet-Based Brain Metastasis Classification with a Hybrid Metaheuristic Feature Selection Strategy.

Brain metastases (BM) are the most severe consequence of malignancy in the brain, resulting in substantial illness and death. The most common primary tumors that progress to BM are lung, breast, and melanoma. Historically, BM patients had poor clinical outcomes, with limited treatment options including surgery, stereotactic radiation therapy (SRS), whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), systemic therapy, and symptom control alone. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a valuable tool for detecting cerebral tumors, though it is not infallible, as cerebral matter is interchangeable. This study offers a novel method for categorizing differing brain tumors in this context. This research additionally presents a combination of optimization algorithms called the Hybrid Whale and Water Waves Optimization Algorithm (HybWWoA), which is used to identify features by reducing the size of recovered features. This algorithm combines whale optimization and water waves optimization. The categorization procedure is consequently carried out using a DenseNet algorithm. The suggested cancer categorization method is evaluated on a number of factors, including precision, specificity, and sensitivity. The final assessment findings showed that the suggested approach exceeded the authors' expectations, with an F1-score of 97% and accuracy, precision, memory, and recollection of 92.1%, 98.5%, and 92.1%, respectively.

Exploring the intravenous narcotics and controlled drugs wastage and their financial impact: A descriptive single-center study.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to explore the wastage of narcotics and controlled medications and, their financial impact in a tertiary care setting over a one-year period. Methodology: The study period was of one year, i.e., October 2020 - September 2021. The venue of study was a tertiary care hospital. The narcotic medications included Fentanyl, Tramadol, Morphine, and Meperidine. The controlled medications included Midazolam, Phenobarbital, Diazepam, Ketamine and Lorazepam. The annual consumption and wastage of the narcotic and controlled medications were documented using data report generated by narcotics and controlled medication in-charge pharmacist through the hospital's online system. Data was reported using average, minimum and maximum values. Quantities of wastage is expressed in terms of ampoules. Costs per ampoule were calculated and expressed in both Saudi Riyal (SAR) and United States Dollar (USD). The study was approved by an ethics committee. Results: The annual wastage of narcotics was 3.19 % while the same for controlled medications was 21.3 %. An annual wastage of 3.81 % was reported for narcotics and controlled medications combined. The total wastage cost of narcotics and controlled medications was 15,443.1 SAR that was equivalent to USD 4085.5. Fentanyl 500mcg formulations had the highest consumption, i.e., 28,580 ampoules followed by Morphine 10 mg formulations, i.e., 27,122 ampoules. The highest ampoule wastage was observed for Morphine 10 mg formulations, i.e., 1956 ampoules. The highest % wastage was observed for Midazolam formulations, i.e., 29.3 %. Conclusion: The overall wastage was less than 5% of the total consumption, however, midazolam was observed to have the highest wastage. Shifting to prefilled syringes supplied by pharmacies, making protocols, and safely pooling costly drugs could result in significant savings.

In Vitro and In Vivo Functional Viability, and Biocompatibility Evaluation of Bovine Serum Albumin-Ingrained Microemulsion: A Model Based on Sesame Oil as the Payload for Developing an Efficient Drug Delivery Platform.

Combination of bovine serum albumin with microemulsions as constituting ingredient biopolymer has long been regarded an innovative method to address the surface functionalization and stability issues in the targeted payload deliveries, thereupon producing effectively modified microemulsions, which are superior in loading capacity, transitional and shelf-stability, as well as site-directed/site-preferred delivery, has become a favored option. The current study aimed to develop an efficient, suitable and functional microemulsion system encapsulating sesame oil (SO) as a model payload towards developing an efficient delivery platform. UV-VIS, FT-IR, and FE-SEM were used to characterize, and analyze the developed carrier. Physicochemical properties assessments of the microemulsion by dynamic light scattering size distributions, zeta-potential, and electron micrographic analyses were performed. The mechanical properties for rheological behavior were also studied. The HFF-2 cell line and hemolysis assays were conducted to ascertain the cell viability, and in vitro biocompatibility. The in vivo toxicity was determined based on a predicted median lethal dose (LD50) model, wherein the liver enzymes' functions were also tested to assess and confirm the predicted toxicity.

An Intelligent Anomaly Detection Approach for Accurate and Reliable Weather Forecasting at IoT Edges: A Case Study.

Industrialization and rapid urbanization in almost every country adversely affect many of our environmental values, such as our core ecosystem, regional climate differences and global diversity. The difficulties we encounter as a result of the rapid change we experience cause us to encounter many problems in our daily lives. The background of these problems is rapid digitalization and the lack of sufficient infrastructure to process and analyze very large volumes of data. Inaccurate, incomplete or irrelevant data produced in the IoT detection layer causes weather forecast reports to drift away from the concepts of accuracy and reliability, and as a result, activities based on weather forecasting are disrupted. A sophisticated and difficult talent, weather forecasting needs the observation and processing of enormous volumes of data. In addition, rapid urbanization, abrupt climate changes and mass digitization make it more difficult for the forecasts to be accurate and reliable. Increasing data density and rapid urbanization and digitalization make it difficult for the forecasts to be accurate and reliable. This situation prevents people from taking precautions against bad weather conditions in cities and rural areas and turns into a vital problem. In this study, an intelligent anomaly detection approach is presented to minimize the weather forecasting problems that arise as a result of rapid urbanization and mass digitalization. The proposed solutions cover data processing at the edge of the IoT and include filtering out the missing, unnecessary or anomaly data that prevent the predictions from being more accurate and reliable from the data obtained through the sensors. Anomaly detection metrics of five different machine learning (ML) algorithms, including support vector classifier (SVC), Adaboost, logistic regression (LR), naive Bayes (NB) and random forest (RF), were also compared in the study. These algorithms were used to create a data stream using the time, temperature, pressure, humidity and other sensor-generated information.

Expanding Arsenal against Neurodegenerative Diseases Using Quercetin Based Nanoformulations: Breakthroughs and Bottlenecks.

Quercetin (Qu), a dietary flavonoid, is obtained from many fruits and vegetables such as coriander, broccoli, capers, asparagus, onion, figs, radish leaves, cranberry, walnuts, and citrus fruits. It has proven its role as a nutraceutical owing to numerous pharmacological effects against various diseases in preclinical studies. Despite these facts, Qu and its nanoparticles are less explored in clinical research as a nutraceutical. The present review covers various neuroprotective actions of Qu against various neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A literature search was conducted to systematically review the various mechanistic pathways through which Qu elicits its neuroprotective actions and the challenges associated with raw Qu that compromise therapeutic efficacy. The nanoformulations developed to enhance Qu's therapeutic efficacy are also covered. Various ongoing/completed clinical trials related to Qu in treating various diseases, including NDs, are also tabulated. Despite these many successes, the exploration of research on Qu-loaded nanoformulations is limited mostly to preclinical studies, probably due to poor drug loading and stability of the formulation, time-consuming steps involved in the formulation, and their poor scale-up capacity. Hence, future efforts are required in this area to reach Qu nanoformulations to the clinical level.

Construction of VGG16 Convolution Neural Network (VGG16_CNN) Classifier with NestNet-Based Segmentation Paradigm for Brain Metastasis Classification.

Brain metastases (BMs) happen often in patients with metastatic cancer (MC), requiring initial and precise diagnosis of BMs, which remains important for medical care preparation and radiotherapy prognostication. Nevertheless, the susceptibility of automated BM (ABMS) diagnosis is unfairly great for minute BMs, and integrating into medical exercises to distinguish true metastases (MtS) from false positives remains difficult. For enhancing BM classification execution, MtS localization is performed through the NestNet framework. Subsequent to segmentation, classification is performed by employing the VGG16 convolution neural network. A novel loss function is computed by employing the weighted softmax function (WSF) for enhancing minute MtS diagnosis and for calibrating susceptibility and particularity. The aim of this study was to merge temporal prior data for ABMS detection. The proffered VGG16_CNN is capable of differentiating positive MtS among MtS candidates with high confidence, which typically needs distinct specialist analysis or additional investigation, remaining specifically apt for specialist reinforcement in actual medical practice. The proffered VGG16_CNN framework can be correlated with three advanced methodologies (moU-Net, DSNet, and U-Net) concerning diverse criteria. It was observed that the proffered VGG16_CNN attained 93.74% accuracy, 92% precision, 92.1% recall, and 67.08% F1-score.

A Case Report of Giant Ascending Aortic Aneurysm: Role of Multimodality Imaging.

Giant ascending aortic aneurysm (AscAA >10 cm) is an uncommon entity with a variable presentation. The size of the aneurysm, rapid expansion, and calcification are associated with an increased risk of rupture. Atherosclerosis is the most common etiology of aortic aneurysm in the elderly population. Multimodality imaging can be wisely used for diagnosis, risk stratification, and follow-up. We herein report a case of successfully repaired giant calcified AscAA with a maximum diameter of 10 cm. We also provide a brief discussion on the role of multimodality imaging.

An oncoinformatics study to predict the inhibitory potential of recent FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs against human Polo-like kinase 1 enzyme: a step towards dual-target cancer medication.

Cancer prevalence has increased at an alarming rate worldwide. Complexity, resistance mechanism and multiple compensatory survival pathways of cancer cells have abated the response of currently available cancer medications. Therefore, multi-target agents rather than single target might provide a better solution to these cancer therapy issues. In the present study, anti-PLK1 (Polo-like kinase 1) potential of the eight FDA-approved (2017) anti-cancer drugs have been explored using molecular docking approach. Out of all the tested drugs, brigatinib, niraparib and ribociclib showed better binding affinity towards the 'kinase domain' of PLK1. The Gibbs free binding energy (ΔG) and inhibition constant (K i) values for brigatinib, niraparib and ribociclib interaction with the kinase domain of PLK1 were '- 8.05 kcal/mol and 1.26 µM', '- 8.35 kcal/mol and 0.729 µM' and '- 7.29 kcal/mol and 4.52 µM', respectively. Interestingly, the docking results of these three drugs were better than the known PLK1 inhibitors (BI-2536 and rigosertib). The ΔG and K i values for BI-2536 and rigosertib interaction with the kinase domain of PLK1 were '- 6.8 kcal/mol and 10.38 µM' and '- 6.6 kcal/mol and 14.51 µM', respectively. Brigatinib, niraparib and ribociclib have been approved by FDA for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian/fallopian tube cancer and breast cancer, respectively. PLK1 is regarded as a potential cancer target, and it is specifically over-expressed in different types of cancer cells, including aforementioned cancers. Actually, the target enzymes for anti-cancer action of brigatinib, niraparib and ribociclib are tyrosine kinase, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6, respectively. However, based on our outcomes, we could safely state that PLK1 might plausibly emerge as an add-on target for each of these three anti-cancer drugs. We strongly believe that this study would assist in the development of better dual-targeting cancer therapeutic agent in the near future.

Patient Satisfaction with Orthodontic Treatment Received in Public and Private Hospitals in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The demand for orthodontic treatment is on the rise, and there are high patient expectations for improved dentofacial appearance. Patient satisfaction with orthodontic treatment is associated with improving treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient satisfaction with orthodontic treatment received in public and private hospitals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a calculated sample of patients who received orthodontic treatment in public and private hospitals in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire (five-point Likert scale) was used to assess patient satisfaction with orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: A total of 229 out of 243 patients completed the survey (response rate = 94.2%). The mean age of the participants was 22.69 ± 6.34 years. More females (65.5%) than males (34.5%) participated in the study. The participants gave the highest satisfaction score to the doctor-patient relationship (mean score 4.33). This was followed by dentofacial improvement (mean score 4.23), dental functions (mean score 4.20), and psychosocial improvement (mean score 3.94). The participants provided significantly more positive perspective about doctor-patient relationship in public than private hospitals (P = 0.014). The patients treated in private hospitals were more satisfied with dental functions domain than those who received treatment in public hospitals (P = 0.023). The patients treated by public orthodontists were significantly more satisfied with other domains (situational aspect and residual category) than by the private orthodontists. CONCLUSION: The doctor-patient relationship was the most important factor in satisfaction with orthodontic treatment. Overall, patients treated in public hospitals were more satisfied with orthodontic treatment than those in private hospitals.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward prevention of hepatitis B virus infection among medical students at Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Health care workers' risk of occupational exposure to HBV is a chief concern, particularly with young students in the health profession. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge regarding symptoms, risk factors and prevention of hepatitis B virus infection among medical students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 01, 2016 to May 30, 2017 on medical students at the Northern Border University (Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Data were collected from 200 students from all academic years using pre-designed questionnaire which included questions designed to fulfill the study objectives. RESULTS: Regarding students' knowledge about hepatitis B infection, 81% of them knew that carriers could transmit infection, 89.5% of them knew that it could not be spread by casual contact, 80% by contact with open wound, 96.5% by contaminated blood and body fluids, 92.5% by unsterilized syringe, needle and surgical instruments and 79.5% by unsafe sex. In total, 86.5% of students knew that a vaccine could prevent HBV infection, 95% knew it had been laboratory tested, 64% knew HBV had post exposure prophylaxis and only 55% knew that it could be cured. In all, 75.5% of students knew that HBV caused liver cancer. Regarding attitude, 23% of students said they had no concern of being infected with HBV, 86.5% agreed that HBV vaccine was safe and effective and 90% believed that following infection, control guidelines would protect them from being infected by HBV at work. Regarding practice, only 56.5% of students had screened for HBV infection 22% had had a needle prick injury but 68% would report that injury. Furthermore, 69.5% have received HBV vaccine but only 38% of them had received 3 doses. CONCLUSION: The students' knowledge of the hepatitis B virus was found to be good. We recommend improving knowledge, attitude and practice of the public as well as students, through health education campaigns and settings.

Bacteriostatic Effect of Simvastatin on Selected Oral Streptococci in Vitro.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Simvastatin is a widely used cholesterol-lowering drug, which has been found to have a number of pleiotropic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of simvastatin against selected oral streptococci as determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). METHODS: Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus anginosus, and Streptococcus salivarius were the test microorganisms. The serial dilution method was used to determine the MIC of simvastatin against these organisms. The MIC was defined as the lowest concentration of simvastatin that completely inhibited growth of the test organisms. RESULTS: The data indicate that simvastatin inhibits the growth of the test organisms, with MIC's ranging from 7.8 to 15.6 µg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin has MIC's against the selected bacteria that compare favorably with reported values for topical agents such as essential oil, chlorhexidine gluconate, and triclosan. The levels of simvastatin required to inhibit bacterial growth of oral bacteria exceed the reported levels of the drug found in plasma or crevicular fluid of patients who are treated with this cholesterol-lowering drug. However, clinical studies are warranted to investigate the potential use of simvastatin as a novel antiplaque agent that could be used in local drug delivery to the oral cavity of those patients who are prescribed this cholesterol-lowering drug.

Migration of an intragastric balloon: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Intragastric balloons are a non-surgical treatment method for obesity. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a 28year old Kuwaiti women presented with vomiting and epigastric pain two years following insertion of a intra gastric balloon. The women was diagnosed as a case of intestinal obstruction secondary to intragastric balloon migration. DISCUSSION: Most intragastric balloons, should be removed in 6 months, to prevent complications. In our case, failure to follow up and remove the intragastric balloons in time led to bowel obstruction secondary to balloon migration. CONCLUSION: We report a rare complication of the BioEnterics intragastric balloon. Adherence to manufacturer and physician recommendations may prevent serious complications of intra gastric balloon insertion.