23. Does the maximum allowable contrast dose (MACD) predict the risk of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)

BackgroundCIN is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Some studies recommend the utilization of the MACD formula to guide safe contrast dosing, however the evidence supporting use of this measure is limited.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine if MACD is helpful in predicting the risk of CIN in patients with CKD.Methods8670 patients who underwent coronary angiography in our center with or without Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) (2008–2013) were included. Patients with CKD (n=144) were selected. Patients in shock, on intra aortic balloon pump, on prophylactic hemofiltration or on dialysis were excluded.Creatinine was measured 48–72h post procedure. T-test, Chi-Square and multiple regression were used to compare those patients who developed CIN and those who did not develop CIN. CIN was defined as an increase in serum creatinine by ⩾25% or 0.5mg/dL from baseline within 48–72h after contrast exposure.ResultsCIN occurred in 28 patients (19.4%). Only 8 (5.6%) of the 144 patients exceeded MACD and 2 of these patients developed CIN. The use of biplane angiography explains the lower contrast dose. For this reason the impact of exceeding MACD could not be evaluated. Primary PCI was associated with CIN (p=0.012; OR 5.1)).ConclusionOverall it is best to limit contrast dose to the extent possible as this is a known risk factor, however MACD is not a useful variable in a risk model for predicting CIN in our population. Primary PCI was the only predictor of CIN in our population

Catalytic effectiveness of azobisisobutyronitrile/[SiMes)Ru(PPH3)(Ind)Cl2 initiating system in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate and other vinylic monomers

The catalytic system of azo-bis-isobutyronitrile (AIBN) combined with (SiMes)Ru(PPH3)(Ind)Cl-2 [M-20] was investigated for the controlled radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in solution. Various factors that may influence the catalytic polymerization process, such as the aging time of the initiating system, AIBN/M-20 ratio, concentration of monomer, polymerization time, temperature, and the nature of solvent were examined. The results showed that the yield, molecular weight, and molecular distribution are practically unaffected by these parameters; however, the syndiotactic stereo-structure tendency that characterizes the produced poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) varied with temperature. The optimum conditions for PMMA synthesis were determined to produce an essentially syndiotactic material with uniformly high molecular weights. It was also revealed that the kinetics of MMA polymerization is of first order with respect to the concentration of monomer. A comparison was also made for some vinylic polymers synthesized either with the AIBN alone or with the AIBN/M-20 initiating system under the same conditions

Cardiac Cell Regeneration in Zebrafish A Systematic Review Study.

Objective: This research aims to increase the level and quality of the information acquired from 90 previously conducted studies regarding zebrafish heart regeneration and to summarize the best and latest information as well as the methods gleaned from those studies, which will allow us to determine the best ways to rebuild cardiac tissue in zebrafish. Methods: This study was conducted under the PRISMA guidelines. The search for primary research articles was conducted using PubMed, Web of science, and Mendeley. We used the latest update of Microsoft office Excel, Of the total 1158 results, 1066 were dropped according to the criteria for exclusion. The selected results included previously published and unpublished studies on cardiac cell regeneration in zebrafish from 2012 to 2022. Results: 90 studies met the inclusion criteria. Out of these, 43 used the AR method, 36 used cryoinjury, and 16 used genetic amputation. All methods used were based on selected heart sections, not the whole heart. The primary evaluation technique used in the included studies was histology, either alone or in combination with other methods. Acid Fuchsin Orange G (AFOG), Masson's Trichrome (MT), Hematoxylin/Eosin (HE), immunofluorescence (IF), and in situ hybridization (ISH) were the main histological techniques employed to assess heart regrowth and regeneration. Conclusion: This study may have a risk of bias due to the qualitative and quantitative data that was selected. Further research can help understand and utilize zebrafish regeneration genes in humans

Role of Interventional Radiology in Management of Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a common and potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt and effective management. Interventional radiology has emerged as a valuable tool in the management of gastrointestinal bleeding, offering minimally invasive techniques that can rapidly control bleeding and improve patient outcomes. This review aims to provide an overview of the role of interventional radiology in the management of gastrointestinal bleeding, including its various techniques and their efficacy. The review discusses the different interventional radiology procedures that can be used to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal bleeding. It also highlights the advantages of techniques used in evaluation and management, including their ability to localize and control bleeding, as well as their low complication rates and shorter recovery times compared to traditional surgical approaches. Furthermore, the review addresses the specific indications for interventional radiology in the management of gastrointestinal bleeding, as well as the role of interventional radiology in the setting of underlying conditions. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of interventional radiology in the management of gastrointestinal bleeding, highlighting its effectiveness and potential benefits for patients. It also emphasizes the need for further research and collaboration between interventional radiologists and gastroenterologists to optimize the use of these techniques in clinical practice

Production of green diesel from catalytic deoxygenation of chicken fat oil over a series binary metal oxide-supported MWCNTs

Deoxygenation processes that exploit milder reaction conditions under H2-free atmospheres appear environmentally and economically effective for the production of green diesel. Herein, green diesel was produced by catalytic deoxygenation of chicken fat oil (CFO) over oxides of binary metal pairs (Ni–Mg, Ni–Mn, Ni–Cu, Ni–Ce) supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The presence of Mg and Mn with Ni afforded greater deoxygenation activity, with hydrocarbon yields of >75% and n-(C15 + C17) selectivity of >81%, indicating that decarboxylation/decarbonylation (deCOx) of CFO is favoured by the existence of high amount of lower strength strong acidic sites along with noticeable strongly basic sites. Based on a series of studies of different Mg and Mn dosages (5–20 wt%), the oxygen free-rich diesel-range hydrocarbons produced efficiently by Ni10–Mg15/MWCNT and Ni10–Mn5/MWCNT catalysts yielded >84% of hydrocarbons, with n-(C15 + C17) selectivity of >85%. The heating value of the green diesel obtained complied with the ultra-low sulphur diesel standard

Production of renewable diesel from Jatropha curcas oil via pyrolytic-deoxygenation over various multi-wall carbon nanotube-based catalysts

Jatropha curcas is a highly toxic plant that produces seed containing viscous oil with productivity (2 ton/ha), it grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions and offer greater adaptability to a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. Its oils have been noted as an important alternative to produce green diesel via deoxygenation reaction. This study, deoxygenation of jatropha curcas oil (JCO) was carried out over NiO–Fe2O3 and NiO–ZnO catalysts that supported onto multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). It had found that high Fe and Zn dosages were ineffective in deoxygenation and greatest activity was observed on NiO(20) Fe2O3(5)/MWCNT catalyst. Structure-activity correlations revealed that low metal loading, large density of weak + medium acidic sites and strong basic sites play key role in enhancing the catalytic activities and n-(C15+C17) selectivity. Comparing carbon nanostructures and carbon micron size supported NiO-Fe2O3 revealed that green diesel obtained from NiO–Fe2O3/MWCNT catalysed deoxygenation had the highest heating value and the lowest amounts of oxygen content. Thereby, it confirmed the importance of carbon nanostructure as the catalyst support in improving the diesel quality. Considering the high reusability of NiO-Fe2O3/MWCNT (6 consecutive runs) and superior green diesel properties (flash point, cloud properties and cetane index) demonstrated the NiO–Fe2O3/MWCNT catalyst offers great option in producing excellent properties of green diesel for energy sector

A promoter effect on hydrodeoxygenation reactions of oleic acid by zeolite beta catalysts

In this study, various metal-modified zeolite beta-based catalysts such as La(10)zeo(90), Co(10)zeo(90), Fe(10)zeo(90), Mg(10)zeo(90), Mn(10)zeo(90) and Zn(10)zeo(90) were investigated in the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of oleic acid (OA) to produce renewable diesel. The La(10)zeo(90) catalyst showed a conversion of OA up to 99 % with 83 % C15 and C17 selectivity after the reaction at 350 ◦C for 2 h under 4 MPa H2 pressure. The superior activity of La(10)zeo(90) was attributed to the synergistic interaction between La-Si-Al, a sufficient amount of weak+ medium acid sites and excellent textural properties (large pore diameter). Larger pore diameter of La(10)zeo(90) is highly desirable as it will generate greater diffusion of bulky molecules, thereby improving the accessibility of the reactant and hence excellent catalytic activity. The vacuum distillation was used to purify the crude liquid product (CLP), producing high-quality diesel fractions mainly comprising C14, C15, and C17 fractions

Antimicrobial Usage and Resistance in Makkah Region Hospitals: A Regional Point Prevalence Survey of Public Hospitals

(1) Background: Inappropriate use of antimicrobials and subsequently rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a major public health priority. Over-prescribing of broad-spectrum antibiotics is one of the main contributing factors for the emergence of AMR. We sought to describe antimicrobial prescribing trends among patients in public hospitals in Makkah hospitals. (2) Method: We undertook a point prevalence survey (PPS) in six hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from January 2019 to July 2019. The survey included all the inpatients receiving antimicrobials on the day of PPS. Data was collected using the Global point prevalence survey (PPS) tool developed by the University of Antwerp, Belgium. (3) Results: Of 710 hospitalized patients, 447 patients (61.9%) were treated with one or more antimicrobials during the study period. The average bed occupancy among six hospitals was 74.4%. The majority of patients received antimicrobials parenterally (90.3%). Of the total prescribed antimicrobials, 415 (53.7%) antimicrobials were used in medical departments, 183 (23.7%) in surgical departments, and 175 (22.6%) in ICUs. Pneumonia (17.3%), skin and soft tissue infections (10.9%), and sepsis (6.6.%) were three common clinical indications. Ceftriaxones were the most commonly used antibiotics that were prescribed in 116 (15%) of patients, followed by piperacillin, with an enzyme inhibitor in 84 (10.9%). (4) Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of antibiotic use in the hospitals of Makkah, which could be a potential risk factor for the incidence of resistant strains, particularly MRSA infection. Public health decision-makers should take these findings into consideration to update national policies for antibiotic use in order to reduce the risks of further increases of AMR

Impact of Smoking Exposure on Pregnancy and Perinatal Outcome Among Saudi Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To assess the impact of smoking exposure on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes among Saudi women. Methods: This research will employ a cross-sectional study design to assess the impact of smoking exposure on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes among Saudi women. Cross-sectional studies are particularly suitable for examining associations and prevalence within a defined population at a specific point in time. In this case, the study aims to collect data on smoking behavior, pregnancy history, and perinatal outcomes among a representative sample of Saudi women in healthcare facilities across different regions of the country. The cross-sectional design allows for the efficient collection of data from a diverse population, providing insights into the relationship between smoking and perinatal outcomes without the need for long-term follow-up. Results: The study included 450 participants. The most frequent age among them was 35 and more years (n= 309, 68.7%) followed by 30-34 (n= 94, 20.9%). The most frequent educational level among study participants was the university (n= 408, 90.7%) followed by the school (n= 39, 8.7%). The most frequent job among study participants was a Governmental job (n= 159, 35.3%) followed by a housewife (n= 135, 30%). Number of previous births among study participants with most of them having a previous birth (n= 396, 88%) followed by this is the first birth (n= 54, 12%). Number of previous pregnancies among study participants with most of them having a previous pregnancy (n= 408, 90.7%) followed by this is the first pregnancy (n= 42, 9.3%). Number of abortions among study participants with most of them nothing (n= 234, 52%) followed by there is (n= 216, 48%). Participants were asked about smoking. The most frequent were don’t smoke (n= 315, 70%) followed by smoking (n= 135, 30%). The most frequent exposure to smoking among them was yes (n= 333, 74%) followed by no (n= 117, 26%). Conclusion: Study results showed that most of the study participants are the university according to their educational level. Most frequencies of participants had a previous birth. Most of them don’t smoke in another hand most of them were exposed to smoking. In addition, most of the study participants had good social connection

Oral semaglutide adequate glycaemia control with safe cardiovascular ‎profile

BackgroundType 2 diabetes is a chronic and progressive disease that ‎associated with series complication such as major adverse ‎cardiovascular events. Adequate glycaemic control proven ‎to reduce this risk. Orally administered semaglutide ‎promising medication in managing patient with type 2 ‎diabetes.‎AimsTo assess the cardiovascular safety and efficacy of semaglutide, a recently approved glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) for type 2 diabetes.Methods Pub Med, ‎Google Scholar, and EBSCO ‎ databases were ‎systematically search for relevant articles. The terms‎ diabetes‎, Glucagon-like peptide, semaglutide‎ were used. Out of hundred twenty-two records, only ‎four fulfilled ‎the inclusion criteria.Results Four placebo-controlled studies with oral semaglutide ‎were included. Single study concern about the cardiovascular safety of oral semaglutide ‎and showed that, ‎compared with placebo, semaglutide ‎ was not associated ‎with increased in the cardiovascular events. On the other ‎hand, the remaining trials shown that, semaglutide ‎ can ‎effectively control the blood glucose as evident by ‎reduction in HA1c.ConclusionOral semaglutide can effectively and safely lower blood glucose without increase in the major adverse ‎cardiovascular events‎‎ (MACE).