Challenges for Conducting Research during Pandemics. A Narrative Review

Background: Research during pandemics presents unique challenges and opportunities that are crucial for advancing scientific knowledge and improving public health responses. This study's topic is significant due to the unprecedented disruptions caused by pandemics like COVID-19, which have impacted all stages of the research process. This study aims to identify and analyze research challenges during pandemics and propose strategies to overcome these obstacles.Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted, focusing on the challenges of conducting research during pandemics. A comprehensive search strategy was implemented, using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, with keywords including "pandemic," "research challenges," "COVID-19 research," "SARS research," "clinical trials during pandemics," "best practices," and "research strategies." The review covered studies published from 2004 to 2023, including previous pandemics like SARS, H1N1, and COVID-19. Relevant articles were identified through database searches and manual reference list reviews.Discussion: The review revealed multidimensional challenges affecting various stages of the research process. Political, economic, administrative, regulatory, logistical, ethical, and social challenges were identified. Logistical difficulties were prevalent, such as limited access to laboratories and supply chain disruptions. Ethical challenges, including informed consent and data privacy, were magnified during health crises. The mental health impacts on researchers and participants were also significant, with increased anxiety and depression affecting engagement and well-being.Conclusion: The study concludes that while pandemics introduce considerable challenges for conducting research, there are also valuable lessons and best practices that can be applied in future crises. Effective strategies include investing in digital infrastructure, developing flexible ethical frameworks, implementing adaptive clinical trial designs, and supporting mental health for researchers and participants. By learning from the COVID-19 pandemic, the research community can better prepare for and navigate future pandemics, ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of scientific investigations

Risk Factors Associated with Pressure Ulcers among Home Health Care Patients; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Patients, professionals, and health care systems are faced with a serious problem of pressure ulcers. They represent a significant occurrence and prevalence throughout the world. Their character iatrogenic states that its appearance is preventable, and its incidence is an indicator of scientific and technical quality both in primary care and specialized care. Surgery may be necessary to accelerate the healing process, although most pressure ulcers are usually treated with debridement and conservative therapy. Their reported incidence and prevalence are significant worldwide. Objectives: The study's objectives are to identify the pressure ulcer risk factors in patients getting home health care, as well as to look at the quantity, type, and characteristics of pressure ulcers as well as patient comorbidities. Methods: Cross-sectional study, Home Care Nursing personnel questionnaire to determine the Risk Factors of Pressure Ulcers, patient comorbidities, and the number, and characteristics of pressure ulcers among patients receiving home care in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Results: PU is prevalent among the studied participants in Saudi Arabia, about 55% of these ulcers showed noticeable distraction of skin and/or deeper soft tissue against a bony prominence. We have also found a significant relationship between PU and gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, incontinence issues, nutritional status, and physical status, cerebrovascular accidents, trauma, and chronic kidney disease. Conclusion: Different risk factors are associated with PU such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and nutritional, and physical status. To monitor and promote best practices in skin care for highly dependent patients, continued measurement and evaluation of PU incidence, it is recommended more research of risk factors of PU development be assessed at home Health care Centers

Identification of known and novel long non-coding RNAs potentially responsible for the effects of BMD GWAS loci

Osteoporosis, characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD), is the most common complex disease affecting bone and constitutes a major societal health problem. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified over 1100 associations influencing BMD. It has been shown that perturbations to long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) influence BMD and the activities of bone cells; however, the extent to which lncRNAs are involved in the genetic regulation of BMD is unknown. Here, we combined the analysis of allelic imbalance (AI) in human acetabular bone fragments with a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) colocalization analysis using data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project to identify lncRNAs potentially responsible for GWAS associations. We identified 27 lncRNAs in bone that are located in proximity to a BMD GWAS association and harbor SNPs demonstrating AI. Using GTEx data we identified an additional 31 lncRNAs whose expression was associated (FDR correction0.1). The 58 lncRNAs are located in 43 BMD associations. To further support a causal role for the identified lncRNAs, we show that 23 of the 58 lncRNAs are differentially expressed as a function of osteoblast differentiation. Our approach identifies lncRNAs that are potentially responsible for BMD GWAS associations and suggest that lncRNAs play a role in the genetics of osteoporosis.First author draf

Hybrid method for selection of the optimal process of leachate treatment in waste treatment and valorization plants or landfills

“The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10098-014-0834-4”Leachate from waste landfill or treatment plants is a very complex and highly contaminated liquid effluent. In its composition, it is found dissolved organic matter, inorganic salts, heavy metals, and other xenobiotic organic compounds, so it can be toxic, carcinogenic, and capable of inducing a potential risk to biota and humans. European law does not allow such leachate to leave the premises without being depolluted. There are many procedures that enable debugging, always combining different techniques. Choosing the best method to use in each case is a complex decision, as it depends on many tangible and intangible factors that must be weighed to achieve a balance between technical, cost, and environmental sustainability. 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ATP release via anion channels

ATP serves not only as an energy source for all cell types but as an ‘extracellular messenger-for autocrine and paracrine signalling. It is released from the cell via several different purinergic signal efflux pathways. ATP and its Mg2+ and/or H+ salts exist in anionic forms at physiological pH and may exit cells via some anion channel if the pore physically permits this. In this review we survey experimental data providing evidence for and against the release of ATP through anion channels. CFTR has long been considered a probable pathway for ATP release in airway epithelium and other types of cells expressing this protein, although non-CFTR ATP currents have also been observed. Volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying (VSOR) chloride channels are found in virtually all cell types and can physically accommodate or even permeate ATP4- in certain experimental conditions. However, pharmacological studies are controversial and argue against the actual involvement of the VSOR channel in significant release of ATP. A large-conductance anion channel whose open probability exhibits a bell-shaped voltage dependence is also ubiquitously expressed and represents a putative pathway for ATP release. This channel, called a maxi-anion channel, has a wide nanoscopic pore suitable for nucleotide transport and possesses an ATP-binding site in the middle of the pore lumen to facilitate the passage of the nucleotide. The maxi-anion channel conducts ATP and displays a pharmacological profile similar to that of ATP release in response to osmotic, ischemic, hypoxic and salt stresses. The relation of some other channels and transporters to the regulated release of ATP is also discussed

Prevalence of tetracycline resistance genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from different clinical sources in Diyala, Iraq

Antibiotic resistance showed by many bacterial species such as Staphylococcus aureus is a great global problem. This paper is included the prevalence percentage of some tetracycline's resistance genes in isolates of S.aureus collected from different sources. Seventy five different samples were collected from different sources, including wound, burn, nasal, blood, and urine samples from several hospitals of Baquba city and the samples cultured on two culture agar Blood Agar and Mannitol Salt Agar for studying of colony properties. Gram stain and some biochemical tests such as (coagulase, oxidase, catalase) were done for this purpose.  The molecular method was dependent on PCR in the detection of specific genes, 16SrRNA, to diagnose the staphylococcus genus. The results of 16SrRNA PCR detection revealed that fifteen isolates were identified as S. aureus. All the isolates were subjected to polymerase chain reaction to amplify four common tetracycline resistance determinants, tetK, tet38 ,tetL, tetM,. A number of 15 isolates (100%) were found to be positive for tetK genes  , Out of 15 resistant S.aureus isolates, 15 (100%) were found to produce tet38 genes,while  5(33.3%) isolates have tetL genes , 8(53.3%)  carried tetM genes

Effect of verbal instructions and image size on visual search strategies in basketball free throw shooting

We assessed the effects on basketball free throw performance of two types of verbal directions with an external attentional focus. Novices ( n = 16) were pre-tested on free throw performance and assigned to two groups of similar ability ( n = 8 in each). Both groups received verbal instructions with an external focus on either movement dynamics (movement form) or movement effects (e.g. ball trajectory relative to basket). The participants also observed a skilled model performing the task on either a small or large screen monitor, to ascertain the effects of visual presentation mode on task performance. After observation of six videotaped trials, all participants were given a post-test. Visual search patterns were monitored during observation and cross-referenced with performance on the pre- and post-test. Group effects were noted for verbal instructions and image size on visual search strategies and free throw performance. The 'movement effects' group saw a significant improvement in outcome scores between the pre-test and post-test. These results supported evidence that this group spent more viewing time on information outside the body than the 'movement dynamics' group. Image size affected both groups equally with more fixations of shorter duration when viewing the small screen. The results support the benefits of instructions when observing a model with an external focus on movement effects, not dynamics