Organizational Agility among Academic Leaders at Umm Al- Qura University & Ajloun National University: Faculty Members Perspective

The paper pinpoints organizational agility among academic leaders at Umm Al-Qura University and Ajloun National University from the faculty members various perspectives according to gender, university, faculty, academic rank, and the number of years of experience. The descriptive approach is used to achieve the research objectives. The research sample consists of (475) randomly selected faculty members. A 17-item questionnaire is used as a research instrument. The findings indicate that the degree of organizational agility is medium with a mean of (3.25) without statistically significant differences due to the university and faculty variables. The results also show differences due to the variables of gender, academic rank, and number of years of experience in favor of males, the two categories of assistant professor, professor, and the category of 5-10 years, respectively. Given these findings, the research recommends enabling employees to participate in decision-making and use modern techniques and mechanisms that contribute to developing work and evaluating work environments

Analysis of degree of errors in handwritten medication prescriptions in Rafha, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of handwritten prescription errors in Rafha Central Hospital in Saudi Arabia, and to determine the most predominant type of prescription error. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on randomly selected samples of hand-written prescriptions in out-patient and in-patient pharmacies of Rafha Central Hospital over a five-month period (October 2016 to February 2017). A data collection sheet specially designed for this purpose was used to collect relevant information. The collected prescriptions were analyzed for the presence of prescription errors based on prescription parameters defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and current guidelines published in British National Formulary (BNF). Descriptive statistics and Microsoft Office were used for processing and analyzing the data collected. Results: Overall, 1019 prescription errors were identified. More than half of the total errors (610; 60 %) were associated with missing patient's information. Moreover, the parameters related to drug and prescriber information were absent in 204 (20 %) and 5 (0.4 %) prescriptions, respectively. In addition, 200 (19 %) miscellaneous errors related to date, legible handwriting and directions for patients were identified. Conclusion: This study discovered errors in hand-written prescriptions. A majority of the prescriptions did not adhere to accepted guidelines. The most common errors are absence of generic names of drugs, non-indication of duration of therapy or prescriber’s contact address, and absence of patient’s weight. Moreover, illegible handwriting was obvious in a substantial number of prescriptions

The Degree of Achieving Organizational Rigidity at Umm Al-Qura and Ajloun National Universities: Faculty Members’ Perspective

The paper pinpoints the degree of achieving organizational rigidity at Umm Al-Qura University and Ajloun National University from the faculty members’ viewpoint in line with the faculty, academic rank, and number of years of experience. The nature of the research necessitates using the descriptive survey research approach. A questionnaire adopted as a research instrument is applied to a 410-member sample of (410) randomly designated from the two universities. It is found that the organizational rigidity achievement is of a medium degree with a mean of (3.48). The results also show no statistically significant differences thanks to the variables of the number of years of experience and academic rank. However, it is found that there are differences caused by the faculty variable in favor of scientific faculties. The research recommends activating the methods of evaluating job performance, activating accountability and accounting systems, dividing work at the university according to the competence and experience of workers, and defining the tasks and duties of employees

Curcumin and nano-curcumin mitigate copper neurotoxicity by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and akt/gsk-3β signaling

Copper (Cu) is essential for multiple biochemical processes, and copper sulphate (CuSO4) is a pesticide used for repelling pests. Accidental or intentional intoxication can induce multiorgan toxicity and could be fatal. Curcumin (CUR) is a potent antioxidant, but its poor systemic bioavailability is the main drawback in its therapeutic uses. This study investigated the protective effect of CUR and N-CUR on CuSO4-induced cerebral oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in rats, pointing to the possible involvement of Akt/GSK-3β. Rats received 100 mg/kg CuSO4 and were concurrently treated with CUR or N-CUR for 7 days. Cu-administered rats exhibited a remarkable increase in cerebral malondialdehyde (MDA), NF-κB p65, TNF-α, and IL-6 associated with decreased GSH, SOD, and catalase. Cu provoked DNA fragmentation, upregulated BAX, caspase-3, and p53, and decreased BCL-2 in the brain of rats. N-CUR and CUR ameliorated MDA, NF-κB p65, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, downregulated pro-apoptotic genes, upregulated BCL-2, and enhanced antioxidants and DNA integrity. In addition, both N-CUR and CUR increased AKT Ser473 and GSK-3β Ser9 phosphorylation in the brain of Cu-administered rats. In conclusion, N-CUR and CUR prevent Cu neurotoxicity by attenuating oxidative injury, inflammatory response, and apoptosis and upregulating AKT/GSK-3β signaling. The neuroprotective effect of N-CUR was more potent than CUR

Evaluations of Paranasal Sinus Disease Using Multidetector Computed Tomography in Taif City, Saudi Arabia

Background: This study aimed to evaluate paranasal sinusitis disease and determine if there is a relationship between the anatomical variation of sinusitis based on the age and gender of the patient and, if so, to identify the most affected demographic group. Methods and Results: This study included 130 patients (76 men and 54 women with ages ranging from 18 years to 75 years) diagnosed with PNS disease and was conducted in the Radiology Department of King Abdelaziz Specialist Hospital and King Faisal Hospital (Taif city, Saudi Arabia) from January 1 2021 to January 31 2022. The evaluation of sinusitis was conducted using multidetector computed tomography. The clinical symptoms included 70% cases of nasal obstruction, 53% cases of headache, 28.5% cases of nasal discharge, 17.7% cases of facial pain, and 3.1% cases of general malaise. The types of sinusitis included maxillary sinusitis (88.5%), sphenoid sinusitis (28.5%), ethmoid sinusitis (43.8%), and frontal sinusitis (23.5%). The study found no significant anatomical variation of sinuses based on age and gender (P>0.05). Conclusion: An evaluation of paranasal sinusitis disease using an MDCT scan shows that there are no gender or age-related differences in the prevalence of the disease. Moreover, the study demonstrates that there is no significant anatomical variation of sinuses based on age and gender

Longitudinal clinical study of patients with iron rim lesions in multiple sclerosis

Background: Iron rims (IRs) surrounding white matter lesions (WMLs) are suggested to predict a more severe disease course. Only small longitudinal cohorts of patients with and without iron rim lesions (IRLs) have been reported so far. Objective: To assess whether the presence and number of IRLs in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are associated with long-term disability or progressive disease. Methods: Ninety-one CIS/MS patients were recruited between 2008 and 2013 and scanned with 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to calculate Age-related Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (ARMSS) at the time of scan and at the latest clinical follow-up after 9 years. WMLs were assessed for the presence of IRL using Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI)-filtered phase images. Results: In all, 132 IRLs were detected in 42 patients (46%); 9% of WMLs had IRs; 54% of the cohort had no rims, 30% had 1–3 rims and 16% had ⩾4. Patients with IRL had a higher EDSS and ARMSS. Presence of IRL was also a predictor of long-term disability, especially in patients with ⩾4 IRLs. IRLs have a greater impact on disability compared to the WML number and volume. Conclusion: The presence and number of perilesional IR on MRI hold prognostic value for long-term clinical disability in MS

[Corrigendum] Evaluations of Paranasal Sinus Disease Using Multidetector Computed Tomography in Taif City, Saudi Arabia

Corrigendum for 'Evaluations of Paranasal Sinus Disease Using Multidetector Computed Tomography in Taif City, Saudi Arabia' by: Alotaibi O, Osman H, Hadi Y, Alzamil Y, Alyahyawi A, Al-Enezi MS, Alafer F, Abanomy A, Khandaker MU, Almeshari M. International Journal of Biomedicine 12(4): 575-579. DOI: 10.21103/Article12(4)_OA9 Following the publication of this article, the authors have realized that errors were made with the description of the listed affiliation addresses. Therefore, the author affiliations and addresses, in this paper should have appeared as follows: Osama Alotaibi1,2, Hamid Osman3, Yasser Hadi 4, Yasser Alzamil5, Amjad Alyahyawi5,6, Mamdouh S. Al-Enezi5, Feras Alafer7, Ahmad Abanomy8, Mayeen Uddin Khandaker9,10, and Meshari Almeshari5; 1Department of Radiology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia 2Department of Radiology, King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital-Taif, Taif, Saudi Arabia 3Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 2425, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia 4Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Makkah, Saudi Arabia 5Department of Diagnostic Radiology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia. 6Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK 7Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia 8Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P. O. Box 10219, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia 9Centre for Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia 10Department of General Educational Development, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, Daffodil, International University, DIU Rd, Dhaka 1341, Bangladesh The authors apologize for any inconvenience caused

White Matter Microstructural Alteration in Type 2 Diabetes: A Combined UK Biobank Study of Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus impacts the brain microstructural environment. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been widely used to characterize white matter microstructural abnormalities in type 2 diabetes but fails to fully characterise disease effects on complex white matter tracts. Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) has been proposed as an alternative to DTI with higher specificity to characterize white matter microstructures. Although NODDI has not been widely applied in diabetes, this biophysical model has the potential to investigate microstructural changes in white matter pathology.Aims and objectives: (1) To investigate brain white matter alterations in people with type 2 diabetes using DTI and NODDI; (2) To assess the association between white matter changes in type 2 diabetes with disease duration and diabetes control as reflected by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.Methods: We examined white matter microstructure in 48 white matter tracts using data from the UK Biobank in 3,338 participants with type 2 diabetes (36% women, mean age 66 years) and 30,329 participants without type 2 diabetes (53% women, mean age 64 years). The participants had undergone 3.0T multiparametric brain imaging, including T1 weighted imaging and diffusion imaging for DTI and NODDI. Region of interest analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), orientation dispersion index (ODI), intracellular volume fraction (ICVF), and isotropic water fraction (IsoVF) were conducted to assess white matter abnormalities. A general linear model was applied to evaluate intergroup white matter differences and their association with the metabolic profile.Result: Reduced FA and ICVF and increased MD, AD, RD, ODI, and IsoVF values were observed in participants with type 2 diabetes compared to non-type 2 diabetes participants (P<0.05). Reduced FA and ICVF in most white matter tracts were associated with longer disease duration and higher levels of HbA1c (0< r ≤0.2, P<0.05). Increased MD, AD, RD, ODI and IsoVF also correlated with longer disease duration and higher HbA1c (0< r ≤0.2, P<0.05).Discussion: NODDI detected microstructural changes in brain white matter in participants with type 2 diabetes. The revealed abnormalities are proxies for lower neurite density and loss of fibre orientation coherence, which correlated with longer disease duration and an index of poorly controlled blood sugar. NODDI contributed to DTI in capturing white matter differences in participants with type 2 diabetes, suggesting the feasibility of NODDI in detecting white matter alterations in type 2 diabetes.Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes can cause white matter microstructural abnormalities that have associations with glucose control. The NODDI diffusion model allows the characterisation of white matter neuroaxonal pathology in type 2 diabetes, giving biophysical information for understanding the impact of type 2 diabetes on brain microstructure

Nano-curcumin prevents copper reproductive toxicity by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation and improving Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and pituitary-gonadal axis in male rats

Copper is essential for several cellular processes and is an important catalytic factor for many proteins. However, excess copper can provoke oxidative stress and reproductive toxicity. This study evaluated the effect of liposomal nano-curcumin (N-CUR) and CUR on testicular oxidative injury, inflammation, and apoptosis, and altered steroidogenesis and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling induced by copper sulfate (CuSO4). Rats received CuSO4 and N-CUR or CUR via oral gavage for 7 days. CuSO4 induced histopathological changes and altered pituitary-gonadal axis manifested by decreased serum gonadotropins and testosterone. Testicular steroidogenesis genes (StAR, 3β-HSD, CYP17A1, and 17β-HSD) and androgen receptor (AR) were downregulated in rats that received CuSO4. N-CUR and CUR prevented testicular tissue injury, increased circulating FSH, LH, and testosterone, and upregulated testicular steroidogenesis genes and AR. Additionally, N-CUR and CUR decreased testicular MDA, NO, NF-κB, iNOS, TNF-α, Bax, and caspase-3 while enhanced Bcl-2, Nrf2, and the antioxidants GSH, HO-1, SOD, and catalase. In conclusion, N-CUR and CUR prevented CuSO4-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats by suppressing oxidative injury and inflammatory response and boosting steroidogenesis, sex hormones, and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. N-CUR was more effective in ameliorating tissue injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis and enhancing steroidogenesis and Nrf2/HO-1 than the native form

Structural And Optical Properties Of n-Type and p-Type GaAs(1−x)Bix Thin Films Grown By Molecular Beam Epitaxy On (311)B GaAs Substrates

In this paper, we report on the structural and optical properties of n-type Si-doped and p-type Be-doped GaAs(1−x)Bix thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on (311)B GaAs substrates with nominal Bi content x=5.4%. Similar samples without Bi were also grown for comparison purposes (n-type GaAs and p-type GaAs). X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman at room temperature, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements as a function of temperature and laser excitation power (PEXC) were performed to investigate their structural and optical properties. X-ray diffraction results revealed that the Bi incorporation in both n-type and p-type doped GaAsBi was similar, despite that the samples present remarkable differences in the number of Bi related defects, non-radiative centers and alloy disorder. Particularly, our results evidence that the Bi-related defects in n- and p-doped GaAsBi alloys have important impact on the differences of their optical properties