Long-term testosterone therapy improves liver parameters and steatosis in hypogonadal men: a prospective controlled registry study

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and both are prevalent in men with testosterone deficiency. Long-term effects of testosterone therapy (TTh) on NAFLD are not well studied. This observational, prospective, cumulative registry study assesses long-term effects of testosterone undecanoate (TU) on hepatic physiology and function in 505 hypogonadal men (T levels ≤350 ng/dL). Three hundred and twenty one men received TU 1000 mg/12 weeks for up to 12 years following an initial 6-week interval (T-group), while 184 who opted against TTh served as controls (C-group). T-group patients exhibited decreased fatty liver index (FLI, calculated according to Mayo Clinic guidelines) (83.6 ± 12.08 to 66.91 ± 19.38), γ-GT (39.31 ± 11.62 to 28.95 ± 7.57 U/L), bilirubin (1.64 ± 4.13 to 1.21 ± 1.89 mg/dL) and triglycerides (252.35 ± 90.99 to 213 ± 65.91 mg/dL) over 12 years. Waist circumference and body mass index were also reduced in the T-group (107.17 ± 9.64 to 100.34 ± 9.03 cm and 31.51 ± 4.32 to 29.03 ± 3.77 kg/m2). There were 25 deaths (7.8%) in the T-group of which 11 (44%) were cardiovascular related. In contrast, 28 patients (15.2%) died in C-group, and all deaths (100%) were attributed to CVD. These data suggest that long-term TTh improves hepatic steatosis and liver function in hypogonadal men. Improvements in liver function may have contributed to reduced CVD-related mortality

COVID-19 and male fertility: short- and long-term impacts of asymptomatic vs. symptomatic infection on male reproductive potential

BackgroundStudies exploring the effect of COVID-19 on male reproductive system suggest a detrimental association, however with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess the association between COVID-19 infection and male reproductive potential including hormone profiles and semen parameters.MethodsThis prospective cohort study included 48 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Patients were subdivided into an asymptomatic group (n = 30) and a group with COVID-19 symptoms (n = 18). Serum hormone levels including testosterone, LH, FSH and estradiol were collected during active infection (baseline, time 0), and at 3 and 6 months following COVID-19 infection. Semen samples (basic semen analysis and oxidation reduction potential) were examined at 3 and 6 months following infection. Student and paired-t tests were used to compare continuous variables between the study groups and across the studied time intervals, respectively. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to explore predictors for COVID-19 symptoms during active infection.ResultsPatients with COVID-19 symptoms were significantly older (p = 0.02) and had significantly lower serum testosterone levels (p = 0.01) and significantly higher LH: testosterone ratio (p = 0.01) than asymptomatic patients. Multivariate analysis revealed older age (OR =  1.18, p = 0.03) and lower serum testosterone level (OR = 0.8, p = 0.03) as independent predictors of symptomatic COVID-19 infection. Significant increase in testosterone (p < 0.001 for both) and decrease in LH (p = 0.02, p = 0.007) and LH: testosterone (p = 0.02, p = 0.005) levels were observed at 3 and 6 months in patients with COVID-19 symptoms. Asymptomatic patients demonstrated significant increase in testosterone (p = 0.02) and decrease in LH: testosterone (p = 0.04) levels only at 3 months following COVID-19 infection. No significant differences were observed between the two study groups with regards to the semen analysis results obtained at 3 or 6 months following COVID-19 infection.ConclusionSignificantly lower testosterone values are associated with worse disease severity among men with COVID-19 infection. This association appears to be temporary as a significant increase in testosterone levels are witnessed as early as 3 months following recovery. No significant detrimental effect for COVID-19 infection on testicular sperm production is found in this patient population

Performance optimization of coagulation/flocculation in the treatment of wastewater from polyvinyl chloride plant

This study is conducted & thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saud Arabia, January 2008GThe emulsion polymerization of vinyl chloride generates contaminated waste water. Before the wastewater can be returned to the sea or reused, the contaminates must be removed. The EPVC (Emulsion Poly Vinyl Chloride) particles are removed from wastewater by a treatment plant. The objective of this work is to study the coagulation and flocculation of EPVC contaminated water in order to optimize the treatment process. The experiments were carried out on a model wastewater which is chemically identical to actual plant wastewater but is more consistent. Inorganic ions and water soluble polyelectrolytes were added to the wastewater. Coagulation/flocculation efficiency was determined by measuring supernatant turbidity and by measuring the relative settlement of the flocs in the Jar Test. The experimental results showed that aluminum sulphate (0.5% Al2(SO4)3) combined with polyelectrolyte (PE1) at pH in the range of 7 to 8, and agitation speed of 600 rpm give the best results. Ferric chloride (2.5% FeCl3) combined with polyelectrolyte (PE3) is slightly less effective. As for calcium chloride (2.5% CaCl2) combined with PE3 it is the least effective since 0.7 gm of the coagulant (=19 times that of Al3+ ions) are needed to obtain the same coagulation as aluminum sulphate.King Saud Universit

Students, faculty perceptions and effectiveness of the early introduction of clinical skills teaching in the medical curriculum

الملخص: أهداف البحث: يساعد الإدخال المبكر للمهارات السريرية الطلاب على تطوير المهارات السريرية وتطبيقها بشكل مناسب خلال السنوات السريرية. من المهم تقييم تصورات طلاب الطب وأعضاء هيئة التدريس فيما يتعلق بالإدخال المبكر لتدريس المهارات السريرية وفعاليتها. طريقة البحث: تم تصميم منهج المهارات السريرية بالتكامل مع المنهج القائم على حل المشكلات في العامين الاول و الثاني في كلية الطب ، جامعة الملك سعود ، من يناير 2019 إلى ديسمبر 2019. تم تصميم استبانة الطلاب وأعضاء هيئة التدريس. تم تقييم تأثير فعالية تدريس المهارات السريرية من خلال مقارنة نتائج الاختبارات السريرية المبنية موضوعيا لطلاب السنة الثالثة الذين تلقوا جلسات المهارات السريرية المبكرة مع أولئك الذين لم يفعلوا ذلك. بلغ إجمالي عدد الطلاب المستجيبين 461/598 ، منهم 259 (56.2٪) من الذكور و 202 (43.8٪) من الإناث. كانت الاستجابات في السنة الأولى 247 (53.6٪) والثانية 214 (46.4٪). بلغ عدد أعضاء هيئة التدريس المستجبين 35/43. النتائج: كان غالبية الطلاب وأعضاء هيئة التدريس لديهم رضا عن أن الإدخال المبكر للمهارات السريرية أدى إلى زيادة ثقة الطلاب عند التعامل مع مرضى حقيقيين، ومنح الفرصة لإتقان المهارات، وتعزيز المعرفة النظرية والمهارات السريرية، والتعلم المحفز، وزيادة حماس الطلاب ليصبحوا أطباء. قام طلاب السنة الثالثة الذين درسوا المهارات السريرية في العامين الأكاديميين الأول والثاني خلال عامي 2017-2018 و 2018-2019 بزيادة كبيرة في متوسط الدرجات في الاختبارات السريرية المبنية موضوعيا خلال دوراتهم في منهج الجراحة (32.6 و 37.4 للإناث ؛ 35.2 و 35.7 للذكور) وفي منهج الطب (31.2 و 34.1 للإناث ؛ 34.3 و 37.7 للذكور) على التوالي مقارنة بالطلاب الذين لم يدرسوا المهارات السريرية خلال العام الدراسي 2016-2017 في منهج الجراحة ، (22.2 و 23.2 )؛ وفي الطب ( 25.1 و 24.2) للإناث والذكور على التوالي. الاستنتاجات: كان التعرض المبكر لطلاب الطب للمهارات السريرية تدخلا إيجابيا يسد الفجوة بين العلوم الأساسية والممارسة السريرية. Abstract: Objective: We hypothesized that the early introduction of clinical skills (CS) would help students to develop and apply clinical skills appropriately during the clinical years. Evaluating the perceptions of medical students and faculty regarding the early introduction of CS teaching and its effectiveness are important. Methods: The CS curriculum was designed by integration with the system-oriented problem-based curriculum in years 1 and 2 at the College of Medicine, KSU, from January 2019 to December 2019. Students and faculty questionnaires were also designed. The impact of CS teaching effectiveness was assessed by comparing OSCE results for year-3 students who received early CS sessions with those who did not. The total number of student respondents was 461/598; and 259 (56.2%) were male and 202 (43.8%) were female. The first- and second-year respondents were 247 (53.6%) and 214 (46.4%), respectively. The number of faculty respondents was 35/43. Results: The majority of students and faculty were satisfied that the early introduction of CS increased student confidence when dealing with real patients, provided the opportunity to master skills, consolidated theoretical knowledge and clinical skills, motivated learning, and increased the enthusiasm of students to become doctors. The third-year students who received CS teaching in years 1 and 2 (during 2017–2018 and 2018–2019) showed a significant increase in mean grades (p value; 0.00) in OSCE tests during their courses in surgery (from 32.6 to 37.4 for females; 35.2 to 35.7 for males) and medicine (31.2–34.1 for females; 34.3 to 37.7 for males), respectively, when compared to students who did not receive CS teaching during the academic year 2016–2017 (in surgery, 22.2 and 23.2; in medicine 25.1 and 24.2) for females and males respectively. Conclusion: Early exposure of medical students to CS is a positive intervention that bridges the gap between basic sciences and clinical practice

Prospective Role of Bioactive Molecules and Exosomes in the Therapeutic Potential of Camel Milk against Human Diseases: An Updated Perspective

Camel milk (CM) constitutes an important dietary source in the hot and arid regions of the world. CM is a colloidal mixture of nutritional components (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, and minerals) and non-nutritional components (hormones, growth factors, cytokines, immunoglobulins, and exosomes). Although the majority of previous research has been focused on the nutritional components of CM; there has been immense interest in the non-nutritional components in the recent past. Reckoning with these, in this review, we have provided a glimpse of the recent trends in CM research endeavors and attempted to provide our perspective on the therapeutic efficacy of the nutritional and non-nutritional components of CM. Interestingly, with concerted efforts from the research fraternities, convincing evidence for the better understanding of the claimed traditional health benefits of CM can be foreseen with great enthusiasm and is indeed eagerly anticipated

Empower Generations: Longitudinal Study for National Capacities in Life Sciences and Healthcare

Background: The decrease in the number of adolescents showing genuine interest in the fields of healthcare has been one of the recent concerns worldwide. A plethora of studies have discussed the factors that influence career choices of high school students, including science educational pedagogies, gender, environment, the student’s cognitive capabilities, and social perceptions of occupations being gender-based. As reported in 2012, a majority of the Qatari high-school students have shown a greater interest in business, technological, and administrative careers and a lower interest in healthcare. Comprehensive national and institutional strategies have since been utilized to direct the interest of Qatari generation toward healthcare careers. Objective: The primary objective of this case-control study is to assess the effect of schooling type on the enrollment in the Empower Generations (EG) career training in healthcare at the Qatar University. The secondary objectives are: (1) to describe the effect of initial career interest on the EG and healthcare majors composite’s enrollments and (2) assess the association between the history of enrollment in EG and university GPAs. Method: This is a case-control study that utilized the Qatar University’s enrollment databases for the health professions majors, that is, Health Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry. The datasets were collected from the registration records between 2013 and 2020. The statistical analysis was performed on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26; the study used Chi-Square Test and Independence and logistic regression to assess the effect of schooling type and initial career interest on the enrollment in the EG training at the Qatar University. All statistics were tested for p = 0.05 and 95% CI. Results: Total QU-Health records of admissions from 2013 to 2020 involve 562 eligible students. A total of 180 students (32%) attended EG training before they were admitted to QU-Health, whereas a total of 382 (68%) were enrolled to QU-Health without attending EG training. The study revealed significant findings regarding the association between EG training and international schools (p < 0.001). Among the group who attended EG training, there were 63 students (75%) who reported that they did not have an initial career interest before they joined the EG training compared to 21 students (25%) reported that they did not have an initial career interest but enrolled immediately to healthcare majors. The findings indicate insignificant association between the history of EG training and the high school percentage p = 0.397. However, the association between a history of EG training and the university’s GPA is significant, with a p < 0.001, OR 5.016 (2.954–8.518). Conclusion: The study has shown significant association between the EG training enrollment and the type of school and the initial career interest of high school students. The EG training is perceived to direct the interest of high school students toward the careers of healthcare and is thought to enhance the performance of college students through their university’s GPAs