Design And Evaluation Of A Multimedia Program On Selected Daily Skills Among Children With Intelectual Disabilities In Al-Bahah, Saudi Arabia

Due to the lack of studies on developing life skills of children with intellectual disability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), this mixed-methods study examined the effect of a multimedia program on the development four life-skills (self-care, health-care, avoiding environmental dangers and thinking skills) among children with intellectual disability in a centre for special education needs in AL-Bahah region in KSA. This study also examined perception of six teachers in the centre about the effectiveness of the multimedia program which was employed for one semester. The sample of the study included 44 children who were divided into two equal groups: experimental and control. The experimental group used the multimedia program, while the control group used the traditional way. At the end of the intervention, the respondents’ performance in the life-care skills were assessed using four observation cards; one for each skill. In addition, six teachers were interviewed regarding their perceptions of the effectiveness of the multimedia program

Unleashing the Power of Proteomics to Develop Blood-Based Cancer Markers

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need for blood-based molecular tests to assist in the detection and diagnosis of cancers at an early stage, when curative interventions are still possible, and to predict and monitor response to treatment and disease recurrence. The rich content of proteins in blood that are impacted by tumor devel-opment and host factors provides an ideal opportunity to develop noninvasive diagnostics for cancer. CONTENT: Mass spectrometry instrumentation has ad-vanced sufficiently to allow the discovery of protein alterations directly in plasma across no less than 7 or-ders of magnitude of protein abundance. Moreover, the use of proteomics to harness the immune response in the form of seropositivity to tumor antigens has the potential to complement circulating protein bio

Epithelial/mesenchymal plasticity: how have quantitative mathematical models helped improve our understanding?

Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of cells to reversibly alter their phenotypes in response to signals, presents a significant clinical challenge to treating solid tumors. Tumor cells utilize phenotypic plasticity to evade therapies, metastasize, and colonize distant organs. As a result, phenotypic plasticity can accelerate tumor progression. A well-studied example of phenotypic plasticity is the bidirectional conversions among epithelial, mesenchymal, and hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype(s). These conversions can alter a repertoire of cellular traits associated with multiple hallmarks of cancer, such as metabolism, immune evasion, invasion, and metastasis. To tackle the complexity and heterogeneity of these transitions, mathematical models have been developed that seek to capture the experimentally verified molecular mechanisms and act as ‘hypothesis-generating machines’. Here, we discuss how these quantitative mathematical models have helped us explain existing experimental data, guided further experiments, and provided an improved conceptual framework for understanding how multiple intracellular and extracellular signals can drive E/M plasticity at both the single-cell and population levels. We also discuss the implications of this plasticity in driving multiple aggressive facets of tumor progression

High correlation of the proteome patterns in bone marrow and peripheral blood blast cells in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>When comparing myelogenous blasts from bone marrow and peripheral blood, immunophenotyping usually show a strong correlation of expression of surface antigens. However, it remains to be determined, whether this correlation also exists on the level of protein expression.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Therefore, we investigated both bone marrow and peripheral blood blast cells from six patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using conventional two-dimensional electrophoresis in the first dimension and linear polyacrylamide gels (12%) in the second dimension. Proteins were visualized using the silver staining method and image analysis was performed using the PDQuest system.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For each patient over 80 proteins were evaluated in the sample from peripheral blood and bone marrow. We could demonstrate that the protein expression profile of bone marrow did not significantly differ from the expression patterns of peripheral blast cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The proteome-set of leukemic blast cells from marrow and blood, does not differ substantially when drawn from AML patients with over 80 percent blast cells in both compartments. This indicates that in AML, blasts from peripheral blood samples can be considered suitable for investigations of the proteome using 2D-electrophoresis.</p

HYDRODESULFURIZATION OF THIOPHENE OVER COMO/ AL2O3 CATALYST USING FIXED- AND FLUIDIZED-BED REACTORS

The present work reports a direct experimental comparison of the catalytic hydrodesulfurization of thiophene over Co-Mo/Al2O3 in fixed- and fluidized-bed reactors under the same conditions. An experimental pilot plant scale was constructed in the laboratories of chemical engineering department, Baghdad University; fixed-bed unit (2.54 cm diameter, and 60cm length) and fluidized-bed unit (diameter of 2.54 cm and 40 cm long with a separation zone of 30 cm long and 12.7 cm diameter). The affecting variables studied in the two systems were reaction temperature of (308 – 460) oC, Liquid hourly space velocity of (2 – 5) hr-1, and catalyst particle size of (0.075-0.5) mm. It was found in both operations that the conversion increases with increasing of reaction temperature, slightly decreases with increasing of liquid hourly space velocity and not affected by particle size. Also a kinetic analysis was performed for thiophene hydrodesulfurization reaction in fixed bed reactor and the results indicate that the reaction kinetics are not affected by pore and film diffusion limitations. The results of the comparison between the two reactors indicate that a low conversion was obtained in a fluidized bed than in fixed bed over the range of conditions studied. The lower conversion can be attributed to the gas that bypasses the bed in the form of bubbles or channels

High-throughput genomic technology in research and clinical management of breast cancer. Plasma-based proteomics in early detection and therapy

Abstract Protein-based breast cancer biomarkers are a promising resource for breast cancer detection at the earliest and most treatable stages of the disease. Plasma is well suited to proteomic-based methods of biomarker discovery because it is easily obtained, is routinely used in the diagnosis of many diseases, and has a rich proteome. However, due to the vast dynamic range in protein concentration and the often uncertain tissue and cellular origin of plasma proteins, proteomic analysis of plasma requires special consideration compared with tissue and cultured cells. This review briefly touches on the search for plasma-based protein biomarkers for the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Outlin

PREVALENCE AND GENOTYPING OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AND EVALUATION OF HCV-CORE ANTIGEN TEST IN SCREENING PATIENTS FOR DIALYSIS IN SANA'A CITY, YEMEN

Objective: Hepatitis C virus infection is a constant worldwide public health concern. The prevalence of HCV infection is higher in patients on chronic haemodialysis (HD) than in the general population. Despite the control of blood products, hepatitis C virus transmission is still being observed among patients undergoing dialysis. Detection systems for serum HCV antibodies are insensitive in the acute phase because of the long serological window. Direct detection of HCV depends on PCR test but this test is not suitable for routine screening.&nbsp; The objective of this study was to determine prevalence of HCV, genotyping and&nbsp; if&nbsp; HCV core antigen test could be a better alternative to NAT techniques for the diagnosis of HCV infection during the window period and whether the sensitivity for antibody detection is preserved. Methods: Current study includes screening of 159 patients on long-term dialysis by HVC antibodies test, PCR HCV-RNA and HCV core antigen test by commercial tests. Results: The prevalence of HCV was 10.7% (17 patients) and genotype 4 was the most common one (64.7%). The sensitivity of HCV core antigen test was 94.1%, the specificity 100%, the positive predictive power 100%, and the negative predictive power 97.9%. In conclusions; patients on maintenance HD in Yemen have a high prevalence of HCV infection comparing with general population; and genotype 4 is predominant. Conclusion: The performance of serological detection of HCV core antigen was better than that of HCV antibodies test and&nbsp;&nbsp; may be an alternative to nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) for routine monitoring of patients on chronic dialysis. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Peer Review History: Received 24 March 2019; &nbsp;&nbsp;Revised 11 April; Accepted 21 April, Available online 15 May 2019 Academic Editor:&nbsp;Dr. Jennifer Audu-Peter, University of Jos, Nigeria, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. O.J Owolabi, University of Benin, Nigeria, [email protected] Dr. Dalia Kamal Zaffar Ali,&nbsp;Modern University for technology and information, Egypt,&nbsp;[email protected] Similar Articles: SERO-PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS AMONG DENTAL CLINIC WORKERS IN SANA’A CITY- YEMEN AND THE RISK FACTORS CONTRIBUTING FOR ITS INFECTION EXPLOSION OF HEPATITIS B AND C VIRUSES AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AS A RESULT OF HEMODIALYSIS CRISIS IN YEME

Challenges and opportunities targeting mechanisms of epithelial injury and recovery in acute intestinal graft-versus-host disease

Despite advances in immunosuppressive prophylaxis and overall supportive care, gastrointestinal (GI) graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major, lethal side effect after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). It has become increasingly clear that the intestinal epithelium, in addition to being a target of transplant-related toxicity and GVHD, plays an important role in the onset of GVHD. Over the last two decades, increased understanding of the epithelial constituents and their microenvironment has led to the development of novel prophylactic and therapeutic interventions, with the potential to protect the intestinal epithelium from GVHD-associated damage and promote its recovery following insult. In this review, we will discuss intestinal epithelial injury and the role of the intestinal epithelium in GVHD pathogenesis. In addition, we will highlight possible approaches to protect the GI tract from damage posttransplant and to stimulate epithelial regeneration, in order to promote intestinal recovery. Combined treatment modalities integrating immunomodulation, epithelial protection, and induction of regeneration may hold the key to unlocking mucosal recovery and optimizing therapy for acute intestinal GVHD

Association of Plasma CD163 Concentration with De Novo–Onset Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the leading cause of long-term morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. To identify prognostic plasma proteins associated with de novo– or quiescent-onset chronic GVHD (cGVHD), we performed a discovery and validation proteomic study. The total study cohort included 167 consecutive patients who had no clinical evidence of GVHD under minimum glucocorticoid administration and had available plasma samples obtained at 80 ± 14 days after transplantation. We first used high-throughput mass spectrometry to screen pooled plasma using 20 cases with subsequent cGVHD and 20 controls without it, and we identified 20 candidate proteins. We then measured 12 of the 20 candidate proteins by ELISA on the same individual samples and identified 4 proteins for further verification (LGALS3BP, CD5L, CD163, and TXN for de novo onset, and LGALS3BP and CD5L for quiescent onset). The verification cohort included 127 remaining patients. The cumulative incidence of de novo–onset cGVHD was higher in patients with higher plasma soluble CD163 concentrations at day 80 than those with lower concentrations (75% versus 40%, P = .018). The cumulative incidence of de novo– or quiescent-onset cGVHD did not differ statistically according to concentrations of the 3 other proteins at day 80. CD163 is a macrophage scavenger receptor and is elevated in oxidative conditions. These results suggest that monocyte or macrophage activation or increased oxidative stress may contribute to the pathogenesis of cGVHD