Role of Immunoglobulin E in the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis: Review Article

Background: In the general population, psoriasis affects two to three percent of people and is characterized by aberrant epidermal proliferation and inflammation. Several clinical subtypes exist for it. The most prevalent form of this disorder is chronic plaque psoriasis (CPP) that is characterized by well-defined, erythematous plaques with silvery scales on knees, scalp, and elbows. There is a chance that any part of the skin could be affected. High IgE levels are frequently linked to parasite infections and atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis and bullous pemphigoid. Research suggests that psoriasis pathogenesis could be correlated with an increase in IgE expression, which could be a prospective therapy target. Objective: Study the relation to immunoglobulin E in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Methods: The databases were searched for articles published in English in 4 data bases [PubMed – Google scholarscience direct] and Boolean operators (and, or, not) had been used such as [Immunoglobulin E and pathogenesis of Psoriasis OR IgE] and in peer-reviewed articles between January 2001 and October 2020. Conclusion: Overexpression of Immunoglobulin E may have a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis through several mechanisms. Hence, it could be a viable target to assess severity of psoriasis and follow up of treatment goals

The Influence of the Sterilisation Process on certain Thermal Properties

Surgical clothing and sheets have to meet all the requirements set in the healthcare industry regarding body comfort, absorption capacity and general recognition of physiological safety and sterilisation capacity. The disposable surgical gown market is growing and demand will increase in all product groups and market sectors, where the healthcare industry is the most dynamic growth area. The aim of this study was to analyse some of the thermal properties of disposable surgical gowns before and after different sterilisation methods and therefore the influence of the sterilisation process on their thermal comfort

Association between obesity and dental caries among adolescents in UAE: a pilot cross sectional study

BackgroundObesity and dental caries among adolescents is a growing worldwide public health issue. They share some common and modifiable influences. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between obesity and dental caries among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).MethodsThis pilot cross-sectional study enrolled 161 adolescents 13–19 years old from private and public schools in the UAE. Participants were classified as normal weight, underweight, overweight or obese. Dental caries was diagnosed according to the criteria recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Independent t-tests were used to compare average number of decayed, missing and filled surfaces (DMFS) by age, sex, school type, mothers’ employment, BMI categories, waist circumference, oral health habits and plaque index. Additionally, a multiple linear regression model was applied to analyze the association between BMI, waist circumference and dental caries, adjusted for confounding factors considered in this study.ResultsThe average age of the participants was 16.2 ± 1.4 years old. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 42% (N = 68) measured by BMI. In addition, 82% (N = 132) had average waist circumference and 18% (N = 29) with above average waist circumference. Overall, the average DMFS score was 4.35 ± 4.5, with significantly lower dental caries rates among girls ([3.3 (SD:4.0)] than boys (6.7 (SD:5.3), (p < 0.05). The linear regression model revealed that, being a male, attending a public school and having average waist circumference were all positively and significantly associated with dental caries (p < 0.05).ConclusionObesity measured by waist circumference was significantly associated with dental caries among adolescents in the UAE. Further research is required to investigate the complex association between obesity and dental caries and how dietary habits, oral hygiene habits, and parental socioeconomic status mediate the association between obesity and dental caries

Nephroprotective Activity of Green Microalgae, Chlorella sorokiniana Isolated from Jordanian Water

Nephropathy is a global health issue that affects more than 20% of the adult population. Nephropathy is expected to be the fifth leading cause of death worldwide over the coming two decades. The introduction of green microalgae in nutrition and therapeutics for their biological activities is increasing. The current study examined the effect of Chlorella sorokiniana on renal health after inducing nephrotoxicity in mice. Preliminary screening of the algal aqueous extract revealed the presence of soluble polyphenols and triterpenoids. Successive intraperitoneal doses of gentamicin were administered to mice to induce nephrotoxicity. Concurrent intraperitoneal doses of the algal extract were administered to the infected mice to evaluate their nephroprotective activity. Two different concentrations of the treatment agent were administered in successive doses to two groups of mice. The tested concentrations were 150 and 300 mg/kg of mouse weight, respectively. The other two groups were either left untreated (normal control) or treated only with antibiotics (negative control). Creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels were analyzed in both serum and urine samples to evaluate the renal health of each animal group. Histochemical examination of the renal tissues was performed to assess the damage and improvement status. In vivo studies revealed a promising and significant nephroprotective activity of C. sorokiniana

Evaluation of the effectiveness of sleep hygiene education and FITBIT devices on quality of sleep and psychological worry: a pilot quasi-experimental study among first-year college students

BackgroundCollege students report disturbed sleep patterns that can negatively impact their wellbeing and academic performance.ObjectivesThis study examined the effect of a 4-week sleep hygiene program that included sleep education and actigraph sleep trackers (FITBITs) on improving sleep quality and reducing psychological worry without control group.Design, settings, and participantsA pilot quasi-experimental design, participants were randomly selected medical and health sciences from a university students in the United-Arab-Emirates.MethodsStudents were asked to wear FITBITs and log their daily sleep data and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Extensive sleep hygiene education was delivered via lectures, a WhatsApp group, and the Blackboard platform. In total, 50 students completed pre-and post-assessments and returned FITBIT data.ResultsThere was a significant difference in the prevalence of good sleep postintervention compared with pre-intervention (46% vs. 28%; p = 0.0126). The mean PSQI score was significantly lower post-intervention compared with pre-intervention (6.17 ± 3.16 vs. 7.12.87; p = 0.04, Cohen’s d 0.33). After the intervention, subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and daytime dysfunction were significantly improved compared with pre-intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, FITBIT data showed total sleep time and the number of restless episodes per night were significantly improved postintervention compared with pre-intervention (p = 0.013). The mean PSWQ score significantly decreased from pre-intervention to p = 0.049, Cohen’ d = 0.25. The correlation between PSQI and PSWQ scores was significant post-intervention (β = 0.40, p = 0.02).ConclusionOur results may inform university educational policy and curricular reform to incorporate sleep hygiene awareness programs to empower students and improve their sleep habits

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Serum Lipoprotein Ratios as Markers for Insulin Resistance Among Non-Diabetic Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients with Impaired Fasting Glucose

Background: Insulin resistance is a major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Some studies concluded that serum lipoproteins levels and hence lipoprotein ratios were altered in patients with insulin resistance. Objective: To identify the possibility of using lipoprotein ratios as markers for insulin resistance. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted in Baghdad (Medical City) and in Maysan (Al Shaheed Al Sadir Teaching Hospital) from February to December 2020. Eighty-three male and 51 female in Coronary Care Unit and Internal Medicine Wards patients were selected in the study group. Results: Lipoprotein ratios were significantly higher in individuals with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥2.5 as compared to subjects with HOMA-IR <2.5. There was a statistically significant association between lipoprotein ratios and insulin resistance when HOMA-IR ≥2.5 (P less than 0.05). Fasting insulin correlated significantly with lipoprotein ratios. Conclusion: Serum lipoprotein ratios and the best one is triglyceride/high density lipoprotein cholesterol could be used as markers for insulin resistance. Keywords: Lipoprotein ratios, insulin resistance, diabetes Citation: Issa EF, Rasheed MK. Serum lipoprotein ratios as markers for insulin resistance among non-diabetic acute coronary syndrome patients with impaired fasting glucose. Iraqi JMS. 2022; 20(2): 239-244. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.20.2.1

Study The Effect of Conditions of The Electro Spinning Cabin (Humidity) on Electro-spun PolyVinyl Alcohol (PVA) Nano-fibers

Electrospinning is a simple and highly versatile method for generating ultrathin fibers (mainly polymers) with diameters ranging from a few micrometres to tens of nanometres. This technique has attracted tremendous recent interest in both academia and industry, owing to its unique ability to produce ultrafine fibers of different materials in various fibrous assemblies. Electrospinning is a process that uses an electric potential to overcome the surface tension of a solution to produce an ultra-fine jet, which elongates, thins and solidifies as it travels through the electric field to a collector.. In this research, we studied the effect of conditions of the cabin “specifically humidity” on the diameter of nanofibers manufactured by electrospinning. We used Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymeric solution with weight concentration of 10%, voltage 20 kv, under different values of relative humidity. Fiber morphology and fiber diameter were determined using scanning electron microscope, and measuring the fiber diameter by using image j program. It was found that the diameter of the fibers increased with increasing the relative humidity within our studying area

Développement d'un noveau otuil de caractérisation mécanique des étoffes

Les étoffes textiles sont souvent caractérisées par une grandeur particulière appelée la « main ». Cette dernière est une combinaison de différents critères physiques, mécaniques et sensoriels. La « main » est liée à certaines propriétéssensorielles telles que la douceur, la rugosité, ..., aussi bien qu'à des propriétés physiques et mécaniques comme la rigidité, le cisaillement, ... Au sein du laboratoire, nous avons développé un outil de caractérisation sensoriel, « panel », qui nous permet d'obtenir des profils sensoriels d'étoffes textiles. La caractérisation, utilisant l'être humain comme instrument est pertinente, mais reste encore actuellement difficile à inclure dans un cahier de charges. Un dispositif expérimental original a été conçu afin d'imiter, jusqu'à un certain point, les déformation générées lors de la manipulation par le panel. Plusieurs jeux d'étoffes ont été caractérisés par ce dispositif. Les corrélations entre certains descripteurs et les paramètres physiques et/ou mécaniques obtenus, ont été établies