Morin, A Flavonoid, On Lipid Peroxidation And Antioxidant Status In Experimental Myocardial Ischemic Rats

Background: Myocardial infarction affects a large population in the world. Lipid peroxide metabolism plays an important role in the pathology of myocardial infarction. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant potential of morin, a flavonoid in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction (MI), in rats.Materials and Methods: Male albino Wistar rats were pre-treated with morin (40 mg/kg), daily for a period of 30 days. After the treatment period, ISO (85 mg/kg), was subcutaneously injected in rats at an interval of 24 h for 2days.Re s u l t s : ISO-administered rats showed elevated levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and lipid hydro-peroxide (LOOH), in plasma and heart. Pretreatment with morin, the above changes were significantly reduced to near normal level. ISOadministered rats showed decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in heart. In addition, decrease the levels non enzymatic antioxidants such as reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and vitamin E in plasma and heart while ceruloplasmin in plasma.Conclusion: Pretreatment with morin, reversed these above biochemical changes towards normalcy. These findings revealed that, the morin possess antioxidant activity in experimentally induced cardiac toxicity.Key words: Morin, Isoproterenol, Myocardial infarction, Lipid peroxidation, Antioxidant

Influence of Cardiospermum halicacabum leaf extract on membrane-bound ATPases in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Background: Cardiospermum halicacabum L. proved to have anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, antiglycation, analgesic and antipyretic activities. It also has been used in Ayurveda and folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, fever and earache.Objective: The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of Cardiospermum halicacabum leaf extract (CHE) on membrane-bound ATPases in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.Methods: Diabetes was induced in male albino Wistar rats by intraperitonial administration of STZ (40 mg/kg BW). CHE (200 mg/kg BW) or glibenclamide (600 μg/kg BW) was administered orally once daily for 45 days to normal and STZ-induced diabetic rats.Results: The activities of membrane-bound ATPases such as total ATPase, Na+/K+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase were significantly decreased in erythrocytes and tissues of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of CHE to diabetic rats significantly increased the activities of these enzymes towards near normalcy.Conclusions: Thus, the present study indicates that the beneficial role of membrane-bound ATPases in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The antihyperglycemic, antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic properties of CHE could be helpful to maintain the activities of membrane-bound ATPases in STZ-induced diabetic rats showing the membrane stabilizing property of extract.Keywords: Streptozotocin, blood glucose, diabetes, membrane-bound ATPases, Cardiospermum halicacabu

Long COVID Symptoms and Five Dimensions of HRQoL: A Retrospective Regional Study of Patients Recovered from COVID-19 Infection in Saudi Arabia

Mokhtar Abdo Almoliky,1,2,* Bandar Alsaif,3,* Khalil A Saleh,1,* Sameer A Alkubati,1,4,* Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan,3,* Fahad D Algahtani,3 Badr Khalaf Mubarak Aldhmadi,5 Hamza Mohammad Assaggaf,6 Mohamed Ali Alzain3 1Medical Surgical Nursing Department, College of Nursing; University of Ha’il, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia; 2Nursing Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen; 3Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 4Nursing Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hodeidah University, Hodeidah, Yemen; 5Department of Health Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia; 6Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan, Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]/Aim: 10– 20% of people infected with the coronavirus infection have long COVID symptoms, therefore, current research is the first regional assessment in Saudi Arabia to determine the relationship between long-term health complaints of COVID-19 survivors and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).Methods: The study population comprised COVID-19 infection cases registered in the Ha’il region of Saudi Arabia from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic until September 2022. A retrospective research design was employed, and 295 participants completed a self-report questionnaire to assess long COVID symptoms and the Arabic version of the European 5-Dimensional Quality of Life (EQ-5D). Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the predictive role of long COVID symptoms on the HRQoL of patients by choosing (p-value < 0.05).Results: The mean (SD) age of the participants was 38 years, (67.1%) were male and (58.6%) were married. On the long COVID-19 symptoms, the highest mean values were fatigue (M=2.3; 95% CI 2.1– 2.4) followed by headache (M=2.1; 95% CI 2.0– 2.3) and persistent cough (M=1.9; 95% CI 1.8– 2.1). Findings show that HRQoL was problematic in domains of pain/discomfort as depicted by a highest mean score on this domain (M=4.24; 95% CI 4.14– 4.33) followed by anxiety/depression (M=4.17: 95% CI 4.08– 4.27). Multiple regression analysis showed that marital status (p=0.05), irregular exercise (p< 0.01), duration of hospitalization (p< 0.01), and oxygen therapy (p< 0.05) were the independent background factors affecting HRQoL post-COVID-19. Among the long-COVID-19 symptoms, fatigue (p=0.05), persistent cough (p=0.001), dyspnea (p=0.02), and sexual dysfunction (p< 0.001) were the independent factors that impacted the HRQoL after controlling for background variables.Conclusion: The study has significant implications for Saudi Arabia’s Health Sector Transformation Program that could achieve its goals of human centric care and patient satisfaction though addressing the negative impacts of specific long-COVID symptoms such as fatigue, persistent cough, dyspnea and sexual dysfunction and improving the HRQoL in domains of pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.Keywords: pandemic, healthcare, fatigue, pain, discomfort, anxiety, sexual dysfunctio

Challenges and recent advancements of functionalization of two-dimensional nanostructured molybdenum trioxide and dichalcogenides

Atomically-thin two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are the thinnest functional semiconducting materials available today. Among them, both molybdenum trioxide and chalcogenides (MT&Ds) represent key components within the family of the different 2D semiconductors for various electronic, optoelectronic and electrochemical applications due to their unique electronic, optical, mechanical and electrochemical properties. However, despite great progress in research dedicated to the development and fabrication of 2D MT&Ds observed within the last decade, there are significant challenges affected their charge transport behavior, fabrication on a large scale as well as high dependence of the carrier mobility on thickness. In this article, we review the recent progress on the carrier mobility engineering of 2D MT&Ds and elaborate devised strategies dedicated to the optimization of MT&Ds properties. Specifically, the latest physical and chemical methods towards the surface functionalization and optimization of the major factors influencing the extrinsic transport at the electrode-2D semiconductor interface are discusse

A novel approach for vibration analysis of fractional viscoelastic beams with attached masses and base excitation

The Galerkin method is widely applied for finding approximate solutions to vibration problems of beam and plate structures and for estimating their dynamic behavior. Most studies employ the Galerkin method in the analysis of the undamped systems, or for simple structure models with viscous damping. In this paper, a novel approach of using the Galerkin method and Fourier transform to find the solution to the problem of vibration of fractionally damped beams with an arbitrary number of attached concentrated masses and base excitation is presented. The considered approach is novel and it lends itself to determination of the impulse response of the beam and leads to the solution of the system of coupled fractional order differential equations. The proposed approximate solution is validated against the exact solution for a special case with only one tip mass attached, as well as against the Finite Element Method Solution for a special case with classical viscous damping model. Numerical analysis is also given, including the examples of vibration analysis of viscoelastic beams with different fractional derivative orders, retardation times, and the number, weight and position of the attached masses

Clinico-radiological features, molecular spectrum, and identification of prognostic factors in developmental and epileptic encephalopathy due to inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPase) deficiency

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 35 (DEE 35) is a severe neurological condition caused by biallelic variants in ITPA, encoding inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase, an essential enzyme in purine metabolism. We delineate the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of DEE 35, analyzing possible predictors for adverse clinical outcomes. We investigated a cohort of 28 new patients and reviewed previously described cases, providing a comprehensive characterization of 40 subjects. Exome sequencing was performed to identify underlying ITPA pathogenic variants. Brain MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans were systematically analyzed to delineate the neuroradiological spectrum. Survival curves according to the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were used to investigate outcome predictors in different subgroups of patients. We identified 18 distinct ITPA pathogenic variants, including 14 novel variants, and two deletions. All subjects showed profound developmental delay, microcephaly, and refractory epilepsy followed by neurodevelopmental regression. Brain MRI revision revealed a recurrent pattern of delayed myelination and restricted diffusion of early myelinating structures. Congenital microcephaly and cardiac involvement were statistically significant novel clinical predictors of adverse outcomes. We refined the molecular, clinical, and neuroradiological characterization of ITPase deficiency, and identified new clinical predictors which may have a potentially important impact on diagnosis, counseling, and follow-up of affected individuals

Head and neck cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international, multicenter, observational cohort study

Background: The aims of this study were to provide data on the safety of head and neck cancer surgery currently being undertaken during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This international, observational cohort study comprised 1137 consecutive patients with head and neck cancer undergoing primary surgery with curative intent in 26 countries. Factors associated with severe pulmonary complications in COVID-19–positive patients and infections in the surgical team were determined by univariate analysis. Results: Among the 1137 patients, the commonest sites were the oral cavity (38%) and the thyroid (21%). For oropharynx and larynx tumors, nonsurgical therapy was favored in most cases. There was evidence of surgical de-escalation of neck management and reconstruction. Overall 30-day mortality was 1.2%. Twenty-nine patients (3%) tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within 30 days of surgery; 13 of these patients (44.8%) developed severe respiratory complications, and 3.51 (10.3%) died. There were significant correlations with an advanced tumor stage and admission to critical care. Members of the surgical team tested positive within 30 days of surgery in 40 cases (3%). There were significant associations with operations in which the patients also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within 30 days, with a high community incidence of SARS-CoV-2, with screened patients, with oral tumor sites, and with tracheostomy. Conclusions: Head and neck cancer surgery in the COVID-19 era appears safe even when surgery is prolonged and complex. The overlap in COVID-19 between patients and members of the surgical team raises the suspicion of failures in cross-infection measures or the use of personal protective equipment. Lay Summary: Head and neck surgery is safe for patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic even when it is lengthy and complex. This is significant because concerns over patient safety raised in many guidelines appear not to be reflected by outcomes, even for those who have other serious illnesses or require complex reconstructions. Patients subjected to suboptimal or nonstandard treatments should be carefully followed up to optimize their cancer outcomes. The overlap between patients and surgeons testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is notable and emphasizes the need for fastidious cross-infection controls and effective personal protective equipment

Intraperitoneal drain placement and outcomes after elective colorectal surgery: international matched, prospective, cohort study

Despite current guidelines, intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery remains widespread. Drains were not associated with earlier detection of intraperitoneal collections, but were associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased risk of surgical-site infections.Background Many surgeons routinely place intraperitoneal drains after elective colorectal surgery. However, enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines recommend against their routine use owing to a lack of clear clinical benefit. This study aimed to describe international variation in intraperitoneal drain placement and the safety of this practice. Methods COMPASS (COMPlicAted intra-abdominal collectionS after colorectal Surgery) was a prospective, international, cohort study which enrolled consecutive adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery (February to March 2020). The primary outcome was the rate of intraperitoneal drain placement. Secondary outcomes included: rate and time to diagnosis of postoperative intraperitoneal collections; rate of surgical site infections (SSIs); time to discharge; and 30-day major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade at least III). After propensity score matching, multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to estimate the independent association of the secondary outcomes with drain placement. Results Overall, 1805 patients from 22 countries were included (798 women, 44.2 per cent; median age 67.0 years). The drain insertion rate was 51.9 per cent (937 patients). After matching, drains were not associated with reduced rates (odds ratio (OR) 1.33, 95 per cent c.i. 0.79 to 2.23; P = 0.287) or earlier detection (hazard ratio (HR) 0.87, 0.33 to 2.31; P = 0.780) of collections. Although not associated with worse major postoperative complications (OR 1.09, 0.68 to 1.75; P = 0.709), drains were associated with delayed hospital discharge (HR 0.58, 0.52 to 0.66; P < 0.001) and an increased risk of SSIs (OR 2.47, 1.50 to 4.05; P < 0.001). Conclusion Intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery is not associated with earlier detection of postoperative collections, but prolongs hospital stay and increases SSI risk