Efectividad in vitro de tres fármacos aprobados y su interacción sinérgica contra Leishmania infantum

Introduction: Leishmaniasis remains one of the neglected tropical diseases. Repurposing existing drugs has proven to be successful for treating neglected tropical diseases while combination therapy is a strategic alternative for the treatment of infectious diseases.Auranofin, lopinavir/ritonavir, and sorafenib are FDA approved drugs used in the treatment of diverse diseases by acting on different essential biological enzymes.Objective: To evaluate the effects of monotherapy and combined therapies with the three drugs against Leishmania infantum.Materials and methods: We compared the leishmanicidal effects of the three drugs on promastigotes in vitro as regards the parasite count, the drug concentration providing a half-maximal response, and the ultrastructural changes of the parasite. We determined the fractional inhibitory concentration index of combined drugs in two ways, as well as the activity of the three drugs together to establish their synergetic effect.Results: The monotherapy with the three drugs was effective with auranofin showing the best leishmanicidal effect (EC50=1.5 μM), whereas sorafinib reduced parasite growth at EC50=2.5 μM. The scanning electron microscopy of promastigotes from all treated media showed distortion in the shape with loss of flagella and bleb formation. Acidocalcinosis was evident by transmission electron microscopy with all treatments suggesting apoptosis. Treatment with lopinavir/ritonavir showed signs of autophagy. The two-way combination of the drugs led to additive interactions while the combination of the three drugs showed synergistic action.Conclusion: Each drug when used as monotherapy against Leishmania spp. was effective, but the combination therapy was more effective than the individual drugs due to the additive or synergistic effects.Introducción. La leishmaniasis sigue siendo una de las enfermedades tropicales desatendidas. La reutilización de medicamentos existentes ha demostrado ser exitosa para tratar enfermedades tropicales desatendidas y la terapia combinada es una alternativa estratégica para el tratamiento de enfermedades infecciosas. Auranofin, lopinavir/ritonavir y sorafenib son medicamentos aprobados por la Food and Drug Administration (FDA) de Estados Unidos utilizados en el tratamiento de diversas enfermedades, pues actúan sobre diferentes enzimas biológicas esenciales.Objetivo. Evaluar los efectos terapéuticos de la monoterapia y de los tres fármacos combinados contra Leishmania infantum.Materiales y métodos. Los efectos leishmanicidas de los tres fármacos sobre los promastigotes se compararon in vitro en cuanto al recuento de parásitos, la concentración del fármaco que proporcionara una respuesta semimáxima y los cambios ultraestructurales del parásito. Se calculó el índice de concentración inhibitoria de fracciones de fármacos combinados de dos maneras y la actividad de los tres fármacos juntos para determinar el efecto sinérgico.Resultados. La monoterapia con los tres medicamentos fue efectiva, pero la auranofina tuvo el mejor efecto antileishmanicida con un CE50 de 1,5 μM, en tanto que el sorafinib redujo el crecimiento del parásito con un CE50 de 2,5 μM. La microscopía electrónica de barrido de promastigotes de todos los medios tratados mostró una distorsión en la forma, con pérdida de flagelos y formación de ampollas. La acidocalcinosis fue evidente por microscopía electrónica de transmisión con todos los tratamientos, lo que sugiere apoptosis. El tratamiento con lopinavir/ritonavir mostró signos de autofagia. La combinación de dos medicamentos condujo a interacciones aditivas, mientras que la combinación de las tres drogas produjo una acción sinérgica.Conclusión. Los tres medicamentos usados como monoterapia contra Leishmania spp. fueron efectivos, pero el tratamiento combinado lo fue en mayor medida debido a los efectos aditivos o sinérgicos

Representation of the Muslim Brotherhood in contemporary Egyptian newspapers

This is a qualitative exploratory study that examines the representation of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) in contemporary Egyptian newspapers. It aims to reveal the linguistic features that contribute to the construction of a positive or negative image of the MB in the data. The study uses the Discourse Historical Approach (DHA) in analyzing its data. This approach mainly looks at representation strategies, in particular, nomination, predication and argumentation strategies, which are primarily manifested through lexical choices. The data for the study consist of 18 articles from two Egyptian newspapers, Al-Hurryya wa Al-Adala Freedom and Justice and Al-Wattan The Homeland . The former is the official newspaper of Al-Hurryya wa Al-Adala party, the political arm of the MB. The latter is an independent newspaper that is generally known to take an opposing stand towards the MB. With respect to the main nomination strategies, the analysis shows that in the data from Al-Wattan newspaper, members of the MB have been very frequently referred to by words and phrases that carry explicit or implicit negative evaluations, e.g. by referring to their complete obedience to MB leadership, MB secrecy, and accusations of violence and backwardness. On the other hand, Al-Hurryya wa Al-Adala newspaper refers to MB using words and phrases that very frequently carry explicit or implicit positive evaluations, e.g. by describing them as the legitimate ruling power and as a group that is deeply rooted in the Egyptian society. Regarding the predication strategies, some of the most salient qualities attributed to the MB in Al-Wattan newspaper are failure and incapability, being a threat to Egypt, secrecy, and backwardness. In Al-Hurryya wa Al-Adala, a number of predications that carry positive evaluations have been used to describe the MB, e.g. piety, success, having a glorious past and being loved by the people. Finally, as for the argumentation strategies, in Al-Wattan, a number of claims are made against the MB, e.g. responsibility for polarization, using religion, ikhwanizing the state and privatizing the revolution for the interest of the group. Al-Hurryya wa Al-Adala, on the other hand, used some counter arguments based on a set of topoi and fallacies, e.g. by claiming that there is a conspiracy against the MB and by blaming Mubarak\u27s regime and the opposition for the MB economic failure and political mistakes. By selecting these strategies, among other ones, both newspapers focus on arguments that best serve their purposes. For example, by referring to MB violence, Al-Wattan attempts to revive what people remember of the past of the MB and some other Islamic groups, hence portraying an image that scares people off the MB. Also, highlighting the failure of president Mursi and the MB government to meet people’s essential daily needs is a claim that targets the majority of Egyptians, educated and none educated, since all Egyptians are affected by this failure. On the other hand, Al-Hurryya wa Al-Adala combined topoi of conspiracy and being under attack from the media as a scapegoat strategy to blame the mistakes of the government on a second party. This is also used as an answer to the claim of failure. If the country is destroyed and corruption is everywhere then it is not the responsibility of the MB government, rather it is the responsibility of the old regime and the opposition. Such scapegoat strategies are applied throughout the data and illustrate a typical pattern of argumentation. The findings of this study could be used to help advanced Arabic language students be discerning readers and could provide a model for teaching that focuses on critical reading of media texts

Reinventing integration: Muslims in the west

As the sixth year of the US-led war on terror rages on, it would appear that few constructs are more self-evident than the one dividing Islam and the West. Muslim minorities in the West are often scrutinized through this paradoxical prism. The results of several recent polls have set off alarm bells in a tense Europe, still shaken by the Jul 7, 2005 bombings in London. One of the most pervasive assumptions in discourse on European Muslim integration is that Muslim religiosity threatens Europe. While Muslims in three European capitals are indeed highly religious, this piety does not lead to sympathy for terrorism. Muslims in Paris, Berlin, and London wish to hold on to their values, but they also choose diversity over conformity. While residents of predominantly Muslim countries are critical of the West\u27s perceived breakdown of traditional values, this is neither the primary driver of extremist views nor the demanded change that Muslims cite for better relations with the West

Early prediction of iron deficiency in females in child bearing age in central Saudi Arabia

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American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System: History, Development, Reliability, and Its Future

The American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA PS) classification has long been used as a ranking system that quantifies patient health before anaesthesia and surgery. When initially developed, the ASA PS intended application was purely statistical. However, nowadays it is commonly used by surgical specialties to determine a patient’s likelihood of developing postoperative complications, despite studies reporting scoring method subjectivity and inconsistencies among anaesthesiologists in assigning these scores. Over the years, the ASA PS classifications have undergone many changes and modifications to address its limitations. There are a few points to be discussed if all shortcomings are to be treated and interobserver variability is to be limited

Changing Course: A New Direction for U.S. Relations with the Muslim World

The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.Dine and Mogahed will speak about about developing a new direction for U.S. relations with the Muslim world by advancing four goals: * Using diplomacy as the primary tool for resolving key conflicts involving Muslim countries by engaging in dialogue. * Supporting efforts to improve governance and promoting civic participation in Muslim countries. * Helping catalyze job-creating growth in strategic Muslim countries to benefit economic growth in both the U.S. and Muslim countries. * Improving mutual respect and understanding between Americans and Muslims around the word.Ohio State University. Mershon Center for International Security StudiesOhio State University. Middle East Studies CenterEvent webpage, streaming video, event photo

Integrating Blockchain, IoT, and XBRL in Accounting Information Systems: A Systematic Literature Review

Over the last few decades, remarkable technical advancements, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things, have emerged. These tools have the ability to change the accounting process. This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review on using the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) in a single accounting information system (AIS) to enhance the quality of digital financial reports. This paper employs a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology, specifically, by adopting the widely accepted PRISMA technique. The final sample of this study included 309 related studies from 2013 to 2023. Our findings highlight the lack of literature related to the integration of these three types of technologies within a unified AIS. This study is extremely significant because it proposes a new research stream that explores the possibility of integrating IoT, blockchain, and XBRL in a single accounting system, yielding a plethora of benefits to the accounting field. However, the potential benefits of such an integration are evident, including enhanced transparency, real-time reporting capabilities, and improved data security. Our paper’s main contribution is that it is the first paper, to the best of our knowledge, to explore the integration of these three technologies. We also identified important gaps in the research and pointed out ways for future research to somehow take a lead in exploring further how this integrated system is affecting accounting practices

A Proposed Model for Translating Proverbs and Sayings ; A Case of Lying Proverbs and Sayings

This study proposed a model for translating proverbs and sayings from English into Arabic and vice versa. The model is based on translation as a process and product. It consists of three steps: understanding, transfer, and assessment. Each step has certain points to fulfil. It was validated by a group of jurors specializing in translation, curriculum and instruction. The model was modified based on the jurors’ opinions. Then the model was applied to lying proverbs and sayings. The application came up with four kinds of translations: literal, semantic, idiomatic, and colloquial. It is recommended to apply the model to other types of proverbs and sayings

Management and outcomes of pregnant ICU patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in Qatar: A retrospective cohort study

Introduction: Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group for COVID-19 due to their increased vulnerability to viral infections. The impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women is not well understood, and there is a need for data on managing severe COVID-19 in pregnant patients. This retrospective descriptive cohort study described the characteristics, hospital stay, interventions, and outcomes of pregnant patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in Qatar. Methods: Data were collected from medical records and chart reviews of pregnant women admitted to Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) with COVID-19 pneumonia from March 01, 2020, to July 31, 2021. The inclusion criteria encompassed pregnant women with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) antigen test or radiological changes at admission, requiring respiratory support, and hospitalized for more than 24 hours. Results: A total of 43 pregnant women were included in this study. Most patients were admitted during the first wave of the pandemic, with a median gestational age of 212 days [interquartile range 178–242 days] at presentation. The most common respiratory support methods were high-flow nasal cannula, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, and invasive positive pressure ventilation. Convalescent plasma therapy was administered to 58% of patients, and tocilizumab was used in 28%. Renal replacement therapy was required by 4.6% of patients and 7% required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant patient

Microphone-independent speech features for automatic depression detection using recurrent neural network

Depression is a common mental disorder that has a negative impact on individuals, society, and the economy. Traditional clinical diagnosis methods are subjective and necessitate extensive expert participation. Because it is fast, convenient, and non-invasive, automatic depression detection using speech signals is a promising depression objective biomarker. Acoustic feature extraction is one of the most challenging techniques for speech analysis applications in mobile phones. The values of the extracted acoustic features are significantly influenced by adverse environmental noises, a wide range of microphone specifications, and various types of recording software. This study identified microphone-independent acoustic features and utilized them in developing an end-to-end recurrent neural network model to classify depression from Bahasa Malaysia speech. The dataset includes 110 female participants. Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Malay Beck Depression Inventory-II, and subjects’ declaration of Major Depressive Disorder diagnosis by a trained clinician were used to determine depression status. Multiple combinations of speech types were compared and discussed. Robust acoustic features derived from female spontaneous speech achieved an accuracy of 85%