Ecological studies on the colocynth, Citrullus colocynthis (L.) (Curcurbitaceae) from Shada, Saudi Arabia and its insect repellent properties

Abstract: This study attempts to provide an insight into the relationship between Citrullus colocynthis and the surrounding soil. Moreover, it aims to investigate the relationship between the various physicochemical properties of soil with each other. The flavonoid compounds in C. colocynthis were isolated, identified and tested for possible insect repelling properties. Soil samples were collected and subjected to analysis, while the insect repellent properties of C. colocynthis extracts were investigated by testing its components on the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. A significant correlation was found between organic matter content and pH, soil moisture and soil textural components. A positive correlation was found between pH value and soil moisture, coarse and fine sand. Conversely a negative correlation was found between pH with silt and clay. Soil moisture increased proportionately with silt and clay content but decreased proportionately with coarse and fine sand content. Quercetin 3-rhamnoside and quercetin were isolated from C. colocynthis leaves and had a moderate repellant effect against T. castaneum and effectively lowered the population of the beetles by 82.5%. In conclusion, there was a strong relationship between the physicochemical properties of soil. Furthermore, the flavonoid constituents of C. colocynthis had potential insecticidal properties

Association between gonadotrophic hormones (FSH and LH) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Adult Iraqi Males: a case-control Study

Background: Numerous authors have extensively assessed the correlation between gonadotrophic hormones, (FSH) and (LH), and metabolic disturbances in type 2 diabetes among postmenopausal women; On the other hand, there is limited knowledge regarding the connection between metabolic disorders in DMT2 and the pituitary-gonadal axis for men. Only a small number of published articles have emphasized noteworthy results in this regard. The current study has labeled an objective of how DMT2 is linked to serum hormonal levels concerning gonadotrophins.Methods: Iraq, Al-Ramadi Hospital served as the site of case-control research, involving 100 adult males diagnosed with DMT2 and 50 healthy male people as a control group. The patients were chosen at random among the people attending the Al-Ramadi teaching hospital's diabetes control center. The control group consisted of 50 adult males who were healthcare providers working at the teaching hospital. The study collected various variables, including age, (BMI), serum (FSH), (LH), fasting plasma glucose level, HbA1c%, HOMA-IR, and insulin level.Results: Mean serum LH was significant lower in patients with DMT2 Compared to controls, 3.83 ±1.76 mIU/ml versus 9.88 ± 1.64 mIU/ml, (p < 0.001); in addition, the percentage of individuals with low serum LH was significantly high in the patient’s group in comparison to that of the control, 95.0 % versus 4.0 %, (p < 0.001). Mean serum FSH was significant lower in patients with DMT2 in comparison with the category of controls, 3.41 ±1.25 mIU/ml versus 9.01 ±1.44 mIU/ml, (p < 0.001); Moreover, the percentage of people with low serum FSH was significantly higher in patients’ group in comparison to that of control, 100 % versus 0.0 %, (p < 0.001).Conclusions: DMT2 is linked with a significant effect on the pituitary-gonadal axis leading to reduced production of FSH and LH hormones in men

Hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anti-amylase, and antiglucosidase effects of Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) against carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity in rats

Purpose: To explore the hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anti-amylase, and anti-glucosidase effects of the medicinal plant Ziziphus spina-christi (L.). Methods: Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) methanol extract (ZS-1) and its ethyl-acetate (ZS-2), n-butanol (ZS3), and aqueous (ZS-4) fractions were evaluated for their hepatoprotective, anti-amylase, and antiglucosidase activities. Adult male Wister rats were divided into 11 groups (I- XI) with 6 mice per group. Group I was normal control, while the treatment groups were as follows: group II, CCl4; group III, Silymarin + CCl4; group IV, Ziziphus spina-christi total methanol extract (ZS-1), 100 mg/kg) + CCl4; group V, ZS-1 (200 mg/kg) + CCl4; group VI, ethyl acetate fraction (ZS-2), 100 mg/kg + CCl4; group VII: ZS-2 (200 mg/kg) + CCl4; group VIII, butanol fraction (ZS-3), 100 mg/kg) + CCl4; group IX, ZS-3 (200 mg/kg) + CCl4; group X, aqueous fraction (ZS-4), 100 mg/kg) + CCl4; group XI: ZS-4 (200 mg/kg) + CCl4. Silymarin was used as the standard. Biomarkers of liver and kidney toxicity and histopathological changes were evaluated. Results: Liver and kidney malondialdehyde (MDA), non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) and total protein levels were elevated in CCl4-treated rats; however, ZS-1 and ZS-4 of Z. spina-christi significantly reduced these levels. ZS-2 and ZS-3 did not significantly improve the studied parameters. These results were confirmed by results from histopathological examination. ZS-1 and ZS-2 showed mild inhibitory activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase (54 and 43 % at 100 µg/ml, respectively). Conclusion: The results indicate that ZS-1 and ZS-4 samples displayed dose-dependent hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects, whereas ZS-2 and ZS-3 samples did not exhibit these effects. Similarly, α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes are considerably inhibited by ZS-1 and ZS-2

Determination of dimenhydrinate and cinnarizine in combined dosage form in presence of cinnarizine impurity

Three accurate, sensitive and time saving spectrophotometric methods have been developed and validated for determination of mixture of dimenhydrinate (DMH) and cinnarizine (CIN) in presence of cinnarizine impurity (1-(diphenylmethyl)piperazine) (IMP). In method A; dimenhydrinate was determined by measuring 1D amplitudes at 292.0 nm while cinnarizine and its impurity were determined by 1DD method at 256.2 and 219.6 nm, respectively, using standard spectrum of 20 µg/mL of dimenhydrinate as a divisor. Method B depends on dividing spectrum of ternary mixture by standard spectrum of 20 µg/mL of dimenhydrinate and then cinnarizine and its impurity were determined in the obtained ratio spectrum by ratio difference method using the difference between 219.0 and 237.2 nm and between 230.0 and 264.0 nm, respectively. On the other hand dimenhydrinate could be determined by dividing spectrum of ternary mixture by standard spectrum of 20 µg/mL of cinnarizine and then it were determined at the obtained ratio spectrum by ratio difference method using the difference between 216.8 and 232.8 nm. Method C is the mean cantering of ratio spectra method (MCR) where the amplitudes at 234.8, 240.0 and 233.6 nm in the second mean centering ratio spectra were used for determination of dimenhydrinate, cinnarizine and its impurity, respectively. The developed methods were validated according to ICH guidelines regarding good accuracy and precision, and they were successfully applied to pharmaceutical formulation and laboratory prepared mixtures. The results were statistically compared with those obtained by reported method and no significant difference was found

Optimizing diagnostic imaging data using LI-RADS and the Likert scale in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS), which incorporates fixed criteria, and the Likert scale (LS), which mainly depends on an overall impression in liver lesion diagnosis. Material and methods: Diagnostic data of 110 hepatic nodules in 103 high-risk patients for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were included. Data including diameter, arterial hyperenhancement, washout, and capsule were reviewed by 2 readers using LI-RADS and LS (range, score 1-5). Inter-reader agreement (IRA), intraclass agreement (ICA), and diagnostic performance were determined by Fleiss, Cohen's k, and logistic regression, respectively. Results: There were 53 triphasic enhanced computed tomography (CT) and 50 dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) examinations. Overall, IRA was excellent (k = 0.898). IRA was good for arterial hyperenhancement (k = 0.705), washout (k = 0.763), and capsule (k = 0.771) and excellent for diameter (k = 0.981) and tumour embolus (k = 0.927). Overall, ICA between LI-RADS and LS was fair 0.32; ICA was good for scores of 1 (k = 0.682), fair for scores of 2 (k = 0.36), moderate for scores of 5 (k = 0.52), but no agreement was found for scores of 3 (k = –0.059) and 4 (k = –0.022). LIRADS produced relatively high accuracy (87.3% vs. 80%), relatively low sensitivity (84.3% vs. 98%), and significantly higher specificity (89.83% vs. 64.4%) and positive likelihood ratio (+LR: 8.29 vs. 2.75) compared to LS approach. Conclusions: LI-RADS revealed higher diagnostic accuracy as compared to LS with statistical proof higher specificity and +LR showing its ability to foretell malignancy in high-risk patients. We recommend the practical application of the LI-RADS system in the detection and treatment response monitoring of patients with HCC

Dermatological Lesions of Cholesterol Embolization Syndrome and Kaposi Sarcoma Mimic Primary Systemic Vasculitis: Case Report Study

Primary systemic vasculitis can present with a wide spectrum of manifestations ranging from systemic non-specific features such as fever, malaise, arthralgia, and myalgia to specific organ damage. We describe two cases of cholesterol embolization syndrome and Kaposi sarcoma mimicking primary systemic vasculitis, both of which were characterized by features such as livedo reticularis, blue toe syndrome, a brown, purpuric skin rash, and positive p-ANCA associated with Kaposi sarcoma. Establishing the right diagnosis was&nbsp;challenging, and thus we&nbsp;aim in this study to highlight the possible ways to distinguish them from&nbsp;primary systemic vasculitis. Keywords: Dermatological lesions, Cholesterol embolization syndrome, Kaposi sarcoma, vasculitis mimic

Impact of Tactile Stimulation on Neurobehavioral Development of Premature Infants in Assiut City

Objective: To assess impact of tactile stimulation on neurobehavioral development of premature infants in Assiut City. Design: Quasi-experimental research design. Setting: The study was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Assiut University Children Hospital, Assiut General Hospital, Health Insurance Hospital (El-Mabarah Hospital) and El-Eyman for Gynecology and Obstetric Hospital. Subjects: The study subjects included a convenient sample of 50 premature infants divided into study or control groups and they were matched with gestational age and birth weight. Tool: Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale is used to assess neurobehavioral development of infants from birth to two months of age. Method: Premature infants divided into two groups; (a) study group who receiving tactile stimulation (b) control group who receiving routine hospital care only. Neurobehavioral development using Brazelton’s Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (NBAS) was assessed at initial contact and after 5 days of intervention and on discharge. Results: showed that the premature infants of the study had better neurobehavioral development than those in the control group with statistical significant differences were found between the study and the control groups Conclusion: It was concluded from the findings of the current study that premature infants who received tactile stimulation had better neurobehavioral development than those who didn’t receive it and had only the hospital routine care. Keywords: Tactile stimulation, neurobehavioral development, premature infant

Primary School Teachers’ Perspectives on ADHD in Alkadrow, Khartoum, Sudan

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition, commonly manifests during early childhood and has the potential to adversely affect an individual’s social, academic, and occupational performance in multiple settings. Students with ADHD may struggle with attention, focus, listening, and completing schoolwork. Additionally, they may exhibit restless or disruptive behavior in class and may have learning disabilities that affect their academic performance. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of primary school teachers on ADHD in Alkadrow, Khartoum, Sudan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Alkadrow-Bahri locality, Sudan, over a period of three to six months in 2022. The study population included primary school teachers who had taught for at least one year and encountered at least one student with ADHD. A convenience sampling technique was used to select a minimum of 59 participants, and data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire with closed-ended questions. SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the data, including descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. Results: The study had 59 participants, with the majority being female and in the age group of 41–45 years. The participants were mostly married and had obtained psychology courses, with a bachelor’s degree being the most common level of education. Many participants had over 20 years of teaching experience. Regarding the attitude toward attention deficit hyperactivity, most participants strongly agreed that they did have a negative/positive attitude toward it, and a majority agreed or were neutral toward ADHD. However, in the case of attention deficit hyperactivity, a significant percentage of participants disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement. Conclusion: The study found that most participants had a negative attitude toward student referrals for medical care and believed that most symptoms of ADHD can be lowered by aging. Additionally, more than half strongly disagreed that punishment has a positive effect on ADHD

Novel TLR7 hemizygous variant in post-COVID-19 neurological deterioration: a case report with literature review

The neurological complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can range from simple tremors and dystonia to features of encephalopathy. Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) belongs to a family of innate immune receptors responsible for viral RNA detection (such as SARS-CoV-2) and immune response initiation. TLR7 loss of function variants have been previously reported as genetic risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection in young patients with no comorbidities. In this case, we report a pediatric patient who developed severe long-term neurological deterioration following his COVID-19 infection. Presenting first to the clinic with episodic dystonia and finger spasticity, the patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated with a significant drop in the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Despite improvement following initial treatment with rituximab and intravenous immunoglobulin, the patient’s symptoms relapsed, and GCS further dropped to 3/15. Serial brain magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed diffuse parenchymal atrophy, ventricular enlargement, and spinal cord thickening. Autoimmune investigations were negative but clinical whole genome sequencing prioritized four gene variants, the most significant of which was a novel frameshift null variant of the X chromosomal TLR7 gene (c.1386_1389dup, p.[His464Ilefs*7]). This case illustrates a role for TLR7 in long-term COVID-19 complications and highlights that TLR7 deficiency in the future may be addressed as a therapeutic measure