Geological analysis of parts of the southern Arabian Shield based on Landsat TM imagery

This thesis examines the capability and applicability of Landsat multispectral remote sensing data for geological analysis in the arid southern Arabian Shield, which is the eastern segment of the Nubian-Arabian Shield surrounding the Red Sea. The major lithologies in the study area are Proterozoic metavolcanics, metasediments, gneisses and granites. Three test-sites within the study area, located within two tectonic assemblages, the Asir Terrane and the Nabitah Mobile Belt, were selected for detailed comparison of remote sensing methods and ground geological studies. Selected digital image processing techniques were applied to full-resolution Landsat TM imagery and the results are interpreted and discussed. Methods included: image contrast improvement, edge enhancement for detecting lineaments and spectral enhancement for geological mapping. The last method was based on two principles, statistical analysis of the data and the use of arithmetical operators. New and detailed lithological and structural maps were constructed and compared with previous maps of these sites. Examples of geological relations identified using TM imagery include: recognition and mapping of migmatites for the first time in the Arabian Shield; location of the contact between the Asir Terrane and the Nabitah Mobile Belt; and mapping of lithologies, some of which were not identified on previous geological maps. These and other geological features were confirmed by field checking. Methods of lineament enhancement implemented in this study revealed structural lineaments, mostly mapped for the first time, which can be related to regional tectonics. Structural analysis showed that the southern Arabian Shield has been affected by at least three successive phases of deformation. The third phase is the most dominant and widespread. A crustal evolutionary model in the vicinity of the study area is presented showing four stages, these are: arc stage, accretion stage, collision stage and post-collision stage. The results of this study demonstrate that Landsat TM data can be used reliably for geological investigations in the Arabian Shield and comparable areas, particularly to generate detailed geological maps over large areas by using quantitative remote sensing methods, providing there is prior knowledge of part of the area

Sensitivity, specificity of biochemical markers for early prediction of endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerotic obese subjects

Background: The obesity increased incidence of diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis and rate of morbidity and mortality. The main cause of atherosclerosis is endothelial dysfunction and formation of foam cells and macrophage that lead to unfavorable complications. This study evaluated specific biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction as sensitive indices for early predication of atherosclerosis in obese subjects. Study Design: One hundred fifty male age and sex matching were included in the current study divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI): Control (BMI ≤ 22), obese (BMI> 28) and obese with atherosclerosis (BMI> 28). Fasting serum was subjected for determination of adhesion molecules, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, E-selectin, oxo-LDL and 8-iso-PGF2α by ELISA technique. Results: Data obtained showed that, a significant elevation of serum inflammatory markers CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α and adhesion molecules sICAM-1 (p<0.001) with sensitivity 96%, sVCAM-1 (p <0.01) with sensitivity 92%, E-selectin (p<0.001) with sensitivity 94%, oxo-LDL (p <0.05) and 8-iso-PGF2α (p < 0.001) with sensitivity 97% in obese with atherosclerosis compared with obese and control. Conclusion: The levels of serum adhesion molecules contributed in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction can be used as sensitive biomarkers for early prediction of atherosclerosis in obese subjects. Keywords: Obesity; atherosclerosis; endothelial dysfunction

Effect of Simvastatin and Atorvastatin on Serum Vitamin D and Bone Mineral Density in Hypercholesterolemic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Besides lipid-lowering effect of statins, they have been shown to have nonlipid lowering effects, such as improving bone health. An improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) has been indicated in some studies after the use of statins, in addition to an increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level. The aim of this study is to explore the association between statins and bone health taking into consideration 25OHD level and BMD. Methods. This is a randomized, cross-sectional comparative study. Subjects were divided into two groups, hypercholesterolemic participants taking simvastatin or atorvastatin as the study group and a matched control group not taking statins. All participants were assessed for serum 25OHD and BMD at lumbar spine and femoral neck. Results. A total of 114 participants were included in the study, 57 participants in each group. Results of serum 25OHD showed no significant difference between study and control groups (P=0.47), while BMD results of lumbar spine and femoral neck showed significant difference (P=0.05 and 0.03, resp.). Conclusion. Simvastatin and atorvastatin, at any dose for duration of more than one year, have no additive effect on 25OHD level but have a positive effect on the BMD

Head and Neck Surgery: A Differential Diagnosis in Otolaryngology

Introduction: In otolaryngology of the head and neck surgery; differential diagnosis is a practical and comprehensive guide that is organized uniquely by signs and symptoms instead of by diseases. Aim: This study will describe the keys to diagnostic evaluation and differential diagnosis of presenting symptoms for problems affecting each otolaryngology organ system.Methods: Each symptom opens with the patient’s presentation followed by an easily accessible list of potential diagnoses and supplementary data on the features of the different diseases to help correctly identify the problem. And identify features labeled by signs and symptoms, not by disease, and then enable quick clinical reference In-depth coverage of the diagnostic and treatment evaluation of all ENT disorders.

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Novel curcumin nanoformulation induces apoptosis, and reduces migration and angiogenesis in liver cancer cells

AbstractBackground Curcumin has been used in the treatment of several diseases; however, its low pharmacologic profile reduces its therapeutic use. Towards improving its biological activity, nanoformulations have emerged. Thus, we aimed to determine whether curcumin nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) coated with PEG/chitosan improve the treatment of liver cancer (LC) cells and underpin the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-cancer activity.Methods Cur-NPs were synthesised in the form of Cur-PLGA-PEG/chitosan NPs. The effect of Cur-NPs was assessed in HepG2 and Huh 7 LC cells and THLE-2 normal liver cells.Results The size of synthesised Cur-NPS was determined in the standard range of 141.2 ± 47.5 nm. Compared to THLE-2 cells, LC cells treated with Cur-NPs exerted cytotoxicity at 6.25 µg/mL after 48h. Treatment of HepG-2 cells with 2.5 µg/mL of Cur-NPs inhibited cell migration and this inhibition was augmented at 10 µg/mL (p < 0.001). Treatment of chicken embryo with 5 µg/mL Cur-NPs reduced angiogenesis (p < 0.001) of 4-day-old embryos. The nanoformulation upregulated Bax and p53 and downregulated Bcl-2 in a concentration-dependent manner and subsequently induce apoptosis in HepG-2 cells.Conclusion Treatment of LC cells with Cur-NPs decreased cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, and induced cell death by promoting the proapoptotic pathway

The use of therapeutic drug monitoring for early identification of vedolizumab response in Saudi Arabian patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Vedolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody used to treat moderate-to-severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the induction of vedolizumab trough level in predicting short-term (week 14) clinical outcomes, and covariates that affect the response in Saudi Arabian patients. This prospective, real-life study included a total of 16 patients (4 Crohn's disease (CD) and 12 ulcerative colitis (UC)) with a confirmed diagnosis of IBD and generally naïve to receiving vedolizumab therapy. Using ELISA assay, vedolizumab induction trough and peak levels were measured at weeks 0, 2, and 6. The follow-up assessment was at week 14, where clinical outcomes were measured using the partial Mayo score for UC, and the CD activity score (CDAI), and Harvey Bradshaw index (HBI) for CD. At week 14, 9 patients (52.9%) out of 16 patients demonstrated response to therapy; clinical remission was reported in 5 patients (29.4%), and in 4 cases a clinical response was noted (23.5%). Clinical remission at week 14 was linked significantly with week 6 median vedolizumab levels in responders (25.1 µg/ml 95% CI: 16.5–42.9) compared to non-responders (7.7 µg/ml, 95% CI: 4.6–10.6) (P = 0.002). Receiver operator curve analysis at week 6 identified a cut-off > 8.00 µg/mL for short-term clinical remission. Also, at week 14, BMI significantly correlated with week 6 vedolizumab trough levels (P = 0.02). No other covariates correlated with drug levels at any time point examined. Week 6 early vedolizumab trough level measurements in IBD patients predicted short-term week 14 clinical remission

Novel 3′-diindolylmethane nanoformulation induces apoptosis, and reduces migration and angiogenesis in liver cancer cells

Liver cancer (LC) ranks as the second most prevalent cause of cancer-related deaths. Herbaceous plants are valuable sources of complementary, adjuvant, or alternative anti-tumor therapy as they contain natural active ingredients with anti-cancer potential. Although the clinical use of 3, 3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) has been established, its low chemical stability and bioavailability, limits its therapeutic applications. Increasing effort has been undertaken to improve DIM’s biological activity including nanoformulations. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of DIM nanoparticles (DIM-NPs) coated with PEG/chitosan for the treatment of liver cancer and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to its anti-tumor activity. DIM-PLGA-PEG/chitosan NPs were synthesized and characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The effect of newly synthesized DIM-NPs was evaluated in HepG-2 and HUH-7 hepatocarcinoma cells and compared to THLE-2 immortal normal liver cells and WI-38 (normal lung fibroblast cells). These cells were treated with different non-cytotoxic concentrations of DIM-NPs and MTT assay and other functional assays were performed. Compared to normal cells, DIM-NPs induced cytotoxicity in HepG-2 cells at 6.25  µg/mL after 48 h of treatment. Treatment of HepG-2 cells with the 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50) 12.5 µg/mL of DIM-NPs inhibited cell migration (p < 0.001). Treatment of chicken embryo with 5ug/ml DIM-NPs reduced (p < 0.001) angiogenesis at day 4. Notably, at the molecular level, DIM-NPs upregulated Bax and p53 and downregulated Bcl-2 in a dose-dependent manner. DIM-NPs also induced cell apoptosis in HepG-2 cells. Treatment of hepatic cells with DIM-NPs decreased cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis, and induced cell death via up-regulation of Bax and p53, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 in HepG-2 cells. Further investigations are necessitated to determine the pharmacokinetics of DIM-NPs using a preclinical cancer model

Pomegranate nanoparticle mitigates cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity and improves cisplatin anti-cancer efficacy in Ehrlich carcinoma model

Cisplatin (CISP) ranks among the most used chemo-therapeutic agents with exceptional efficacy against testicular cancer among other diverse types of cancers. However, it has been associated with nephrotoxicity among other side effects. Pomegranate (PE) is an effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound, protecting against several chemotherapy-linked toxicities. The use of PE are limited due to its low bioavailability and poor solubility. We investigated the potential of a novel nanoparticle (NP) encapsulating PE formulation to surmount its poor solubility, improve its bioavailability, and augment its protective efficacy against CISP-induced testicular toxicity in an Ehrlich solid carcinoma (ESC) mice model. All animals were randomly grouped into four treatment groups: 1) control, 2) tumor, 3) CISP, and 4) CISP + PE-NPs. The results obtained demonstrated that PE-NPs efficiently prevented testicular toxicity induced by CISP in ESC mice and enhanced its functions. PE-NPs effectively improved CISP-induced oxidative stress in testicular tissues by elevating the levels of antioxidants (GSH, SOD and CAT). Importantly, PE-NPs, also, substantially decreased testicular inflammation induced by CISP, via reducing the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-kB. PE-NPs did not impede the CISP’s antitumor activity as shown by histological examination data and tumor weight. It is, therefore, conceivable that PE-NPs may serve as an adjuvant therapy to CISP in the treatment of cancer, to ameliorate the associated testicular toxicity and other unwanted effects without compromising the antitumor efficacy of CISP