Design and Characterization of Targeted Drug Delivery of Carbon Quantum Dots from a Natural Precursor for Cancer Treatment

It was concluded that CQDs can be synthesized by a novel easy ethanol extraction method. using AM fruit powder as a candidate for natural carbon precursor. The synthetic protocol is green and fast. The surface state is studied by FTIR and Raman spectra evaluations, as well as optical properties, showed that the method of CQDs preparations effect on the final particles surfaces functional groups. This study investigated that synthesized CQDs from AM fruit has anticancer activity. And it’s sorafinib conjugate has also possess anticancer activity. So this study will be a milestone in usage of low dose of drug achieve high therapeutic action from C-dots in cancer patients. So this synthesized carbon dot and its Sorafinib conjugate can be used as targeted trackable drug delivery for cancer treatment

Histopathological changes as tools to discriminate antemortem and post-mortem wounds in rats: prospective applications in forensic medicine

Wound age estimation is one of the chief exciting subjects in forensic medicine. It is substantial to determine the most likely accurate when wounds happened, whether during antemortem or post-mortem conditions. Moreover, histological change is a method that assists available parameters in determining the antemortem and post-mortem period. This study aims to observe the histopathological changes in induced wounds to determine when the injury occurred and whether the injury occurred during antemortem or post-mortem conditions. Thirty-nine rat wound skin biopsies were studied. All samples were taken in antemortem groups at 30, 60, 180, and 360 min, and in post-mortem groups within 30, 60, 180, and 360 min with control samples (unwounded group). The skin sections were seen by microscope to observe the changes in the following criteria: the ratio and distribution of the neutrophil and macrophage, congestion and dilatation of capillaries, and degree of autolysis. For the antemortem wounds, the number of neutrophils appeared at 30 minutes and sharply increased from 60 minutes after the wound. In addition, there was an increase in macrophages from 180 min after the wound. For the post-mortem wounds in all times examined, the degree of autolysis was the best criterion for knowing the wound timing. These results propose that histopathological changes can be used as a critical criterion for finding the time of wounds and comparing antemortem and post-mortem incisional wounds in forensic medicine

Corrosion resistance and thermal stability of sputtered Fe44Al34Ti7N15 and Al61Ti11N28 thin films for prospective application in oil and gas industry

Fe-and Al-based thin-film metallic glass coatings (Fe44Al34Ti7N15 and Al61Ti11N28) were fabricated using magnetron co-sputtering technique, and their corrosion performances compared against wrought 316L stainless steel. The results of GI-XRD and XPS analyses demonstrated amorphous structure and oxide layer formation on the surface of the fabricated thin films, respectively. The potentiodynamic (PD) polarization test in chloride-thiosulfate (NH4Cl ​+ ​Na2S2O3) solution revealed lower corrosion current (Icorr) (0.42 ​± ​0.02 ​μA/cm2 and 0.086 ​± ​0.001 ​μA/cm2 Vs. 0.76 ​± ​0.05 ​μA/cm2), lower passivation current (Ipass) (1.45 ​± ​0.03 ​μA/cm2 and 1.83 ​± ​0.07 ​μA/cm2 Vs. 1.98 ​± ​0.04 ​μA/cm2), and approximately six-fold higher breakdown potential (Ebd) for Fe- and Al-based coatings than those of wrought 316L stainless steel. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) of both films showed 4- and 2-fold higher charge transfer resistance (Rct), 7- and 2.5-times higher film resistance (Rf), lower film capacitance values (Qf) (10 ​± ​2.4 ​μS-sacm-2, and 5.41 ​± ​0.8 ​μS-sacm-2 Vs. 18 ​± ​2.21 ​μS-sacm-2), and lower double-layer capacitance values (Qdl) (31.33 ​± ​4.74 ​μS-sacm-2, and 15.3 ​± ​0.48 ​μS-sacm-2 Vs. 43 ​± ​4.23 ​μS-sacm-2), indicating higher corrosion resistance of the thin films. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) scan exhibited that the passive films formed on the Fe- and Al-based coatings were more stable and less prone to pitting corrosion than the wrought 316L stainless steel. The surface morphology of both films via SEM endorsed the CV scan results, showing better resistance to pitting corrosion. Furthermore, the thermal analysis via TGA and DSC revealed the excellent thermal stability of the thin films over a wide temperature range typically observed in oil-gas industries

Novel mutations in MERTK associated with childhood onset rod-cone dystrophy

PurposeTo report the clinical phenotype in patients with a retinal dystrophy associated with novel mutations in the MER tyrosine kinase (MERTK) gene.MethodsA consanguineous family of Middle Eastern origin was identified, and affected members underwent a full clinical evaluation. Linkage analysis was performed using the Affymetrix 50K chip. Regions of homozygosity were identified. The positional candidate genes protocadherin 21 (PCDH21), retinal G protein-coupled receptor (RGR), and MERTK were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified and sequenced. Long-range PCR was performed to characterize the deletion. Two hundred and ninety-two probands with autosomal recessive, childhood onset, retinal dystrophies were analyzed using the Asper Ophthalmics Leber congenital amaurosis chip to screen for known MERTK mutations.ResultsAnalysis of a 50K-Affymetrix whole genome scan identified three regions of homozygosity on chromosomes 2 and 10. Screening of the candidate gene MERTK showed a possible deletion of exon 8. Long-range PCR identified a ~9 kb deletion within MERTK that removes exon 8. Screening of DNA from a panel of Saudi Arabian patients with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa identified a second consanguineous family with the same mutation. One patient with a known MERTK mutation (p.R651X) was identified using the Asper Ophthalmics Leber congenital amaurosis chip. Further screening of the gene identified a second novel splice site mutation in intron 1. The phenotype associated with these identified MERTK mutations is of a childhood onset rod-cone dystrophy with early macular atrophy. The optical coherence tomography (OCT) appearance is distinctive with evidence of debris beneath the sensory retina.ConclusionsMutations in MERTK are a rare cause of retinal dystrophy. Non homologous recombination between Alu Y repeats near or within disease genes may be an important cause of retinal dystrophies

The acute effects of alcohol on auditory thresholds

There is very little knowledge about alcohol-induced hearing loss. Alcohol consumption and tolerance to loud noise is a well observed phenomenon as seen in the Western world where parties get noisier by the hour as the evening matures. This leads to increase in the referrals to the "hearing aid clinic" and the diagnosis of "cocktail party deafness" which may not necessarily be only due to presbyacusis or noise-induced hearing loss

Experience versus complication rate in third molar surgery

OBJECTIVES: The records of 1087 patients who underwent surgical removal of third molar teeth were prospectively examined to analyse the possible relationship between postoperative complications and the surgeon's experience parameter. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Seven surgeons (three specialists in surgical dentistry [specialists SD] and four oral and maxillofacial Senior House Officers [OMFS residents]) carried out the surgical procedures. For each patient, several variables were recorded including age, gender, radiographic position of extracted teeth, treating surgeon, duration of surgery and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Analysis of the data revealed some differences in the incidence of complications produced by the specialists SD and OMFS residents. The main statistically relevant differences were increase the incidences of trismus, nerve paraesthesia, alveolar osteitis and infection in the resident-treated group, while the specialist-treated group showed higher rates of post-operative bleeding. CONCLUSION: The higher rate of postoperative complications in the resident-treated group suggests that at least some of the complications might be related to surgical experience. Further work needs to compare specialists of training programmes with different years of experience, using large cross – sectional studies

Role of L- glutamine and crizanlizumab in sickle cell anaemia painful crisis reduction

BackgroundPatients with sickle cell disease, frequently ‎ suffer from intense painful episodes. Till recently hydroxyurea was the only available medical therapy that approved for reduction of painful episodes.AimsTo summarize the available data from randomized controlled trials that aim to evaluate the efficacy of newly approved L-‎glutamine‎ (alters redox state of red blood cells ‎‎[RBCs]) ‎and ‎crizanlizumab (‎(anti-P-selectin)‎)‎ ‎on vaso-occlusive episodes in Sickle cell disease ‎ patients.Methods PubMed, ‎Google Scholar, and EBSCO ‎ databases were ‎‎systematically search for relevant articles. The terms ‎ ‎ ‎ L-glutamine, sickle cell disease, sickle cell ‎anaemia,‎ ‎‎crizanlizumab ‎and vaso-occlusive episodes‎ were used.Results Out of Four-hundred seventy-two records, only three fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Two trials were aimed to evaluate the efficacy of L-glutamine therapy on the frequency of painful crises in sickle cell anaemia patients. Both studies showed that L-glutamine therapy significantly reduce the frequency of VOEs. Only one trial examined the ability of crizanlizumab on VOEs reduction, and showed crizanlizumab successful reduce the occurrence of VOEs.‎ConclusionNewer agent ‎with different mechanism of action, such as ‎L-glutamine, ‎and crizanlizumab may consider if ‎hydroxyurea not effective or not ‎tolerable

Recent technological developments: In situ histopathological interrogation of surgical tissues and resection margins

Objectives: The tumour margin is an important surgical concept significantly affecting patient morbidity and mortality. We aimed in this prospective study to apply the microendoscope on tissue margins from patients undergoing surgery for oral cancer in vivo and ex vivo and compare it to the gold standard "paraffin wax", inter-observer agreement was measured; also to present the surgical pathologist with a practical guide to the every day use of the microendoscope both in the clinical and surgical fields. Materials and methods: Forty patients undergoing resection of oral squamous cell carcinoma were recruited. The surgical margin was first marked by the operator followed by microendoscopic assessment. Biopsies were taken from areas suggestive of close or positive margins after microendoscopic examination. These histological samples were later scrutinized formally and the resection margins revisited accordingly when necessary. Results: Using the microendoscope we report our experience in the determination of surgical margins at operation and later comparison with frozen section and paraffin section margins "gold standard". We were able to obtain a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 90%. Inter-observer Kappa scores comparing the microendoscope with formal histological analysis of normal and abnormal mucosa were 0.85. Conclusion: The advantage of this technique is that a large area of mucosa can be sampled and any histomorphological changes can be visualized in real time allowing the operator to make important informed decisions with regards the intra-operative resection margin at the time of the surgery

Prognostic tools and candidate drugs based on plasma proteomics of patients with severe COVID-19 complications

COVID-19 complications still present a huge burden on healthcare systems and warrant predictive risk models to triage patients and inform early intervention. Here, we profile 893 plasma proteins from 50 severe and 50 mild-moderate COVID-19 patients, and 50 healthy controls, and show that 375 proteins are differentially expressed in the plasma of severe COVID-19 patients. These differentially expressed plasma proteins are implicated in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and present targets for candidate drugs to prevent or treat severe complications. Based on the plasma proteomics and clinical lab tests, we also report a 12-plasma protein signature and a model of seven routine clinical tests that validate in an independent cohort as early risk predictors of COVID-19 severity and patient survival. The risk predictors and candidate drugs described in our study can be used and developed for personalized management of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. 2022, The Author(s).The authors would like to thank all the patients, volunteers, and the healthcare co-workers from Allergy and Immunology Section-HMC, and Dr. Mohamed G.H. Mohamedali, Mr. Hassen Maatoug, and Mr. Ahmed Soliman from Hezm Mebairek General Hospital-HMC for developing disposable racks for samples transportation, tubes labeling, blood collection, and handling. We thank the support provided by Qatar University Biomedical Research Centre, Biosafety Level 3, and Associate Professor Hadi M. Yassine (M.Sc., Ph.D.). We also acknowledge the help of the Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar (ADLQ) and Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) for recruiting control samples. This work was supported by a grant fund from Hamad Medical Corporation (fund number MRC-05-003) and core funding from Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI).Scopu