STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Having a child with autism is a major event that negatively affects families, and force families to re-evaluate its plans, goals, and relationships in light of restrictions and limitations associated with child's disability, and resultant stresses in parents and their efficiency in coping with these stresses. This study aimed to assess stress and coping strategies among parents of children with autistic disorder. A purposive sample of thirty Parents of Autistic Children was recruited from the Center for Social and Preventive Medicine (child psychiatry out-patient clinic) in Abou-El-Rish University Hospital. Three tools were used to conduct the current study, demographic and medical data sheet, parent stress scale and coping strategies scale. The results indicated that, sixty percent of the studied parents had moderate level of stress. The results also showed that, more than fifty percent were using seeking information, avoidance and denial coping strategies. And finally, the results indicated high positive and significant correlation and acceptable predictable relation between levels of stress and coping strategies. In conclusion, children with autism require lifelong provision, management and service coordination.&nbsp

Life Adaptation Program & Its Effect on Daily Living Skills of Autistic Children and Their Parents Stress

This study aimed to investigate the effect of life adaptation program on daily living skills (DLS) of autistic children and their parent's stress. A quasi -experimental design was utilized in this study. A purposive sample of thirty autistic children and their parents were recruited from Autism Day Care Unit-Beit El-shams- Child Psychiatry Clinic in El-Abbassia Mental Health Hospital. Three tools were used to conduct the current study, sociodemographic and medical data sheet, autistic child skills scale, and parent's stress scale. The results showed that, more than eighty percent of the studied children had low level of daily living skills, and slightly more than half of the studied parents had moderate stress level. Findings revealed that there was a highly statistically significant difference between pre-post program regarding daily living skills & there was a highly statistically significant difference between parents stress pre and post program. In conclusion, early intervention play significant role in the development of DLS of all ages, yet further researches are needed for developing and maintenance of DLS of autistic children. Keywords: autistic disorder, daily living skills, parents stress

<i>Garcinia cambogia</i> phenolics as potent anti-COVID-19 agents:phytochemical profiling, biological activities, and molecular docking

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and became a pandemic in a critically short time. Phenolic secondary metabolites attracted much attention from the pharmaceutical industries for their easily accessible natural sources and proven antiviral activity. In our mission, a metabolomics study of the Garcinia cambogia Roxb. fruit rind was performed using LC-HRESIMS to investigate its chemical profile, especially the polar aspects, followed by a detailed phytochemical analysis, which led to the isolation of eight known compounds. Using spectrometric techniques, the isolated compounds were identified as quercetin, amentoflavone, vitexin, rutin, naringin, catechin, p-coumaric, and gallic acids. The antiviral activities of the isolated compounds were investigated using two assays; the 3CL-Mpro enzyme showed that naringin had a potent effect with IC50 16.62 &mu;g/mL, followed by catechin and gallic acid (IC50 26.2, 30.35 &mu;g/mL, respectively), while the direct antiviral inhibition effect of naringin confirmed the potency with an EC50 of 0.0169 &mu;M. To show the molecular interaction, in situ molecular docking was carried out using a COVID-19 protease enzyme. Both biological effects and docking studies showed the hydrophobic interactions with Gln 189 or Glu 166, per the predicated binding pose of the isolated naringin

DNA-binding and anticancer activity of binuclear gold(I) alkynyl complexes with a phenanthrenyl bridging ligand

3,6-Diethynyl-9,10-diethoxyphenanthrene (4) was synthesized from phenanthrene and employed in the synthesis of the binuclear gold(I) alkynyl complexes (R3P)Au(C≡C-3-[C14H6-9,10-diethoxy]-6-C≡C)Au(PR3) (R = Ph (5a), Cy (5b)). The diyne 4 and complexes 5a and 5b were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. UV-Vis spectroscopy studies of the metal complexes and precursor diyne show strong π → π* transitions in the near UV region that red shift by ca. 50 nm upon coordination at the gold centers. The emission spectrum of 4 shows an intense fluorescence band centered at 420 nm which red shifts, slightly upon coordination of 4 to gold. Binding studies of 4, 5a, and 5b against calf thymus DNA were carried out, revealing that 4, 5a, and 5b have ≥40% stronger binding affinities than the commonly used intercalating agent ethidium bromide. The molecular docking scores of 4, 5a, and 5b with B-DNA suggest a similar trend in behavior to that observed in the DNA-binding study. Unlike the ligand 4, promising anticancer properties for 5a and 5b were observed against several cell lines; the DNA binding capability of the precursor alkyne was maintained, and its anticancer efficacy enhanced by the gold centers. Such phenanthrenyl complexes could be promising candidates in certain biological applications because the two components (phenanthrenyl bridge and metal centers) can be altered independently to improve the targeting of the complex, as well as the biological and physicochemical properties.This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia under grant no. (KEP-44-130-40). The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks DSR technical and financial support

Patterns of social determinants of health associated with drug use among women living with HIV in Canada: a latent class analysis

Background and AimsIdentifying typologies of social determinants of health (SDoH) vulnerability influencing drug use practices among women living with HIV (WLWH) can help to address associated harms. This research aimed to explore the association of SDoH clusters with drug use among WLWH.DesignLatent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify the distinct clusters of SDoH. Inverse probability weighting (IPW) was employed to account for confounding and potential selection bias. Associations were analyzed using generalized linear model with log link and Poisson distribution, and then weighted risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.Setting and ParticipantsData from 1422 WLWH recruited at timeâ point 1 of the Canadian HIV Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS, 2013â 15), with 1252 participants at 18 months followâ up (timeâ point 2).MeasurementsDrug use was defined as use of illicit/nonâ prescribed opioids/stimulants in the past 6 months. SDoH indicators included: race discrimination, gender discrimination, HIV stigma, social support, access to care, food security, income level, employment status, education, housing status and histories of recent sex work and incarceration.FindingsLCA identified four SDoH classes: no/least SDoH adversities (6.6%), discrimination/stigma (17.7%), economic hardship (30.8%) and most SDoH adversities (45.0%). Drug use was reported by 17.5% and 17.2% at timeâ points 1 and 2, respectively. WLWH with no/least SDoH adversities were less likely to report drug use than those in economic hardship class (weighted RR = 0.13; 95% CIs = 0.03, 0.63), discrimination/stigma class (weighted RR = 0.15; 95% CIs = 0.03, 0.78), and most SDoH adversities class (weighted RR = 0.13; 95% CIs = 0.03, 0.58).ConclusionsSocial determinants of health vulnerabilities are associated with greater likelihood of drug use, underscoring the significance of addressing interlinked social determinants and drug use through the course of HIV care and treatment.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149504/1/add14566_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149504/2/add14566.pd

DNA-Binding Capabilities and Anticancer Activities of Ruthenium(II) Cymene Complexes with (Poly)cyclic Aromatic Diamine Ligands

Ruthenium(II) arene complexes of the general formula [RuCl(η6-p-cymene)(diamine)]PF6 (diamine = 1,2-diaminobenzene (1), 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (2), 9,10-diaminophenanthrene (3), 2,3-diaminophenazine (4), and 1,2-diaminoanthraquinone (5) were synthesized. Chloro/aqua exchange was evaluated experimentally for complexes 1 and 2. The exchange process was investigated theoretically for all complexes, revealing relatively fast exchange with no significant influence from the polycyclic aromatic diamines. The calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) binding of the complexes increased dramatically upon extending the aromatic component of the diamines, as evaluated by changes in absorption spectra upon titration with different concentrations of CT-DNA. An intercalation binding mode was established for the complexes using the increase in the relative viscosity of the CT-DNA following addition of complexes 1 and 2. Theoretical studies showed strong preference for replacement of water by guanine for all the complexes, and relatively strong Ru-Nguanine bonds. The plane of the aromatic systems can assume angles that support non-classical interactions with the DNA and covalent binding, leading to higher binding affinities. The ruthenium arenes illustrated in this study have promising anticancer activities, with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values comparable to or better than cisplatin against three cell lines.This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia under grant no. (KEP-60-130-38)

Bioassay-guided isolation, metabolic profiling, and docking studies of hyaluronidase inhibitors from Ravenala madagascariensis

Hyaluronidase enzyme (HAase) has a role in the dissolution or disintegration of hyaluronic acid (HA) and in maintaining the heathy state of skin. Bioassay-guided fractionation of Ravenala madagascariensis (Sonn.) organ extracts (leaf, flower, stem, and root) testing for hyaluronidase inhibition was performed followed by metabolic profiling using LC&ndash;HRMS. Additionally, a hyaluronidase docking study was achieved using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE). Results showed that the crude hydroalcoholic (70% EtOH) extract of the leaves as well as its n-butanol (n-BuOH) partition showed higher HAase activity with 64.3% inhibition. Metabolic analysis of R. madagascariensis resulted in the identification of 19 phenolic compounds ranging from different chemical classes (flavone glycosides, flavonol glycosides, and flavanol aglycones). Bioassay-guided purification of the leaf n-BuOH partition led to the isolation of seven compounds that were identified as narcissin, rutin, epiafzelechin, epicatechin, isorhamnetin 7-O-glucoside, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin-7-O-rutinoside. The docking study showed that narcissin, rutin, and quercetin 3-O-glucoside all interact with HAase through hydrogen bonding with the Asp111, Gln271, and/or Glu113 residues. Our results highlight Ravenala madagascariensis and its flavonoids as promising hyaluronidase inhibitors in natural cosmetology preparations for skin care

Cystic Fibrosis in Egyptian Children: Achievements and Future Directions

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common potentially lethal and life-shortening genetic disease caused by mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Clinical consequences of the CFTR defect are site-specific and range from severe (lungs, pancreas, male reproductive tract) to mild (intestine) to asymptomatic (sweat glands). In many developing countries CF has remained largely unrecognized, and inadequately managed, resulting in avoidable death or suffering in infancy, childhood, and adulthood. Delivering adequate CF services is met by substantial difficulties as the spectrum and distribution of CF in Egypt are still not well known. Against this background, the aim of this work is to emphasize the challenges facing initiation of a CF center in low privileged settings with the objectives of improving diagnosis, survival, and to eventually provide optimum management. Strategies for the implementation and development of CF services, as well as proper collection and documentation of patient data are therefore of vital importance. The characterization of the prevalence and molecular genetics of CF in Egypt is of utmost importance so that appropriate genetic counseling to CF patients and their families can be achieved and to pave the way for new treatment modalities