The effect of dietary supplementation of calcium pidolate with or without vitamin D metabolite on production performance and egg quality in commercial laying hens

Two experiments were conducted on commercial layer hens to study the effects of dietary supplementation with two levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D₃) and two levels of calcium pidolate (with or without 25(OH)D₃) on production performance and egg quality. Experiment 1 was conducted using 90 Hy-Line Brown layer hens from 19 to 80 weeks of age and commenced in November 2012. Birds were divided into three groups of 30 hens as follows: group A (control group) fed with normal commercial layer mash feed, and groups B and C (treated groups) fed with normal commercial layer mash feed plus 0.5 g of 25(OH)D3 [premix (68.9 μg 25(OH)D₃)] per kg of feed and 1 g of 25(OH)D₃ [premix (137.8 μg 25(OH)D₃)] per kg of feed, respectively. Experiment 2 was conducted using 147 Lohmann Brown layer hens from 21 to 80 weeks of age and commenced in March 2014

THE VALUE OF PERCUTANEOUS NEEDLE BIOPSY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF LYTIC LESIONS OF THE SPINE

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the value of percutaneous needle biopsy in the diagnosis of lytic lesions in the spine. Over a five-year period, 47 percutaneous needle biopsies were performed on 45 patients for lytic lesions shown by plain radiography in one or more vertebrae. There were 24 lesions in the dorsal, 19 in the lumbar and 4 in the cervical spine. A variety of pathological conditions were found which included tuberculosis, brucellosis, tumour metastasis, myeloma and non-specific infections. Of the 47 biopsies, there were 39 positive results, 6 unreliable and 2 were negative where no pathology was found. The reliability of the biopsy was assessed either by further specimens taken during the operation for treatment of the lesion or by the result of the treatment during the follow-up period

Literature review on the efficacy of near-infrared device in improving peripheral venous access time and number of attempts in pediatric patients

IntroductionThe process of peripheral venous access (PVA) in children can be challenging for the patient and the clinician, as failed attempts often exceed the recommended two insertions, which can be painful. To speed up the process and increase success, near-infrared device (NIR) device technology has been introduced. This literature review aimed to investigate and critically evaluate the impact of NIR devices on the number of attempts and the time of the catheterization procedure in pediatric patients from 2015 to 2022.MethodsAn electronic search was performed to identify studies in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL Plus, from 2015 to 2022. After applying eligibility criteria, seven studies were considered for further review and evaluation.ResultsThe number of successful venipuncture attempts ranged from 1 to 2.41 in control groups and from 1 to 2 in NIR groups. The procedural time required for success ranged from 37.5 s to 252 s in the control group and from 28.47 s to 200 s in the NIR groups. The NIR assistive device could be successfully used in preterm infants and children with special health care needs.ConclusionsWhile more research is needed to examine the training and application of NIR in preterm infants, some studies have shown improvement in placement success. The number of attempts and time required for a successful PVA may depend on several alternative factors, including general health, age, ethnicity, and knowledge and skills of healthcare providers. Future studies are expected to investigate how the level of experience of a healthcare provider performing venipuncture influences the outcome. More research is needed to explore additional factors that predict the success rate

Self-reported use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products in topical treatment of diabetic foot disorders by diabetic patients in Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is little published on current Saudi diabetic patients' practices when they are exposed to foot disorders such as open wound, ulcer, and skin cracks. These factors are usually influenced by local culture and communities beliefs. The aim of the current study was to identify the pattern of patients' use of CAM products in dealing with diabetic foot disorders topically in a group of diabetic patients.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>A Cross-sectional descriptive study of a representative cohort of diabetic patients living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was designed. A pre-designed questionnaire to identify local diabetics' practices in dealing topically with foot disorders including open wound, chronic ulcer, and skin cracks was designed. Questionnaire was administered by a group of trained nutrition female students to diabetics face to face living in their neighborhood. A total of 1634 Saudi diabetics were interviewed. Foot disorders occurred in approximately two thirds of the respondents 1006 (61.6%). Out of the 1006 patients who had foot disorders, 653 reported trying some sort of treatment as 307 patients (47.1%) used conventional topical medical treatment alone, 142 (21.7%) used CAM products alone, and 204 (31.2%) used both treatments. The most commonly used CAM product by the patients was Honey (56.6%) followed by Commiphora Molmol (Myrrh) in (37.4%) and Nigellia Sativa (Black seed) in (35.1%). The least to be used was Lawsonia inermis (Henna) in (12.1%). Ten common natural preparations used topically to treat diabetic foot disorders were also identified.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The use of CAM products in topical treatment of diabetic foot disorders is fairly common among Saudi diabetic patients. Honey headed the list as a solo topical preparation or in combination with other herbs namely black seeds and myrrh. The efficacy of the most common products needs further research.</p

The impact of incentives on employee performance and job satisfaction at Madinah General Hospital

The aim of this study was to identify the incentive system used by public hospitals in Saudi Arabia and its impact on employee performance and satisfaction in Medina General Hospital in particular. The study also aimed to determine the contribution of material and moral incentives provided to employees in Medina General Hospital, as well as to identify the extent to which incentives are applied in reality in the hospital and their impact on improving the performance and satisfaction of employees in Medina General Hospital. The study population included all employees in Medina General Hospital, and the study used simple random sampling. The sample size was 100 individuals. The study found a statistically significant negative correlation between incentives and job performance at 0.01, with job performance in Medina General Hospital increasing by 0.479% for every 1% increase in incentives applied. Similarly, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between incentives and job satisfaction at 0.01, with job satisfaction in Medina General Hospital increasing by 0.411% for every 1% increase in incentives applied.&nbsp

Measuring the extent of patient satisfacation with the services provided by health care in Madinah

The aim of this study was to identify the level of quality of healthcare services provided at the Madinah hospital and to measure the impact of the quality of healthcare services on patient satisfaction. The study also aimed to provide suggestions and recommendations to the hospital on how to improve the quality of healthcare services to positively impact patient satisfaction. The research will use a descriptive methodology, which involves identifying variables and phenomena related to the study, as well as an analytical methodology that analyzes the data obtained through research tools using statistical methods to achieve the study's purpose. The study found that there is a high level of quality of healthcare services in terms of their dimensions (tangibles, reliability, safety, empathy, responsiveness), as well as a high level of patient satisfaction with healthcare services in Madinah. Furthermore, there is a statistically significant positive correlation between the level of quality of healthcare services and patient satisfaction. Specifically, for every 1% increase in the quality of healthcare services, patient satisfaction increased by 0.546%.&nbsp

Green Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Ag/Fe₂O₃ Nanocomposite Using <i>Buddleja lindleyana</i> Extract

In the study reported in this manuscript, silver/iron oxide nanocomposites (Ag/Fe2O3) were phytosynthesized using the extract of Buddleja lindleyana via a green, economical and eco-friendly strategy. The biosynthesized Ag/Fe2O3 nanocomposites were characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, XRD, TEM, DLS and SEM-EDX analyses. The particulates showed a triangular and spherical morphology having sizes between 25 and 174 nm. FTIR studies on the nanoparticles showed functional groups corresponding to organic metabolites, which reduce and stabilize the Ag/Fe2O3 nanocomposite. The antimicrobial efficacy of the phytosynthesized Ag/Fe2O3 against bacterial pathogens was assessed. In addition, Ag/Fe2O3 exhibited broad spectrum activities against B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa with inhibition zones of 23.4 ± 0.75, 22.3 ± 0.57, 20.8 ± 1.6, and 19.5 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. The Ag/Fe2O3 composites obtained showed promising antibacterial action against human bacterial pathogens (S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa), making them candidates for medical applications

The drug delivery of methimazole through the sensing function assessments of BeO fullerene-like particles: DFT study

Due to importance of developing insights into the related issues of drug delivery processes, the beryllium oxide fullerene-like particles were investigated in this work the in the original BeO form and a zinc-enhanced ZnBeO form to work for the sensing function of methimazole (MET) drug. Optimizing the geometries of molecular models and obtaining their structural and electronic features were done under performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. To show the impacts of zinc-enhancement, singular and complex states of molecular models were analyzed based on the performed calculated results for the BeO and ZnBeO particles to detect and adsorb the MET counterpart. Formations of two MBeO complexes and one MZnBeO complex were obtained by the optimizations, in which the features of ZnBeO particle were found better for the formation of MZnBeO complex remarkably more suitable than the features of original BeO particle for the formation of MBeO complexes. In this regard, based on the adsorption strengths and the corresponding electronic-based frontier molecular orbital features, the models were characterized and to measure the recovery time and conductance rate features for the BeO and ZnBeO particles towards the sensing function of MET counterpart in order to approach a successful drug delivery process

Metal-doped fullerenes as promising drug carriers of hydroxycarbamide anticancer: Insights from density functional theory

Assessing an idea of metal-doped fullerenes (MF) as promising drug carriers of hydroxycarbamide; also known as hydroxyurea, (Hyd) anticancer was done in this work by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A model of carbon fullerene was doped by each of iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) transition metal atoms to provide enhanced FeF, NiF, and ZnF doped fullerenes for working towards the Hyd anticancer regarding the drug delivery issues. The model were optimized and their evaluated features indicated a possibility of occurrence of MF → Hyd@MF mechanism through the involving O…M and H…C interactions from the Hyd side to the MF side. The longest recovery time duration was supposed to be found for the Hyd@ZnF complex because of the largest strength and the highest conductance rate variation was supposed to be found for the Hyd@NiF complex because of the smallest energy gap. However, all the complex models were in a reasonable level of formations and electronic variations to be monitored for approaching a sensing or detecting function. In this regard, the enhanced models of FeF, NiF, and ZnF doped fullerenes were found suitable to work as promising carriers of Hyd anticancer regarding the drug delivery issues by the formation of interacting Hyd@FeF, Hyd@NiF, and Hyd@ZnF complexes in meaningful levels of structural and electronic features