THE CORRELATION OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-9 WITH STROKE AND PREVALENCE, RISK FACTORS, AND KNOWLEDGE OF STROKE AMONG PALESTINIANS

Objectives: The research study aims to estimate the prevalence of the stroke, to evaluate the stroke associated risk factors, and to determine the factors and symptoms associated with the knowledge of the stroke among the Palestinian population. Furthermore, to find the association between matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels and the stroke, the concentration of MMP-9 in the serum of stroke patients was measured. Methods: The research study includes a cross-sectional survey that was conducted. The serum MMP-9 levels were also measured in 11 stroke patients using an ELISA reader. Statistical analysis was performed by GraphPad Prism version 8. Sociodemographic characteristics of stroke patients associated with stroke among the Palestinian population were also obtained and analyzed. Results: The higher incidence of the stroke was in the patient’s ages between 51 and 60 years old, with 30 patients (46%) of the total stroke patients. The majority of the stroke patients 40 (60.6%) were having enough income. Most of the stroke patients (29, 43.9%) were none educated. The majority of the stroke patients 48 (72.2%) had a family member/s who has been diagnosed with a stroke. Most of the stroke patients 60 (90.9%) have sudden numbness, weakness in the face, arms, and legs. All the samples analyzed showed a marked increase in MMP-9 concentration. Conclusions: The prevalence of stroke and the high risk of stroke were high among adults aged ≥51 years in Palestine. Hypertension was the highest risk factor for stroke. The serum MMP-9 could be an important prognostic factor for the stroke

Computer-Assisted Design for Paracetamol Masking Bitter Taste Prodrugs

It is believed that the bitter taste of paracetamol, a pain killer drug, is due to its hydroxyl group. Hence, it is expected that blocking the hydroxy group with a suitable linker could inhibit the interaction of paracetamol with its bitter taste receptor/s and hence masking its bitterness. Using DFT theoretical calculations we calculated proton transfers in ten different Kirby’s enzyme models, 1–10. The calculation results revealed that the reaction rate is linearly correlated with the distance between the two reactive centers (rGM) and the angle of the hydrogen bonding (α) formed along the reaction pathway. Based on these results three novel tasteless paracetamol prodrugs were designed and the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for their proton transfers were calculated. Based on the experimental t1/2 (the time needed for the conversion of 50% of the reactants to products) and EM (effective molarity) values for processes 1–10 we have calculated the t1/2 values for the conversion of the three prodrugs to the parental drug, paracetamol. The calculated t1/2 values for ProD 1–3 were found to be 21.3 hours, 4.7 hours and 8 minutes, respectively. Thus, the rate by which the paracetamol prodrug undergoes cleavage to release paracetamol can be determined according to the nature of the linker of the prodrug (Kirby’s enzyme model 1–10). Further, blocking the phenolic hydroxyl group by a linker moiety is believed to hinder the paracetamol bitterness.The Karaman Co. is thanked for support of our computational facilities. Special thanks are also given to Angi Karaman, Donia Karaman, Rowan Karaman and Nardene Karaman for technical assistance

Phytochemical Analysis of Cultivated and Wild Salvia Palaestina using GC-MS: Acomparative study

The leaves of cultivated populations of Salvia palaestina (Lamiaceae) were collected from seven different governorates in Palestine to compare their phytochemical profiles to wild populations. Twenty volatile and semivolatile components were separated and identified by GC-MS. The major components in all the cultivated S. palaestina leaves were eucalyptol and camphor excluding one sample that was collected from Jericho. This sample revealed camphor as the predominant component (30.65%) while in the rest of the cultivated samples, camphor did not exceed 9.2% level. Moreover, thujone derivatives in Jericho's sample were abundant at high concentrations (28.9%) in comparison to other populations which did not exceed more than 2%. The wild S. palaestina leaves, showed eucalyptol as a major component in all samples from different locations with higher concentration than the cultivated leaves, while the later had a higher amount of camphor.We would like to thank the Central Public Health Laboratory CPHL staff, Ministry of Health in Ramallah for providing the GC-MS instrument for the analysis. Special thanks to Dr. Asad Ramlawi, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health for his continuous support. Thanks are extended to Mr. Ibrahim Salem for facilitating this research at the Ministry of Health in Ramallah

MONOCYTES AND LYMPHOCYTES PROGNOSIS TOOLS AMONG STROKE PATIENTS

Objectives: The values of white blood cell types were evaluated to determine which one is the most potential index in the diagnosis of patients with ischemic stroke (IS). Besides, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) were determined to confirm whether there is a relationship between these parameters and stroke. Methods: One thousand files of patients admitted between January 2017 and March 2020 to intensive care units at Alia Governmental Hospital in Hebron-Palestine were reviewed and evaluated. Only a total of 87 patients were found to meet our inclusion criteria and included in the study and a total of 913 patients were excluded. Besides, complete blood counts of a total of 95 patients’ data were also collected randomly from Private Lab in Hebron district, and were considered as healthy individuals (HI); that is, a control group. The data were introduced to the excel program 2010 version to facilitate reading and analysis. GraphPad Prism version (8.3.4.) was used to analyze the data. The data of patients and HI were compared to determine which value/s of these blood components is associated with the risk of stroke. Results: Different types of white blood cells; monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils for stroke and healthy patients were collected and compared. Besides, the platelet count was also compared. It was found a marked significant decrease in the monocytes counts in all stroke patients (100–1500 cell/ul) compare to monocytes counts in the healthy donors (310–1740 cell/ul). Lymphocytes were also significantly decreased among all stroke patients (300–8600 cells/ul) compare to HI (910–9000 cells/ul). There was no significant increase in neutrophils in stroke patients. The ratios of neutrophils to monocytes and neutrophils to lymphocytes in stroke patients were compared too. The results showed a significantly elevated neutrophil ratio compare to monocytes and lymphocytes in all stroke patients. The platelet counts in stroke patients were also found less compared to HI. The percentages of these blood components were also evaluated. Conclusion: It is demonstrated that patients with stroke have lower lymphocyte and higher monocyte counts, and therefore, lower LMR values compared to the control group. It was found that MLR was significantly correlated with IS. LMR is associated with functional outcomes in patients with stroke

SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM AMONG END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE PATIENTS

Objectives: The study aims to determine the incidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in chronic kidney disease patients, the correlation between creatinine, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and phosphate, and calcium in renal disease. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed, a total of 100 hemodialysis patients’ reports were analyzed from January 2019 to December 2019, at Hebron Governmental Hospital, in Hebron, Palestine. The patients’ data were collected, including creatinine level, calcium, and phosphorus in addition to PTH concentrations. Twenty-five healthy persons with normal kidney function were also included in the study as a control for comparison. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22 was used to analyze the data. T-test and Pearson’s tests were used to study the results. R (Pearson’s test) was used to determine the correlation between creatinine, PTH, phosphate, and calcium. Results: The mean values of serum of creatinine, phosphate, calcium, and PTH were determined for both patients and the control. Levels of PTH were significantly higher in kidney failure patients and positively correlated with creatinine and phosphate. However, levels of PTH were significantly negatively correlated with calcium. All patients included in the study have very high levels of PTH PTH. This increase might be due to many factors that contributed to the hypersecretion of PTH. The correlations between these predisposing factors of SHPT are explained. Conclusion: The study showed that SHPT is common among patients with end-stage renal disease. The most complications of SHPT are mineral and bone metabolism disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, early detection and treatment of SHPT may control these complications

Development and characterization of paracetamol medicated lollipops

The oral route is the most common route of administration of drugs because of the low cost of therapy, ease of administration, patient compliance, and flexibility in formulation. Taking oral medicine is extremely odious to some patients, such as pediatric and geriatric patients. Paracetamol is one of the most used antipyretic and analgesic drugs, used in the management of fever and headache. Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) is common among pediatric and geriatric patients. Accordingly, there is a need for a solid form of medicine that is in a form easy to take and swallow, such as lollipops. The main objective of the present research study is to provide a solid form of medicine that is in a form that makes it pleasant to take and swallow by pediatric, geriatric, and bedridden patients, and avoid the dangers of being swallowed as do the other solid forms in those patients. However, lollipop is designed to improve patient compliance, acceptability, transportation, etc

A REVIEW ON CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19)

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus that may cause illness in animals or humans. SARS-CoV-2 was first identified in late December 2019, in Wuhan, China. The coronavirus infected patients ‘who suffering from Immundeficient or chronic inflammation are at higher risk of getting a severe infection from COVID-19. The symptoms such as proinflammatory and hypercoagulable, non-cardiac pneumonia, multi-organ failure, and ARDS resulting in sudden death have been seen in those patients. Supportive treatment is still the main strategy in treating this disease since there is no evidence that current medicine can prevent or cure the infection resulting from coronavirus. However, more investigations are needed to illustrate their biochemical and hematological disorders, complications, prevention, and treatments. In conclusion, this review provides the most recent information on the current global pandemic coronavirus infection (COVID-19), which may help the health workers and researchers to pursue their studies