Effect of maturation time on dormancy and germination of Citrullus colocynthis (Cucurbitaceae) seeds from the Arabian hyper-arid deserts.

Background: Light and temperatures of germination greatly affect germination of several Cucurbitaceae species. Environmental conditions prevailing at seed maturation time can affect dormancy and germination requirements. Citrullus colocynthis seeds have a deep dormancy.

Investigation of viral and bacterial enteropathogens of diarrheic sheep and goats in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Diarrhea is a serious problem in sheep and goat farming, causing great economic losses. Most viral and bacterial enteropathogens of diarrheic sheep and goats are considered foodborne pathogens with a potential to be zoonotic. The present study investigated the prevalence of some viral and bacterial enteropathogens in diarrheic sheep and goats between October 2015and February 2016 in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Zn Interrupts R4-R3 Association Leading to Accelerated Aggregation of Tau Protein.

Direct binding of divalent metal ion, especially Zn , have been shown to increase the rate of tau aggregation and enhance tau toxicity in cells. Hence, understanding the molecular basis of the Zn -accelerated tau aggregation can potentially determine the molecular interactions modulating tau aggregation. Herein, we show that Zn coordinates through the cysteine in R3 repeat and significantly accelerates the aggregation rate of the three repeat tau constructs (K19) but that the coordination is incapable of increasing the aggregation rate of the 20 amino acid peptide derived from the R3 repeat (R3) of tau.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Qualitative and Quantitative Computed Tomography Analysis for Diagnosis of Pathological Grade and Stage in Upper Tract Urothelial Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare grade and stage of upper tract urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) using computed tomography.

Materials And Methods: With institutional review board approval, 48 patients with 49 UCC (44 high grade and 5 low grade, 26 ≤ T1 and 23 ≥ T2) underwent nephroureterectomy and preoperative computed tomography between 2013 and 2015. Two blinded radiologists assessed for tumor appearance (filling defect/mass or wall thickening/stricture), margin (smooth or spiculated/irregular), texture (homogeneous, heterogeneous), hydronephrosis, and calcification.

Bleeding Risk Related to Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Biopsy in Patients Receiving Antithrombotic Therapy: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Although antithrombotic agents are widely used for cardiac and cerebrovascular disease prevention, they increase the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

Objective: To examine GI bleeding risk in association with an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) biopsy performed in patients without cessation of antithrombotic therapy.

Methods: This study was prospectively conducted at 14 centers.

Do we need to screen for de-novo diabetes mellitus in chronic hepatitis C patients after a sustained virological response?

Background And Aim: There are millions of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus-infected patients who have been treated with a combination therapy (interferon and ribavirin) and have achieved a virological response (SVR) worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk factors for de-novo diabetes mellitus in CHC patients treated with combination therapy (interferon and ribavirin) and have achieved an SVR.

Patients And Methods: A total of 214 nondiabetic CHC patients with SVR and baseline homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) less than or equal to 2 were divided into group A, which included 108 patients with a BMI less than 25, and group B, which included 106 patients with a BMI of at least 25 and less than 30.

Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma of the Breast Mimicking Granulomatous Mastitis- Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the breast is an exceedingly rare variant of mammary cancer. To our knowledge, only twenty - one cases have been reported in the literature. Diagnosis of this type of mammary carcinoma may be challenging, owing to its rarity and the histopathological similarity to common inflammatory and malignant lesions of the breast mainly granulomatous mastitis, medullary carcinoma, pleomorphic lobular carcinoma, lymphoma and other hematological malignancies.

Is Ultrasound Useful for Further Evaluation of Homogeneously Hyperattenuating Renal Lesions Detected on CT?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of ultrasound (US) to characterize hyperattenuating cysts detected as indeterminate hyperattenuating renal lesions on unenhanced and single phase enhanced CT.

Materials And Methods: A total of 107 consecutive homogeneously hyperattenuating renal lesions underwent gray-scale and Doppler US at our institution between 2010 and 2013. Two radiologists who were unaware of the final diagnosis retrospectively evaluated US images for visibility and diagnosis (simple cyst, intermediate complexity cyst, cystic or solid mass showing internal flow on Doppler US, or indeterminate).

Bispectral index as a predictor of unsalvageable traumatic brain injury.

Primary Objective: We aimed to assess the utility of bispectral index (BIS) monitoring to diagnose brain death (BD) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Research Design And Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted for patients with severe TBI between 2012 and 2014.

Main Outcomes And Results: This study included 62 patients with a mean age of 32.

An evaluation of the translation of continuing education into diabetes public health care by pharmacists.

Background Pharmacists are assuming greater public health roles and partaking in continuing education to advance knowledge and skills necessary for the provision of this patient care. Objective We sought to determine what conditions in a Middle East context influence how community pharmacists actually incorporate new information into practice. Setting Community pharmacies in Qatar.

Can CT and MR Shape and Textural Features Differentiate Benign Versus Malignant Pleural Lesions?

Rationale And Objectives: The study aimed to identify a radiomic approach based on CT and or magnetic resonance (MR) features (shape and texture) that may help differentiate benign versus malignant pleural lesions, and to assess if the radiomic model may improve confidence and accuracy of radiologists with different subspecialty backgrounds.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-nine patients with pleural lesions studied on both contrast-enhanced CT and MR imaging were reviewed retrospectively. Three texture and three shape features were extracted.

Efficacy of Sofosbuvir Plus Ribavirin with or Without Peginterferon- Alfa in Treatment of a Cohort of Egyptian Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Unlabelled: Background & Aims: Sofosbuvir is a powerful drug for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In comparison to preceding remedies, sofosbuvirbased regimens provide a higher cure rate, fewer side effects, and much lower duration of treatment. The aim of the work was to assess the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin with or without peginterferon-alfa in the treatment of a cohort of Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Antithrombotic Therapy for Transcatheter Valvular Interventions: A Revisit.

Background: The optimal antithrombotic therapies for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and MitraClip implantation have not been well established. We conducted a narrative review from currently available studies between January 2002 and May 2016 to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of antithrombotic therapy use in cardiac catheter-based therapeutic techniques. Recently, these techniques have dramatically altered the approach towards valvular heart diseases management.

Evaluation of MRI for diagnosis of extraprostatic extension in prostate cancer.

Purpose: To assess the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose extraprostatic extension (EPE) in prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: With Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, 149 men with 170 ≥0.5 mL tumors underwent preoperative 3T MRI followed by radical prostatectomy (RP) between 2012-2015.

Immediate versus delayed shockwave lithotripsy for inaccessible stones after uncomplicated percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of immediate versus delayed shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) for inaccessible stones after uncomplicated percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Patients And Methods: Between December 2011 and June 2014, patients with residual inaccessible stones after uncomplicated PCNL were prospectively randomised into two treatment groups; Group I, immediate SWL and Group II, delayed SWL at 1 week after PCNL. Patients with residual stones of ⩾1.

Revision Stapedectomy with Necrosis of the Long Process of the Incus: Does the Degree of Necrosis Matter? A Retrospective Clinical Study.

Objective: To discuss the different modalities for managing necrosis of the long process of the incus in revision stapedectomy on the basis of the degree of necrosis and compare the results with those reported in the literature.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six patients underwent revision stapedectomy with the necrosis of the long process of the incus from 2009 to 2016. The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of the degree of necrosis.

Sub-Tenon's injection versus paracetamol in pediatric strabismus surgery.

Background: Emergence agitation, vomiting, and oculocardiac reflex (OCR) in children undergoing strabismus surgery under general anesthesia are common problems. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the effect of analgesia can reduce the incidence of these problems. We compared the effects of sub-Tenon's injection versus intravenous (IV) and rectal paracetamol in this surgery.

Anti-arthritic property of crude extracts of Piptadeniastrum africanum (Mimosaceae) in complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis, disease of unknown causes is a rheumatic and autoimmune pathology, recognised for its increasing frequency and its adverse consequences. It is a disease that occurs in most cases between 50 and 60 years and women are more affected than men. This study aimed at evaluating immunomodulatory and anti-arthritis capacity of aqueous and methanol extracts of stem bark of Piptadeniastrum africanum (Mimosaceae).

Genetic risk analysis of coronary artery disease in Pakistani subjects using a genetic risk score of 21 variants.

Background And Aims: Conventional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors like age, gender, blood lipids, hypertension and smoking have been the basis of CAD risk prediction algorithms, but provide only modest discrimination. Genetic risk score (GRS) may provide improved discrimination over and above conventional risk factors. Here we analyzed the genetic risk of CAD in subjects from Pakistan, using a GRS of 21 variants in 18 genes and examined whether the GRS is associated with blood lipid levels.

Common variants in the genes of triglyceride and HDL-C metabolism lack association with coronary artery disease in the Pakistani subjects.

Background: Serum Triglyceride (TG) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels are modifiable coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors. Polymorphisms in the genes regulating TG and HDL-C levels contribute to the development of CAD. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of four such single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in the genes for Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL) (rs328, rs1801177), Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) (rs66279) and Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) (rs708272) on HDL-C and TG levels and to examine the association of these SNPs with CAD risk.

Improved synthesis of aluminium nanoparticles using ultrasound assisted approach and subsequent dispersion studies in di-octyl adipate.

The present work reports on an efficient and simple one pot synthetic approach for aluminium nanoflakes and nanoparticles based on the intensification using ultrasound and provides a comparison with the conventional approach to establish the cutting edge process benefits. In situ passivation of aluminium particles with oleic acid was used as the method of synthesis in both the conventional and ultrasound assisted approaches. The aluminium nanoflakes prepared using the ultrasound assisted approach were subsequently dispersed in di-octyl adipate (DOA) and it was demonstrated that a stable dispersion of aluminium nanoflakes into di-octyl adipate (DOA) is achieved.

Prediction of Post-operative Mortality in Patients with HCV-related Cirrhosis Undergoing Non-Hepatic Surgeries.

Introduction: Patients with chronic liver diseases are at great risk for both morbidity and mortality during the post-operative period due to the stress of surgery and the effects of general anaesthesia.

Aim: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the value of Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, as compared to Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, for prediction of 30- day post-operative mortality in Egyptian patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing non-hepatic surgery under general anaesthesia.

Materials And Methods: A total of 60 patients with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) - related liver cirrhosis were included in this study.

Sestrin-3 modulation is essential for therapeutic efficacy of cucurbitacin B in lung cancer cells.

Many purified compounds from dietary sources have been investigated for their anticancer activities. The main issue with most agents is their effectiveness at high doses which generally could not be delivered to humans through dietary consumption. Here, we observed that cucurbitacin B, a tetracyclic triterpenoid present in pumpkins, gourds and squashes, exhibits antiproliferative effects on human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells at nanomolar concentrations.

Prostate volume estimations using magnetic resonance imaging and transrectal ultrasound compared to radical prostatectomy specimens.

Introduction: We sought to evaluate the accuracy of prostate volume estimates in patients who received both a preoperative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in relation to the referent pathological specimen post-radical prostatectomy.

Methods: Patients receiving both TRUS and MRI prior to radical prostatectomy at one academic institution were retrospectively analyzed. TRUS and MRI volumes were estimated using the prolate ellipsoid formula.