Microplastics as an Emerging Potential Threat: Toxicity, Life Cycle Assessment, and Management.

The pervasiveness of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems has become a significant environmental concern in recent years. Because of their slow rate of disposal, MPs are ubiquitous in the environment. As a consequence of indiscriminate use, landfill deposits, and inadequate recycling methods, MP production and environmental accumulation are expanding at an alarming rate, resulting in a range of economic, social, and environmental repercussions.

Short-Beam Shear Strength of New-Generation Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars Under Harsh Environment: Experimental Study and Artificial Neural Network Prediction Model.

In this study, the short-beam shear strength (SBSS) retention of two types of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars-sand-coated (SG) and ribbed (RG)-was subjected to alkaline, acidic, and water conditions for up to 12 months under both high-temperature and ambient laboratory conditions. Comparative assessments were also performed on older-generation sand-coated (SG-O) and ribbed (RG-O1 and RG-O2) GFRP bars exposed to identical conditions. The results demonstrate that the new-generation GFRP bars, SG and RG, exhibited significantly better durability in harsh environments and exhibited SBSS retentions varying from 61 to 100% in SG and 90-98% in RG under the harshest conditions compared to 56-69% in SG-O, 71-80% in RG-O1, and 74-88% in RG-O2.

Biorefinery and Bioremediation Strategies for Efficient Management of Recalcitrant Pollutants Using Termites as an Obscure yet Promising Source of Bacterial Gut Symbionts: A Review.

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) in the form of agricultural, forestry, and agro-industrial wastes is globally generated in large volumes every year. The chemical components of LCB render them a substrate valuable for biofuel production. It is hard to dissolve LCB resources for biofuel production because the lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose parts stick together rigidly.

Cancer Biomarkers and Precision Oncology: A Review of Recent Trends and Innovations.

The discovery of cancer-specific biomarkers has resulted in major advancements in the field of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, therefore significantly lowering cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Cancer biomarkers can be generally classified as prognostic biomarkers that predict specific disease outcomes and predictive biomarkers that predict disease response to targeted therapeutic interventions. As research in the area of predictive biomarkers continues to grow, precision medicine becomes far more integrated in cancer treatment.

Occupational Exposure to Sharp Object Injuries Among Healthcare Workers in Dammam and Jeddah Hospitals, Saudi Arabia‏.

Objective: This study identify the prevalence of sharp object injuries (SOIs) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Dammam and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Quantitative methodology using a cross-sectional design was applied. Chi-square testing was employed for comparative analyses, and logistic regression encompassing univariate and multivariate models was implemented to ascertain the predictors of SOIs.

Generational Advancements in the Transverse Shear Strength Retention of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars in Alkaline and Acidic Environments.

In this study, the transverse shear strength (TSS) retention of two types of new-generation glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars, namely ribbed (RB) and sand-coated (SC) bars, was investigated under alkaline, acidic, and marine conditions in both high-temperature and laboratory environments for up to one year. The ribbed GFRP bars exhibited no notable reduction in strength under ambient conditions after 12 months, but under high-temperature conditions (60 °C), they showed TSS reductions of 10.6%, 9.

Clinical exome sequencing data from patients with inborn errors of immunity: Cohort level diagnostic yield and the benefit of systematic reanalysis.

While next generation sequencing has expanded the scientific understanding of Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI), the clinical use and re-use of exome sequencing is still emerging. We revisited clinical exome data from 1300 IEI patients using an updated in silico IEI gene panel. Variants were classified and curated through expert review.

Impact of wheat processing on growth, serum biochemistry, and ruminal microbiota in sheep (Ovis aries).

This study investigated the impact of wheat processing methods (wheat flour vs wheat pellets) on the growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, and rumen microbiome composition in sheep. Results indicated that feeding of wheat flour resulted in significantly higher terminal weight and average daily gain (P < 0.05) and lower cholesterol and ALP04 levels (P < 0.

The potential role of religiosity, psychological immunity, gender, and age group in predicting the psychological well-being of diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia within the Bayesian framework.

This study aimed to investigate the differences in Religiosity (R), Mental Immunity (MI), and Psychological Well-Being (PWB) in patients with diabetes due to gender and age group variables, and to detect the best predictors of PWB in diabetic patients within the Bayesian framework. The study was conducted from May 2022 to February 2023 on a random sample of 186 Saudis diagnosed with diabetes. After obtaining participants' consent, they completed three R, MI, and PWB scales.

Survey Research Among Neurosurgeons: A Bibliometric Review of the Characteristics, Quality, and Citation Predictors of the Top 50 Most-Influential Publications in the Neurosurgical Literature.

Survey research enables the gathering of information on individual perspectives in a large cohort. It can be epidemiological, attitude or knowledge focussed. Assessment of survey studies sampling neurosurgeons is currently lacking in the literature.

Vitamin E for the Prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious condition that may develop in patients undergoing diagnostic radiologic procedures. Several treatments have been assessed to prevent CIN development. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of vitamin E in the prevention of CIN compared to intravenous (IV) saline hydration.

Burden of Chronic Hemodialysis on the Ability to Work: Time for Action.

 Understanding the factors that contribute to unemployment will help in the design of creative resolutions to enable hemodialysis patients to return to a productive life.  We examined employment among 625 patients aged 18 to 60 years who were on hemodialysis in 8 dialysis units.  Overall employment was low among patients on chronic hemodialysis at 49.

Transplantation of hyaluronic acid and menstrual blood-derived stem cells accelerated wound healing in a diabetic rat model.

Diabetic wounds require a multifactorial approach because several factors are involved in its occurrence. Herein we investigated whether transplantation of hyaluronic acid (HA) in combination with menstrual blood derived stem cells (MenSCs) could promote healing in diabetic rats. Thirty days after induction of diabetes, sixty animals were randomly planned into four equal groups: the untreated group, HA group, MenSC group, and HA+MenSC group.

Physicians' attitudes and confidence toward dementia care: A cross-sectional study at primary healthcare facilities in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Primary care physicians play an essential role in the health of older adults as they are frequently the first point of contact. Their positive attitude and knowledge influence the quality of care provided to patients with dementia and their caregivers. This study examined the attitudes of primary care physicians towards dementia care and their confidence in their own dementia-care skills.

Molecular diagnostic yield of whole-exome sequencing in Saudi autistic children with epilepsy.

Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition that affects social communication and causes repetitive behavior. Autistic children often have comorbidities such as epilepsy. Although the co-occurrence of epilepsy and ASD is frequent, the genetic basis for this association is not fully understood.

Clinical and patient-reported outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease from real-world practices in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt.

Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) experience health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) impairments. We assessed and identified predictors of HRQoL and PROs in CLD patients from Saudi Arabia (SA), Turkey and Egypt. Patients enrolled in Global Liver Registry™ with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were included.

Consanguineous Marriage and Its Association With Genetic Disorders in Saudi Arabia: A Review.

Consanguineous marriages, where spouses are related by blood, have been a longstanding practice in human history. The primary medical concern with consanguineous marriages is the increased risk of genetic disorders. When closely related individuals reproduce, there is a higher probability that both parents carry the same genetic mutation.

Studying the correlation of inflammatory cytokines to COVID-19 disease.

Extreme response of the immune system develops cytokine storm which might be crucial in the pathology of COVID-19. The research aims to evaluate the serum level of IL-6, TNF-α, and IP-10 in severe, mild, and pre-vaccinated one-dose COVID-19 patients and investigate their clinical value and effect in the disease development among different groups of patients. A total of 72 samples were collected 18 as healthy control and 54 from confirmed COVID-19 patients including 18 mild, 18 severe, and 18 pre-vaccinated (one dose).

Genetic Polymorphisms of and Genes and Smoking Susceptibility in the Saudi Population.

Background/objective/methods: Glutathione-S-transferase Mu1 () and glutathione peroxidase 1 () are known antioxidant enzymes that help protect cells from the oxidative damage that occurs from smoking. This study explored the correlation between and levels between a group of smokers with the and genes in the Saudi population and a control group and investigated the genetic risk factors in the group of smokers.

Results: The control and smokers' group ( = 50; aged 22.

Biogenic Zinc oxide nanoparticles from : toward improved antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities.

Biogenic Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized from () plant extract. Structural analysis confirms the successful synthesis of biogenic zinc oxide NPs from . extract.

Green Synthesis of Chitosan-Capped Gold Nanoparticles Using Extract: Biochemical Characterization and Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities.

Increasing antimicrobial resistance to the action of existing antibiotics has prompted researchers to identify new natural molecules with antimicrobial potential. In this study, a green system was developed for biosynthesizing gold nanoparticles (BAuNPs) using sage ( L.) leaf extract bioconjugated with non-toxic, eco-friendly, and biodegradable chitosan, forming chitosan/gold bioconjugates (Chi/BAuNPs).