The impacts of microplastics on zebrafish behavior depend on initial personality state.

Microplastic pollution is associated with inflammation, gut dysbiosis and behavioral changes in fish. Fish have distinct personality traits but the role of personality in behavioral toxicology is rarely considered. We classified zebrafish on four behavioral axes: boldness, anxiety, sociability and exploration tendency then exposed them to low- or high- concentrations of two types of polyethylene microplastics (low- and high-density) for 28 days.

Detection of foot-and-mouth disease viruses from the A/AFRICA/G-I genotype in the Sultanate of Oman.

Rapid identification and characterization of circulating foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) strains is crucial for effective disease control. In Oman, a few serological and molecular studies have been conducted to identify the strains of FMDV responsible for the outbreaks that have been occurring within the country. In this study, 13 oral epithelial tissue samples from cattle were collected from suspected cases of FMD in Ash Sharqiyah North, Al Batinah North, Dhofar and Ad Dhakhyilia governorates of Oman between 2018 and 2021.

Machine Learning Approach for Predicting Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in an Oman-Based Cohort.

Objectives: This study aimed to design a machine learning-based prediction framework to predict the presence or absence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a cohort of Omani patients.

Methods: Data of 219 patients from 2006 to 2019 were extracted from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital's electronic records. Among these, 138 patients had SLE, while the remaining 81 had other rheumatologic diseases.

Cilia Ultrastructure Associated with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia in Omani Patients.

Objectives: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a disorder affecting the structure and function of the motile cilia of the respiratory system. Transmission electron microscopy is one method that can be used to examine ciliary ultrastructure in airway biopsies. Although the role of ultrastructural findings in PCD has been described in the literature, this role has not been well-studied in the Middle East or, specifically, Oman.

The Association of Human Leukocyte Antigens Complex with Type 1 Diabetes in the Omani Population.

Objectives: Identification of the high risk alleles, genotypes and haplotypes of the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in different populations is beneficial for understanding their roles in type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis and intervention practices. This study aimed to identify T1D-associated HLA gene alleles in the Omani population.

Methods: The present case-control study included 73 diabetic seropositive children (mean age 9.

Two unique BAP1 pathogenic variants identified in the same family by panel cascade testing.

Germline pathogenic variants in the tumor suppressor gene BAP1 are associated with the hereditary tumor predisposition syndrome with susceptibility to uveal melanoma, mesothelioma, cutaneous melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and other cancers. Germline BAP1 pathogenic variants are rare in the non-cancer general population with an estimated carrier frequency of 1:19,898 but more common in cancer patients with a carrier frequency of 1:1299. In the following we present the first report of a family with two unique BAP1 pathogenic variants.

Short- and long-term outcomes following robotic and open resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A national cohort study.

Background: Curative-intent liver resection with porta hepatis lymphadenectomy provides the best chance for long-term survival for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). While the robotic approach has been increasingly utilized, its impact on perioperative and long-term outcomes of patients with ICC are largely unknown.

Methods: Patients with stages I-III ICC who underwent surgical resection between 2004 and 2017 were identified from the National Cancer Database.

Detection of Trypanosoma Infection in Dromedary Camels by Using Different Diagnostic Techniques in Northern Oman.

Camel trypanosomoses is considered a devastating disease with severe health consequences that can be caused by different hemoprotozoan parasites. Camel samples (388) from the five regions in Northern Oman were assessed using a thin blood film. In addition, 95 seropositive samples were analyzed using various primers of mechanically transmitted trypanosomes.

Impact of delay in adjuvant therapy for gallbladder adenocarcinoma.

Background: Receipt of adjuvant therapy for gallbladder adenocarcinoma (GBAC) is associated with a survival benefit. This study sought to identify whether delays in initiation of adjuvant therapy among patients with resected GBAC impacts long-term survival.

Methods: Patients with stage II and III GBAC who underwent a curative-intent resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation between 2004 and 2017 were queried from the National Cancer Data Base.

Surgical treatment of hepatic oligometastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Background: Patients with liver-only metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma have traditionally been offered palliative chemotherapy alone. Recent studies have explored the role of surgical resection among patients with limited metastatic disease. National practice patterns and the impact of surgery among these patients remains unknown.

Estimate of the HOMA-IR Cut-off Value for Identifying Subjects at Risk of Insulin Resistance Using a Machine Learning Approach.

Objectives: This study describes an unsupervised machine learning approach used to estimate the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) cut-off for identifying subjects at risk of IR in a given ethnic group based on the clinical data of a representative sample.

Methods: The approach was applied to analyse the clinical data of individuals with Arab ancestors, which was obtained from a family study conducted in Nizwa, Oman, between January 2000 and December 2004. First, HOMA-IR-correlated variables were identified to which a clustering algorithm was applied.

Bioremediation of copper by active cells of Pseudomonas stutzeri LA3 isolated from an abandoned copper mine soil.

Copper bioremoval efficiency and bioaccumulation capacity of Pseudomonas stutzeri LA3 isolated from copper contaminated soil were investigated. P. stutzeri LA3 removed about 50% of Cu (II) at 50 mg l of concentration and accumulated a maximum of 1.

Computed Tomography-Assessed Skeletal Muscle Mass as a Predictor of Outcomes in Lung Cancer Surgery.

Background: Sarcopenia is characterized by loss of skeletal muscle and strength, associated with aging, poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyle, and long-term illness. We sought to evaluate the current evidence on the prevalence of sarcopenia assessed by computed tomography (CT) imaging in patients undergoing lung cancer resection and its predictive value for perioperative and long-term outcomes.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search of the PubMed/MEDLINE database to identify studies that examined CT-assessed muscle mass and outcomes of patients undergoing lung resection.

Family planning in Pakistan: applying what we have learned.

Despite six decades of government and private sector programs, CPR in Pakistan is among the lowest in the region. This article reviews published and grey literature to understand why despite sufficient time and usually sufficient funding, CPR remains low in Pakistan. This paper looks beyond the usual factors of quality of services, coverage and supplies and management issues to examine how family planning may be improved in Pakistan.