Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Medication Errors among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study in Major Jeddah Hospitals.

Medication error is a multifactorial problem that mainly involves missing or bypassing the administration, which may have life-threatening impacts on the patient. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of information on medication errors among nurses in Saudi Arabia. This study investigates the knowledge and attitudes toward medication errors and their associated factors among nurses in Saudi Arabia.

G-quadruplex microspheres-based optical RNA biosensor for arthropod-borne virus pathogen detection: A proof-of-concept with dengue serotype 2.

Dengue virus (DENV) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus and that the detection of viral RNA itself is highly desirable, which can be achieved by using RNA biosensor diagnostic method. Herein, acrylic micropolymer-based optical RNA biosensor was developed by binding anionic copper(II) phthalocyanine (CPC) planar aromatic ligand to the G-quadruplex DNA probe via end-stacking with π-system of the guanine (G) quartet, and a blue coloration was developed on the G-quadruplex microspheres. Hybridization of G-quadruplex DNA probe with target DENV serotype 2 (DENV2) RNA unfolded the G-quadruplex, and rendering release of the CPC planar optical label, causing discoloration of the G-quadruplex microbiosensor.

Sandwich-Type DNA Micro-Optode Based on Gold-Latex Spheres Label for Reflectance Dengue Virus Detection.

A DNA micro-optode for dengue virus detection was developed based on the sandwich hybridization strategy of DNAs on succinimide-functionalized poly(-butyl acrylate) (poly(BA-NAS)) microspheres. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with an average diameter of ~20 nm were synthesized using a centrifugation-based method and adsorbed on the submicrometer-sized polyelectrolyte-coated poly(styrene--acrylic acid) (PSA) latex particles via an electrostatic method. The AuNP-latex spheres were attached to the thiolated reporter probe (rDNA) by Au-thiol binding to functionalize as an optical gold-latex-rDNA label.

Reflectance aptasensor based on metal salphen label for rapid and facile determination of insulin.

An optical aptasensor-based sensing platform for rapid insulin detection was fabricated. Aminated porous silica microparticles (PSiMPs) were synthesized via a facile mini-emulsion method to provide large surface area for covalent immobilization of insulin-binding DNA aptamer (IGA3) by glutaraldehyde cross-linking protocol. A Nickel-salphen type complex with piperidine side chain [Ni(II)-SP] was synthesized with a simple one-pot reaction, and functionalized as an optical label due to strong π-π interaction between aromatic carbons of G-quadruplex DNA aptamer and planar aromatic groups of Ni(II)-SP to form the immobilized IGA3-Ni(II)-SP complex, i.

Acrylic-based genosensor utilizing metal salphen labeling approach for reflectometric dengue virus detection.

An optical genosensor based on Schiff base complex (Zn salphen) DNA label and acrylic microspheres (AMs) as polymer support of the capturing DNA probe (cpDNA) was developed for dengue virus serotype 2 (DEN-2) detection via reflectance spectrophotometric method. The solid-state optical DNA biosensor showed high selectivity and specificity up to one-base mismatch in the target DNA sequence owing to the salphen chemical structure that is rich in localized electrons, and allowed π-π stacking interaction between stacked base pairs of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). The reflectometric DNA microsensor demonstrated a broad linear detection range towards DEN-2 DNA from 1 × 10 M to 1 × 10 M with a low limit of detection (LOD) obtained at 1.

Meta-analysis of biomarkers for severe dengue infections.

Background: Dengue viral infection is an acute infection that has the potential to have severe complications as its major sequela. Currently, there is no routine laboratory biomarker with which to predict the severity of dengue infection or monitor the effectiveness of standard management. Hence, this meta-analysis compared biomarker levels between dengue fever (DF) and severe dengue infections (SDI) to identify potential biomarkers for SDI.

A transmission electron microscopy study of anticoagulant-induced platelet vesiculation.

Highlights: EDTA induces platelet microparticles (PMPs) vesiculation.Sodium citrated tubes are better than EDTA tubes in PMPs analysis.Sodium citrate has a minor impact on platelet structure.

Meta-Analysis of Dengue Severity during Infection by Different Dengue Virus Serotypes in Primary and Secondary Infections.

Introduction: Dengue virus (DENV) infection is currently a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world; it has become more common and virulent over the past half-century and has gained much attention. Thus, this review compared the percentage of severe cases of both primary and secondary infections with different serotypes of dengue virus.

Methods: Data related to the number of cases involving dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), dengue shock syndrome (DSS) or severe dengue infections caused by different serotypes of dengue virus were obtained by using the SCOPUS, the PUBMED and the OVID search engines with the keywords "(dengue* OR dengue virus*) AND (severe dengue* OR severity of illness index* OR severity* OR DF* OR DHF* OR DSS*) AND (serotypes* OR serogroup*)", according to the MESH terms suggested by PUBMED and OVID.

A case series of acquired haemophilia in a Malaysian hospital: unpredictably rare medical emergency.

Acquired haemophilia (AH) is a rare bleeding disorder characterized by the presence of acquired inhibitors against Factor VIII causing disruption of coagulation cascade. It has no known genetic inheritance, and diagnosis remains a challenge. The peculiar presentations are later age of onset as acute pain in weight-bearing joints and spontaneous muscle haematoma with isolated prolonged activated partial thrombin time (APTT).

The Socio-Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Quality of Life among Patients with Haematological Cancer in a Large Government Hospital in Malaysia.

Background: The paper examined the quality of life of haematological cancer patients according to their socio-demographic profiles and clinical diagnoses.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the tertiary referral centre of Ampang Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, involving 105 patients. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire was used to measure their quality of life.

Assessment of depression and anxiety in haematological cancer patients and their relationship with quality of life.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders and the quality of life of haematological cancer patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Ampang Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a tertiary referral centre hospital for haematological cancer. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders.