Simultaneous determination of the brand new two-drug combination for the treatment of hepatitis C: Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir using smart spectrophotometric methods manipulating ratio spectra.

In this work, various sensitive and selective spectrophotometric methods were first introduced for the simultaneous determination of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir in their binary mixture without preliminary separation. Ledipasvir was determined simply by zero-order spectrophotometric method at its λ=333.0nm in a linear range of 2.

Gastrointestinal Basidiobolomycosis: An Emerging, and A Confusing, Disease in Children (A Multicenter Experience).

Introduction:  Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis (GIB) is an emerging fungal infection in children that leads to diagnostic confusion.

Aim:  Our study aim was twofold: a systematic review of published literature and an update of some Saudi Arabia hospital series to analyze their as well as our own experience in diagnosis and management of GIB.

Material And Methods:  This clinical study included 18 children whose final diagnosis was GIB.

Identification and Structure Elucidation of Forced Degradation Products of the Novel Propionic acid Derivative Loxoprofen: Development of Stability-Indicating Chromatographic Methods Validated as per ICH Guidelines.

Loxoprofen sodium (LOX) is a recently developed novel propionic acid derivative. Owing to its instability under both hydrolytic and oxidative conditions, the development of simple, rapid and sensitive methods for its determination in the presence of its possible forced degradation products becomes essential. Two simple chromatographic methods, high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), were developed associated with ultraviolet (UV) detection.

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of Pharmaceutical Products.

Monitoring of microbiological quality in the pharmaceutical industry is an important criterion that is required to justify safe product release to the drug market. Good manufacturing practice and efficient control on bioburden level of product components are critical parameters that influence the microbiological cleanliness of medicinal products. However, because microbial dispersion through the samples follows Poisson distribution, the rate of detection of microbiologically defective samples lambda (λ) decreases when the number of defective units per batch decreases.

Repositioning of chlorambucil as a potential anti-schistosomal agent.

As parasites and cancer cells share many lifestyle and behavioral resemblances, repositioning of anti-cancerous agents as anti-parasitic is quite trendy, especially those sharing the same therapeutic targets. Therefore, the current study investigated the in vitro efficacy of ascending concentrations of chlorambucil (0.5-20μg/ml) against adult Schistosoma mansoni worms, over 72h.

Role of school teachers in identifying attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among primary school children in Mansoura, Egypt.

There is a knowledge gap in primary school teachers that affects their ability to detect attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study measured primary school teachers' knowledge about ADHD, and implemented a training programme to improve early detection of ADHD. The prevalence and risk factors of ADHD were also studied.

Anti-Arthritic Activity of Schistosoma mansoni and Trichinella spiralis Derived-Antigens in Adjuvant Arthritis in Rats: Role of FOXP3+ Treg Cells.

A growing body of evidence supports the concept of helminths therapy in a variety of autoimmune diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of autoclaved Schistosoma mansoni antigen (ASMA) and Trichinella spiralis antigen (ATSA) on the clinical and immunopathological features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Adjuvant arthritis was induced by subcutaneous and intradermal injections of complete Freund's adjuvant into the plantar surface of the right hind paw and the root of the tail, respectively.

Adverse childhood experiences and association with health, mental health, and risky behavior in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine if ACEs impact the health and risk behavior burden among Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) adults.

Methods: In 2013, a cross-sectional study was conducted across KSA to identify the retrospective prevalence of ACEs and their association with high risk behaviors and chronic diseases. Surveys from 10,156 adults in all 13 Saudi regions were obtained using an Arabic version of the WHO ACE-IQ (KSA ACE-IQ).

Simple protein precipitation extraction technique followed by validated chromatographic method for linezolid analysis in real human plasma samples to study its pharmacokinetics.

Fast and sensitive HPLC method was developed, optimized and validated for quantification of linezolid (LNZ) in human plasma using guaifenesin as an internal standard (IS). Analyte and IS were extracted from plasma by simple protein precipitation extraction technique using methanol as the precipitating solvent. The pretreated samples were injected in a mobile phase formed of acetonitrile:water:methanol (20:70:10v/v/v) in an isocratic mode at a flow rate of 1.

The effect of chitosan nanospheres on the immunogenicity of Toxoplasma lysate vaccine in mice.

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic parasitic disease, is a huge challenge for which there is no effective vaccine up till now. In this study, chitosan nanospheres encapsulated with Toxoplasma lysate vaccine was evaluated for its ability to protect mice against both acute and chronic toxoplasmosis models of infection. Results showed that chitosan nanospheres were equally effective to Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) in enhancing the efficacy of Toxoplasma lysate vaccine.

Sodium valproate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, with praziquantel ameliorates Schistosoma mansoni-induced liver fibrosis in mice.

Aims: This study explores the potential antifibrotic effect of sodium valproate (SV), an inhibitor of class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes, and/or praziquantel (PZQ) on Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni)-induced liver fibrosis in mice.

Main Methods: Male Swiss albino mice were divided into nine groups: group I- normal control (NC); group II- uninfected gum mucilage (GM) treated; group III- uninfected PZQ- treated; group IV- uninfected SV-treated; group V- control S.

Oral azithromycin versus its combination with miltefosine for the treatment of experimental Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is one of the neglected infectious diseases included in the World Health Organization's list of the top guns of antimicrobial resistance. Miltefosine is the first and the only available oral effective therapy for leishmaniasis. For fear of its potential resistance, identification of alternative, effective and safe drugs is urgently needed.

Recovery of Gram-Positive Cocci and Candida albicans from Peroxygen/Silver-Based Disinfectants.

Neutralization method evaluation is an important first step in a disinfectant validation study program. It is also crucial in assessment of the efficiency of microbial recovery media in the presence of a residual biocidal agent. In the present study, four commercially available peroxygen/silver-based disinfectant formulae--intended to be used in a pharmaceutical facility sanitization program--were tested at two dilutions against three Gram-positive cocci and one yeast; Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Kucoria rhizophila (ATCC 9341) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) and Staphylococcus capitis as an environmental monitoring (EM) isolate sample (identified by miniaturized biochemical identification system).

Bullying in early adolescence: An exploratory study in Saudi Arabia.

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of bullying among intermediate school students in Saudi Arabia to inform preventive measures.

Materials And Methods: Qualitative methods were applied. The study was conducted at four intermediate schools.

Miltefosine lipid nanocapsules: Intersection of drug repurposing and nanotechnology for single dose oral treatment of pre-patent schistosomiasis mansoni.

A dual drug repurposing/nanotechnological approach was used to develop an alternative oral treatment for schistosomiasis mansoni using miltefosine (MFS), an anticancer alkylphosphocholine, and lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) as oral nanovectors. We demonstrated earlier that MFS possesses significant activity against different developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni in the mouse model using 5 successive 20mg/kg/day oral doses. Moreover, an effective single dose (20mg/kg) oral treatment against the adult stage of S.

Possible risk factors associated with greater damage in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: an Egyptian multicenter study.

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic multisystem autoimmune disorder. The total damage in a patient with SLE may result from SLE itself or from any other pathologic process. The aim of this study was to assess risk factors of greater damage in a sample of Egyptian SLE patients.

Prevalence of Pancreatic Steatosis at a Pediatric Tertiary Care Center.

Objectives: Pancreatic steatosis in adults has been proposed to be associated with obesity; however, data on pancreatic steatosis in children are lacking. Our study aimed to measure the prevalence of pancreatic steatosis in children and to examine its association with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review study of 232 patients 2 to 18 years old who underwent abdominal computed tomographic imaging in the emergency department or inpatient ward within a 1-year time span and from whom demographics, anthropometrics, and medical history were obtained.

Effect of sugarcane vinasse and EDTA on cadmium phytoextraction by two saltbush plants.

Although the use of saltbush plants in metal phytoremediation is well known, there is little information about the impact of sugarcane vinasse (SCV) and EDTA on metal uptake. Heavily cadmium-polluted soil (38 mg kg(-1) Cd) was used in pot and incubation experiments to investigate the Cd phytoextraction potential of wavy saltbush (Atriplex undulata) and quail saltbush (Atriplex lentiformis). EDTA at rates of 3, 6, and 10 mM kg(-1) soil and SCV at rates of 7, 15, and 30 mL kg(-1) soil were added to the polluted soil.

Determining prevalence of maltreatment among children in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to find out the overall prevalence rates for the major forms of abuse among adolescents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the differences in prevalence by age, gender and living arrangement.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in secondary high schools in five of the 13 main regions of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during 2012. Through a multistage stratified sampling technique, a sample (n = 16 939) of adolescents (15-19 years) were identified and invited to participate.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a reliable marker to predict insulin resistance and fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most noxious infectious diseases. Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) had biochemical evidence of insulin resistance (IR). The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) integrates information on the inflammatory milieu and physiological stress.

Changes in Fasting Lipids during Puberty.

Objective: To describe longitudinal changes in plasma lipid levels and pubertal stage in youths from age 8-18 years, in Project HeartBeat!

Study Design: Fasting blood samples and pubertal stage, using physical assessment of secondary sex characteristics, were obtained every 4 months for up to 4 years in a mixed longitudinal study of 633 children (49.1% female, 20.1% black), initially aged 8, 11, and 14 years.

Ascitic Fluid Calprotectin and Serum Procalcitonin as Accurate Diagnostic Markers for Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

Background/aims: The diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is based on a polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) exceeding 250/μL in ascitic fluid. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum procalcitonin and ascitic fluid calprotectin as accurate diagnostic markers for detecting SBP.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients with cirrhotic ascites were included.

Miltefosine Lipid Nanocapsules for Single Dose Oral Treatment of Schistosomiasis Mansoni: A Preclinical Study.

Miltefosine (MFS) is an alkylphosphocholine used for the local treatment of cutaneous metastases of breast cancer and oral therapy of visceral leishmaniasis. Recently, the drug was reported in in vitro and preclinical studies to exert significant activity against different developmental stages of schistosomiasis mansoni, a widespread chronic neglected tropical disease (NTD). This justified MFS repurposing as a potential antischistosomal drug.

Serum Sclerostin Level Among Egyptian Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Relation to Disease Activity, Bone Mineral Density and Radiological Grading.

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Outcome of Mini-percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for Renal Stones in Infants and Preschool Children: A Prospective Study.

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of Miniperc for renal stones in preschool-age patients. To the best of our knowledge, this may be the first prospective study on this subject. Reports on Miniperc are still few and mostly retrospective using a sheath size of ≥ 18Fr, which is still relatively large for young children.