Effectiveness of 8-week TReatment with vortioxetine on depressive symptoms in major depressive disorder patients with comorbid generalized anxiety disorder in UAE (TRUE).

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability and results in excessive utilization of healthcare resources worldwide. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region shows a high prevalence of depressive disorders. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and MDD have the highest rate of comorbidity of all mood and anxiety disorders, ranging from 40 to 98% in drug studies.

Comparing Effectiveness of Hyaluronic Acid-Chitosan Nanoparticles Encapsulation Versus Hyaluronic Acid Monotherapy in Osteoarthritis Rat Model: Microarray Screening for miR-140.

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating, progressive joint disease linked to lower quality of life and higher health care costs. This study compared hyaluronic acid-chitosan nanoparticle encapsulation to hyaluronic-acid monotherapy in a rat model of knee osteoarthritis. Four groups of 40 adult male albino rats were designed.

Intermediate-term oncological and functional outcomes of salvage cryotherapy for the management of prostate cancer recurrence after primary brachytherapy versus primary cryotherapy: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: Salvage cryotherapy (SCT) is widely used to treat prostate cancer (PCa) recurrence after radiotherapy (RT). We studied the intermediate oncological and functional outcomes of patients who underwent SCT following cryotherapy (CRYO-SCT) recurrence and compare it to recurrence after brachytherapy (BT-SCT).

Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective cohort study utilizing patient data from the Cryo On-Line Data Registry and the Duke PCa database between 1992 and 2016.

Optical Properties of Cationic Perylenediimide Nanowires in Aqueous Medium: Experimental and Computational Studies.

Cationic perylenediimide derivative, namely N,N'-di(2-(trimethylammoniumiodide)ethylene) perylenediimide (TAIPDI), has been synthesized and characterized in an aqueous medium by using dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques. The optical absorption and fluorescence spectra of TAIPDI revealed the formation of aggregated TAIPDI nanowires in water, but not in organic solvents. In order to control the aggregation behavior, the optical properties of TAIPDI have been examined in different aqueous media, namely cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS).

Plasma-Induced Diallyldimethylammonium Chloride Antibacterial Hernia Mesh.

A hernia is a pathological condition caused by a defect or opening in the muscle wall, which leads to organs pushing through the opening or defect. Hernia recurrence, seroma, persistent pain, tissue adhesions, and wound infection are common complications following hernia repair surgery. Infection after hernia mesh implantation is the third major complication leading to hernia recurrence.

Visual working memory recruits two functionally distinct alpha rhythms in posterior cortex.

Oscillatory activity in the human brain is dominated by posterior alpha oscillations (8-14 Hz), which have been shown to be functionally relevant in a wide variety of cognitive tasks. Although posterior alpha oscillations are commonly considered a single oscillator anchored at an individual alpha frequency (IAF; ∼10 Hz), previous work suggests that IAF reflects a spatial mixture of different brain rhythms. In this study, we assess whether Independent Component Analysis (ICA) can disentangle functionally distinct posterior alpha rhythms in the context of visual short-term memory retention.

Genome sequencing reveals existence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 variant in Egypt.

Background: Several SARS-CoV-2 variants with increased transmissibility and/or potential immune escape have emerged and rapidly spread worldwide. Ongoing surveillance analyses are performed worldwide to designate new variants of concern (VOC) of coronavirus.

Main Text: This report identifies the first Egyptian patient with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant.

Selective and sensitive electrochemical sensors based on an ion imprinting polymer and graphene oxide for the detection of ultra-trace Cd(ii) in biological samples.

New selective and sensitive electrochemical sensors were designed based on the deposition of a promising ion imprinted polymer (IIP) on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the detection and monitoring of Cd(ii) in different real samples. Herein, a highly selective Cd-imprinted polymer was successfully synthesized using a novel heterocyclic compound based on the benzo[]chromene scaffold that acted as a complexing agent and a functional monomer in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile (initiator) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (cross-linker). The characterization of the synthesized chelating agent and IIP was performed using FT-IR, SEM, H-NMR, EIMS, and EDX analyses.

Theranostic Trigger-Responsive Carbon Monoxide-Generating Microbubbles.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gaseous signaling molecule that modulates inflammation, cell survival, and recovery after myocardial infarction. However, handling and dosing of CO as a compressed gas are difficult. Here, light-triggerable and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detectable CO release from dimanganese decacarbonyl (CORM-1) are demonstrated, and the development of CORM-1-loaded polymeric microbubbles (COMB) is described as an ultrasound (US)- and MRI-imageable drug delivery platform for triggerable and targeted CO therapy.

Monitoring EPR Effect Dynamics during Nanotaxane Treatment with Theranostic Polymeric Micelles.

Cancer nanomedicines rely on the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect for efficient target site accumulation. The EPR effect, however, is highly heterogeneous among different tumor types and cancer patients and its extent is expected to dynamically change during the course of nanochemotherapy. Here the authors set out to longitudinally study the dynamics of the EPR effect upon single- and double-dose nanotherapy with fluorophore-labeled and paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelles.

Predictive Computational Model for Damage Behavior of Metal-Matrix Composites Emphasizing the Effect of Particle Size and Volume Fraction.

In this paper, an integrated numerical model is proposed to investigate the effects of particulate size and volume fraction on the deformation, damage, and failure behaviors of particulate-reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMCs). In the framework of a random microstructure-based finite element modelling, the plastic deformation and ductile cracking of the matrix are, respectively, modelled using Johnson-Cook constitutive relation and Johnson-Cook ductile fracture model. The matrix-particle interface decohesion is simulated by employing the surface-based-cohesive zone method, while the particulate fracture is manipulated by the elastic-brittle cracking model, in which the damage evolution criterion depends on the fracture energy cracking criterion.

Radiofrequency ablation for markedly incompetent perforators versus compression therapy in the management of post-phelebtic venous ulcers: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Venus ulcers developed mainly due to reflux of incompetent venous valves in perforating veins.

Patients And Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 119 patients recruited over two years, with post-phelebtic venous leg ulcers, were randomly assigned into one of two groups: either to receive radiofrequency ablation of markedly incompetent perforators (Group A, n = 62 patients) or to receive conventional compression therapy (Group B, n = 57 patients). Follow-up duration required for ulcer healing continued for 24 months post randomization.

Does prior surgical interventional therapy for BPH affect the oncological or functional outcomes after primary whole-gland prostate cryoablation for localized prostate cancer?

Background: To assess whether prior interventional treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) influences oncologic or functional outcomes following primary whole-gland prostate cryoablation.

Methods: Among 3831 men with prostate cancer who underwent primary whole-gland prostate cryoablation, we identified 160 with a history of prior BPH interventional therapy including transurethral needle ablation (n = 6), transurethral microwave thermotherapy (n = 9), or transurethral resection of the prostate (n = 145). Patients with a history of medically treated or unspecified BPH therapy were excluded from the study.

Simple thiophene-bridged D-π-A type chromophores for DSSCs: a comprehensive study of their sensitization and co-sensitization properties.

Herein, we report the design and synthesis of four new thiophene-bridged D-π-A configured organic dyes T1-4 comprising different donors, π-spacers and anchoring units, as potential sensitizers and co-sensitizers for DSSCs. The current work also highlights their structural, photophysical, thermal, electrochemical, theoretical, and photoelectrochemical studies, including evaluation of their structure-property relationships. The optical results revealed that the dyes T1-4 display λabs and λemi in the range of 402-461 nm and 556-575 nm, respectively, with a bandgap in the order of 2.

Polyphenols of and Leaves and Associated Biological Activities.

and populations growing in Saudi Arabia might be rich sources of natural compounds with important biological activities. A high performance liquid chromatography diode array revealed several polyphenols in the leaf extracts for the first time, including -coumaric acid, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, quercitrin, rutoside, quercetin and trifolin in and hydrocaffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and cynaroside in and showed strong antioxidant effects attributed to the polyphenolic composition of leaves and reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. and leaf extracts showed cytotoxic effects against Jurkat, MCF-7, HeLa, and HT-29 cancer cells using MTT and flow cytometry assays.

Efficiency enhancement of ruthenium-based DSSCs employing A-π-D-π-A organic Co-sensitizers.

A new bipyridyl Ru(ii) sensitizer incorporating triphenylamine and the 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) ancillary ligand IMA5 was synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The performance of these DSSCs has been enhanced di-anchoring metal-free organic sensitizers, denoted IMA1-4, with structural motif A-π-D-π-A and incorporating phenyl-dibenzothiophene-phenyl (Ph-DBT-Ph) as the main building block but with different anchoring groups (A). These new organic sensitizers were well-characterized and used as efficient co-sensitizers.

Assessment of facility performance during mass treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Egypt: Enablers and obstacles.

Background: The national committee for control of viral hepatitis (NCCVH) in Egypt, settled by the Ministry of health, treated over one million patients in around 60 centers with chronological changes in drug combinations. This research aims to study the health care facilities and services provided by NCCVH treatment centers in Egypt and explore hinders faced.

Methods: A cross-sectional operational research study.

World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist with Addition of Infection Control Items: Intervention Study in Egypt.

Background: Surgical team is in command of the operating room (OR) and takes decisions regarding various patient care procedures. Educational programs directed to them, should be creative, provocative and tailored to their specific needs and the expected outcomes.

Aim: This study aims to design and conduct an educational program of patient safety and infection control for the OR team based on the WHO surgical safety checklist and to assess their post-intervention knowledge and practices.

Co-sensitization of the HD-2 complex with low-cost cyanoacetanilides for highly efficient DSSCs.

The photophysical and electrochemical properties of new targeted 2-cyanoacetanilide-based dyes are illustrated. New cyanoacetanilides SA7-10 were synthesized and employed as co-sensitizers in DSSCs. The chemical structures of these 2-cyanoacetanilides differ according to the substituent at the benzene ring (-H, -Me, -OMe and -NEt2), with the anchoring moiety being the same, a -COOH group.

The molecular engineering, synthesis and photovoltaic studies of a novel highly efficient Ru(ii) complex incorporating a bulky TPA ancillary ligand for DSSCs: donor π-spacer effects.

A novel Ru(ii) complex, denoted as IA-7, incorporating a bulky donor antenna, was synthesized and characterized as a promising inexpensive alternative to conventional p-n junction solar cells to study the influence of a bulky donor antenna on the light harvesting efficiency (LHE), ground and excited state oxidation potentials and total conversion efficiency of sunlight to electricity (% ) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and the device performance was compared to devices with MH-12 and MH-13 dyes. The incorporation of the bulky donor enriched triphenylamine (TPA) antenna resulted in a considerable increase in and values for DSSCs, where IA-7 outperformed MH-12 and MH-13 in terms of the total conversion efficiency and achieved a power conversion efficiency () of 8.86% under full sunlight irradiation (100 mW cm), compared to 8.

Salvage Focal Cryotherapy Offers Similar Short-term Oncologic Control and Improved Urinary Function Compared With Salvage Whole Gland Cryotherapy for Radiation-resistant or Recurrent Prostate Cancer.

Background: We compared the short-term oncologic and functional outcomes of salvage focal cryotherapy (SFC) with those of salvage total cryotherapy (STC) for radiotherapy (RT)-persistent/recurrent prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: We queried the Cryo On-Line Database registry for men who had undergone SFC and STC of the prostate for RT-persistent or recurrent disease. Propensity score weighting was used to match age at treatment, presalvage therapy prostate-specific antigen level, Gleason sum, and presalvage cryotherapy androgen deprivation therapy status.

The Association of Urologic Oncology Fellowship Training and Diagnostic Yield of Prostate Biopsy.

Objective: To determine the relationship between urologic oncology fellowship training (UOFT) and diagnostic yield of prostate biopsy.

Methods: Retrospective review was conducted of patients who underwent prostate biopsy across the Cleveland Clinic between 2000 and 2018. Biopsies done by urologists with and without UOFT were detailed via descriptive statistics and appropriate (chi-square, Student t, Wilcoxon rank-sum) tests.

Capitalizing on specialists' services in rural family health unit: Interventional study.

Unlabelled: For achieving universal health coverage in Egypt, Ministry of Health aims to improve the accessibility to quality specialized health care.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to explore legal and regulatory environment for the policy of specialists' visits to unit and assess the impact of gynecology specialist's visits on utilization pattern of gynecological services and clients' satisfaction.

Methods: Settings The study settings were Ministry of Health/Headquarters, Giza Health Directorate, El-Badrashin Health District and Hospital, and Met-Rahinah Unit.