Status of diabetes mellitus in different regions of KSA and update on its management.

Background: Complications of diabetes and its associated comorbidities can cause rapid progression of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It comes at high costs and affects a patient's quality of life. We aim to assess T2DM in KSA, including the demographics, medications, complications, and comorbidities, as it remains an integral part of Vision 2030.

Sociopolitical antecedents influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Pima County, Arizona.

Introduction: Vaccine hesitancy among marginalized populations particularly in the Hispanic community over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic has presented as a public health issue. This study examined the relationship between political affiliation and vaccination decisions of Hispanic adults in Pima County, Arizona.

Methods: Between January and October 2022, 623 participants completed surveys in English or Spanish after completing informed consent process.

Melatonin-based priming of stem cells to alleviate oxidative stress.

Stem cell expansion and transplantation in the cytokine-rich proinflammatory milieu in the injured tissue generate immense oxidative stress that interferes with the cells' survival, stemness, and repairability. Stem cell priming has gained popularity to overcome these issues. Given melatonin's oxidative-scavenging properties, Gu have used periodontal ligament stem cells cultured under oxidative stress as an model to study the cytoprotective effects of melatonin.

Degradation of Decabromodiphenyl Ether Dispersed in Poly (Acrylo-Butadiene-Styrene) Using a Rotatory Laboratory Pilot Under UV-Visible Irradiation.

The growing volume of plastics derived from electronic waste (e-waste) underscores the imperative for environmentally sustainable strategies for the management of this waste. In light of the paramount importance of this issue, a pilot demonstrator for the decontamination of polymers containing Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) has been developed. The objective is to investigate the potential for decontaminating BFR-containing polymers from e-waste via UV-visible irradiation using a rotatory laboratory pilot operating under primary vacuum conditions.

Machine Learning ADME Models in Practice: Four Guidelines from a Successful Lead Optimization Case Study.

Optimization of the ADME properties and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of compounds is one of the critical activities in any medicinal chemistry campaign to discover a future clinical candidate. Finding ways to expedite the process to address ADME/PK shortcomings and reduce the number of compounds to synthesize is highly valuable. This article provides practical guidelines and a case study on the use of ML ADME models to guide compound design in small molecule lead optimization.

Leveraging machine learning to enhance postoperative risk assessment in coronary artery bypass grafting patients with unprotected left main disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Risk stratification for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) for left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease is essential for informed decision-making. This study explored the potential of machine learning (ML) methods to identify key risk factors associated with mortality in this patient group.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 866 patients from the Gulf Left Main Registry who presented between 2015 and 2019.

Establishing delivery route-dependent safety and efficacy of living biodrug mesenchymal stem cells in heart failure patients.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as living biopharmaceuticals with unique properties, , stemness, viability, phenotypes, paracrine activity, , need to be administered such that they reach the target site, maintaining these properties unchanged and are retained at the injury site to participate in the repair process. Route of delivery (RoD) remains one of the critical determinants of safety and efficacy. This study elucidates the safety and effectiveness of different RoDs of MSC treatment in heart failure (HF) based on phase II randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

Priming mesenchymal stem cells to develop "super stem cells".

The stem cell pre-treatment approaches at cellular and sub-cellular levels encompass physical manipulation of stem cells to growth factor treatment, genetic manipulation, and chemical and pharmacological treatment, each strategy having advantages and limitations. Most of these pre-treatment protocols are non-combinative. This editorial is a continuum of Li 's published article and Wan 's editorial focusing on the significance of pre-treatment strategies to enhance their stemness, immunoregulatory, and immunosuppressive properties.

Chemical characterization of volatile organic compounds emitted by animal manure.

Animal manure is considered a valuable organic fertilizer due to its important nutrient content enhancing soil fertility and plant growth in agriculture. Besides its beneficial role as fertilizer, animal manure represents a significant source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), playing a significant role in atmospheric chemistry. Understanding the composition of VOCs Understanding VOCs from animal manure is crucial for assessing their environmental impact, as they can cause air pollution, odors, and harm to human health and ecosystems.

Dose-response relationship of MSCs as living Bio-drugs in HFrEF patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as living biodrugs for myocardial repair and regeneration. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported that MSC-based therapy is safe and effective in heart failure patients; however, its dose-response relationship has yet to be established. We aimed to determine the optimal MSC dose for treating HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF) (HFrEF).

Mesenchymal stem cells' "garbage bags" at work: Treating radial nerve injury with mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes.

Unlike central nervous system injuries, peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are often characterized by more or less successful axonal regeneration. However, structural and functional recovery is a senile process involving multifaceted cellular and molecular processes. The contemporary treatment options are limited, with surgical intervention as the gold-standard method; however, each treatment option has its associated limitations, especially when the injury is severe with a large gap.

Comprehensive examination of support needs and mental well-being: a mixed-method study of the Austrian general population in times of crisis.

Introduction: In the recent years, the Austrian general population has faced a confluence of multiple crises. This study investigates the support wishes and mental health parameters of the Austrian general population aiming to comprehending the unmet needs and providing guidance for future psychosocial interventions and research endeavors.

Methods: 1,031 participants attended the online survey and one third ( = 332) wished for further support to improve mental well-being in April 2022.

Testosterone therapy over 60 months improves aging male symptoms scores in all men with adult-onset testosterone deficiency.

Objective: We evaluated change (Δ) in AMSS in men with adult-onset testosterone deficiency (TD) on/not on testosterone undecanoate (TU) by analysing a registry of men with adult-onset TD.

Methods: Analyses were performed using non-parametric statistics to determine ΔAMSS at 6-12 monthly intervals in men on/not on TU and movement in AMSS. Factors predicting ΔAMSS were established linear/multiple regression.

Efficacy of supplemental oxygen in reducing the need for laser or intravitreal bevacizumab in preterm infants with stage 2 retinopathy of prematurity.

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease that affects preterm infants born younger than 30 weeks of gestation. The pathophysiology of ROP involves an initial vaso-obliterative phase followed by vaso-proliferative phase that leads to disease progression. The use of supplemental oxygen during the vaso-proliferative phase of ROP has been associated with reduced disease progression, but how this impacts the need for ROP treatment is unclear.

High glucose microenvironment and human mesenchymal stem cell behavior.

High glucose (HG) culture conditions and persistent exposure to hyperglycemia in diabetes patients are detrimental to stem cells, analogous to any other cell type in our body. It interferes with diverse signaling pathways, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling, to impact physiological cellular functions, leading to low cell survival and higher cell apoptosis rates. While elucidating the underlying mechanism responsible for the apoptosis of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a recent study has shown that HG culture conditions dysregulate mTOR-PI3K-Akt signaling in addition to mitochondrial malfunctioning due to defective mitochondrial membrane potential (MtMP) that lowers ATP production.

The Association between Problematic Smartphone Use and Mental Health in Austrian Adolescents and Young Adults.

Although problematic smartphone use (PSU) is prevalent and associated with mental health and physical activity, there are no studies on its prevalence and associations in Austria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of PSU and its associations with mental health in adolescents and young adults. A cross-sectional online survey was performed from 19 April to 27 July 2023, and the data of N = 913 respondents (14.

Process and outcome of outpatient psychotherapies under clinically representative conditions in Austria: protocol and feasibility of an ongoing study.

Background: While most studies assessing psychotherapy efficacy are randomized-controlled trials conducted in research institutions or short clinical treatments, the understanding of psychotherapy effectiveness under regular, clinically representative conditions, particularly in outpatient practice, remains limited. Representative data examining the effectiveness of psychotherapy under real-world conditions in Austria is lacking.

Aims And Methods: This paper introduces a naturalistic observational combined process- and outcome study, implementing a dual-perspective approach through standardised pre- and post-treatment questionnaires and evaluating changes in the therapeutic alliance after each session.

Comparing reactivation and retreatment for three doses of bevacizumab in type 1 retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: To determine timing and rates of reactivation and retreatment of type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) after treatment with either 0.125 mg, 0.250 mg, or 0.

Cellular preconditioning and mesenchymal stem cell ferroptosis.

In this editorial, we comment on the article published in the recent issue of the . They focus on stem cell preconditioning to prevent ferroptosis by modulating the cystathionine γ-lyase/hydrogen sulfide (HS) pathway as a novel approach to treat vascular disorders, particularly pulmonary hypertension. Preconditioned stem cells are gaining popularity in regenerative medicine due to their unique ability to survive by resisting the harsh, unfavorable microenvironment of the injured tissue.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy: Effects on Blood Pressure in Hypogonadal Men.

Purpose: While testosterone therapy can improve the various pathologies associated with adult-onset testosterone deficiency (TD), Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) of five testosterone preparations caution that treatment may be associated with hypertension. This paper evaluates the impact of testosterone undecanoate (TU) on blood pressure (BP) in men with adult-onset TD.

Materials And Methods: Of 737 men with adult-onset TD in an on-going, observational, prospective, cumulative registry, we studied changes in BP using non-parametric sign-rank tests at final assessment and fixed time points.

School students' burdens and resources after 2 years of COVID-19 in Austria: a qualitative study using content analysis.

Introduction: The mental health of young people has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures associated with it. Mental health symptoms increased across various domains during the pandemic and subjective wellbeing decreased.

Methods: This study examined the burdens and resources of Austrian school students ( = 16.

Testosterone replacement therapy: association with mortality in high-risk patient subgroups.

Objectives: We describe studies determining the association between testosterone therapy (TTh) and mortality.

Materials & Methods: We used a registry database of 737 men with adult-onset testosterone deficiency defined as presenting with low serum total testosterone (TT) levels ≤12.1 nmol/L and associated symptoms over a near 10-year follow-up.