Steatosis regression assessed by cap after Vitamin 'D' supplementation in NAFLD patients with Vitamin 'D' deficiency.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease, and previous studies suggested a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and NAFLD. It is suggested that vitamin D supplementation may have significant beneficial effect on liver biochemistry and histology.

Objective: This study aims to assess the degree of possible steatosis regression using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in NAFLD patients with vitamin D deficiency after vitamin D supplementation and evaluating its effect on lipid profile and transaminases.

Punicalagin's Protective Effects on Parkinson's Progression in Socially Isolated and Socialized Rats: Insights into Multifaceted Pathway.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a gradual deterioration of dopaminergic neurons, leading to motor impairments. Social isolation (SI), a recognized stressor, has recently gained attention as a potential influencing factor in the progress of neurodegenerative illnesses. We aimed to investigate the intricate relationship between SI and PD progression, both independently and in the presence of manganese chloride (MnCl), while evaluating the punicalagin (PUN) therapeutic effects, a natural compound established for its cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities.

Repurposing fexofenadine as a promising candidate for diabetic kidney disease: randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a devastating complication of diabetes mellitus. Inflammation and histamine are potentially involved in the disease progression. This study aimed to evaluate the role of fexofenadine in patients with DKD.

The impact of telepharmacy on hypertension management in the United Arab Emirates.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of telepharmacy services delivered by community pharmacies in hypertension management and examine its influence on pharmacists' ability to identify drug-related problems (DRPs).

Methods: This was a 2-arm, randomised, clinical trial conducted among 16 community pharmacies and 239 patients with uncontrolled HTN in the U.A.

Niclosamide from an anthelmintic drug to a promising adjuvant therapy for diabetic kidney disease: randomized clinical trial.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a serious complication that begins with albuminuria and often leads to a rapid progressive decline in renal function. Niclosamide is a potent inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which controls the expression of multiple genes of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which in turn is influences the progression of DKD. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of niclosamide as adjuvant therapy on DKD.

The patterns of herbal medicine use in the United Arab Emirates; A national study.

Objectives: To examine the pattern, nature, and attitude towards herbal medicines usage in the UAE.

Methods: A cross-sectional national questionnaire was distributed over five weeks in 7 emirates of UAE: The questioner was constructed using an online platform and delivered randomly to 448 adults in the UAE. The data collection technique adopted for this study was a convenient sampling.

Effect of metformin as an adjuvant therapy to letrozole on estradiol and other biomarkers involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer in overweight and obese postmenopausal women: a pilot study.

Introduction: Metformin may provide a therapeutic benefit in different types of malignancy.

Purpose: We aimed at evaluating the effect of metformin as an adjuvant therapy to letrozole on estradiol and other biomarkers involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer in overweight and obese postmenopausal women.

Methods: Seventy-five postmenopausal stages II-III breast cancer female patients were assessed for eligibility in an open-labeled parallel pilot study.

Assessment of A new Strategy to Prevent Prescribing Errors Involving COVID-19 Patients in Community Pharmacies.

Because COVID-19 patients are vulnerable to prescribing errors (PEs) and adverse drug events, designing and implementing a new approach to prevent prescribing errors (PEs) involving COVID-19 patients has become a priority in pharmacotherapy research. To investigate whether using WhatsApp to deliver prescribing error (PE)-related clinical scenarios to community pharmacists could enhance their ability to detect PEs and conduct successful pharmaceutical interventions (PIs). In this study, 110 community pharmacies were recruited from different regions across Jordan and equally allocated to 2 groups.

The patterns and determinants of telemedicine use during the COVID-19 crisis: A nationwide study.

Background: Although telemedicine services have been adopted on a large scale in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a little is known about the public experience.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate consumers' patterns, nature, and predictors of telemedicine utilization and consumers' attitude toward this technology.

Methods: A quantitative, self-administered questionnaire was developed, validated, and delivered randomly to adults living across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between January 2021 and January 2022.

The effectiveness of pharmacist-based coaching in improving breast cancer-related health behaviors: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although pharmacists are trusted and easily accessible by the public, their role in changing health behaviours related to breast cancer has been rarely investigated.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of pharmacist-based coaching in improving BC-related health behaviors and knowledge in females, and to measure the comfort level toward this program.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled study carried out in community pharmacies in Egypt.

Investigating the current environmental situation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic: urban vs. rural context.

Background: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a massive global socio-economic tragedy that has impacted the ecosystem. This paper aims to contextualize urban and rural environmental situations during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region.

Results: An online survey was conducted, 6770 participants were included in the final analysis, and 64% were females.

An emergency plan for management of COVID-19 patients in rural areas.

Aims Of The Study: To describe the experience of six hospitals in the management of COVID-19 patients in rural areas through an assessment of proportions, types and clinical outcomes of remote clinical interventions.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted in six Egyptian hospitals over a period five months. An emergency response was implemented in each hospital in order to connect clinical pharmacists with COVID-19 patients living in rural areas.

Dispensing errors in community pharmacies in the United Arab Emirates: investigating incidence, types, severity, and causes.

Background: Medication dispensing is a fundamental function of community pharmacies, and errors that occur during the dispensing process are a major threat to patient safety. However, to date there has been no national study of medication dispensing errors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the incidence, types, clinical significance, causes and predictors of medication dispensing errors.

Role of metformin in oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with stage III colorectal cancer: randomized, controlled study.

Purpose: Peripheral sensory neuropathy is the most prominently reported adverse effect of oxaliplatin. The purpose of this study was to evaluate metformin role in oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy.

Patients And Methods: From November 2014 to May 2016, 40 patients with stage III colorectal cancer completed 12 cycles of FOLFOX-4 regimen.

Effect of Combination Therapy of Ezetimibe and Atorvastatin on Remnant Lipoprotein Versus Double Atorvastatin Dose in Egyptian Diabetic Patients.

A high level of remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-C) is a predominant feature in diabetic patients with atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ezetimibe added to statin therapy compared to doubling standard statin dose. Sixty-five eligible patients were recruited then prospectively randomized to receive ezetimibe 10 mg/day plus their 40 mg daily atorvastatin dose (group 1) or atorvastatin 80 mg/day (group 2) for 3 months.

Pasting, rheological, and retrogradation properties of low-amylose rice starch with date syrup.

Effects of date syrup on pasting, rheological, and retrogradation properties of low-amylose rice starch were investigated using three levels of date syrup (starch:syrup 1:1, 1:2, or 1:3). Measurements were carried out using HR-2 Discovery Rheometer equipped with a pasting cell and parallel plate geometry. The pasting measurements showed that the peak viscosity of the control is significantly higher than the samples with date syrup (p < 0.

Enzymatic synthesis of cocoa butter equivalent from olive oil and palmitic-stearic fatty acid mixture.

The main goal of the present research is to restructure olive oil triacylglycerol (TAG) using enzymatic acidolysis reaction to produce structured lipids that is close to cocoa butter in terms of TAG structure and melting characteristics. Lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of refined olive oil with a mixture of palmitic-stearic acids at different substrate ratios was performed in an agitated batch reactor maintained at constant temperature and agitation speed. The reaction attained steady-state conversion in about 5 h with an overall conversion of 92.

Role of pentoxifylline and sparfloxacin in prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients.

This study was directed to evaluate the role of sparfloxacin and pentoxifylline in the prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients. Forty cirrhotic patients with ascites were included in the study. Patients were randomized into four groups in a blind fashion; each group consists of ten patients.

Lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of palm mid fraction oil with palmitic and stearic Fatty Acid mixture for production of cocoa butter equivalent.

Cocoa butter equivalent (CBE) was prepared by enzymatic acidolysis reaction of substrate consisting of refined palm mid fraction oil and palmitic-stearic fatty acid mixture. The reactions were performed in a batch reactor at a temperature of 60 °C in an orbital shaker operated at 160 RPM. Different mass ratios of substrates were explored, and the composition of the five major triacylglycerols (TAGs) of the structured lipids was identified and quantified using cocoa butter certified reference material IRMM-801.

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of cocoa butter equivalent from palm olein and saturated fatty acid distillate from palm oil physical refinery.

Cocoa butter equivalent was prepared by enzymatic acidolysis reaction of substrate consisting of refined palm olein oil and palmitic-stearic fatty acid mixture. The reactions were performed in a batch reactor at a temperature of 60 °C in an orbital shaker operated at 160 RPM. Different mass ratios of substrates were explored and the compositions of the five major triacylglycerol (TAG) of the structured lipids were identified and quantified using cocoa butter-certified reference material IRMM-801.

Processing and utilization of palm date fruits for edible applications.

The date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifra L., family: Palmaceae) is perhaps the oldest and most important fruit crop in the Middle East and North Africa. From this region, the tree spread to other parts of the world and is cultivated in some parts of USA.

Effect of enzymatic interesterification on melting point of palm olein.

Immobilized PS-C 'Amano' II lipase was used to catalyze the interesterification of palm olein (POo) with 30, 50, and 70% stearic acid in n-hexane at 60 degrees C. The catalytic performance of the immobilized lipase was evaluated by determining the composition change of fatty acyl groups and triacylglycerol (TAG) by gas liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The interesterification process resulted in the formation of new TAGs, mainly tripalmitin and dipalmitostearin, both of which were absent in the original oil.