Brain Death Confirmation by 18F-FDG PET/CT: A Case Series.

Objectives: Brain death is a state of irreversible loss of brain function in the cortex and brainstem. Diagnosis of brain death is established by clinical assessments of cranial nerves and apnea tests. Different conditions can mimic brain death.

The Transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm: A Middle Eastern Version.

Diabetes prevalence is on the rise in the Middle East. In countries of the Gulf region-Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates-prevalence rates are among the highest in the world. Further, Egypt now ranks as one of the top 10 countries in the world for high number of people with diabetes.

Dynamic porous coordination polymers built-up from flexible 4,4'-dithiodibenzoate and rigid N-based ligands.

Herein we report the design, synthesis, structural characterisation and functional testing of a series of Cu(ii) coordination polymers containing flexible 4,4'-dithiodibenzoate ligand (4,4'-DTBA), with or without auxiliary N-donor ligands. Reaction of Cu(ii) with 4,4'-DTBA yielded a 1D coordination polymer (1) based on Cu(ii) paddlewheel units connected by 4,4'-DTBA, to form cyclic loop chains with intramolecular voids that exhibit reversible structural transformations upon subsequent solvent exchange in methanol to afford a new, crystalline, permanently-porous structure (1'). However, when the same reaction was run with pyridine, it formed a porous 2D coordination polymer (2).

Sewage Sludge ZnCl-Activated Carbon Intercalated MgFe-LDH Nanocomposites: Insight of the Sorption Mechanism of Improved Removal of Phenol from Water.

: sludge-activated carbon; MgFe layered double hydroxide; nanocomposite materials; phenol aqueous uptake; mechanistic studies; reusability performance.

Mechanisms of action of metformin with special reference to cardiovascular protection.

Management guidelines continue to identify metformin as initial pharmacologic antidiabetic therapy of choice for people with type 2 diabetes without contraindications, despite recent randomized trials that have demonstrated significant improvements in cardiovascular outcomes with newer classes of antidiabetic therapies. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge of metformin's therapeutic actions on blood glucose and cardiovascular clinical evidence and to consider the mechanisms that underlie them. The effects of metformin on glycaemia occur mainly in the liver, but metformin-stimulated glucose disposal by the gut has emerged as an increasingly import site of action of metformin.

Selective Gas-Phase Mass Tagging via Ion/Molecule Reactions Combined with Single Analyzer Neutral Loss Scans to Probe Pharmaceutical Mixtures.

We have demonstrated the use of a simple single ion trap mass spectrometer to identify classes of compounds as well as individual components in complex mixtures. First, a neutral reagent was used to mass tag oxygen-containing analytes using a gas-phase ion/molecule reaction. Then, a neutral loss scan was used to indicate the carboxylic acids.

Prediabetes management in the Middle East, Africa and Russia: Current status and call for action.

Most data on the burden of diabetes and prediabetes are from countries where local infrastructure can support reliable estimates of the burden of non-communicable diseases. Countries in the Middle East and Africa, together with Russia, have a total population of almost 2 billion, but have been relatively overlooked by authors in this field. We reviewed the prevalence and drivers of prediabetes and diabetes across this large region.

Treating MTBE-contaminated water using sewage sludge-derived activated carbon.

In this study, sewage sludge-derived activated carbon (SDAC) was synthesized, characterized, and tested for its potential as an adsorbent of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). The SDAC was produced by activating the sludge with zinc chloride and subsequently subjected to various ranges of pyrolytic temperatures. It was then characterized using SEM/EDX, BET, and TGA.

Removal of Phenolic Compounds from Water Using Sewage Sludge-Based Activated Carbon Adsorption: A Review.

Due to their industrial relevance, phenolic compounds (PC) are amongst the most common organic pollutants found in many industrial wastewater effluents. The potential detrimental health and environmental impacts of PC necessitate their removal from wastewater to meet regulatory discharge standards to ensure meeting sustainable development goals. In recent decades, one of the promising, cost-effective and environmentally benign techniques for removal of PC from water streams has been adsorption onto sewage sludge (SS)-based activated carbon (SBAC).

Polyaspartate extraction of cadmium ions from contaminated soil: Evaluation and optimization using central composite design.

The occurrences of heavy metal contaminated sites and soils and the need for devising environmentally friendly solutions have become global issues of serious concern. In this study, polyaspartate (a highly biodegradable agent) was synthesized using L-Aspartic acid via a new modified thermal procedure and employed for extraction of cadmium ions (Cd) from contaminated soil. Response surface methodology approach using 3 full faced centered central composite design was employed for modeling, evaluating and optimizing the influence of polyaspartate concentration (36-145mM), polyaspartate/soil ratio (5-25), initial heavy metal concentration (100-500mg/kg), initial pH (3-6) and extraction time (6-24h) on Cd ions extracted into the polyaspartate solution and its residual concentration in the treated soil.

Supercapacitive swing adsorption of carbon dioxide.

An electrical effect, the supercapacitive swing adsorption (SSA) effect is reported, which allows for reversible adsorption and desorption of carbon dioxide by capacitive charge and discharge of electrically conducting porous carbon materials. The SSA effect can be observed when an electrically conducting, nanoporous carbon material is brought into contact with carbon dioxide gas and an aqueous electrolyte. Charging the supercapacitor electrodes initiates the spontaneous organization of electrolyte ions into an electric double layer at the surface of each porous electrode.

Barriers to the delivery of optimal antidiabetic therapy in the Middle East and Africa.

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide, but developing nations will bear a disproportionate share of this burden. Countries in the Middle East and Africa are in a state of transition, where marked disparities of income and access to education and healthcare exist, and where the relatively young populations are being exposed increasingly to processes of urbanisation and adverse changes in diet that are fuelling the diabetes epidemic. Optimising diabetes care in these nations is crucial, to minimise the future burden of complications of diabetes.

Barriers to the delivery of diabetes care in the Middle East and South Africa: a survey of 1,082 practising physicians in five countries.

Aims: Developing countries face a high and growing burden of type 2 diabetes. We surveyed physicians in a diverse range of countries in the Middle East and Africa (Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Lebanon) with regard to their perceptions of barriers to type 2 diabetes care identified as potentially important in the literature and by the authors.

Methods: One thousand and eighty-two physicians completed a questionnaire developed by the authors.

Treatment and kinetic study of cyanobacterial toxin by ozone.

A rapid scan-stopped flow (RS-SF) reactor was used to study reaction between ozone and cyanobacterial toxins [microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and microcystin-RR (MC-RR)] at different pH values and over a temperature range of 20-30 degrees C. The ozonation reaction was very effective for elimination of microcystin; solutions of concentration up to 5 mg/L MC-LR were totally oxidized by an ozone dosage of 2 mg/L. Reactions were dependent on ozone dose, temperatures, and pH.

Optimising the medical management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes in the Middle East: pivotal role of metformin.

Aims: Increases in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes will likely be greater in the Middle East and other developing countries than in most other regions during the coming two decades, placing a heavy burden on regional healthcare resources.

Methodology: Medline search, examination of data from major epidemiological studies in the Middle Eastern countries.

Results: The aetiology and pathophysiology of diabetes appears comparable in Middle Eastern and other populations.

Solar/UV-induced photocatalytic degradation of volatile toluene.

The degradations of gaseous toluene (2-20 ppmv) by solar irradiation (solar), solar irradiation and ozone (solar + O3), solar photocatalytic reaction (solar + TiO2) and solar photocatalytic reaction in the presence of ozone (solar + O3 + TiO2) were studied in a pilot plant. The effects of the inlet concentration of toluene, flow rate and relative humidity on the decomposition of toluene were followed. The experimental results showed that the solar process alone did not eliminate a significant amount of toluene.

Sexual dysfunction among Jordanian men with diabetes.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) and its correlations among Jordanian men with diabetes.

Methods: We conducted this study at the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics, Amman, Jordan, between January and August 2004. The study included 988 married diabetic men.

Sleepwalking associated with hyperthyroidism.

Objective: To report several cases of hyperthyroidism in patients presenting with the unusual symptom of sleepwalking and to discuss the possible pathophysiologic basis for this novel association.

Methods: After encountering and reporting the first case of new-onset somnambulism in a patient presenting with thyrotoxicosis at our institution, we routinely inquired about the sleep history of patients with thyrotoxicosis, questioning both the patients and family members when applicable. Those patients who actually had sleepwalking episodes coinciding with the onset of thyrotoxicosis underwent close follow-up, and the relationship between the sleepwalking and the results of thyroid function tests was analyzed.

Clinical and inheritance profiles of Kallmann syndrome in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Proper management of patients with Kallmann syndrome (KS) allows them to attain a normal reproductive health. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the presentation modalities, phenotypes and the modes of inheritance among 32 patients with Kallmann syndrome in Jordan. Recognition of the syndrome allows for prompt proper management and provision of genetic counselling.

Radiological findings in Wolfram syndrome.

Objective: To determine the precise radiologic findings in Wolfram syndrome (WFS) patients using objective techniques in order to better define the reference population for the clinical evaluation.

Methods: Sixteen patients (6 males and 10 females) with WFS found in 4 families were included in this study. Fourteen patients with WFS-2 came from 3 families while 2 patients with WFS-1 from one family.

Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome caused by hypothyroidism in an adult.

A 22-year-old patient presented with abdominal pain and massive ovarian enlargement secondary to severe long standing hypothyroidism, mimicking an ovarian cancer. Treatment with L-thyroxin caused marked regression of the tumor.

Prevalence and predictors of diabetic foot syndrome in type 2 diabetes mellitus in Jordan.

Objective: To detect feet changes and to identify risk factors leading to amputation among type 2 diabetics.

Methods: A total of 1142 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; 595 males (52%), and 547 females (48%) were seen between January and December 2001 at the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Genetics (NCDG) Amman, Jordan. The mean age was 56.