Effectiveness of an environmental educational program on intern dentists' knowledge and practices regarding eco-friendly green dentistry: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: The dental industry is associated with significant environmental impacts so there is a growing need for eco-friendly practices in dentistry. This study aimed to assess dental interns' knowledge and practices regarding eco-friendly dentistry before and after the implementation of the environmental educational program.

Methods: An interventional quasi-experimental study (one group pre-test-post-test design) was conducted on 69 intern dentists at the Faculty of Dentistry Alexandria University.

Overall health knowledge in the Philippines, multilevel confirmatory factor analysis of the Philippine National Demography Health Survey 2022 data.

A secondary data analysis of the 2022 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey (PNDHS) was conducted to explore the underlying structure of knowledge regarding communicable and noncommunicable diseases using multilevel confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The PNDHS data consist of two levels: level-1 represents within-household data (household questionnaire), and level-2 represents between-household data (primary sampling unit (PSU)). Therefore, a two-level CFA and two-level variance CFA were performed.

Biomarker and isotopic characteristics of Miocene condensates and natural gases, West Delta deep marine concession, Eastern Mediterranean, Egypt.

The Western Delta Deep Marine Concession (WDDM) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea is one of northern Africa's most recent petroleum-potential regions for gas and condensate exploration. The present study aims to determine the characteristics of the 15 natural gases and 5 associated condensate samples, using molecular compositions and isotopes from the Miocene reservoir rocks in the various wells located in the WDDM. The results of this study are also used to determine the gas-condensate correlation for their probable source rocks as well as the methane-generating mechanisms (i.

Effect of CYP3A4*22, CYP3A5*3 and POR*28 genetic polymorphisms on calcineurin inhibitors dose requirements in early phase renal transplant patients.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the combined effect of CYP3A5*3, CYP3A4*22, and POR*28 genetic polymorphisms on tacrolimus and cyclosporine dose requirements.

Methods: One hundred thirty renal transplant patients placed on either tacrolimus or cyclosporine were recruited, where the effect of CYP3A5*3, CYP3A4*22, and POR*28 genetic polymorphisms on their dose requirements were studied at days 14, 30, and 90 post-transplantations.

Results: The POR*28 allele frequency in the studied population was 29.

Risk factor assessment of digital eye strain during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Shifting to online learning during the coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of individuals symptomatic of digital eye strain (DES). This study aimed to determine the frequency and potential risk factors of DES among university staff members and students in this pandemic era.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted during the pandemic, in May and June 2020.

Implications of Organic Matter Input, Sedimentary Environmental Conditions, and Gas Generation Potential of the Organic-Rich Shale in the Onshore Jiza-Qamar Basin, Yemen.

The Jiza-Qamar Basin is one of the most important exploration sedimentary basins in Yemen. For over a decade, the exploration of hydrocarbons has been occurring in this basin. Late Cretaceous age rocks are the most occurring organic-rich sediments in this basin, including coals, coaly shales, and shales.

Topical cyclosporin A 0.05% eye drops for management of symptomatic acquired punctal stenosis: a prospective, controlled clinical study.

Purpose: To study the efficacy of cyclosporin 0.05% eye drops in the management of grade 1 and 2 acquired punctal stenosis and to compare the results with the clinical outcomes of mini-Monoka insertion.

Methods: A prospective, controlled, interventional clinical study includes all patients (16 years and older) with symptomatic epiphora and diagnosed with grade 1 or grade 2 acquired punctal stenosis.

Clinical outcomes of vacuum-dehydrated amniotic membrane (Omnigen) mounted on contact lens (Omnilenz) in eyes with acute chemical eye injuries.

Background: Omnigen is a vacuum-dehydrated amniotic membrane transplant. It can be delivered to the eye pre-mounted on a special bandage contact lens (Omnilenz) that enables its application without the need for sutures or glue; the aim of this study is to evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of Omnilenz-Omnigen complex in eyes with acute chemical injury (CEI).

Methods: A prospective interventional study included patients with different grades of acute CEI attending the casualty between July 2021 and November 2022.

Pre-operative versus post-operative intravitreal aflibercept injection for management of DME in patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to investigate the need of deferring cataract surgery until treating the co-existing diabetic macular edema (DME) using intravitreal (IVI) anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF).

Methods: A prospective randomized interventional study included diabetic patients with visually significant cataract and DME. Patients were divided into 2 groups.

Glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes in a low resource setting in Rwanda: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: diabetes is a leading cause of death, disability, and high healthcare costs, especially among patients with poor glycemic control. Providing decentralized diabetes care to patients in low-income countries remains a major challenge. We aimed to assess hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) level of patients enrolled in primary-level non-communicable disease clinics of Rwamagana, Rwanda, and identify predictors associated with a) change in HbA1c level over a 6-month period or b) achieving HbA1c <7%.

Influence of CYP3A4*22 and CYP3A5*3 combined genotypes on tacrolimus dose requirements in Egyptian renal transplant patients.

Background: Tacrolimus is a widely prescribed immunosuppressant agent for kidney transplantation. However, optimal dosing is challenging due to its narrow therapeutic index, potentially serious adverse effects, and wide inter-individual variability in pharmacokinetics. Cytochrome P450 3A (CPY3A) enzymes metabolize tacrolimus, so allelic variants such as CYP3A4*22 and CYP3A5*3 may contribute to individual differences in pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy of tacrolimus.

Development and optimization of amphiphilic self-assembly into nanostructured liquid crystals for transdermal delivery of an antidiabetic SGLT2 inhibitor.

The anti-hyperglycemic sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor Canagliflozin (CFZ) represents a recent antihyperglycemic modality, yet it suffers from low oral bioavailability. The current work aims to formulate CFZ-loaded transdermal nanostructured liquid crystal gel matrix (NLCG) to improve its therapeutic efficiency. Pre-formulation study included the construction of pseudoternary phase diagrams to explore the effect of two conventional amphiphiles against amphiphilic tri-block copolymer in the formulation of NLCG.

Accessibility of registration offices for births and deaths: Red Sea Governorate, Egypt.

Background: Frontier governorates in Egypt have widely dispersed residential areas, which may make birth/death registration difficult for people because of the distance to registration offices.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the accessibility of birth/death registration offices in the Red Sea Governorate, one of Egypt's frontier governorates.

Methods: OpenStreetMap was used to locate residential areas and road networks of the Red Sea Governorate.

Podoplanin expression in salivary gland carcinomas and its clinical significance. An immunohistochemical study.

Podoplanin (D2-40) is a lymphatic endothelial marker that is considered as a specific marker for lymphatic endothelial cells and lymphangiogenesis in salivary gland carcinomas (SGCs). Aim: the present study aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of podoplanin in SGCs and to correlate its expression with the clinicopathological parameters and patients' survival. Forty-nine SGC cases were electronically selected.

The Promising Role of Chitosan-Poloxamer 188 Nanocrystals in Improving Diosmin Dissolution and Therapeutic Efficacy against Ferrous Sulfate-Induced Hepatic Injury in Rats.

Diosmin (DSN) exhibits poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Although nanocrystals (NCs) are successful for improving drug solubility, they may undergo crystal growth. Therefore, DSN NCs were prepared, employing sonoprecipitation utilizing different stabilizers.

Comparison of the efficacy of lotrafilcon B and comfilcon A silicone hydrogel bandage contact lenses after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy.

Background: At completion of transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (t-PRK) surgery, the eye is usually fitted with a bandage contact lens to reduce discomfort and promote epithelial healing. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of eyes fitted with lotrafilcon B versus comfilcon A, silicone hydrogel bandage contact lenses after t-PRK for the correction of low to moderate myopia, with or without astigmatism.

Methods: In this comparative, prospective study, patients with myopia < -6 D with or without astigmatism (< 1.

The Effectiveness of 3 Combined Therapeutic Regimens in Egyptian Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Double-Blind Prospective Pilot Study.

Background: There are differences of opinion about both the most effective combined therapeutic strategy and the clinical benefit of inhaled corticosteroids in nonasthmatic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Furthermore, many inflammatory cytokines are reportedly correlated with severity of the disease.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of long acting β-agonist + long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LABA + LAMA) versus LABA + inhaled corticosteroid and LAMA + inhaled corticosteroid in nonasthmatic patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Regression tree modelling to predict total average extra costs in household spending during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Prevention of coronavirus (COVID-19) regarding households has many aspects, such as buying mask, hand sanitizer, face shield, and many others. As a result of buying the previous items, the household spending per month will increase during the COVID-19 pandemic period. This study aimed to calculate the average costs of each extra item involved in households spending during COVID-19 pandemic and to predict the total average extra costs spending by households.

Acquired symptomatic external punctal stenosis: a tertiary referral center study.

Background: To report the prevalence of acquired symptomatic external punctal stenosis (EPS) in a tertiary referral center in Kuwait, and to study the associated risk factors, etiologies, and management outcomes.

Methods: This prospective interventional hospital-based study was performed at the Farwaniya governmental hospital in Kuwait between November 2018 and November 2019. All patients were referred to the oculoplastic clinic with symptomatic epiphora, age > 18 years, epiphora Munk score ≥ 0, tear film meniscus ≥ 2 mm, and punctum with grade ≤ 2 (smaller than normal size, but recognizable) were included.

Effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination in chronic HCV patients after successful generic direct acting antiviral therapy: significance of isolated hepatitis B core antibodies.

Objective: Previous reports show conflicting results regarding hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine efficacy in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected individuals and in those with isolated hepatitis B core antibodies (HBcAb). We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of HBV vaccine and identify possible factors that may contribute to hyporesponsivness in HCV-treated patients, including those with isolated HBcAb.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study with 118 enrolled chronic HCV patients who followed a 12-week regimen of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) and were evaluated for HBV serological markers.

Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding diabetic retinopathy screening and its management among diabetic patients at a private hospital of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: We present the KAP levels and the determinants for diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening and management at a private hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A chart review was performed of DM patients to collect the demographics and diabetes related information in June to December 2017. A close ended questionnaire was used that queried knowledge (7), attitude (5) and practice for DR screening (7).

Spatial analysis of completeness of death registration in Egypt.

Purpose: Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems should be the primary source of routine mortality data. However, there is lack of information about the completeness of death registration at the sub-national level of Egypt. The current study was conducted to estimate the completeness of death registration at the national and sub-national levels of Egypt, to investigate the spatial patterns of the completeness, and to examine the factors that influence it.

Validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the "Personal Wellbeing Index-Adults" on adults with hearing impairment.

The Personal Wellbeing Index-Adults (PWI-A) is the most widely used instrumentfor measuring subjective-quality of life (QoL). The current study seeks to investigate the constructvalidity and reliability of the Arabic version of the PWI-A on adults with bilateral hearingimpairment by comparing the single-factor solution with the two-factor solution. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Audio-Vestibular Medicine Unit of Alexandria University from July-2017 to January-2018.

Topiramate for smoking cessation: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Topiramate is an antiepileptic drug that has been used for many labeled and off-labeled indications. It may be useful in reducing withdrawal symptoms of various addictive agents such as alcohol, cocaine, cannabis and smoking. To date, some studies have examined the effectiveness of topiramate for smoking cessation.