MERS-CoV Infection and Its Impact on the Expression of TSLP Cytokine and IgG Antibodies: An In Vivo and In Vitro Study.

Purpose: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by epithelial cells that is involved in the activation of allergic disorders. To date, no study has examined TSLP induction during Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Herein, we aimed to study the effects of the recombinant spike protein of MERS-CoV on TSLP production.

Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Derived Epidermal Progenitor Cells Conditioned Media Ameliorate Skin Aging in Rats.

Background: Skin alterations are among the most prominent signs of aging, and they arise from both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that interact and mutually influence one another. The use of D-galactose as an aging model in animals has been widely employed in anti-aging research. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) are particularly promising for skin anti-aging therapy due to their capacity for effective re-epithelization and secretion of various growth factors essential for skin regeneration.

Human bocavirus in Saudi Arabia: Molecular epidemiology and Co-infections among children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2014-2016.

Respiratory tract infections due to a variety of viruses continue to threaten the human population worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Among the responsible viruses, Human Bocavirus (HBoV), a novel discovered virus, causes respiratory tract and gastroenteritis disorders in young children. In Saudi Arabia, data regarding virus molecular epidemiology and evolution and its implication in respiratory tract infection are scarce.

Life Aging Effect as a Conditioning Process that Regulates the Performance of the Halogen-Free Mg Electrolyte.

Studying the interplay between the electrochemical performance and the electrolyte conditioning process is crucial for building an efficient magnesium battery. In this work, we use halogen-free electrolyte (HFE) based on Mg(NO) in acetonitrile (ACN) and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (G4) to study the effect of the aging time calendar on its electrochemical properties. The characterization techniques confirm apparent changes occurring in the bulk speciation and the Mg solvation barrier of the aging HFE relative to the as-prepared fresh HFE.

Nanosynthesis and Characterization of CuSeS as a Potential Cathode for Magnesium Battery Applications.

Copper selenide (Cu-Se) and copper sulfide (Cu-S) are promising cathodes for magnesium-ion batteries. However, the low electronic conductivity of Cu-Se system results in a poor rate capability and unsatisfactory cycling performance. Mg-ion batteries based on the Cu-S cathode exhibited large kinetic barriers during the recharging process owing to the presence of polysulfide species.

Probing the effect of ethylene carbonate on optimizing the halogen-free electrolyte performance for Mg sulfur batteries.

Magnesium metal batteries attract great attention for their high volumetric capacity and safety as a post-lithium choice. The strategy of adding organic plasticizer may bring new insights into designing halogen-free electrolytes for the further development of magnesium-sulfur batteries. The high charge density of Mg results in a high desolvation barrier and low interfacial Mg transfer kinetics due to the strong coulombic interactions of Mg ions with anions and solvent molecules.

An in-silico approach leads to explore six genes as a molecular signatures of lung adenocarcinoma.

Due to heterogenetic-specific nature of the available biomarkers, the incidence of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is on the rise worldwide. Previously reported LUAD-related hub genes were searched from the medical literature via literature mining and were processed to identify few top genes via degree method. Later, a comprehensive in silico methodology was applied on the selected real hub genes to identify their tumor driving, diagnostic, and prognostic roles in LUAD patients with divers clinicopathological variables.

Deciphering cervical cancer-associated biomarkers by integrated multi-omics approach.

Objectives: Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma (CESC) is one of the most fatal female malignancies, and the underlying molecular mechanisms governing this disease have not been fully explored. In this research, we planned to conduct the analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cervical squamous cell carcinoma microarray datasets by a detailed approach and to explore some novel biomarkers of CESC.

Methods: The top commonly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the GSE138080 and GSE113942 datasets were analyzed by Limma package-based GEO2R tool.

Dysfunctional network of hub genes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients.

Background: Considering it is one of the major causes of sudden cardiac arrest, the proper management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is essential. However, efficient treatment options for this disease are still lacking. The discovery of HCM-associated hub genes may help in diagnosis and offer a reliable tool for developing effective therapeutic strategies.

Prevalence of Human Coronaviruses in Children and Phylogenetic Analysis of HCoV-OC43 during 2016-2022 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, routine surveillance combined with sequence and phylogenetic analysis of coronaviruses is urgently required. In the current study, the four common human coronaviruses (HCoVs), OC43, NL63, HKU1, and 229E, were screened in 361 clinical samples collected from hospitalized children with respiratory symptoms during four winter seasons. RT-PCR-based detection and typing revealed different prevalence rates of HCoVs across the four seasons.

Emergence of equine influenza virus H3Nx Florida clade 2 in Arabian racehorses in Egypt.

Background: Equine influenza is an important cause of respiratory disease in equids. The causative virus; EIV, is highly variable and can evolve by accumulation of mutations, particularly in the haemagglutinin (HA) gene. Currently, H3N8 is the sole subtype circulating worldwide with Florida clade 1 (FC1) is most prevalent in the Americas and FC2 in Asia and Europe.

Durability of SARS-CoV-2 Specific IgG Antibody Responses Following Two Doses of Match and Mixed COVID-19 Vaccines Regimens in Saudi Population.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to threaten the human population with millions of infections and deaths worldwide. Vaccination campaigns undertaken by several countries have resulted in a notable decrease in hospitalization and deaths. However, with the emergence of new virus variants, it is critical to determine the longevity and the protection efficiency provided by the current authorized vaccines.

Development and Validation of Rapid In-House Diagnostic ELISA Kits for Detection of Human Orthopneumovirus in Clinical Samples.

Currently, the standard assay employed to diagnose human orthopneumovirus infection is real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay (rRT-PCR), a costly and time-consuming procedure that requires the manipulation of infectious viruses. In addition to RT-PCR, serological tests can complement the molecular diagnostic methods and have proven to be important tools in sero-surveillance. In this study, we report the development, optimization, and validation of a novel and rapid in-house diagnostic ELISA kit to detect human orthopneumovirus in clinical samples.

SARS-CoV-2: An Overview of Virus Genetics, Transmission, and Immunopathogenesis.

The human population is currently facing the third and possibly the worst pandemic caused by human coronaviruses (CoVs). The virus was first reported in Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019 and spread within a short time to almost all countries of the world. Genome analysis of the early virus isolates has revealed high similarity with SARS-CoV and hence the new virus was officially named SARS-CoV-2.

Structural Characterization and Binding Studies of the Ectodomain G Protein of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Reveal the Crucial Role of pH with Possible Implications in Host-Pathogen Interactions.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading viral pathogen causing acute lower respiratory tract infection in children. The G protein of RSV is involved in attachment with the host cell. It is a neutralizing antigen and thus a vaccine candidate.

In vivo and in vitro Evaluation of Cytokine Expression Profiles During Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Infection.

Background: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) first emerged in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is associated with a high mortality rate.

Aim: To determine the effect of MERS-CoV on the immune response in infected patients and investigate cytokine production in the A549 epithelial cell line in response to a recombinant MERS-CoV spike protein (rSP) in the presence or absence of anti-dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) antibody (3 independent experiments). Cytokine levels were measured using a cytokine ELISA array.

Sequence and phylogentic analysis of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia, 2012-2019.

Background: The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) continues to exist in the Middle East sporadically. Thorough investigations of the evolution of human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are urgently required. In the current study, we studied amplified fragments of ORF1a/b, Spike (S) gene, ORF3/4a, and ORF4b of four human MERS-CoV strains for tracking the evolution of MERS-CoV over time.

Clinical and technical factors associated with knee radiofrequency ablation outcomes: a multicenter analysis.

Background: There has been a surge in interest in radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the genicular nerves over the past decade, with wide variability in selection, technique and outcomes. The aim of this study is to determine factors associated with treatment outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the effect of 23 demographic, clinical and technical variables on outcomes in 265 patients who underwent genicular nerve RFA for knee pain at 2 civilian and 1 military hospital.

Evaluation of the effect of trans-vaginal ovarian needle punctures on women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: Evaluation of the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided trans-vaginal ovarian needle punctures on improving the management of women with polycystic ovary syndrome resistant to clomiphene citrate.

Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial conducted in a tertiary Hospital, from June 2016 to December 2018. We recruited twenty- seven women with resistant PCOS with either primary or secondary infertility.

Double-edged role of natural killer cells during RSV infection.

Natural killer cells play a vital role in the rejection of tumors and pathogen-infected cells. NK cells are indispensable in the early immune response against viral infections by directly targeting infected cells. Furthermore, NK cells influence adaptive immunity by driving virus-specific T-cell responses.

Epidemiology of respiratory viruses in Saudi Arabia: toward a complete picture.

Acute lower respiratory tract infection is a major health problem that affects more than 15% of the total population of Saudi Arabia each year. Epidemiological studies conducted over the last three decades have indicated that viruses are responsible for the majority of these infections. The epidemiology of respiratory viruses in Saudi Arabia is proposed to be affected mainly by the presence and mobility of large numbers of foreign workers and the gathering of millions of Muslims in Mecca during the Hajj and Umrah seasons.