Clopidogrel therapy in nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion: A case report and therapeutic insight.

Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a significant cause of vision impairment in adults, often associated with various systemic and ocular risk factors. The current literature presents a limited understanding of the efficacy of antithrombotic agents in CRVO management, with sparse comparative studies evaluating the effectiveness of different antiplatelet therapies. Here, we report the case of nonischemic CRVO in a 54-year-old male with multiple systemic comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

Chemical Cleaning Techniques for Fouled RO Membranes: Enhancing Fouling Removal and Assessing Microbial Composition.

Membrane fouling, a major challenge in desalination, is addressed in this study by investigating three different chemical cleaning protocols (A, B, and C) targeting fouled reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and microbial community composition. Cleaning protocols A and B involve different chemical treatments selected based on preliminary tests and literature review, while protocol C follows the manufacturer's standard recommendation. Membrane morphology, foulant composition, and microbial community variability in fouled, virgin, and cleaned membranes are studied.

Modified frankincense resin stabilized gold nanoparticles for enhanced antioxidant and synergetic activity in in-vitro anticancer studies.

For the first time, Frankincense resin (FR) has been carboxymethylated to produce CMFR - AuNPs and the conjugate was utilized for the Doxorubicin drug loading. The carboxymethylation of the carboxylic, phenolic, and hydroxyl functional groups of FR has been developed into carboxymethylated Frankincense resin (CMFR). A novel CMFR-AuNPs was synthesized using the developed CMFR as a stabilizing and reducing agent.

Pituitary Adenoma Prevalence and Characteristics of Omani Patients: A Single Center Experience.

Objectives: To estimate the incidence of pituitary adenomas (PA) in adult Omani patients and describe its epidemiological, clinical, and radiological characteristics.

Methods: In this longitudinal, descriptive study, we reviewed the records of all PA patients from January 2015 to January 2020 who presented at the endocrinology facilities at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat.

Results: The participants comprised of 112 Omani patients with PA.

Elevated oxidative stress biomarkers in adults with segmented sleep patterns.

Study Objectives: We investigated the association between different sleep patterns and inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in adults.

Methods: A total of 321 consented adults who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The inclusion criteria were mainly based on apparently healthy adults aged 18-59 years.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of Limonia acidissima Groff gum stabilized palladium nanoparticles for colorimetric glucose sensing.

Herein, we present a novel microwave-assisted method for the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) supported by Limonia acidissima Groff tree extract gum. The synthesized PdNPs were characterized using various analytical techniques, including FTIR, SEM, TEM, UV-visible, and powder XRD analyses. TEM and XRD analysis confirmed that the synthesized LAG-PdNPs are highly crystalline nature spherical shapes with an average size diameter of 7-9 nm.

Nanomaterial grafted polymorphous activated carbon cloth surface for antibacterial, capacitive deionization and oil spill cleaning applications.

This work reports the development of multifunctional or polymorphous surfaces using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods, silica (SiO), and fluoropolymer functionalization in a sequential process. Firstly, zinc oxide nanorods were grown on activated carbon cloth (ACC) using a simple low-temperature synthesis process. ZnO nanorods-coated ACC substrate was applied to investigate the antimicrobial properties, and the results showed inhibition of 50% for Escherichia coli (E.

Use of waste marble powder for the synthesis of novel calcium-rich biochar: Characterization and application for phosphorus recovery in continuous stirring tank reactors.

This study investigates-for the first time-the synthesis of a novel Ca-rich biochar (N-Ca-B) and its potential use for phosphorus (P) recovery from both synthetic solutions (SS) and treated urban wastewater (TUW) in a continuous stirring tank reactor (CSTR) mode. The novel biochar was synthesized by pyrolysis at 900 °C of a mixture composed of three different materials: animal biomass (poultry manure; PM), lignocellulosic waste (date palm fronds; DPFs), and abundant mineral waste (waste marble powder; WMP). Characterization of N-Ca-B showed that it has good textural properties: well-developed porosity, and high specific surface area.

Towards technology, economy, energy and environment oriented simultaneous optimization of ammonia production process: Further analysis of green process.

Ammonia is one of the most produced chemicals around the world due to its various uses. However its traditional production process is associated with high fossil fuel consumption. To avoid this, the production of green ammonia can be done, and one of the considered production methods is water electrolysis, where the hydrogen needed for the manufacturing of ammonia is produced using solar energy.

Sustainable gliadin - Metal oxide composites for efficient inactivation of Escherichia coli and remediation of cobalt (II) from water.

Bio-based materials facilitate greener approach to engineering novel materials with multifunctional properties for various applications including water treatment. In this study, we extracted gliadin from wheat gluten using alcoholic solvent. The aggregation limitations of gliadin protein were overcome by functionalisation with metal oxides (MOs) TiO, AgFeO and AgFe-TiO prepared by chemical precipitations.

Exploring Hikikomori-like idiom of distress a year into the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Oman: Factorial validity of the 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire, prevalence and associated factors.

Background: Existing literature that examines the Hikikomori-like idiom of distress (HLID) initially labelled this phenomenon as a culture-bound syndrome. However, the increasing number of reports from other parts of the world suggest that HLID could instead be a culture-reactive idiom of distress, originating from biopsychosocial disequilibrium and cultural upheaval. The impact of imposed social withdrawal due to the Coronavirus 2 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on the growing prevalence of HLID has not yet been adequately explored.

Development of portable sensor for the detection of bacteria: effect of gold nanoparticle size, effective surface area, and interparticle spacing upon sensing interface.

In this study, systematic development of a portable sensor for the rapid detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Exiguobacterium aurantiacum (E. aurantiacum) was reported.

The Relationship Between Epilepsy Control and the Duration of Nighttime Sleep and Afternoon Siesta.

Context: The association between epilepsy control and the duration of sleep among people with epilepsy (PWE) is not well studied in Middle Eastern countries such as Oman.

Aims: To describe the sleep habits of PWE in Oman and explore the association of their sleep habits at night and afternoon siesta with the level of seizure control achieved and antiseizure medications (ASMs) consumed.

Methods: The subjects of this cross-sectional study were adult epilepsy patients attending a neurology clinic.

Knowledge and attitude about organ donation and transplantation among Omani university students.

Background: Despite the importance of organ donation and transplantation in improving the quality of life, still, there is a shortage of organ donations, worldwide. Lack of knowledge among the public could be the reason. In previous studies, the focus was predominantly on medical students at universities.

Circadian Rhythm, Sleep, and Immune Response and the Fight against COVID-19.

Sleep is an imperative physiological aspect that plays a vital role in maintaining hormonal and humeral functions of the body and hence a healthy life. Circadian rhythms are daily oscillations in human activities and physiology that prepare human beings to better react to and anticipate challenges in the surrounding environment, which are a consequence of diurnal changes of day and night. The sleep/wake cycle is one of the most prominent manifestations of the circadian rhythm and communicates tightly with the immune system with daily oscillation of immunity.

Pt-Based Nanostructures for Electrochemical Oxidation of CO: Unveiling the Effect of Shapes and Electrolytes.

Direct alcohol fuel cells are deemed as green and sustainable energy resources; however, CO-poisoning of Pt-based catalysts is a critical barrier to their commercialization. Thus, investigation of the electrochemical CO oxidation activity (CO) of Pt-based catalyst over pH ranges as a function of Pt-shape is necessary and is not yet reported. Herein, porous Pt nanodendrites (Pt NDs) were synthesized via the ultrasonic irradiation method, and its CO oxidation performance was benchmarked in different electrolytes relative to 1-D Pt chains nanostructure (Pt NCs) and commercial Pt/C catalyst under the same condition.

pH Controlled Nanostructure and Optical Properties of ZnO and Al-Doped ZnO Nanorod Arrays Grown by Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Method.

The low-temperature microwave-assisted hydrothermal method was used to successfully grow pure and Al-doped ZnO (AZO) nanorod (NR) arrays on glass substrates. The combined effects of doping and pH on the structural properties, surface chemistry, and optical properties of all samples were investigated. Thermodynamic-based simulations of the growth solution were performed and a growth mechanism, that considers the effects of both the pH and Al-doping, is proposed, and discussed.

Association of elevated glycated hemoglobin and obesity with afternoon napping for more than 1 h in young and middle-aged healthy adults.

Introduction: Sleep has different patterns followed worldwide and can be influenced by social, cultural, and environmental factors. Daytime napping is commonly practiced in different parts of the world with controversial results of its effect on glucose metabolism. The current study aims to examine the association of afternoon napping and night sleep duration with metabolic derangements.

Some Distinct Attributes of ZnO Nanorods Arrays: Effects of Varying Hydrothermal Growth Time.

This study investigates the growth time effect on the structural, morphological, optical, and photoelectrochemical characteristics of highly oriented ZnO nanorod arrays (ZNRAs). The nanorod arrays were grown on ITO substrates using the unified sol-gel spin coating and hydrothermal techniques. ZnO nanoparticles (ZNPs) were synthesized using the sol-gel spin coating method.

Autopsy of Used Reverse Osmosis Membranes from the Largest Seawater Desalination Plant in Oman.

The Barka desalination plant, commissioned in 2018, is the largest desalination plant in Oman. It has a capacity of 281 MLD with a reverse osmosis (RO) first-pass recovery rate of 46%. As part of the standard operator practice, a membrane autopsy was conducted to determine the cause of reductions in membrane performance.