Public knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards herbal medicines; a cross-sectional study in Western Saudi Arabia.

Background: Herbal medicines, derived from medicinal plants, are among the most popular alternative remedies around the globe. In Saudi Arabia, herbal medicines are extensively used by public as part of the culture as well as religious norms. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding herbal medicines among the general population in Saudi Arabia.

A novel comprehensive radiation shielding system eliminates need for personal lead aprons in the catheterization laboratory.

Objectives: This clinical study evaluated the efficacy of a novel radiation shielding system for the cardiac catheterization laboratory designed to provide comprehensive protection that obviates the need for personal lead aprons.

Background: Invasive Cardiologists are exposed to occupational health hazards related directly to radiation exposure (RE) and indirectly to the orthopedic burden of wearing only partially protective lead aprons. Innovations to reduce these risks are warranted.

Nurses' knowledge about palliative care services in North Lebanon.

Background: The surge in number of people needing palliative care services along with the deficit in nursing knowledge in in this field are challenges to be addressed in order to ensure higher quality end of life life care.

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional, exploratory pilot study was to assess nurses' knowledge in palliative care using the palliative care knowledge test (PCKT).

Method: Descriptive analysis and correlations were carried out.

Diverging levels of COVID-19 governmental response satisfaction across middle eastern Arab countries: a multinational study.

Background: Public acceptance of governmental measures are key to controlling the spread of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant burden on healthcare systems for high-income countries as well as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The ability of LMICs to respond to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic has been limited and may have affected the impact of governmental strategies to control the spread of COVID-19.

Clinical and Laboratory Findings of COVID-19 in High-Altitude Inhabitants of Saudi Arabia.

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, continues to cause a worldwide pandemic, with more than 147 million being affected globally as of this writing. People's responses to COVID-19 range from asymptomatic to severe, and the disease is sometimes fatal. Its severity is affected by different factors and comorbidities of the infected patients.

A Novel Catheterization Laboratory Radiation Shielding System: Results of Pre-Clinical Testing.

Background: This pre-clinical study evaluated the efficacy of a novel shielding system to reduce scatter radiation in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Methods: Using a scatter radiation phantom in a standard cardiac catheterization laboratory, a radiation physicist recorded radiation measurements at 20 reference points on the operator side of the table. Measurements were made with fluoroscopy and cine with the C-arm in the posterior-anterior (PA) and 40 degrees left anterior oblique (LAO) orientations.

In-hospital outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The relative safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have not been well defined. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to assess in-hospital outcomes in this population.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to April 2020 for all clinical trials and observational studies.

Transition metal-free domino acyl substitution/Michael addition of alkenyl Grignard reagents to lactam esters: synthesis of lactam-bearing homoallylic ketones.

A solvent-controlled protocol for the direct and transition metal-free addition of alkenyl Grignard reagents to vicinally functionalized sp-rich morpholinones has been developed, leading to the chemo and regioselective synthesis of lactam-bearing homoallylic ketones. The addition of lithium chloride proved to be essential. In cases where a new stereocenter is generated, the doubly branched homoallylic ketones are obtained in unexpectedly high diastereoselectivities.

Donor-targeted serotherapy as a rescue therapy for steroid-resistant acute GVHD after HLA-mismatched kidney transplantation.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a rare but frequently lethal complication after solid organ transplantation. GVHD occurs in unduly immunocompromised hosts but requires the escalation of immunosuppression, which does not discriminate between host and donor cells. In contrast, donor-targeted therapy would ideally mitigate graft-versus-host reactivity while sparing recipient immune functions.

Optimizing the Technique for Invasive Fractional Flow Reserve to Assess Lesion-Specific Ischemia.

Background: Invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) is the standard technique for assessing myocardial ischemia. Pressure distortions and measurement location may influence FFR interpretation. We report a technique for performing invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) by minimizing pressure distortions and identifying the proper location to measure FFR.

The mouse wellhaarig (we) mutations result from defects in epidermal-type transglutaminase 3 (Tgm3).

The recessive wellhaarig (we) mutations, named for the wavy coat and curly whiskers they generate in homozygotes, have previously been mapped on mouse Chromosome 2. To further limit the possible location of the we locus, we crossed hybrid (C57BL/6×AKR)F1, we(4J)/+ females with AKR, we(4J)/we(4J) mutant males to create a large backcross family that was typed for various microsatellite markers and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that distinguish strains AKR and B6. This analysis restricted the location of we(4J) between sites that flank only one gene known to be expressed in skin: epidermal-type transglutaminase 3 (Tgm3).

Recovery of nickel, cobalt and some salts from spent Ni-MH batteries.

This work provides a method to help recover nickel, cobalt metals and some of their salts having market value from spent nickel-metal hydride batteries (SNiB). The methodology used benefits the solubility of the battery electrode materials in sulfuric or hydrochloric acids. The results obtained showed that sulfuric acid was slightly less powerful in leaching SNiB compared to HCl acid.

Recyclables recovery of europium and yttrium metals and some salts from spent fluorescent lamps.

Europium and yttrium metals and some valuable salts were recovered from the powder coating the inner surface of the glass tubes of fluorescent lamps. The tubes were broken under 30% aqueous acetone to avoid emission of mercury vapor to the atmosphere, and the powder was collected by brushing. Metals available in the powder were pressure leached using sulfuric/nitric acid mixture.

Recovery of aluminium, nickel-copper alloys and salts from spent fluorescent lamps.

This study explores a combined pyro-hydrometallurgical method to recover pure aluminium, nickel-copper alloy(s), and some valuable salts from spent fluorescent lamps (SFLs). It also examines the safe recycling of clean glass tubes for the fluorescent lamp industry. Spent lamps were decapped under water containing 35% acetone to achieve safe capture of mercury vapour.

Preparation of aluminium-magnesium alloys and some valuable salts from used beverage cans.

The purpose of this work is to recover standard aluminium-magnesium alloy(s) and some valuable salts from used beverage cans (UBCs). The suggested method updated the current recycling technology by augmenting removal of the coating paint, decreasing magnesium loss during melting process and improving hydrochloric acid leaching of the formed slag. Iron impurity present in the leaching solution, was removed by oxidation using oxygen gas or hydrogen peroxide and filtered as goethite.

Immediate effect of percutaneous myocardial laser revascularization on hemodynamics and left ventricular systolic function in severe angina pectoris.

Experimental data suggest that myocardial revascularization with a high-energy laser may cause a significant reduction in left ventricular (LV) function immediately after creation of myocardial channels. We sought to determine if percutaneous myocardial laser revascularization (PMR) causes immediate deterioration in hemodynamic parameters or regional LV systolic function. PMR was performed in 40 patients (mean age 62.

Usefulness of intravenous enoxaparin for percutaneous coronary intervention in stable angina pectoris.

This pilot study was designed to determine whether the low molecular weight heparin, enoxaparin, could be used for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to provide antithrombotic effects without the full systemic anticoagulation that occurs with the use of unfractionated heparin. Sixty patients were randomized to receive intravenous enoxaparin (1 mg/kg bolus dose) or unfractionated heparin at the time of coronary intervention. Laboratory testing was performed at baseline, 5 minutes, and 4 hours after study drug to test if a single bolus dose of intravenous enoxaparin can consistently achieve therapeutic antithrombotic effect, thus eliminating the need for multiple doses of heparin and closely monitoring levels of anticoagulation during PCI.

Heparin after percutaneous intervention (HAPI): a prospective multicenter randomized trial of three heparin regimens after successful coronary intervention.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of bleeding, vascular, and ischemic complications using three different heparin regimens after successful intervention.

Background: The ideal dose and duration of heparin infusion after successful coronary intervention is unknown.

Methods: Patients were randomized to one of three heparin strategies after coronary intervention: Group 1 (n = 157 patients) received prolonged (12 to 24 h) heparin infusion followed by sheath removal; Group 2 (n = 120 patients) underwent early removal of sheaths, followed by reinstitution of heparin infusion for 12 to 18 h; Group 3 (n = 137 patients) did not receive any further heparin after intervention with early sheath removal.

Effect of magnesium chloride on electrical stability of the heart.

The effect of magnesium chloride on the ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) and the threshold for the ventricular premature contraction (VPCT) was studied in 20 dogs. Seven of the dogs were pre-treated with digitalis and four were in the form of heart-lung preparations. In the anesthetized, intact dogs, the VPCT was 0.