Insights into the pressure-dependent physical properties of cubic CaMF (M = As and Sb): First-principles calculations.

Here, first-principles calculations have been employed to make a comparative study on structural, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of new CaMF (M = As and Sb) photovoltaic compounds under pressure. The findings disclose that these two systems possess a direct band gap, showcasing a large tunable range under pressure, effectively encompassing the visible light spectrum. Adjusting various levels of hydrostatic pressure has effectively tuned both the band alignment and the effective masses of electrons and holes.

Parental Awareness of Antibiotic Use for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in Children in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Upper respiratory tract infections are a prevalent cause of morbidity in children, often managed in primary care settings. These infections are predominantly viral, but antibiotics are sometimes inappropriately prescribed. This misuse, driven by parental pressure and misconceptions, contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

Local Anesthetic Infiltration for Pain Control in Aesthetic Breast Reduction Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Aesthetic breast surgeries, including breast reduction, are commonly performed surgical procedures associated with postoperative pain. Pain control is essential to patient comfort, satisfaction, and early recovery. This systematic review is the first to conduct both qualitative and quantitative analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of local anesthetic infiltration in reducing pain after breast reduction surgeries.

Snake Venom: A Promising Source of Neurotoxins Targeting Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels.

The venom derived from various sources of snakes represents a vast collection of predominantly protein-based toxins that exhibit a wide range of biological actions, including but not limited to inflammation, pain, cytotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. The venom of a particular snake species is composed of several toxins, while the venoms of around 600 venomous snake species collectively encompass a substantial reservoir of pharmacologically intriguing compounds. Despite extensive research efforts, a significant portion of snake venoms remains uncharacterized.

The Benefits of Friendships in Academic Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Friendships can positively impact students' academic performance and grade point average (GPA) by providing emotional support and reducing stress, thereby leading to improved focus and better concentration on studies. Peer connections and friendships often result in collaborative learning and the exchange of academic ideas, improving comprehension and retention of course materials, ultimately leading to higher GPAs. In contrast, negative friendships or excessive social distractions can adversely affect GPA, which highlights the importance of striking a fine balance between social connections and academic responsibilities.

Quality of life and nutritional status in peritoneal dialysis patients: a cross-sectional study from Palestine.

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a growing cause of morbidity worldwide. Protein malnutrition is common among patients with ESRD. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) offers greater lifestyle flexibility and independence compared to the widely used treatments for ESRD.

The establishment of national diagnostic reference levels for adult SPECT-CT in Saudi Arabia.

This study aims to introduce national diagnostic reference levels (NDRLs) for adult hybrid single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CT) in nuclear medicine (NM) departments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The administered activity (AA) of radiopharmaceuticals, volume-weighted computed tomography dose index (CTDI) and dose length product (DLP) for ten hybrid SPECT/CT examinations were collected and analysed for one year. The median of AA, CTDIand DLP for each dose quantity was derived and the suggested national DRLs were determined based on the 75percentile for all identified SPECT-CT examinations.

BH3-Only Proteins Noxa and Puma Are Key Regulators of Induced Apoptosis.

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved and tightly regulated cell death pathway. Physiological cell death is important for maintaining homeostasis and optimal biological conditions by continuous elimination of undesired or superfluous cells. The BH3-only pro-apoptotic members are strong inducers of apoptosis.

[Chronic renal failure and hemodialysis in Lomé: are patients on haemodialysis and their entourage well informed?].

End stage renal failure requires substitution therapy, including hemodialysis. Before initiation, patients and their entourage receive information on renal disease and treatment options. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of knowledge as well as the opinion of patients on haemodialysis and of their entourage on chronic kidney disease and substitution therapies.

Case Report: Recent Case Reports of Levant Blunt-Nosed Viper Macrovipera lebetina obtusa Snakebites in Iran.

Envenomation and death resulting from snakebites represent a significant public health problem worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The WHO has defined snakebite as a neglected tropical health concern. Bites from Macrovipera lebetina obtusa usually cause life-threatening systemic hemodynamic disturbances, reduced functionality of the kidneys, and other serious symptoms, including hypotension shock, edema, and tissue necrosis, at the bite site.

Development of a selective inhibitor for Kv1.1 channels prevalent in demyelinated nerves.

Members of the voltage-gated K channel subfamily (Kv1), involved in regulating transmission between neurons or to muscles, are associated with human diseases and, thus, putative targets for neurotherapeutics. This applies especially to those containing Kv1.1 α subunits which become prevalent in murine demyelinated axons and appear abnormally at inter-nodes, underlying the perturbed propagation of nerve signals.

Marine Toxins Targeting Kv1 Channels: Pharmacological Tools and Therapeutic Scaffolds.

Toxins from marine animals provide molecular tools for the study of many ion channels, including mammalian voltage-gated potassium channels of the Kv1 family. Selectivity profiling and molecular investigation of these toxins have contributed to the development of novel drug leads with therapeutic potential for the treatment of ion channel-related diseases or channelopathies. Here, we review specific peptide and small-molecule marine toxins modulating Kv1 channels and thus cover recent findings of bioactives found in the venoms of marine Gastropod (cone snails), Cnidarian (sea anemones), and small compounds from cyanobacteria.

[Iatrogenic disease in the elderly: about two cases of tricyclics-induced renal failure].

Prostatic hyperplasia is a common condition in people over the age of 50 and its incidence increases with age. It gives particular cause for concern when it is symptomatic. Drugs with potential adverse effects on lower urinary tract can induce symptoms.

Neurobiology and therapeutic applications of neurotoxins targeting transmitter release.

Synaptic transmission is a fundamental neurobiological process enabling exchange of signals between neurons as well as neurons and their non-neuronal effectors. The complex molecular machinery of the synaptic vesicle cycle and transmitter release has emerged and developed in the course of the evolutionary race, to ensure adaptive gain and survival of the fittest. In parallel, a generous arsenal of biomolecules and neuroactive peptides have co-evolved, which selectively target the transmitter release machinery, with the aim of subduing natural rivals or neutralizing prey.

Primary Neuroendocrine Breast Carcinoma in a 13-Year-Old Girl: Ultrasonography and Pathology Findings.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the breast is a rare disease and has been scarcely reported by African authors. The authors report a case of breast NEC in a 13-year-old African girl initially diagnosed as an atypical adenofibroma by ultrasonography. Ultrasound-guided biopsy and conventional histological examination indicated two potential diagnoses: primary malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and undifferentiated carcinoma.

A Rational Design of a Selective Inhibitor for Kv1.1 Channels Prevalent in Demyelinated Nerves That Improves Their Impaired Axonal Conduction.

K channels containing Kv1.1 α subunits, which become prevalent at internodes in demyelinated axons, may underlie their dysfunctional conduction akin to muscle weakness in multiple sclerosis. Small inhibitors were sought with selectivity for the culpable hyper-polarizing K currents.

[Depression in patients on chronic hemodialysis at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital of Lomé (Togo)].

Introduction: The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of depression and to investigate its associated risk factors in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in the hemodialysis unit of the Division of Nephrology at the University Hospital of Sylvanus Olympio Lomé (Togo) from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014. Self-evaluation Scale as calibrated using the Beck Depression Inventory in his simplified version was our screening tool.

[Tuberculosis among chronic hemodialysis patients in Togo: Report of 10 cases].

Goals: To determine the frequency of tuberculosis among hemodialysis patients in Togo, specify its different localizations and identify its diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective study over a period of 5 years (2010-2015). It includes the records of periodic hemodialysis patients in the Nephrology Department of the Sylvanus-Olympio University Teaching Hospital in Lomé.

Co-circulation of Peste-des-Petits-Ruminants Virus Asian lineage IV with Lineage II in Nigeria.

Peste-des-petits-ruminants (PPR), a major small ruminant transboundary animal disease, is endemic in Nigeria. Strains of the causal agent, peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV), have been differentiated into four genetically distinct lineages based on the partial sequence of the virus nucleoprotein (N) or fusion (F) genes. Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus strains that were identified initially in Africa were grouped into lineages I, II and III and viruses from Asia were classified as lineage IV and referred to as the Asian lineage.

Porphyrin derivatives as potent and selective blockers of neuronal Kv1 channels.

Selective inhibitors of voltage-activated K(+) channels are needed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In this work it was discovered that porphyrins bearing 2-4 carbon alkyl ammonium side chains predominantly blocked the Kv1.1 current whilst Kv1.

WITHDRAWN: Identification of peste-des-petits ruminants virus (PPRV) lineage IV, the Asian lineage, in Nigeria and co-circulation with PPRV lineage II.

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Disruption of myelin leads to ectopic expression of K(V)1.1 channels with abnormal conductivity of optic nerve axons in a cuprizone-induced model of demyelination.

The molecular determinants of abnormal propagation of action potentials along axons and ectopic conductance in demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, like multiple sclerosis (MS), are poorly defined. Widespread interruption of myelin occurs in several mouse models of demyelination, rendering them useful for research. Herein, considerable myelin loss is shown in the optic nerves of cuprizone-treated demyelinating mice.