Hydrogeochemical and isotopic investigations of groundwater in the reclaimed desert located between EL Nasr canal and Mariut Tableland, NW Coast, Egypt.

A complete understanding of groundwater dynamics and its interaction with surface water under the impact of agricultural activities is vital for local agriculture, ecology, and residents of dry regions, which is not commonly recognized in arid areas. This research outlines the geochemical characteristics, recharge sources, and potential factors impacting groundwater quality in a new land reclamation located in the small basin of Abu Mina, which is part of the Western Nile Delta region.1 Thirty-one groundwater samples and two surface water samples were collected in 2021 to represent the Pleistocene aquifer and were subjected to multivariate statistical, hydrochemical, and stable isotope analyses.

Phosphate adsorption on dried alum sludge: Modeling and application to treatment of dairy effluents.

This study evaluates Alum sludge from drinking water treatment plants for the efficient and cost-effective removal of phosphates from aqueous solutions. Extensive characterization and batch experiments have established that optimal phosphate removal was achieved with a sludge dosage of 20 g L (at an initial phosphate concentration of 100 mg L), a pH of 5, a temperature of 23 °C, and a stirring speed of 200 rpm. These conditions significantly reduced phosphate levels, ensuring compliance with legal discharge limits.

Outcomes for maximal bilateral lateral rectus recession in large-angle exotropia.

Background: Surgical treatment for large-angle exotropia can be challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate short-term surgical outcomes of patients with large-angle exotropia (≥50) undergoing maximal bilateral lateral rectus muscle recession of 10 mm.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of consecutive patients at our institution who underwent maximal bilateral lateral rectus muscle recession for exodeviation ≥50 from January 1, 2008, to July 22, 2022.

Comparative evaluation of some techniques used for the detection of rabies virus.

Background: Neurotropic viruses in the family Rhabdoviridae, genus , are what cause rabies, an acute, progressive, and highly lethal encephalomyelitis.

Aim: Evaluation of the used diagnostic techniques to determine the most simple; rapid and accurate test for rabies virus (RABV) recognition in different specimens aiming to reach a rapid diagnosis as a step aid in the disease control and to prevent or even minimize the suspected hazard.

Method: The used techniques included an infection trial of Swiss mice with the mice-adapted challenge rabies virus followed by the detection of the virus in the infected mices' brains.

Immunogenicity of a freeze-dried combined vaccine against Rift Valley fever and bovine ephemeral fever in cattle.

Background: The target of vaccination is to encourage a strong, covering and long-lasting immune response against antigens. For achieving these objectives; effective adjuvant and new vaccine strategies are demanded to make the vaccine sufficiently immunogenic to instigate a powerful immune response.

Aim: This study was completed for elaboration and evaluation of freeze-dried combined vaccine against both Rift Valley fever (RVF) and bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) viruses using different stabilizers.

Evaluation of innovative polyvinyl alcohol/ alginate/ green palladium nanoparticles composite scaffolds: Effect on differentiated human dental pulp stem cells into osteoblasts.

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds are attracting great concern for bone tissue engineering applications. However, selecting an appropriate material with optimal physical, chemical, and mechanical properties is considered a great challenge. The green synthesis approach is essential to avoid the production of harmful by-products through textured construction, sustainable, and eco-friendly procedures.

Improved Spatiotemporal Framework for Human Activity Recognition in Smart Environment.

The rapid development of microsystems technology with the availability of various machine learning algorithms facilitates human activity recognition (HAR) and localization by low-cost and low-complexity systems in various applications related to industry 4.0, healthcare, ambient assisted living as well as tracking and navigation tasks. Previous work, which provided a spatiotemporal framework for HAR by fusing sensor data generated from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) with data obtained by an RGB photodiode for visible light sensing (VLS), already demonstrated promising results for real-time HAR and room identification.

Maintenance chemotherapy in advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer, a narrative review and case series.

Limited data exist on the management of patients with locally advanced (aPC) or metastatic pancreatic (mPC) cancer who achieve stable disease/response after first-line chemotherapy. In this setting, maintenance therapy is important to minimize toxicity while preserving survival benefits. The aim of this study is to conduct a narrative review of the evidence available on the topic and present the results of a retrospective case series of patients with aPC or mPC who received maintenance therapy following a good response to induction chemotherapy.

Biocompatibility of hydroxyethyl cellulose/glycine/RuO composite scaffolds for neural-like cells.

Fabrication of scaffolds for nerve regeneration is one of the most challenging topics in regenerative medicine at the moment, which is also interlinked with the development of biocompatible substrates for cells growth. This work is targeted towards the development of green biomaterial composite scaffolds for nerve cell culture applications. Hybrid scaffolds of hydroxyethyl cellulose/glycine (HEC/Gly) composite doped with different concentrations of green ruthenium oxide (RuO) were synthesized and characterized via a combination of different techniques.

COVID-19 vaccination immune response in patients with solid organ and haematologic malignancies: call for active monitoring.

Vaccines against COVID-19 have demonstrated a remarkable efficacy in decreasing hospitalisations and deaths; however, clinical trials leading to vaccine approvals did not include immunocompromised individuals such as patients receiving antineoplastic therapies. Emerging data suggest that patients on active anti-cancer therapy may have a reduced immune response to COVID-19 vaccination compared to the general population and may be at greater risk of COVID-19 infection as measures to reduce transmission in the community are relaxed. We report preliminary data from the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon demonstrating relatively low seroconversion rates.

Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: Production, Characterisations, Recent Trends and Difficulties.

Designing of nanomaterials has now become a top-priority research goal with a view to developing specific applications in the biomedical fields. In fact, the recent trends in the literature show that there is a lack of in-depth reviews that specifically highlight the current knowledge based on the design and production of nanomaterials. Considerations of size, shape, surface charge and microstructures are important factors in this regard as they affect the performance of nanoparticles (NPs).

Oral manifestations in mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19 viral infection in the adult population.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious worldwide threat presented by a broad range of symptoms, from mild flu to severe pneumonia. A rising number of atypical infections have been reported. Thus, scientists and clinicians are doing hard work to unravel scientific knowledge about this novel pandemic.

The impact of oral health status on COVID-19 severity, recovery period and C-reactive protein values.

Objectives The oral cavity is a potential reservoir for respiratory pathogens which can predispose patients to bacterial super-infection. Several trials have correlated poor oral hygiene with hyper-inflammation. Similarly, COVID-19 severity has been linked to hyper-inflammatory responses.

Salivary exosomes as a new therapy to ameliorate diabetes mellitus and combat xerostomia and submandibular salivary glands dysfunction in diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major metabolic diseases. Xerostomia and salivary gland dysfunction are of its common oral complications. Exosomes, as a new therapeutic potential containing nucleic acids, proteins and lipids, act as effective vehicles for target molecules delivery.

Impact of Commercialized Genomic Tests on Adjuvant Treatment Decisions in Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients.

Introduction: Advances in genomic techniques have been valuable in guiding decisions regarding the treatment of early breast cancer (EBC) patients. These multigene assays include Oncotype DX, Prosigna, and Endopredict. There has generally been a tendency to overtreat or undertreat patients, and having reliable prognostic factors could significantly improve rates of appropriate treatment administration.

Comparative evaluation of the ultrastructural morphology and distribution of filiform and fungiform tongue papillae in Egyptian mice, fruit bats and long-eared hedgehogs.

The tongue is a specialized vital organ. It aids in mastication, deglutition and food digestion. It also shares in the perception of taste sensation as it possesses various gustatory papillae.

Fertility in Breast Cancer Survivors in the Middle East: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: By the time they complete breast cancer therapy, many young patients are still of childbearing age. We aim to estimate the incidence of pregnancies in women who completed treatment and examine the percentage of patients who received fertility counseling before initiation of therapy.

Material And Methods: Electronic health records of breast cancer patients between 2008 and 2014 at AUBMC were screened for exclusion criteria of having metastatic disease or known infertility, still receiving therapy, and being above 42 years at diagnosis.

Functional and histological evaluation of bone marrow stem cell-derived exosomes therapy on the submandibular salivary gland of diabetic Albino rats through TGFβ/ Smad3 signaling pathway.

Background: To prevail over diabetes mellitus and its numerous complications, researchers are seeking new therapies. Exosomes are natural cargo of functional proteins and can be used as a therapeutic delivery of these molecules.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) as a therapeutic intervention in salivary gland diabetic complications.

Photoacid-Catalyzed Friedel-Crafts Arylation of Carbonyls.

In this report, we demonstrate that visible-light-induced thiourea photoacids catalyze C-C bond-forming reactions. Upon photoirradiation, Schreiner's thiourea [(,'-bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-thiourea] catalyzes the double Friedel-Crafts addition of indoles to aldehydes and isatins to form the corresponding triarylmethanes and 3,3'-diarylindolin-2-ones. This protocol is amenable to a wide range of aldehyde and isatin electrophiles, as well as a variety of electronically diverse indoles.

Molecular profiling of adult acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemia in a major referral center in Lebanon: a 10-year experience report and review of the literature.

Recurrent genetic abnormalities confer distinct morphologic features and play a role in determining the clinical behavior, prognosis and adequate treatment of acute leukemia. In the MENA region, only one study targets the frequency of genetic modifications in AML, reporting a higher occurrence of acute promyelocytic leukemia in Lebanon. Determining the frequency of translocations and gene mutations in acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemia cases in an adult patients' population in Lebanon and comparing the resultant genetic profile with the published international molecular profile of adult acute leukemia.

Comparative evaluation of the early effects of the low-level laser therapy versus intra-articular steroids on temporomandibular joint acute osteoarthritis in rats: A histochemical, molecular and imaging evaluation.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a serious degenerative joint disease. It is one of the main causes of disability in the world. Current treatment modalities have numerous side effects.

Alveolar process changes associated with administration of nucleos(t)ide analogue (sofosbuvir) in rat model.

Background: Sofosbuvir is a nucleotide compound that has proved to be among the most potent orally available antiviral treatments. Infrequent but serious adverse events have been reported with the use of oral nucleos(t)ide analogues.

Objectives: Investigating sofosbuvir-induced alterations in the rat mandibular alveolar process.