Computational approaches for the discovery of natural pancreatic lipase inhibitors as antiobesity agents.

Obesity is becoming one of the greatest threats to global health in the 21st century and therefore the development of novel antiobesity drugs is one of the top priorities of global drug research. An important treatment strategy includes the reduction of intestinal fat absorption through the inhibition of pancreatic lipase (PL). Natural products provide a vast pool of PL inhibitors with novel scaffolds that can possibly be developed into clinical products.

Synthesis of Macromolecular Aromatic Epoxy Resins as Anticorrosive Materials: Computational Modeling Reinforced Experimental Studies.

Herein, two bifunctional macromolecular aromatic epoxy resins (ERs), namely, 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol oxirane (ERH) and 4,4'-isopropylidene tetrabromodiphenol oxirane (ERBr), are synthesized, characterized, and evaluated as anticorrosive materials for carbon steel corrosion in acidic medium. ERs were characterized using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. Investigated ERs acted as effective corrosion inhibitors, and their inhibition effectiveness followed the order ERBr (96.

Prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi in livestock in Palestine.

Background: Trypanosoma evansi is the causative agent of surra, a disease that occurs in many animal species. The disease is responsible for substantial losses in global production and can be fatal if not diagnosed early. This study aims to determine the prevalence of T.

Salinity profile in coastal non-agricultural land in Gaza.

The objectives of this study were to characterize the electric conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS), highly soluble salts (HSS), less soluble salts (LSS), cations (Na, K, Ca and Mg) and anions (Cl, NO, SO, PO) profiles in non-agricultural coastal land in Gaza Strip and to evaluate the effect of trees in salinity. Six locations were selected randomly in coastal zone in Gaza Strip and used for soil profile digging. Soil samples were collected from different layers between 0 and 150 cm depth, air dried and kept in plastic bags at lab temperature.

Extended-Spectrum -Lactamases among Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections in Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Background: Extended-spectrum -lactamase-producing organisms causing urinary tract infections are increasing in incidence and pose a major impendence to health-care facility, having limited therapeutic options. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of ESBLs in Enterobacteriaceae isolates causing urinary tract infections in Gaza strip, Palestine, and to characterize -lactamase types and associated resistance genes.

Methods: Eighty-five Enterobacteriaceae isolates were recovered from urinary tract infections within three months in Gaza Strip hospitals.

Medical Students Can be Trained to be Life-Saving First Aid Instructors for Laypeople: A Feasibility Study from Gaza, Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Introduction: Bystanders can improve the outcome in emergencies by activating the "chain of survival." Gaza's (Palestine) population has little, if any, access to training in Basic Life Support (BLS) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The goal was to recruit local medical students to be life-saving first aid instructors, and have them train 3,000 laypeople in BLS and CPR.

A novel efficient bioflocculant QZ-7 for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater.

In this study, a novel bioflocculant QZ-7 was produced from 139SI for industrial wastewater treatment. Biochemical analysis, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were performed. A synthetic wastewater sample was used to validate the performance of the prepared OZ-7 for the adsorption efficiency of As, Zn Pb, Cu, and Cd under optimal experimental conditions such as initial metal concentrations, pH, contact time (h) and QZ-7 adsorbent dosage (mg mL).

Epoxy pre-polymers as new and effective materials for corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in acidic medium: Computational and experimental studies.

Present study is designed for the synthesis, characterization and corrosion inhibition behavior of two diamine aromatic epoxy pre-polymers (DAEPs) namely, N,N,N,N-tetrakis (oxiran-2-ylmethyl) benzene-1,2-diamine (DAEP1) and 4-methyl-N,N,N,N-tetrakis (oxiran-2-ylmethyl) benzene-1,2-diamine (DAEP2) for carbon steel corrosion in acidic medium. Synthesized DAEPs were characterized using spectral (Nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR)) techniques. Viscosity studies carried out at four different temperatures (20-80 °C) increase in temperature causes significant reduction in their viscosities.

Role and Function of Adenosine and its Receptors in Inflammation, Neuroinflammation, IBS, Autoimmune Inflammatory Disorders, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis.

The physiological effects of endogenous adenosine on various organ systems are very complex and numerous which are elicited upon activation of any of the four G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) denoted as A1, A2A, A2B and A3 adenosine receptors (ARs). Several fused heterocyclic and non-xanthine derivatives are reported as a possible target for these receptors due to physiological problems and lack of selectivity of xanthine derivatives. In the present review, we have discussed the development of various new chemical entities as a target for these receptors.

Childhood lead poisoning in Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority.

Purpose: To assess lead poisoning among a pediatric population in Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority.

Methods: A total of 1705 questionnaires and blood samples were collected from children aged 2-6 years, by the finger stick capillary procedure, for the assessment of blood lead level (BLL), using the LeadCare kits. The samples were collected from children living close to lead processing units (hotspots) and far 100-500 m away (general population).

Adsorption and anticorrosive behavior of aromatic epoxy monomers on carbon steel corrosion in acidic solution: computational studies and sustained experimental studies.

Herein, the synthesis, characterization and corrosion inhibition effectiveness of two aromatic epoxy monomers (AEMs) namely, 2-(oxiran-2-yl-methoxy)-,-bis(oxiran-2-yl-methyl)aniline (AEM1) and ,-bis(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)-2-((oxiran-2-ylmethyl) thio)aniline (AEM2), in carbon steel corrosive dissolution in 1 M HCl solution is investigated using computational and experimental techniques. AEM1 and AEM2 were characterized using FT-IR, H NMR and C NMR spectroscopy techniques. Electrochemical results demonstrated that AEMs act as reasonably good corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in 1 M HCl medium and their effectiveness followed the sequence: AEM2 (95.

Anticorrosive properties of Hexa (3-methoxy propan-1,2-diol) cyclotri-phosphazene compound for carbon steel in 3% NaCl medium: gravimetric, electrochemical, DFT and Monte Carlo simulation studies.

The corrosion inhibition performance of Hexa (3-methoxy propan-1,2 diol) cyclotriphosphazene (HMC) on carbon steel in 3% NaCl solution was investigated by weight loss (WL), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, Density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. The corrosion inhibition efficiency at optimum concentration (10M) is 99% of HMC at 298 K. The corrosion inhibition efficiency at 10 M decreases with increase in temperature.

Eimeria tenella oocysts attenuated by low energy electron irradiation (LEEI) induce protection against challenge infection in chickens.

In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to assess whether Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) oocysts, exposed to low energy electron irradiation (LEEI), might be considered potential vaccine candidates against cecal coccidiosis. Sporulated oocysts were exposed to LEEI of 0.

The Effects of Oral Magnesium Supplementation on Glycemic Response among Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

Background: Magnesium (Mg) supplementation may help control glycemic response among type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients.

Objective: This study means to determine whether Mg supplementation improves glycemic control indicators in patients with T2D.

Methods: After one week of the dietary stabilization phase, 42 T2D patients were stratified according to sex, age, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and Mg levels and then randomly allocated into two groups.

Hematological and biochemical evaluation of β-thalassemia major (βTM) patients in Gaza Strip: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: In Gaza Strip, Palestine, β-thalassemia is a major public health problem where more than 300 β-thalassemia major (βTM) patients are currently being managed at governmental hospitals. We set up to evaluate the hematological and biochemical aspects of our βTM patients at the Gaza European hospital and their correlation with iron overload.

Methods: Our study included 65 transfusion-dependent βTM, as well as 37 apparently healthy subjects as control group.

Carbapenem resistance among clinical and environmental Gram-negative isolates recovered from hospitals in Gaza strip, Palestine.

Background: The world is threatened by the ongoing emergence of carbapenem resistant organisms, which are contributing to increasing morbidity and mortality rates. The main objective of this study was to highlight carbapenem resistance among clinical and environmental Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) isolates.

Methods: A cross-sectional study wherein 210 clinical isolates, 150 environmental swabs, and 110 air samples were collected from three major hospitals in Gaza strip: Al-Shifa, AlNaser and the European Gaza hospitals.

Should sex differences be considered when applying mathematical indices and formulas for discriminating β- thalassemia minor from iron deficiency?

Background: β-thalassemia minor (BTM) and iron deficiency (ID) are common disorders characterized by microcytosis and/or hypochromasia, leading to a challenge in their discrimination during mass-screening programs especially in developing countries where resources are limited. It has been shown with varying reliability that quick exclusion of either disorder could be achieved mathematically using RBC-based indices and formulas. However, none of these proposed indices and formulas considered the sex-based hematological differences.

L. Essential Oil as a Potential Anti-Acne Topical Nanoemulsion-In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

Antibiotics are often prescribed in acne treatment; however, and , the two of the major acne-associated bacteria, developed antibiotic resistance. Essential oils (EOs) present a natural, safe, efficacious and multifunctional alternative treatment. This study aimed to assess the potential anti-acne activity of selected seven EOs commonly used in Mediterranean folk medicine.

Anticorrosive Effects of Some Thiophene Derivatives Against the Corrosion of Iron: A Computational Study.

It is known that iron is one of the most widely used metals in industrial production. In this work, the inhibition performances of three thiophene derivatives on the corrosion of iron were investigated in the light of several theoretical approaches. In the section including DFT calculations, several global reactivity descriptors such as , , ionization energy (), electron affinity (), HOMO-LUMO energy gap (Δ), chemical hardness (η), softness (σ), as well as local reactivity descriptors like Fukui indices, local softness, and local electrophilicity were considered and discussed.

The effect of vitamin C and/or E supplementations on type 2 diabetic adult males under metformin treatment: A single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background And Aim: Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the influence of antioxidant vitamins on the efficacy of oral hypoglycemic therapy in type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM). This single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin C and/or E supplementation on the efficacy of oral hypoglycemic therapy in T2DM Palestinian male patients from the Gaza Strip.

Methods: Forty T2DM male patients aged 40-60 years on metformin treatment were randomly divided into four groups, each group received an additional one of the following daily oral supplements for 90 days: placebo; vitamin C; vitamin E and vitamin C plus vitamin E.

The Effect of Soluble Fiber Supplementation on Metabolic Syndrome Profile among Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

Diets with high fiber content improve most metabolic syndrome (MetS) profile in non-diabetic individuals, but there is scarce information about the role of fiber intake in patients with the MetS and diabetes. The objective of this study is to determine whether soluble fiber supplementation improve MetS profile for 8 weeks of intervention in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) adult patients. After one week of dietary stabilization phase, 36 newly diagnosed T2D patients were stratified to different strata according to sex, age, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and waist circumference (WC).

Traumatic Events Exposure and Psychological Trauma in Children Victims of War in the Gaza Strip.

The present article studies war-related trauma and its effects on children living in the Gaza Strip, 6 months after the attack launched by the Israeli army on July 8, 2014, which lasted for 51 days. The objective was twofold: (a) to identify the prevalence of exposure to traumatic events and (b) to examine the symptoms of traumatic stress in children as described by their parents or tutors using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). Data from 1,850 male and female children aged between 6 and 15 years living in the Gaza Strip were collected throughout the months of February and April 2015, that is 6 months after the attack.

Arsenobetaine: an ecophysiologically important organoarsenical confers cytoprotection against osmotic stress and growth temperature extremes.

Arsenic, a highly cytotoxic and cancerogenic metalloid, is brought into the biosphere through geochemical sources and anthropogenic activities. A global biogeochemical arsenic biotransformation cycle exists in which inorganic arsenic species are transformed into organoarsenicals, which are subsequently mineralized again into inorganic arsenic compounds. Microorganisms contribute to this biotransformation process greatly and one of the organoarsenicals synthesized and degraded in this cycle is arsenobetaine.

Genomic Characterization of VIM Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing Alcaligenes faecalis from Gaza, Palestine.

Carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria (CP-GNB) have increasingly spread worldwide, and different families of carbapenemases have been identified in various bacterial species. Here, we report the identification of five VIM metallo-β-lactamase-producing isolates associated with a small outbreak in a large hospital in Gaza, Palestine. Next-generation sequencing analysis showed is harbored by a chromosomal genomic island among three strains, while is carried by a novel plasmid in two strains.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in Gaza Strip, Palestine: a Case-Control Study.

Breast cancer (BC) is the main common cause of cancer mortality among women in the world. This study aims at investigating BC epidemiology and identifying the different risk factors associated and the most affecting ones among women in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. This study was a hospital-based case-control (1:2), as the study was carried out over the period of October 2014 to February 2015.