Health risk assessment of groundwater use for drinking in West Nile Delta, Egypt.

Human health is at risk from drinking water contamination, which causes a number of health problems in many parts of the world. The geochemistry of groundwater, its quality, the origins of groundwater pollution, and the associated health risks have all been the subject of substantial research in recent decades. In this study, groundwater in the west Rosetta Nile branch of the Nile Delta Aquifer is examined for drinking potential.

Robotic-assisted surgery in the Arab world: are we there yet?

Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) has revolutionized surgical practice worldwide, with urology leading its adoption. Despite its global expansion, significant disparities exist in regional implementation, particularly in the Arab world. This study evaluates the current landscape of robotic surgery in the Arab world, highlighting advancements, challenges, and future directions.

A voxel-based approach for simulating microbial decomposition in soil: Comparison with LBM and improvement of morphological models.

This paper deals with the computational modeling of biological dynamics in soil using an exact micro-scale pore space description from 3D Computed Tomography (CT) images. Within this context, computational costs and storage requirements constitute critical factors for running simulations on large datasets over extended periods. In this research, we represent the pore space by a graph of voxels (Voxel Graph-Based Approach, VGA) and model transport in fully saturated conditions (two-phase system) using Fick's law and coupled diffusion with biodegradation processes to simulate microbial decomposition in soil.

Pulmonary function, body posture and balance in young adults with asthma: A cross-sectional study.

Asthma may lead to musculoskeletal dysfunction, including postural abnormalities. This study aimed to compare pulmonary function, body posture, and dynamic balance in young adults with childhood-onset asthma and healthy peers. This cross-sectional study included 124 participants evenly split between asthma and healthy groups.

Mapping the Burden of Conduct Disorder in the Middle East and North Africa: Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

This study aims to investigate the prevalence, incidence, and Years Lived with a Disability (YLDs) caused by conduct disorder in 21 countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Sex and age differences in conduct disorder were investigated as well as the trend of conduct disorder from 1990 to 2021. Data from the MENA were used for this study.

The impact of social media use on tolerance, community peace, online ethical awareness among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates.

Social media use has increased after the COVID-19, indicating several effects on users. Talking specifically about its effects on adolescents, several studies have witnessed its positive and negative consequences on young users. This research also aims to examine the positive effects of social media use on adolescents from a Media Mindfulness Perspective, including tolerance, community peace, and online ethical awareness.

3D-printed and In-situ prepared hydrogel anti-bacterial wound patch with silver nanoparticle embedded matrix.

The application of wearable hydrogel wound patches has great potential in advancing the field of medicine. However, for high reach and large-scale utilization, the fabrication process of wearable hydrogel wound patches needs to be low-cost, reliable, and have high throughput. Therefore, the incorporation of 3D-printing technology helps in providing a starting point for flexible, high throughput, mechanically enhanced, low-cost, and reliable antibacterial wound patches.

Body Weight Changes During Ramadan Intermittent Fasting: A Cross-Sectional Study of Healthy Adults in Turkey.

This study explores the impact of observing Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) on body weight in Turkish residents, marking it as the first study conducted in Turkey to investigate the interplay of religious fasting with dietary changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that observing Ramadan fasting would result in weight loss attributable to dietary changes, while decreased physical activity would correlate with weight gain during this period. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Muslims aged 18+ in Turkey who fasted at least two days during Ramadan 2021.

Perceived benefits, information, vaccination history, and conspiracy beliefs as significant determinants of RSV vaccine acceptance among Arab seniors.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a significant respiratory health risk to senior citizens, contributing substantially to hospitalizations and mortality. With the recent approval of three RSV vaccines for the elderly, it is critical to understand the factors that can shape the RSV vaccination attitudes to inform public health strategies that can enhance uptake among this vulnerable population.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential factors that could influence the attitudes toward RSV vaccination among senior citizens in Arab countries.

Mapping the perceived impacts of a social innovation program on women's agency and life satisfaction.

Introduction: Cross-cultural research measuring how women perceive their sense of agency and catalyze social innovation has been limited. We conducted a mixed-methods study to learn about women's agency and life satisfaction, while evaluating the perceived benefits of a social innovation program (), in the UAE which, in 2022, launched a nationwide reading promotion strategy.

Methods And Results: We implemented the Sense of Agency (SoA) scale and Cantril Ladder of Life Scale with a sample of 78 female Emirati students, then conducted two Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) sessions with 13 respondents.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effect of Local Application of Sodium Alendronate Gel and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) On Peri-Implant Tissue Healing in Wistar Rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of local application of Sodium Alendronate incorporated in Carbapol gel together with LLLT on peri-implant tissue healing in Wistar rat femurs.

Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Group 1 (the control group), Group 2 (the Sodium Alendronate group), Group 3 (the Sodium Alendronate and LLLT group), and Group 4 (the LLLT group). Mini implants were placed in right and left femur bones in all the four groups.

Efficacy of Alfacalcidol Versus Calcitriol in Managing Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

Data comparing the efficacy of alfacalcidol to that of calcitriol in managing secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is scarce. We sought to compare the efficacy of both drugs in managing hyperparathyroidism in patients with CKD. A retrospective observational cohort study conducted from January 2022 to March 2023 included adults with CKD stages 3 to 5 (non-dialysis) who received alfacalcidol for 3 months followed by calcitriol for another 3 months.

Towards eco-friendly pharmaceuticals: Regulatory and policy approaches for sustainable medicines use.

Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate how regulatory frameworks and policies are used to support the use of sustainable medicines within the pharmaceutical sector.

Methods: The Scopus database was searched to retrieve papers. Advanced search tool of the Scopus online database was used focused on the papers that have the search query included in their titles.

Eastern equine encephalitis virus: Pathogenesis, immune response, and clinical manifestations.

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a lethal transmitted by mosquitoes that primarily cycles between birds. Although rare, infections in humans and horses are associated with high mortality rates and severe neurological effects. Climate change appears to be increasing the spread of this virus.

Optimizing waste cooking biodiesel production using ultrasonic-assisted and studying its combustion characteristics blended with diesel in diesel engine.

This study aimed to optimize biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using ultrasonic-assisted transesterification and evaluate the combustion characteristics of a diesel engine powered by various biodiesel blends. The effects of transesterification parameters, including reaction time, alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, and ultrasonic amplitude, were experimentally investigated. The optimal conditions for achieving a biodiesel yield of 96.

Remodeling of the cardiac striatin interactome and its dynamics in the diabetic heart.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DbCM) is a silent and complex condition involving numerous signaling pathways that impair cardiomyocyte metabolism and cardiac performance. Striatin (STRN) is a multifaceted protein that binds metabolic proteins, yet its role in diabetic heart remains unexplored. Here we characterized the cardiac STRN interactome by performing immunoprecipitation on left ventricle (LV) proteins from control and diabetic hearts (rats treated with streptozotocin for 24 weeks) to dissect its derivative protein complex.

Exploring motivational drivers and barriers to sonographers' research engagement in Arab countries.

Introduction: Research participation is essential for professional development and improving patient care outcomes, yet many sonographers face barriers such as limited time, inadequate support, and insufficient research skills. This study aims to enhance the sonography profession by identifying and addressing the motivational drivers and barriers affecting sonographers' research engagement in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a Google Form platform between September and December 2023.

Intercalation of carbon quantum dots into the selective layer of water softening membranes for improved performance and antifouling properties.

Nanofiltration contributes to water softening by the exclusion of multi-valent hardness ions, through size exclusion mechanisms. Hardness reduction can be enhanced by the addition of positive charges to the selective layer, to take advantage of repulsive electrostatic interactions. However, there are two common drawbacks to this approach: the alteration of the permeability/selectivity trade-off and the increased fouling propensity of positively charged membranes towards negatively charged organic foulants, which should be overcome for effective membrane utilization.

Preferences for thromboprophylaxis in the intensive care unit: An international survey.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication in critically ill patients, who often have multiple risk factors. Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis is widely applied to lower this risk, but guidelines lack dosing recommendations.

Objective: This survey aims to assess current thromboprophylaxis preferences and willingness to participate in future randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on this topic.

Enhanced delivery of doxorubicin via transferrin-coated arylated gold nanostars for cancer therapy.

Transferrin protein-coated gold-aryl nanoparticles (TRF-AuNPs) and nanostars (TRF-AuNSs) were synthesized and characterized. The water-dispersible gold-aryl nanoparticles and nanostars covalently functionalized with a -CH-4-COOH organic shell were synthesized from an aryldiazonium gold(III) salt. TRF-AuNPs had an average size of 10.

Future of magnetic sensors applications in early prediction of cardiac health status.

The evolution of health monitoring technologies has highlighted the need for accurate and reliable sensors, particularly in the context of cardiac health. This review examines the potential of magnetic sensors as a superior alternative to optical sensors for the early prediction of cardiac health status. Optical sensors face significant challenges, especially for individuals with darker skin tones, where increased light absorption adversely affects measurement accuracy.