Cross-linked chitosan/pencil clay hybrid beads for the adsorption of reactive black 5.

Chitosan (CH) and pencil clay (CL) were utilized to prepare stable epichlorohydrin cross-linked chitosan-clay hybrid beads (CCHB) for the adsorptive removal of anionic reactive black 5 (RB5) dye. Among various percentage weight ratios of chitosan/clay hybrid beads, 40 % CH-60 % CL was selected as the best adsorbent owing to its stability and removal efficiency. The pore properties of CCHB in terms of surface area, total pore volume, and average pore width were 40.

From banked human cord blood to induced pluripotent stem cells: New opportunities and promise in induced pluripotent stem cell banking (Review).

Umbilical cord blood (CB) is a valuable source of haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs) and is known for the therapeutic use of these cells in treating blood disorders. However, challenges such as a high running cost and the increasing availability of treatment alternatives have made the effort to sustain CB banks difficult. This prompts the need to revisit the current CB banking initiatives to retain the relevance in this ever‑changing era parallel to the fast‑pacing development of cell‑based therapeutic technology.

Adsorption-photocatalysis synergy of reusable mesoporous TiO-ZnO for photocatalytic degradation of doxycycline antibiotic.

The potentials of mesoporous TiO-ZnO (3TiZn) were explored on photocatalytic degradation of doxycycline (DOX) antibiotic, likewise the influence of adsorption on the photocatalytic process. The 3TiZn was characterized for physical and chemical properties. Stability, reusability, kinetic and the ability of 3TiZn to degrade high concentration of pollutant under different operating conditions were investigated.

Community pharmacists' perspectives on cardiovascular disease pharmaceutical care in the United Arab Emirates: a questionnaire survey-based analysis.

Community pharmacists play an intermediary role between prescribing physicians and patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and thus are responsible for ensuring that patients receive optimal cardiovascular disease (CVD) pharmaceutical care. we used a cross-sectional design to assess the perceptions and practices of community pharmacists concerning pharmaceutical care for patients with CVD. A trained researcher visited randomly selected community pharmacies and used a structured questionnaire to conduct in-person interviews with pharmacists.

Does perceived organizational support matter? The effect of high-commitment performance management on supervisors' performance.

The current research aims to investigate the connection between supervisors' perceived high-commitment performance management (HCPM) and their performances (in-role, extra-role, and deviant work behavior). In addition, this paper aims to examine how perceived organizational support (POS) mediates the above relationship. The paper employs the social exchange theory as the theoretical lens to develop and suggest a positive motivational work environmental model.

Federated Learning Attacks Revisited: A Critical Discussion of Gaps, Assumptions, and Evaluation Setups.

Deep learning pervades heavy data-driven disciplines in research and development. The Internet of Things and sensor systems, which enable smart environments and services, are settings where deep learning can provide invaluable utility. However, the data in these systems are very often directly or indirectly related to people, which raises privacy concerns.

Ocular Syphilis: Our Experience in Selayang Hospital, Malaysia.

This study aims to describe the demographic features, clinical profile, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status, and visual outcome after completing treatment in patients diagnosed with uveitic syphilis.  Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all cases diagnosed with ocular syphilis from January 2014 to December 2019 at the ophthalmology clinic of Selayang Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 31 cases were reviewed, and the collected data included demographic features, history of high-risk behavior, ocular symptoms and signs, visual acuity at presentation and after completing treatment, treatment received, complications, and HIV status.

Biocompatible Supramolecular Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as the Next-Generation Drug Delivery System.

Supramolecular mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) offer distinct properties as opposed to micron-sized silica particles in terms of their crystal structure, morphology-porosity, toxicity, biological effects, and others. MSN biocompatibility has touched the pharmaceutical realm to exploit its robust synthesis pathway for delivery of various therapeutic molecules including macromolecules and small-molecule drugs. This article provides a brief review of MSN history followed by special emphasis on the influencing factors affecting morphology-porosity characteristics.

Healing Enhancement Assessment of Thermosensitive in Situ Gelling Formulation Containing Metronidazole and Diclofenac Potassium for Ligature-induced Periodontitis in Rats.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the healing efficacy of thermosensitive in situ gelling formulation containing metronidazole and diclofenac potassium on ligature-induced periodontitis (LIP) in rats.

Methods: We used 30 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats; 24 rats were subjected to LIP, while the remaining six rats were used as control. The 24 rats with LIP were subdivided into four groups of six rats each.

Development of stability-indicating HPLC-UV method and oxidative degradation kinetic study of montelukast in chewable tablet formulation.

A simple and sensitive stability-indicating HPLC-UV method was developed and validated for the determination of montelukast in the development of chewable tablet formulation. Chromatographic separation was achieved using Atlantis® T3 3µm C18 (4.6mmID X 10cm) analytical column.

Measuring the proportion of time spent on work activities of clinical pharmacists using work sampling technique at a public hospital in Malaysia.

Background: The clinical pharmacy service to the ward was established in 2005 in Malaysia, as the number of pharmacists working in the public service sector began to grow. Yet, there has been little local research done on reporting the range of work activities of clinical pharmacists and the amount of time that they spent on their work activities.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the range of work activities of clinical pharmacists by observation and to estimate the proportion of time spent on different work activities by using the work sampling technique.

Physiology of microalgal biofilm: a review on prediction of adhesion on substrates.

In view of high energy cost and water consumption in microalgae cultivation, microalgal-biofilm-based cultivation system has been advocated as a solution toward a more sustainable and resource friendlier system for microalgal biomass production. Algal-derived extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) form cohesive network to interconnect the cells and substrates; however, their interactions within the biofilm are poorly understood. This scenario impedes the biofilm process development toward resource recovery.

The Adipokine Component in the Molecular Regulation of Cancer Cell Survival, Proliferation and Metastasis.

A hormonal imbalance may disrupt the rigorously monitored cellular microenvironment by hampering the natural homeostatic mechanisms. The most common example of such hormonal glitch could be seen in obesity where the uprise in adipokine levels is in virtue of the expanding bulk of adipose tissue. Such aberrant endocrine signaling disrupts the regulation of cellular fate, rendering the cells to live in a tumor supportive microenvironment.

Skull Base Primary Ewing Sarcoma: A Radiological Experience of a Rare Disease in an Atypical Location.

BACKGROUND Ewing sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor are rare tumors grouped under the spectrum of the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors. These highly malignant tumors involve the bones and commonly occur in children. Ewing sarcoma of the skull bone accounts for only 1% of all Ewing sarcomas, with primary skull base Ewing sarcoma occurring in less than 1% of cases.

Paraneoplastic optic neuropathy secondary to adenocarcinoma of the lung.

We describe an uncommon cause of paraneoplastic optic neuropathy in adenocarcinoma of the lung. A 45-year-old healthy woman presented with seizure and encephalitis, followed by an acute visual loss in both eyes for 1 week. Her visual acuity was no perception of light in the right eye and hand movement in the left eye.

Analysis of Multiple Mycotoxins in the Qatari Population and Their Relation to Markers of Oxidative Stress.

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring food toxins worldwide that can cause serious health effects. The measurement of mycotoxin biomarkers in biological fluids is needed to assess individuals' exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of mycotoxins in the Qatari population.

Leptospirosis: An insight into community structure of small mammal's host in urban environment.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira and most often acquired through contact with environments contaminated with leptospires shed in the urine of infected mammals. In urban environment, rodents are well-known as the main carriers of this bacteria, however there were no intensive study on the population structure of these animals, and how it associated with this disease. Hence, we use a case study from an outbreak in a residential area in Selangor, Malaysia, to investigate how community structure of small mammals, associated with the prevalence of Leptospira.

Effect of high temperature toward microalgal organic matter and its impact toward membrane distillation application.

Membrane distillation (MD) frequently deals with membrane biofouling caused by deposition of algal organic matter (AOM) from algal blooms, hampering the treatment efficiency. In this study, AOMs, which are soluble extracellular polymeric substance (sEPS), bounded EPS (bEPS), and internal organic matter (IOM) from three benthic species (Amphora coffeaeformis, Cylindrotheca fusiformis, and Navicula incerta) were exposed to a temperature range to resemble the MD process. Results showed that EPS had higher polysaccharide fraction than protein with 85.

Dispensing of antibiotics in community pharmacy in Iraq: a qualitative study.

Objective: This study aimed to understand the dispensing practice of antibiotics in community pharmacy in Iraq, in addition to explore the community pharmacists' perception about dispensing antibiotics without prescription.

Methods: A qualitative design was conducted on community pharmacists in Baghdad, Iraq. Pharmacists were selected conveniently from different gender, age group, pharmacy type and years of experience.

Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of Thymoquinone-loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier After Oral and Intravenous Administration into Rats.

Background: Thymoquinone (TQ), an active compound isolated from , has been proven to exhibit various biological properties such as antioxidant. Although oral delivery of TQ is valuable, it is limited by poor oral bioavailability and low solubility. Recently, TQ-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (TQ-NLC) was formulated with the aim of overcoming the limitations.

Venous thromboembolism prevention protocol for adapting prophylaxis recommendations to the potential risk post total knee replacement: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Total knee replacement (TKR) is a major orthopedic surgery that is considered high risk for the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes that resulted from the use of a new proposed VTE risk stratification protocol for selecting a suitable extended VTE prophylaxis for post TKR surgery patients administered in conjunction with patient education programs.

Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in two medical centers in Saudi Arabia.