A novel approach for enhancing the color and antimicrobial properties of pine and beech wood using Se-NPs

Pine wood (PW) and beech wood (BW) are the most used wood in furniture and other applications owing to their unique characteristics and low machining cost. However, their biodegradability and varied moisture content limit their wider use and durability. Therefore, in this study, nanotechnology was used as a novel eco-friendly approach to enhance the durability, antimicrobial properties, and color of wood. Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) were prepared in spherical shape at varied concentrations (25 and 50 mM) using an eco-friendly method in the range of 35-80 and 40-155 nm, respectively. Se-NPs formation at the nanoscale was confirmed using UV/Vis analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The prepared Se-NPs were then impregnated into PW and BW for different periods ranging from 2 h to 1 week. The treated wood were then leached in distilled water for 14 days to eliminate excess Se-NPs from the wood surface. The treated wood surfaces were examined using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the depth of Se-NPs penetration into the treated wood at both tangential and radial sides was determined. Se-NPs impacts on the color properties, density, moisture content and antimicrobial activities of the treated wood were evaluated. PW treated with Se-NPs showed better antimicrobial and color characteristics than treated BW. PW samples immersed in 50 mM Se-NPs for 2 h showed the highest K/S values, whereas the highest antimicrobial values were obtained for those immersed at the same concentration for 2 days, and 1 week.

Using Appreciative Inquiry to explore the effect of COVID-19 on student trust: medical students' perspective

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Background Students' anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic was expressed by some medical students in the form of anger and mistrust. This study aims to explore the reasons for mistrust between students and faculty among medical schools in Egypt that have flared during the pandemic. Methodology This is a three-phase exploratory qualitative study depending on thematic emergence from appreciative interviews (AI) sessions. Phase 1 online Appreciative Inquiry (AI) session followed by thematic content analysis. Phase 2 The themes were approached by a smaller cohort of students using a design that relied mostly on the psychometric free association test. Phase 3 The themes were tested on a larger number of students through an online survey. Results Students are revealed to be very well educated regarding contemporary medical education concepts. The most important factors from the student perspective were the presence of a well-designed assessment system aligned with the learning outcomes and teaching methodologies and the presence of extracurricular activities and soft skills, respectively. A balanced student life respecting their mental health was found important to increase trust. Conclusion A roadmap to enhance the student trust must be planned on several pivots: curriculum structure, extracurricular life, communication strategies, and identifying student roles in their learning and decision-making.

Novel mutation in the MYH2 gene in a symptomatic neonate with a hereditary myosin myopathy

INTRODUCTION

Hereditary myosin myopathies are muscle disorders caused by mutations in myosin heavy chain genes. The MYH2 gene encodes the fast 2A skeletal muscle isoform, and mutations manifest as joint contractures, muscle weakness, and external ophthalmoplegia. Muscle biopsy shows decreased type 2A fibers, and vacuoles are sometimes present in adults with progressive disease.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

This case describes a full term baby boy with hypotonia, dysmorphic features, dysphagia, and aspiration. Whole genome sequencing detected a novel heterozygous variant in the MYH2 gene. Muscle biopsy showed decreased type 2A fibers and vacuoles in myofibers.

DISCUSSION

Hypotonia and dysphagia are common in infants with a MYH2 myopathy. However, dysmorphic features and vacuoles on biopsy have not previous been described in infants with MYH2 myopathies.

CONCLUSION

This case reports an unusual phenotype of a rare neonatal-onset congenital myopathy associated with a novel heterozygous variant in MYH2.

Exploring the Role of Community Pharmacists in Obesity and Weight Management in Qatar: A Mixed-Methods Study

Introduction

Obesity is a major public health burden in Qatar. Pharmacists can play an important role in providing weight management services (WMSs). This study aimed to explore their attitudes, practice, perceived competence, and role in WMSs in Qatar.

Methods

A mixed-method explanatory sequential design was applied in the study. A validated online questionnaire was administered followed by qualitative individual and focus group interviews.

Results

Two-hundred seventy community pharmacists completed the survey (response rate 45%). More than half of them indicated that they often or always explain to patients the risks associated with overweight and obesity (56.2%), recommend weight loss medications, herbs or dietary supplements (52.4%), and counsel about their proper use and/or side effects (56.9%). Conversely, the majority of the pharmacists rarely or never measure patients’ waist circumference (83.8%) or calculate their body mass index (72.1%). Over 80% had very positive attitudes towards their role in weight management. Around three-quarters of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that difficulty in following-up with patients (80.7%), lack of private consultation area (75.7%), and lack of pharmacist’s time (75.2%) are barriers for implementing WMSs. More than 60% stated that they are fully competent in 7 out of 24 WMSs listed. Some themes generated include pharmacist’s role and impact in weight management, need for training about weight management, and impact of social media on patients’ perceptions.

Conclusion

Qatar community pharmacists reported positive attitudes towards the provision of WMSs. However, they identified several barriers against provision of WMSs. Several strategies are proposed to overcome barriers and to improve the provision of WMSs in community pharmacies in Qatar.

Neonatal lung ultrasound exam guidelines

Point-of-care ultrasound (POC-US) is increasingly used especially in emergency and critical-care medicine. It is focused, quick and does not expose patients to ionizing radiation. It encompasses all organ systems and has well-defined indications. Lung ultrasound (LUS) represents one of the most exciting applications in the field of POC-US. It is particularly important to emphasize the role of LUS in neonatology due to the specific pathology inherent in lung immaturity as well as in the particular sensitivity of neonates to repeated radiation exposure. One of the main barriers to the more extensive use of the ultrasound technology is a lack of efficient and attractive training solutions followed by the structured quality-check assurance. In an effort to help bridge this gap, based on the most current literature, we developed creative and intuitive neonatal LUS algorithms. We hope they can serve as a clinical imaging guidelines and a valuable complement to the history and physical exam.

The use of DNA markers for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A in Egyptian families

Haemophilia A is the most common inherited X-linked recessive bleeding disorder. The aim was to investigate the usefulness of two DNA markers in linkage analysis, one intragenic BCL1 affecting restriction site in intron 18, and is detected as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and one extragenic variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) locus DXS52 (St14) to formulate an informative and accurate carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. The study included 46 families with at least one child affected with haemophilia A, and 30 unrelated normal females as control group. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme analysis were used to study the polymorphism in BCL1, and long-distance PCR for detection of VNTR (ST14) alleles. The incidence of BCL1 (+) allele was 74%, 72% and 60% in patients, mothers and control group, respectively. Expected heterozygosity for BCL1 was 40% in mothers of affected cases compared with 48% in the female control group. However, observed heterozygosity was found to be 48% in the mothers of affected cases, compared with 60% in the control group. Thus, 48% of the studied families are informative for this marker alone. Nine different alleles of VNTR (St14) were observed in mothers and six alleles in affected cases and six in the control group. The most prevalent alleles were 1300 bp (45.5% and 34%) and 700 bp (13.6% and 20%) in patients and their mothers, respectively. Observed heterozygosity in mothers was 41% compared with 43.3% in controls. The combined use of both BCL1 and St14 markers raised the informative rate to 63.6%. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis is possible in haemophilia A families using both DNA markers. We suggest screening haemophilic families first for BCL1 polymorphism followed by analysis of St14 locus.

Transcription factors of the anterior neural plate alter cell movements of epidermal progenitors to specify a retinal fate

The embryonic progenitors that give rise to the vertebrate retina acquire their cell fate identity through a series of transitions that ultimately determine their final, differentiated retinal cell fates. In Xenopus, these transitions have been broadly defined as competence, specification, and determination. The expression of several transcription factors within the anterior neural plate at the time when the presumptive eye field separates from other neural derivatives suggests that these genes function to specify competent embryonic progenitors toward a retinal fate. In support of this, we demonstrate that some transcription factors expressed in the anterior neural ectoderm and/or presumptive eye field (otx2, pax6, and rx1) change the fate of competent, ventral progenitors, which normally do not contribute to the retina, from an epidermal to a retinal fate. Furthermore, the expression of these factors changes the morphogenetic movements of progenitors during gastrulation, causing ventral cells to populate the native anterior neural plate. In addition, we experimentally demonstrate that the efficacy of pax6 to specify retinal cells depends on the position of the affected cell relative to the field of neural induction. Thereby, otx2, pax6, and rx1 mediate early steps of retinal specification, including the regulation of morphogenetic cell movements, that are dependent on the level of neural-inductive signaling.

Earthquakes: health outcomes and implications in Lebanon

Earthquakes remain damaging to human life and property. Recent reports point out that there is 50% chance to have a damaging earthquake in the next 50 years in Lebanon. Major health outcomes of earthquakes include physical injuries, cardiovascular effects and psychological reactions. Physical injuries are correlated with entrapment, higher number of floors in buildings and behavior at time of impact. Cardiovascular effects of earthquakes are either immediate or delayed. Immediate cardiovascular effects are exemplified by increased coronary death while delayed effects are reflected by the increase in coronary risk factors such as serum triglycerides and heart rate. The severity of PTSD decreases as the distance from the epicenter of the earthquake increases. Preventive measures such as implementation of safety building codes, medical emergency readiness and public education should be carried out in areas threatened by earthquakes. Also special mental health programs should be executed following an earthquake.