Chemosensetizing and cardioprotective effects of resveratrol in doxorubicin- treated animals

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline antibiotic is one of the most effective anticancer drug used in the treatment of variety of cancers .Its use is limited by its cardiotoxicity. The present study was designed to assess the role of a natural product resveratrol (RSVL) on sensitization of mammary carcinoma (Ehrlich ascites carcinoma) to the action of DOX and at the same time its protective effect against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. METHODS: Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice were used in this study. Percent survival of tumor bearing mice was used for determination of the Cytotoxic activity of DOX in presence and absence of RSVL. Uptake and cell cycle effect of DOX in tumor cells in the presence of RSVL was also determined. Histopatholgical examination of heart tissues after DOX and/or RSVL therapy was also investigated. RESULTS: DOX at a dose level of 15 mg/kg increased the mean survival time of tumor bearing mice to 21 days compared with 15 days for non tumor-bearing control mice. Administration of RSVL at a dose level of 10 mg/kg simultaneously with DOX increased the mean survival time to 30 days with 70% survival of the tumor-bearing animals. RSVL increased the intracellular level of DOX and there was a strong correlation between the high cellular level of DOX and its cytotoxic activity. Moreover, RSVL treatment showed 4.8 fold inhibition in proliferation index of cells treated with DOX. Histopathological analysis of rat heart tissue after a single dose of DOX (20 mg/kg) showed myocytolysis with congestion of blood vessels, cytoplasmic vacuolization and fragmentation. Concomitant treatment with RSVL, fragmentation of the muscle fiber revealed normal muscle fiber. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that RSVL could increase the cytotoxic activity of DOX and at the same time protect against its cardiotoxicity

Observation and study of cavitation in closed flow system

Paper presented at the 9th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Malta, 16-18 July, 2012.Cavitation phenomenon is one of the most problems affecting the performance and efficiency of hydraulic machines and causes erosion damage to the machine. In the last decades many of researches have been focused to eliminate and minimize the cavitation occurrence in hydraulic machines. A special water tunnel was designed and constructed in order to obtain adequate information about incipient, developed and breakdown cavitation in a closed flow system, and hence use it as criteria to evaluate the point of cavitation inception in centrifugal pumps. The cavitation has been obtained using different bodies of circle, triangle and rectangular shapes fixed at up-steam of the tunnel test section. The effects of flow velocity, discharge and cavitation source shape against the cavitation degree were obtained. The relationship between the flow velocity at throat of test section and cavitation inception number was obtained.dc201

The Effect of the Flipped Classroom on the Academic Achievement in Physics and Motivation Among Students of Secondary Stage in Jordan

Learning physics outside the classroom has experienced low consideration in the past, but it has gained popularity in recent times. The current study aimed to explore the effect of using the flipped classroom strategy in teaching physics on academic achievement and motivating secondary school students in Jordan. A total of 84 students from the eleventh grade of secondary education from the Jordanian Ministry of Education participated in the study, divided into two groups, the experimental group (41) and the control group (43). Educational materials and study tools; comprehending scientific flipped classroom strategy designed and charted content, the Physics academic achievement test as well as the Physics motivation scale; were developed and prepared. Study instruments were appropriately statistically pre-checked for validity and reliability. The results revealed that there were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in favor of the experimental group. The results also showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the experimental group students and the scores of the control group students in the post-application of the motivation scale due to the teaching method. The study recommends further studies on the flipped classroom strategy

The Effectiveness of Science Teachers’ Use of Scientific Inquiry in Distance Learning During the Spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordanian Public Schools

The advent of the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted several sectors including education, in general, and Science education. Consequently, we have had to look for creative alternatives and solutions compatible with our educational ambitions and objectives guaranteeing the continuity and efficacy of science education. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of science teachers’ utilization of scientific inquiry in distance learning under the novel coronavirus pandemic in Jordan-based public schools. Adopting the quantitative approach, the researchers of this study used a questionnaire comprehending (30) consistent items, pre-checked for validity and reliability, subdivided into four themes: Significance of Scientific Inquiry, Extent of Cross-lesson Inquiry Instruction, Challenges of Inquiry Instruction, and Inquiry Improvability in Distance Science Education. The study population comprised a simple random sample of (500) participating men and women teachers from the Northern Educational District under the Ministry of Education in Jordan during the second semester of 2020/2021. Study data were analyzed using SPSS. According to study findings, the efficacy of science teachers’ utilization of scientific inquiry in distance learning under the novel coronavirus pandemic in Jordan-based public schools was rated as moderate averaging (3.36). Besides, study findings showed that there was a high level of agreement on the challenges encountered by science teachers upon science inquiry instruction and that Science teachers’ points of view differed relative to the variables of gender (for males) and teaching experience (for the under-5 years of experience category of men and women Science teachers). Nonetheless, there were no statistically significant differences amongst teachers relative to the educational qualification variable. The study recommended that Science teachers ought to utilize scientific inquiry in science instruction and that similar studies ought to be conducted for other subjects such as Math

Prevalence of burnout and its risk and protective factors among healthcare workers in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundBurnout, defined as persistent work-related stress, is a critical concern among healthcare workers (HCWs), particularly in high-demand environments such as the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) region. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of burnout and examine its associated risk and protective factors among HCWs in the MENAT context.MethodsA comprehensive search of studies published between 2013 and 2024 identified 123 studies involving 36,769 participants. Only studies using the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) were included. Burnout was evaluated across its three dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). The protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251051167).ResultsThe pooled prevalence was 40% for high emotional exhaustion, 31% for high depersonalization, and 38% for low personal accomplishment. The overall mean scores were 22.02 for EE, 10.07 for DP, and 25.49 for PA. Substantial heterogeneity across studies reflected wide variation in healthcare system capacity and workforce conditions. Burnout was more pronounced in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey. Common risk factors included high workload, lack of institutional support, younger age, and female gender. Protective factors were linked to increased autonomy, leadership support, and strong peer relationships.ConclusionBurnout is prevalent among HCWs across the MENAT region, with significant variability across countries. Targeted interventions to reduce occupational stressors and enhance protective workplace structures are urgently needed to safeguard provider wellbeing and improve healthcare delivery.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD420251051167, identifier CRD42025105116

Variations of Arterial Supply of the Liver: C.T. Angiographic Study Among Sudanese Adults

Hepatobiliary surgery through laparoscopic approach is becoming a routine. Knowledge of extrahepatic arterial tree is essential for surgical and imaging procedures. Anatomical complexity is expected since the liver is developed by mergingof lobules with its separate blood supply. This makes a wide range of variations in the pattern of vascular arrangement and so reinforces the need for an accurate understanding of full spectrum of variations. This study aimed to investigate the variations in origin and distribution of extrahepatic arterial supply. Fifty volunteers (32 males and 18 females) aged 20–70 years were randomly recruited from the department of CT scan in Al Amal Hospital, Khartoum North, Sudan. The patients were already candidates for CT angiography with contrast for conditions other than hepatobiliary diseases. The reported data is related to those who accepted to participate in the study. Patients with history of hepatobiliary disease were excluded. 3D views of the scans were treated and the extrahepatic arterial tree was traced in a computer-based software. Key findings suggest that Michel’s classification was considered the standard template for description – 76% of them showed Michel’s type I classification. Types III and V constituted about 2%. About 4% of the cases were represented by types VI and IX. Other types of variations constituted about 12%. To conclude, although type I classification which describes the textbook pattern of hepatic artery distribution was significantly detected among the Sudanese population, other variants were to be considered since they are related to major arteries like aorta and superior mesenteric

Brachio-cephalic ('Gracz') fistula use for continuous hemofiltration in a hemodynamically unstable hemodialysis patient without venous vascular access: a case report

Even in patients with chronic renal failure and chronic intermittent hemodialysis, continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) is the most often practiced renal replacement technique in the intensive care unit. Although patients show less hemodynamic instability during CVVH than during hemodialysis, it requires a blood flow exceeding 200 ml/min in the extracorporeal circuit necessitating the use of large bore catheters. Vascular access in critically ill septic and edematous patients is sometimes difficult, or even impossible

Arabic Translation, Validation and Cultural Adaptation of the 7-Item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale in Two Community Samples

Objectives: Depression is a common mental disorder, the severity of which is frequently assessed via interview-based clinical scales such as the 7-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-7). The current study aimed to translate and examine the validity of an Arabic version of the HAMD-7 scale. Methods: This study took place between February and March 2016 in the Psychiatry Department of King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The HAMD-7 scale was translated into Arabic using forward and backward translation methods. A total of 153 Arabic speakers were recruited to test the translated scale, including 57 medical students and 96 members of the general public. The Arabic version of the HAMD-7 scale was completed by trained investigators during face-toface interviews with the participants. In order to assess convergent validity, participants also completed an Arabic version of the self-assessed Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale. Subsequently, the test-retest reliability of the translated HAMD-7 scale was evaluated two weeks later during a second interview. Results: Overall, HAMD-7 scores were positively correlated with PHQ-9 scores (r = 0.633–0.749). Moreover, the translated HAMD-7 scale proved to be reliable in terms of test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient: 0.807; P <0.001). With regards to internal consistency, the Cronbach’s α values ranged between 0.607–0.756. Conclusion: The Arabic HAMD-7 scale was found to be reliable and valid among two samples of Arabic speakers in Saudi Arabia. However, further research among Arab-speaking patients diagnosed with depression is needed in order to establish its usefulness in assessing the severity of depressive symptoms. Keywords: Psychiatry; Depression; Psychometrics; Validity and Reliability; Translation; Questionnaire Design; Saudi Arabia

The PROVENT-C19 registry: A study protocol for international multicenter SIAARTI registry on the use of prone positioning in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 ARDS

Background The worldwide use of prone position (PP) for invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 is progressively increasing from the first pandemic wave in everyday clinical practice. Among the suggested treatments for the management of ARDS patients, PP was recommended in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign COVID-19 guidelines as an adjuvant therapy for improving ventilation. In patients with severe classical ARDS, some authors reported that early application of prolonged PP sessions significantly decreases 28-day and 90-day mortality. Methods and analysis Since January 2021, the COVID19 Veneto ICU Network research group has developed and implemented nationally and internationally the "PROVENT-C19 Registry", endorsed by the Italian Society of Anesthesia Analgesia Resuscitation and Intensive Care. . .'(SIAARTI). The PROVENT-C19 Registry wishes to describe 1. The real clinical practice on the use of PP in COVID-19 patients during the pandemic at a National and International level; and 2. Potential baseline and clinical characteristics that identify subpopulations of invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 that may improve daily from PP therapy. This web-based registry will provide relevant information on how the database research tools may improve our daily clinical practice. Conclusions This multicenter, prospective registry is the first to identify and characterize the role of PP on clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients. In recent years, data emerging from large registries have been increasingly used to provide real-world evidence on the effectiveness, quality, and safety of a clinical intervention. Indeed observation-based registries could be effective tools aimed at identifying specific clusters of patients within a large study population with widely heterogeneous clinical characteristics. Copyright