Simvastatin Ameliorates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Rats

Simvastatin is a lipid-lowering agent used to treat hypercholesterolemia and to reduce the risk of heart disease. This study scrutinized the beneficial effects of simvastatin on experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), pointing to the role of hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and both control and diabetic rats received simvastatin for 90 days. Diabetic rats showed significant cardiac hypertrophy, body weight loss, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia. Serum creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and troponin I showed a significant increase in diabetic rats. Simvastatin significantly improved body weight, attenuated hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and ameliorated CK-MB and troponin I. Simvastatin prevented histological alterations and deposition of collagen in the heart of diabetic animals. Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide were increased in the heart of diabetic rats whereas antioxidant defenses were decreased. These alterations were significantly reversed by simvastatin. In addition, simvastatin decreased serum inflammatory mediators and expression of NF-κB in the diabetic heart. Cardiac caspase-3 was increased in the diabetic heart and decreased following treatment with simvastatin. In conclusion, our results suggest that simvastatin alleviates DCM by attenuating hyperglycemia /hyperlipidemia-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis

A New Discrete-Layer Finite Element for Electromechanically Coupled Analyses of Piezoelectric Adaptive Composite Structures

A new discrete layer finite element (DLFE) is presented for electro-mechanically coupled analyses of moderately thick piezoelectric adaptive composite plates. The retained kinematics is based on layer-wise first-order shear deformation theory, and considers the plies top and bottom surfaces in-plane displacements and the plate transverse deflection as mechanical unknowns. The former are assumed in-plane Lagrange linear, while the latter is assumed in-plane full (Lagrange) quadratic; this results in a nine nodes quadrangular (Q9) DLFE. The latter is validated in free-vibrations, first numerically against ANSYS three-dimensional piezoelectric finite elements for a cantilever moderately thick aluminum plate with two co-localized piezoceramic patches, and then experimentally against a free quasi-isotropic transverse composite thin plate with four piezoceramic patches. The obtained short-circuit and open-circuit (OC) frequencies were satisfactory for both benchmarks, while the post-treated modal effective electromechanical coupling coefficients agreed well with ANSYS results (first benchmark) but only fairly with the experimental ones (second benchmark). Once validated, the Q9-DLFE was used to assess numerically the equipotential (EP) physical condition influence on the OC sensed electric potential; for this purpose, the above first benchmark, but with the top piezoceramic patch only, was finally analyzed. It was found that the EP condition homogenizes and lowers the sensed potential on the OC electrode

The Impact of an Educational Program based on the Components of Emotional Intelligence according to the Golman Model in the Development of Ethical Behavior in Islamic Education

This study aimed at identifying the effect of an Islamic Educational Programme based on Emotional Intelligence on developing Ethical Behaviors of tenth grade female students in the Sultanate of Oman. The study adopted a semi-experimental model using a sample of 137 students from Muscat and Southern Batinah schools. To achieve the study aims, an Educational Program based on Emotional Intelligence and Ethical Behaviors Scale (Self-control, Honesty, Respecting others, Respecting rules) was used. The validity of the scale was measured using trustee validity and discriminate validity. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient was used to estimate the reliability of the scale; it was 0.90 which indicates fairly high reliability. The results showed statically significant differences in regards of Self-control, Honesty, Respecting others and Respecting Rules in favor of the experimental group. In the light of the above findings, the study recommended the importance of integrating Emotional Intelligence skills into the curriculum to prevent ethical problems of teenage students. It also suggested the activation of educational strategies and classroom activities in training the students to develop their ethical behaviors

Development of a Decision Making Model for the Assessment of Electricity Demand Side Management in the State of Kuwait

Kuwait’s per capita electrical energy consumption is among the largest in the world, reaching 13,663 kWh per person in 2011. The electricity demand in Kuwait is increasing, which requires additional investments in power generation. A particular challenge in Kuwait is the peak demand in summer, when extreme heat increases air conditioning loads. Peak demand reached 11,220 MW in 2011, with a fast growth rate averaging 5.6% over the last decade and a maximum production capacity of around 14,720 MW. It is not possible to cope with this demand simply by increasing generation capacity. Therefore, the only alternative available to Kuwait is to control electricity demand via demand-side management. The main objective of this research is to assess and select the optimal demand- side management (DSM) technologies for buildings in the governmental sector (office, religious and school buildings) and to investigate the key factors in the evaluation process. To achieve the research objective, a model was proposed using multi-criteria decision-making techniques to enable the forecasting and comparison of DSM alternatives that are suitable for buildings. The developed model includes environmental, economic, technical and social considerations. The research methodology is based on three main phases. Phase 1: Data collection through a mail questionnaire that was sent to 42 experts for the identification of criteria and demand-side management alternatives. Phase 2: Screening and narrowing of the data collected in Phase 1 using a set of questionnaires, including the identification of potential DSM alternatives and criteria suitable for further analysis. This phase was performed through the Delphi process, taking into consideration the opinions of 28 experts. Phase 3: Use of Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques, namely the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), to evaluate and rank the identified DSM alternatives and criteria. This was done using pairwise comparisons of 17 experts to evaluate the criteria and alternatives for the buildings (office, religious and school). The research showed that the experts identified six alternative technologies and five criteria for the selection and evaluation of governmental buildings (office, religious and school). After performing the three phases of this research project, a set of criteria and alternatives were ranked based on the information gathered from every group of experts. It was found that reduction in consumption, capital cost and ease of implementation were the three most recommended criteria for the selection of DSM technologies in Kuwait government buildings while high efficiency lighting and programmable thermostats were identified as the most recommended DSM technologies for these buildings. An important aspect of this research is that unlike engineering approaches which sometimes depend on expensive test equipment or, often for building design, expensive computer modelling exercises, the proposed framework can be easily adopted by anyone without any significant financial cost. The FAHP approach was also tested and its results compared with those of AHP. There was a slight difference between using AHP and FAHP in terms of ranking the criteria and alternatives but that the difference barely affects the ranking. It was found that the AHP provides a convenient MCDM approach for solving the complex problem of selecting the optimal DSM options for buildings. The contributions of this thesis are the development of a novel framework for systematic selection and ranking of DSM technologies in different types of buildings using the Delphi method and AHP; the identification of the most important DSM technologies and criteria for their selection for three types of governmental buildings in Kuwait; and establishing that results from using AHP and FAHP for the selection of appropriate DSM measures in these buildings are almost identical, so use of AHP is likely to be sufficient in most building studies of this type

Pain Experienced by Patients during Periodontal Examination

The aims of the present study were to determine the level of pain experienced by patients from probing during periodontal examination, and to find out to what extent the examining periodontist and the dental assistant could estimate the degree of pain experienced by the patients. For each of three periodontists, 20 patients referred for periodontal diagnosis and treatment were selected. The periodontist carried out his examination, which included probing at six sites per tooth. Following probing, the patients rated the pain using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The periodontist and the dental assistant who helped out during the examination independently rated the pain level they perceived that the patients experienced, also using a VAS. Most patients showed low pain responses to probing. However, using an arbitrary threshold of VAS ≥40 mm to indicate significant pain, some patients had a painful experience. Differences were observed between the pain levels expressed by the three groups of patients. While two of the three periodontists were quite able to appraise the pain experienced by their patients, one of them was not. The dental assistants seemed to have more difficulty estimating the patients\u27 pain levels. It seems important that the periodontist at the first encounter with the patient is sensitive to the discomfort the examination may entail. This may influence the patients\u27 decision to accept the required treatment, and may also affect the patients\u27 attitude to and co-operation with the subsequent treatment

Analytical Modeling and Optimization of Micropiezoelectric Energy Harvesting Devices

This work provides an exact analytical dynamics of a cantilever beam bonded with a piezoelectric patch to extract the modal frequencies under open circuit and short circuit electrodes’ conditions. The modal open circuit and short circuit frequencies are then used to calculate the corresponding modal Electro-Mechanical Coupling Coefficient (EMCC), which is considered as an influential parameter in the design of piezoelectric based devices such as energy harvesters and smart structures. A parametric analysis is then performed to optimize the length and the thickness of the piezoelectric patch for maximum modal EMCC

Changing Trends of Breast Cancer Survival in Sultanate of Oman

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in women, with elevated incidence in developing countries. This retrospective study included all 122 patients diagnosed with breast cancer from January 2003 to December 2008 in the Sultanate of Oman. Age at presentation was 47.41 years (SD±12.88), with one-third of patients younger than 40 years. The majority of patients presented with stage III (41.2%) and IV (18.2%) breast cancer. T size (P = .023), skin involvement (P = .003), and stage at presentation (P = .004) were significantly associated with overall survival. Skin involvement at presentation (P = .003), T size (P = .09), lymph node status (P = .013), and stage (P = .003) were strong predictors of relapse-free survival. Patients had a 5-year survival of 78%, compared to 64% of breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2002 identified in our previously published study. Thus, despite Omani breast cancer patients continuing to present with advanced breast cancer, survival rates have significantly improved

Successful Treatment of Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia Associated with Scalp Demodicosis Using Cryotherapy and Topical Metronidazole

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is a rare, benign, vasoproliferative tumour. We report a 25-year-old female patient who reported in 2021 to the dermatology clinic, with multiple, grouped, erythematous dome-shaped papules and nodules of 6 months duration on the left temporo-occipital region. Biopsy findings were consistent with a diagnosis of ALHE with evidence of Demodex mite infestation in the sebaceous ducts. The patient demonstrated significant improvement following 7 weeks of treatment with multiple cryotherapy sessions and topical application of metronidazole gel. This case suggests that scalp demodicosis may represent a novel trigger for the development of ALHE. Keywords: Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia; Mite; Infestation; Scalp; Kimura disease; Cryosurgery; Metronidazole; Case Report

Эпидемиология и факторы риска рака шейки матки

ФАКТОРЫ РИСКАШЕЙКИ МАТКИ НОВООБРАЗОВАНИ

Outcomes of Women with Non-Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Oman: A single-centre experience

Objectives: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive and heterogeneous variants of breast cancer. However, little is known regarding the prevalence and outcome of this entity in the Middle East. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of TNBC patients at a university hospital in Oman. Methods: This retrospective study took place at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, in May 2017. All patients diagnosed with non-metastatic TNBC between December 2000 and December 2015 were included. The patients’ electronic medical records were reviewed to identify their clinical and pathological characteristics as well as survival outcomes. Results: A total of 79 patients were diagnosed with non-metastatic TNBC during the study period. The median age was 46 years, with approximately one-third of patients (31.6%) under 40 years of age. Almost half had an advanced tumour size (49.4%) or node-positive disease (48.1%) at presentation and only 16.6% demonstrated a complete pathological response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The median survival for all patients was not reached within the study period; however, the median overall survival for stage III patients was 44.6 months. The five-year overall survival for all patients was 64%, increasing to 100% and 72% for patients with stage I and II, respectively, and dropping to 47% for those with stage III disease. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the majority of women with TNBC in Oman present at an advanced stage; moreover, such women have low rates of pCR to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and poor five-year survival.Keywords: Breast Cancer; Triple-Negative Breast Cancer; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Survival; Patient Outcome Assessment; Oman