Dynamics of vitamin D in patients with mild or inactive inflammatory bowel disease and their families

BACKGROUND: 25(OH) vitamin D levels may be low in patients with moderately or severely active inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD: Crohn’s disease and Idiopathic Ulcerative Colitis) but this is less clear in patients with mild or inactive IBD. Furthermore there is limited information of any family influence on 25(OH) vitamin D levels in IBD. As a possible risk factor we hypothesize that vitamin D levels may also be low in families of IBD patients. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate 25[OH] vitamin D levels in patients with IBD in remission or with mild activity. A second objective is to evaluate whether there are relationships within IBD family units of 25[OH] vitamin D and what are the influences associated with these levels. METHODS: Participants underwent medical history, physical examination and a 114 item diet questionnaire. Serum 25[OH] vitamin D was measured, using a radioimmunoassay kit, (replete ≥ 75, insufficient 50–74, deficient < 25–50, or severely deficient < 25 nmol/L). Associations between 25[OH] vitamin D and twenty variables were evaluated using univariate regression. Multivariable analysis was also applied and intrafamilial dynamics were assessed. RESULTS: 55 patients and 48 controls with their respective families participated (N206). 25[OH] vitamin D levels between patients and controls were similar (71.2 ± 32.8 vs. 68.3 ±26.2 nmol/L). Vitamin D supplements significantly increased intake but correlation with serum 25[OH] vitamin D was significant only during non sunny months among patients. Within family units, patients’ families had mean replete levels (82.3 ± 34.2 nmol/L) and a modest correlation emerged during sunny months between patients and family (r(2) =0.209 p = 0.032). These relationships were less robust and non significant in controls and their families. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with mild or inactive IBD 25[OH] vitamin D levels are less than ideal but are similar to controls. Taken together collectively, the results of this study suggest that patient family dynamics may be different in IBD units from that in control family units. However contrary to the hypothesis, intra familial vitamin D dynamics do not pose additional risks for development of IBD

Bifunctional Cu-Based Catalyst for Electrochemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide into CO and Formate

Electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 into value-added products is increasingly becoming one of the most viable approaches for mitigating the negative impacts of anthropogenic CO2 emissions and alleviating the impact of these emissions on global warming. However, the effectiveness of the electrocatalytic conversion technique is highly dependent on the type of electrocatalyst used and at times limited by the selectivity of the catalyst towards one specific product. In this work, CuO nanocatalysts were synthesized using sol-gel technique and applied for the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide into CO and formate. The synthesized catalysts were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) techniques. A homogenous mixture of the synthesized nanocatalysts with PTFE was uniformly deposited on carbon electrode through the drop-casting technique. The electrochemical activity of the prepared electrodes was then investigated using Linear sweep voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and chronopotentiometry techniques. The results indicated that electrodes prepared using the synthesized CuO catalyst can be effectively applied to convert carbon dioxide into both CO and formate at different current densities. At a high current density of 50 mA.cm-2, the CuO-doped carbon electrodes could simultaneously produce 470 ppm of CO and 273 ppm of formate. Furthermore, the CuO nanocatalyst doping exhibited high stability on the carbon electrodes, which indicates that the electrodes can be effectively applied for large-scale applications.Scopu

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS L. AGAINST ESCHERICHIA COLI AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

أجريت الدراسة على القطبة (الحسك) Tribulus terrestris L. من العائلة الرطراطية Zygophyllaceae الذي جمع من محافظة الضالع في منطقة خوبر خلال شهر مارس 2022، وتم عمل الاستخلاص المائي والميثانولي في مختبر قسم العقاقير لكلية الصيدلة – جامعة عدن، و من ثم أجريت الدراسة على نوعين من البكتيريا أحداهما موجبة الجرام Staphylococcus aurous والأخرى سالبة الجرام Escherichia coli. أجريت التجربة الميكروبية في مختبر الأحياء الدقيقة – جامعة العلوم والتكنولوجيا حيث أجريت تجربة عاملية ذات ثلاثة عوامل (نوع المذيب، التركيز والوقت)، وكررت كل معاملة ثلاث مرات، وكانت النتائج المتحصل عليها كالتالي: أظهر المستخلص لكلا المذيبين أكبر منطقة تثبيط ضد كلا النوعين من البكتيريا و ذلك عند التراكيز العالية 400، 600 و 800 مغ/مل و كانت أفضل النتائج بعد 72 ساعة لكلا النوعين من البكتيريا، إذ أعطت طريقة الأقراص فعالية ضد بكتيريا Staphylococcus aureus، بينما كانت طريقة الحفر هي الفعالة ضد بكتيريا Escherichia coli. التداخل بين العاملين (التراكيز المستخدمة و نوع المذيب) أظهر أفضل النتائج عند المتخلص الميثانولي باستخدام طريقة الأقراص ضد بكتيريا Escherichia coli عند تركيز 200 مغ/مل و 800 مغ/مل ضد بكتيريا Staphylococcus aureus . التداخل بين العاملين (الوقت و نوع المذيب) أظهر أفضل النتائج بعد 72 ساعة في المستخلص المائي باستخدام طريقة الحفر ضد بكتيريا Escherichia coli، بينما كانت أفضل نتائج ضد بكتيريا Staphylococcus aureus بعد 72 ساعة في المستخلص الميثانولي باستخدام طريقة الأقراص. التداخل بين العاملين (التراكيز والوقت) أظهر أفضل النتائج بعد 72 ساعة عند تركيز 800 مغ/مل باستخدام طريقة الحفر ضد بكتيريا Escherichia coli، بينما أظهر أفضل النتائج ضد بكتيريا Staphylococcus aureus بعد 72 ساعة عند تركيز 400 مغ/مل باستخدام طريقة الأقراص. تشير النتائج المتحصل عليها من التداخل بين الثلاث العوامل (نوع المذيب، التراكيز والوقت) أن المستخلص الميثانولي عند تركيز 200 مغ/مل بعد 72 ساعة باستخدام طريقة الأقراص أعلى قدرة تثبيطية ضد النوع Escherichia coli، بينما المستخلص المائي عند تركيز 600 مغ/مل بعد 72 ساعة أظهر أكبر فعالية ضد النوع Staphylococcus aureus.The experiment was performed on the plant Tribulus terrestris L. which was collected from Khobar region in Al Dhale’ Governorate, Republic of Yemen on March. The extracts used (aqueous and methanol) were prepared in Lab of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy – Aden University. The experiment was done on two types of bacteria, one Gram negative (Escherichia coli) and one Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus). The antimicrobial part of the experiment was carried out in the Microbiology Lab - University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen. The experiment was performed in triplicates, and using three factors (Type of solvent, Time and Concentrations). The results obtained were the following: The best solvent for extracting antibacterial substances was methanol in both bacteria (E. coli and S. aureus). The concentrations that produced the highest inhibition zones in E. coli were 600 and 800 mg/ml using well method, while in S. aureus the best concentrations were 400 and 600 mg /ml. The best result was obtained after 72 h using disk method on S. aureus, and using well method on E. coli. Interaction between concentrations and type of solvent showed that the best result was obtained by methanol extract using disk method at 200 mg/ml against E. coli, while the best result against S. aureus was obtained by methanol extract using disk method at 800 mg/ml. Interaction between different times and type of solvent indicated that the best result against E. coli was observed after 72h by aqueous extract using well method, while the best result against S. aureus was observed after 72h by methanol extract using disk method. Interaction between concentrations and different times showed that the best result was obtained after 72h at concentration 800mg/ml using well method against E. coli, while the best result against S. aureus was after 72h at concentration 400mg/ml using disk method. Interaction between type of solvent, concentrations and different times indicated that the best result in E. coli was observed after 72h by methanol extract at 200mg/ml using disk method, while the best result in S. aureus was observed after 72h by aqueous extract at 600mg/ml using disk method

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance.

Investment in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences that have been generated and used to track the pandemic on the continent, a number that now exceeds 100,000 genomes. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries that are able to sequence domestically and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround times and more-regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and illuminate the distinct dispersal dynamics of variants of concern-particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron-on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve while the continent faces many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Biodiversity of annelids and its relationship with sediments being polluted by heavy elements in Shatt Al-Arab

The present study aims at diagnosing the species of Annelida in the sediment of Shatt Al-Arab and studying their density. The study period  and the sample collection starts from January 2021 up to May 2021. Nine stations lying on Shatt Al-Arab at Basrah district were chosen starting from Qurna station northward to Al-Fao station southward. The study included measuring some environmental factors of water and sediments.  Water temperature ranged between 9-19, 7.2-8.6 for pH, 5.8-9.1 Mg/ltr for dissolved oxygen, 2.1-29.5 ppt for salinity concentrations. In sediments, the percentage of TOC was 0.25-1.03 %.&#x0D;  Three species of Annelida were diagnosed in the study stations, two of them belong to Namalycastis indica, Dendronereides heteropoda. The third species belongs to Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri. The density of the diagnosed Annelida during the study period were recorded. It ranged between 1550-3709 individual/m2 for Polychaeta species while for L. hoffmeisteri, the density ranged between 2159-8885 individual/m2. The distribution of diagnosed Annelida into longitudinal classes was studied and it recorded the least appearance rates of the D. heteropda species in the 40-50 mm class in most of the study stations while the highest appearance was recorded for the 1-10mm class in a number of stations. N. indica has recorded the least appearance rates for 40-50 class mm in most of the study stations, however, it has recorded the highest rates of appearance for 30-40 mm class in four stations. For the L. hoffmeisteri species, the least rate of appearance was recorded for 18-21 mm class in some stations, while the highest rate of appearance was recorded for 3-6mm in many stations.   The statistical analysis showed that temperature, pH, and salinity are directly related to the density of both species of Annelida while the dissolved oxygen is directly related to the density of L. hoffmeisteri (r=0.470) and inversely with  Polychaeta species (r=-0.094).</jats:p

The effect of some environmental factors on the abundance and distribution of annelid worms from Shatt Al-Arab, Basra, southern Iraq

The present study aims at diagnosing the species of Annelida in the sediment of Shatt Al-Arab and studying their density. The study period  and the sample collection starts from January 2021 up to May 2021. Nine stations lying on Shatt Al-Arab at Basrah district were chosen starting from Qurna station northward to Al-Fao station southward. The study included measuring some environmental factors of water and sediments.    Water temperature ranged between 9-19, 7.2-8.6 for pH, 5.8-9.1 Mg/ltr for dissolved oxygen, 2.1-29.5 ppt for salinity concentrations. In sediments, the percentage of TOC was 0.25-1.03 %. Three species of Annelida were diagnosed in the study stations, two of them belong to Namalycastis indica, Dendronereides heteropoda. The third species belongs to Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri.    The density of the diagnosed Annelida during the study period were recorded. It ranged between 1550-3709 individual/m2 for Polychaeta species while for L. hoffmeisteri, the density ranged between 2159-8885 individual/m2. The distribution of diagnosed Annelida into longitudinal classes was studied and it recorded the least appearance rates of the D. heteropda species in the 40-50 mm class in most of the study stations while the highest appearance was recorded for the 1-10mm class in a number of stations. N. indica has recorded the least appearance rates for 40-50 class mm in most of the study stations, however, it has recorded the highest rates of appearance for 30-40 mm class in four stations. For the L. hoffmeisteri  species, the least rate of appearance was recorded for 18-21 mm class in some stations, while the highest rate of appearance was recorded for 3-6mm in many stations.   The statistical analysis showed that temperature, pH, and salinity are directly related to the density of both species of Annelida while the dissolved oxygen is directly related to the density of L. hoffmeisteri (r=0.470) and inversely with  Polychaeta species (r=-0.094)

Influence of Work-Related Safety and Health Guidelines on Knowledge and Prevalence of Occupational Back Pain among Rehabilitation Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A 6-Month Follow-Up Study

Background: Nurses are frequently involved in different types of patient handling activities in different departments of the hospitals. Mishandling the patients causes accumulative stress on their spine that results in occupational back pain (OBP), substantial morbidity, and incurred cost. Objectives: This study aimed to observe the influence of work-related safety and health guidelines on knowledge and prevalence of occupational back pain among rehabilitation nurses in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cohort study was conducted with the inclusion of a total of 116-registered rehabilitation nurses (97-female, 19-male, mean age = 39.6-years) from different regions of Saudi Arabia. After the invitation, these nurses attended an ergonomic workshop focusing on work-related safety and patient handling guidelines, risk assessment, and control of OBP. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, risk, and prevalence of OBP at baseline and 6-months follow-up. Results: The perceived knowledge score significantly improved (95% CI; t = 4.691; p &lt; 0.001; Cohen’s d = 0.72) at 6-month follow-up (mean ± SD = 81.6 ± 18.2) from its baseline score (mean ± SD = 68.2 ± 19.2). Likewise, the prevalence score of OBP markedly reduced from 71.5% (baseline) to 65.0% (6-month follow-up). Conclusion: The level of knowledge highly improved and the prevalence of OBP markedly reduced within a span of 6-month among rehabilitation nurses in Saudi Arabia after attending an ergonomic workshop. Importantly, the nurses learned and geared up themselves for practicing the safe patient handling guidelines to avoid occupational back pain in the future. Therefore, rehabilitation nurses should update their knowledge and awareness about occupational safety and health guidelines, risk assessments, and control of OBP at a regular interval for increasing the knowledge and reducing the prevalence of OBP among them

Influence of Work-Related Safety and Health Guidelines on Knowledge and Prevalence of Occupational Back Pain among Rehabilitation Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A 6-Month Follow-Up Study

Background: Nurses are frequently involved in different types of patient handling activities in different departments of the hospitals. Mishandling the patients causes accumulative stress on their spine that results in occupational back pain (OBP), substantial morbidity, and incurred cost. Objectives: This study aimed to observe the influence of work-related safety and health guidelines on knowledge and prevalence of occupational back pain among rehabilitation nurses in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cohort study was conducted with the inclusion of a total of 116-registered rehabilitation nurses (97-female, 19-male, mean age = 39.6-years) from different regions of Saudi Arabia. After the invitation, these nurses attended an ergonomic workshop focusing on work-related safety and patient handling guidelines, risk assessment, and control of OBP. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, risk, and prevalence of OBP at baseline and 6-months follow-up. Results: The perceived knowledge score significantly improved (95% CI; t = 4.691; p &lt; 0.001; Cohen’s d = 0.72) at 6-month follow-up (mean ± SD = 81.6 ± 18.2) from its baseline score (mean ± SD = 68.2 ± 19.2). Likewise, the prevalence score of OBP markedly reduced from 71.5% (baseline) to 65.0% (6-month follow-up). Conclusion: The level of knowledge highly improved and the prevalence of OBP markedly reduced within a span of 6-month among rehabilitation nurses in Saudi Arabia after attending an ergonomic workshop. Importantly, the nurses learned and geared up themselves for practicing the safe patient handling guidelines to avoid occupational back pain in the future. Therefore, rehabilitation nurses should update their knowledge and awareness about occupational safety and health guidelines, risk assessments, and control of OBP at a regular interval for increasing the knowledge and reducing the prevalence of OBP among them.</jats:p