Explore the vast range of titles available.

Gastric cancer (GC) is considered lethal aggressive cancer. In Egypt, GC has a low incidence but unfortunately, it is mostly diagnosed at an advanced stage with a poor prognosis. Assessment of novel markers that can be used in the early detection of GC is an urgent need. The present study was performed to assess the association of the Pleckstrin homology domain-containing S1 (PLEKHS1)، arylacetamide deacetylase (AADAC, and Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 3 (CDKN3) genes with GC and to correlate their gene expression levels with tumor stage, grade, and other clinicopathological features. The current work was performed on forty gastric tissue samples; twenty in Group 1 with GC tissues at different stages, and grades and twenty in Group 2 (control group) with non-tumorous tissue. PLEKHS1, AADAC, and CDKN3 gene expression were assessed by RT-qPCR. AADAC, CDKN3 genes were significantly (p<0.001) upregulated, while PLEKHS1 gene was significantly (p<0.001) downregulated in the GC group than the control group. AADAC gene expression exhibited a high significant (p<0.001) positive correlation with the tumor grades and the tumor stages. A high significant negative correlation between AADAC, and CDKN3 gene expression (r = -.760, p<0.001) was found. The three studied parameters showed high significant sensitivity and specificity in the prediction of the presence of GC. PLEKHS1, AADAC, and CDKN3 gene expressions were suggested to be used as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers of GC, additionally, AADAC may be used as a prognostic marker in these patients for further future confirming studies.

Background Maxillary defects predispose patients to different undesirable effects. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QoL) of patients with maxillary defects (acquired/congenital) wearing obturators. Methods The study comprised 30 patients aged between 16 and 78 years. Interviews were conducted to collect information pertaining to patients; sociodemographic, self-reported function of obturator using Obturator Functioning Scale (OFS), self-evaluation of general health using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), radiotherapy treatment, salivary gland removal, reconstructive surgery, neck dissection and length of time obturators were worn. Clinical examination included type of maxillectomy, Aramany classification of the defect, and evaluation of obturator function using the Kapur retention and stability scoring system. Result Quality of life was affected significantly by marital status ( P  = 0.026). Married patients had better quality of life 61.3%, followed by divorced patients 38.8%, widowed 37.3% and the least QoL was detected in single patients 36.5%. Significant association between the type of maxillectomy and QoL was detected ( P  = 0.002). Retention of obturator prosthesis had a highly significant association with QoL ( P  < 0.001). Type of maxillectomy had a significant relation with obturator retention ( P  = 0.005). Stability had a significant correlation with QoL ( P  = 0.022). Obturator wearers who were treated with radiotherapy had lower QoL than those who were not treated with radiotherapy. Conclusion Rehabilitation of patients with maxillary defects using obturator prosthesis is an appropriate and not invasive treatment modality. Results support that good obturators contribute to a better life quality.

Date seed grinding remains a significant challenge limiting the utilization of this valuable agricultural by-product.\" In this study, a compact date seeds grinding unit was designed, tested, and evaluated. The machine has two primary: a pair of toothed cylinders and a hammer mill. The machine’s performance was assessed in terms of throughput, specific energy consumption, and mean particle size of the product. First, the cylindrical section was tested under various conditions, including cylinder rotational speed (150, 250, 350, and 450 rpm), feed gate opening size (30, 37.5, and 45 cm 2 ), and the clearance between cylinders (0, 1, and 2 mm). The feedforward neural network (FNN) framework predicated the optimal operating conditions for this part, which were recorded as 150 rpm cylinder rotational speed, 45 cm 2 feed gate opening, and 2 mm cylinder clearance. This optimal operational condition was utilized as the starting conditions for subsequent testing of the hammer mill section. Then, the hammer mill was tested with different hammer rotational speeds (1250, 1500, and 1750 rpm) and screen hole diameters (2, 4, and 6 mm) underneath the hammers. The FNN model was again employed to predicate the most suitable operating parameters for the grinding unit. The key results included the optimal operational parameters at 150 rpm cylinder rotational speed, 2 mm clearance, 45 cm 2 feeding area, 1750 rpm hammer speed, and 6 mm screen hole diameter. That operational condition resulted in 30 kg/h for machine’s throughput, 49 kW h/ton specific energy consumption, and 2.14 mm mean product size. With FNN model accuracy R 2 of 0.99974, demonstrating high prediction reliability. Meanwhile, the operating cost was 0.027 $/kg, suitable for small to medium-scale operations. The significance of these findings lies in the development of an efficient, versatile milling solution for date seeds and similar agricultural materials. This research pioneers the application of machine learning in optimizing date seed processing, potentially revolutionizing agricultural waste valorization and opening new avenues for sustainable resource utilization.

Background Despite recent advances in therapy modalities of colorectal cancer (CRC), it is still the third cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Thus, the search for new target therapies became mandatory. DDR1 is a collagen receptor that has a suggested role in cellular proliferation, tumor invasion, and metastasis. Material and methods Forty-eight cases of CRC, 20 of CR adenoma, and 8 cases of non-tumoral colonic tissue were subjected to immunohistochemistry by DDR1 and β - catenin antibodies. Results were compared among the different studied groups and correlated with clinicopathologic data and available survival data. Also, the expression of both proteins was compared versus each other. Results were compared among the 3 studied groups and correlated with clinicopathologic and survival data. Results It revealed a stepwise increase of DDR1 expression among studied groups toward carcinoma ( P = 0.006). DDR1 expression showed a direct association with stage D in the modified Dukes’ staging system ( P = 0.013), higher-grade histologic types ( P = 0.008), and lymph node invasion ( P = 0.028) but inverse correlation with the presence of intratumoral inflammatory response (TIR) ( P = 0.001). The shortest OS was associated with strong intensity of DDR1 ( P = 0.012). The DDR1 and β - catenin expressions were significantly correlated ( P = 0.028), and the combined expression of both was correlated with TNM staging ( P = 0.017). Conclusion DDR1 overexpression is a frequent feature in CRC and CR adenoma. DDR1 is a poor prognostic factor and a suppressor of the TIR. DDR1 and β - catenin seem to have a synergistic action.

Background Cancer survivors face broad challenges in weight loss due to multiple factors. Sarcopenia prevalence among cancer survivors has a wide range and is associated with worse outcomes. Sarcopenia and cancer attract global attention. The use of bibliometrics analysis in this area of interest still needs to be identified. This study was performed to assess the global trends and patterns of sarcopenia and cancer-related scientific publications. Methods Web of Science (WOS) and articles indexed in Science Citation Index Expanded. VOS viewer (Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands) and R-studio using bibliometrics and R package were used for quantitative analysis of the dataset (year of publications, number of publications, institutes, journals, total citations, H-index status, authors, hotspots of institutes, Keywords, research area, and funding sponsor. Results Our analysis extracted 384 publications from 172 journals written by 2525 authors from the Institute for Web of Science Core Collection database. Overall, 384 articles from the WOS database met the inclusion criteria. The number of published papers has risen since 2014. The results showed that Japan, China and the USA contributed the most to this field. Moreover, our results recognized future research trends and the current condition of sarcopenia and cancer research based on the top 10 most cited articles and the keyword analysis. Finally, the leading author's analysis demonstrated that Shen Xian from Wenzhou Medical University, China, Baracos and Vickie E from the University of Alberta, Switzerland, were the most productive, active, and influential authors. Conclusion Our study demonstrates a comprehensive and objective overview of the up-to-date status of sarcopenia and cancer research. These data would benefit scholars who need information on sarcopenia and cancer research. It would be a reference guide for researchers wanting to conduct additional studies related to the topic.

Background Globally, breast cancer ranks among the most common malignancies and has a high mortality rate. Invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (IBC-NST) presents a heterogeneous group with variable prognosis. Identifying reliable biomarkers is crucial for improving treatment strategies and predicting outcomes. This study investigates the immunohistochemical expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and ezrin in IBC-NST and their correlation with clinicopathological features and overall survival. Methods This retrospective study analyzed 160 paraffin-embedded tissue samples, including 123 IBC-NST and 37 normal breast tissues, collected from patients treated at Menoufia University Hospital during the period from January 2018 to January 2022. Immunohistochemical staining for PTHrP and ezrin was performed, and expression levels were quantified using the H score. Results PTHrP expression was significantly higher in IBC-NST than in adjacent DCIS and normal tissues ( p  < 0.001). High PTHrP percent of expression was associated with metastasis ( p  = 0.009), bone metastasis ( p  = 0.012), and lymphovascular invasion ( p  = 0.037). Ezrin expression was also significantly elevated in IBC-NST, with higher H score values correlating with high tumor grade ( p  = 0.002), high N stage ( p  = 0.045), advanced AJCC stage grouping ( p  = 0.0043) and metastasis ( p  = 0.001). A significant positive correlation was observed between PTHrP and ezrin expression (rs = 0.341, p  < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high ezrin expression, in terms of intensity ( p  = 0.007) and H score ( p  = 0.002), was linked to poorer survival. Conclusion The study highlights the significant roles of PTHrP and ezrin in breast cancer progression. Elevated levels of these proteins are associated with more aggressive disease, suggesting their capability as prognostic indicators and treatment targets in breast cancer. Additional studies are required to investigate their interaction and collective influence on breast cancer metastasis and treatment.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the non-linear relationship between economic growth and carbon emissions. To examine the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period 1970-2022 based on a bound test for cointegration using Nonlinear Auto Regressive Distributed Lag model NARDL to examine the existence of asymmetric effect between carbon emission as a proxy for environmental degradation and gross domestic product per capita as a proxy for economic growth. Our empirical results confirm the presence of cointegration among the variables. Furthermore, the EKC hypothesis is invalid for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the long run. While positive shocks in economic growth cause a reduction in CO2 emission, adverse shocks in economic growth cause a decrease in CO2 emission. This does not imply an inverted U-shaped link between economic growth and CO2 emissions. Energy consumption, inflation, and trade openness significantly increase CO2 emissions. Our results also revealed that foreign direct investment substantially decreases carbon emissions. It is clear from the results that Saudi Arabia is actively embracing green technologies as part of Vision 2030. This vision involves decreasing energy-intensive industries, turning to renewable energy sources, and expanding the services sector.

BackgroundSickle cell disease is an inherited hemoglobinopathy resulting in chronic hemolysis and painful vaso-occlusive crises. Sickle vasculopathy caused by impaired nitric oxide bioavailability and arterial stiffness and associated with multiple complications.ResultsMean age of patients was 13.85 ± 2.53 SD, 50% were males, 77.5% were homozygous sickle cell disease (SS). Brachial artery parameters showed that baseline diameter was significantly higher (p < 0.001) and flow mediated dilatation (FMD) was significantly lower in patients than control (p < 0.001). Carotid artery parameters showed that carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and cross-sectional distensability were significantly higher in sickle group than control (p 0.001, p 0.007). Diastolic shear stress and elastic modulus showed no significant difference between sickle and control group (p 0.071, p 0.083). Regarding sickle subgroups, carotid intima-media thickness was higher and cross-sectional compliance and distensability were lower in subgroup II than subgroup I (p < 0.001, p < 0.018, p < 0.035), respectively.ConclusionDoppler assessment of brachial and carotid elastic properties may be helpful for early detection of sickle cell vasculopathy and sickle-related complications.

Background Globally Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) represents 3% of malignant tumours in adults and 1.78% in Egypt. AMPK-related protein kinase 5 (ARK5) is mainly associated with a hypoxic microenvironment which is a feature of the major RCC subtypes. Additionally, it displays decreased mitochondrial respiration. SIRT3 is a mitochondrial deacetylase that modifies multiple mitochondrial proteins. Material and methods Fifty eight cases of RCC, and 30 non-neoplastic cases (of End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) were subjected to immunohistochemistry by ARK5 and SIRT3. The results of IHC were correlated together and correlated with the available clinicopathologic and survival data. Results Although no significant difference was detected between RCC and ESKD groups regarding ARK5 expression, there was a significant association with RCC regarding H-score and nucleocytoplasmic expression (both P  = 0.001). Also, SIRT3 was highly expressed in RCC in comparison to the ESKD group (H-score: P  = 0.001). There were significant associations between nucleocytoplasmic ARK5 expression and higher tumour grade, low apoptotic and high mitotic indices, tumour extent, advanced tumour stage, and impaired response of tumours to chemotherapeutic drugs ( P  = 0.039, P  = 0.001, P  = 0.027, P  = 0.011, P  = 0.009, and P  = 0.014 respectively). Moreover, the H score of ARK5 expression showed significant associations with tumour grade, apoptotic and mitotic indices, tumour extension, tumour stage, and response to therapy ( P  = 0.01, 0.035, 0.001, 0.004. 0.003 and 0.013). Regarding SIRT3 expression, it showed significant associations with apoptotic and mitotic indices, tumour extent, tumour stage and response to therapy ( P  = 0.022, 0.02, 0.042, 0.039 and 0.027). Interestingly, there was a highly significant correlation between the expression of ARK5 and SIRT3 ( P  = 0.009). Univariate survival analysis revealed a significant association between short survival duration and both nucleocytoplasmic expression of ARK5 and positive SIRT3 expression ( P  = 0.014 and 0.035). Conclusion ARK5 and SIRT3 are overexpressed in RCC and associated with parameters of poor prognosis as well as short survival. Both seem to influence response to therapy in RCC. So, they could be new targets for therapy that may improve tumour response and patients’ survival. There is a postulated relationship that needs more extensive investigation.

BackgroundThe introduction of direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) could safely eliminate the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Steatosis and fibrosis regression after HCV treatment could occur with subsequent improvement in the portal pressure. However, a subgroup of patients is still at risk of variceal bleeding from persistent clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPHT). Recognition of these patients, hence continuous screening, is clinically relevant. In resource-limited areas, the availability of noninvasive, simple markers to identify at-risk patients will help avoid gastroscopy. We aimed to investigate the utility of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and the portal vein congestion index (PVCI) as noninvasive markers to identify subgroups of patients who need follow-up after HCV elimination.Patients and methodsRetrospectively, we included 181 patients who received DAAs for HCV and achieved sustained virologic response. After 5 years of follow-up, we evaluated baseline parameters that could predict variceal bleeding. Baseline clinical and laboratory data, including baseline LSM and PVCI, were included. Patients were followed for 5 years for the occurrence of variceal bleeding.ResultsThe ROC analysis revealed that at a cutoff level ≥ 0.563, PVCI could identify patients who experienced variceal bleeding with a 91.8% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity, and 79% PPV. Patients with PVCI ≥ 0.563 and LSM ≥ 21.2 kPa had a shorter interval before variceal bleeding. Cox regression analysis identified baseline CTP, PVCI, and LSM as the only significant independent predictors of variceal bleeding in the study population.ConclusionsAlthough HCV treatment ameliorates liver pathology and may regress PHT, it may give “false assurance” to a subset of patients who are still at risk of variceal bleeding and require close follow-up to avoid devastating variceal rupture. Noninvasive identification and stratification of these patients can be achieved by integrating PVCI and LSM into the management strategy.