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Chronic exposure to Poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Disruption of hormonal and redox balance by toxic PAH metabolites may interfere with successful pregnancy leading to miscarriage. The association of exposure to PAH contaminated mussel via the dietary route with perturbations in reproductive hormones, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and PAH metabolites were assessed in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Furthermore, an analysis of the concentration of PAHs in environmentally relevant bivalve animals was performed to preliminary get insights into the levels of these pollutants in the environment. Seventy-six women (20–35 years) were categorized into 18 fertile women without RPL (control), and Groups I, II, and III comprising 24, 18, and 16 women with RPL (2, 3, and > 3 abortions respectively) were studied. Whole blood samples were collected for the estimation of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), progesterone (P4), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), benzo[a]pyren-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide-albumin adduct (BPDE-albumin) and urine for α-naphthol and β-naphthol. Two species of mussel Donax trunculus and Andar aduloii samples were collected for the estimation of 16 priority PAHs. The concentration of PAHs exceeding the maximum limits was observed in the two species of mussels studied. Higher levels of BPDE-albumin, MDA, GST, α and β-naphthol and lower GSH, catalase, FSH, and P4 were observed in women with RPL (Groups I-III) compared to controls ( p  =  < 0.001). Negative associations were observed between BPDE-albumin and catalase (r = − 0.276, p  = 0.036), and GSH (r = − 0.331, p  = − 0.011) only in women with RPL. Collectively, our findings indicate a possible association of chronic PAH accumulation with recurrent pregnancy loss in women. Graphical abstract High PAH exposure in pregnant women is associated with 10-epoxide-albumin adduct formation and high MDA levels in their sera. On the other hand, PAH exposure in those women led to a decrease in their GSH, catalase, P4, and FSH sera levels. These findings indicate that PAH exposure can exert different physiological effects in pregnant women leading to a high level of abortion in those women.

Background: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) remains a significant public health issue, affecting millions worldwide with high prevalence rates and substantial mortality. Despite advancements in treatment, gaps in diagnosis, awareness, and prevention hinder progress toward global elimination goals. Assessing public knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HCV infection and screening is essential to guide targeted interventions.Methods:This study was conducted using a web-based questionnaire distributed via social media platforms. The study targeted individuals aged 18 years and older, collecting data on demographics, risk factors, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to HCV. Knowledge was assessed through validated scores, while multivariable regression models identified predictors of outcomes.Results:A total of 813 participants, predominantly female (75.1%) with a median age of 33 years, were included. The median Disease Knowledge Score was 75%, while the Prevention and Transmission Knowledge Score was 46.2%. Lack of awareness about HCV screening tests was reported by 23.2% of participants. Factors positively associated with higher knowledge scores included higher education, healthcare employment, and seeking HCV-related information. Attitudes toward HCV exposure were generally favorable, with a median Attitude Score of 0. Testing behavior was influenced by urban living, healthcare occupation, and perceived infection risk. Risk-prone practices, such as sharing potentially contaminated items, were observed in 31.8% of participants.Conclusion: Knowledge gaps and misconceptions about HCV screening persist, highlighting the need for public health strategies that prioritize education and awareness. Tailored interventions targeting at-risk groups and expanding access to HCV-related information could improve prevention, testing, and treatment outcomes, contributing to the WHO's elimination targets.

In this study, a series of newly synthesized acridine derivatives, compounds 4 , 6a , and 6b , are described and their biological activity on HL-60 cell lines is assessed using a number of different techniques. Binding studies were also performed between the derivatives and DNA in order to characterize the mechanism of the agents’ effect in more detail. The results of ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy prove that the binding of derivatives 4 , 6a , and 6b had occurred with a binding constant value of K  = 3.5 × 10 4 –4.0 × 10 4  M −1 . These findings are indicative of a strong interaction between the derivatives and DNA, and this hypothesis is supported by the results of the fluorescence emission, linear dichroism, and viscometric assays.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is uncommon, and musculoskeletal involvement presenting as migratory arthritis is particularly rare in immunocompetent individuals, often leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. We report the case of a 66‐year‐old man with diabetes mellitus who presented with recurrent migratory inflammatory arthritis affecting multiple joints over 1 year, without initial pulmonary symptoms. He was initially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis based on positive rheumatoid factor and elevated inflammatory markers and was treated with disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs without clinical improvement. At presentation, he reported severe shoulder pain, morning stiffness, weight loss, and night sweats. Imaging revealed right upper lobe consolidation and a metabolically active cavitary lung lesion on PET‐CT. Bronchoalveolar lavage culture confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antituberculous therapy was initiated, resulting in marked clinical improvement and resolution of arthritis within weeks. This case highlights tuberculosis as an important, underrecognized cause of migratory arthritis and emphasizes the need to consider infectious etiologies in treatment‐resistant inflammatory joint disease, particularly in endemic regions. Key Clinical Message Tuberculosis should be considered in patients with treatment‐resistant inflammatory arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis–like presentations, particularly when constitutional symptoms are present or in endemic settings. Infectious etiologies must be excluded before initiating or escalating immunosuppressive therapy. Early recognition of atypical extrapulmonary tuberculosis can prevent misdiagnosis, inappropriate immunosuppression, and delay in definitive treatment.

Social integration through communication with family and friends can fulfill human’s desires of being cherished and respected. Such communications are very important for the elderly people, especially for those who have retired. Online social communities can help with this and provide positive effect on elderly people. But the elderly are quite reluctant to work with new technologies and hence, researchers have tried to implement specially designed social media application in easy user-interface devices for the elderly. In this paper, we conduct a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method to collect and review studies to understand the different user-interaction devices used for the elderly to promote social connection. 33 literature papers were identified within the years 2013–2019 following a review procedure, which presents research on online social communities for elders. The papers are analyzed and classified further to understand the current state-of-the-art focus. This study further offers related discussion and conclusions.

Social Routing in Online Social Networks (OSNs) is very challenging, as it must handle privacy and performance. This study proposes a Social Online Routing (SOR) protocol for OSNs that satisfies Stratified Privacy Model (SPM) core requirements and minimizes end-to-end routing delays corresponding to the social routing information elements exchanged under the SPM. SOR uses five messages (I-need Message, I-have Message, I-thank Message, I-like/dislike message, and the I-Ack Message) for carrying routing information. Forwarding models (I-need Module, I-have Module, I-thank Module, and I-ack Module) and routing algorithms (Topology aware Shortest-Path-Based routing algorithm, Social-Priority-Based routing algorithm, and Queue-aware Social-Priority-Based routing algorithm) are introduced. Four anonymization techniques are also utilized for stratified privacy. To evaluate the study's proposed protocol, an Online Social Networks Simulator is designed and implemented. Using real datasets from Google Plus, the simulator is used to evaluate end-to-end routing delays corresponding to the social routing information elements exchanged under the SPM.

هدفت الدراسة إلى معرفة أثر إعادة هندسة العمليات الإدارية في تخفيض تكاليف عبر توسيط التحسين المستمر بجامعة إقليم سبأ، واعتمدت الدراسة على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، واستخدمت الاستبانة أداة لجمع البيانات. ويتمثل مجتمع الدراسة بموظفي جامعة إقليم سبأ البالغ عددهم (305) موظف وموظفة، وزعت (170) استبانة، وكان عدد الاستبانات المستردة الصالحة للتحليل (130) بنسبة (76.47%). وقد توصلت الدراسة إلى أن إعادة هندسة العمليات الإدارية جاءت بدرجة متوسطة، والتحسين المستمر جاء بدرجة متوسطة، وتخفيض التكاليف جاءت بدرجة متوسطة، وجود علاقة وأثر إيجابي متوسط لإعادة هندسة العمليات الإدارية في تخفيض التكاليف، وجود علاقة وأثر إيجابي مرتفع لإعادة هندسة العمليات الإدارية في التحسين المستمر، وجود علاقة وأثر إيجابي متوسط التحسين المستمر في تخفيض التكاليف، ويتوسط التحسين المستمر العلاقة بين إعادة هندسة العمليات الإدارية والتحسين المستمر، وهي علاقة جزئية. وقد أوصت الدراسة الجامعة بتشكيل لجنة لتحديد العمليات التي تحتاج إلى إعادة هندسة وتصميم من جديد، ووضع خطة استراتيجية للتطوير الإداري.

To investigate the factors associated with asthma in school children, a case-control study of 203 asthmatic and 203 non-asthmatic children (103 males and 100 females in each group) aged 6 to 18 years, was organized during the period September 1992 to May 1993 in Al Ain city, United Arab Emirates. Cases comprised known asthmatic children who were regularly receiving medication for asthma and were confirmed as asthmatics by a physician. Cases and controls were matched by age and sex. A questionnaire was used to obtain information about respiratory illnesses (pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, sinusitis and croup); atopy (allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis) and familial allergic diseases (parental asthma and atopy). Information about socioeconomic status and limitations to children as a result of asthma were also obtained. Logistic regression analysis showed that bronchitis, atopy (allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis), croup, parental asthma and parental atopic dermatitis were significant risk factors for childhood asthma after adjusting for other confounding covariates. The model also showed that parental asthma (p < 0.0001) is much more influential than parental atopic dermatitis (p = 0.01) as a risk factor for asthma. Although pneumonia and sinusitis were significant risk factors when analyzed univariately, they were not significant after adjusting for other covariates. Bronchiolitis, smoking and socioeconomic status were beyond the reach of statistical significance as risk factors to asthma in our sample.

The present study is the first pioneer study on the ecological status of the Wadi Mariout ponds in the southern part of the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt. The physicochemical variables referred to brackish water (salinity: 12.28–16‰). The WQI indicated a lower water quality status in the western basin than the eastern one. The average TSI values (64.61 and 63.52) refer to high ecological productivity and poor water quality. However, the Arithmetic Water Quality Index (Ar-WQI) indicates the excellent water quality of the eastern pond for aquatic life, while the water quality of the western pond varies from good to very poor. The predominant groups’ species and low biodiversity indices of phytoplankton (1.29–2.2), zooplankton (1.23–1.93), and macroinvertebrates (0.45–1.85), as well as the biochemical composition of phytoplankton, reveal a high protein-carbohydrate ratio (> 11), indicating eutrophication conditions. Also, the biotic measurements show that the phytoplankton (70.7 × 10 6 Ind.l −1 ) and zooplankton (23.23 × 10 5 Ind.m −3 ) communities were more diverse and flourished in the western basin. Nevertheless, the macrobenthic invertebrates varied more in the eastern basin, 31,284 org.m −2 , in compared to 5750 org.m −2 in the western one. The phytoplankton community was dominated by Chlorophyta and Cyanobacteria (79.5–93%), zooplankton by Rotifera (62.5–86.3%), and macrobenthos by Mollusca (62%) at the western basin and Annelida (38%) at the eastern one. The total bacteria count and fecal coliform value were rare in Wadi Mariout water. On the other hand, the sediment samples have more total coliform (15–3348 cfug −1 ) than the water (0–12 MPN/100). Wadi Mariout ponds, similar to Egyptian Delta lakes, suffer from the eutrophication phenomenon, which must be treated by controlling the feeding wastewater supplies of the ponds. The study sheds light on the current environmental status of Wadi Mariout lakes, serving as the first comprehensive study to assess water quality, record and classify biodiversity, and provide a precise assessment of the water body’s situation. This will facilitate the effective management of these important Egyptian lakes in the future.