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A comprehensive assessment of the spatial and temporal patterns of the most common indicators of climate change and variability in the Arab world in the past four decades was carried out. Monthly maximum and minimum air temperature and precipitation amount data for the period 1980–2018 were obtained from the CHELSA project with a resolution of 1 km 2 , which is suitable for detecting local geographic variations in climatic patterns. This data was analyzed using a seasonal-Kendall metric, followed by Sen’s slope analysis. The findings indicate that almost all areas of the Arab world are getting hotter. Maximum air temperatures increased by magnitudes varying from 0.027 to 0.714 °C/decade with a mean of 0.318 °C/decade while minimum air temperatures increased by magnitudes varying from 0.030 to 0.800 °C/decade with a mean of 0.356 °C/decade. Most of the Arab world did not exhibit clear increasing or decreasing precipitation trends. The remaining areas showed either decreasing or increasing precipitation trends. Decreasing trends varied from −0.001 to −1.825 kg m −2 /decade with a mean of −0.163 kg m −2 /decade, while increasing trends varied from 0.001 to 4.286 kg m −2 /decade with a mean of 0.366 kg m −2 /decade. We also analyzed country-wise data and identified areas of most vulnerability in the Arab world.

The significance of land surface temperature (LST) and near-surface air temperature (T AIR ) extends to various applications, including the exploration of urban heat islands. Understanding urban heat islands is crucial for comprehending the intricate interactions among urbanization, climate dynamics, and human well-being. However, many aspects of these topics remain understudied. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of LST and T AIR , covering day and night and spanning all four seasons of a full year. We used global datasets and applied non-spatial and spatial analysis techniques in the Amman-Zarqa urban region, a typical arid to semiarid environment. The study had three primary objectives: (1) Assess how different human settlement types influence the variations in LST and T AIR across space and time. (2) Examine the spatial and temporal attributes of the relationships between T AIR and LST. (3) Synthesize insights regarding the spatial and temporal characteristics of urban heat islands in arid to semiarid environments. The findings unveiled that urban centers consistently exhibit the lowest daytime LST and maximum and minimum T AIR , across all seasons when compared to other human settlement types. Nighttime LST displayed more variable patterns. Urban centers act as surface urban cool islands during the day and canopy layer urban cool islands both day and night throughout the seasons. The presence of surface urban heat or cool islands at night is barely noticeable. Daytime and nighttime LST play a significant role in explaining the variability in maximum and minimum T AIR across all seasons, with the relationships exhibiting variations ranging from positive to non-significant to negative, influenced by location and seasonal changes. During the daytime, LST consistently exceeds T AIR across all seasons, whereas this relationship displays greater variability at night. The findings of this study hold significant implications for sustainable urban planning and efforts to combat the effects of urban heat islands.

There is limited understanding of how human development influences non–greenhouse gas (non-GHG) air pollutant emissions, particularly within the Arab world—a region of significant geopolitical importance. Addressing this gap is crucial to determining who pollutes more, a key issue in distributing environmental harm and responsibility, and central to environmental sustainability and justice. This study contributes to filling that gap by analyzing data on five non-GHG air pollutants—carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO x ), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), ammonia (NH 3 ), and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 )—together with four human development indicators: the Human Development Index (HDI), a composite measure of overall development; the Gross National Income Index (GNII), reflecting economic progress; the Education Index (EI), representing educational attainment; and the Life Expectancy Index (LEI), measuring health outcomes. Using panel data from 16 Arab countries spanning 1990 to 2022, the study applies compound annual growth rate analysis and fixed effects econometric modeling. The main objectives are twofold: (1) to examine the temporal evolution of total emissions per capita alongside human development indicators, and (2) to assess the influence of human development indicators on total emissions per capita. The results show wide disparities in total emissions per capita and human development indicators across Arab countries, with fixed effects models explaining part of the variation but also highlighting the complex, multidimensional nature of the emissions–development relationship. Higher overall human development is generally associated with lower emissions; however, its components exert distinct effects. Economic growth tends to increase emissions, whereas improvements in education and health contribute to reducing them. Countries experiencing strong economic growth but weaker social development emit more, while those with balanced progress across income, education, and health emit less. These findings highlight the importance of integrated and equitable development strategies to advance environmental sustainability and justice in the Arab region.

Due to its importance, the field of urban heat islands (UHIs) has witnessed an increasing trend of interest over time to many scientists on the international level. Consequently, large number of papers has been published aiming at reviewing the literature about UHIs internationally. However, this topic started to attract attention of researchers in the Arab world only relatively recently. Hence, the major goal of the present endeavor is to narratively review the literature about UHIs in the Arab world. The focus is on two significant aspects of UHIs: (1) determination of UHIs and (2) assessment of the impacts of UHIs. The results of this review exposed to the surface the historical development, current status, and future prospects of literature about determination and assessment of the impacts of UHIs in the Arab world. The research about this specific topic in the Arab world can be described as still in its infancy stage with huge gaps still exist and more further studies are needed.

Cilostazol, a selective phosphodiesterase type III inhibitor, enhances intracellular cAMP and exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of cilostazol (50 mg/kg/day, orally) against amiodarone (AMIO)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Lung index as well as total and differential cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were estimated. Histopathological changes were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome staining. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) contents were assessed colorimetrically, while TNF-α, IL-1β, and cAMP levels in the lungs were determined using ELISA. TGF-β1 and vimentin expressions were examined immunohistochemically, SIRT1 protein expression by Western blotting, and EPAC1 gene expression by RT-PCR. AMIO administration caused significant increases in lung index, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and fibrotic mediators, accompanied by a decline in GSH and cAMP levels and severe histopathological damage. Cilostazol co-treatment markedly attenuated these alterations, decreasing TNF-α, IL-1β, MDA, TGF-β1, and vimentin while restoring GSH, cAMP, SIRT1, and EPAC1 expressions and improving lung architecture. Cilostazol mitigates AMIO-induced PF through attenuation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and EMT, potentially via activation of the SIRT1/EPAC1/cAMP pathway. These findings highlight cilostazol as a promising therapeutic adjunct against drug-induced PF.

Xanthagaricus flavosquamosus and X. necopinatus , two new species of Agaricaceae, are described and illustrated from Asia. Macroscopically, both species are closely related to each other, but there are obvious micromorphological and molecular differences between them. Morphological and phylogenetic data showed that the two new species are distinct from other known species of the genus Xanthagaricus . Xanthagaricus flavosquamosus from China is characterized by its small, yellow basidiomata, short clavate cheilocystidia, epithelial pileipellis, and verrucose basidiospores measuring 5–5.5 × 3–3.5 μm. Xanthagaricus necopinatus from Bangladesh is characterized by having small, yellow basidiomata, a fugacious annulus, clavate to narrowly clavate cheilocystidia, epithelial pileipellis, and rugulose-rough basidiospores measuring 4–5 × 2.7–3.2 μm. In addition to the new species, a Heinemannomyces collection from China is reported. Morphological data and molecular phylogenetic analyses fully support the Chinese collection being Heinemannomyces splendidissimus , a species of Agaricaceae, originally described from Southeast Asia. Detailed descriptions, color photos and illustrations of the three species are presented. A key to the genus Xanthagaricus occurring in Bangladesh and China is provided.

Polyherbal formulation (PHF) enhances therapeutic efficacy and minimizes side effects by reducing individual herb dosages. Allopolyherbal formulation (APHF) combines polyherbal extracts with allopathic medication, effectively reducing the latter’s required dose and mitigating associated adverse effects. The current study intends to assess the anti-diabetic effects of PHF and APHF in-vivo. Dried raw powders of Cassia auriculata leaf, Centella asiatica leaf, and Zingiber officinale rhizome were extracted by cold maceration process using 70% ethanol. These extracts were combined in three different ratios to make PHF. PHF was subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical investigations. APHF has been prepared by combining a potent ratio of PHF with metformin in three different ratios. The compatibility of APHF has been confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In vivo activity was also evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic albino rats. PHF (3 different ratios at a dose of 200–400 mg/kg b.w), APHF (combination of PHF and metformin in 3 different ratios, 200 + 22.5, 200 + 45, and 200 + 67.5 mg/kg b.w), and metformin (90 mg/kg b.w) were administered to albino rats for 21 consecutive days. Blood glucose levels were estimated on the 1st, 7th, 14th, and 21st days of treatment. On the 21st day, blood was collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis. The liver and pancreas were isolated and subjected to histopathological analysis. PHF and APHF showed significant anti-diabetic and antihyperlipidemic efficacy. In comparison to PHF, APHF had the most promising action. The current study demonstrated that PHF and APHF are safe and efficacious drugs in the treatment of diabetes mellitus as they help to replace or lower the dose of metformin, thereby decreasing the risks of metformin.

Neuroinflammation pathways have been associated with the development of major depressive disorders (MDD). The anti-inflammatory characteristics of statins have been demonstrated to have significance in the pathophysiology of depression. To investigate the mechanistic pathways of high dose atorvastatin in MDD. This trial included 60 patients with MDD who met the eligibility requirements. Two groups of patients (n = 30) were recruited by selecting patients from the Psychiatry Department. Group 1 received 20 mg of fluoxetine plus a placebo once daily. Group 2 received fluoxetine and atorvastatin (80 mg) once daily. All patients were assessed by a psychiatrist using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). A HDRS score of ≤7 indicates remission or partial remission [HDRS<17 and>7]. Response was defined as ≥ 50% drop in the HDRS score. The serum concentrations of nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP-3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), and signal transducer and activator of transcription factor-3 (STAT-3) were measured. The atorvastatin group showed a significant reduction in the levels of all measured markers along with a statistical increase in the levels of AMPK when compared to the fluoxetine group. The atorvastatin group displayed a significant decrease in HDRS when compared to its baseline and the fluoxetine group. The response rate and partial remission were higher in the atorvastatin group than fluoxetine ( = 0.03, and = 0.005), respectively. These results imply that atorvastatin at high doses may be a promising adjuvant therapy for MDD patients by altering the signaling pathways for AMPK/NLRP3 and IL-6/STAT-3. clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT05792540.

This study aims to (1) determine the seasonalities and spatial and temporal rates of change of MODIS-based daytime and nighttime land surface temperature (LST) for the last 19 years from 2000 to 2018 and (2) investigate whether these rates are induced by natural (represented by elevation) or anthropogenic (represented by population counts) forcing. The study area is Jordan - a typical Middle Eastern semi-arid to arid country. Time-series additive seasonal decomposition and simple linear regression produced the following results. (1) For both daytime and nighttime the highest LST values were observed in June while the lowest LST values were observed in December. (2) No significant linear rates of change of LST were noticed in daytime, while significant linear rates of increase of LST, which varied from 0.041°C/year to 0.119°C/year, were observed in nighttime in about one-third of the area of the country mainly in the western parts. (3) The significant linear rates of increase of nighttime LST increased significantly by 0.005°C/year for every 1,000 m increase in elevation and by 0.003°C/year for every 1,000 people increase in population counts. (4) Both natural and anthropogenic factors affected LST in nighttime; however, anthropogenic factors seemed to be more important than natural factors.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is caused by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Neuroinflammation is considered a key factor contributing to the pathophysiology of PD. Current gold-standard therapies for PD provide only symptomatic relief without slowing disease progression, highlighting the need to develop new disease-modifying treatments. Metformin has been demonstrated to exert a neuroprotective role in several neurodegenerative disorders including PD. This study aimed to clarify the role of metformin as adjuvant therapy in patients with PD. Sixty patients with PD were divided into 2 groups (n = 30). Patients in group 1 received levodopa/carbidopa (250/25 mg) three times daily for 3 months plus placebo (Control group), while those in group 2 received levodopa/carbidopa (250/25 mg) three times daily and 500 mg metformin two times daily (Metformin group). Patients were assessed via Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The serum concentrations of toll like receptor 4 (TLR-4), α-synuclein, brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1) were measured before and after treatment. The improvement in UPDRS from baseline to 3 months. Change in the level of biological markers. The control group did not show significant difference in UPDRS when compared to their baseline value by Wilcoxon test ( > 0.05), meanwhile the metformin group showed significant difference when compared to before treatment by Wilcoxon test ( < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in UPDRS after treatment ( > 0.05) by Man Whitney test. However, the metformin group showed a significant decrease in TLR-4, HMGB-1, and α-synuclein along with a statistically significant increase in BDNF ( < 0.05) when compared to its baseline and control group. The control group did not show any significant changes in all markers when compared to their baseline. While no significant differences in UPDRS scores were observed between the metformin and control groups, trends in biomarker changes suggest a potential impact of adjunctive metformin use on the underlying pathophysiology of PD. Further studies are needed to assess its effects on motor symptoms over a longer duration. identifier NCT05781711.