Objectives: The Islamic Culture course at Qatar University has undergone comprehensive and radical development since the fall of 2015. To document this developmental experience, study it, and ...disseminate it for further progress and the benefit of others, this study expounds the theoretical aspects of this wide-ranging development and its methodology, revealing the scope in which it differs from prevailing methods, the extent of its impact on creating the course, and the degree of rigour in its construction thanks to using a pilot. Methodology: This study adopted a descriptive-historical method and a documentary-analytical approach. It described the theoretical aspect of the course development pilot, placed it in its historical context, documented it, analysed the governing methodology, illustrated the interrelation of its components, highlighted its uniqueness, and assessed its impact on the course's development. Results: It is essential to consider the historical context in developing the course, as it reveals the motives for its introduction, its actual need, and its uniqueness, providing valuable insights for the development process. Qatar University's comprehensive course development methodology stands out by the interconnectedness between its unique constitutive elements and its effectiveness in addressing serious challenges once identified. Organising a pilot before the course's widespread implementation was a critical factor in the success of the developmental project. Authenticity: The authenticity of this study lies in its comprehensive and unprecedented analytical documentation of an innovative methodology for course development, including a pre-implementation pilot.
Abstract Background: Hypercoagulation is a hallmark in coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The activity of the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) determines homocysteine levels, and ...polymorphisms in the enzyme’s gene can influence the enzyme activity with a consequence of hypercoagulability in patients with COVID-19. Objectives: To investigate the association of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MTHFR gene with hypercoagulability status in COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study, which included 90 patients diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with variable severity. Patients were classified according to D-dimer level at admission into two groups: with and without hypercoagulability. Nucleic DNA was extracted from leukocytes and gene fragments corresponding to C677T and A1298C MTHFR gene were amplified and genotyped using allele specific polymerase chain reaction. Results: Hypercoagulation was reported in 42.22% of the patients. The mutant homozygous genotype (TT) was more frequent among hyper - than normocoagulable patients (13.6% vs. 1.92%) with a significant difference (odds ratio OR = 9.28, 95% confidence interval CI = 1.02–84.78, P = 0.048). Furthermore, T allele was more common among hyper- than normocoagulable patients (28.95% vs. 13.46%) with a significant difference (OR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.24–5.5, P = 0.012). In contrast, the SNP A1298C had no significant impact. Conclusions: The TT genotype and T allele of C677T polymorphism but not A1298C in cMTHFE gene could be considered a risk factor for the hypercoagulable status in COVID-19.
The current 'best practice' recommendations are that victims that exhibit rapid progression of localised oedema, systemic signs of envenoming or have facial bites be given specific antivenom ( Bates ...and Warrell 2013 ).
Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a major global health problem. In sickle cell disease (SCD), VDD is highly prevalent, reaching up to 96% of populations. VDD may contribute to many of the complications ...of SCD.
Estimate the 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D level and the frequency of VDD and insufficiency among among SCD patients by age group and disease status.
Analytical cross-sectional.
Ministry of Health (MOH) secondary care hospital.
Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select SCD patients, aged 12 years and older, of both sexes, who had visited the hospital during a period of 5 years (2010-2014). Blood samples were processed by electrochemiluminescence technology.
25(OH)D levels by demographic data, and disease activity.
640 patients.
Of those, 82% (n=523) had suboptimal 25(OH)D (0-<30 ng/ mL), and 67% were deficient (0-<20 ng/mL). Patients with any SCD crisis (20.7%, 144/694) had lower 25(OH)D (median, IQR: 10.1 ng/mL 8.6 ng/mL) compared to patients without crisis (71.0%, 493/694) (15.7 ng/ mL 18.2 ng/mL) (P<.001). Deficiency was more common in the young.er age groups and in sickle cell anemia patients with crisis.
VDD is highly prevalent in this population. Established vitamin D screening is a necessity, so that affected patients can be treated.
Presence of residual confounders such as nutritional status, physical activity, lack of sun exposure, medications that alleviate SCD crises (such as hydroxyurea), and comorbid illnesses. The relationship between sickle cell disease genotype and vitamin D level was not analyzed.
None.
The highly glycosylated glycoprotein spike of Ebola virus (EBOV-GP1,2) is the primary target of the humoral host response. Recombinant EBOV-GP ectodomain (EBOV-GP1,2ecto) expressed in mammalian cells ...was used to immunize sheep and elicited a robust immune response and produced high titers of high avidity polyclonal antibodies. Investigation of the neutralizing activity of the ovine antisera in vitro revealed that it neutralized EBOV. A pool of intact ovine immunoglobulin G, herein termed EBOTAb, was prepared from the antisera and used for an in vivo guinea pig study. When EBOTAb was delivered 6 hours after challenge, all animals survived without experiencing fever or other clinical manifestations. In a second series of guinea pig studies, the administration of EBOTAb dosing was delayed for 48 or 72 hours after challenge, resulting in 100% and 75% survival, respectively. These studies illustrate the usefulness of EBOTAb in protecting against EBOV-induced disease.
Medically important cases of snakebite in Europe are predominately caused by European vipers of the genus Vipera. The mainstay of snakebite therapy is polyclonal antibody therapy, referred to as ...antivenom. Here we investigate the capability of the monospecific V. berus antivenom, ViperaTAb®, to cross-react with, and neutralise lethality induced by, a variety of European vipers. Using ELISA and immunoblotting, we find that ViperaTAb® antibodies recognise and bind to the majority of toxic components found in the venoms of the Vipera species tested at comparably high levels to those observed with V. berus. Using in vivo pre-clinical efficacy studies, we demonstrate that ViperaTAb® effectively neutralises lethality induced by V. berus, V. aspis, V. ammodytes and V. latastei venoms and at much higher levels than those outlined by regulatory pharmacopoeial guidelines. Notably, venom neutralisation was found to be superior to (V. berus, V. aspis and V. latastei), or as equally effective as (V. ammodytes), the monospecific V. ammodytes "Zagreb antivenom", which has long been successfully used for treating European snake envenomings. This study suggests that ViperaTAb® may be a valuable therapeutic product for treating snakebite by a variety of European vipers found throughout the continent.
Despite sporadic outbreaks of Ebola virus (EBOV) over the last 4 decades and the recent public health emergency in West Africa, there are still no approved vaccines or therapeutics for the treatment ...of acute EBOV disease (EVD). In response to the 2014 outbreak, an ovine immunoglobulin therapy was developed, termed EBOTAb. After promising results in the guinea pig model of EBOV infection, EBOTAb was tested in the cynomolgus macaque non-human primate model of lethal EBOV infection. To ensure stringent therapeutic testing conditions to replicate likely clinical usage, EBOTAb was first delivered 1, 2 or 3 days post-challenge with a lethal dose of EBOV. Results showed a protective effect of EBOTAb given post-exposurally, with survival rates decreasing with increasing time after challenge. Viremia results demonstrated that EBOTAb resulted in a decreased circulation of EBOV in the bloodstream. Additionally, assay of liver enzymes and histology analysis of local tissues identified differences between EBOTAb-treated and untreated groups. The results presented demonstrate that EBOTAb conferred protection against EBOV when given post-exposure and should be explored and developed further as a potential intervention strategy for future outbreaks, which are likely to occur.
Covalent-functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (CF-GNPs) inside a circular heated-pipe and the subsequent pressure decrease loss within a fully developed turbulent flow were discussed in this ...research. Four samples of nanofluids were prepared and investigated in the ranges of 0.025 wt.%, 0.05 wt.%, 0.075 wt.%, and 0.1 wt.%. Different tools such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), ultraviolet-visible-spectrophotometer (UV-visible), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), zeta potential, and nanoparticle sizing were used for the data preparation. The thermophysical properties of the working fluids were experimentally determined using the testing conditions established via computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations that had been designed to solve governing equations involving distilled water (DW) and nanofluidic flows. The average error between the numerical solution and the Blasius formula was ~4.85%. Relative to the DW, the pressure dropped by 27.80% for 0.025 wt.%, 35.69% for 0.05 wt.%, 41.61% for 0.075 wt.%, and 47.04% for 0.1 wt.%. Meanwhile, the pumping power increased by 3.8% for 0.025 wt.%, 5.3% for 0.05 wt.%, 6.6% for 0.075%, and 7.8% for 0.1 wt.%. The research findings on the cost analysis demonstrated that the daily electric costs were USD 214, 350, 416, 482, and 558 for DW of 0.025 wt.%, 0.05 wt.%, 0.075 wt.%, and 0.1 wt.%, respectively.
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