The present work aims to design and synthesize novel series of spiro pyrazole-3,3'-oxindoles analogues and investigate their bioactivity as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents, as well as ...antiproliferative potency against selected human cancerous cell lines (i.e., breast, MCF-7; colon, HCT-116 and liver, HepG-2) relative to healthy noncancerous control skin fibroblast cells (BJ-1). The mechanism of their cytotoxic activity has been also examined by immunoassaying the levels of key anti- and proapoptotic protein markers. The analytical and spectral data of the all synthesized target congeners were compatible with their structures. Synthesized compounds showed diverse moderate to powerful antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Results of MTT assay revealed that seven synthesized compounds (i.e., 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13b, 13c and 13h) particularly exhibited significant cytotoxicity against the three cancerous cell lines under investigation. Ranges of IC
values obtained were 5.7-21.3 and 5.8-37.4 µg/mL against HCT-116 and MCF-7, respectively; which is 3.8 and 6.5-fold (based on the least IC
values) more significant relative to the reference chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin. In HepG-2 cells, the analogue 13h the highest cytotoxicity with IC
value of 19.2µg/mL relative to doxorubicin (IC
= 21.6µg/mL). The observed cytotoxicity was specific to cancerous cells, as evidenced by the minimal toxicity in the noncancerous control skin-fibroblast cells. ELISA results indicated that the observed antiproliferative effect against examined cancer cell lines is mediated
engaging the activation of apoptosis as illustrated by the significant increase in proapoptotic protein markers (p53, bax and caspase-3) and reduction in the antiapoptotic marker bcl-2. Taken together, results of the present study emphasize the potential of spiro pyrazole-oxindole analogues as valuable candidate anticancer agents against human cancer cells.
In the current work, the structural and optical properties of thermally evaporated 3-(2-Benzothiazolyl)-7-(diethylamino) coumarin Coumarin 6 (C6) thin films on a pre-cleaned quartz substrate were ...studied as a function of the annealing temperature. The influence of annealing on the structural, morphological, and molecular structures was investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The XRD and AFM results confirmed that the as-deposited and annealed films have nanostructural features (30.96–45.34 nm). Also, the increase in roughness of the C6 thin film surface resulted from particle agglomeration and coalescence. Optical constants of C6 thin films were derived from the transmittance
T
(
λ
) and reflectance,
R
(
λ
) measurements in the spectral range of 200–2500 nm. Analysis of the optical absorption coefficient data indicates that the type of electronic transition in these films is an indirect allowed transition. The estimated optical band gap was decreased from 2.12 eV to 2.01 eV as the annealing temperature was increased. Dispersion and dielectric parameters were determined as functions of the annealing temperature. Lastly, nonlinear optical parameters such as the third-order nonlinear susceptibility, χ
(3)
and nonlinear refractive index,
n
(2)
were estimated and influenced by annealing temperature. The optical properties of C6 thin films were showed that C6 thin films would be used in a wide range of photonic applications
Graphical Abstract
This research paper investigated the change of optical and structural properties resulting from depositing and thermally induced diffusing of Ag layer into Ge20Se50S30 film. The thermally evaporated ...bilayer Ag/Ge20Se50S30 film was subjected to 200 °C thermal annealing, which resulted in diffusing the top Ag layer in the bottom Ge20Se50S30 layer. XRD illustrated that all films were amorphous. Additionally, the presence of component elements in the prepared films was verified by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The linear and nonlinear optical parameters of the Ge20Se50S30, as-prepared and annealed Ag/Ge20Se50S30 films were evaluated by fitting the transmittance T(λ) measured at a wavelength range of 200–2500 nm based on Swanepoel's method. The indirect optical bandgap was decreased by 0.41 eV due to Ag deposition onto Ge20Se50S30 film. The thermal diffusion of Ag increased the optical bandgap by 0.15 eV with decreasing the disorder proved by Urbach energy values. Using Wemple–DiDomenico and Sellmeier models, the analysis of the refractive index's dispersion were conducted. Furthermore, nonlinear properties (NLO), including third-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ(3)), nonlinear refractive index (n2), as well as nonlinear absorption coefficient (βc) were calculated using semi-empirical relations.
•The effect of annealing on the structural and optical properties of Ag/Ge20Se50S30 bilayer thin films was studied.•The normal dispersion behavior of the refractive index was analyzed by the Wemple-DiDomenico and Sellmeier models.•The non-linear optical properties were estimated using semi-empirical relations.
Since the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, a wide between-country variation was observed regarding in-hospital mortality and its predictors. Given the scarcity of local research and the need to ...prioritize the provision of care, this study was conducted aiming to measure the incidence of in-hospital COVID-19 mortality and to develop a simple and clinically applicable model for its prediction.
COVID-19-confirmed patients admitted to the designated isolation areas of Ain-Shams University Hospitals (April 2020-February 2021) were included in this retrospective cohort study (n = 3663). Data were retrieved from patients' records. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazard regression were used. Binary logistic regression was used for creating mortality prediction models.
Patients were 53.6% males, 4.6% current smokers, and their median age was 58 (IQR 41-68) years. Admission to intensive care units was 41.1% and mortality was 26.5% (972/3663, 95% CI 25.1-28.0%). Independent mortality predictors-with rapid mortality onset-were age ≥ 75 years, patients' admission in critical condition, and being symptomatic. Current smoking and presence of comorbidities particularly, obesity, malignancy, and chronic haematological disorders predicted mortality too. Some biomarkers were also recognized. Two prediction models exhibited the best performance: a basic model including age, presence/absence of comorbidities, and the severity level of the condition on admission (Area Under Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) = 0.832, 95% CI 0.816-0.847) and another model with added International Normalized Ratio (INR) value (AUC = 0.842, 95% CI 0.812-0.873).
Patients with the identified mortality risk factors are to be prioritized for preventive and rapid treatment measures. With the provided prediction models, clinicians can calculate mortality probability for their patients. Presenting multiple and very generic models can enable clinicians to choose the one containing the parameters available in their specific clinical setting, and also to test the applicability of such models in a non-COVID-19 respiratory infection.
We aimed to evaluate the impact of preoperative anxiety and depression levels on baseline and postoperative pain in patients who underwent arthroscopic frozen shoulder release.
The study included 59 ...patients with more than three months of idiopathic frozen shoulder. All patients had arthroscopic frozen shoulder release. Two patients were excluded from statistical analysis. Therefore, the statistical analysis was performed on the remaining 57 patients. The patients were divided into two groups according to HADS scores: group 1 which included 28 patients with a healthy psychological status (anxiety ≤ 7 and depression ≤ 7), and Group 2, which included 29 patients with psychological distress ( anxiety ≥ 8 or depression ≥ 8).
The hallmark finding of this study is that patients complaining of frozen shoulder symptoms and having psychological distress (HADS ≥ 8) experienced higher pain scores preoperatively and at one-year follow-up after arthroscopic release. All patients showed significant improvement between the preoperative period and the one year follow-up regarding the abduction, forward flexion, external rotation at the side and the VAS pain score with a P value of 0.001.
Arthroscopic frozen shoulder release significantly lowers the VAS pain score over the 12-month.
IntroductionMultiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplastic proliferation of bone marrow plasma cells that manufacture the monoclonal immunoglobulin. Kidney disease has been a principal cause of morbidity in ...patients with MM, and approximately, 40%–50% present with kidney function impairment at diagnosis. Many factors may manipulate the kidney function, for instance, cast nephropathy, hypercalcaemia, hyperuricaemia, infection, hyperviscosity and chemotherapeutic agents can precipitate renal damage. Herein, we aim to investigate and analyse the paramount risk factors associated with mortality due to renal diseases in MM.Material and methodsWe used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program for 1973–2010 and evaluated 55 991 patients with MM. Univariate and multivariate hazard regression model were used to identify potential risk factors for mortality from kidney diseases. In addition, survival curves were drawn out using the Kaplan–Meier method. The log–rank test was used to compare the survival distributions.Results and discussionsThe mortality due to kidney diseases was the third most common cause of death (5.47%) after thromboembolic events and multiple myeloma. However, the kidney diseases specific survival improved over time. Multiple myeloma specific survival rate was 42.7% while the overall survival rate at the study end points was 25.6%. Multivariate Cox Regression analysis demonstrated that increased risk of mortality due to renal diseases was associated with age ≥60 years, not-married, white race, and radiation therapy (all, p<0.001). No significant differences in survival between male and female.ConclusionThe mortality from renal affection in MM patients was associated with being elder, not-married, white race, and radiation therapy. Our considerations and further investigations of these risk factors is needful. It may promote our comprehension to MM and lessen the kidney deterioration with our prospects for improving in the overall survival.
Cisatracurium is approximately 3 times more potent than atracurium, devoid of histamine release and cardiovascular side effects and mainly eliminated by Hofmann degradation. Patients with liver ...disease exhibit abnormal response to most of muscle relaxants. This study was designed to evaluate the dose–response of cisatracurium in patients with mild–moderate liver impairment in comparison with healthy subjects.
Eighty ASA physical status I–II patients of both sexes, scheduled for elective surgical procedures under general anesthesia, were divided according to their preoperative hepatic status and laboratory investigations into two groups; Group I (control group with normal liver functions, n=40) and Group II (Liver dysfunction group, Child-Pugh Score A or B, n=40). The dose–response curve was constructed, ED50 and ED95 were estimated.
The preoperative laboratory parameters showed statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding serum albumin, total bilirubin, ALT, AST, PT, PC and INR. The operative data showed statistically insignificant difference between the two groups regarding the 1st dose response (p=0.152), the estimated ED80 (p=0.886) and the calculated 2nd dose (p=0.886) and statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding the 2nd dose response (p=0.006), the measured ED50 (p=0.010) and the measured ED95 (p=0.001). In conclusion, the measured ED50 and ED95 through two-dose dose–response curve technique were clinically insignificant from using the single-dose technique. The dose–response curve of cisatracurium in patients with chronic liver disease was clinically insignificant in comparison with healthy subjects.
The efficacy, safety and ease of insertion of LMA Supreme and the i-gel in adult cases undergoing elective surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia with controlled mechanical ventilation. ...This study included 60 ASA physical status I-II adult patients of both sexes scheduled for elective surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly allocated into one of two groups; LMA-S GI (n=30) and i-gel GII (n=30). A size 4 LMA Supreme and a size 4 i-gel were used with standard monitoring. Number of insertion attempts, ease of insertion, presence of gastric insufflation, laryngeal leak, leak pressure, ease of gastric tube insertion, ventilatory parameters, complications as well as hemodynamic variables was recorded. The results showed no clinically significant changes of heart rate, MAP, SpO2 or P(ET)CO2 in GI & GII. The i-gel showed higher frequency of ease of insertion (p=0.048) and gastric tube (p< 0.001). First attempt of insertion was successful in 60% of LMA-S GI and 73.3% of the i-gel GII (p=0.460) without failures in both groups. Leak pressure was significantly higher in the i-gel (25.5 +/- 4.8 cm H2O) compared to the LMA-S (21.1 +/- 7.6 cm H2O) (p=0.010) while both peak and plateau pressures were significantly lower in i-gel GI (19.35 +/- 2.25 cm H2O & 17.75 +/- 2.07 cm H2O) compared to LMA-S GII (30.05 +/- 3.82 cm H2O & 28.80 +/- 3.99cm H2O) (p<0.001) respectively. There was no significant difference between both groups in the frequency of complications encountered during insertion or recovery.
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