Evidence suggests that air pollution, specifically the particulate matters PM2.5 and PM10, plays a key role in exacerbating the risk of prolonged symptoms following COVID-19 infection. Aim: This ...study endeavors to elucidate the potential interaction between chronic air pollution exposure and the manifestation of long COVID symptoms within a cohort based in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Participants included residents from the Makkah region who had recovered from COVID-19 between 2022 and 2023. A comprehensive questionnaire was utilized to gather detailed demographic data and assess the persistent symptoms seen during the post-COVID period. To gauge the environmental exposure to potential risk factors, air sampling for PM10 and PM2.5 was systematically conducted in various locations in Makkah over a year. Results: Significant positive associations were found between PM2.5 and PM10 exposure and long COVID. Furthermore, specific symptom analysis revealed a significant association between air pollution and shortness of breath (for PM2.5). Only PM2.5 exposure remained statistically significant (RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.67). In contrast, the association with PM10 remained on the cusp of significance, with an RR of 1.27 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.61). Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of reducing air pollution levels to mitigate the long-term health consequences of COVID-19.
Backgrounds: Variations of trace element contents may be associated with several diseases including metabolic disorders, cellular growth disturbance, mutation and tumorigenesis. Prostate cancer is ...the second most common male cancer worldwide and stand fifth most common male cancer in Saudi Arabia. Objective: In the present study, Serum levels of selenium, zinc, copper, manganese, and iron were measured in patients with BPH and prostate cancer aiming to explore the association between these elements and prostate cancer. Patients and Methods: The study included 40 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients, 22 patients with BPH and 30 healthy male subjects. All participant groups had similar socio-economic levels. Fasting blood samples were collected from all subjects and before any intervention for the patients. Serum PSA concentrations were analyzed by ELIZA and trace elements Se, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe were measured by ICP-MS. Results: Serum Se, Zn, and Mn levels of prostate cancer patients were significantly decreased compared to control groups. The levels of serum Cu and Fe were significantly higher in prostate cancer patients than in control groups. Conclusion: In the present study, an association was noticed between serum trace elements disturbance and prostate cancer. The decreased levels of Se, Zn, and Mn, and increased Cu and Fe levels may play significant roles in the initiation of prostate cancer. However, future prospective studies on the causes of trace elements alteration in prostate cancer patients are needed as well as to illustrate the relation between different prostate cancer stages and trace elements concentrations.
PurposeThe results of meta-analyses regarding the effect of vitamin D on blood pressure are conflicting. The present umbrella meta-analysis was conducted to provide definite and conclusive ...results.MethodsSystematically, Scopus, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science databases and Google Scholar were searched for relevant literature published up to July 2022. All meta-analyses of clinical trials addressing the effect of vitamin D on blood pressure were included. Random effects analysis was performed to obtain the overall effect size based on the standardized mean differences (SMDs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) separately. The quality of included meta-analyses was assessed by using the Measurement Tool for Assessing Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 questionnaire.FindingsOverall, 21 meta-analyses were enrolled in the umbrella review. The results indicated that systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced after the intervention based on WMD effect size analysis (ESWMD = –0.69 mm Hg; 95% CI, –1.35 to –0.04 P < 0.038; I2 = 46.7%, P = 0.021); however, no considerable impact was observed based on analysis of SMD effect sizes (ESSMD = –0.05 mm Hg; 95% CI, –0.24 to 0.14; P = 0.615). Also, vitamin D supplementation indicated a significant improvement in diastolic blood pressure based on WMD effect sizes (ESWMD = –0.66 mm Hg; 95% CI, –1.05 to –0.27 P < 0.001; I2 = 56.4%, P = 0.004) but not SMD analysis (ESSMD = –0.04 mm Hg; 95% CI, –0.13 to 0.04 P = 0.328; I2 = 53.4%, P = 0.057).ImplicationsBased on obtained evidence, vitamin D could be considered an efficient adjuvant for improving blood pressure.
We investigated the potential relationship between endometriosis and risk of ovarian, endometrial, cervical, and breast cancers using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.
We utilized the ...International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) system to identify relevant codes from the NIS database (2016-2019). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses (adjusted for age, race, hospital region, hospital teaching status, income Zip score, smoking, alcohol use, and hormonal replacement therapy) were conducted to evaluate the association between endometriosis and gynecologic cancers and summarized as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
In the examined dataset, there were 1164 and 225,323 gynecologic cancer patients with and without endometriosis, respectively. Univariate analysis showed endometriosis was significantly associated with a higher risk of ovarian (OR = 3.42, 95% CI: 3.05-3.84,
< 0.001) and endometrial (OR = 3.35, 95% CI: 2.97-3.79,
< 0.001) cancers. There was no significant association between endometriosis and cervical cancer (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.85-1.28,
= 0.663). Interestingly, endometriosis was significantly associated with a low risk of breast cancer (OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.10-0.17,
< 0.001). Multivariate analysis after Bonferroni correction (
< 0.006) showed that endometriosis was significantly associated with a high risk of ovarian (adjusted OR = 3.34, 95% CI: 2.97-3.75,
< 0.001) and endometrial (adjusted OR = 3.61, 95% CI: 3.12-4.08,
< 0.001) cancers. Conversely, there was no significant association between endometriosis and cervical cancer (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65-0.99,
= 0.036).
Patients with endometriosis exhibited unique gynecologic cancer risk profiles, with higher risks for ovarian and endometrial cancers, and no significant risk for cervical cancer. The observed connection between endometriosis and a reduced risk of breast cancer remains a perplexing phenomenon, which cannot be put into context to date.
The characterization of powder flow properties is often required for reliable design and proper operation of industrial processes. The effect of the state of compaction and bed voidage on bulk solids ...flowability is probably the most critical area of understanding. The goal of the present study is to compare traditional characterization techniques with methodologies provided by the FT4 Powder Rheometer (Freeman Technology). The data from six different methods, covering low to high stress levels, were compared to examine the hypothetical relationships between them. These techniques were also evaluated with regard to their ability to discriminate between different powders. To make a comparison of the testing methods, a range of seven materials was selected to cover the entire range of fine powders, i.e., from nanoparticles to group B powders.
The results showed that the characterization techniques clearly have different working ranges depending on the level of cohesiveness of the powder. The powder rheometer was found to allow quick and reproducible measurements of the powder response to various environments. The different blade testing methods provided data that were in good agreement with traditional characterization techniques. However, the powder rheometer measurements were difficult to interpret because they depend on many physical properties and environmental parameters. They were particularly useful to compare similar materials but did not allow good discrimination between very different materials. A more detailed understanding of the physical phenomena involved in blade testing techniques is still needed.
Finally, this study showed that powders and bulk materials cannot be viewed as invariant entities. Their flow properties cannot be predicted by only one indicator. The connection of several characterization methods is required to ensure a complete understanding of the powder flow properties over a wide range of conditions. This approach allows better insight into the powder/process relationship.
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•The state of compaction greatly affects the powder flow properties.•The powder rheometer FT4 allows quick and reproducible measurements.•The characterization methods have different working ranges.•The combination of several characterization methods is required.
Introduction
Recent studies investigated the endurance of symptoms and occurrence of complications three months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims to examine the prevalence, variation, and ...severity of continual symptoms in the post‐COVID-19 using a single-center questionnaire.
Methods
The questionnaire was distributed among population in Saudi Arabia who recovered from COVID‐19 between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021.
Results
A total of 744 participants completed the questionnaire, 318 (42.8%) recovered less than 3 months, 75 (10.1%) recovered 3–6 months, while 351 (47.2%) recovered more than 6 months. About half of the participants 353 (47.5%) had incessant symptoms and of those patients, more than half had two or more symptoms. Common symptoms included fatigue 189 (25.4%), headache 118 (15.9%), and myalgia 63 (8.5%). Of the participants, 189 (21.4%) experienced continual symptoms including anxiety in 98 (13.2%) and depression in 70 (9.5%).
Conclusion
The current study showed a high proportion of individuals with long-COVID-19 symptoms. Thus, proper assessment of the individuals in the post-recovery period can guide the patients to the relevant clinics for rehabilitation. Moreover, there is a great importance to decrease COVID-19 infection, populations should be targeted to boost vaccine efficiency.
Alterations in the trace element content can induce metabolic disorders as these elements are involved in the regulation of metabolism. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, ...particularly cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and is more prevalent in Saudi Arabia, especially in women. This study explored the potential of alterations in hair trace elements as long-term markers in diabetic and/or obese Saudi females. In total, 65 diabetic obese women, 47 non-diabetic obese women, and 70 normal-weight women were recruited. Clinical and familial history and anthropometric variables were recorded. Hair Se, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe levels were analyzed. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and lipid profile were analyzed. Our findings revealed a marked decrease of hair Zn, Mn, and Fe and elevated Se and Cu levels in obese women. In addition, Zn and Fe levels were decreased in diabetic women. Thus, the metabolic distress occurring in obesity and hyperglycemia may affect trace element status by increasing the excretion and decreasing the bioavailability of trace elements or redistributing them among various pools. Hair trace elements can serve as important long-term markers for metabolic disorders; however, larger prospective studies are warranted to validate their diagnostic and follow-up utilities.
Bee propolis is one of the most common natural extracts and has gained significant interest in biomedicine due to its high content of phenolic acids and flavonoids, which are responsible for the ...antioxidant activity of natural products. The present study report that the propolis extract (PE) was produced by ethanol in the surrounding environment. The obtained PE was added at different concentrations to cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and subjected to freezing thawing and freeze drying methods to develop porous bioactive matrices. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations displayed that the prepared samples had an interconnected porous structure with pore sizes in the range of 10-100 μm. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results of PE showed around 18 polyphenol compounds, with the highest amounts of hesperetin (183.7 µg/mL), chlorogenic acid (96.9 µg/mL) and caffeic acid (90.2 µg/mL). The antibacterial activity results indicated that both PE and PE-functionalized hydrogels exhibited a potential antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans. The in vitro test cell culture experiments indicated that the cells on the PE-functionalized hydrogels had the greatest viability, adhesion, and spreading of cells. Altogether, these data highlight the interesting effect of propolis bio-functionalization to enhance the biological features of CNF/PVA hydrogel as a functional matrix for biomedical applications.
An inverse relationship between vitamin D supplementation and C-reactive protein (CRP) and hypertension has been reported, mostly through observational data. This inverse relationship, however, has ...not been confirmed in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A meta-analysis of RCTs is needed to provide more robust evidence.
This systematic review of RCTs was conducted to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on CRP, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in postmenopausal women.
Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus) were systemically searched to identify relevant RCTs published in international scientific journals up to January 2023. Changes from baseline and SDs of CRP, SBP, and DBP were compared between postmenopausal women who received vitamin D supplementation and those who did not (controls). These parameters were applied to compute the overall effect sizes using the random-effects model. Data were summarized as mean difference (MD) with 95% CI. Heterogeneity among arms was scrutinized using the Cochrane’s Q test and I2 statistic. Publication bias was judged by means of funnel plots and Egger's test.
Seven studies with 6 arms on CRP, 6 arms on SBP, and 6 arms on DBP were included in the meta-analysis. Combined effect sizes suggested a significant effect of vitamin D supplementation on CRP (MD = –0.65 mg/L; 95% CI –0.93 to –0.37 mg/L; P < .001). In addition, CRP concentrations were significantly reduced after vitamin D supplementation in studies with a duration of more than 3 months (MD = –0.91 mg/L; 95% CI –1.37 to –0.45 mg/L; P < .001) and studies involving doses of ≤1,000 IU/d (MD = –2.10 mg/L; 95% CI –2.51 to –1.68 mg/L; P < .001). Vitamin D supplementation did not reduce SBP significantly (MD = –1.06 mm Hg; 95% CI –2.43 to 0.30 mm Hg; P = .127) and DBP (MD = 0.003 mm Hg; 95% CI –0.86 to 0.86 mm Hg; P = .994) levels compared with control groups.
This meta-analysis concluded that vitamin D supplementation is associated with reduced CRP concentrations among postmenopausal women.
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