Search Results (157)

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders significantly affect healthcare professionals, particularly physiotherapists, due to the physical demands of their work. The link between physical ailments and psychological distress is especially prominent in clinical settings. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of work-related low back pain (LBP), stress, anxiety, and depression among physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia, and to identify associated local risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study using convenience sampling included 710 licensed physiotherapists across Saudi Arabia. Participants completed an online survey containing demographic data and the validated measures, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) for psychological distress. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, correlation, and regression analyses. Results: Of 710 responses, 697 were valid; 378 physiotherapists reported work-related LBP. The mean pain intensity was 4.6 (SD = 1.6), with 54.2% experiencing moderate to severe disability. Mental health results showed 49.7% had depressive symptoms and 33.9% experienced some level of anxiety. Significant correlations were observed between disability and psychological distress (anxiety: r = 0.382; depression: r = 0.375; stress: r = 0.406; all p < 0.001). Regression analyses indicated psychological distress significantly predicted disability, with R² values ranging from 0.125 to 0.248, being higher among inpatient physiotherapists. Conclusions: This study reveals a high prevalence of LBP and psychological distress among Saudi physiotherapists, with stress being the strongest predictor of LBP severity. Integrated ergonomic and mental health interventions, including workplace wellness programs and psychological support, are recommended to reduce risks and promote a healthier, more sustainable physiotherapy workforce. Full article

In recent years, global agriculture has encountered several challenges exacerbated by the effects of changes in climate, such as extreme water shortages for irrigation and heat waves. Water-deficit stress adversely affects the morpho-physiology of numerous crops, including soybean (Glycine max L.), which is considered as promising crop in Bangladesh. Seaweed extract (SWE) has the potential to improve crop yield and alleviate the adverse effects of water-deficit stress. Remote and proximal sensing are also extensively utilized in estimating morpho-physiological traits owing to their cost-efficiency and non-destructive characteristics. The study was carried out to evaluate soybean morpho-physiological traits under the application of water extracts of Gracilaria tenuistipitata var. liui (red seaweed) with two varying irrigation water conditions (100% of total crop water requirement (TCWR) and 70% of TCWR). Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that among the four treatments, the 70% irrigation + 5% (v/v) SWE and the 100% irrigation treatments overlapped, indicating that the application of SWE effectively mitigated water-deficit stress in soybeans. This result demonstrates that the foliar application of 5% SWE enabled soybeans to achieve morpho-physiological performance comparable to that of fully irrigated plants while reducing irrigation water use by 30%. Based on Pearson’s correlation matrix, a simple linear regression model was used to ascertain the relationship between unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-derived vegetation indices and the field-measured physiological characteristics of soybean. The Normalized Difference Red Edge (NDRE) strongly correlated with stomatal conductance (R² = 0.76), photosystem II efficiency (R² = 0.78), maximum fluorescence (R² = 0.64), and apparent transpiration rate (R² = 0.69). The Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) had the highest correlation with leaf relative water content (R² = 0.87), the Blue Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (bNDVI) with steady-state fluorescence (R² = 0.56) and vapor pressure deficit (R² = 0.74), and the Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (gNDVI) with chlorophyll content (R² = 0.73). Our results demonstrate how UAV and physiological data can be integrated to improve precision soybean farming and support sustainable soybean production under water-deficit stress. Full article

Background: Cardiac arrest remains a significant public health challenge with variable mortality trends across different demographics and regions, affecting healthcare planning and intervention strategies. We conducted this study to analyze cardiac arrest-related mortality trends from 1999 to 2023 and predict future trends up to 2035. Methods: This study analyzed data from 1999 to 2023, focusing on cardiac arrest as the primary cause of death (ICD-10: I46). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) were standardized according to the 2000 U.S. Census. Joinpoint regression was utilized to calculate annual percentage change (APC), and an ARIMA model with Python 3.10 was used for mortality predictions. Results: A total of 365,608 cardiac arrest-related deaths were recorded in the USA from 1999 to 2023. There was a sharp decline in mortality rate until 2001 (APC: −10.35, p < 0.05), followed by a slowed decline until 2013 (APC: −2.91, p < 0.05), and then a gradual uptrend. Males exhibited a higher AAMR (5.8, 95% CI: 5.8–5.9) compared to females (4.2, 95% CI: 4.1–4.2). African Americans had the highest AAMR (8.9, 95% CI: 8.9–9), followed by Caucasians (4.8, 95% CI: 4.8–4.9) and American Indians (3.5, 95% CI: 3.3–3.7). The South region of the US had the highest AAMR, followed by the Northeast, Midwest, and West. Alabama exhibited the highest AAMR, followed by Nevada and Hawaii. Predictive analysis suggests a potential stable slow downtrend in mortality rates by 2035 (AAMR: 4.28, 95% CI: −1.8–10.4). Conclusions: The observed trends and future predictions underscore the importance of targeted public health interventions and healthcare planning to address cardiac arrest mortality. Full article

Background: Due to neurohormonal disturbances that occur following brain death, thyroid hormone therapy has been proposed as a means to enhance cardiac function in brain-dead organ donors. However, it remains unclear whether thyroid hormone administration improves clinical outcomes in potential heart donors. Methods: A comprehensive review of clinical trials was conducted to evaluate the impact of thyroid hormone therapy on heart viability and transplantation outcomes. A total of nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1189 potential heart donors were included. Results: Thyroid hormone supplementation effectively restored circulating thyroid hormone levels in brain-dead donors. However, findings regarding improvements in cardiac function and transplantation outcomes were inconsistent across studies. While some RCTs reported marginal improvements in hemodynamic parameters and heart transplant viability, these results were not consistently replicated. Furthermore, most studies did not demonstrate a significant enhancement in recipient survival or graft function associated with thyroid hormone therapy. Conclusion: Although thyroid hormone therapy restores thyroid hormone levels in brain-dead donors, current evidence does not consistently support its effectiveness in improving donor heart viability or recipient outcomes. Further research is necessary to clarify the role of thyroid hormone therapy in donor management and its impact on long-term transplant success. Full article

Advancing age in men significantly contributes to declining sperm fertility. Information on age-related proteomic changes in spermatozoa is limited. This study involved normal fertile Arab men in three age groups: young adult (21–30 years; n = 6), late adult (31–40 years; n = 7), and advanced age (40–51 years; n = 5). Gradient-purified spermatozoa were analyzed using LC-MS/MS and proteomic data were processed using Progenesis QI (QIfp) v3.0 and UniProt/SwissProt. Significantly enriched annotations and clustering of proteins in the proteomic datasets were identified (2-fold change; p < 0.05). A total of 588 proteins were identified, with 93% shared across the three groups. Unique proteins were MYLK4 for the young adult group, PRSS57 for the late adult group, and HMGB4, KRT4, LPGAT1, OXCT2, and MGRN1 for the advanced age group. Furthermore, 261 (44%) proteins were differentially expressed (p < 0.05) across the three groups. Functional enrichment analysis suggested an aging-related significant increase in pathways associated with neurodegenerative diseases and protein folding, alongside decreases in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, flagellated sperm motility, acetylation, phosphoprotein modifications, oxidation processes, and Ubl conjugation. Cluster analysis highlighted significantly upregulated proteins in young adults (e.g., H2BC1, LAP3, SQLE, LTF, PDIA4, DYNLT2) and late adults (e.g., ATP5F1B, ODF2, TUBA3C, ENO1, SPO11, TEX45, TEKT3), whereas most proteins in the advanced age group exhibited downregulation (e.g., SPESP1, RAB10, SEPTIN4, RAB15, PTPN7, USP5, ANXA1, PRDX1). In conclusion, this study revealed aging-associated proteomic changes in spermatozoa that impact critical processes, including spermatogenesis, motility, metabolism, and fertilization, potentially contributing to fertility decline. These changes provide a molecular framework for developing therapies to preserve sperm proteostasis and enhance fertility in older men. Full article

This study aimed to examine global hypertensive heart disease (HHD) trends (1990–2019). Methods: We extracted data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 Study, encompassing 204 countries and territories. We analyzed the age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs), crude mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLD), years of life lost (YLL), and disability-adjusted life years (DALY). Joinpoint Regression Analysis was used to calculate the Annual Percentage Change (APC), with p < 0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results were stratified by region, Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), and gender. Results: Globally, the crude mortality rate for HHD rose from 12.2 (95% UI 9.9–13.6) to 14.9 (95% UI 16.5–11.1) deaths/100,000 population (1990–2019), whereas the AAMR declined from 19.3 (95% UI 5.8–21.6) to 15.1 (95% UI 11.1–16.7). A Joinpoint Analysis revealed significant APC shifts: a decrease of −1.53% (p < 0.05) from 1990 to 2006, an increase of +0.60% (p < 0.05) from 2006 to 2015, and a subsequent decrease of −1.28% (p < 0.05) from 2006 to 2019. Eastern Europe showed the highest annual rate of change in AAMR at 0.9 (95% UI: −0.1 to 1.2), whereas the high-income Asia Pacific region experienced the largest decline at −0.66 (95% UI −0.27–−0.72). Central Asian males had an AAMR of 31.1 (95% UI 35.3–22.9) in 2019, and Sub-Saharan African females reached 38.5 (95% UI 48.4–26.3). YLL trended downward in both sexes (APC: −1.94, p < 0.05 in males; −1.81, p < 0.05 in females), yet YLD rose steadily in recent years, underscoring a growing chronic burden. The AAMR was highest in 2019 among Sub-Saharan African females, which is a particularly important area. Conclusions: Targeted strategies are essential to mitigate the escalating HHD burden. Full article

This study explores the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of deforestation and forest degradation along the politically sensitive Iraq–Turkey border within the Duhok Governorate between 2015 and 2024. Utilizing paired remote sensing (RS) and high-end machine learning (ML) methods, forest dynamics were simulated from Sentinel-2 imagery, climate datasets, and topographic variables. Seven ML models were evaluated, and XGBoost consistently outperformed the others, yielding predictive accuracies (R²) of 0.903 (2015), 0.910 (2019), and 0.950 (2024), and a low RMSE (≤0.035). Model interpretability was further improved through the application of SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to estimate variable contributions and a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to elucidate complex nonlinear interactions. The results showed distinct temporal shifts; climatic factors (rainfall and temperature) primarily influenced vegetation cover in 2015, whereas anthropogenic drivers such as forest fires (NBR), road construction (RI), and soil exposure (BSI) intensified by 2024, accounting for up to 12% of the observed forest loss. Forest canopy cover decreased significantly, from approximately 630 km² in 2015 to 577 km² in 2024, mainly due to illegal deforestation, road network expansion, and conflict-induced fires. This study highlights the effectiveness of an ML-driven RS analysis for geoinformation needs in geopolitically complex and data-scarce regions. These findings underscore the urgent need for robust, evidence-based conservation policies and demonstrate the utility of interpretable ML techniques for forest management policy optimization, providing a reproducible methodological blueprint for future ecological assessment. Full article

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common genetic disorder affecting up to 2.6% of the population in Saudi Arabia. SCD results in severe disability, reduced quality of life, extensive use of medical resources, increased economic burden, and a high likelihood of increased mortality. Red blood cell transfusion remains a cornerstone in the management of SCD complications. This position paper highlights the current state of SCD management within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite the advantages of automated red blood cell exchange (aRBCX) and guideline recommendations, its use remains limited. In practice, aRBCX is used for a variety of indications, including acute management and prophylaxis of stroke, systemic fat embolism, severe forms of acute chest syndrome, preoperative management, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, hepatic crisis, and priapism. However, aRBCX is underutilized in pregnancy. Common gaps identified by the advisory panel include the absence of standardized national guidelines, limited access to aRBCX, issues with vascular access, lack of equipment, and insufficient staff training. Another limitation to the use of aRBCX is the higher blood requirements compared to other blood transfusion modalities. These factors contribute to geographical disparities in the management of SCD and suboptimal patient outcomes. To address these issues, the advisory panel recommended developing and implementing evidence-based national guidelines, expanding access to aRBCX, enhancing health staff education and training, and establishing a robust national SCD registry. By prioritizing these recommendations, we can help streamline SCD care, reduce practice variation, and nationalize sickle cell disease management in Saudi Arabia to improve patient care. Full article

Rapid unplanned urbanization is a common phenomenon in developing countries and the necessity for making an urban area sustainable and livable is one of the major challenges of today’s world. While the timely identification of the factors contributing to rapid unplanned urbanization is essential, uncovering the core reasons behind this phenomenon remains one of the most challenging tasks. The Night Light Development Index (NLDI) can track and monitor urbanization over time and can be used for understanding and optimizing the use of urban space at night due to its timely availability and accessibility. Previous research has only been conducted using VIIRS or DMP OLS satellite imagery to calculate the NLDI. However, the temporal and spatial resolution of these types of imagery are quite poor and require a lot of preprocessing. In this research, these complexities are addressed by introducing a modified NLDI, leveraging high-resolution nighttime imagery from NASA’s Black Marble product suite and population data from NASA’s Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). This study examines the core drivers of unplanned urbanization in Dhaka by analyzing changes in regional inequality, electrification patterns, and GDP in relation to nighttime light, amidst the significant challenges posed by rapid urbanization in developing countries. The results indicate significant transformations in Dhaka’s urban land cover change (ULCC), with substantial increases in built-up areas correlating with heightened electrification and economic activity/GDP, as evidenced by NTL radiance patterns. Furthermore, the modified NLDI effectively captures the nuances of urban development and inequality, offering insights into regional disparities and urban planning challenges. We find that the income inequality or the NLDI value is the highest in the Biman Bandar area (0.910), followed by Pallabi (0.665), Turag (0.640), and Khilkhet (0.587). These values indicate significant income disparity between affluent and impoverished populations within these regions. Full article

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent chemotherapeutic agent used to treat many types of cancer. Its use is limited because of the reported accompanied cardiotoxicity, which is driven by oxidative stress and inflammation. Herin, we explored the cardioprotective impact of reduced glutathione (GSH) against DOX-induced cardiac damage in a mice model and highlighted the dynamic interplay between pro-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, with tissue damage markers and oxidative byproducts. Mice were divided into four groups and administered DOX, GSH, or a combination, and the outcomes were compared to untreated controls. DOX administration caused significant mortality, weight loss, elevated serum markers of cardiac injury (CK-MB and LDH), oxidative stress (MDA and iron), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-17, and IL-23), and upregulated pro-inflammatory gene expression of STAT-3 and NFκB as well as downregulated gene expression of NRF-2 and HO-1. Histological analysis showed myocardial fibrosis, vacuolization, and apoptosis, as confirmed by a TUNEL assay. Meanwhile, treatment with GSH improved survival rate, attenuated weight loss, and restored cardiac function markers. Furthermore, GSH suppressed oxidative stress and inflammation, modulated gene expression, and declined histopathological damage. These findings demonstrated the multifaceted cardioprotection of GSH through the restoration of redox homeostasis and modulation of the pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. GSH supplementation emerges as a promising adjunct therapy to mitigate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, offering a strategy to improve cardiac health in cancer patients undergoing doxorubicin chemotherapy. Full article

This study determined the influence of surface treatment and protracted ageing on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets bonded to CADCAM (milled) and 3D-printed polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) provisional crowns (PCs). Eighty disc-shaped specimens [forty milled (CopraTemp WhitePeaks) [group (Gp) M] and forty printed (Asiga DentaTooth) (Gp P)] were divided into eight subgroups (Gp) based on surface treatment [no treatment (control) (Gp MC and Gp PC), coarse diamond (Gp MCD and Gp PCD), fine diamond (Gp MFD, and GP PFD) and sandblast (Gp MSB and Gp PSB)]. Orthodontic brackets were bonded (Assure Plus, Transbond XT), thermocycled (2200 cycles), and tested for SBS and failure (Adhesive Remnant Index) (ARI). Statistical tests included analysis of variance (ANOVA); Kruskal–Wallis (ARI ranks); and post hoc (Tukey, Dunn, and Bonferroni) for determining group differences at predetermined probability p-values less than 0.05. SBS was significantly increased in Gp MSB (15.51 Mpa) and Gp PSB (14.11 Mpa), while the coarse diamond subgroups yielded the lowest mean SBS values [Gp MCD (11.28 Mpa) and Gp PCD (11.62 Mpa)]. The SBS of subgroups MFD, MSB, PCD, and PSB showed significant differences from those of their respective controls (Gp MC and Gp PC). Low ARI scores were observed in Gp MC (0.40) and Gp MSB (0.80), while higher scores were observed in Gp PCD (2.10). Both milled and printed PCs fulfil the clinical criteria of the minimum SBS for orthodontic brackets for long-term use. However, milled PC has better SBS and low ARI scores, which make it more clinically feasible for orthodontic treatments. Full article

The textile and fashion industry produce a significant amount of solid waste annually. Most of this waste is either disposed of or burned; very little is reused. This research investigates the potential of reusing and recycling remnant fabric to create sustainable luxury fashion products in a circular economy. Focusing on three factories namely Factory A, Factory B, and Factory C, this study analyzes product diversification, capacity, capital investment, supply chain dynamics, and manufacturing operations. A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews with industry practitioners from the case factories was employed. Data from purchasing orders, production reports, inventory reports, and monthly invoices were analyzed. The factories manufactured a range of sustainable products, emphasizing floor mats, ladies’ handbags, and bedding items (pillow covers). The analysis revealed that each factory achieved a 30–40% profit margin on their monthly sales. Notably, approximately 95% of the remnant fabric was recycled in the production process, with merely 5% being discarded and resold for further use. These findings indicate local employment opportunities and substantial contributions to socio-economic advancement. This study recommends adopting a circular economy model to generate new business opportunities and income streams from remnant fabric. It encourages new financial investment and technical innovations to promote growth in this sector and benefit wider stakeholders. Full article

Aquaculture wastewater treatment not only assists in alleviating the scarcity of clean water for daily usage and environmental pollution, but also generates valuable byproducts. This paper aims to review the generation of wastewater from the aquaculture sector, its characteristics, and available treatment technologies, while comprehensively discussing the adoption of a biocircular economy approach through waste valorization. With rich nutrients, such as nitrogenous compounds, and the presence of phosphorus in the aquaculture effluent, these aspects could be explored and valorized into biofertilizers, broadening their application in aquaponics and hydroponics, as well as in algae and daphnid cultivation. Biofertilizer can also be used in agriculture because it contains essential elements needed by plants. Thus, methods of converting nutrients into biofertilizers in terms of sludge recovery can be accomplished via anaerobic and aerobic digestion, drying, composting, and vermicomposting. Moving forward, aquaculture effluent recovery is addressed under the biocircular economy by re-engaging aquaculture wastewater effluents into the production cycle. The enhancement of aquaculture effluents and biomass for uses such as aquaponics, hydroponics, algae cultivation, daphnid co-cultivation, and biofertilizers presents valuable opportunities for nutrient recovery while ensuring that non-toxic wastewater can be safely discharged into external water bodies. This approach has the potential to revolutionize wastewater treatment in aquaculture, shifting the economic model of wastewater management from a linear system to a circular, more sustainable one. Full article

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a major health concern globally and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women in Saudi Arabia. Although peoples’ awareness of BC risk factors has been previously examined, studies on obesity-related BC awareness in the Qassim region are inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate knowledge and awareness of obesity-related BC risk among Saudi women in the Qassim region. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a stratified random sampling technique of 400 Saudi women randomly selected from the Qassim region through an online platform and community health centers. An online closed-ended pretested validated structured questionnaire was completed by the participants using a Google Forms link. The categorical variables were frequency and percentage. The chi-square test was used to study the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Results: There is moderate to poor knowledge regarding breast cancer risk factors. The results showed poor knowledge about obesity after menopause as a risk factor for BC (49%). Over half of the participants (51.0%) did not consider obesity a BC risk factor. The need for self-examinations and mammogram screenings showed moderate (59.6%) and poor awareness levels (4.75%). Conclusions: The findings highlight a noticeable gap in knowledge and awareness about obesity-related BC risks, as well as a limited awareness of the need for breast self-examinations and mammogram screenings. These results underscore the urgent need for targeted awareness campaigns and educational programs in the Qassim region to address this critical health issue. Promoting breast self-examination practices, weight management, and regular mammogram screenings could significantly enhance early detection, improve prognosis, and reduce BC-related mortality among Saudi women in the Qassim region. Full article

Background: The inability to ensure adequate nutrition for patients, and failure to provide adequate calorie and protein intake, result in malnutrition, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. The present study assesses the two approaches to enteral nutrition—intermittent and continuous enteral feeding—in critically ill pediatric patients in Türkiye to determine the superiority of one method over the other. Methods: Included in this multicenter prospective study were patients receiving enteral nutrition via a tube who were followed up over a 3-month period. Anthropometric data, calorie and protein intake, and signs of feeding intolerance were evaluated in a comparison of the different feeding methods. Results: A total of 510 patients were examined. In the continuous enteral feeding (CEF) group, 20.2% of patients developed metabolic abnormalities, and 49.5% experienced enteral nutrition intolerance, both of which were higher than in the intermittent enteral feeding (IEF) group, and the differences were statistically significant. No significant differences were observed between the two feeding methods in terms of reaching the target calorie intake on days 2 and 7 (p > 0.05). On day 7, there were significant differences between the two feeding methods in terms of calorie and protein intake (p = 0.023 and 0.014, respectively). Conclusions: In the present study, assessing the IEF and CEF approaches to enteral nutrition, critically ill pediatric patients receiving intermittent feeding exhibited lower rates of enteral nutrition intolerance and metabolic abnormalities. Furthermore, the calorie and protein intake on day 7 were noted to be higher in the IEF group than in the CEF group. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings of the present study. Full article