Search Results (282)

Rising microbial resistance to synthetic disinfectants has intensified the search for chemically synthesized natural alternatives, such as ginger-derived bioactive compounds. Several bioactive compounds, including Zingerone, Gingerols, and Shogaols, have been shown to possess antimicrobial activities. However, the antimicrobial efficacy of these compounds as disinfectants at varying temperatures and contact times is poorly understood. Therefore, understanding the temperature- and time-dependent effects of contact is crucial for optimizing the potential application of these compounds in various antimicrobial strategies. In this study, the antimicrobial activities of three chemicals, 10% [6]-Gingerol, Zingerone, and Shogaols, were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Furthermore, the variations in temperatures (5 °C, 25 °C, and 37 °C) and contact time (1, 5, and 60 min) were assessed based on CFU counts, log₁₀ reductions, percent kill, and decimal reduction time. The findings of this study indicated that 10% Zingerone completely inactivated all tested organisms in 60 min at all temperatures. Although 10% [6]-Gingerol and Shogaol exhibited temperature- and time-dependent effects, they failed to completely inactivate the bacteria and fungi after 60 min. Furthermore, both temperature and contact time were shown to influence the efficacy of the tested disinfectants, providing a significant time- and temperature-dependent reduction in viable cells across all tested organisms. Full article

One of the ways to decarbonize cities and to enhance grid stability is to convert existing buildings into prosumers equipped with power plants able to supply electrical and thermal energy. The simulation of such multi-energy systems permits the analysis of their performance in steady-state and dynamic conditions, with the aim of defining effective operating strategies able to reduce emissions and costs. The present paper describes a dynamic simulation model, implemented in the Matlab/Simulink R2025a environment, developed to simulate the daily and weekly operation of a prosumer building equipped with a small-sized cogeneration unit, a Photovoltaic (PV) plant, a back-up boiler, a thermal storage system and some charging points for Electric Vehicles (EVs). The mathematical model is reported in detail, and the main results of the study are described, referring to operating days characterized by different weather conditions. Then, energy, economic and environmental performance indicators are defined and calculated for the different simulated scenarios. Over the considered time horizons, the simulation results highlight a significant increase in the electrical self-sufficiency of the facility up to 91.1% and an important reduction in total net operating costs up to 59.8%, compared to the AS-IS case (i.e., without the newly installed technologies). Full article

Background: Tuberculosis remains a major global public health challenge, particularly among children. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the global, regional, and national burden of tuberculosis among children (0–14 years) using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. Methods: Data on the incidence of tuberculosis (drug-susceptible, MDR-TB, and XDR-TB), as well as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), among children aged 0–14 years in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021 were obtained from the GBD 2021 study. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) in age-standardised incidence rates (ASIRs) and DALY rate were calculated overall and stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI) to quantify temporal trends. Spearman correlation analyses were performed to assess associations between tuberculosis burden and SDI. Results: In 2021, there were an estimated 759,300 new tuberculosis cases (ASIR: 37.7 per 100,000 population) among children globally, including 32,515 cases of MDR-TB (ASIR: 1.6) and 1193 cases of XDR-TB (ASIR: 0.1). Both global ASIR and DALY rate exhibited a declining trend from 1990 to 2021, with EAPC of −2.61% (95%CI: −2.74 to −2.47) and −4.38% (−4.61 to −4.14), respectively. From 1990 to 2021, High-income North America was the only GBD region with an increasing ASIR for tuberculosis (EAPC = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.61 to 1.64). From 1990 to 2021, there was no significant change in ASIR of MDR-TB (EAPC = 1.18, 95% CI: −0.16 to 2.54). However, eight of the 21 GBD regions exhibited increasing trends in the ASIR of MDR-TB, with the largest increase observed in Oceania (11.99, 10.49 to 13.52), followed by Central Asia (9.76, 6.48 to 13.13) and South Asia (5.71, 3.10 to 8.38). A strong negative correlation was observed between tuberculosis burden and SDI, with the highest disease burden concentrated in low-SDI regions. Conclusions: Achieving elimination targets will require stronger diagnostics and treatment for childhood tuberculosis, alongside reduced transmission, improved infection detection, and preventive therapy for exposed children, especially those under 5 years. Full article

Background: Patients with malignancy demonstrate an elevated risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to coagulopathy and treatment modalities. Although low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and warfarin have historically been standard therapies, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are increasingly used in this population. Methods: We conducted a Bayesian network meta-analysis to compare the safety and efficacy of apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, LMWH, and warfarin in cancer-associated VTE. A comprehensive literature search of Embase, Medline, clinical trial registries, and manual sources was performed up to November 2025. The primary outcome was to compare the risk of VTE recurrence across therapies. Secondary outcomes included major bleeding, clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB), and all-cause mortality. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% credible intervals (CrIs) were estimated, and treatment rankings were derived using the surface under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRA) probabilities. Results: Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 3325 patients were included. No clear evidence of differences was observed among apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban, low-molecular-weight heparin, and warfarin for VTE recurrence, major bleeding, clinically relevant non-major bleeding, and mortality. For instance, rivaroxaban showed no statistically significant difference in VTE recurrence compared with apixaban (OR 1.13; 95% CrI 0.17–12.27), warfarin (OR 0.60; 95% CrI 0.03–19.00), edoxaban (OR 0.77; 95% CrI 0.06–11.11), or LMWH (OR 0.51; 95% CrI 0.10–2.66). Wide credible intervals reflect uncertainty due to the limited number of RCTs and low event rates. Conclusions: This Bayesian network meta-analysis showed no statistically significant differences between therapies with respect to VTE recurrence, bleeding outcomes, and mortality. However, the wide credible intervals indicate limited precision, warranting cautious interpretation of the findings. Full article

Background: The pterygoid plates serve as crucial reference points for posterior maxillary surgery and the placement of pterygoid implants; however, population-specific morphometric reference values remain underexplored for adults of Asir region (Abha city) of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) study analyzed the archived scans obtained at King Khalid University Dental Hospital. Of 100 randomly selected adult CBCT scans collected between June and October 2025, 50 images met the eligibility criteria. The analyses were conducted using OnDemand3D software to measure the bilateral pterygoid plates’ length, thickness at the maximum diameter, and medial-lateral divergence angle. Styloid process length was measured as an exploratory variable. Three calibrated examiners performed the measurements, and the reliability was assessed using interclass correlation coefficients. Results: Fifty CBCT scans met the inclusion criteria (30 males, 20 females). The mean lateral pterygoid plate length was 14.61 ± 3.69 mm on the right and 13.83 ± 3.93 mm on the left, while the mean medial plate length was 11.27 ± 3.52 mm (right) and 11.98 ± 3.82 mm (left). Side to side paired comparisons showed no significant right–left differences in lateral plate length (mean R–L 0.79 mm, 95% CI −0.48 to 2.06), lateral thickness (mean 0.04 mm, 95% CI −0.14 to 0.22), medial thickness (mean 0.01 mm, 95% CI −0.19 to 0.21), or pterygoid angulation (mean 1.99°, 95% CI −1.07 to 5.05), supporting bilateral symmetry. Bilateral correlations were strong for medial plate length (r = 0.729, p < 0.001) and angulation (r = 0.632, p < 0.001). Males had a longer right lateral plate than females (15.74 ± 3.55 mm vs. 12.93 ± 3.31 mm; mean difference 2.81 mm, 95% CI 0.80–4.82; p = 0.007), whereas other measurements did not differ by sex. Plate thickness ranged from approximately 1.33 to 1.46 mm and left medial plate thickness correlated negatively with left medial plate length (r = −0.399, p = 0.004). Styloid process length averaged 22.99 ± 9.76 mm and showed no significant association with pterygoid plate measures. Conclusions: CBCT-derived findings demonstrated overall bilateral symmetry and limited dimorphism in relation to sex. These region-specific morphometries support individualized preoperative posterior maxillary surgery and pterygoid implant planning. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to examine the severity of misophonia symptoms in individuals diagnosed with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and to evaluate the pattern of the relationship between misophonia and OCD symptom severity in relation to anxiety sensitivity and mindfulness. Materials and Methods: This comparative and cross-sectional study included 108 patients diagnosed with OCD according to DSM-5 criteria and 81 healthy control subjects without any psychiatric diagnosis. Participants completed the Misophonia Symptom List (MSL), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Statistical analyses included group comparisons, Pearson correlations, multiple linear regression, and mediation analyses using the PROCESS macro. Results: MSL scores were significantly higher in the OCD group compared to the control group (104.10 ± 33.00 vs. 87.56 ± 20.07, p < 0.001). ASI-3 (33.53 ± 18.72 vs. 18.12 ± 11.55, p < 0.001) and BAI scores (20.74 ± 13.14 vs. 11.04 ± 8.47, p < 0.001) were higher; MAAS scores were lower (53.23 ± 14.92 vs. 60.72 ± 12.70, p < 0.001). In the OCD group, MSL scores were positively correlated with anxiety sensitivity (r = 0.626, p < 0.001) and Beck anxiety (r = 0.515, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with MAAS (r = −0.357, p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, anxiety sensitivity was identified as the only variable significantly predicting misophonia severity (β = 0.523, p < 0.001). Mediation analyses showed that anxiety sensitivity emerged as the dominant indirect pathway between OCD symptom severity and misophonia, whereas the contribution of mindfulness was not independent of anxiety sensitivity in the serial mediation model. Conclusions: The findings indicate that misophonia symptoms are significantly elevated in individuals diagnosed with OCD and that these symptoms are particularly associated with cognitive-emotional variables such as anxiety sensitivity and mindfulness. Given the cross-sectional design, the mediation findings should be interpreted as indirect associations rather than evidence of causal pathways. Considering these variables may be useful in assessing misophonia symptoms accompanying OCD and planning clinical approaches. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study explored the epidemiology of Status Epilepticus (SE) in Kazakhstan. Methods: Utilizing data from the National Health System from 2014 to 2023, we investigated the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of SE. The authors employed restricted mean survival time (RMST) models to evaluate how sex, older age, epilepsy, history of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD), central nervous system (CNS) infections, brain tumors, and cancer affected survival during 30 days through the fifth year following hospital admission for SE. Results: This study included 14,010 patients. The ASIR per 100,000 increased threefold, from 4.15 (95% CI: 3.85; 4.46) in 2014 to 12.12 (95% CI: 11.64; 17.59) in 2023, with a sharp increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 30-day and 5-year mortality were 2.10% and 8.85%, respectively. The RMST identified that all-cause mortality was driven by elderly age, brain tumors, and cancer, where the difference in survival increased from one day at baseline to over a year by the fifth year. The effects of CVD, CNS infections, and sex on survival were substantially lower. However, epilepsy was associated with a better prognosis. Conclusions: We observed an incremental increase in the SE incidence over a decade. Our findings warrant actions to resolve issues related to rescue medicines to improve SE outcomes in both country and region. It may be a priority for elderly patients and those with systemic tumors. Further research is needed to understand the role of epilepsy in SE epidemiology, with emphasis on design-related biases. Full article

Microtopography regulates soil erosion by shaping surface heterogeneity, but the mechanism of loess slope soil loss remains insufficiently quantified. This study combined laboratory rainfall simulations and machine learning to investigate how tillage-induced microtopography modulates soil loss through surface heterogeneity and hydrodynamic processes. Simulations used loess soil (silty loam) with a 5° slope, 60 mm/h rainfall intensity, and 5–30 min rainfall durations (RD). Results indicated that the mean weight diameter (MWD) and aggregate stability index (ASI) of structural, transition, and depositional crusts under micro-terrain decreased by 36~65% and 41~60%, respectively, while the fractal dimension (D) increased by 10~19%. Negative relationships were observed between ASI/MWD and D (R² = 0.83~0.98). Horizontal cultivation (T_HC, surface roughness [SR] = 1.76, average depression storage [ADS] = 2.34 × 10⁻² m³) delayed runoff connectivity and reduced cumulative soil loss (LS) by 42–58% compared to hoeing cultivation (T_HE, SR = 1.47, ADS = 3.23 × 10⁻⁴ m³). Abrupt hydrodynamic transitions occurred at 10 min RD (T_HE) and 15 min RD (artificial digging [T_AD]), driven by trench connectivity and depression overflow. LS exhibited a significant positive correlation with D and RD and was inversely correlated with ASI, MWD, and SR. A three-hidden-layer BPNN exhibited high predictive accuracy for LS (mean square error = 0.07), verifying applicability in complex scenarios with significant microtopographic heterogeneity and multi-factor coupling. This study demonstrated that surface roughness and depression storage were the dominant microtopographic controls on loess slope soil loss. BPNN provided a reliable tool for soil loss prediction in heterogeneous microtopographic systems. The findings provide critical insights into optimizing tillage-based soil conservation strategies for sloping loess farmlands. Full article

Background: Anatomical variations of the maxillary sinus, including the septa, can affect surgical outcomes. This study aimed to present the characteristics of maxillary sinus septa in an Asir-region cohort using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Archival adult CBCT scans of patients at the King Khalid University College of Dentistry were reviewed in this retrospective cross-sectional study. Septa were measured in axial, coronal, and sagittal planes and classified as vertical, oblique, or horizontal. Correlations between the characteristics of the septa and both age and sex were analyzed. Results: Of the 400 CBCTs randomly selected between May–August 2025, 350 were suitable for analysis; among them, only 26 patients (53.8% male; age, <30 years) presented with sinus septa. The septa were unilateral in 16 (61.5%) and bilateral in 10 (38.5%) patients, without any significant differences based on sex (χ² = 0.248; p = 0.619) or age (χ² = 5.491; p = 0.139). Oblique and horizontal orientations were most common on the right (n = 10) and left (n = 11) sides, respectively; no associations were observed with sex (p > 0.05). The mean mediolateral length and septal height ranged from 7.8 to 10.3 mm and ~8.2 to 8.5 mm, with no sex- or age-related differences. Septal thickness did not vary by age (p > 0.05). Pathologic mucosal findings were infrequent and showed no association with septal location or side. Conclusions: These findings provide region-specific data on maxillary sinus septa in the Asir-region cohort, contributing to the understanding of anatomical variations before planning surgical interventions. Full article

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains the predominant cause of global mortality, necessitating accurate incidence forecasting for effective prevention strategies. Existing statistical models inadequately capture nonlinear epidemiological patterns, while deep learning approaches lack clinical interpretability. We constructed an interpretable predictive framework combining particle swarm optimization (PSO), bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) networks, and a novel multi-scale attention mechanism. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database (1990–2021) were stratified across 24 sex-age subgroups and processed through 10-year sliding windows with advanced feature engineering. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) provided a three-level interpretability analysis (global, local, and component). The framework achieved superior performance metrics: mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0164, root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.0206, and R² of 0.97, demonstrating a 93.96% MAE reduction compared to ARIMA models and a 75.99% improvement over CNN–BiLSTM architectures. SHAP analysis identified females aged 60–64 years and males aged 85–89 years as primary predictive contributors. Architectural analysis revealed the residual connection captured 71.0% of the predictive contribution (main trends), while the BiLSTM–Attention pathway captured 29.0% (complex nonlinear patterns). This interpretable framework transforms opaque algorithms into transparent systems, providing precise epidemiological evidence for public health policy, resource allocation, and targeted intervention strategies for high-risk populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: A promising anticancer strategy is the simultaneous inhibition of the receptor tyrosine kinases VEGFR-2 and c-Met, which are essential for tumor angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis. In this study, a novel series of piperidinyl-based benzoxazole derivatives was designed and synthesized as potential dual VEGFR-2/c-Met inhibitors. Methods: The kinase inhibitory potential of the derivatives was evaluated in comparison to reference inhibitors, Sorafenib (VEGFR-2 inhibitor) and Staurosporine (c-Met inhibitor). Cytotoxicity was assessed across breast, prostate (PC-3), and lung (A549) cancer cell lines. Mechanistic studies included cell-cycle analysis, apoptosis assays, gene expression profiling of apoptosis-related markers, and molecular docking within the ATP-binding pockets of both kinases. Results: Compounds 5a, 5g, 5h, 11a, and 11b showed strong inhibition of both kinases (IC₅₀ = 0.145–0.970 μM for VEGFR-2 and 0.181–1.885 μM for c-Met). Selective cytotoxicity was observed against breast cancer cells, with compound 11b (p-fluorophenyl derivative) exhibiting high selectivity toward MCF-7 over normal breast cells (MCF-10A) and potency comparable to or exceeding Sorafenib. Mechanistically, 11b induced G₂/M cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis (total apoptosis = 48.34%), accompanied by upregulation of p53, BAX, and caspase-9 and downregulation of Bcl-2. Molecular docking confirmed stable binding within the ATP-binding sites of both kinases. Conclusions: Compound 11b was established as a novel, selective, dual VEGFR-2/c-Met inhibitor with strong potential for targeted breast cancer therapy. Full article

Introduction: Hematological malignancies (HMs) represent a diverse spectrum of hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms involving the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic organs. Better understanding of the burden of HMs in East Asia will allow for more targeted policy and public health efforts. Methods: Using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021, we extracted 2021 and 1990–2021 trend estimates for total counts and age-standardized rates (per 100,000 person-years) for incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for leukemia and subtypes, multiple myeloma (MM), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in East Asia (China, Japan, North Korea, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, and Taiwan). Results: In 2021, the burden of HMs globally and in East Asia was driven by China and Japan. China had the highest global HM burden with 238,051 new cases, 117,188 deaths, and 3.9 million DALYs. NHL and leukemia accounted for the majority of new cases, deaths, and DALYs in all countries. From 1990 to 2021, in most HMs and countries the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) increased, while the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDALYR) decreased. The notable exception is the significant increase of MM ASIR, ASMR, and ASDALYR in Mongolia, Taiwan, and China, with increases in China by 200–300%. Conclusions: With the significant contribution to the global burden of HMs from China and Japan, diagnosis and treatment of HMs in these two countries should be a primary global health focus. The significant relative increase of MM ASIR, ASMR, and DALYs across many East Asia countries, especially in China, highlights MM as an important public health focus. Significant variations between the other East Asia countries also warrant further country- and disease-specific investigations. Full article

Background/Objectives: In the current medical era, Topoisomerase II is recognized as an essential enzyme that regulates DNA topology during critical biological processes such as DNA replication, transcription, and repair. This study aimed to design, synthesize, and biologically evaluate a new series of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines (8a–g, 10a–g, and 12) as potential anticancer agents and Topoisomerase II inhibitors. Methods: The synthesized compounds were subjected to in vitro anticancer screening at the National Cancer Institute (NCI, USA). Active derivatives were further evaluated through a five-dose screening to determine their antiproliferative potency. Selected compounds were examined for their effects on leukemia cell lines (K562 and MV4-11), and mechanistic studies were performed to assess DNA damage, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis-related protein modulation. Additionally, enzyme inhibition assays were conducted to determine Topoisomerase IIα (TOPIIα) inhibition. Results: Initial single-dose screening identified several active compounds, notably 8b, 8c, 8e, 8f, 10b, 10c, 10e, and 10f. Among these, compound 8c exhibited potent and broad-spectrum antiproliferative activity across the NCI cancer cell line panel, with a GI₅₀ MG-MID value of 1.33 µM (range: 0.54–2.08 µM). The synthesized molecules showed moderate to good anti-leukemic efficacy against K562 and MV4-11 cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that compound 8c induced DNA damage and S-phase cell cycle arrest, leading to apoptosis as evidenced by the modulation of PARP-1, Bax, XIAP, and Caspases. Furthermore, target-based assays confirmed that compound 8c significantly inhibited the DNA relaxation activity of TOPIIα in a dose-dependent manner, comparable to etoposide. Conclusions: The study highlights compound 8c as a promising pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivative with potent antiproliferative activity and effective inhibition of Topoisomerase IIα. These findings suggest its potential as a lead scaffold for further optimization in anticancer drug development.. Full article

In this paper, we study the detour eccentric sum index (DESI) to obtain the Quantitative Structure–Property Relationship (QSPR) for different molecular structures. We establish theoretical bounds for this index and compute its values across fundamental graph families. Through correlation analyses between the physicochemical properties of molecular structures representing anti-malarial and breast cancer drugs, we show the high predictive value of two topological parameters, detour diameter (DD) and detour radius (DR). Specifically, DR shows strong positive correlations with boiling point, enthalpy, and flash point (up to 0.94), while DD is highly correlated with properties such as molar volume, molar refraction, and polarizability (up to 0.97). The DESI was then selected for detailed curvilinear regression modeling and comparison against the established eccentric distance sum index. For anti-malarial drugs, the second-order model yields the best fit. The DESI provides optimal prediction for boiling point, enthalpy, and flash point. In breast cancer drugs, the second-order model is again favored for properties except for melting point, best described by a third-order model. The results highlight how well the index captures subtle structural characteristics. Full article

Landscape character assessment (LCA) is a systematic approach used to classify, describe, and analyze the physical and cultural attributes that define the landscape. The traditional approaches to LCA are fundamentally subjective and descriptive, relying on human evaluations of aesthetic value, and they often show inconsistencies in results when assessed by different observers for the same landscape. This research aims to establish a spatial and quantitative methodology through GIS for evaluating the landscape character of King Khalid University (KKU)’s campus in the Southern Province of Saudi Arabia, which is considered crucial for designing a sustainable and context-sensitive landscape. To identify the feasible developed areas and their sustainable characteristics, three key landscape variables were measured and spatially expressed, subsequently averaged to categorize landscape character. The variables include land use and land cover, which were obtained from Sentinel 2 remote sensing data through supervised classification, as well as landforms and hydrological settings derived from a digital elevation model (DEM) utilizing GIS functionalities. The findings revealed three distinct landscape characters, each characterized by quantifiable landscape attributes. The landscapes exhibiting the most significant character encompass approximately 20% (1074 ha) of the study area, whereas those with the least significance account for 6.5% (342 ha). The remaining 73.5% (3884 ha) is classified as landscapes with an average significance character. The results provide a solid scientific basis for choosing locations in the campus’s study area that promote environmentally friendly and sustainable landscape development. This method improves objectivity in LCA and offers a reproducible framework for implementation in arid and semi-arid areas. Full article