TheScientificWorldJournal

Prediabetes mellitus (pre-DM) is defined as blood glucose levels higher than normal but lower than the threshold for diabetes mellitus (DM) diagnosis. Four-limb blood pressure (BP) differences can help identify a significant risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The current study aimed to determine the importance of BP and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) between two patient groups and the association between fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and four-limb BP, ABI, interarm BP difference (IAD), and interleg BP difference (ILD)...

BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis is life-saving and life-altering, affecting patients' quality of life. The management of dialysis patients often focuses on renal replacement therapy to improve clinical outcomes and remove excess fluid; however, the patient's quality of life is often not factored in. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the factors affecting the quality of life of patients on dialysis in Palestine using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL-SFTM) questionnaire...

Soil erosion by water is a severe and continuous ecological problem in the south central highlands of Ethiopia. Limited use of soil and water conservation technologies by farmers is one of the major causes that have resulted in accelerated soil erosion. Within this context, significant attention has been given to soil and water conservation practices. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil physicochemical properties after being practiced continuously for up to 10 years...

In this study, Arthrospira fusiformis previously isolated from Lake Mariout (Alexandria, Egypt) was cultivated in the laboratory using a medium for pharmaceutical grade Arthrospira , named as Amara and Steinbüchel medium. Hot water extract of the Egyptian Spirulina was prepared by autoclaving dried biomass in distilled water at 121°C for 15 min. This algal water extract was analyzed by GC-MS to evaluate its volatile compounds and fatty acids composition. The antimicrobial activity of phycobiliprotein extract from Arthrospira fusiformis using phosphate buffer was evaluated against thirteen microbial strains (two Gram-positive bacteria, eight Gram-negative bacteria, one yeast, and two filamentous fungi)...

BACKGROUND: Currently, conventional radiography is still widely used to diagnose knee osteoarthritis and assess the grade according to Kallgren and Lawrence's criteria. Ultrasound is a simple, inexpensive, noninvasive, and dynamic modality for evaluating femoral cartilage (FC) thickness. This study aims to measure the FC thickness in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients and compare it to healthy adults using ultrasound assessment. METHODS: An observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Hajj General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia, from May to July 2022...

This study's primary goal was to explain how Ethiopia's economic growth affected government spending. The time series data utilized in the study were gathered between 1980 and 2018. The time series data were subjected to the Johansen cointegration test and the vector error correction model (VECM) in order to evaluate the short- and long-term correlations between public spending and economic growth in Ethiopia. According to the study, both long- and short-term economic growths are positively and significantly impacted by government spending on education...

Molecularly imprinted mesoporous silica (MIPMS) is one of the methods to improve site accessibility molecule target on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for application in solid-phase extraction (SPE). The MIPMS was prepared using salbutamol sulfate as template molecule, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a directing agent, and tetraethyl orthosilicate and methyltriethoxysilane were used as silica precursor and organosilane. In this study, two TEOS : MTES ratios were used. The MIPMS-2 with 3 : 1 ratio of TEOS : MTES has better analytical performance than the MIPMS-1 with 2 : 1 ratio of TEOS : MTES...

Multidrug-resistant bacteria have emerged as a serious global health threat that requires, more than ever before, an urgent need for novel and more effective drugs. In this regard, the present study sheds light on the diversity and antimicrobial potential of Actinobacteria isolates in mining ecosystems. We have indeed investigated the production of bioactive molecules by the Actinobacteria isolated from abandoned mining areas in Midelt, Morocco, where average contents of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are higher than normal world levels...

Small-scale fisheries are facing significant challenges from climate change. Fishers feel the impact of climate change, which forces them to adapt. We, therefore, analyzed local climatic changes, fishers' perceptions regarding climate change and its impacts, adaptation responses, and determinants. Three decades of meteorological data were analyzed (1985-2020). A total of 300 fishermen were selected using quota sampling and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the descriptive and binary logit regression models to explain the determinants of adaptation responses...

Red pepper ( Capsicum annum L.) is an increasingly important economic crop in the world. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the growth, physiological, and biochemical responses of red pepper cultivars under drought stress conditions. A pot culture experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications, four treatments, and three cultivars. Totally, 36 pots and six seeds per pot were used to grow the seeds. After five weeks, the cultivars were exposed to different drought stress conditions (100% FC or control, 80% FC or low stress, 60% FC or moderate stress, and 40% FC or severe stress)...

Salmonella enterica is a major cause of diarrheal diseases in developing countries where timely surveillance and proper clinical management are inadequate. In this study, a rapid and cheap method of detecting S. enterica DNA was developed by employing the Quenching of Unincorporated Amplification Signal Reporters in Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (QUASR LAMP) platform. QUASR LAMP provides a closed-tube, target-specific endpoint detection of pathogens, wherein results can be analyzed visually through an LED transilluminator and verified through agarose gel electrophoresis...

With the gradual resumption of dental services worldwide, it is crucial to focus on returning dental undergraduates to their clinical postings. The assessment of foreseeable concerns from a student's point of view will help the dental schools tailor a comprehensive plan of action that would be in the best interest of everyone. Aim . Hence, this survey was planned to assess dental undergraduates' risk perception and preparedness to provide patient care amidst the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Material and Methods ...

The probiotic encapsulating hydrogel derived from porang ( Amorphophallus oncophyllus ) glucomannan and chitosan was investigated with regard to its encapsulation efficiency, physical properties, prebiotic activity, and survival under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The hydrogel's encapsulation efficiency was improved by varying the number of the Lactobacillus acidophilus FNCC 0051, which also served to increase the diameter (2-3 mm), polydispersity index (1.23-1.65), positive zeta potential, whiteness, and brightness of the hydrogel...

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is still a serious public health threat in developing countries, especially in Iran. Brucellosis is an endemic disease in Iran and risk factors increasing its broadcast are prevalent. This study investigated factors influencing brucellosis preventive behaviors amongst marginalized women in Hamadan city, Iran, using the health belief model (HBM). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 289 women living in marginal areas were considered from April until May 2018...

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, surveys have shown that the frequency of chromosomal disorders among births with congenital anomalies varies greatly from country to country. It is well known that chromosomal disorders are an important cause of premature death or life-long disability; however, the absence of local epidemiological data on their birth prevalence and outcomes impedes policy and service development in many countries and continents. Therefore, the current systematic review and meta-analysis intend to show the pooled proportion of chromosomal disorders among births with congenital anomalies in Africa...

OBJECTIVE: Ellagic acid, a phenolic compound with anti-inflammatory potential, can be used to accelerate the bone healing process and affect human health, while hydroxyapatite is the most commonly used bone graft material. Using a combination of the two materials results in reduced inflammation and increased osteogenesis. This study aimed to determine the effects of combining ellagic acid and hydroxyapatite in bone marker remodelling by analysing the expression of tumour necrosis factor- α (TNF- α ), interleukin 10 (IL-10), bone morphogenetic 4 protein (BMP-4), and osteopontin (OPN)...

As one of the most productive plantation producers in the world, Indonesia also faces rapid change in both social and environmental systems. These conditions are predicted to become more disruptive to the agricultural sector in the future. Therefore, understanding the impact of social and environmental disruption on smallholder plantations' resilience is vital to formulate a strategy for the sustainability of farmers' livelihoods in this country. Using survey data from 360 smallholding farmers in six villages from three districts in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia, the study deployed a multidimensional approach to assess smallholders' resilience to social and environmental disruption as well as towards economic dynamics...

Land use and land cover (LULC) parameters influence the hydrological and ecological processes taking place in a watershed. Understanding the changes in LULC is essential in the planning and development of management strategies for water resources. The purpose of the study was to detect changes in LULC in the Kibwezi watershed in Kenya, using geospatial approaches. Supervised and unsupervised classification techniques using remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) were used to process Landsat imagery for 1999, 2009, and 2019 while ERDAS IMAGINE™ 14 and MS Excel software were used to derive change detection, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to delineate the watershed using an in-built watershed delineation tool...

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is a pivotal enzyme that mediates triglyceride hydrolysis to provide free fatty acids and glycerol in adipocytes in a hormonally controlled lipolysis process. Elevated plasma-free fatty acids were accompanied by insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes, and obesity. Inhibition of lipolysis through HSL inhibition may provide a mechanism to prevent the accumulation of free fatty acids and to improve the affectability of insulin and blood glucose handling in type II diabetes. The published studies that examine the structure, regulation, and function of HSL and major inhibitors were reviewed in this paper...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence evolution rate of MIH (molar-incisor hypomineralization) after a 6-year period in Araraquara/SP, Brazil. This population-based study evaluated MIH in 545 schoolchildren (6-12 years of age) and other associated alterations, dental caries and dental fluorosis (DF). A semistructured questionnaire was sent to the schoolchildren's parents/guardians with the purpose of identifying the socioeconomic profile. Associations between MIH and the clinical characteristics were analyzed by the Poisson analysis of regression with robust variance, estimating the RPc (crude prevalence ratio) with CI 95%...