Thrombosis refers to the formation of blood clots within the blood vessels. It represents a major health and economic burden in most regions worldwide, being associated with heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. Since traditional treatments for thrombosis are not always effective and are accompanied by various side effects, other treatments are urgently needed. Some plants, such as garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), turmeric (Curcuma longa), and grape seed (Vitis vinifera), offer potential remedies as they contain bioactive molecules with thrombolytic effects. These plants have various pharmacological effects, such as antiplatelet activity, increasing the fibrinolysis rate, and anticoagulant and anti- inflammatory activities. Therefore, herbal remedies could reduce the risk of thrombosis and its consequences and thus be employed as natural, easily accessible alternatives to traditional pharmacological therapies. This review highlights the thrombolytic properties of some medicinal plants, emphasizing their mode of action and therapeutic implications.
Orthognathic surgery is increasingly recognized for its dual role in correcting jaw and facial deformities and significantly enhancing patients' quality of life (QoL). Historically, the evaluation of orthognathic surgery has focused on clinical outcomes such as occlusion and aesthetics. However, recent research emphasizes the broader impact on psychosocial and functional aspects of well-being. This literature review explores the QoL outcomes following orthognathic surgery, highlighting both short- and long-term improvements in domains such as self-esteem, social confidence, and oral function. The Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) and other validated patient- reported outcome measures (PROMs) are discussed as essential tools for assessing oral health-related QoL (OHRQoL). Pre-surgical distress, including issues with facial aesthetics, chewing, and speech, often leads to lower QoL, but substantial improvements are seen postoperatively. Studies show that these benefits are sustained over time, particularly in psychosocial domains. More importantly, the review identifies factors moderating QoL outcomes, such as pre-surgical psychosocial factors, expectations, counselling, and social support. Further research is needed to address gaps in understanding the long-term impact and variations in outcomes across diverse populations. This review underscores the necessity of incorporating patient-centred QoL assessments into routine pre-orthognathic surgical care to optimize patient satisfaction and outcomes.
Background: Anemia can adversely affect cognitive development in infants and children, potentially leading to challenges in cognition, motor control, social interaction, and neurophysiological functioning. Full-term infants do not develop iron deficiency anemia within the first four months of life, as they are born with sufficient iron stores accumulated during their intrauterine life. These stores are usually adequate for four to six months of postnatal life. However, exclusive breastfeeding beyond six months without iron supplementation can increase the risk of iron deficiency anemia, as breast milk does not provide enough iron to meet the growing infant’s demand. The American Academy of Pediatrics, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO) all recommend that exclusive breastfeeding is the optimal method to feed a newborn during the first six months of life. The Aim of the Study: This study correlates the association between extended exclusive breastfeeding and anemia in infants under two years of age in Zakho, Iraq, and compares the findings with global studies. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to February 2024, involving 637 children aged 6 months to 2 years old in Zakho City. Data were obtained through interviews with parents using a validated questionnaire. Anemia was diagnosed based on hemoglobin levels. The study received ethical approval from the University of Zakho's ethical board. Data were analyzed using SPSS and chi-square tests. Results: The distribution of breastfeeding duration among male and female infants showed no statistically significant difference (P = 0.426). However, a significant association was observed between the mother’s age at delivery and breastfeeding duration (P = 0.007). Similarly, the mother's occupation demonstrated a significant correlation with breastfeeding duration (P = 0.006), with non-employed mothers being more likely to breastfeed for a longer duration. Among the children who were breastfed, 59.8% (128 out of 214) were anemic, while 40.2% (86 out of 214) were not anemic. Conclusion: Breastfeeding duration is influenced by maternal age, education, and occupation, with higher-educated mothers tending to breastfeed for longer periods. The percentage of anemia decreases with higher maternal education; however, most anemic children in this study are breastfed. The study’s findings are subject to several limitations, including the small sample size, reliance on maternal self-reports of breastfeeding duration, and infant health history. Future research should incorporate larger sample sizes and a detailed assessment of dietary habits and environmental influences to better understand the relationship between breastfeeding duration and anemia in infants.
Background: 99mTc-MIBI is a lipophilic cation that can accumulate within the mitochondria of metabolically active tumor cells and is routinely used for parathyroid and myocardial perfusion imaging. Cases of incidental findings during parathyroid scintigraphy and myocardial perfusion scans using 99mTc-MIBI have been reported previously. However, retrospective studies with more extensive sample data are lacking. Objectives: This observational study retrospectively analyzed 99mTc- MIBI parathyroid and myocardial perfusion images to describe incidental extra-parathyroid and cardiac uptake. Methods: A retrospective review of 308 parathyroid and myocardial perfusion 99mTc-MIBI scans was performed between January 2019 and December 2022. 99mTc-pertechnetate with 99mTc-MIBI was used in parathyroid cases to delineate thyroid-related abnormalities. The raw projection data, acquired images, and patients’ medical and laboratory records were assessed. Results: Out of 308 scans, eight were identified with incidental extracardiac and parathyroid findings during data interpretation. Three incidental findings were noted in the parathyroid scans, specifically in the right parotid gland, right submandibular gland, and the fifth right rib. The use of 99mTc-pertechnetate alongside 99mTc-MIBI facilitated the visualization and comparison of incidental finding biodistribution in the parathyroid cases. Additionally, five incidental findings were detected in the cardiac stress raw projection data, located in the breast area, axillary lymph nodes, and lungs. All extracardiac incidental findings were observed in the stress data, attributed to the higher dose administered post-stress compared to the rest of the study. Conclusion: Thorough screening of images and raw projection data is vital to prevent the progression of unknown abnormalities and ensure significant findings are not overlooked.
Background: The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa presents a significant challenge in clinical microbiology. This study investigates the antimicrobial efficacy of thymoquinone (TQ) against both resistant and sensitive strains of P. aeruginosa, comparing their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to assess the potential of TQ as a therapeutic agent. Methods: A total of 40 P. aeruginosa isolates, consisting of 20 resistant and 20 sensitive strains, were obtained from the Microbiology Culture in Clinical and Molecular Microbiology Laboratories at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The MIC of TQ was determined using the broth microdilution method. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software version 8, and statistical significance was determined via the t-test. Results: Among the 20 resistant strains, 14 exhibited a high MIC of 512 µg/mL, while three strains showed an MIC of 256 µg/mL and three strains a MIC of 128 µg/mL. In contrast, the 20 sensitive strains displayed much lower MIC values, with 10 strains showing MICs of 64 µg/mL, eight strains at 32 µg/mL, and two strains at 16 µg/mL. These results demonstrate a clear distinction in resistance profiles, highlighting thymoquinone’s stronger efficacy against sensitive strains of P. aeruginosa. The results indicated a statistically significant difference in MIC values between resistant and sensitive strains, with a P < 0.05. Conclusion: This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of TQ against both resistant and sensitive P. aeruginosa strains, revealing significant variations in antimicrobial activity. The findings underscore the potential of TQ as a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of infections caused by P. aeruginosa, particularly in cases involving sensitive strains. However, further research is needed to explore its broader antimicrobial spectrum, biofilm disruption potential, and safety through toxicity testing. Additionally, studies on its effectiveness against other resistant pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and its role in preventing resistance development, are essential for advancing its clinical application.
Background: Hygiene practices among primary school teachers in Jeddah City, focusing on their academic qualifications, teaching experience, and knowledge of vocal hygiene. Methods: A digital questionnaire prepared using Google Forms was posted online with a description and distributed electronically to primary school teachers in Jeddah City. It consisted of 14 items, which were developed to achieve the study’s objectives. Results: The results show high averages for "Reducing the noise in the classroom" (3.48), while "I use the microphone in large classes" is ranked last, with an average of 1.28. In addition, the results show that 38% know where to seek medical assistance when having voice problems, while 62% do not know. The results also indicate that academic qualifications and teaching experience make no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: The study highlights that teachers actively recognize the need to manage noise levels for effective teaching, while noting that they do not have effective strategies for preserving vocal health, particularly in larger classrooms. Consequently, there is an urgent need to improve awareness and understanding of vocal hygiene by implementing targeted programs aimed at helping teachers maintain a healthy voice, regardless of their academic qualifications or teaching experience, as these factors do not significantly affect their vocal hygiene practice.
Mangroves are trees or large shrubs which have special adaptations to survive in this environment and grow within the intertidal zone in tropical and subtropical regions. Sesuvium portulacastrum (seapurslane) is, herbaceous, perennial, dichotomous, halophyte fast growing plant that belongs to family Aizoaceae. Salicornia brachiata Roxb, is a halophyte, commonly known as sea asparagus widely used as food item in several countries. Then, In vitro studies like, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimycobacterial assay was carried out. The IC50 values of Salicornia brachiata and Sesuvium portulacastru was found to be 288.166, 369.451 and 369.764 µg/ml for DPPH scavenging activity. The presence of various primary and secondary metabolites was revealed in the present study. It also showed the better in vitro activities and was the most active plants against MDRTB, MTB and H37RV strain. This study validates the medicinal use of plants in the treatment of TB which have promising effect against MDRTB, MTB and H37RV.
Larvae of Grapsus albolineatus (Latreille, in Milbert, 1812) of the Red Sea were reared in the laboratory for 24 days and four zoeal stages were obtained. In this paper, these first four zoeal stages of Grapsus albolineatus have been described for the first time; these descriptions aid to compare this species with other congeneric species and to show that its morphological features are basically equal to those defined for grapsid zoeae. Cephalothorax lateral spines are present from the second zoeal stage, however, a third seta on the second segment of the endopod of the first maxilliped in the fourth zoea is observed for the first time in a grapsid four zoea and the diagnostic value of this character needs to be investigated further.
The present study uses benthic foraminiferal abundance and diversity indices in the coastal bottom sediments of the Farasan Island, Southern Cornich of Jeddah (SCJ) and Rabigh areas, Saudi Arabia to identify the ecological controls on their distribution. A total of 20 recent sediment samples were collected from the studied sites. Grain size analysis, CaCO3 content and organic matter were determined. Multivariate analyses were applied to test and represent the diversity indices and distribution of benthic foraminiferal assemblage. Two main benthic foraminiferal assemblages; A and B have been distinguished. The assemblage-A includes a high abundance of T. trigonula (33%), S. communis (30%), Q. bosciana (21%), E. striatopunctatum (18%) with low diversity indices in the Rabigh coastal sediments indicating high ecological stress. The Farasan ecosystem is dominated by sub-assemblage-B1 P. planatus (55%), S. orbiculus (27%), N. calcar (15%), Q. limbata (14%), which totally ranges between 60%-82%, indicating a highly oxic marine environment and normal ecology stress. Sub-assemblage-B2 such as P. planatus (39%),C. hemprichii (26%), V. neostriata (15%),Q. costata (10%) dominate the Southern Corniche of Jeddah (SCJ) with relatively high diversity indices, indicating moderate stress ecology or unstable environmental conditions.The cluster and the canonical correspondence analyses (CCA) indicated that the distribution and diversity pattern of benthic foraminifera are controlled by the enrichment of organic matters, CaCO3 contents, and sediments grain size characteristics. The concept of differentiation between these ecosystems is probably related to several factors, such as seasonal flash floods carrying a considerable amount of dissolved nutrients and mangrove communities on the Rabigh coast. In contrast, it is negligible on the south Jeddah coast and absence on Farasan Island.
The metabolites produced by the marine macroalgae are considered as a source for the natural product antifoulants. In this study, the surface and whole thallus extracts of the marine macroalgae Dictyota dichotoma was tested against a biofilm-forming bacterial strain Vibrio harveyi and barnacle larval settlement to understand the best extraction strategies for antifouling screening bioassays. The surface extracts were prepared in different time duration by dipping the algal samples for 10, 20 and 30 seconds in hexane. The results indicated that the extracts (both surface and whole thallus) obtained from the macroalgal samples have strong antifouling activities against the bacterial strain V. harveyi and barnacle larvae settlement. The extraction duration of the surface extracts strongly affected the antifouling activity. In all the assays, the surface extract obtained by 30 sec. dipping in the solvent showed high inhibitory activity than whole thallus extract. In conclusion, this study indicated the necessity for the inclusion of surface extraction methods for antifouling screening assays using marine macroalgae as a source for natural products.
The temporal and diel variability in mesozooplankton abundance were studied between January and December 2018 at a station in front of Obhur Creek, central Red Sea. Temperature and salinity reflected the hot and saline conditions of the Red Sea. Inorganic nutrients and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) depicted the oligotrophic characteristics of the region with occasional increase. Phytoplankton displayed low numerical densities (average 246.80±306.98×103 cells m-3) except for the high value in May (1082.34×103 cells m-3). Diatoms dominated the total phytoplankton (70.6%) most of the year, while dinoflagellates during summer. The mesozooplankton average abundance varied temporally between 1523±1377 in February and 23171±9704 individuals m-3 in December, while diel values fluctuated between 2694±3482 and 9009±6851 individuals m-3. The seasonal abundance was the higher in cold period; while the high diel abundance appeared mainly from the evening and midnight collections. Copepods were the dominant group, contributing 79.5 % to total zooplankton. Cladocerans, chaetognaths, appendicularians and crab larvae were represented considerable percentages of total zooplankton (4.8, 1.7, 1.5 and 2.8%, respectively). All of these groups exhibited clear seasonal and diel variations. The dominant calanoid copepod Centropages spp. attained its high abundance during the spring and autumn, but it recorded the highest diel from the evening and midnight. It is evident from this study that the distribution of zooplankton in the central Red sea is mainly dependent on the cumulative effect of both temperature and solar radiation, while the Centropages spp. have a particular affinity towards the moderate temperature indicating its native behavior.
The present study investigates the gut contents and feeding habits of Crenidens crenidens in the Red Sea coast of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Gonadosomatic index, length-weight relationship and relative condition factor were also determined. Samples were collected monthly during the period from November 2018 to October 2019.
The rapid development of the intensive sea cucumber industry poses the appearance of potential threats, which makes it necessary to develop safe concentrations of common disinfectants used in aquaculture for controlling pathogens or infestation of predators.
Daily means sea level has been computed from hourly observations at Aden and Djibouti for the period of 2011–2014 to study seasonal variability in sea level in the western Gulf of Aden.
Biofilm bacteria are primary surface colonizers in marine biofouling assemblage on submerged surfaces and dominate the early microfouling phase. They are an important target in the design of antifouling treatment
Age-based life history parameters: the asymptotic length (L∞), the growth coefficient (K) and the hypothetical age at zero length (t0), for Lutjanus bohar in Jeddah fisheries were estimated. Scales were used for age determination and measurements,
The rate of heavy metal pollution in an aquatic ecosystem and its effect on aquatic fauna wellbeing is on the increase. Heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Ni) concentrations were determined in fish samples and their helminth parasites collected from two major sites in the Red Sea.
Megalopae of a Thalamita sp. crab, collected from the Obhur Creek, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, are morphologically described. The present specimens are compared with megalopae of two species of this genus: Thalamita
The microbial communities associated with marine invertebrates are considered as a prolific source of bioactive metabolites. In this study, the bacteria associated with the soft coral Sarcophyton sp.
his study documents the occurrence of several MISS such as laminated microbial mats, biostabilized ripples, gas domes, mat folds, erosional pockets and remnants, microbial cracks, and gypsified mat chips in Salman hypersaline lagoon, north Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. This study indicates that both microbial and physical processes are reponsible for sediments biostablization and formation of spits,
