76 research outputs found
Biochemical assessments of thyroid profile, serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and cluster of differentiation 5 expression levels among children with autism
No full textTarek Desoky,1 Mohammed H Hassan,2 Hanan M Fayed,3 Hala M Sakhr4 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, 2Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, 4Department of Pediatrics, Qena Faculty of Medicine, Qena University Hospitals, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt Background: The exact pathogenesis of autism is still unknown. Both thyroid hormones and 25(OH)D are important for brain development, in addition to CD5; all have immunomodulatory actions by which their dysregulation may have a potential role in autism pathogenesis.Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the thyroid profile, serum 25(OH)D levels and CD5 expression levels among autistic patients and to find out the correlations between the measured biomarkers with each other on one side and with the disease severity on the other side.Patients and methods: This cross-sectional case–control study has been conducted on 60 children with autism and 40 controls, recruited from Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score was used to assess the included patients. Biochemical assays of thyroid function in the form of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and 25(OH)D were done using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, while CD5 expression levels were measured using flow cytometry (FCM) analysis for all the included patients and controls.Results: The overall measurement results show significant higher mean serum TSH levels, mean CD5 expression levels with significant lower mean serum 25(OH)D levels among autistic children when compared with the control group (p<0.05 for all). Significant negative correlations between CD5 with FT3, FT4 and 25(OH)D were observed. CARS score showed significant negative correlations with both FT3 and 25(OH)D, while it was positively correlated with CD5 in a significant manner (p<0.05 for all).Conclusion: Elevated CD5 expression and decreased 25(OH)D stores could play a potential role in the pathogenesis of autism via their immune-modulator actions. High TSH serum levels among autistic children, although within the physiological range, reflect the presence of thyroid dysfunction among such children, which needs further assessment. Keywords: thyroid hormones, 25(OH)D, CD5, autism, flow cytometry, ELISA 
The smart safety Shoe: A new type of safety shoe that helps prevent lower back problems and opens the door to a new era of preventive safety footwear
No full textThe smart safety shoe is a concept safety shoe that has been in development as a collaboration between Allshoes safety footwear and TU Delft since 2020. Previous work on the shoe consisted of 2 graduation projects and a student course which resulted in the current concept of an injury preventing safety shoe focused on preventing lower back pain in the logistics sector. The shoe works by using pressure sensors and machine learning to detect unhealthy postures while its wearer has to lift various objects as part of their job (manual handling). This project focused on further developing the concept of the smart safety shoe and evaluating the prototypes from the last two projects. Previous projects provided two different pressure sensor layouts which are evaluated using a high-end pressure sensing insole. A manual handling experiment was set up and performed on 16 different participants from a lab and a warehouse. During testing participants were instructed to perform manual handling while holding 5 different postures. It was possible to train a machine learning model using the various pressure profiles gathered from the experiment. Using this model, the two sensor layouts from the previous projects were evaluated for their ability to detect the 5 predetermined postures. It was found that the latest layout outperformed the previous one and was therefore selected for further development of the smart safety shoe.The integration of various other sensors and actuators was evaluated, and the core functions of the shoe were defined with an indication towards future improvements of the smart safety shoe.The shoe has now been publicly presented by Allshoes and the goal is to have the product on the market by the end of 2025. In order for this to happen further prototyping is needed to create an improved machine learning model based on the selected sensor layout. The shoe shows promising responses from current safety shoe clients. When finally launched it will be part of a new type of protective equipment focused on prevention.Design for Interactio
Bosentan Delivery via Nano Metal-Organic Framework nanoMIL-89 Restores Vascular Homeostasis in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
No full textMashael A Al-Badr,1,2 Hanan H Abunada,1 Richa Gill,3 Hend S Fayed,4 Ayman Al Haj Zen,4 Mohammad A Al-Ghouti,3 Md Mizanur Rahman,2 Nura A Mohamed,1 Haissam Abou-Saleh5 1Biomedical Research Center, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 2Biological Science Program, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 3Environmental Science Program, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 4College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar; 5Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, QatarCorrespondence: Haissam Abou-Saleh, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar, Email [email protected]: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive vascular disorder characterized by endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle proliferation, and inflammation. Current treatments, such as Bosentan (an endothelin receptor antagonist), are limited by systemic toxicity and a short half-life. This study aimed to evaluate a nanomedicine formulation of Bosentan using the iron-based metal–organic framework MIL-89 (nanoMIL-89) as a targeted drug delivery platform.Methods: Bosentan-loaded nanoMIL-89 (Bosentan@nanoMIL-89) was synthesized and characterized using microscopy, XRD, FTIR, and HPLC. In vitro assays were conducted on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) under both basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory conditions.Results: Bosentan@nanoMIL-89 exhibited no significant cytotoxic or genotoxic effects while maintaining cellular viability. Under basal conditions, it reduced CXCL8 expression by up to 64.38% in HUVECs and 43.34% in HPASMCs. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory conditions, CXCL8 suppression was further enhanced to 94.20% in HUVECs and 58.14% in HPASMCs. In HUVECs, Bosentan@nanoMIL-89 also decreased endothelin-1 (ET-1) release by up to 96.68% and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by 46.17% under non-inflammatory conditions. These dose-dependent effects underscore its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, Bosentan@nanoMIL-89 promoted angiogenic activity in HUVECs, suggesting therapeutic potential for vascular repair.Conclusion: These findings highlight Bosentan@nanoMIL-89 as a promising nanotherapeutic platform for PAH. By improving efficacy while mitigating systemic side effects, this approach reinforces the broader potential of MOF-based drug delivery systems in the management of vascular diseases. Keywords: nanoparticles, nanomedicine, PAH, endothelial dysfunction, drug delivery, vascular homeostasi
Artificial Intelligence for marketing plan: the case for e-marketing companies
No full textУ статті узагальнено аргументи та контраргументи в рамках наукової дискусії щодо застосування штучного інтелекту
(ШІ) при підготовці маркетингового плану в Інтернеті. Систематизація літературних джерел та підходів до вирішення
проблеми застосування маркетингових інструментів засвідчила, що ШІ дозволяє підвищити ефективність проведення
аналізу конкурентоспроможності компаній, оцінювання стратегій конкурентів, планування маркетингового бюджету та
моніторінгу його виконнання тощо. Виявлено проблеми ШІ, які можуть вплинути на ефективність діяльності компаній.
Метою роботи є дослідження можливостей використання ШІ при підготовці маркетингового плану компанії. Для досягнення
поставленої мети, дослідження проведено у наступній логічній послідовності: 1) формування стратифікованої вибірки
дослідження на основі статистичних даних 141 компанії в різних галузях; 2) аналіз даних за допомогою програмного
забезпечення SPSS; 3) аналіз можливостей застосування ШІ при підготовці маркетингового плану; 4) визначення етапів
процесу підготовки маркетингового плану на основі можливостей ШІ. Об’єктом дослідження є компанії Королівства
Саудівської Аравії. Практичну реалізацію всіх етапів дослідження здійснено з використанням статистичних методів
множинної регресії та тесту Фрідмана. Дослідження емпірично підтверджує та теоретично доводить, що ШІ має суттєве
значення у процесі розробки маркетингових планів завдяки можливостям аналізу зовнішнього середовища та стратегій
конкурентів, а також формування маркетингових цілей компанії. При цьому ШІ може застосовуватись у підготовці та оцінці
бюджету та маркетингового плану, а також здійснювати подальший моніторінг їх виконання. У ході дослідження автор
приходить до висновку, що ШІ сприяє кращому розумінню цільових ринків та аудиторії, дозволяє підготувати відповідні
стратегії. Наведено практичні рекомендації щодо особливостей застосування ШІ при підготовці маркетингового плану
компанії.This paper summarises the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on
artificial intelligence (AI) in preparing a marketing plan for e-marketing organizations. This research aims to identify
the extent of the contribution of AI in preparing the marketing plan. The author noted that intended to know how emarketing companies could use AI techniques in situation analysis, analyze competitors' strategies, strategic goals,
preparing marketing strategies, preparing an estimated marketing budget, and control a marketing plan.
Systematization of the scientific background and approaches on preparing a marketing plan for e-marketing
organizations indicates that many companies, especially small companies, marketing their products via the Internet,
cannot develop a successful marketing plan. In turn, it could be solved through the use of AI techniques. The study
was conducted on a group of companies that market their products via the Internet in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
To gain the research goal, this study was carried out in the following logical sequence: 1) developing the stratified
sample by collecting statistical information for 141 company in a variety of fields; 2) analyzing the data using SPSS;
3) predicting how AI could be used in preparing the marketing plan; 4) identifying the arrangement of the steps for
preparing the marketing plan in terms of the ability of AI techniques. The methodological tools of the study were
methods of the multiple regression analysis and the Friedman test. The study empirically confirms and theoretically
proves that AI contributes significantly in developing marketing plans through its great contribution to environmental
analysis and analysis of competitors' strategies and setting marketing goals. Besides, AI contributes to preparing the
budget and appreciating the marketing plan, to its evaluation and control. The author mentioned that AI provides
understanding and selecting target markets and sectors, targeting customers, and preparing appropriate marketing
mix strategies for each market sector. Therefore, the study provides recommendations to online organizations to
use AI in preparing their marketing plan because of its great ability to contribute to this
Stresses at the Intersection of Sphere and Cylinder by a Variant Finite-Difference Method
No full textThe aim of this paper is the determination of stresses at the intersection of cylinder with the sphere using a variant finite-difference technique. Mesh lines are drawn on the cross section of the body which are roughly parallel and perpendicular to the boundary, and which the author calls natural meshes. Discretization of the governing differential equations must be carried out to reduce the continuous problem to a discrete problem, this discretization converts the problem into a set of linear simultaneous equations for the functions under consideration at a set of mesh points. The derivatives to be inserted in the governing equations and boundary conditions are found by writing Taylor series expansions at a point in terms of five neighboring points in the case where the point is an internal point (four for a boundary point). By an elimination process the derivatives can be eliminated for each point, and we are left with the unknown functions only.</jats:p
Echocardiography in Transfusion Dependent Beta Thalassaemia Major Egyptian Children: Correlation with Thyroid Function Status and Ferritin Level
No full textDUNALIELLA SALINA IMPROVED OBESITY-ASSOCIATED INFLAMMATION AND OXIDATIVE DAMAGE IN ANIMALS’ RODENT
No full text Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of microalgae Dunaliella salina to improve apelin, oxidative damage, inflammatory, and apoptotic function implicated in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in rats.Methods: Fifty male Westar albino rats weighing 150–160 g were fed on HFD for 12 weeks. Treatment of obese rats with D. salina was carried out in a dose 150 mg/kg body weight as compared to orlistat as anti-obesity standard drug. Blood nuclear factor kappa-B cells (NF-kB), apelin, apoptosis regulator (B-cell lymphoma 2 [BCl2]), monocytes chemo attractant protein-1, paraoxonase-1 (PON1) were determined in serum of different groups. Besides, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA]), glutathione (GSH) levels as well as histopathological examination were investigated in liver tissue of obese rats.Results: Serum apelin, MDA, and NF-kB levels were significantly high, reached to 97.25, 158.18, 511.433, and 170.73%, respectively. While significant decrease in PON1 (47.82%), BCl2 (74.88%), and GSH (63.54 %), levels were detected in the obese rats compared to controls. Obviously improvement in all biomarkers under investigation upon treated obese rats with ethanol extract of D. salina. Histopathological examination of obese hepatic tissue showed dilatation in the central portal veins associated with inflammatory cells infiltration in the portal area and congestion. However, treatment of obese rats with D. salina confirmed biochemical analysis and declared less diffuse inflammatory cells infiltration as well as less focal infiltration in both hepatic parenchyma and portal area with higher improvement in D. salina than drug.Conclusion: It could be concluded that D. salina has a great ability to improve inflammation associated with obesity as well as damaged hepatic architectures which can be used as a promising anti-obesity nutraceuticals.</jats:p
MP60-05 MELATONIN HORMONE LEVEL IN SERUM AND SEMINAL PLASMA OF PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC OLIGOASTHENOTERATOZOOSPERMIA
No full textBiochemical assessments of thyroid profile, serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and cluster of differentiation 5 expression levels among children with autism
No full text- …
