Effect of using nano-particles of magnesium oxide and titanium dioxide to enhance physical and mechanical properties of hip joint bone cement

In this work, the effect of adding Magnesium Oxide (MgO) and Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles to enhance the properties of the bone cement used for hip prosthesis fixation. Related to previous work on enhanced bone cement properties utilizing MgO and TiO2, samples of composite bone cement were made using three different ratios (0.5%:1%, 1.5%:1.5%, and 1%:0.5%) w/w of MgO and TiO2 to determine the optimal enhancement ratio. Hardness, compression, and bending tests were calculated to check the mechanical properties of pure and composite bone cement. The surface structure was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Setting temperature, porosity, and degradation were calculated for each specimen ratio to check values matched with the standard range of bone cement. The results demonstrate a slight decrease in porosity up to 2.2% and degradation up to 0.17% with NP-containing composites, as well as acceptable variations in FTIR and setting temperature. The compression strength increased by 2.8% and hardness strength increased by 1.89% on adding 0.5%w/w of MgO and 1.5%w/w TiO2 NPs. Bending strength increases by 0.35% on adding 1.5% w/w of MgO and 0.5% w/w TiO2 NPs, however, SEM scan shows remarkable improvement for surface structure.

Identification of a novel nonsense variant in FYCO1 gene associated with infantile cataract and cortical atrophy

INTRODUCTION

Cataract is a major condition characterized by ocular lens opacification, resulting from alteration in the lens architecture, lens proteins or both. It is responsible for about one-third of infants' blindness worldwide. Variants in the FYCO1 gene have been associated with autosomal recessive infantile cataract.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) in a nine months old male patient who was referred for genetic investigation because of infantile cataract. WES analysis revealed the presence of a homozygous pathogenic variant (c.2365C>T) in exon 8 of the FYCO1 gene.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This is the first report on a Lebanese infant with infantile cataract and cortical atrophy which was not previously reported, resulting from a novel homozygous FYCO1 variant; thus expanding the clinical phenotypic spectrum of FYCO1 involvement.

Stripping back the mask: Working conditions on digital labour platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic

Digital labour platforms have been widely promoted as a solution to the unemployment crisis sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic has also highlighted the harms to gig workers-who are exposed either to income loss, or to infection while carrying out essential work, but excluded from labour protections. We examine the COVID-19 policies of 191 platforms in 43 countries to understand how the crisis has shifted the conventions of the gig economy. Using a typology of "fair platform work" we report the introduction of some positive worker protections, but also significant shortfalls, including entrenchment of precarious work as platforms leverage the opportunities arising from the crisis.

The impact of protocol-based high-intensity pharmacological thromboprophylaxis on thrombotic events in critically ill COVID-19 patients

The reported incidence rate of venous and arterial thrombotic events in critically ill patients with COVID‐19 infections is high, ranging from 20% to 60%. We adopted a patient‐tailored thromboprophylaxis protocol based on clinical and laboratory presentations for these patients in our institution. We hypothesised that patients who received high‐intensity thromboprophylaxis treatment would experience fewer thrombotic events. The aims of our study were to explore the incidence of thrombotic events in this population; to assess independent factors associated with thrombotic events and to evaluate the incidence of haemorrhagic events. A retrospective review of all adult patients with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between 1 March and 29 May 2020 was performed. The primary outcome was a composite of venous and arterial thrombotic events diagnosed during the ICU stay. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the independent factors associated with thrombotic events. A total of 188 patients met the inclusion criteria. All received some type of thromboprophylaxis treatment except for six patients who did not receive any prophylaxis. Of the 182 patients who received thromboprophylaxis, 75 (40%) received high‐intensity thromboprophylaxis and 24 (12.8%) were treated with therapeutic anticoagulation. Twenty‐one patients (11.2%) experienced 23 thrombotic events (incidence rate of 12.2% (95%CI 7.9–17.8)), including 12 deep venous thromboses, 9 pulmonary emboli and 2 peripheral arterial thromboses. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that only D‐dimer (OR 2.80, p = 0.002) and high‐intensity thromboprophylaxis regimen (OR 0.20, p = 0.01) were independently associated with thrombotic events. Thirty‐one patients (16.5%) experienced haemorrhagic events; among them, 13 were classified as major bleeding according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria. Therapeutic anticoagulation, but not the high‐intensity thromboprophylaxis regimen, was associated with major bleeding. A proactive approach to the management of thromboembolism in critically ill COVID‐19 patients utilising a high‐intensity thromboprophylaxis regimen in appropriately selected patients may result in lower thrombotic events without increasing the risk of bleeding.

Supplementing dams with both arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid has beneficial effects on growth and immune development

Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAS) modulate immune cells in vitro and in vivo. This study investigated the effects of enriching the maternal diet with the n-6 and n-3 LCPUFAs, arachidonic (20:4n-6, 0.6%wt ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, 0.32%wt DHA), or 1:1 and 2:1 ratios (ARA: DHA) on total lipids in milk, total lipids, and immunophenotypes in plasma, lymph nodes, and spleen from isolated immune cells from 28d old pups. From day 15 of gestation to day 3 pp, Sprague-Dawley dams were fed a commercial chow. On day 3 pp litters were culled and pups (4 males and 2 females) randomly cross-fostered to dams who were randomized to one of the 5 experimental diets resulting in 20 male and 10 female pups/diet group. Dams fed ARA or ARA: DHA had 28-36% more 20:4n-6 in milk and feeding DHA or ARA: DHA doubled 22:6n-3 in milk lipids (P<0.05). Feeding 1:1 or 2:1 ARA: DHA resulted in greater pup weight at weaning (P<0.05). Compared to the control pups, ARA + DHA fed pups had a lower proportion of splenic CD45RA+ lymphocytes. In summary, postpartum supplementation with a combination of ARA + DHA, compared to ARA or DHA alone, resulted in a higher content of ARA and DHA in dam's milk and tissues and had positive effects on growth, accompanied by evidence of progression toward a mature immune phenotype, and suggests a need for ARA when DHA is supplemented in the early diet. Additional investigations are needed of ARA immunomodulation to better understand and estimate nutritional requirements for LCPUFAs during early development.

Ethnocultural Gerontological Nursing

The aging population is growing increasingly more diverse, with one in four older adults from an ethnic minority group by 2050, while the nursing force will largely remain members of a single race White population. The purpose of this review is to appraise the state of nursing knowledge in relationship to meeting the needs of elders in unique racial/ethnic groups using two approaches: evaluating the efficacy of current knowledge and evaluating the state of nursing knowledge about ethnocultural gerontological nursing based on an integrative review of nursing literature. Thirty-four articles were reviewed. Most articles used qualitative methodology focused on a single ethnic group, with several articles focused on health promotion/prevention. Cultural perspectives were better addressed than aging concepts and few articles integrated ethnocultural and gerontological nursing concepts. This evaluation indicates many gaps in the knowledge base about ethnocultural gerontological nursing. Specific areas for future knowledge development are identified.

A new tobamovirus infecting tomato crops in Jordan

In this study, we completed the whole genome sequence of a new tobamovirus isolated from tomato plants grown in greenhouses in Jordan during the spring of 2015. The 6393-nt single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) genome encodes four proteins, as do other tobamoviruses: two replication-related proteins of 126 kDa and 183 kDa, a 30-kDa movement protein (MP) and a 17.5-kDa coat protein (CP). Phylogenetic analysis showed that this virus does not group with either the tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) or the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) clades. Instead, it stems from a branch leading to the TMV clade. Analysis of possible recombination events between this virus and representative isolates of closely related tomato-infecting tobamoviruses showed that at least one region originated by recombination. We provide evidence that we have identified a new tobamovirus, for which we propose the name "tomato brown rugose fruit virus".

Distribution of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the whole rat body and 25 compartments

The steady state compositions of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) throughout the various viscera and tissues within the whole body of rats have not previously been described in a comprehensive manner. Dams consumed diets containing 10wt% fat (15% linoleate and 3% α-linolenate). Male offspring (n=9) at 7-week of age were euthanized and dissected into 25 compartments. Total lipid fatty acids for each compartment were quantified by GC/FID and summed for the rat whole body; total n-6 PUFA was 12wt% and total n-3 PUFA was 2.1% of total fatty acids. 18:2n-6 accounted for 84% of the total n-6 PUFA, 20:4n-6 was 12%, 18:3n-3 was 59% of the total n-3 PUFA, 20:5n-3 was 2.1%, and 22:6n-3 was 32%. The white adipose tissue contained the greatest amounts of 18:2n-6 (1.5g) and 18:3n-3 (0.2g). 20:4n-6 was highest in muscle (60mg) and liver (57mg), while 22:6n-3 was greatest in muscle (46mg), followed by liver (27mg) and carcass (20mg). In terms of fatty acid composition expressed as a percentage, 18:2n-6 was the highest in the heart (13wt%), while 18:3n-3 was about 1.3wt% for skin, white adipose tissue and fur. 20:4n-6 was highest (21-25wt%) in the circulation, kidney, and spleen, while 22:6n-3 was highest in the brain (12wt%), followed by the heart (7.9wt%), liver (5.9wt%), and spinal cord (5.1wt%). Selectivity was greatest when comparing 22:6n-3 in brain (12%) to white adipose (0.08%) (68-fold) and 22:5n-6 in testes (15.6%) compared to white adipose (0.02%), 780-fold.