Medication error is a multifactorial problem that mainly involves missing or bypassing the administration, which may have life-threatening impacts on the patient. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of information on medication errors among nurses in Saudi Arabia. This study investigates the knowledge and attitudes toward medication errors and their associated factors among nurses in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four major public hospitals by recruiting a total of 408 nurses using cluster random sampling and proportional stratified sampling techniques. Data were gathered using an online self-administered questionnaire from January to March 2022. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression models were performed to analyze the data. The prevalence of medication error among the nurses was 72.1%, only 41.2% were reported, while wrong doses (46.9%) were the most common type of medication error. Approximately 55% and 50% of the respondents demonstrated good knowledge and a positive attitude toward medication errors, respectively. The prevalence of medication error was associated with age groups of less than 25, and 25–35 years old, King Fahad and King Abdulaziz hospitals, no history of attending an MER training course, poor knowledge, and negative attitude. These findings reflect a high prevalence of medication error among nurses in Saudi Arabia, and the factors identified could be considered in mitigating this important health problem.

A DNA micro-optode for dengue virus detection was developed based on the sandwich hybridization strategy of DNAs on succinimide-functionalized poly(n-butyl acrylate) (poly(nBA-NAS)) microspheres. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with an average diameter of ~20 nm were synthesized using a centrifugation-based method and adsorbed on the submicrometer-sized polyelectrolyte-coated poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) (PSA) latex particles via an electrostatic method. The AuNP–latex spheres were attached to the thiolated reporter probe (rDNA) by Au–thiol binding to functionalize as an optical gold–latex–rDNA label. The one-step sandwich hybridization recognition involved a pair of a DNA probe, i.e., capture probe (pDNA), and AuNP–PSA reporter label that flanked the target DNA (complementary DNA (cDNA)). The concentration of dengue virus cDNA was optically transduced by immobilized AuNP–PSA–rDNA conjugates as the DNA micro-optode exhibited a violet hue upon the DNA sandwich hybridization reaction, which could be monitored by a fiber-optic reflectance spectrophotometer at 637 nm. The optical genosensor showed a linear reflectance response over a wide cDNA concentration range from 1.0 × 10⁻²¹ M to 1.0 × 10⁻¹² M cDNA (R² = 0.9807) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1 × 10⁻²⁹ M. The DNA biosensor was reusable for three consecutive applications after regeneration with mild sodium hydroxide. The sandwich-type optical biosensor was well validated with a molecular reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique for screening of dengue virus in clinical samples, e.g., serum, urine, and saliva from dengue virus-infected patients under informed consent.

Background T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive blood cancer associated with high relapse rates, affecting about 15% of pediatric and 25% of ALL cases. Initial management typically involves hydroxyurea (HU) to reduce elevated white blood cell counts before intensive chemotherapy. However, despite this approach, recurrence remains a substantial challenge, even with stem cell transplants. A promising therapeutic strategy for T-ALL might involve combining HU with an additional compound that can enhance cancer cell inhibition. SRJ23, a semi-synthetic andrographolide derivative, is a potential candidate due to its unique mechanism of inhibiting the GDP-GTP exchange, targeting the oncogenic K-Ras mutation pathway implicated in T-ALL progression. This study investigates the potential of HU and SRJ23 as a combined treatment to enhance apoptotic induction in T-ALL cells. Methods JCLs is an immortalized lines of human T lymphocyte cells that are used to study T-ALL. They were cultured and treated with varying concentrations of HU (7.8–1000 µM) and SRJ23 (0.1–100 µM), individually and in combination, for 96 h. The cell viability was then assessed using the MTT assay. The drug interactions were calculated using the CompuSyn software, which runs the Chou-Talalay method to calculate the combination index (CI) and generate isobolograms, allowing for the quantitative, determination of synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects between the two compounds. We used the FITC Annexin V/PI Apoptosis Detection Kit to analyse the treated cells with BD FACS LSRFortressa™ Cell Analyser and FACSDiva™ Software to quantify early and late apoptotic populations. Results Our study shows a significant decline in the JCLs viability resulting from the exposure of HU and SRJ23, especially when in both drugs were in combination. A synergistic effect was observed at two occasions that is when 10 µM SRJ23 combined with 125 µM HU and 10 µM SRJ23 combined with 250 µM of HU on the dose–response curves. These combination treatment induced apoptosis confirmed by Annexin V-FITC staining. Conclusion To our knowledge, our study is the first to prove that the combination of HU and SRJ23 exerts a synergistic effect against JCLs and has a significant inhibitory effect in vitro with a remarkable ability to induce apoptosis. Further in-vitro and animal research is deemed required to thoroughly understand the detailed impact of this novel HU and SRJ23 synergism before it can be embarked as a potential novel targeted T-ALL chemotherapy.