Acyclovir has a short half-life and offers poor bioavailability. Its daily dose is 200 mg five times a day. A tamarind gum and β-cyclodextrin-based pH-responsive hydrogel network for sustained delivery of acyclovir was developed using the free-radical polymerization technique. Developed networks were characterized by FTIR, DSC, TGA, PXRD, EDX, and SEM. The effect of varying feed ratios of polymers, monomers, and crosslinker on the gel fraction, swelling, and release was also investigated. FTIR findings confirmed the compatibility of the ingredients in a new complex polymer. The thermal stability of acyclovir was increased within the newly synthesized polymer. SEM photomicrographs confirmed the porous texture of hydrogels. The gel fraction was improved (from 90.12% to 98.12%) with increased reactant concentrations. The pH of the dissolution medium and the reactant contents affected swelling dynamics and acyclovir release from the developed carrier system. Based on the R2 value, the best-fit model was zero-order kinetics with non-Fickian diffusion as a release mechanism. The biocompatibility of the developed network was confirmed through hematology, LFT, RFT, lipid profile, and histopathological examinations. No sign of pathology, necrosis, or abrasion was observed. Thus, a pH-responsive and biocompatible polymeric system was developed for sustained delivery of acyclovir to reduce the dosing frequency and improve patient compliance.

The study aimed to investigate the antitumor efficacy of anti-LMP1 antibodies in EBV-positive nasopharyngeal and stomach cell lines and xenograft models. The study also examined the NF-κB expression and cell cycle activation of NPC-serum-exosome-associated LMP1. Anti-LMP1 antibody treatment before or during cell implantation prevented tumor growth in nude mice. A small dose of antibodies resulted in complete tumor regression for at least three months after the tumors had grown in size. The consumption of antigen–antibody complexes by tumor cells limited tumor growth. In vitro experiments showed that anti-LMP1 antibodies killed EBV-positive NPC- or GC-derived epithelial cell lines and EBV-positive human B-cell lines but not EBV-negative cell lines. Treatment with anti-LMP1 reduced NF-κB expression in cells. The animal model experiments showed that anti-LMP1 inhibited and prevented NPC- or GC-derived tumor growth. The results suggest that LMP1 antibody immunotherapy could cure nasopharyngeal cancer, EBV-positive gastric carcinoma, and EBV-associated lymphomas. However, further validation of these findings is required through human clinical trials.

New quinazoline derivatives were designed and synthesized to target VEGFR-2, aiming to identify potential anticancer agents. The synthesized compounds underwent in vitro screening to evaluate their cytotoxic effects across 60 cancer cells following the NCI protocol. The most promising derivatives, 3i and 3j, underwent further evaluation via a five-dose test to assess broad-spectrum anticancer activity. Their VEGFR-2 inhibitory potential was compared to sorafenib. Cell cycle analyses, annexin V-FITC, and apoptotic markers were used to examine HT-29 colon cancer cells after treatment with 3j for cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction. Molecular docking and MD simulations explored binding interactions, while ADMET studies assessed pharmacokinetics. Compounds 3i and 3j exhibited potent to moderate cytotoxic activity, with compound 3j showing the highest activity against colon cancer cell lines (GI₅₀ = 3.29 μM). Both compounds demonstrated promising VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 0.120 and 0.197 µM, respectively), comparable to sorafenib (IC₅₀ = 0.088 µM). Cell cycle analysis displayed G1 phase arrest and pro-apoptotic effects. Docking studies confirmed favorable VEGFR-2 binding affinity (-7.57 and -7.83 kcal/mol). ADMET profiling indicated promising drug-like properties. Compounds 3i and 3j exhibit promising VEGFR-2 inhibitory properties and significant anticancer activity, warranting further investigation.

Background: Assessment is a critical component of teaching and learning and serves as the foundation for how learners demonstrate success in achieving learning objectives. Formative assessments (FAs) and timely feedback play a crucial role in integrated curricula, whereas basic and clinical sciences are taught in a coordinated manner. Feedback-based FA supports student learning, and teachers can determine learning gaps to monitor progress in learning. Based on existing evidence, limited literature compared the effect of online versus onsite FA on summative performance in a fully integrated curriculum. Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of online versus on-site FAs and feedback on summative assessment in the integrated medical curriculum. Methods: This study used an exploratory mixed methods approach to delving into students’ experiences with face-to-face versus online FA and feedback, and its effect on their summative performance in the integrated Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery program. This study was conducted at Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 143 consenting students were recruited into the study. The students in the study were distributed voluntarily into 2 groups regardless of age, sex, or academic performance. Group 1 (n=92) was assigned to receive online FAs and immediate online feedback throughout the module using the Speedwell system. However, Group 2 (n=51) was assigned to receive onsite FAs and face-to-face feedback throughout the module in the examination hall in the college. The quantitative part of the study involved analyzing student scores of summative assessments in 2 groups exposed to online and onsite FA and feedback. The qualitative part aimed to explore students’ perceptions of FA and feedback. Results: The passing rate in summative examinations (quiz, midmodule, and final) was higher in the onsite group (61.2%, 51%, and 62.7%, respectively) compared with the online group (53.3%, 48.3%, and 45.7%, respectively). However, the difference was statistically significant only in the quiz examination. Four key themes were identified from the qualitative analyses regarding participants’ different experiences of FA and feedback: the accessibility of the examination format facilitates flexibility in learning; FA is a means of recognizing learning opportunities; FAs help shift student attitudes toward learning; and the last theme is opportunities for discussion and personalized feedback. Conclusions: This research sheds light on the intricate interplay between assessment modalities and student learning outcomes by demonstrating that onsite FA followed by onsite feedback is more effective than online FA and feedback in fostering student engagement and promoting deep understanding and improving students’ performance in summative examinations. Thereafter, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding effective assessment practices in contemporary educational settings.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a potentially lethal soft tissue infection, with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Data on the microbiological aspects of NF from Saudi Arabia are extremely lacking. Thereby, we endeavored in this study to highlight the microbial causes of NF and their antimicrobial resistance profiles, as well as the risk factors and independent predictors for development of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains. Over a period of three years, we retrospectively reviewed the medical, intraoperative, and laboratory electronic records of adult patients diagnosed with NF in our institution. We analyzed the risk factors for acquisition of MDR-NF using univariate analysis, whereas a multivariate regression model was generated to identify the independent predictors for MDR-NF. Out of 38 adult patients diagnosed with NF, 27 (71.1%) were males and the mean age was 60.11 ±13.57 years. The lower extremities were the most common site for NF (36.8%). Overall, monomicrobial NF (58%) was more frequent than the polymicrobial type (42%). A relatively high rate of MDR organisms was identified amongst the Gram-negative isolates (33.3%). Risk factors for MDR-NF included increased hospital length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, old age, coexisting malignancy, and increased Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis score. The multivariate analysis identified lengthy hospital stays and ICU admission as the independent predictors for MDR infections. Our study showed that MDR-NF is a growing challenge in clinical practice that poses negative impacts on the patient outcomes as well as health care resources. On that premise, it is crucial to enforce antimicrobial stewardship guidelines, and to improve our infection control policies to mitigate the escalating surge of MDR organisms. Furthermore, thorough active surveillance studies and enhanced collaboration amongst healthcare professionals are pivotal for early recognition and intervention.

Talaromyces marneffei is a pathogenic fungus that causes fatal health complications for patients who are infected with HIV. For the current investigation, sputum samples were collected from 19 immunosuppressed patients from two hospitals located in Baghdad, Iraq by which they were inoculated onto both Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) medium at 25 °C and BHI (brain heart infusion) agar at 36±1 °C for growth before being identified using single and nested PCR methods. The 18S rRNA gene sequence of T. marneffei was used to create two sets of oligonucleotide primers, RRF1 and RRH1 which are considered fungus-specific outer primers were employed. Both nested and solo PCRs using the T. marneffei-specific inner primers (Pm1 and Pm2) were carried out. To define the phylogenetic relatedness of this isolate, the MEGA X program was used to align the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences of T. marneffei. Results showed that the wine-colored pigmented isolates in agar were dimorphic, exhibited bloom-like twigs and spore chains characteristic under the microscope, and were filamentous type colonies with light yellow villi. Finally, immuno-compromised patients in Iraq have T. marneffei in their blood cultures that will be induced to pathogenicity, and the PCR assay is valuable for T. marneffe identifying. Other results from nested PCR revealed that 8 human isolates, from 19, have specific fragments of about 400 bp on the agarose gel.