Exploring the predictors of depression among Saudi adolescents: Time for urgent firm actions

Objectives:To estimate the prevalence of depression among Saudi adolescents and identify its correlates.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study using a multistage random technique that included students at the intermediate and secondary levels in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used as a tool, in addition to a survey of the potential risk factors. Binary logistic regression was conducted.Results:Out of 960 students, 32.4% were found to have moderate to severe depression. The age group of 16-19 years was more at risk. Female gender and low father’s education level were significant predictors of depression. Less internet use and more physical activity are considered a protective factor against depression, OR -0.531 (95% CI: 0.315-0.894) and OR -0.668 (95% CI: 0.468-0.953), respectively. Whereas the physical abuse, OR 2.047 (95% CI: 1.287-3.255) and emotional abuse, OR 2.576 (95% CI: 1.740-3.813) considered risk factors for depression.Conclusion:The prevalence of depression among Saudi adolescents is worrisome. Urgent and firm actions should be taken in response to the increasing prevalence of depression worldwide.     

Opinions and attitudes toward targeted temperature management in the emergency department and intensive care unit in a developing country: a survey study

<正>INTRODUCTION The past two decades have witnessed one of the most contentious scientific debates in the field of temperature management after cardiac arrest in adults.It started in 2002,following the publication of two groundbreaking trials showing lower mortality rates and improved neurologic recovery with the use of active cooling.^[1,2]International recommendations advocate active cooling in the range of 32–34℃for comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).<...     

Matrix-dispersed magnetic molecularly-imprinted polyaniline for the effective removal of chlorpyrifos pesticide from contaminated water

We report a new adsorbent nanocomposite material based on matrix-dispersed superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in molecularly-imprinted polyaniline for the removal of chlorpyrifos (CPF), a hazardous organophosphate pesticide, from water. The synthesized magnetic molecularly-imprinted polymer (MMIP) was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, magnetic susceptibility, DLS, zeta potential measurement, SEM and high-resolution TEM imaging. The average size of the naked SPIONs ranges from 15 to 30 nm according to the high-resolution TEM analysis. Moreover, the adsorption kinetics, thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH and ΔS), adsorption isotherms and rebinding conditions were investigated in detail. The proposed MMIP has an imprinting factor of 1.64. In addition, it showed a high experimental adsorption capacity of 1.77 mg g⁻¹ and a removal efficiency of nearly 80%. The fabricated MMIP material demonstrated excellent magnetic susceptibility allowing for easy separation using an external magnetic field. The adsorption mechanism of CPF onto the MMIP adsorbent followed the second-order kinetics model and fitted to the Temkin adsorption isotherm. By studying the adsorption thermodynamics, negative ΔG values (−1.955 kJ mol⁻¹ at room temperature) were obtained revealing that the adsorption process is spontaneous. Furthermore, the maximum adsorption capacity was obtained at room temperature (ca. 303 K), neutral pH and using a high CPF concentration.

An efficient magnetic molecularly-imprinted polymer adsorbent for removal of chlorpyrifos organophosphate pesticide from water is reported.     

Identification of a novel variant of the ciliopathic gene FUZZY associated with craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis is a birth defect occurring in approximately one in 2000 live births, where premature fusion of the cranial bones inhibits growth of the skull during critical periods of brain development. The resulting changes in skull shape can lead to compression of the brain, causing severe complications. While we have some understanding of the molecular pathology of craniosynostosis, a large proportion of cases are of unknown genetic aetiology. Based on studies in mouse, we previously proposed that the ciliopathy gene Fuz should be considered a candidate craniosynostosis gene. Here, we report a novel variant of FUZ (c.851 G > C, p.(Arg284Pro)) found in monozygotic twins presenting with craniosynostosis. To investigate whether Fuz has a direct role in regulating osteogenic fate and mineralisation, we cultured primary osteoblasts and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from Fuz mutant mice. Loss of Fuz resulted in increased osteoblastic mineralisation. This suggests that FUZ protein normally acts as a negative regulator of osteogenesis. We then used Fuz mutant MEFs, which lose functional primary cilia, to test whether the FUZ p.(Arg284Pro) variant could restore FUZ function during ciliogenesis. We found that expression of the FUZ p.(Arg284Pro) variant was sufficient to partially restore cilia numbers, but did not mediate a comparable response to Hedgehog pathway activation. Together, this suggests the osteogenic effects of FUZ p.(Arg284Pro) do not depend upon initiation of ciliogenesis.Subject terms: Development, Disease model, Mutation     

酵母菌药用乳糖酶制备新方法

目的:建立一种简易的从酵母菌制备克鲁维酵母乳糖酶的方法.方法:在30L发酵罐中进行发酵,用对羟基苯甲酸酯进行细胞破壁,用超微过滤方法浓缩破壁液.结果:乳糖酶的收率可达到每毫升发酵液含11.4 ONPG单位.从酵终细胞中释放乳糖酶可达70%,每毫升牛奶中加入1.2 ONPG单位制备的液态乳糖酶可使牛奶中的乳糖水解率达到70%.