Dr Mohammed Mahmoud Youssif

Favipiravir (FAV) is a prodrug with a proven antiviral efficacy against coronavirus 2. Close therapeutic monitoring of FAV is crucial for COVID-19 patients due to its variable dosing, complex pharmacokinetics, and notable drug interactions. This study presents a novel, selective electrochemical sensor for FAV detection, using a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and calcium-doped ZnO nanoparticles (Ca-ZnO NPs). Characterization of the Ca-ZnO NPs was performed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Several operational parameters were optimized, including carbon paste composition, buffer selection, pH, and electrochemical waveform settings. Under optimized conditions, an oxidation signal of FAV was identified at approximately + 1.22 V versus an Ag/AgCl reference electrode in Britton-Robinson buffer (BRB) at pH 4.0. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) facilitated the detection of FAV across a wide dynamic concentration range of 0.6–100.0 µM, with detection and quantification limits of 0.17 and 0.51 µM, respectively. The developed method demonstrated high selectivity towards FAV, effectively distinguishing it from its acidic degradation product (ADP), qualifying it as a stability-indicating assay. Evaluations using the GAPI, AGREE, and RGB 12 metrics confirmed alignment with green and white analytical chemistry principles. Furthermore, this method was successfully applied to quantify FAV in human plasma, making it suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in COVID-19 patients.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic illness that poses a substantial public health risk in certain regions of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It affects both humans and ruminants. Timely and precise identification of viruses during outbreaks is essential for implementing successful management methods. This study focused on the development and assessment of a new diagnostic method that utilizes latex agglutination to detect antibodies against the whole Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus. The results have shown a high level of diagnostic accuracy, with a rate of 91.2%. The test demonstrates a sensitivity of 92.59% in identifying positive serum samples, as well as a flawless specificity rate of 100%. This approach, which is simple, fast, and inexpensive, has significant potential for screening animals for RVF on a wide scale. The discovery outlined in this study could have substantial ramifications for managing the dissemination of RVF and reducing its effects on the health of animals and humans.

The synergistic effects of population growth, industrialization, and urbanization drive an increase in environmental crises, such as water pollution. Polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs) offer a promising trend for large-scale applications in environmental remediation including photocatalytic water pollutants. In this work, V2O5 nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol-gel method and successfully incorporated into PMMA using the casting method. A series of V2O5/PMMA photocatalyst films have been fabricated with various loading content of V2O5 NPs. The morphological, crystal structure, and optical properties of the prepared V2O5/PMMA photocatalysts were characterized using SEM, XRD, FTIR, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry, respectively. The SEM images indicate that there are mainly physical interactions between PMMA and V2O5 NPs. Moreover, the prepared V2O5/PMMA films before and after treatment with H2O2 + UV were evaluated toward MB photodegradation under UV irradiation. The results obtained showed that doping V2O5 NPs into PMMA could inhibit the recombination rate of the photogenerated charge carriers. Among all prepared catalysts, the highest photocatalytic performance toward MB degradation under UV irradiation was obtained using the treated P-VPO1 nanocomposite film (0.033% V2O5/PMMA) compared to other formulations. Approximately 80% of MB was degraded after 60 min of UV irradiation in the presence of the treated P-VPO1. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the promoting effect of the H2O2 + UV treatment for the prepared V2O5 doped PMMA films and with an appropriate loading amount of V2O5 NPs. Moreover, the P-VPO1 shows good reusability and stability for MB dye photodegradation after five consecutive runs under UV irradiation. This study reported a straightforward, and rapid approach to fabricate an improved V2O5/PMMA nanocomposite films with excellent reusability and attractive photocatalytic properties for diverse environmental applications, including water treatment.

The thermal evolution of slabs governs their subduction dynamics and the transport of water into Earth’s interior. However, current slab subduction models often neglect the contribution of radiative thermal conductivity (i.e., heat transport by light) due to the limited constraints on the opacity of minerals at high pressure (P) and temperature (T). Here, using optical experiments at high P, T conditions, we show that the radiative contribution accounts for ~40% of the total heat transport in olivine, the dominant mineral of the upper mantle. Using 2D thermo-kinematic modelling, we quantify the effect of radiative thermal conductivity on slab temperature exploring different ages and subduction velocities. When radiative heating is included, slabs temperatures are ~100−200 K higher than in the models that ignore this contribution. Consequently, water-bearing minerals can reach the Mantle Transition Zone (~410−660 km) only in old slabs (>60 Myrs) and/or at high subduction velocities (≥10 cm/year).

The aim of this study is to outline the outcomes of different management strategies for major anastomotic leak (AL) after type C esophageal atresia (CEA) repair and to propose a management plan according to patient criteria in limited resources settings.Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent primary repair for CEA in our institution from 2017 to 2020. Patients managed non-operatively by broad-spectrum antibiotics, chest tube drainage and parenteral nutrition were included in group A (GA), patients managed by rescue surgery in form of cervical esophagostomy and feeding gastrostomy were included in group B (GB).Results: 45 patients developed AL. Rescue surgery was done in 15 cases (33.3%), 80% of them (n=12) were within five to eight days after anastomosis, all of which were discharged later from hospital alive. In the remaining cases from GB, rescue surgery was attempted after eight days, all of which suffered mortality. The association between conservative management and mortality was statistically significant for preterm patients (n=7) (P=0.008), patients with Okamoto class II or more (n=11) (P=0.01), patients who needed assisted mechanical ventilation pre-operatively (n=4) (P=0.049) or post-operatively (n=13) (P<0.001).Conclusions: Watchful waiting to permit spontaneous closure of AL is considered high risk for mortality in premature neonates, cases with Okamoto class II or higher, moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension, patients in need of pre- or post-operative mechanical ventilation. Decision for termination of conservative management by rescue surgery is associated with better survival outcome when executed within eight days from initial repair.

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Background/Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a serious hurdle in combating antibiotic-resistant skin infections. This study aimed to repurpose losartan potassium (LOS) through its incorporation into cerosomal nanocarriers (CERs) and further functionalization with carbon dots (CDs) to enhance antibacterial efficacy. Methods: LOS-CERs were fabricated by the thin-film hydration method and further optimized using a D-optimal mixture design. Results: The optimized CERs, composed of phytantriol (20 mg), ceramide (30 mg), and CTAB (20 mg), exhibited high entrapment efficiency (97.07 ± 0.07%), a nanoscale particle size (372.50 ± 0.50 nm), and a positive zeta potential (+33.24 ± 0.04 mV). FT-IR analysis confirmed successful conjugation of CDs to CERs through surface functional interactions. Ex vivo permeation and confocal microscopy studies demonstrated that the CD-CER formulation sustained LOS release and enhanced its deposition within skin layers compared with the LOS solution. Using a murine model of MRSA USA300-induced skin infection, the CD-CER formulation achieved superior antibacterial efficacy, reducing the bacterial load by 3.85 log10 CFU relative to the untreated control, compared with a 3.04 log10 CFU reduction for the LOS solution. Histological evaluation supported improved healing in CD-CER-treated groups. Conclusions: Overall, CD-functionalized CERs offer a promising multifunctional nanoplatform for repurposing LOS as a topical therapeutic against MRSA-associated skin infections.

Avian influenza outbreaks have had significant economic and public health consequences worldwide. Therefore, prompt, reliable, and cost-effective diagnostic devices are crucial for scrutinizing and confining highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs). Our study introduced and evaluated a novel paper-based loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test for diagnosing the H5 subtype of the avian influenza virus (AIV). We meticulously designed and screened LAMP primers targeting the H5-haemagglutinin (H5-HA) gene of AIV and fine-tuned the paper-based detection assay for best performance. The paper-based LAMP assay demonstrated a detection limit of 500 copies per reaction (25 copies/µl). Additionally, the assay exhibited no cross-reactivity with common bovine and avian pathogens, confirming its specificity. Spiking experiments revealed that the assay could accurately detect 1000 copies of synthetic HPAIV RNA (per reaction) when spiked into oropharyngeal swab samples, achieving 100% analytical sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. This inexpensive, user-friendly point-of-need diagnostic tool holds great promise, especially in resource-limited settings. It only requires a water bath for incubation and enables visual detection of results without special equipment. Overall, the paper-based LAMP assay provides a promising method for rapidly and reliably detecting the H5 subtype of AIV, contributing to improved surveillance and early intervention strategies.

Trichinella spiralis, a globally widespread zoonotic parasite, poses significant health and economic burdens due to its complex life cycle and the scarcity of effective, multi-stage treatments. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of a novel curcumin-olive oil nanocomposite (CO-NC) against three critical stages of T. spiralis infection in a murine model: adult worms (3–5 days post-inoculation, dpi), newborn larvae (8–10 dpi), and encapsulated larvae (33–35 dpi). CO-NC exhibited potent, stage-specific, and dose-dependent antiparasitic activity. Remarkably, a 100 mg/kg dose achieved complete eradication of both newborn and encapsulated larvae, mirroring the efficacy of the current standard treatment, albendazole (50 mg/kg). This high dose also significantly reduced adult worm burdens by 91.6%. Even at a lower dose of 50 mg/kg, CO-NC demonstrated substantial activity, reducing adult worms and encapsulated larvae by 55.2% and 43.8%, respectively. Beyond its direct antiparasitic effects, CO-NC (100 mg/kg) significantly mitigated infection-induced oxidative stress by restoring key redox markers in muscle and intestinal tissues, including xanthine oxidase, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, complementary in vitro studies revealed superior anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of CO-NC compared to crude curcumin and standard reference compounds at their respective IC50 values. These findings highlight CO-NC as a promising multi-faceted therapeutic candidate for trichinellosis, offering potent antiparasitic efficacy comparable to albendazole alongside valuable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. This integrated approach underscores the potential of CO-NC as an innovative and comprehensive solution for the challenges posed by T. spiralis infections.

Hexaflumuron (HFM), a common pesticide, can disrupt the immune system and cause oxidative stress. This study investigated the potential of Physalis peruviana L. calyces extract (PP) to counteract these effects in rats.

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSphagneticola trilobata was traditionally used to alleviate wounds using topical plant preparations. The precise mechanism of the plant responsible for its wound healing effect are still unclear. Although the plant was reported to be cytotoxic, there is a lack of reported data regarding its cytotoxic impact on skin cancer.
Aim of the study
To in-depth investigate wound healing and cytotoxic effects of the plant extracts and its fractions by using different assays.
Materials and methods
In vitro scratch assay and in vivo full-thickness wound model were performed to evaluate the plant's wound healing activity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were employed to assess key skin parameters levels. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using in vitro Western Standard Time assay against skin carcinoma cells.
Results
Sphagneticola trilobata improved the wound closure percentage in both in vitro scratch assay and in vivo model by modulating inflammation, as evidenced by a reduction in tumor necrosis factor and mitogen activated protein kinase levels, and enhancing proliferation via elevating collagen, smooth muscle actin, and forkhead protein. The total extract's efficacy surpassed the effectiveness of reference ointment. The non-polar fraction outperformed the polar one in accelerating wound closure and improving the tested skin parameters levels. Trilobolide-6-O-isobutyrate displayed the best docking scores for the selected target receptors. Moreover, the non-polar fraction demonstrated the most powerful cytotoxic effect against skin cancer cells. A specific compound mixture (kaurenoic acid/grandiflorenic acid, 1 and 2) within this fraction exhibited stronger cytotoxicity.
Conclusions
Sphagneticola trilobata can be considered as a promising therapeutic agent in relieving wounds and combating skin cancer cell lines.

The metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have many appealing characteristics as biomimetic enzymes for colorimetric glucose detection, such as their large surface areas, distinct pore structures, chemical composition that can be adjusted, and multifunctional sites. In the current study, a Cu-MOF@N-dGr with peroxidase-mimicking activity was synthesized to design a colorimetric assay for glucose detection. The Cu-MOF@N-dGr was prepared in a two-step process, firstly, nitrogen-doped graphite was synthesized using soft-nitriding and secondly, a solvothermal method was adopted to anchor Cu-MOF on the N-dGr surface. It was possible to detect both H2O2 and glucose with an effective linear range of 0.08 mM to 1.12 mM and 0.16 mM to 0.83 mM, respectively. Various techniques were utilized to analyze the synthesized N-doped graphite Cu-MOF's structure including scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This recently developed Cu-MOF@N-dGr offers an easy-to-use, sensitive, and selective colorimetric analysis method for measuring glucose and determining hydrogen peroxide for point-of-care applications.

Respiratory diseases continue to pose a major global health burden, requiring effective therapeutic strategies. Although oral and injectable routes are widely used for managing these conditions, they suffer from drawbacks such as poor drug targeting to the lungs, susceptibility to first-pass metabolism, and undesirable systemic side effects. Injectable therapies may also result in pain at the administration site, negatively impacting patient adherence. In contrast, pulmonary drug delivery offers direct targeting of the lungs, bypasses hepatic metabolism, reduces systemic toxicity, and improves patient comfort. Despite these advantages, the success of pulmonary delivery is often limited by physiological barriers—including mechanical, chemical, and immune-related defenses—that impede drug deposition, absorption, and retention within the lungs. Additionally, rapid metabolic clearance can lead to a short duration of action following inhalation. Polymeric micelles (PMs), which self-assemble from amphiphilic block copolymers, represent a promising nanocarrier system to overcome these obstacles. Their core–shell architecture allows for the encapsulation of poorly soluble drugs, enhances delivery efficiency, and enables controlled or stimuli-responsive drug release. This review critically explores the potential of PMs in pulmonary drug delivery by addressing lung physiology, biological barriers, and the limitations of current delivery systems. It further examines PM classification, preparation techniques, inhalable formulations, and physicochemical characterization. Finally, the review highlights clinical challenges, safety considerations, regulatory perspectives, and recent advancements, providing a detailed outlook on the future of PM-based inhalation therapies.