Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent difficulties in social communication and interaction together with restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior. Aim: A study of changes in total carnitine levels was associated with clinical improvement after oral carnitine supplementation in children with autism spectrum disorder. Methodology: 120 treatment-naive children aged 3–7 years with Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores of 35–50 were allocated equally to L-carnitine syrup (50 mg/kg/day in two divided doses) or matching placebo for six months. Results: CARS and serum total carnitine were assessed at baseline and month 6, and all participants completed follow-up. CARS decreased from 40.83±5.19 to 34.05±5.45 in the L-carnitine group and from 41.12±4.14 to 39.85±4.29 with placebo. The between-group difference in change was −5.52 points (95% CI −6.72 to −4.31; p<0.001; Cohen’s d = −1.66). Serum total carnitine increased from 29.10±9.25 to 50.22±7.24 µmol/L with L-carnitine but remained unchanged with placebo (28.82±6.20 to 28.98±6.19 µmol/L); the between-group difference in change was 20.96 µmol/L (95% CI 19.03 to 22.89; p<0.001). Within the active group, greater carnitine elevation was strongly associated with greater CARS reduction (Pearson r= −0.86, p<0.001). A predefined response of at least a 4-point CARS reduction occurred in 73.3% versus 5.0% of participants. Adverse events were mild and no participant discontinued treatment. Conclusion: Six months of L-carnitine improved serum total carnitine and autism severity relative to placebo, with a strong exposure-response association. Larger multicenter trials are required.

Immunization remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to assess the immunization coverage and dropout rates among children aged 0–23 months attending a tertiary hospital in Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria. A retrospective descriptive study reviewed routine immunization data extracted from the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) register from January to December 2021 at the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo Teaching Hospital (FUHSO-TH). Data were collated and analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine frequencies, coverage percentages, and dropout rates. A total of 1,344 records were analyzed. The mean immunization coverage across all scheduled vaccines was 77.9%. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine had the highest coverage (87.9%), while the second dose of the Measles-Containing Vaccine (MCV2) had the lowest (65.4%). The highest dropout rate occurred between BCG and MCV1 (18.1%), followed by MCV1 and MCV2 (9.2%). The study concluded that, while early infant vaccine uptake is encouraging, overall immunization coverage remains suboptimal and falls short of the WHO 90% target. Strengthening community sensitization, defaulter tracking, and implementing reminder systems are essential to improve coverage, particularly for vaccines administered later in infancy.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be specified as a significant health issue around the world, with considerable level of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Cardiovascular complications in patients with CKD include cardiac arrhythmias caused by structural cardiac abnormalities, autonomic dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance, uremic toxin accumulation. There is some emerging evidence that renal biomarkers especially cystatin C can offer useful information on cardiovascular risk assessment in CKD patients. Nonetheless, the correlation between renal dysfunction, electrolyte imbalances, and cardiac arrhythmias and cystatin C levels is not fully established. Objective: In this work, the aim was studying the relations between cardiac arrhythmias, in addition to chronic kidney disease, assessing epidemiological patterns, clinical manifestations, serum cystatin C, and electrolyte biomarkers in CKD patients. Methods: A total of 120 participants (60 CKD patients with reported cardiac arrhythmias and 60 age- and sex-matched CKD patients without arrhythmias (control group)) were involved in a case-control study. Structured interviews and review of the medical records were used to collect demographic data, medical history, and clinical characteristics. Serum cystatin C levels and electrolyte levels, such as potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), calcium (Ca 2+), sodium (Na+), and phosphate (PO43-), were determined by routine laboratory tests. Electrocardiographic tests were conducted to diagnose and categorize arrhythmia. Results: Patients with cardiac arrhythmias had significantly elevated serum cystatin C levels in comparison to controls (p < 0.001). Among patients with arrhythmias in CKD, electrolyte abnormalities, especially hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia were more common (p < 0.05). Also, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that cystatin C, serum potassium increased and calcium decreased were independent predictors regarding cardiac arrhythmias in the CKD patients. Furthermore, the most common arrhythmias were atrial fibrillation and ventricular premature complexes. Conclusion: Cardiac arrhythmias extremely common in CKD patients as well as strongly linked to compromised renal functionality, high levels of cystatin C and electrolyte disturbances. Cystatin C seems to be a potentially valuable biomarker in distinguishing CKD patients at higher risk of arrhythmias. Renal function monitoring and electrolyte disorders correction at an early stage could enhance cardiovascular outcomes and decrease the number of complications with arrhythmia in this population at risk.

Background: Exposure to ionizing radiations at work is an inevitable aspect of contemporary medical practice, especially in radiology units where radiology staff routinely operate with diagnostic imaging equipment like X-ray units. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the impact of X-ray radiations on X-ray technicians by measuring the levels of (CRP) C-reactive protein and (IL-6) Interleukin-6. Methodology: This study included a total of 75 male subjects. The study population comprised 50 X-ray technicians chosen randomly among the radiology departments in hospitals in Basrah province, Iraq. Concentrations of Serum CRP were measured by Genrui PA54 biotech kit and ELISA was used to quantify IL-6 concentrations. Results: The study showed that median serum IL-6 concentration was significantly higher (p≤0.05) in X-ray technicians 3.48 pg/mL (IQR:1.50-5.2) compared to control 1.10 pg/mL (IQR:1.10-1.50) as well as, the present results exhibited a significant increasing (p≤0.05) in the concentrations of CRP among X-ray workers 1.81 mg/L (IQR:1.31-4.10) compared to control (non-exposed) 0.91 mg/L (IQR:0.50-2.44) However, according to the years of work. The current data showed a significant increase (p≤0.05) in the concentrations of IL-6 in more than10 years group 3.49 pg/mL (IQR:1.50-5.2) compared to group 1 (less than10 years 1.49 pg/mL (IQR:1.10-3.49) while CRP didn’t show any significant differences. Conclusion: Chronic occupational exposure to ionizing radiation was associated with increased circulating levels of IL-6 and CRP among X-ray technicians. The significant elevation of IL-6 in workers with long exposure duration suggests that cumulative radiation exposure may promote sustained inflammatory activation.

This study was designed to evaluate the possible histological and physiological changes induced by naproxen (an NSAID) and cefpodoxime (a cephalosporin derivative) administration on lung function of male albino rats. The overall physiological results revealed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cells (WBCs) count, and lymphocyte count in all treated groups compared to control groups. In contrast, the results demonstrated a significant decrease in platelet (PLT). There were no significant differences in hemoglobin levels or red blood cell counts. Histological examination showed definite pathological lesions including thickening of alveolar walls, vascular congestion and infiltration of inflammatory cells. At higher doses, this drug ruptured the alveolar walls, caused fibrous masses and narrowed the bronchi. In conclusion, chronic or high-dose exposure to these drugs provokes abnormal physiological and histological responses in the lung which should warn against their therapeutic use.

Background: Research on allergy disease has focused a lot of emphasis on pet exposure as a possible risk or protective factor. The prevalence in owning pets, especially dogs, cats, and birds, has significantly increased in recent decades. This study's goal was to look at any possible effects that pet exposure might have on IgE levels. Methodology: A total of 60 participants were enrolled, including 15 healthy controls who had no contact with any pets (neither birds nor cats). Pet owners made up the remaining 45 subjects (exposed to pets). The fluorecare system measures total IgE. Results: The results of this study showed that the median concentrations of total IgE were significantly higher (p≤0.05) in pet-exposed individuals (168.40 IU/mL; IQR: 41.5-112) than in the non-pet-exposed group (44.50 IU/mL; IQR: 34-64.50). Group 1 (one pet owner) had the lowest total IgE concentrations among the three groups, with a median of 89.20 IU/mL (IQR: 17.47–128.41), and group 1 (cat owner) had the lowest median level of IgE, 134.06 IU/mL (29.12-405), despite the data showing a statistically significant difference (p≤0.05) in total IgE concentrations among the groups based on the number of pets. Conclusion: The kind of pet exposure plays a major role in determining IgE concentrations. This implies that there is an additive effect of allergens on sensitization to the allergens, thus resulting in higher allergic sensitization.

This study explores the synthesis and characterization of a series of 1,9-diazahomoadamantane-4,6-dione derivatives, compounds with extremely interesting pharmacological properties. Several new derivatives were prepared through reactions involving condensation and hydrazine treatment to obtain Schiff bases and hydrazone derivatives, respectively. The identity of the molecules in the samples was determined based on data from the infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The synthesis of [(4E,6E)-4,6-dihydrazineylidene-1,9-diazatricyclo[5.4.1.1³,⁹]tridecane] was done by the reaction of 1,9-diazahomoadamantane-4,6-dione with hydrazine hydrate, and Schiff bases were produced by condensation with substituted aromatic amines. The structures of the prepared materials were supported by their IR and NMR spectra which depicted their characteristics, such as carbonyl, imine, and hydrazine groups which are among the biological active groups. These findings pave the way for the creation of new molecules that could be pharmacologically active with possible applications in the development of new drug candidates based on the diazahomoadamantane scaffold.