Mohamed Zakaria El-Sayed’s research while affiliated with Gulf Medical University and other places

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-based genome-wide functional genomics can be applied to uncover novel genes controlling an antiviral immune response, thereby augmenting antiviral immunity. To date, much progress has been made in understanding the host and viral factors influencing the antiviral immune response since its discovery. However, many of the contributing genetic factors for the an- tiviral response remain uncharacterized. Using antiviral innate immu- nity as a model, this study reports the first genome-wide functional ge- nomic approach using an integrated lentivirus CRISPR-based gene knock- out (GeCKO) screening library to identify critical genetic factors influenc- ing the antiviral immune response. This functional CRISPR-based genomic regime is intended to enhance the understanding of genes and pathways controlling an antiviral immune response and broaden the use of CRISPR methodologies in antiviral research for therapeutic innovations. The scope of this study is to answer critical questions regarding how innate immunity fights off viral infections. Two hypotheses are investigated experimentally that key genetic factors influencing the immune induction of the interferon response remain to be found and perturbation of the interferon response will reveal a network of previously uncharacterized genes and pathways controlling an antiviral immune response. With systemic and comprehen- sive efforts to dissect the host-virus molecular arms race, a more nuanced understanding of the host antiviral response will be acquired, including the discovery of novel genes and pathways involved in antiviral immunity.

Background: The quality of CT images obtained from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is complex, affecting diagnostic accuracy, precision, and radiation dose assessment due to increased exposure risks. Objectives: The study evaluated image quality qualitatively and quantitatively by comparing quality levels with an effective radiation dose to ensure acceptable quality accuracy. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 100 known HCC patients (Li-RADS-5) who underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) multiphasic scans for follow-up of their health condition between January and October 2023. The evaluation involved quantitative and qualitative analyses of parameters such as SD, SNR, and CNR, as well as a qualitative assessment by two radiology consultants. The outcomes were compared, and the effective dose was calculated and compared with both quantitative and qualitative assessments of image quality. Results: ROC curve analysis revealed significant differences in CT image quality, with high to moderate specificity and sensitivity across all the quantitative parameters. However, multivariate examination revealed decreasing importance levels, except for CNR (B, 0.203; p=0.001) and SD BG (B, 0.330; p=0.002), which increased in B. The CNR and SD BG remained independent variables for CT image quality prediction, but no statistically significant relationship was found between the effective dose and image quality, either quantitatively or qualitatively. Conclusion: This study underscores the vital role of both quantitative and qualitative assessments of CT images in evaluating their quality for patients with HCC and highlights the predictive importance of CNR, SNR, and SD. These findings emphasize the value of these devices in assessing and predicting outcomes to minimize the effective dose.

Introduction: Radiography students experience high levels of stress due to demanding academic studies and clinical training. Expanding this study to different settings could provide insights for customized interventions. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and causes of stress experienced by radiography students across university settings in Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan, with particular attention to gender-based differences. By analyzing stress levels across these diverse academic environments, the study seeks to identify key stressors specific to each region, as well as any differences in stress impact related to gender, academic demands, and cultural contexts. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 608 radiography students from accredited programs in Egypt, UAE, and Jordan, selected through convenience and snowball sampling. A 96-question online survey, developed following CHERRIES guidelines, was distributed via university channels and social media. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS. The questionnaire's reliability was confirmed through a test-retest method, yielding a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.82. Results: Out of 608 radiography students surveyed, stress levels differed by gender. Specifically, 11.7 % of students reported extremely high stress, with 5 % of males and 14.4 % of females. Gender disparities were evident that females experienced significantly higher stress than males in areas such as quality of education , exams, GPA, fear of mistakes, clinical factors, patient care, lack of relaxation time, and health problems (p < 0.001). In the UAE, 41.8 % of students believe a lack of time with family and friends significantly affects their stress, followed closely by 41.7 % in Egypt and 30.5 % in Jordan (p ¼ 0.001). Conclusion: The study identifies gender-specific discrepancies in stress among university students, demonstrating that female students experience higher stress levels, influenced by factors such as academic standards, examinations, GPA, and work-life balance. Furthermore, students in Jordan and the UAE are facing academic workload stress, while Egyptian students deal with career uncertainty and family-related stress. Impact on practice: The study emphasizes the importance of understanding diverse stressors among radiography students to provide insights that can inform tailored support strategies to enhance the well-being and academic performance of radiography students in these regions.

Introduction: Previous research has delved into the attitudes and behaviors of diverse professions regarding environmental sustainability. However, there needs to be more research specifically targeting radiographers. This study aims to survey radiographers' perceptions, practices, and barriers to change concerning environmental sustainability in radiology. Methods: Institutional ethical approval was obtained (IRBeCOHSeFAC-110-2024) and data collection was conducted using Google Forms (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA). The survey targeted 104 practicing radiographers across several countries. Questions were structured around five domains to gather insights into demographics, training in global warming and climate change, perceptions of sustainability and climate change, sustainability barriers, and current radiology practices on sustainability. Data analysis utilized descriptive and d inferential statistics. Results: One hundred and four radiographers completed the study. Females had a significantly higher attendance rate in environmental protection campaigns (P ¼ 0.01). The majority of respondents (68%) believe in climate change's knowledge and impact on the natural world. Our survey findings demonstrate that 74% of respondents believe there's a need to improve sustainability practices. The most commonly used strategies to decrease energy consumption and emissions were low-energy lighting (60%), real-time power monitoring tools (41%), and energy-efficient heating systems (32%). A significant concern regarding sustainability emerges among respondents: time (50%) and lack of leadership (48%) are prevalent concerns among the identified barriers. Conclusion: Participants are recognising the importance of environmental sustainability in radiology, but lack of leadership, support, authority, and facility limitations hinder their adoption. Impact on practice: Radiology must prioritize environmental sustainability by providing resources and training for radiographers and collaborating with healthcare professionals, policymakers, and environmental experts to develop comprehensive strategies for a sustainable healthcare system.