Electronic Journal of University of Aden for Basic and Applied Sciences

Front Cover

2026-03-31T19:41:08+00:00

QUALITY AND SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF HERBAL ANALGESIC PREPARATIONS IN ADEN, YEMEN: HEAVY METAL AND MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION PERSPECTIVE

2026-03-31T19:44:31+00:00

Herbal medicine products (HMPs) are widely used in Yemen to treat pain and inflammation; however, concerns regarding their safety persist due to the absence of official regulations governing the quality control and evaluation of herbal products. This study aimed to detect the presence of heavy metals and microbial contamination in herbal analgesic products (HAPs) commonly sold in Aden, Yemen. Five widely used herbal analgesic preparations were randomly collected from local herbal markets. Heavy metals, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), silver (Ag), and nickel (Ni), were quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Microbial contamination was assessed using standard microbiological techniques, with specific screening for Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas spp. Both bacterial and fungal contamination levels were compared against international pharmaceutical safety standards. Results indicated that heavy metal concentrations in all samples were within permissible limits recommended by the WHO, USFDA, and the European Pharmacopoeia. Pb was not detected in any sample. However, microbial analysis revealed bacterial and fungal contamination in all samples, with total counts exceeding the safety thresholds prescribed by the WHO. Escherichia coli was detected in two products. These findings highlight potential public health risks associated with unregulated HAPs and underline the need for stringent quality control and regulatory oversight in Yemen.

ON (K, P, S)-GENERALIZATIONS OF THE GAMMA, BETA AND HYPERGEOMETRIC FUNCTIONS AND THEIR PROPERTIES

2026-03-31T19:52:28+00:00

In this paper, we introduce a unified three-parameter ((k,p,s))-generalization of the Pochhammer symbol, Gamma and Beta functions. Based on these definitions, a corresponding ((k,p,s))-generalized hypergeometric function is defined. Several fundamental properties are derived, including functional equations, summation formulas and integral representations. It is shown that many known extensions of special functions arise as particular cases of the proposed framework, thereby unifying and extending earlier results in the literature.

LOW-COST POLARIZED LIGHT MICROSCOPY FOR VISUALIZATION OF OVAL FAT BODIES IN URINE SEDIMENT: A PRACTICAL DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH

2026-03-31T20:03:04+00:00

Oval fat bodies are lipid-laden renal tubular cells commonly observed in urinary sediment and are considered a hallmark of nephrotic syndrome. Their identification is enhanced by polarized light microscopy due to their characteristic birefringence. However, access to polarized microscopes remains limited in many low-resource laboratory settings. This study describes and evaluates a low-cost polarized light microscopy technique adapted from a previously described method for malaria pigment detection to visualize oval fat bodies and lipid droplets in urine sediment. A conventional bright-field light microscope was modified using inexpensive polarizing materials costing approximately USD 7. Urine sediment samples from patients with heavy proteinuria were examined under both conventional and polarized light. The ability of the modified system to detect birefringent lipid structures was assessed. The modified microscope successfully demonstrated classic Maltese cross birefringence in oval fat bodies, circular fat droplets, and fatty casts. Differentiation from morphologically similar urinary elements such as red blood cells, yeast, calcium oxalate crystals, and starch particles was feasible using polarized light characteristics. Low-cost polarized light microscopy provides an effective, affordable method for identifying oval fat bodies in urine sediment. This approach has significant potential to enhance diagnostic capability for nephrotic syndrome in resource-limited clinical laboratories.

PREDICTORS OF HEART FAILURE AMONG PATIENTS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS THERAPY

2026-03-31T20:15:21+00:00

This study aimed at identifying predictors of heart failure among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis therapy at the Dialysis Center of Abood Military Hospital, a major tertiary referral canter in Aden, Yemen. The study utilized a quantitative research approach with an analytical cross-sectional design. The sample of the study is patients who had experienced MHD (51patients) in the center. Data was collected using patient interview form, Laboratory data (documents), echocardiography and diagnosis of heart failure (outcome variable). SPSS v. 21 was used to analyze data. Based on the analysis of the data, the study found a strong predictive ability for heart failure within the study sample. The overall accuracy is 84.3%. It is found that that patients with hypertension are 14 times more likely to develop heart failure compared to those without hypertension and that that patients with smoking are 11 times more likely to develop heart failure compared to those nonsmokers... the odd ration is (OR = 14.03, 95% CI: 0.73–269.35, p = 0.035). and (OR = 11.53, 95% CI: 0.55–248.18, p = 0.028). respectively. The findings showed that there is indeed a statistically significant predictive ability within the model, but it is driven almost entirely by hypertension and smoking rather than the full suite of socio-demographic and dialysis-related factors.

GENETIC DIVERSITY AND POPULATION INSIGHTS OF KAWAKAWA EUTHYNNUS AFFINIS (CANTOR, 1849) IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO REVEALED BY MITOCHONDRIAL DNA CYTOCHROME B GENE

2026-03-31T20:21:35+00:00

Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) is a commercially valuable pelagic species with a broad distribution across tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Despite its economic importance, limited knowledge of stock structure, management, and conservation in Malaysian and adjacent waters has raised concerns regarding overexploitation and population depletion. Comprehensive molecular assessments of population structure are therefore critical for informing effective fisheries management strategies. This study investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of E. affinis in Malaysian waters using the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene. A 522 bp fragment of the Cyt b region was sequenced from 120 individuals collected from eight geographically distinct populations in Malaysian Borneo. Genetic divergence among populations ranged from low to high, accompanied by high overall haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.9260) and moderate nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0325). A total of 32 unique haplotypes were identified across all sampled populations. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on Neighbor-Joining analysis, together with haplotype relationships inferred from a minimum spanning network, revealed the presence of two distinct genetic clades. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) demonstrated strong and statistically significant genetic structuring among populations (F_ST = 0.902, P < 0.05). Neutrality tests further indicated a historical signal of population expansion. This study constitutes the first comprehensive Cyt b–based molecular assessment of the genetic structure of E. affinis in Malaysian Borneo and provides essential baseline information to support sustainable fisheries management and conservation planning.

EXPERIMENTAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF MONGODB AND SQL SERVER UNDER LARGE-SCALE WORKLOADS

2026-03-31T20:39:43+00:00

The rapid growth of large-scale and heterogeneous data generated by web applications, cloud platforms, and Internet of Things (IoT) systems has increased the need for efficient and scalable data management solutions. Traditional relational database management systems (RDBMS), such as Microsoft SQL Server, ensure strong consistency and data integrity, while NoSQL systems, like MongoDB, provide schema flexibility and horizontal scalability. Selecting an appropriate database architecture remains a critical design decision for modern applications. This study presents a controlled experimental performance evaluation of Microsoft SQL Server and MongoDB under identical deployment conditions. Both systems were containerized using Docker and tested with standardized datasets ranging from 10K to 5M records. Performance was assessed in terms of insertion time, query latency, update and delete execution time, CPU utilization, memory consumption, and scalability behavior. Monitoring was conducted using Prometheus and Grafana to capture system metrics. Experimental results indicate that MongoDB shows better performance in insert operations, queries, and resource efficiency, while SQL Server shows advantages in structured and type-based queries. The findings highlight that database selection should be driven by workload characteristics and application requirements rather than general performance assumptions.

EMPAGLIFLOZIN MITIGATES OXIDATIVE STRESS AND LIVER ENZYMES ELEVATION IN A DEXAMETHASONE –INDUCED HEPATIC STEATOSIS RAT MODEL

2026-03-31T20:46:38+00:00

Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, is recognized as an oral hypoglycemic agent with potential hepatoprotective effect. While Empagliflozin shows hepatoprotective potential in metabolic NAFLD models, its specific efficacy against glucocorticoid-induced oxidative stress and liver injury remains insufficiently characterized. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of Empagliflozin (EMPA) on malondialdehyde (MDA) and liver enzymes in rats with Dexamethasone (DEX)–induced hepatic steatosis. Twenty-five male albino rats were divided into five groups (5 rats in each group): normal control group did not receive any medication; two DEX-induced groups one received 8 mg/kg/day and the other received 16 mg/kg/day for six days consecutively; another group received (EMPA 10 mg/kg/day + DEX 8 mg/kg /day) EMPA for six consecutive days prior to DEX with another six days during DEX administration without interruption; and the last group underwent the same process but with DEX16 mg/kg (EMPA 10 mg/kg/day + DEX 16 mg/kg /day). Blood samples were collected before the rats were sacrificed. Results revealed that the levels of the oxidative stress biomarker (MDA) were significantly elevated in DEX-treated groups compared with the control group. At a dose of 8 mg/kg DEX, the MDA level was 1.12 nmol/ml (P = 0.017), representing a 154% increase compared with the control. At a dose of 16 mg/kg DEX, the MDA level further increased to 1.44 nmol/ml (P < 0.001), corresponding to a 227% increase relative to the control group. EMPA 10mg/kg (group IV) reduced MDA level by 55.3%, which was statistically significant (P = 0.033), and group V reduced MDA level by 70.8% (P < 0.001), compared to groups II and III, respectively. Group five rats pretreated with EMPA led to a substantial statistically significant reduction in serum ALT (P < 0.001), with a decline by 57.8%, and serum AST declined by 54.6% (P < 0.001), serum ALP by 33.5% (P = 0.003), and serum LDH by 47.5% (P < 0.001), compared to the DEX 16 mg/kg group (group III). In conclusion, Empagliflozin significantly ameliorated DEX-induced oxidative stress in albino rats and showed hepatoprotective effect through reduction of Dexamethasone-elevated liver enzymes and malondialdehyde. Further experimentation is required to explore the molecular mechanisms.

THE EFFECT OF OCCUPATIONAL BENZENE EXPOSURE DURATION ON HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AMONG FUEL STATION WORKERS IN MUKALLA CITY, YEMEN

2026-03-31T20:55:09+00:00

Chronic occupational exposure to benzene is a major health hazard that directly affects the hematopoietic system. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of benzene exposure duration on physiological blood parameters among fuel station workers in Mukalla city. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2023, involving 46 male workers at fuel stations, and 23 healthy individuals as a control group. The participant's ages ranged between 20-70 years. Workers were divided into two groups based on exposure duration: (1-4 years) and (5-8 years). A complete blood count (CBC) analysis was performed using a Sysmex XP-300 analyzer, and data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 24.0. The results revealed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), while white blood cell (WBC) count and the percentage of neutrophils (NEUT) and monocytes (MON) were significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Statistical analysis also revealed a cumulative toxic effect of benzene; workers with more than 5 years of exposure exhibited a more significant decrease in Hb value, RBC count, HCT percentage, MCHC and lymphocytes, while more significant increase in WBC count, percentage of NEUT and MON compared to those with shorter durations. The study concluded that exposure duration is a crucial factor in predicting the occurrence of anemia and immune disorders, necessitating periodic hematological monitoring and the use of personal protective equipment to mitigate occupational health risks for fuel station workers.

MEDICAL ONTOLOGY ENGINEERING FOR HEART DISEASES: A PATHOLOGICAL APPROACH

2026-03-31T21:04:45+00:00

Heart disease continues to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide, making it essential to develop accurate tools that combine both clinical insight and pathological evidence. In this paper, we developed an Ontology-based framework aimed at improving the understanding and classification of heart diseases from a pathology-centered perspective. The methodology followed well-established Ontology engineering practices such as "Methodology" and the NeOn framework. We began by gathering expert knowledge from cardiologists and pathologists, supported by trusted clinical guidelines and textbooks. The heart disease Ontology was built using the OWL language in Protégé, and it captures meaningful links between symptoms, clinical signs, lab tests, and treatment options. A team of medical specialists reviewed the Ontology through iterative validation steps to ensure its clinical accuracy and usefulness. When applied to real patient records, the system showed a noticeable improvement in diagnostic consistency and precision. These results highlight the practical value of medical ontologies in supporting physician decision-making and improving integration across digital health systems, especially when paired with AI-powered diagnostic tools.

ASSOCIATION OF KIDNEY FUNCTION BIOMARKERS, BLOOD MINERALS, AND BLOOD GLUCOSE WITH HYPERTENSION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN HADHRAMOUT, YEMEN

2026-03-31T21:11:40+00:00

Hypertension is a major global health challenge and the most common comorbidity accompanying chronic kidney disease. In the Hadhramout coastal region of Yemen, it is among the most prevalent diseases. However, there is a lack of studies in this governorate assessing its physiological and biochemical impacts. Therefore, this study aimed to assess differences and correlations between kidney function biomarkers, blood minerals, blood glucose, and hypertension in Hadhramout, Yemen. A cross-sectional study of 60 participants (40 hypertensive patients and 20 healthy controls) were included. Blood samples were analyzed for fasting glucose, kidney function biomarkers (creatinine, urea, uric acid), and blood minerals (sodium, calcium). Demographic data and body mass index (BMI) were collected via a questionnaire. Hypertensive patients showed significantly higher levels of blood glucose, creatinine, urea, and uric acid compared to the control group, while no significant differences were observed in sodium and calcium levels. Demographically, hypertension was more prevalent in females (55%) and in the 60–69 age group (47.5%). Major risk factors included a family history of hypertension (75%) and anxiety (77.5%). Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between systolic blood pressure and BMI, alongside a significant negative correlation with sodium levels. Furthermore, diastolic blood pressure demonstrated a significant positive correlation with urea levels. In conclusion: Hypertension is associated with alterations in biochemical parameters, particularly kidney function markers, and glucose levels, as well as BMI, genetic predisposition, and specific electrolyte imbalances.

ENHANCING THE EFFICIENCY OF ETHEREUM BLOCKCHAIN OPERATIONS BASED ON ONTOLOGY

2026-03-31T21:26:43+00:00

This study presents an ontology-driven framework, EthOn, aimed at enhancing the operational efficiency of the Ethereum blockchain. Despite Ethereum’s prominence as a decentralized platform for executing smart contracts, it still faces significant limitations such as high gas fees, low throughput, and limited semantic processing capabilities. These challenges primarily stem from the platform's reliance on syntactic data structures and the absence of context-aware mechanisms in smart contracts. The proposed framework integrates semantic ontologies to structure blockchain data and enhance smart contract logic through context-driven reasoning. By embedding domain-specific ontologies into the Ethereum layer, EthOn enables intelligent data interpretation, optimized contract execution, and improved interoperability for decentralized applications (dApps). A prototype developed using Protégé, Node.js, Web3.js, Ganache Network and Apache Jena demonstrated notable advancements in both execution speed and gas efficiency. The results demonstrated remarkable improvements: Ethereum required an average block creation time of 10–15 seconds with gas consumption fluctuating between 9.6 million and 44.4 million units, while EthOn achieved block generation within 1–2 seconds and maintained gas usage between 423,630 and 3.7 million units. This represents an overall gas reduction of nearly 90% and a substantial improvement in execution speed.These results highlight the transformative potential of semantic technologies in reshaping blockchain infrastructure, paving the way for more scalable, efficient, and intelligent decentralized systems.

INVESTIGATION OF BASICITY AND PROTONATED SITES OF SOME COUMARIN DERIVATIVES A DFT STUDY

2026-03-31T21:33:48+00:00

Hymecromone and umbelliferone are hydroxycoumarin compounds, which are highly significant because of their wide applications in organic chemistry, medicine, and industry. They show photochemical, antagonist, anticoagulants, anticancer, antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties. The ground-state equilibrium geometries of two molecules and their protonated forms were optimized at the density functional theory (DFT)/6-311++G(d) level of theory. Proton affinities on two protonated sites of the studied compounds were calculated at the DFT/ B3LYP / 6-311++G(d). The results indicated that heterogeneous oxygen atom in lactonic ring was strongly favored over hydroxy oxygen atom as sites of protonation for the series studied. A comprehensive investigation of the effect of solvent on the process of protonation of the studied compounds was performed using CPCM method at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d) level of theory. The results showed that the solvent increased the dipole moments of the bare molecules compared with the gas phase and the solvation was enhanced in a protic polar solvent such as water and ethanol.

IMPACT OF STORAGE CONDITIONS ON THE PHYSIOCHEMICAL STABILITY OF IN USE MOXIFLOXACIN EYE DROPS SOLUTION IN ADEN CITY

2026-03-31T21:44:26+00:00

Moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MOX) ophthalmic solution is a critical fourth-generation fluoroquinolone. Moxifloxacin hydrochloride is a synthetic, fourth-generation fluoroquinolone that has become a widely used standard in ophthalmology for treating bacterial conjunctivitis and other ocular infections. The reality is, many patients continue to use these costly drops long after the recommended discard date. The study focused on assessing the physicochemical stability as pH, osmolality, refractive index, and color of three common MOX solutions, the original brand (Vigamox®) and two generic versions (Indian and Pakistani) over a 60-days simulated in-use period under three storage scenarios common in Aden, Yemen, to determine their suitability for continued use and to inform local patient safety guidelines. Three simulated common storage realities: Condition I (ideal, 21.0±1.8⁰C): Continuous A/C; Condition II (Common, 29.4±2.9 ⁰C): Intermittent A/C with power outages often exceeding 16 hours daily; and Condition III (Harsh, 33.4±2.3 ⁰C): Non A/C storage, using only a ceiling fan. Samples were checked at baseline, one, two weeks, one month and two months. the simulated patient use done by opening and closing the bottles three times daily for the initial ten days. The results revealed the Stability was largely maintained under Condition I and Condition II (though the Pakistani generic’s pH dipped slightly by day 60 in Condition II). However, under the high-stress Condition III: After two months, both generics showed clear signs of accelerated degradation. Their pH levels dropped below the USP acceptability threshold (<6.8), risking increased ocular irritation and reduced preservative efficacy. they became visibly darker, and, notably, the Pakistani generic’s osmolality went marginally hypertonic (>320 mOsmol/kg), with the Refractive Index (RI) showing an unacceptable increase (>1.333), indicating significant solvent loss or solute buildup. Storing MOX ophthalmic solutions, especially the generics, under high temperature conditions a reality in hot climates seriously compromises their physicochemical integrity.