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Understanding sedimentation behavior and its transport capacity in the Tigris River is of significant importance owing to the detrimental consequences caused by it. This study investigates the sediment amounts transported along the reach of the Tigris River in Baghdad. The CCHE2D model which is a common tool developed by the National Center for Computational Hydrological Science and Engineering (NCCHE) was applied to investigate the flow pattern and sediment amounts within 7 km reach. The model was initially calibrated and validated under steady-state conditions at the Sarai gauging station (upstream) and its performance was evaluated around the Abu Nawas water treatment plant (downstream). The result shows that the water surface level and velocity in the Sarai Baghdad gauging station and Abu Nawas raw water station cross-sections are different due to different considerations which are discharged, bank and bed soil types, channel velocity, and section shape. Moreover, the sediment concentrations ranged between 0.240 - 0.350 kg/m³ at the cross-section of the Sarai Baghdad gauging station while the cross-section of Abu Nawas raw water station ranged between (0.040-0.090) kg/m3 . Additionally, the study investigated the average suspended sediment concentration at the river reach which ranged from 150 to 300 kg/m3 . Finally, the study demonstrated CCHE2D's capacity to simulate river flow and sediment movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the time-dependent squeezing flow between parallel discs under the influence of various physical processes such as magnetohydrodynamics, micropolarity, thermophysics, homogeneous-heterogeneous chemical reactions, and bioconvection. The slip and permeability effects are considered at the boundaries. The nonlinear system is simplified through scaling transformations and subsequently solved numerically. Besides, an artificial neural network (ANN) model is developed to predict the values of skin-friction coefficients, heat transfer rates, and mass transfer rates at both discs. The performance of the ANN model is validated against the computational results, demonstrating robustness with correlation coefficients being almost close to 1. The ANN model performs more robustly for instance, skin-friction coefficient model revealed correlation (R) equaling 0.99775 and 0.99537 for the test data of the lower and upper discs, respectively. The values for heat and mass transfer observe as 0.99999, 0.99938, and 0.99839, 0.99167 for the test data of lower and upper discs. Parametric and sensitivity analyses produce results that are comparable to the numerical findings. Graphical and tabular representations are provided for various dimensionless parameters. Results indicate that the developed model is reliable and capable of accurately predicting multiple physical processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease has become a global pandemic, and it continues to wreak havoc on global health and the economy. The development of vaccines may offer a potential eradication of COVID-19. This study evaluated the general knowledge, attitude, and perception of COVID-19 vaccines in the Pakistani population. Methods: A self-reporting e-survey and questionnaire-based survey from vaccination centers of different cities of Pakistan among 502 participants were conducted. The questionnaire comprised four sections inquiring demographics, vaccination status, and perception or attitude towards the vaccine. Univariate logistic regression was applied to predict the knowledge, attitude and behavior of participants. Results: The mean age of participants was 50.8±20.3 years. 53% of the participants have both doses of vaccine administered. Pain on the site of injection (49.8%) was the most common symptom, followed by asthenia (43.0%), muscle pain (29.5%), and swelling (24.5%) on the site of vaccine administration. Females complain of more symptoms than males. More severe symptoms were reported after the first dose of vaccine administration; these symptoms subsided within a week for most participants. Overall, the respondents have a positive attitude towards the vaccine. 47.4% are sure about the vaccine's efficacy, 48.6% said getting vaccinated was their own decision, and 79.9% also recommended others to get vaccinated. Conclusion: The study concluded that the Pakistani population has a positive attitude but inadequate knowledge towards COVID-19 vaccines. Immediate awareness and vaccination education programs should be conducted by the authorities to complete the mass vaccination schedule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the silent characteristics of magnetized mixed convection flow in porous medium suspended with both microorganisms and nanoparticles induced by two expanded or contracted disks are investigated. The Buongiorno's model, in which the Brownian diffusion and thermophoresis are taken as dominant factors, is introduced to describe behaviors of the nanofluid. Multiple slip boundary conditions are also included into this problem. The nonlinear system is converted into five fully coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations via suitable scaling transformations. The homotopy-based algorithm BVPh2.0 is employed to give their solutions. Physical interpretation is made through analyzing the graphs of different constraints for profiles of velocity, temperature, nanoparticle volume concentration and density of motile organism. Furthermore, we extend this model to seek the physical behaviors of heat transfer and the wall motile microorganism fluxes. Significant findings are presented, including that the wall expansion ratio and the magnetic parameter impose contrary effects on microorganism profiles, the Prandtl number and the radiation parameter play opposite roles on heat transfer rate, and the Brownian motion and the thermophoresis exhibit totally different influence on microorganism flux rate. It is expected that this study is helpful to understand heat transfer mechanism in multiple physical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the fabrication of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using aqueous extracts of Allium sativum as reducing agents. Silver ion becomes a good carrier of bioactive compounds of Allium sativum, so their biochemical potential such as total phenolic and flavonoids were evaluated. Results showed that as a concentration increases TPC and TFC were also increased. Similar to their secondary metabolite, scavenging potential of Ag NPs of Allium sativum was also monitored. Green synthesized Ag NPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity 24±2.6, 22±1.4, 19±2.7 and 20±3.17 against B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli and P. multocida bacterial strains respectively. Moreover, Ag NPs of garlic did not show any mutagenicity against mutant strain of S. typhimurium TA98 & TA100. Brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA) showed their dose dependent effect. Finally, green synthesized Ag NPs of garlic presented anti-proliferative effect against HEPG2 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The undertaken study includes investigating the performance and effluent characteristics of the treatment plant of Al-Doura refinery. Influent concentrations for some important contaminants, which are TDS, oil and grease, TSS, COD, BOD, and turbidity were 2595 mg/L, 13934 mg/L, 466.45 mg/L, 2538.9 mg/L, 1739.2 mg/L, and 89.18 NTU, respectively, while the effluent concentrations were 1337.8 mg/L, 0.53mg/L, 21.7mg/L, 25.45 mg/L, 17.81 mg/L, and 7.08 NTU, respectively, giving removal efficiencies of 44.47%, 99.99%, 94.4%, 98.96%, 98.96% and 92.05%, respectively. All these results indicate that Al-Doura wastewater treatment plant was efficient in removing contaminants according to Iraqi and EPA specifications. Hence, the second part of this study concentrated on finding a simple and efficient treatment method to treat the effluent so that it can be reused in the boiler system. A pilot plant was designed and dedicated for this purpose, including three units of granular activated carbon filter, ultra filtration filter, and reverse osmosis filter. Average removal efficiencies of oil and grease, turbidity, COD, and BOD were 85.25%, 100%, 34.92%, and 31.11%, respectively at the granular activated carbon filter, with very low efficiencies for the removal of TDs and conductivity. Ultra filtration showed average removal efficiencies for COD and BOD of 30.81% and 32.31%, respectively. While the average removal efficiencies for TDs and conductivity was very low. The reverse osmosis filter removed TDs and conductivity very efficiently, giving average removal efficiencies of 97.63% and 95.43%, respectively. In addition, it provided good removal percentages for COD and BOD, with values of 61.73% and 64.1%, respectively. A recycling procedure was created and the results were eventually comparable to those conferred by some of the traditional approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis and also responsible for serious threat to public health. Koumiss is a fermented mare's milk product, used as traditional drink. Here, we explored the effect of koumiss on gut microbiota and the host immune response against M bovis infection. Therefore, mice were treated with koumiss and fresh mare milk for 14 days before M bovis infection and continue for 5 weeks after infection. The results showed a clear change in the intestinal flora of mice treated with koumiss, and the lungs of mice treated with koumiss showed severe edema, inflammatory infiltration, and pulmonary nodules in Mbovis‐infected mice. Notably, we found that the content of short‐chain fatty acids was significantly lower in the koumiss‐treated group compared with the control group. However, the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis‐related proteins in the lungs of koumiss‐treated mice were significantly decreased. Collectively, these findings suggest that koumiss treatment disturb the intestinal flora of, which is associated with disease severity and the possible mechanism that induces lungs pathology. Our current findings can be exploited further to establish the “gut‐lung” axis which might be a novel strategy for the control of tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-three samples of groundwater were taken from Dibdibba unconfined aquifer in the Zuber area southwestern parts of Basrah governorate south of Iraq to assess the groundwater quality. A statistical multivariate analysis was done using cations and anions, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC) that were measured for drinking, livestock, and construction purposes. Residual sodium bicarbonate (RSBC), Magnesium Ratio (MR), and Permeability index (PI) were used to evaluate the suitability of the present samples for irrigation activity. The quality of groundwater in the study area is unsuitable for drinking water, industrial and building uses. But it is suitable for livestock uses, According to Residual Sodium Carbonate and Magnesium Ratio the groundwater in the study area are suitable for irrigation purposes, but unsuitable for Permeability index. Multivariate analysis results indicate the high positive correlation between Ec and TDS with other constituents, two significant clusters I and II are obtained with significant Ec and TDS responsible for playing the most effective in classifying the present samples. 71.85% and l2.21% of the present of the total variance of the groundwater samples were explained by Factor analyses, Factor I indicated increasing Cl-, Mg+2, Na+, and Ca+2 with the highest weight and Factor II show lower weight average of K+ concentration only. The results confirm the dissolution of sulfate salts and evaporate minerals, in addition to high agricultural lands and farm activities, besides the wastes from chemical construction industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lindane is a broad-spectrum insecticide widely used on fruits, vegetables, crops, livestock and on animal premises to control the insects and pests. The extensive use of pesticides and their residues in the soil and water typically join the food chain and thus accumulate in the body tissues of human and animals causing severe health effects. The study was designed to determine the toxicity effects of sub-lethal concentrations of lindane on hemato-biochemical profile and histo-pathological changes in Rohu (Labeo rohita). A significant increase in the absolute (p<0.05) and relative (p<0.05) weights was observed along with severe histo-pathological alterations in liver, kidneys, gills, heart and brain at 30μg/L and 45μg/L concentration of lindane. A significant (p<0.05) decrease in RBCs count, PCV and Hb concentration while a significant (p<0.05) increased leukocytes were observed by 30μg/L and 45μg/L concentrations of lindane at 45 and 60 days of the experiment. Serum total protein and albumin were significantly (p<0.05) decreased while hepatic and renal enzymes were significantly (p<0.05) increased due to 30μg/L and 45μg/L concentrations of lindane at days-45 and 60 of experiment compared to control group. The observations of thin blood smear indicated significantly increased number of erythrocytes having nuclear abnormalities in the fish exposed at 30μg/L and 45μg/L concentrations of lindane. ROS and TBARS were found to be significantly increased while CAT, SOD, POD and GSH were significantly decreased with an increase in the concentration and exposure time of lindane. The results showed that lindane causes oxidative stress and severe hematological, serum biochemical and histo-pathological alterations in the fish even at sub-lethal concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mycobacterium bovis persistently survives in macrophages by developing multiple strategies to evade host immune responses, and the early induction of interferon-β (IFN-β) is one of these critical strategies. The mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) plays a vital role in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) metabolism and has been suggested to influence IFN-β production in response to viral infection. However, its role in the production of IFN-β by M. bovis has not been elucidated.Methods: In the current study, we investigated the role of TFAM in the production of IFN-β in M. bovis-infected macrophages.Results: We found that knockdown of TFAM expression significantly reduced M. bovis-induced IFN-β production, mtDNA copy numbers and cytosolic mtDNA were increased in murine macrophages with M. bovis infection, cytosolic mtDNA contributed to IFN-β production, and TFAM was required for the increase in mtDNA copy numbers induced by M. bovis. We also observed that TFAM affected the intracellular survival of M. bovis.Conclusions: Our results suggest that TFAM plays an essential role in M. bovis-induced IFN-β production by regulating mtDNA copy numbers. This might be a new strategy adopted by M. bovis for its intracellular survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focusses on antibacterial properties and wound healing potential of curcumin cross-linked with chitosan-PVA membranes. The crude curcumin was extracted from the rhizome of (Curcumin longa) and chitosan-PVA 80 was also prepared separately. The synergistic potential 10, 20 and 30 mg of curcumin alone and in combination with chitosan-PVA was determined. The antibacterial, scavenging potential of free radical, total phenolic and total flavonoids contents were documented through spectrophotometric methods. Finally, the wound healing potential was tested on experimental animal (rabbits). Rabbits were divided into different groups; untreated (control), treated with 10, 20 and 30 mg of curcumin and its combination with chitosan-PVA80. Chitosan-PVA exhibited significant antibacterial property against bacterial pathogens. Wound healing trials on 2nd degree burns showed chitosan as substantial wound healing agent for wound bandages. Results have shown that chitosan wound gauzes augmented the granule and fibrous connective tissues formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invertase has a vital role in ethanol fermentation, especially on sucrose-containing media. In this study, catabolite-resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated through gamma ray mutagenesis with improved productivity of ethanol and invertases. Enzyme productivity of mutant yeast was compared with that of the parent. Various fermentation parameters were optimized, including substrate concentration, pH, and temperature on the production of invertase and ethanol. Applying optimized conditions (pH 4.6, 37°C) at lab scale, industrial scale experiments in 300 m3 fermenters were performed. Mutants had completed fermentation with high efficiency in 28 hrs irrespective of parents that took 36 hrs. The mutant obtained is of great commercial value as it has the potential to enhance the overall profitability of the fermentation process through advancement in the quality of the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Uptake kinetics of PCBs were measured on powdered and granular activated carbon. • A kinetic model was developed to describe uptake kinetics as a function of particle size. • Model results compared favorable with other available data including sediment treatment. • Implications of uptake kinetics on sediment remedial performance was evaluated. Activated carbon (AC) has been applied widely in water treatment as a strong sorbent for organic contaminants and, more recently, in-situ treatment and capping for remediating legacy contaminants. In some sediment environments, the sorption kinetics onto AC may significantly impact remedial performance, particularly for large, highly hydrophobic contaminants such as PCBs, but there is limited kinetic data on such compounds. In this study, batch experiments were conducted over 52 weeks to measure PCB adsorption kinetics on 2 ACs in granular (1.1 mm diameter) and powdered (0.02 mm) form using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fibers to measure aqueous concentrations over time. The experiment was conducted in glass containers with water at known PCB concentration and containing 10 mg/L natural organic matter (NOM) and activated carbon. Blanks without activated carbon were used to estimate kinetics and equilibrium uptake to PDMS and NOM. The PDMS measured aqueous concentration in AC containing slurries was then used to estimate kinetics and equilibrium uptake of the various PCBs onto the AC. Achieving equilibration of PCBs onto the powdered activated carbon (PAC) was accomplished in days to weeks, but granular activated carbon (GAC) uptake was not complete for some high molecular weight congeners in a year. The data were used to fit linear driving force models with both linear and Freundlich models of equilibrium. The models were then used to predict uptake onto powdered and granular AC during in-situ capping and treatment using the CapSim model. Slow kinetics can significantly limit the performance of granular AC in high upwelling (> 1–10 cm/day) environments. This study demonstrates the usage of polymeric passive samplers to explore sorption kinetics and equilibrium for low solubility compounds as well as the differences in performance of granular and powdered forms of AC for remediation of PCB contaminated sediment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of present article is to examine the influences of heat and mass fluxes in the MHD flow of Casson nanofluid by an exponentially stretching sheet. Formulation and analysis is presented when thermal radiation and viscous dissipation are taken into account. Transformation technique is adopted for the reduction of partial different equations systems to ordinary differential equations systems. Both analytic and numerical solutions of dimensionless velocity, temperature, and nanoparticle concentration fields are developed. The impacts of sundry parameters on the velocity, temperature, and nanoparticle concentration profiles are plotted and discussed. The values of skin-friction coefficient are obtained numerically. It is found that an increase in the values of Casson parameter reduced the skin-friction coefficient while it enhances for larger Hartman number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health threat to the human population worldwide. The etiology of the disease is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), a highly successful intracellular pathogen. It has the ability to manipulate the host immune response and to make the intracellular environment suitable for its survival. Many studies have addressed the interactions between the bacteria and the host immune cells as involving many immune mediators and other cellular players. Interferon-β (IFN-β) signaling is crucial for inducing the host innate immune response and it is an important determinant in the fate of mycobacterial infection. The role of IFN-β in protection against viral infections is well established and has been studied for decades, but its role in mycobacterial infections remains much more complicated and debatable. The involvement of IFN-β in immune evasion mechanisms adopted by Mtb has been an important area of investigation in recent years. These advances have widened our understanding of the pro-bacterial role of IFN-β in host-pathogen interactions. This pro-bacterial activity of IFN-β appears to be correlated with its anti-inflammatory characteristics, primarily by antagonizing the production and function of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and interleukin 18 (IL-18) through increased interleukin 10 (IL-10) production and by inhibiting the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Furthermore, it also fails to provoke a proper T helper 1 (Th1) response and reduces the expression of major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II) and interferon-γ receptors (IFNGRs). Here we will review some studies to provide a paradigm for the induction, regulation, and role of IFN-β in mycobacterial infection. Indeed, recent studies suggest that IFN-β plays a role in Mtb survival in host cells and its downregulation may be a useful therapeutic strategy to control Mtb infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the surface of semi-crystalline composite granules produced via a novel mechano-chemical process and assessed the effect of electrostatic charging. Ibuprofen (IBU), a model drug with low solubility and known associated processing challenges was loaded in composite granules to improve its processibility and dissolution rates. Synthetic amorphous mesoporous magnesium alumina metasilicate (MAS) was co-processed with hydrophilic HPMC polymer in the presence of polyethylene glycol 2000 (PEG) and deionised water. The solid state analyses conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed the existence of semi-crystalline IBU in the complex composite structures. Dynamic vapour sorption (DVS) study showed the water sorption and desorption profiles of the manufactured composite granules as well as the effect of water on the solid-state stability of IBU in various formulations. Advanced surface analysis conducted via energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) revealed homogenous distribution of the drug/excipients on the surface of the granules while atomic force microscopy (AFM) complemented the findings. The electrostatic charge analysis showed variable charge property which is affected by the size of the particles/granules. As expected, the in vitro dissolution study showed about 5 fold increase in the release rates of IBU compared to that of the bulk drug. The mechanochemical processing has been demonstrated as an efficient technique to develop semi-crystalline composite granules with enhanced dissolution rates of water insoluble drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of misfolded/unfolded aggregated proteins in the brain is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases affecting humans and animals. Dysregulation of calcium (Ca) and disruption of fast axonal transport (FAT) are early pathological events that lead to loss of synaptic integrity and axonal degeneration in early stages of neurodegenerative diseases. Dysregulated Ca in the brain is triggered by accumulation of misfolded/unfolded aggregated proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a major Ca storing organelle, ultimately leading to neuronal dysfunction and apoptosis. Calcineurin (CaN), a Ca/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase, has been implicated in T cells activation through the induction of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). In addition to the involvement of several other signaling cascades, CaN has been shown to play a role in early synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death. Therefore, inhibiting hyperactivated CaN in early stages of disease might be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating patients with protein misfolding diseases. In this review, we briefly summarize the structure of CaN, inhibition mechanisms by which immunosuppressants inhibit CaN, role of CaN in maintaining neuronal and synaptic integrity and homeostasis and the role played by CaN in protein unfolding/misfolding neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is an intracellular pathogen and is the causative agent of Johne's disease of domestic and wild ruminants. Johne's disease is characterized by chronic granulomatous enteritis leading to substantial economic losses to the livestock sector across the world. MAP persistently survives in phagocytic cells, most commonly in macrophages by disrupting its early antibacterial activity. MAP triggers several signaling pathways after attachment to pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) of phagocytic cells. MAP adopts a survival strategy to escape the host defence mechanisms via the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The signaling mechanism initiated through toll like receptor 2 (TLR2) activates MAPK-p38 results in up-regulation of interleukin-10 (IL-10), and subsequent repression of inflammatory cytokines. The anti-inflammatory response of IL-10 is mediated through membrane-bound IL-10 receptors, leading to trans-phosphorylation and activation of Janus Kinase (JAK) family receptor-associated tyrosine kinases (TyKs), that promotes the activation of latent transcription factors, signal transducer and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3). IL-10 is an important inhibitory cytokine playing its role in blocking phagosome maturation and apoptosis. In the current review, we describe the importance of IL-10 in early phases of the MAP infection and regulatory mechanisms of the IL-10 dependent pathways in paratuberculosis. We also highlight the strategies to target IL-10, MAPK and STAT3 in other infections caused by intracellular pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is devoted to the numerical and series solutions of magnetohydrodynamic steady flow of Maxwell fluid with nanoparticles. Double stratification effects in the presence of thermal radiation are employed in the thermal and nanoparticle mass species expressions. The governing nonlinear systems of equations are coupled through mixed convection. A numerical algorithm namely shooting technique is employed to find the numerical solutions of velocity, temperature and nanoparticle concentration. The series solutions are obtained via homotopic criteria. The velocity, temperature and nanoparticle concentration for various values of physical parameters are presented and discussed. Comparison of homotopic and numerical solutions with previous published work is computed in a limiting sense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrostatic charge due to inter‐particle and particle‐to‐wall contacts may generate significant hazards during the processing of particulates within the pharmaceutical industry. Although charge behaviour of particulates is erratic and not easy to predict, it would be desirable to characterise the tendency of tribocharging prior to manufacturing. The work reported in this study concentrates on a new and novel technique for the detection of the active ingredient and excipient in a bipolar material. Three different case studies are presented for demonstration of the applicability of the method in different practical situations. Work confirmed through an experimental rig set‐up indicates that materials that accumulate opposite charge via contact and rubbing can be detected from their charge sign as well as their relative magnitude. The results reported clearly demonstrated that the developed method for charge characterisation is a useful tool to understand how the charges are distributed in a population of particles showing a number of advantages over conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed matrix membranes are thought to have the ability to separate gases. The current research investigates the isolation of CO2 from methane (CH4) and nitrogen (N2) using a mixed matrix membrane. Bio-MOF-11 was combined with polyether sulfone to establish a membrane (PES). Experiments were carried out to determine the efficiency of the established membrane. Results showed that the Lewis basic sites present in Bi o-MOF-11, which have a higher affinity for CO2, increase the permeability and selectivity of pristine polyether sulfone. At 30% filler loading, CO2 permeability improved fro m 2.20 to 3.90 Barrer, while CO2/CH4 and CO2/ N2 selectivity improved from 9.57 to 11.14 with 30% filler loading. In addition, at 30% filler loading, CO2 solubility drops from 1.57 to 1.20. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All solid explosives in practical use are more or less porous. Although it is known that the change in porosity affects the shock sensitivity of solid explosives, the effect of small changes in porosity on the sensitivity needs to be determined for safe and efficient use of explosive materials. In this study, the influence of a small change in porosity on shock initiation and the subsequent detonation growth process of a plastic-bonded explosive PBXC03, composed of 87% cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine (HMX), 7% triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB), and 6% Viton by weight, are investigated by shock to detonation transition experiments. Two explosive formulations of PBXC03 having the same initial grain sizes pressed to 98 and 99% of theoretical mass density (1.873 g/cm3) respectively are tested using the in situ manganin piezoresistive pressure gauge technique. Numerical modeling of the experiments is performed using an ignition and growth reactive flow model. Reasonable agreement with the experimental results is obtained by increasing the growth term coefficient in the Lee-Tarver ignition and growth model with porosity. Combining the experimental and simulation results shows that the shock sensitivity increases with porosity for PBXC03 having the same explosive initial grain sizes for the pressures (about 3.1 GPa) applied in the experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The initiation of heterogeneous explosives by shaped charge jets is discussed. A reactive flow model, specially modified to account for the desensitization effects due to preshocking in heterogeneous explosives, is used to investigate the initiation of explosives by a shaped charge jet. Previously reported shaped charge jet initiation experimental setups are simulated using hydrodynamic software LS-DYNA with the desensitization model implemented as a user-defined equation of state. The simulation results indicate that the desensitization effects caused by the shocks preceding the jet play a significant role in determination of the run to detonation distance for covered explosives initiated by jets. The failure in initiation in the first explosive sample that is in contact with the steel plate and initiation of the second sample separated further by an air gap during penetration of the jet can be explained on the basis of desensitization phenomena. The simulation qualitatively reproduces various shock interaction phenomenon occurring in explosives during penetration by a shaped charge jet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The change in shock sensitivity of explosives having various explosive grain sizes is discussed. Along with other parameters, explosive grain size is one of the key parameters controlling the macroscopic behavior of shocked pressed explosives. Ignition and growth reactive flow modeling is performed for the shock initiation experiments carried out by using the in situ manganin piezoresistive pressure gauge technique to investigate the influences of the octahydro-1,3,5,7–tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) particle size on the shock initiation and the subsequent detonation growth process for the three explosive formulations of pressed PBXC03 (87% HMX, 7% 1,3,5-trichloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB), 6% Viton by weight). All of the formulation studied had the same density but different explosive grain sizes. A set of ignition and growth parameters was obtained for all three formulations. Only the coefficientG1of the first growth term in the reaction rate equation was varied with the grain size; all other parameters were kept the same for all formulations. It was found thatG1decreases almost linearly with HMX particle size for PBXC03. However, the equation of state (EOS) for solid explosive had to be adjusted to fit the experimental data. Both experimental and numerical simulation results show that the shock sensitivity of PBXC03 decreases with increasing HMX particle size for the sustained pressure pulses (around 4 GPa) as obtained in the experiment. This result is in accordance with the results reported elsewhere in literature. For future work, a better approach may be to find standard solid Grüneisen EOS and product Jones-Wilkins-Lee (JWL) EOS for each formulation for the best fit to the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To understand and predict the response of explosive materials, numerical models are utilized to simulate various scenarios. Various hazard and vulnerability scenarios for explosives involve multiple shock compression. In the present study, a kind of mesoscopic model for shock ignition of solid heterogeneous explosives is examined in order to demonstrate its availability to account for the desensitization caused by multiple shocks in explosives. Since the mesoscopic model is based on the assumption of the elastic viscoplastic pore collapse mechanism, and on the other hand the desensitization mechanism is also usually described in connection with the closure of pores, the ability of the mesoscopic model to predict the desensitization effects must be analyzed. For this purpose, the mesoscopic model has been implemented in a hydrodynamic code (LS-DYNA) as a user-defined equation of state. For verification, the double shock, reflected shock and detonation-quenching experiments have been modeled and simulated. The data show that the model can reproduce various features of some of the previously reported experiments involving the preshock desensitization of solid explosives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow problem resulting from the stretching of a surface with convective conditions in a magnetohydrodynamic nanofluid with solar radiation is examined. Both heat and nanoparticle mass transfer convective conditions are employed. An incompressible third grade fluid which exhibits shear thinning and shear thickening characteristics is used as a base fluid. Concept of convective nanoparticle mass condition is introduced. Effects of Brownian motion and thermophoresis on magnetohydrodynamic flow of nanofluid are accounted in the presence of thermal radiation. Energy equation incorporates the features of Joule heating. The impact of physical parameters on the temperature and nanoparticle concentration has been pointed out. Numerical values of skin-friction coefficient are presented and analysed. It is hoped that this present investigation serves as a stimulus for the next generation of solar film collectors, heat exchangers technology, material processing, geothermal energy storage, and all those processes which are highly affected by the heat enhancement concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we investigate the heat and mass transfer analysis in mixed convective radiative flow of Jeffrey fluid over a moving surface. The effects of thermal and concentration stratifications are also taken into consideration. Rosseland's approximations are utilized for thermal radiation. The nonlinear boundary layer partial differential equations are converted into nonlinear ordinary differential equations via suitable dimensionless variables. The solutions of nonlinear ordinary differential equations are developed by homotopic procedure. Convergence of homotopic solutions is examined graphically and numerically. Graphical results of dimensionless velocity, temperature and concentration are presented and discussed in detail. Values of the skin-friction coefficient, the local Nusselt and the local Sherwood numbers are analyzed numerically. Temperature and concentration profiles are decreased when the values of thermal and concentration stratifications parameters increase. Larger values of radiation parameter lead to the higher temperature and thicker thermal boundary layer thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional hydromagnetic flow of an incompressible Jeffrey nanofluid over an exponentially stretching surface is examined in the present article. Heat and mass transfer analysis is performed in the presence of thermal radiation, viscous dissipation, and Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects. Mathematical modelling of considered flow problem is developed under boundary layer and Rosseland’s approximations. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations are converted into ordinary differential equations via transformations. Solution expressions of velocity, temperature and concentration are presented in the series forms. Impacts of physical parameters on the dimensionless temperature and concentration are shown and discussed. Skin-friction coefficients are analyzed numerically. A comparison in a limiting sense is provided to validate the present series solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enrofloxacin (ENRO) is a second generation fluoroquinolone that was specially developed for clinically use in veterinary practice. Most of the previous studies on the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics have emphasized that the optimal therapeutic dosage of imported drugs should be determined in the local target species. So the present study was designed to determine the disposition kinetics of ENRO in healthy adult female goats under local environment. The ENRO was injected at 5 mg/kg through intramuscular route. After ENRO administration, blood samples were collected at different time intervals and analyzed through HPLC. Kinetic parameters were determined by subjecting the plasma concentration to the two compartment open model. The value of Cmax and Tmax were 1.03±0.101 µg/ml and 1.47±0.14 hours, respectively. The values of A and B were (1.46±0.25 and 0.99±0.10 µg/ml), respectively. The mean half-life values of absorption (t1/2β), distribution (t1/2α) and elimination (t1/2α) were 0.88±0.19, 0.69±0.10 and 2.84±0.30 hours, respectively. The values (mean±SE) of Vd and ClB were 3.96±0.66 l/kg and 0.96±0.10 l/hr/kg, respectively. The priming and maintenance doses of ENRO after intramuscular administration based upon the minimum effective concentration C°P(min) were determined. The calculated priming dose for goats, at C°P(min) 0.05 µg/ml, was 4.49 mg/kg for 8 hour dosing intervals while the maintenance dose for corresponding dosing intervals was 4.29 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate, for the first time, the performance of a dry powder inhaler (DPI, Aerolizer) in the case of a model drug (i.e. albuterol sulphate) formulated with spray dried mannitol carrier particles with homogeneous shape and solid-state form but different sizes. Methods: Spray dried mannitol (SDM) particles were characterized in terms of size, surface area, morphology, water content, solid-state, density and electrostatic charge by a novel approach. DPI formulations composed of SDM and albuterol sulphate (AS) were prepared and evaluated in terms of drug content homogeneity and in vitro aerosolization performance. Results: All SDM particles generated similar fine particle fractions of AS. Formulations consisting of larger SDM particles demonstrated better drug content homogeneity, reduced amounts of drug loss and reduced oropharyngeal deposition. Comparing different SDM products demonstrated that SDM powders with relatively poorer flowability, wider size distributions and higher charge density generated DPI formulations with poorer drug content homogeneity and deposited higher amount of drug on the inhaler, mouthpiece adaptor and throat. DPI formulation total desirability increased linearly with the mean diameter of SDM. Conclusion: Particle shape and solid-state form of mannitol could dominate over carrier size, bulk density, flowability and charge in terms of determining the aerosolization behaviour of AS formulated with mannitol carrier, at least within the experimental protocols applied in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electrostatic charge is generated during powder handling due to particle–particle and particle–wall collisions, rubbing, sliding, and rolling. In case of bipolar charge generation, the electrostatic forces may significantly change the inner forces and increase powder adhesion and cause a serious problem in material handling process. Therefore, the knowledge of distribution of charge across the individual particles is helpful to identify the role of triboelectrification and the effects of various relevant variables especially change in the contact materials, environmental conditions during processing, etc. A novel approach based on inductive sensor has been developed to detect the either polarity of charged particle and to characterise the bipolar charge distribution in the population of particulate material. To achieve this, an amplification unit configured as a pure integrator and signal processing techniques has been used to de-noise and correct the baseline of signal and MATLAB algorithm developed for peak detection. The polarity of charged particles obtained by this method is calibrated with Faraday pail method and the results are promising. Experimental study has been carried out by using two distinct populations of oppositely charged particles (glass beads-PVC, olivine sand, and silica sand). The obtained results indicate that the method is able to detect the distribution of polarities of charged particles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Infertility is a globally recognized issue caused by different reproductive disorders. To date, various therapeutic approaches to restore fertility have been attempted including etiology-specific medication, hormonal therapies, surgical excisions, and assisted reproductive technologies. Although these approaches produce results, however, fertility restoration is not achieved in all cases. Advances in using stem cell (SC) therapy hold a great promise for treating infertile patients due to their abilities to self-renew, differentiate, and produce different paracrine factors to regenerate the damaged or injured cells and replenish the affected germ cells. Furthermore, SCs secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing biologically active molecules including nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins. EVs are involved in various physiological and pathological processes and show promising non-cellular therapeutic uses to combat infertility. Several studies have indicated that SCs and/or their derived EVs transplantation plays a crucial role in the regeneration of different segments of the reproductive system, oocyte production, and initiation of sperm production. However, available evidence triggers the need to testify the efficacy of SC transplantation or EVs injection in resolving the infertility issues of the human population. In this review, we highlight the recent literature covering the issues of infertility in females and males, with a special focus on the possible treatments by stem cells or their derived EVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Wheat and flaxseed are used worldwide to produce omega-3 (ω-3) enriched poultry meat and eggs, however, wheat and flaxseed contain some anti-nutritional factors (ANFs). In addition, the supplementation of feed additive including enzymes usually alleviate the deleterious influence of ANFs. Therefore, we conducted the current study of laying hens fed with two diets (corn/flaxseed and wheat/flaxseed, supplemented with three enzymes), for a period of 10 weeks. Here, we found a clear increase in the fat weight of birds fed with corn diet as compared with wheat diet. Moreover, a high level of secretory IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 and comparatively higher inflammatory changes in the liver tissue were found in birds fed with corn diet as compared with wheat diet. The gut microbial composition of hens fed with corn diet was clearly different than that of birds fed a wheat diet. In conclusion, our findings suggest that inflammatory changes in laying birds were mediated by a corn diet with flaxseed and enzymes instead of a wheat diet. Additionally, in the wheat-fed group, enzyme-b and -c showed more encouraging results as compared to enzyme-a indicating that wheat diet might be a preferable diet for commercial layers poultry farms. Background: The use of wheat and flaxseed to produce omega-3 (ω-3) enriched poultry meat and eggs is very popular in the world. However, wheat and flaxseed contain some anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), and enzymes are usually used to alleviate the deleterious influence of ANFs. Method: A 2 × 3 two factors design was used in the experiment. A total of 540 twenty-week-old Nongda-3 laying hens were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments, two diets (corn/flaxseed and wheat/flaxseed), and three enzymes (enzyme-a contains neutral protease 10,000, xylanase 35,000, β-mannanase 1500, β-glucanase 2000, cellulose 500, amylase 100, and pectinase 10,000 (U g−1); enzyme-b contains alkaline protease 40,000 and neutral protease 10,000 (U g−1); enzyme-c contains alkaline protease 40,000, neutral protease 10,000, and cellulase 4000 (U g−1). Results: There was an interaction between dietary treatment and supplemental enzymes for liver weight and liver inflammatory cytokines of broilers. A significant increase was observed in the fat weight of birds fed a corn diet as compared with a wheat diet. A corn diet and wheat diet with the addition of enzyme-a (p < 0.001) showed the highest level of liver fat followed by enzyme-c (p < 0.01) and enzyme-b. Moreover, a high level of secretory IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 and comparatively higher inflammatory changes in the liver tissue were found in birds fed a corn diet as compared with a wheat diet, and enzyme-b showed more beneficial effects as compared with enzyme-a and -c. The gut microbial composition of hens fed a corn diet was significantly different than that of birds fed a wheat diet. Bacteroides were significantly (p < 0.05) abundant in the corn-fed birds as compared with wheat-fed birds. However, Firmicutes were less abundant in the wheat-fed birds than the corn-fed birds (16.99 vs. 31.80%, respectively). The microbial community at the genus level differed significantly in the dietary groups and we observed that Bacteroides are the predominant cecal microbiota. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of co-factors, carbohydrates, vitamins, protein, and energy were expressed at slightly higher levels in the microbiota of the wheat-fed birds, whereas, metabolic pathways for nucleotides, lipids, and glycine were expressed at higher levels in the wheat-fed birds. Furthermore, expression of the growth and cellular processes pathway and endocrine system pathway levels were predicted to be higher for the wheat-fed group as compared with the corn-fed group. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggest that inflammatory changes in laying birds were mediated by a corn diet with flaxseed and enzymes instead of a wheat diet. Additionally, in the wheat-fed group, enzyme-b and -c showed more encouraging results as compared to enzyme-a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is the principal causative agent of bovine tuberculosis; however, it may also cause serious infection in human being. Type I IFN is a key factor in reducing viral multiplication and modulating host immune response against viral infection. However, the regulatory pathways of Type I IFN signaling during M. bovis infection are not yet fully explored. Here, we investigate the role of Type I IFN signaling in the pathogenesis of M. bovis infection in mice.Methods: C57BL/6 mice were treated with IFNAR1-blocking antibody or Isotype control 24 h before M. bovis infection. After 21 and 84 days of infection, mice were sacrificed and the role of Type I IFN signaling in the pathogenesis of M. bovis was investigated. ELISA and qRT-PCR were performed to detect the expression of Type I IFNs and related genes. Lung lesions induced by M. bovis were assessed by histopathological examination. Viable bacterial count was determined by CFU assay.Results: We observed an abundant expression of Type I IFNs in the serum and lung tissues of M. bovis infected mice. In vivo blockade of Type I IFN signaling reduced the recruitment of neutrophils to the lung tissue, mediated the activation of macrophages leading to an increased pro-inflammatory profile and regulated the inflammatory cytokine production. However, no impact was observed on T cell activation and recruitment in the early acute phase of infection. Additionally, blocking of type I IFN signaling reduced bacterial burden in the infected mice as compared to untreated infected mice.Conclusions: Altogether, our results reveal that Type I IFN mediates a balance between M. bovis-mediated inflammatory reaction and host defense mechanism. Thus, modulating Type I IFN signaling could be exploited as a therapeutic strategy against a large repertoire of inflammatory disorders including tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis in cattle population across the world. Human beings are at equal risk of developing tuberculosis beside a wide range of M. bovis infections in animal species. Autophagic sequestration and degradation of intracellular pathogens is a major innate immune defense mechanism adopted by host cells for the control of intracellular infections. It has been reported previously that the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2Ac) is crucial for regulating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-mediated autophagic signaling pathways, yet its role in tuberculosis is still unclear. Here, we demonstrated that M. bovis infection increased PP2Ac expression in murine macrophages, while nilotinib a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) significantly suppressed PP2Ac expression. In addition, we observed that TKI-induced AMPK activation was dependent on PP2Ac regulation, indicating the contributory role of PP2Ac towards autophagy induction. Furthermore, we found that the activation of AMPK signaling is vital for the regulating autophagy during M. bovis infection. Finally, the transient inhibition of PP2Ac expression enhanced the inhibitory effect of TKI-nilotinib on intracellular survival and multiplication of M. bovis in macrophages by regulating the host's immune responses. Based on these observations, we suggest that PP2Ac should be exploited as a promising molecular target to intervene in host–pathogen interactions for the development of new therapeutic strategies towards the control of M. bovis infections in humans and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article talks about the general practitioners (GPs) formulated theoretical and practical approaches to patient care. Topics include understanding the doctor-patient interactions for bringing excellence in the creation of GP training, using evidence based scientific approach for each corporeal individual, and understanding the narrative of the dynamic between doctor and patient for antithesis to the evidence based numerically proficient quantitative approach.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) leads to approximately 1.5 million human deaths every year. In pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), Mtb must drive host tissue destruction to cause pulmonary cavitation and dissemination in the tissues. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases capable of degrading all components of pulmonary extracellular matrix (ECM). It is well established that Mtb infection leads to upregulation of MMPs and also causes disturbance in the balance between MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), thus altering the extracellular matrix deposition. In TB, secretion of MMPs is mainly regulated by NF‐κB, p38 and MAPK signalling pathways. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory roles of MMPs in Mtb pathogenesis. Researchers have proposed a new regimen of improved TB treatment by inhibition of MMP activity to hinder matrix destruction and to minimize the TB‐associated morbidity and mortality. The proposed regimen involves adjunctive use of MMP inhibitors such as doxycycline, marimastat and other related drugs along with front‐line anti‐TB drugs to reduce granuloma formation and bacterial load. These findings implicate the possible addition of economical and well‐tolerated MMP inhibitors to current multidrug regimens as an attractive mean to increase the drug potency. Here, we will summarize the recent advancements regarding expression of MMPs in TB, their immunomodulatory role, as well as their potential as therapeutic targets to control the deadly disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nilotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been studied extensively in various tumor models; however, no information exists about the pharmacological action of nilotinib in bacterial infections. Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) are the etiological agents of bovine tuberculosis and Johne's disease, respectively. Although M. bovis and MAP cause distinct tissue tropism, both of them infect, reside, and replicate in mononuclear phagocytic cells of the infected host. Autophagy is an innate immune defense mechanism for the control of intracellular bacteria, regulated by diverse signaling pathways. Here we demonstrated that nilotinib significantly inhibited the intracellular survival and growth of M. bovis and MAP in macrophages by modulating host immune responses. We showed that nilotinib induced autophagic degradation of intracellular mycobacterium occurred via the inhibition of PI3k/Akt/mTOR axis mediated by abelson (c-ABL) tyrosine kinase. In addition, we observed that nilotinib promoted ubiquitin accumulation around M. bovis through activation of E3 ubiquitin ligase parkin. From in-vivo experiments, we found that nilotinib effectively controlled M. bovis growth and survival through enhanced parkin activity in infected mice. Altogether, our data showed that nilotinib regulates protective innate immune responses against intracellular mycobacterium, both in-vitro and in-vivo, and can be exploited as a novel therapeutic remedy for the control of M. bovis and MAP infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) complex causing bovine tuberculosis (TB) and imposing a high zoonotic threat to human health. Kallikreins (KLKs) belong to a subgroup of secreted serine proteases. As their role is established in various physiological and pathological processes, it is likely that KLKs expression may mediate a host immune response against the M. bovis infection. In the current study, we report in vivo and in vitro upregulation of KLK12 in the M. bovis infection. To define the role of KLK12 in immune response regulation of murine macrophages, we produced KLK12 knockdown bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) by using siRNA transfection. Interestingly, the knockdown of KLK12 resulted in a significant downregulation of autophagy and apoptosis in M. bovis infected BMDMs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this KLK12 mediated regulation of autophagy and apoptosis involves mTOR/AMPK/TSC2 and BAX/Bcl-2/Cytochrome c/Caspase 3 pathways, respectively. Similarly, inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-α were significantly downregulated in KLK12 knockdown macrophages but the difference in IL-10 and IFN-β expression was non-significant. Taken together, these findings suggest that upregulation of KLK12 in M. bovis infected murine macrophages plays a substantial role in the protective immune response regulation by modulating autophagy, apoptosis and pro-inflammatory pathways. To our knowledge, this is the first report on expression and the role of KLK12 in the M. bovis infection and the data may contribute to a new paradigm for diagnosis and treatment of bovine TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely accepted that different strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have variable degrees of pathogenicity and induce different immune responses in infected hosts. Similarly, different strains of Mycobacterium bovis have been identified but there is a lack of information regarding the degree of pathogenicity of these strains and their ability to provoke host immune responses. Therefore, in the current study, we used a mouse model to evaluate various factors involved in the severity of disease progression and the induction of immune responses by two strains of M. bovis isolated from cattle. Mice were infected with both strains of M. bovis at different colony-forming unit (CFU) via inhalation. Gross and histological findings revealed more severe lesions in the lung and spleen of mice infected with M. bovis N strain than those infected with M. bovis C68004 strain. In addition, high levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and IL-22 production were observed in the serum samples of mice infected with M. bovis N strain. Comparative genomic analysis showed the existence of 750 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 145 small insertions/deletions between the two strains. After matching with the Virulence Factors Database, mutations were found in 29 genes, which relate to 17 virulence factors. Moreover, we found an increased number of virulent factors in M. bovis N strain as compared to M. bovis C68004 strain. Taken together, our data reveal that variation in the level of pathogenicity is due to the mutation in the virulence factors of M. bovis N strain. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms of mutation in the virulence factors will ultimately contribute to the development of new strategies for the control of M. bovis infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the diclofenac sodium intramuscular prophylaxis given with standard treatment in patients having ERCP was compared with standard treatment alone with respect to frequency and severity of pancreatitis within 48 hours after the procedure. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Setting: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and GI Endoscopy, SZABMU, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. Period: August 2021 and April 2022. Material & Methods: The study enrolled 160 patients with obstructive jaundice with or without pruritus (20-70 years). Each group consisted of 80 patients. A prophylactic dose of 75 mg of diclofenac sodium was administered intramuscularly to Group A in addition to standard treatment, while standard treatment was given to Group B alone. The standard treatment for PEP was antibiotics (Cefoperazone/Sulbactam 2g IV) for both groups. IV dormicum (midazolam) was given to both groups as sedation. All patients were tested for lipase and amylase after the procedure to detect any complications. They were also monitored for abdominal pain at 4 and 24 hours after the procedure. Results: In patients of Group A (n=80), the mean age was 47.1 years ± 8.4 SD, whereas in patients in Group B (n=80), the mean age was 47.5 years ± 7.4 SD. In Group A, 3.8% of patients (n=3/80) developed PEP, while 11% (n=11/80) developed PEP (p=0.025). Intramuscular diclofenac sodium was more efficient at preventing PEP when compared to the control group on standard treatment alone, on all of the following parameters: (1) the proportion of patients that did not develop PEP, (2) the rate of patients that developed PEP, and (3) the average quantity of days that patients were sick. In both groups A and B, the PEP diagnosis was mild and the patients were discharged within 2-3 days of diagnosis. PEP efficacy was not significantly different across age groups or genders in both treatment groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Diclofenac sodium is significantly more effective than standard treatment alone for intramuscular pancreatitis prophylaxis after ERCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess relationship between clopidogrel resistance and different ethnicities in Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Army Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Pakistan. Period: 2015 to 2019. Material & Methods: Included 390 ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients on clopidogrel therapy belonging to different ethnicities in Pakistan. Their platelet aggregation was assessed through light transmission aggregometry and the patients were divided into clopidogrel responder and clopidogrel resistant groups. Chi square analysis was done to assess difference in clopidogrel resistance among different ethnicities. One-way ANOVA was applied to assess difference in mean platelet aggregation among different ethnic groups. Results: This study has demonstrated that there was no significant difference in clopidogrel resistance among ischemic heart disease patients belonging to different ethnic groups of Pakistan, p = 0.566. Mean platelet aggregation of all the ethnic groups was also similar, p = 0.330. Conclusion: There is no association of clopidogrel resistance with ethnicity in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of healthcare personnel about biomedical waste management. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi from the 1st of April 2018 to 31st of July 2018. 340 healthcare personnel comprising of 145 doctors, 145 nurses, 10 management team staff and 40 sanitary staff were included by convenient sampling. Those who were on leave were excluded. A questionnaire based on biomedical waste management rules 2005 by Federal government of Pakistan under the Environment Protection Act 1997 was developed, translated, approved from Rawalian Research forum and validated by a pilot study to assess knowledge and practices of health care staff about types of biomedical waste, rules of waste management, color coding of waste bins, segregation and storage of waste, personal protective equipment and programs conducted on biomedical waste management. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 22. Results: Hundred percent of management team and 61.39% nurses had excellent knowledge regarding biomedical waste management.58.98% sanitary workers and 56.15% doctors had good knowledge about biomedical waste management.90% 0f management team, 89.69% nurses, 41.1% doctors had excellent practices while 39.03% sanitary workers had good practices and 43.03% sanitary workers showed poor practices regarding biomedical waste management. Conclusion: Management team and nurses had excellent knowledge and practices regarding biomedical waste management. Doctors and sanitary workers had good knowledge but doctors showed excellent practices whereas sanitary workers had poor practices in dealing with biomedical waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons are highly energy demanding cells dependent on the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system. Mitochondria generate energy via respiratory complexes that constitute the electron transport chain. Adenosine triphosphate depletion or glucose starvation act as a trigger for the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is an evolutionarily conserved protein that plays an important role in cell survival and organismal longevity through modulation of energy homeostasis and autophagy. Several studies suggest that AMPK activation may improve energy metabolism and protein clearance in the brains of patients with vascular injury or neurodegenerative disease. Mild mitochondrial dysfunction leads to activated AMPK signaling, but severe endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction may lead to a shift from autophagy towards apoptosis and perturbed AMPK signaling. Hence, controlling mitochondrial dynamics and autophagic flux via AMPK activation might be a useful therapeutic strategy in neurodegenerative diseases to reinstate energy homeostasis and degrade misfolded proteins. In this review article, we discuss briefly the role of AMPK signaling in energy homeostasis, the structure of AMPK, activation mechanisms of AMPK, regulation of AMPK, the role of AMPK in autophagy, the role of AMPK in neurodegenerative diseases, and finally the role of autophagic flux in prion diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work explores the use of both spray drying and d -glucosamine HCl (GLU) as a hydrophilic carrier to improve the dissolution rate of piroxicam (PXM) whilst investigating the electrostatic charges associated with the spray drying process. Spray dried PXM:GLU solid dispersions were prepared and characterised (XRPD, DSC, SEM). Dissolution and triboelectric charging were also conducted. The results showed that the spray dried PXM alone, without GLU produced some PXM form II (DSC results) with no enhancement in solubility relative to that of the parent PXM. XRPD results also showed the spray drying process to decrease the crystallinity of GLU and solid dispersions produced. The presence of GLU improved the dissolution rate of PXM. Spray dried PXM: GLU at a ratio of 2:1 had the most improved dissolution. The spray drying process generally yielded PXM-GLU spherical particles of around 2.5 μm which may have contributed to the improved dissolution. PXM showed a higher tendency for charging in comparison to the carrier GLU (−3.8 versus 0.5 nC/g for untreated material and −7.5 versus 3.1 nC/g for spray dried materials). Spray dried PXM and spray dried GLU demonstrated higher charge densities than untreated PXM and untreated GLU, respectively. Regardless of PXM:GLU ratio, all spray dried PXM:GLU solid dispersions showed a negligible charge density (net-CMR: 0.1–0.3 nC/g). Spray drying of PXM:GLU solid dispersions can be used to produce formulation powders with practically no charge and thereby improving handling as well as dissolution behaviour of PXM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an author's reflections on the treatment of a comatose elderly patient. Description of the patient's unconscious condition after her admission to a nursing home; Opinion of her doctors that her condition was caused by the intake of diazepam; Surprise of the doctors at the patient's immediate awakening after the administration of flumazenil.

Introduction: The limited efficacy of BCG (bacillus Calmette–Guérin) urgently requires new effective vaccination approaches for the control of tuberculosis. Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) is a prevalent drug delivery system. However, the effect of PLGA-based nanoparticles (NPs) against tuberculosis for the induction of mucosal immune response is no fully elucidated. In this study, we hypothesized that intranasal immunization with culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP10)-loaded PLGA NPs (CFP10-NPs) could boost the protective immunity of BCG against Mycobacterium bovis in mice. Methods: The recombinant protein CFP10 was encapsulated with PLGA NPs to prepare CFP10-NPs by the classical water–oil-water solvent-evaporation method. Then, the immunoregulatory effects of CFP10-NPs on macrophages in vitro and on BCG-immunized mice in vivo were investigated. Results: We used spherical CFP10-NPs with a negatively charged surface (zeta-potential −28.5 ± 1.7 mV) having a particle size of 281.7 ± 28.5 nm in diameter. Notably, CFP10-NPs significantly enhanced the secretion of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β in J774A.1 macrophages. Moreover, mucosal immunization with CFP10-NPs significantly increased TNF-α and IL-1β production in serum, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) secretion in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and promoted the secretion of CFP10-specific interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in splenocytes of mice. Furthermore, CFP10-NPs immunization significantly reduced the inflammatory area and bacterial load in lung tissues at 3-week post- M. bovis challenge. Conclusion: CFP10-NPs markedly improve the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of BCG. Our findings explore the potential of the airway mucosal vaccine based on PLGA NPs as a vehicle for targeted lung delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]