A shared group of bacterial taxa in the duodenal microbiota of undernourished Pakistani children with environmental enteric dysfunction.

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subclinical syndrome of altered small intestinal function postulated to be an important contributor to childhood undernutrition. The role of small intestinal bacterial communities in the pathophysiology of EED is poorly defined due to a paucity of studies where there has been a direct collection of small intestinal samples from undernourished children. Sixty-three members of a Pakistani cohort identified as being acutely malnourished between 3 and 6 months of age and whose wasting (weight-for-length Z-score [WLZ]) failed to improve after a 2-month nutritional intervention underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Paired duodenal luminal aspirates and duodenal mucosal biopsies were obtained from 43 children. Duodenal microbiota composition was characterized by sequencing bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Levels of bacterial taxa (amplicon sequence variants [ASVs]) were referenced to anthropometric indices, histopathologic severity in biopsies, expression of selected genes in the duodenal mucosa, and fecal levels of an immunoinflammatory biomarker (lipocalin-2). A "core" group of eight bacterial ASVs was present in the duodenal samples of 69% of participants. Streptococcus anginosus was the most prevalent, followed by Streptococcus sp., Gemella haemolysans, Streptococcus australis, Granulicatella elegans, Granulicatella adiacens, and Abiotrophia defectiva. At the time of EGD, none of the core taxa were significantly correlated with WLZ. Statistically significant correlations were documented between the abundances of Granulicatella elegans and Granulicatella adiacens and the expression of duodenal mucosal genes involved in immune responses (dual oxidase maturation factor 2, serum amyloid A, and granzyme H). These results suggest that a potential role for members of the oral microbiota in pathogenesis, notably Streptococcus, Gemella, and Granulicatella species, warrants further investigation.IMPORTANCEUndernutrition among women and children is a pressing global health problem. Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a disease of the small intestine (SI) associated with impaired gut mucosal barrier function and reduced capacity for nutrient absorption. The cause of EED is ill-defined. One emerging hypothesis is that alterations in the SI microbiota contribute to EED. We performed a culture-independent analysis of the SI microbiota of a cohort of Pakistani children with undernutrition who had failed a standard nutritional intervention, underwent upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy, and had histologic evidence of EED in their duodenal mucosal biopsies. The results revealed a shared group of bacterial taxa in their duodenums whose absolute abundances were correlated with levels of the expression of genes in the duodenal mucosa that are involved in inflammatory responses. A number of these bacterial taxa are more typically found in the oral microbiota, a finding that has potential physiologic and therapeutic implications.

Opposing Patterns of Spatial Synchrony in Lyme Disease Incidence.

Incidence of Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness prevalent in the US, is increasing in endemic regions and regions with no previous history of the disease, significantly impacting public health. We examined space-time patterns of Lyme disease incidence and the influence of ecological and social factors on spatial synchrony, i.e., correlated incidence fluctuations across US counties. Specifically, we addressed these questions: Does Lyme disease incidence exhibit spatial synchrony? If so, what geographic patterns does Lyme disease synchrony exhibit? Are geographic patterns of disease synchrony related to weather, land cover, access to health care, or tick-borne disease awareness? How do effects of these variables on Lyme disease synchrony differ geographically? We used network analysis and matrix regression to examine geographical patterns of Lyme disease synchrony and their potential mechanisms in 399 counties in the eastern and Midwestern US. We found two distinct regions of synchrony in Northeast and upper Midwest regions exhibiting opposing temporal fluctuations in incidence. Spatial patterns of Lyme disease synchrony were partly explained by land cover, weather, poverty, and awareness of tick-borne illness, with significant predictive variables changing regionally. However, the two regions may have become more synchronous over time, potentially leading to higher-amplitude nation-wide fluctuations in disease incidence.

Emerging threats of high biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance in clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES: This multicenter study, conducted from a One Health perspective, aimed to comprehensively examine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and their biofilm-forming capabilities in Pakistan. Phylogenetic analysis of the study isolates was also performed. METHODS: A total of 150 MRSA isolates were screened from various clinical samples using Cefoxitin antibiotic discs. Genotypic confirmation was conducted through mecA, S. aureus-specific nuc, and 16S rRNA genes. Biofilm formation was assessed using Congo red agar (CRA) and slime layer quantification methods. The intercellular adhesion (ica) operon genes, specifically icaA and icaD, were detected. Phylogenetic analysis utilized the 16S rRNA sequences. Statistical associations between various parameters were determined using chi-square analysis. RESULTS: The presence of the mecA gene was observed in 131 out of 150 isolates (87.3%). CRA identified 28% and 40% of isolates as strong and moderate biofilm producers, respectively, while 9.3% were classified as non-biofilm producers. The slime layer assay exhibited higher sensitivity, classifying only 4.7% of isolates as non-biofilm producers. Biofilm-forming genes icaA and icaD were detected in 85.3% and 86.7% of the isolates, respectively. Antibiotic resistance was more prevalent among biofilm-forming isolates, particularly against ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, erythromycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and fosfomycin. Ceftaroline demonstrated efficacy irrespective of biofilm-forming abilities. Conversely, non-biofilm producers exhibited complete susceptibility to clarithromycin and tigecycline. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical MRSA strains exhibit a substantial potential for biofilm formation, contributing to a resistant phenotype. Routine antibiotic testing in clinical settings that overlook the biofilm aspect may lead to the failure of empiric antibiotic therapy.

Ultrasound viscous reduction effects on the proteolysis of soy protein isolate at a limited degree of hydrolysis: Changes in the functional characteristics and protein structure.

High-concentration soy protein isolate was subjected to ultrasonication for viscosity reduction to assist the process of limited enzymatic hydrolysis. Ultrasonication (20 kHz, 10 min, 160 W/L) effectively reduced the viscosity of soy protein isolate at a comparatively high concentration of 14 % (w/v) and promoted the limited enzymatic hydrolysis (controlled degree of hydrolysis of 12 %) with a higher peptide yield than that of the conventional method. The correlations between substrate viscosity and peptide yield, as well as the viscosities of the resulting hydrolysates, were studied. The findings revealed positive correlations between the viscosities of the substrate and hydrolysate, underscoring the potential impact of altering substrate viscosity on the final product. Furthermore, the utilization of ultrasonic viscosity reduction-assisted proteolysis has shown its capability to improve the functional and physicochemical properties, as well as the protein structure of the hydrolysate, while maintaining the same level of hydrolysis. It is worth noting that there were significant alterations in particle size (decrease), ß-sheet content (increase), ß-turn content (increase), and random coil content (increase). Interestingly, ultrasonication unexpectedly impeded the degradation of molecular mass in proteins during proteolysis, while increasing the hydrophobic properties of the hydrolysate. These findings aligned with the observed reduction in bitterness and improvement in emulsifying properties and water-holding capacity.

Unlocking employee innovative behavior: the role of humble leadership, core self-evaluation, and leader-member exchange.

Humble leadership has gained attention in recent years due to its potential impact on employee performance. This study explores the association between humble leadership and follower innovative behavior by investigating the moderating role of core self-evaluation (CSE) and the mediating role of leader-member exchange (LMX). The study uses data from 328 followers and their immediate leaders to test a mediated moderation model. Results show that there is a favorable association between humble leadership and LMX and followers' innovative behavior, particularly pronounced for followers who possess lower levels of CSE. The findings suggest that humble leaders should focus their development efforts on followers with low CSE to achieve complementarity congruity and improved innovation. This research enhances the existing body of knowledge by emphasizing the significance of comprehending the functions of relational procedures and the psychological resources of followers in determining the effectiveness of humble leadership. These findings have practical implications for organizations seeking to enhance their leadership effectiveness and followers' innovative behavior.

CFD study of self-cleaning system of multi-stage tangential roller threshing unit for precise buckwheat breeding.

Buckwheat is a globally recognized, nutritionally rich crop with robust adaptability, serving as a multi-purpose plant for its health benefits. Achieving precise and mechanized plot seed harvesting is a critical step in obtaining accurate results in breeding experiments. However, plot breeding requires no seed retention, no mixing, and ensures no accumulation of seed in the threshing unit. A self-cleaning technology was developed to prevent seed retention, mixing, and accumulation in the multistage tangential cylinder threshing unit. The newly designed cleaning system has five air inlets and a centrifugal fan for pneumatic cleaning. CFD simulations were conducted for each inlet position, coupled with four varying inlet velocities and the rotation speed of the main threshing cylinder. During the post-processing stage of the CFD modeling, a line consisting of fifty points was drawn beneath the threshing drums, and the air velocity at these points was recorded. The optimal configuration of inlet position, inlet air velocity, and main threshing drum rotation speed for efficient cleaning was identified based on the ratio of points beneath the drums where the airflow speed surpassed the suspension speed of buckwheat to the points where the airflow speed was lower than the suspension speed of buckwheat. The optimal configuration for "inlet_1" was identified based on the suspension velocity of buckwheat grain, with an inlet velocity of 4 m/s and a main threshing drum speed of 450 rpm.

Highly Sensitive and Fast Responding Flexible Force Sensors Using ZnO/ZnMgO Coaxial Nanotubes on Graphene Layers for Breath Sensing.

The authors report the fabrication of highly sensitive, rapidly responding flexible force sensors using ZnO/ZnMgO coaxial nanotubes grown on graphene layers and their applications in sleep apnea monitoring. Flexible force sensors are fabricated by forming Schottky contacts to the nanotube array, followed by the mechanical release of the entire structure from the host substrate. The electrical characteristics of ZnO and ZnO/ZnMgO nanotube-based sensors are thoroughly investigated and compared. Importantly, in force sensor applications, the ZnO/ZnMgO coaxial structure results in significantly higher sensitivity and a faster response time when compared to the bare ZnO nanotube. The origin of the improved performance is thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, wireless breath sensing is demonstrated using the ZnO/ZnMgO pressure sensors with custom electronics, demonstrating the feasibility of the sensor technology for health monitoring and the potential diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The Active Place Avoidance (APA) Test, an Effective, Versatile and Repeatable Spatial Learning Task for Mice.

Hippocampus-dependent spatial learning in rodents has been tested using a variety of methods. These include the Morris water maze (MWM), Y-maze, and novel object location (NOL) tasks. More recently, the active place avoidance (APA) task has been developed as an alternative to these more traditional approaches. In the APA task, mice must use spatial cues placed around a rotating arena to avoid a stationary shock zone. Due to the multiple parameters that can be adjusted, the APA task has been demonstrated to be a very versatile approach. It lends itself to being used longitudinally and repeatedly for the same cohort of mice. Here, we provide a detailed protocol to successfully conduct the APA task. We also highlight alternative APA approaches that can be used to examine different components of spatial learning. We describe the data collection and analysis processes. Critical steps during the APA task are discussed to increase the likelihood of successfully conducting the test. The APA task has several advantages over more traditional spatial navigation tests. It is appropriate to use with aged mice or those with disease phenotypes such as Alzheimer's disease. The complexity of the task can be easily altered, allowing a wide range of mouse strains to be tested. Further, the APA task is suitable for testing animals that have undergone surgery or experimental interventions that may have affected motor or neural function, such as stroke or traumatic brain injury.

The impact of obstructive sleep apnea treatment on microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes: a feasibility randomized controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of diabetes-related complications. Hence, it is plausible that Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) could have a favorable impact on these complications. To assess the feasibility of conducting a randomized control trial (RCT) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and OSA over 2 years. METHODS: An open-label multicenter feasibility RCT of CPAP vs no CPAP in patients with T2D and OSA. Patients with resting oxygen saturation <90%, central apnea index >15/hour or Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) ≥11 were excluded. OSA was diagnosed using a multichannel portable device (ApneaLink Air, ResMed). The primary outcome measures were related to feasibility, and the secondary outcomes were changes in various clinical and biochemical parameters related to diabetes outcomes. RESULTS: Eighty-three (40 CPAP vs 43 no CPAP) patients were randomized, with a median (IQR) follow-up of 645 [545, 861] days. CPAP compliance was inadequate, with a median usage of approximately 3.5 hours/night. Early CPAP use predicted longer-term compliance. The adjusted analysis showed a possible favorable association between being randomized to CPAP and several diabetes-related endpoints (chronic kidney disease (CKD), neuropathy, and quality of life (QoL)). CONCLUSIONS: It was feasible to recruit, randomize, and achieve a high follow-up rate over 2 years in patients with OSA and T2D. CPAP compliance might improve by a run-in period before randomization. A full RCT is necessary to assess the observed favorable association between CPAP and CKD, neuropathy, and QoL in patients with T2D. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registry: ISRCTN; URL: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12361838; Title: The impact of sleep disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes; Identifier: ISRCTN12361838.

Optimization, In Vitro and Ex Vivo Assessment of Nanotransferosome Gels Infused with a Methanolic Extract of Solanum xanthocarpum for the Topical Treatment of Psoriasis.

The goal of this investigation is to improve the topical delivery of medicine by preparing and maximizing the potential of a nanotransferosome gel infused with Solanum xanthocarpum methanolic extract (SXE) to provide localized and regulated distribution. Thin-film hydration was used to create SXE-infused nanotransferosomes (SXE-NTFs), and a Box-Behnken design was used to improve them. Phospholipon 90G (X1), cholesterol (X2) and sodium cholate (X3) were chosen as the independent variables, and their effects on vesicle size (Y1), polydispersity index (PDI) (Y2) and the percentage of entrapment efficiency (EE) (Y3) were observed both individually and in combination. For the SXE-NTFs, the vesicle size was 146.3 nm, the PDI was 0.2594, the EE was 82.24 ± 2.64%, the drug-loading capacity was 8.367 ± 0.07% and the drug release rate was 78.86 ± 5.24%. Comparing the antioxidant activity to conventional ascorbic acid, it was determined to be 83.51 ± 3.27%. Ex vivo permeation tests revealed that the SXE-NTF gel (82.86 ± 2.38%) considerably outperformed the SXE gel (35.28 ± 1.62%) in terms of permeation. In addition, it seemed from the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) picture of the Wistar rat's skin that the rhodamine-B-loaded SXE-NTF gel had a higher penetration capability than the control. Dermatokinetic studies showed that the SXE-NTF gel had a better retention capability than the SXE gel. According to the experimental results, the SXE-NTF gel is a promising and successful topical delivery formulation.

Survival Rates and Patient-Reported Outcomes Support the Use of Custom Cement-Over Megaprosthesis (CCOM) in Complex Revision Lower Limb Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with periprosthetic osteolysis or fracture between ipsilateral hip and knee arthroplasties are challenging to treat successfully. Long-stem implants, osteopenic bones, and patient comorbidities all represent considerable surgical challenges. Poor results of fracture fixation in this group, coupled with the desire to retain well-performing implants and minimize soft-tissue trauma led to the developmentof the custom cement-over megaprostheses (CCOM). The aims of the study were to evaluate implant survivals, complications, and patient outcomes in those undergoing CCOM within our institution. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing CCOM between 2002 and 2022 was performed. We studied 34 cases, 33 patients, one patient underwent staged bilateral surgery with 26 women and 8 men. INDICATIONS: trauma (16), failure of implants /aseptic loosening (9), or joint pathology. The mean Charlson comorbidity index was 3.5 (range, 0 to 8). All patients were followed up (mean 75 months [range, 9 to 170]) at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter. The VAS, EuroQol-5D-3L and MSTS scores were collected at 1 year. RESULTS: Implant survival defined by the primary outcome (all-cause revision of the implant at any time point) at 12 months of 97% (32 of 33). In surviving patients, implant survival was 90% (18 of 20) and all 7 survived at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Implant survival including those in the primary outcome group and those free of infection at 12 months was 84.8% (28 of 33) and in surviving patients, implant survival was 70% (14 of 20) and 7 out of 7 at 5 and 10 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CCOM technique demonstrates good implant survivorships and satisfactory patient-reported outcomes in complex, often frail patients who have compromised bone stock. This series confirms the technique as an established alternative to total femoral replacement in these cases.

Societal knowledge, attitude, and practices towards dengue and associated factors in epidemic-hit areas: Geoinformation assisted empirical evidence.

Dengue is one of Pakistan's major health concerns. In this study, we aimed to advance our understanding of the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) in Pakistan's Dengue Fever (DF) hotspots. Initially, at-risk communities were systematically identified via a well-known spatial modeling technique, named, Kernel Density Estimation, which was later targeted for a household-based cross-sectional survey of KAPs. To collect data on sociodemographic and KAPs, random sampling was utilized (n = 385, 5 % margin of error). Later, the association of different demographics (characteristics), knowledge, and attitude factors-potentially related to poor preventive practices was assessed using bivariate (individual) and multivariable (model) logistic regression analyses. Most respondents (>90 %) identified fever as a sign of DF; headache (73.8 %), joint pain (64.4 %), muscular pain (50.9 %), pain behind the eyes (41.8 %), bleeding (34.3 %), and skin rash (36.1 %) were identified relatively less. Regression results showed significant associations of poor knowledge/attitude with poor preventive practices; dengue vector (odds ratio [OR] = 3.733, 95 % confidence interval [CI ] = 2.377-5.861; P < 0.001), DF symptoms (OR = 3.088, 95 % CI = 1.949-4.894; P < 0.001), dengue transmission (OR = 1.933, 95 % CI = 1.265-2.956; P = 0.002), and attitude (OR = 3.813, 95 % CI = 1.548-9.395; P = 0.004). Moreover, education level was stronger in bivariate analysis and the strongest independent factor of poor preventive practices in multivariable analysis (illiterate: adjusted OR = 6.833, 95 % CI = 2.979-15.672; P < 0.001) and primary education (adjusted OR = 4.046, 95 % CI = 1.997-8.199; P < 0.001). This situation highlights knowledge gaps within urban communities, particularly in understanding dengue transmission and signs/symptoms. The level of education in urban communities also plays a substantial role in dengue control, as observed in this study, where poor preventive practices were more prevalent among illiterate and less educated respondents.

Rapidly Evolving SARS-CoV-2: A Brief Review Regarding the Variants and their Effects on Vaccine Efficacies.

Since the commencement of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has resulted in millions of mortalities globally, the efforts to minimize the damages have equally been up to the task. One of those efforts includes the mass vaccine development initiative targeting the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). So far, vaccines have tremendously decreased the rate of transmission and infection in most parts of the world. However, the repeated resurgence of different types of mutated versions of the virus, also known as variants, has somehow created uncertainties about the efficacies of different types of vaccines. This review discusses some of the interesting SARS-CoV-2 features, including general structure, genomics, and mechanisms of variants development and their consequent immune escape. This review also focuses very briefly on antigenic drift, shift, and vaccine-developing platforms.

Prediction of novel ground-state structures and analysis of phonon transport in two-dimensional GexSy compounds.

We conducted this study to explore the ground-state structures of two-dimensional (2D) variable-composition GexSy compounds, driven by the polymorphic characteristics of bulk germanium sulfides and the promising thermoelectric performance of 2D GeS (Pmn21). To accomplish this, we utilized the highly successful evolutionary-algorithm-based code USPEX in conjunction with VASP for total energy calculations, leading to the discovery of three previously unexplored structures of Ge2S (P2/c), GeS (P3̄m1), and GeS2 (P21/c). These 2D materials exhibit significantly lower formation energies compared to their reported counterparts. We thoroughly scrutinized the structural stability and subsequently analyzed their electronic structures. Our analysis reveals a nearly direct band gap of 0.12/0.84 eV with the PBE/HSE06 functional for 2D Ge2S and an indirect band gap for 2D GeS and GeS2. Their semiconducting nature highlights the crucial importance of lattice thermal conductivity (κl), which we determined by solving the Boltzmann transport equation for phonons. Importantly, we predict a room temperature κl value of 6.82 W m-1 K-1 for GeS, lower than its 2D orthorhombic counterpart. In the case of GeS2, we observed an anisotropic κl value of 16.95/10.68 W m-1 K-1 along the zigzag/armchair directions at 300 K, with an in-plane anisotropy ratio of 1.59, surpassing that of 2D IV-VI compounds. We delve into detailed discussions regarding the role of lattice anharmonicity, group velocities, phonon lifetimes, and three-phonon weighted phase space in the overall thermal conductivity analysis.

Leukotriene B4 receptor 1 (BLT1) does not mediate disease progression in a mouse model of liver fibrosis.

MASH is a prevalent liver disease that can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and ultimately death, but there are no approved therapies. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent pro-inflammatory chemoattractant that drives macrophage and neutrophil chemotaxis, and genetic loss or inhibition of its high affinity receptor, leukotriene B4 receptor 1 (BLT1), results in improved insulin sensitivity and decreased hepatic steatosis. To validate the therapeutic efficacy of BLT1 inhibition in an inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mouse model of MASH and fibrosis, mice were challenged with a choline-deficient, L-amino acid defined high fat diet and treated with a BLT1 antagonist at 30 or 90 mg/kg for 8 weeks. Liver function, histology, and gene expression were evaluated at the end of the study. Treatment with the BLT1 antagonist significantly reduced plasma lipids and liver steatosis but had no impact on liver injury biomarkers or histological endpoints such as inflammation, ballooning, or fibrosis compared to control. Artificial intelligence-powered digital pathology analysis revealed a significant reduction in steatosis co-localized fibrosis in livers treated with the BLT1 antagonist. Liver RNA-seq and pathway analyses revealed significant changes in fatty acid, arachidonic acid, and eicosanoid metabolic pathways with BLT1 antagonist treatment, however, these changes were not sufficient to impact inflammation and fibrosis endpoints. Targeting this LTB4-BLT1 axis with a small molecule inhibitor in animal models of chronic liver disease should be considered with caution, and additional studies are warranted to understand the mechanistic nuances of BLT1 inhibition in the context of MASH and liver fibrosis.

Single-crystalline GaN microdisk arrays grown on graphene for flexible micro-LED application.

We report the growth of single-crystalline GaN microdisk arrays on graphene and their application in flexible light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Graphene layers were directly grown onc-sapphire substrates using chemical vapor deposition and employed as substrates for GaN growth. Position-controlled GaN microdisks were laterally overgrown on the graphene layers with a micro-patterned SiO2mask using metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy. The as-grown GaN microdisks exhibited excellent single crystallinity with a uniform in-plane orientation. Furthermore, we fabricated flexible micro-LEDs by achieving heteroepitaxial growth ofn-GaN, InxGa1-xN/GaN multiple quantum wells, andp-GaN layers on graphene-coated sapphire substrates. The GaN micro-LED arrays were successfully transferred onto bendable substrates and displayed strong blue light emission under room illumination, demonstrating their potential for integration into flexible optoelectronic devices.

Intussusception risk following oral monovalent rotavirus vaccination in 3 Asian countries: A self-control case series evaluation.

Rotavirus vaccines have substantially decreased rotavirus hospitalizations in countries where they have been implemented. In some high- and middle-income countries, a low-level of increased risk of intussusception, a type of acute bowel obstruction, has been detected following rotavirus vaccination. However, no increased risk of intussusception was found in India, South Africa, or a network of 7 other African countries. We assessed the association between a 2-dose monovalent rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) and intussusception in 3 early-adopter low-income Asian countries -- Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan. Children <12 months of age admitted to a sentinel surveillance hospital with Brighton level 1 intussusception were eligible for enrollment. We collected information about each child's vaccination status and used the self-controlled case series method to calculate the relative incidence of intussusception 1-7 days, 8-21 days, and 1-21 days following each dose of vaccine and derived confidence intervals with bootstrapping. Of the 585 children meeting the analytic criteria, the median age at intussusception symptom onset was 24 weeks (IQR: 19-29). Overall, 494 (84 %) children received the first Rotarix dose and 398 (68 %) received the second dose. There was no increased intussusception risk during any of the risk periods following the first (1-7 days: 1.01 (95 %CI: 0.39, 2.60); 8-21 days: 1.37 (95 %CI: 0.81, 2.32); 1-21 days: 1.28 (95 %CI: 0.78, 2.11)) or second (1-7 days: 0.81 (95 %CI: 0.42, 1.54); 8-21 days: 0.77 (95 %CI: 0.53, 1.16); 1-21 days: 0.78 (95 %CI: 0.53, 1.16)) rotavirus vaccine dose. Our findings are consistent with other data showing no increased intussusception risk with rotavirus vaccination in low-income countries and add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating safety of rotavirus vaccines.

Influence of Zirconium (Zr4+) Substitution on the Crystal Structure and Optical and Dielectric Properties of Sr0.8Mg0.2(Sn1-xZrx)O3 Ceramics.

In this work, new compositions of Sr0.8Mg0.2(Sn1-xZrx)O3 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.06 ceramics are designed and synthesized by the conventional solid-state route. The influence of Zr doping on the phase, microstructural, optical, and dielectric properties is thoroughly investigated. The peaks (0 0 4) and (1 1 0) are observed to shift toward lower 2θ values, due to the variation of the ionic radius between Zr4+ and Sn4+. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal the orthorhombic structure with the space group Pbnm. Scanning electron microscopy images reveal the presence of pores and particles with a high degree of agglomeration. The functional groups and modes of vibration are determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the prepared metal oxide samples. The existence of green emission of all the synthesized samples around 554.91 nm is identified by photoluminescence spectroscopy. The dielectric properties of the fabricated samples are measured by using an impedance analyzer. The values of the tangent loss and relative permittivity are found to decrease with increasing frequency.

Quality by Design-Optimized Glycerosome-Enabled Nanosunscreen Gel of Rutin Hydrate.

Sunburn is caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, resulting in redness of the skin as well as tenderness, swelling, and blistering issues. During the healing process, it can cause peeling, irritation, and some long-term effects, including premature aging, pigmentation, and a high risk of skin cancer. Rutin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which could potentially reduce inflammation and soothe sunburned skin. The objective of the current proposal is to develop and create carbopol gel-encased glycerosomes for the treatment of sunburn. The Design of Expert (DoE) technique was used to optimize the proposed formulation and was subjected to various characterization parameters such as nanovesicles size, polydispersity index (PDI), surface charge, entrapment efficiency (EE), and surface morphology. The optimized rutin-loaded glycerosomes (opt-RUT-loaded-GMs) were further characterised for drug release, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The formulation showed sustained release, greater permeation into the skin, and good antioxidant activity. The dermatokinetic study of opt-RUT-loaded-GMs confirms that the Rutin hydrate had better retention in the epidermis as compared to the dermis, owing to its potential for long lasting protection after topical application. It was observed that the prepared formulation was stable, highly safe, and had good sun protection factor (SPF) values that could be used as a suitable option for topical drug administration to maximize the therapeutic efficacy of the drugs.