Pharmacological melioration by Selenium on the toxicity of tellurium in neuroendocrine centre (Pituitary Gland) in male wistar rats: A mechanistic approach.

PURPOSE: The present research was designed to evaluate the toxicity of tellurium and its prevention by selenium on the pituitary gland in male Wistar rats. METHODS: 30 rats were used weighing 200-250 gm, and randomly divided them into five groups. Each group contained an equal number of animals. Group-1 was nominated as control group. Group-2 received an intraperitoneal dose of selenium 0.3  mg per kg body wt. Group-3 was administered with tellurium 4.15 mg per kg body wt. Group-4 was given low-dose (L) of both selenium 0.15 and tellurium 2.075, Group-5 was given High-dose (H) of both selenium 0.3 and tellurium 4.15 mg/kg body wt. orally once in a day. After 15 days of dosing, the behavioral activities- motor co-ordination rotarod and grip strength test were measured. On 16th-day animals were sacrificed and activity of LPO, GSH, caspase-3, caspase-9, GPx, GR, SOD, catalase, and AChE were performed on the pituitary gland as per standard method reported. RESULTS: Se when given together with Te, significantly protects the motor coordination up to 32.5%, and also protects the grip strength up to 75% in group 4 and 5 respectively as compared to group- 3. Se + Te treatment protects the activity of TBARS up to 48.68% and GSH is 58%. As compared to control, it protects caspase-3 up to 118% and caspase-9 up to 83%. The level of AChE was also observed to be modulated by the administration of Se in Group- 4 and 5. Se + Te protected AChE up to 28.6%. Similar findings were observed for the biochemical activities of GPx (140% protection), SOD (458%), GR (159%), and catalase (95%) activities that were protected significantly Se + Te in Group- 4 and 5. CONCLUSION: Selenium dose-dependently protects behavioral activities. It also protects apoptosis, oxidative stress, and AChE activities in the pituitary gland.

Characterisation of medical conditions of children with sickle cell disease in the USA: findings from the 2007-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

OBJECTIVES: We used the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data set to examine the prevalence of comorbid medical conditions; explore barriers to accessing healthcare and special educational services; and assess the associations between sickle cell disease (SCD) status and demographics/socioeconomic status (SES), and social determinants of health (SDoH) on comorbidities among children in the USA. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: NHIS Sample Child Core questionnaire 2007-2018 data set. PARTICIPANTS: 133 481 children; presence of SCD was determined by an affirmative response from the adult or guardian of the child. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare the associations between SCD status, SES and SDoH for various medical conditions for all races and separately for black children at p<0.05. RESULTS: 133 481 children (mean age 8.5 years, SD: 0.02), 215 had SCD and ~82% (weighted) of the children with SCD are black. Children with SCD were more likely to suffer from comorbid conditions, that is, anaemia (adjusted OR: 27.1, p<0.001). Furthermore, children with SCD had at least two or more emergency room (ER) visits (p<0.001) and were more likely to have seen a doctor 1-15 times per year (p<0.05) compared with children without SCD. Household income (p<0.001) and maternal education were lower for children with SCD compared with children without SCD (52.4% vs 63.5% (p<0.05)). SCD children with a maternal parent who has < / > High School degree were less likely to have no ER visits or 4-5 ER visits, and more likely to have 2-3 ER visits within 12 months. CONCLUSION: Children with SCD experienced significant comorbid conditions and have high healthcare usage, with black children being disproportionately affected. Moreover, maternal education status and poverty level illustrates how impactful SES can be on healthcare seeking behaviour for the SCD population. SDoH have significant implications for managing paediatric patients with SCD in clinical settings.

A Review of the COVID-19 Mental Health Impact in Post-Conflict Settings: Bridging the Mental Health Gap with Case Exemplars from an Implementation Science Lens.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated the burden of mental health and presents an opportunity for public health research to focus on evidence-based interventions appropriate for populations residing in resource-constrained, post-conflict settings. Post-conflict settings have a higher service gap in mental health and fewer protective factors, such as economic and domestic security. Post-conflict settings are defined as locations where open warfare has ended but resulting challenges have remained for years. A strong emphasis on the engagement of diverse stakeholders is needed to arrive at sustainable and scalable solutions to mental health service delivery. This review discusses mental health service delivery gaps in post-conflict settings, highlights the urgency of the matter in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides recommendations for service gaps from evidence-based case study exemplars with an implementation science lens using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as guide to improving adaptation and uptake.

Analysis of the 2007-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS): Examining Neurological Complications among Children with Sickle Cell Disease in the United States.

This study compared neurological complications among a national sample of United States children with or without sickle cell disease (SCD) and evaluated health status, healthcare and special education utilization patterns, barriers to care, and association of SCD status and demographics/socioeconomic status (SES) on comorbidities and healthcare utilization. Data was acquired from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Sample Child Core questionnaire 2007-2018 dataset that included 133,542 children. An affirmation from the guardian of the child determined the presence of SCD. Regression analysis was used to compare the associations between SCD and demographics/SES on neurological conditions at p < 0.05. Furthermore, adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were estimated for having various neurological conditions. Of the 133,481 children included in the NHIS, the mean age was 8.5 years (SD: 0.02) and 215 had SCD. Of the children with SCD, the sample composition included male (n = 110), and Black (n = 82%). The SCD sample had higher odds of having neuro-developmental conditions (p < 0.1). Families of Black children (55% weighted) reported household incomes < 100% of federal poverty level. Black children were more likely to experience longer wait times to see the doctor (AOR, 0.3; CI 0.1-1.1). Compared to children without SCD, those with SCD had a greater chance of seeing a medical specialist within 12 months (AOR 2.3; CI 1.5-3.7). This representative sample of US children with SCD shows higher odds of developing neurological complications, increased healthcare and special education services utilization, with Black children experiencing a disproportionate burden. This creates the urgency to address the health burden for children with SCD by implementing interventions in healthcare and increasing education assistance programs to combat neurocognitive impairments, especially among Black children.

Influence of nanotechnology on herbal drugs: A Review.

Herbal medicines have been widely used all over the world since ancient times and have been recognized by physicians and patients for their better therapeutic value as they have fewer adverse effects as compared with modern medicines. Phytotherapeutics need a scientific approach to deliver the components in a sustained manner to increase patient compliance and avoid repeated administration. This can be achieved by designing novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) for herbal constituents. NDDSs not only reduce the repeated administration to overcome non-compliance, but also help to increase the therapeutic value by reducing toxicity and increasing the bioavailability. One such novel approach is nanotechnology. Nano-sized drug delivery systems of herbal drugs have a potential future for enhancing the activity and overcoming problems associated with plant medicines. Hence, integration of the nanocarriers as a NDDS in the traditional medicine system is essential to conflict more chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, cancer, and others.