Quantifying the germination response of Parthenium hysterophorus at various temperatures and water potentials by using population-based threshold model.

Predicting the germination behavior of parthenium weed against different conditions of temperature and osmotic stress is helpful for studying the growth and development history of parthenium in different ecological contexts. Sustainable weed control strategies based on population-based threshold (PBT) models are profitable tools for crop planting date, herbicide application, and tillage operation time. To predict the emergence of parthenium by using thermal time (TT), hydrotime (HT), and hydrothermal time (HTT) analyses, seeds were exposed to varying constant temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40°C) and water potentials (- 0.25, - 0.5, - 0.75, and - 1.0 MPa) under a controlled environment. Parthenium seeds showed better responses in terms of higher germination percentage and lower germination time at 20 and 25°C. The use of the germination modeling approach proposed the base temperature (7.2°C), optimum temperature (20°C), and ceiling temperature (42.8°C) for this weed. Moreover, germination behavior was also studied at different water potentials under different temperature regimes (10, 20, and 30°C). The HTT model predicted higher germination percentages (82.8 and 54.8%) of parthenium seeds at water potentials from 0 to -0.25 MPa, respectively, under a temperature of 20°C, and also identified a base water potential (Ψb(50) of - 0.54 MPa for germination. In conclusion, the use of the HTT modeling approach is helpful for predicting the emergence response of parthenium in a changing climate and ultimately supportive in time scheduling of parthenium weed management in cropping systems.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in TeleStroke: An Overview.

Teleneurology has provided access to neurological expertise and state-of-the-art stroke care where previously they have been inaccessible. The use of Artificial Intelligence with machine learning to assist telestroke care can be revolutionary. This includes more rapid and more reliable diagnosis through imaging analysis as well as prediction of hospital course and 3-month prognosis. Intelligent Electronic Medical Records can search free text and provide decision assistance by analyzing patient charts. Speech recognition has advanced enough to be reliable and highly convenient. Smart contextually aware communication and alert programs can enhance efficiency of patient flow and improve outcomes. Automated data collection and analysis can make quality improvement and research projects quicker and much less burdensome. Despite current challenges, these synergistic technologies hold immense promise in enhancing the clinician experience, helping to reduce physician burnout while improving patient health outcomes at a lower cost. This brief overview discusses the multifaceted potential of AI use in telestroke.

Enhanced dissolution rate of Ketoprofen by fabricating into smart nanocrystals.

The low bioavailability of Ketoprofen is associated with its hydrophobic nature that can be solved by nanonization. For this purpose, a polymeric solution with drug concentration of 3.5% w/w was formulated. The produced solution was milled for 60 minutes in DENA® mill which contains 0.2µ m yttrium reinforced zirconium beads. The Physicochemical properties, characterization including stability studies of the prepared nanoparticles were carried out using pharmacopeial techniques of zeta potential, PXRD, DSC, SEM and TEM. Results suggest that stable crystalline nanocrystals with a size of 169±1.98nm with PDI of 0.194±0.04 and zeta potential of -22.0±2.25mV were produced. Moreover, enhances in-vitro release rate of 78.6% for the processed Ketoprofen was achieved in first 5 min as compared to raw form and marketed drug which released only 22.9% and 33.1% of drug respectively. The 60 days stability studies at 4oC & 25°C revealed that polymers PVP-K30-HPMC-6cps-SDS were effective in stabilizing the nanocrystals. Comparatively stable ketoprofen nanocrystals were successfully produced by DENA® mill with marked enhanced dissolution rate. It proved a useful for commercialization technique due to high drug concentration and retention of distinct characteristics at large scale.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Therapeutic Option for Neurologic and Psychiatric Illnesses.

In recent years, transcranial magnetic stimulation has become an area of interest in the field of neurosciences due to its ability to non-invasively induce sufficient electric current to depolarize superficial axons and networks in the cortex and can be used to explore brain functioning. Evidence shows that transcranial magnetic stimulation could be used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for various neurological and psychiatric illnesses. The aim of this review is to introduce the basics of this technology to the readers and to bring together an overview of some of its clinical applications investigated thus far.

High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C Treatment of a Child with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Optic Pathway Glioma: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND In neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) disease, the loss of the tumor suppressor function of the neurofibromin gene leads to proliferation of neural tumors. In children, the most frequently identified tumor is the optic pathway glioma. CASE REPORT We describe the case of a 5-year-old child who was diagnosed with NF1 and optic pathway tumor onset at the age of 14 months. Because of the tumor progression, chemotherapy with carboplatin and vincristine was prescribed at this early age and continued for one year. As the progression of disease continued after chemotherapy, the child, at the age of 2.8 years, was started on high-dose intravenous vitamin C (IVC) treatment (7-15 grams per week) for 30 months. After 30 months, the results of IVC treatments demonstrated reduction and stabilization of the tumors in the optic chiasm, hypothalamus, and left optic nerve according to radiographic imaging. The right-sided optic nerve mass seen before IVC treatment disappeared by the end of the treatment. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the positive effects of treating NF1 glioma with IVC. Additional studies are necessary to evaluate the role of high-dose IVC in glioma treatment.

The adjunctive use of metformin to treat or prevent atypical antipsychotic-induced weight gain: a review.

Patients with schizophrenia have a greater incidence of being overweight or obese compared with the general population. Such individuals are often treated with second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics (SGAs), which are associated with weight gain, dyslipidemia, and other metabolic derangements. As a result, frequent monitoring of weight and other metabolic parameters is recommended. In addition, several pharmacologic strategies to help prevent or reduce SGA-induced weight gain have been proposed. Despite this, clinicians often struggle to manage obesity and metabolic issues in such patients. Metformin has attracted attention as a potential treatment option because it is thought to result in weight reduction and improved glycemic control in obese patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. This article focuses on relevant pharmacologic aspects of metformin and reviews currently available evidence on the use of metformin as an augmentation agent for the treatment or prevention of SGA-induced weight gain.