Oridonin from Rabdosia rubescens: An emerging potential in cancer therapy - A comprehensive review.

Cancer incidences are rising each year. In 2020, approximately 20 million new cancer cases and 10 million cancer-related deaths were recorded. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2024 the incidence of cancer will increase to 30.2 million individuals annually. Considering the invasive characteristics of its diagnostic procedures and therapeutic methods side effects, scientists are searching for different solutions, including using plant-derived bioactive compounds, that could reduce the probability of cancer occurrence and make its treatment more comfortable. In this regard, oridonin (ORI), an ent-kaurane diterpenoid, naturally found in the leaves of Rabdosia rubescens species, has been found to have antitumor, antiangiogenesis, antiasthmatic, antiinflammatory, and apoptosis induction properties. Extensive research has been performed on ORI to find various mechanisms involved in its anticancer activities. This review article provides an overview of ORI's effectiveness on murine and human cancer populations from 1976 to 2022 and provides insight into the future application of ORI in different cancer therapies.

Exploring water-absorbing capacity: a digital image analysis of seeds from 120 wheat varieties.

Wheat is a staple food crop that provides a significant portion of the world's daily caloric intake, serving as a vital source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber for billions of people. Seed shape studies of wheat typically involve the use of digital image analysis software to quantify various seed shape parameters such as length, width, area, aspect ratio, roundness, and symmetry. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the water-absorbing capacity of seeds from 120 distinct wheat lines, leveraging digital image analysis techniques facilitated by SmartGrain software. Water absorption is a pivotal process in the early stages of seed germination, directly influencing plant growth and crop yield. SmartGrain, a powerful image analysis tool, was employed to extract precise quantitative data from digital images of wheat seeds, enabling the assessment of various seed traits in relation to their water-absorbing capacity. The analysis revealed significant transformations in seed characteristics as they absorbed water, including changes in size, weight, shape, and more. Through statistical analysis and correlation assessments, we identified robust relationships between these seed traits, both before and after water treatment. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) were employed to categorize genotypes with similar trait patterns, providing insights valuable for crop breeding and genetic research. Multiple linear regression analysis further elucidated the influence of specific seed traits, such as weight, width, and distance, on water-absorbing capacity. Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of seed development, imbibition, and the crucial role of water absorption in wheat. These insights have practical implications in agriculture, offering opportunities to optimize breeding programs for improved water absorption in wheat genotypes. The integration of SmartGrain software with advanced statistical methods enhances the reliability and significance of our findings, paving the way for more efficient and resilient wheat crop production. Significant changes in wheat seed shape parameters were observed after imbibition, with notable increases in area, perimeter, length, width, and weight. The length-to-width ratio (LWR) and circularity displayed opposite trends, with higher values before imbibition and lower values after imbibition.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) sensitized photooxidation of ascorbic acid (vitamin C): A kinetic study.

Ascorbic acid (AH2) photoxidation sensitized by riboflavin (RF) has been studied between pH 2.0 and 12.0 in ambient air and anaerobic environment using UV and visible irradiation sources. The kinetics of AH2 degradation in aqueous medium along with RF is found to be first-order for its photodegradation. AH2 photolysis rate constants in aerobic and anaerobic conditions with RF (1.0-5.0 × 10-5 M) are 0.14-3.89 × 10-2 and 0.026-0.740 × 10-2 min-1, respectively. The rate constants (k2) of second-order kinetics for AH2 and RF photochemical interaction in aerobic and anaerobic conditions are in the range of 0.24-3.70 to 0.05-0.70 × 10-3 M-1 min-1, respectively, which manifests that increasing the RF concentration also increases the rate of photodegradation (photooxidation) of AH2. The k2 versus pH graph is bell-shaped which indicates that increasing the pH increases photolytic degradation rate of AH2 with RF. Increasing the pH results in the increased ionization of AH2 (ascorbyl anion, AH-) and redox potential which leads to the higher rates of photodegradation of AH2. Two-component spectrophotometric (243 and 266 nm, AH2 and RF, respectively) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods have been used to determine the concentration of AH2 and RF in pure and degraded solutions. The results obtained from these two methods are compared using a student t-test which showed no noteworthy difference between them.

Assessing the Behavioral and Personality Changes in Alcohol Dependence Syndrome in Wardha, Central India.

Background Alcohol dependence syndrome occurs when the consumption of alcohol is uncontrollable. Most of the alcohol drinkers are usually males. There is a rise in the incidence of road traffic accidents under the influence of alcohol due to locomotor and cerebral dysfunction. Alcohol is a significant cause and contributing factor for domestic violence, family disharmony, and displeasure in families. Research studies have shown that after the lockdown of COVID-19, the consumption of alcohol decreased in India. This study was conducted to assess the behavioral and personality changes in alcohol dependence syndrome. Methods This study was conducted at a rural tertiary care hospital in Wardha, Maharashtra, Central India. Sixty-two males participated in the study. Out of which, 56 were included in the study. There were urban and rural participants in the study. The study was conducted for a period of six months. The participants who were being treated for alcohol withdrawal and alcohol dependence syndrome were included in the study. The individuals unwilling to participate in the research and those admitted to the intensive care unit were excluded from this study. The primary outcome measure of the study was to assess the behavioral and personality changes in alcohol dependence syndrome. Participants were screened using the Cut-Down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-Opener (CAGE) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaires. The diagnosis of alcohol dependence syndrome was made according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, (ICD-10) criteria. The participants were assessed using a self-report questionnaire. The parameters of assessment were aggressive behavior, domestic violence, workplace violence, verbal abuse, and variables including the forensic aspects of alcohol consumption, such as road traffic accidents, etc. Previous research and similar studies on factors related to alcohol dependence syndrome were compared to establish a conclusion for the study. Results Participants reported to have decreased psychomotor function upon alcohol consumption compared to the time they were not under the influence of alcohol. Aggressive behavior associated with irritability and agitation was observed in 89.28% (50 out of 56) participants. A total of 76.78% (43 out of 56) had road traffic accidents at least once under the influence of alcohol. Of the sample, 85.71% (48 out of 56) committed verbal abuse at the workplace and home as a result of aggression under the influence of alcohol. And 69.64% (39 out of 56) of the sample had memory loss after consumption of alcohol. Conclusion There are several behavioral changes in individuals who are alcohol dependent, which may affect their day-to-day activities and cause poor performance in the workplace. Participants in the study showed a notable positive relation between alcohol dependence syndrome and aggressive behavior, verbal aggression, domestic violence, memory loss, and road traffic accidents under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol dependence syndrome can be linked with decreased quality of life due to problems faced in daily activities like psychomotor functions, sleeping, etc. During the treatment of alcohol dependence or withdrawal from alcohol, individuals experience socio-behavioral changes. Cognitive behavior therapy, including cognitive neuroscience, can help in managing these behavior and personality changes in alcohol dependence syndrome.

Unraveling the Link Between Periodontal Disease and High Cholesterol: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between high cholesterol levels and the prevalence of periodontal disease among patients in the United States, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2017 and 2020. We hypothesize that patients with high cholesterol levels will have a high prevalence of periodontal disease. METHODS: The study utilized a cross-sectional design, analyzing data from NHANES 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic survey, a nationally representative survey. The sub-sample consisted of 7,042 participants aged 30 years and older who underwent the NHANES survey questionnaire. Information on high cholesterol levels and periodontal disease was obtained through self-reported data. Statistical analyses, using SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC), were performed to assess the association between high cholesterol levels and periodontal disease prevalence while controlling the potential confounding variables. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used.  Results: The study included a total of 7,042 participants. The mean age (SD) of the participants was 60.2 (13.7); 54% were females and 46% were males. Out of the total, 23% (1636) of the samples had periodontal disease and 52% (3669) of the participants had high cholesterol levels. Findings indicated a significant association between high cholesterol and periodontal disease (odds ratio, OR = 1.21, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.06-1.40). Socioeconomic factors such as poverty and education, and other factors such as age, gender, race, smoking, physical activity, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, sugar intake, cholesterol intake, saturated fatty acids intake, and oral hygiene were identified as potential confounders. CONCLUSION: This large-scale cross-sectional study investigated the association between high cholesterol and periodontal disease while comprehensively controlling for potential confounding factors. After adjusting for the relevant confounders, we found a weak positive association between high cholesterol and periodontal disease. While these findings provide valuable insights into the interplay between systemic health and oral health, the cross-sectional nature of the study limits the establishment of causality.

The Association Between Seeking Urgent Dental Care and the Prevalence of Root Caries Among Patients in the United States, National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2020: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between seeking urgent dental care and the prevalence of root caries among patients in the United States, utilizing data from the Nutritional Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2017 and 2020. Our hypothesis is that patients who are seeking urgent dental care due to pain will have a high prevalence of root caries. METHODS: The study utilized a cross-sectional design, analyzing data from NHANES 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic data, a nationally representative survey. The sub-sample consisted of 6,186 participants aged 20 years and older who underwent oral health assessments, including the examination of root caries. Information on seeking urgent dental care was obtained through self-reported data. Statistical analyses, using SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC), were performed to assess the association between urgent care seeking and root caries prevalence while controlling the potential confounding variables. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used.  Results: The study included a total of 6,186 participants. The mean age (SD) of the participants was 49.7 (17.2). Some 52% were females and 48% were males. Some 14% (849) of the samples had root caries and 28% (1739) of the participants were seeking urgent dental care due to pain. Findings indicated a significant association between seeking urgent dental care and the prevalence of root caries (odds ratio, OR = 2.72, 95% confidence interval, CI = 2.32-3.18). Individuals who reported seeking urgent care had a higher prevalence of root caries (26% vs. 9%) compared to those who did not seek urgent care. Socioeconomic factors such as poverty and education, and other factors such as age, gender, race, marital status, and alcohol intake were identified as potential confounders. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of the association between seeking urgent dental care and the prevalence of root caries among patients in the United States. The findings underscore the importance of promoting regular dental visits, preventive measures, and early interventions to mitigate the risk of root caries among individuals seeking urgent dental care. Addressing socio-economic barriers, improving access to dental services, and enhancing oral health education are crucial steps toward reducing the burden of root caries in this population. Further, longitudinal studies are recommended to establish the temporal relationship between urgent care seeking and root caries development.

Exploring Knowledge and Perceptions of Polio Disease and Its Immunization in Polio High-Risk Areas of Pakistan.

Pakistan is one of the few countries where poliovirus transmission still persists, despite intensive efforts to eradicate the disease. Adequate vaccination coverage is essential to achieve polio eradication, but misconceptions about polio vaccines have hindered vaccination efforts. To address this issue, we conducted a mixed-methods study to explore knowledge and perceptions regarding polio disease and immunization in high-risk areas of Pakistan. We collected quantitative data from 3780, 1258, and 2100 households in Karachi, Bajaur, and Pishin, respectively, and supplemented this with qualitative data from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Our findings reveal a high level of awareness about polio and its immunization; however, misperceptions about the polio vaccine persist, leading to refusal for both polio vaccines and routine immunizations. Our study provides up-to-date data on knowledge and perceptions of polio and its immunization and identifies critical gaps. These findings can inform the development of future strategies and innovative approaches to improve the success of the polio program in Pakistan.

A Gut-Wrenching Feeling: Overcoming Cognitive Biases in an Atypical Presentation of Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia.

Chronic mesenteric ischemia is a rare but serious condition that can present with a variety of symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. Our case report presents a 63-year-old male with a past medical history of generalized anxiety disorder, Barrett's esophagus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with active smoking who initially presented with severe diffuse abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and chronic diarrhea resulting in malnutrition and 40-pound weight loss over a six-month span. The patient underwent extensive diagnostic evaluation and was diagnosed with Yersinia gastroenteritis via gastroenteritis panel (GI Panel), explaining all of the patient's symptoms. The patient underwent treatment for said gastroenteritis but did not experience remission of symptoms, leading to further diagnostic evaluations; a definitive diagnosis was not found, yet the patient's symptoms persisted. The patient then underwent extensive serologic and endoscopic evaluation, after extensive imaging and diagnostic work-up, the patient was finally diagnosed with chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) with severe celiac and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) stenosis. The patient initially underwent stenting (7 mm by 26 mm Balloon Mounted LifestreamTM Covered Stent; Becton Dickson (BD); Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA), which provided temporary relief to his symptoms, however, the relief did not last long. Upon reimaging, the patient was found to have stenosis of the stent, leading to the eventual placement of a bare-metal stent (ExpressTM LD 7 x 27 mm balloon mounted bare-metal stent; Boston Scientific; Boston, MA, USA) across the celiac artery as well as the placement of an IMA stent (InnovaTM Self-expanding 5 x 20 mm bare-metal stent; Boston Scientific). This eventually resulted in the resolution of the patient's symptoms, eventual weight gain, and improvement in quality of life.

Evaluating Dental Fear and Anxiety in Pediatric Patients Visiting a Private and a Public Dental Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan.

Background One of the biggest hurdles in treating pediatric patients is managing dental fear and anxiety. Some factors that contribute to an increase in dental anxiety are fear of pain, the presence of unknown individuals, a change in the setting of an environment, and separation from parents. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate dental fear and anxiety in pediatric patients, between the ages of 6 and 12 years, visiting private and public dental hospitals using the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). Methods A total of 280 children, 140 in a private dental hospital setting and 140 in a public dental hospital setting, were enrolled in this study. The purpose of the study was explained to the accompanying guardian of the patient and written consent was taken. The CFSS-DS was explained verbally in Urdu and the questionnaire was given to guardians alongside the patients which they were asked to fill out following their dental treatment. Result The data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed using the unpaired t-test. The highest dental fear mean scores and standard deviation in a private dental hospital were for "choking" (3.25 ± 1.21), "the noise of the dentist drilling" (3.24 ± 1.04), and "having somebody put instruments in your mouth" (3.19 ± 1.06), whereas, for a public dental hospital, the highest fear score was recorded in "choking" (3.17 ± 1.69), "injections" (3.07 ± 1.72), and "people in white uniforms" (1.90 ± 1.21). Conclusion The study showed a higher prevalence of dental fear and anxiety in a private dental setting when compared to a public dental setting. Factors responsible for an increase in dental fear need to be assessed for each patient and then treatment given accordingly.

Enzyme Profiling and Identification of Endophytic and Rhizospheric Bacteria Isolated from Arthrocnemum macrostachyum.

Endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria isolated from halophytic plants support their host to survive in hyper-saline soil. These bacteria are also known to produce various enzymes with potential industrial applications. In this study, the endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria were isolated from Arthrocnemum macrostachyum collected from Karachi, Pakistan, and their ability to produce various extracellular enzymes was assessed using commercial and natural substrates. In total, 11 bacterial strains were isolated (four endophytic; seven rhizospheric). Bacillus was found to be the most abundant genus (73%), followed by Glutamicibacter (27%). The isolates including Glutamicibacter endophyticus and Bacillus licheniformis are reported for the first time from A. macrostachyum. All of the isolates were capable of producing at least two of the five industrially important hydrolytic enzymes tested, i.e., xylanase, cellulase, amylase, pectinase, and lipase. Lipase production was found to be highest among the isolates, i.e., up to 18 IU mL-1. Although most of the isolates could grow at a wide range of temperatures (4-55 °C), pH (1-11), and salt concentrations (2-12%), under extreme conditions, very little growth was observed and the optimal growth was recorded between 2% and 6% NaCl, 25 and 45 °C, and 7 and 9 pH. Our results suggest that these isolates could be potential producers of enzymes with several biotechnological applications.

A retrospective study of association of CT severity with clinical profile and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 in the second wave.

Objectives: This study aimed to find out the association of CT severity score with demographic and clinical characteristics as well as mortality in the patients who were confirmed to have COVID-19 disease in the second wave. Material and Methods: This retrospective study included collection and assessment of the demographic, clinical, laboratory data, and mortality of the patients, suspected with COVID-19 infection who underwent chest HRCT scan during March to April 2021. The findings of the chest HRCT were retrieved manually from the Medical Records section. Determination of the severity was done by the scoring system that involved the visual evaluation of the affected lobes. Results: CT severity score was mild, moderate, and severe in 21.94%, 41.60%, and 30.48% patients, respectively. Mortality rate was 5.70%. Age of the patients with mild, moderate, and severe CT severity score was significantly more than those with normal severity score (50 vs. 50 vs. 50 vs. 31, P=0.0009). When compared to patients with normal score, those with mild, moderate, and severe CT severity score had significantly higher dyspnoea (10.39% vs. 67.81% vs. 97.20% vs. 0%), significantly more cases with diabetes mellitus (16.88% vs. 25.34% vs. 31.78% vs. 9.52%, P=0.044), hypertension (27.27% vs. 21.23% vs. 32.71% vs. 4.76%, P=0.026), and obesity (6.49% vs. 8.90% vs. 23.36% vs. 0%, P=0.0005). Total leucocyte counts, absolute neutrophil counts, creatinine, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ferritin, and D-dimer were deranged in significantly more patients of severe score (53.27%, 62.62%, 60.75%, 85.05%, 90.65%, 97.20%, and 95.35%, respectively). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein were deranged in significantly more patients with moderate disease (98.18% and 98.63%, respectively). Increasing severity scores were associated with increased mortality (mild vs. moderate vs. severe: 1.30% vs. 1.37 vs. 15.89%, P<.0001). Oxygen saturation (SpO2) was significantly lowest in severe score followed by moderate, mild and normal scores (87 vs. 90 vs. 96 vs. 97, P<.0001). Duration of non-rebreather mask (NRBM), noninvasive ventilation (NIV), high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), Venture/face mask, and intubation was also associated with increasing severity scores (P<0.0001). Conclusion: CT scans play an important role in guiding physicians with their management plans and can serve as a predictor of disease severity and outcomes.

Chest radiographic findings and their correlation with disease progression in COVID-19 patients in northern India.

Introduction: The present study was undertaken to describe and quantify the spectrum of radiographic findings on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. The study also aimed to analyse the changes in chest X-ray (CXR) with disease progression. Methods: COVID-19 patients admitted between the period of 15 March 2020 and 1 July 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. CXR images were assessed and reported as 'Normal' or 'Abnormal'. A severity score was calculated using Warren et al.'s Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema scoring. Correlations of the severity score thus calculated were sought with age, sex, clinical manifestations and presence of comorbidities. Results: Five hundred patients (342 males, 158 females) were enrolled, median age being 35 years. Fever and cough were the most common symptoms but significant correlation of an abnormal CXR was found with dyspnoea. CXRs were normal in 67% and abnormal in 33% patients. The commonest comorbidities were diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease including hypertension, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Predominant pattern was ground glass opacities, reticular alteration and consolidation peaking in the second week from symptom onset. The most frequent distribution was bilateral, peripheral with middle/lower predominance. Increasing age, male sex, presence of dyspnoea and comorbidities correlated with abnormal findings on CXR. Critical illness and mortality correlated strongly with increasing age, male sex and presence of dyspnoea, less so with presence of comorbidities. Conclusion: In the current scenario with clinicians and radiologists working in tandem, CXR seems to be a promising tool in providing relevant information in a simplified way.

An evolutionarily conserved Lhx2-Ldb1 interaction regulates the acquisition of hippocampal cell fate and regional identity.

The protein co-factor Ldb1 regulates cell fate specification by interacting with LIM-homeodomain (LIM-HD) proteins in a tetrameric complex consisting of an LDB:LDB dimer that bridges two LIM-HD molecules, a mechanism first demonstrated in the Drosophila wing disc. Here, we demonstrate conservation of this interaction in the regulation of mammalian hippocampal development, which is profoundly defective upon loss of either Lhx2 or Ldb1 Electroporation of a chimeric construct that encodes the Lhx2-HD and Ldb1-DD (dimerization domain) in a single transcript cell-autonomously rescues a comprehensive range of hippocampal deficits in the mouse Ldb1 mutant, including the acquisition of field-specific molecular identity and the regulation of the neuron-glia cell fate switch. This demonstrates that the LHX:LDB complex is an evolutionarily conserved molecular regulatory device that controls complex aspects of regional cell identity in the developing brain.

Evaluation Of Modified Alvarado, Ripasa And Lintula Scoring System As Diagnostic Tools For Acute Appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Commonest surgical emergency presenting to emergency departments with abdominal pain is acute appendicitis. Thus, to enable quick and accurate diagnosis of the condition various scoring systems have been developed. Among these, Alvarado and its modified version (Modified Alvarado) are the commonest. Whereas Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis (RIPASA) score showed promising results in Asian population. Similarly, Lintula score, which was initially developed for paediatric population, has now been validated for elderly too. This study is aimed to compare these in our regional population. METHODS: Project included consecutive 125 clinically suspected acute appendicitis patients. All were scored using Modified Alvarado, RIPASA and Lintula systems. Final diagnosis was based on histopathologic evaluation of excised specimen. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy were computed for all these systems by using SPSS statistical software and ROC curves were plotted. RESULTS: With cut-off of 7, Modified Alvarado was 62% specific, 83% sensitive and 65% accurate. While PPV and NPV were 94% and 33%, respectively. Whereas RIPASA yielded better results, i.e., sensitivity of 98.4%, specificity of 87%, PPV of 97%, NPV of 77% and diagnostic accuracy of 92%. Whereas Lintula showed sensitivity of 71%, specificity of 87%, PPV of 96%, NPV of 40 and accuracy of 73%. CONCLUSIONS: RIPASA demonstrated higher sensitivity, PPV, NPV and diagnostic accuracy than Modified Alvarado and Lintula scores. Hence this study approves use of RIPASA score in the region. However further research on the subject is required to back this inference.

Early postnatal manganese exposure causes arousal dysregulation and lasting hypofunctioning of the prefrontal cortex catecholaminergic systems.

Studies have reported associations between environmental manganese (Mn) exposure and impaired cognition, attention, impulse control, and fine motor function in children. Our recent rodent studies established that elevated Mn exposure causes these impairments. Here, rats were exposed orally to 0, 25, or 50 mg Mn kg-1  day-1 during early postnatal life (PND 1-21) or lifelong to determine whether early life Mn exposure causes heightened behavioral reactivity in the open field, lasting changes in the catecholaminergic systems in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), altered dendritic spine density, and whether lifelong exposure exacerbates these effects. We also assessed astrocyte reactivity (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP), and astrocyte complement C3 and S100A10 protein levels as markers of A1 proinflammatory or A2 anti-inflammatory reactive astrocytes. Postnatal Mn exposure caused heightened behavioral reactivity during the first 5-10 min intervals of daily open field test sessions, consistent with impairments in arousal regulation. Mn exposure reduced the evoked release of norepinephrine (NE) and caused decreased protein levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine (DA) and NE transporters, and DA D1 receptors, along with increased DA D2 receptors. Mn also caused a lasting increase in reactive astrocytes (GFAP) exhibiting increased A1 and A2 phenotypes, with a greater induction of the A1 proinflammatory phenotype. These results demonstrate that early life Mn exposure causes broad lasting hypofunctioning of the mPFC catecholaminergic systems, consistent with the impaired arousal regulation, attention, impulse control, and fine motor function reported in these animals, suggesting that mPFC catecholaminergic dysfunction may underlie similar impairments reported in Mn-exposed children.

Impact of Long Term Plasticity on Information Transmission Over Neuronal Networks.

The realization of bio-compatible nanomachines would pave the way for developing novel diagnosis and treatment techniques for the dysfunctions of intra-body nanonetworks and revolutionize the traditional healthcare methodologies making them less invasive and more efficient. The network of these nanomachines is aimed to be used for treating neuronal diseases such as developing an implant that bridges over the injured spinal cord to regain its normal functionality. Thus, nanoscale communication paradigms are needed to be investigated to facilitate communication between nanomachines. Communication among neurons is one of the most promising nanoscale communication paradigm, which necessitates the thorough communication theoretical analysis of information transmission among neurons. The information flow in neuro-spike communication channel is regulated by the ability of neurons to change synaptic strengths over time, i.e. synaptic plasticity. Thus, the performance evaluation of the nervous nanonetwork is incomplete without considering the influence of synaptic plasticity. In this paper, we focus on information transmission among hippocampal pyramidal neurons and provide a comprehensive channel model for MISO neuro-spike communication, which includes axonal transmission, vesicle release process, synaptic communication and spike generation. In this channel, the spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP) model is used to cover both synaptic depressiofan and potentiation depending on the temporal correlation between spikes generated by input and output neurons. Since synaptic strength changes depending on different physiological factors such as spiking rate of presynaptic neurons, number of correlated presynaptic neurons and the correlation factor among them, we simulate this model with correlated inputs and analyze the evolution of synaptic weights over time. Moreover, we calculate average mutual information between input and output of the channel and find the impact of plasticity and correlation among inputs on the information transmission. The simulation results reveal the impact of different physiological factors related to either presynaptic or postsynaptic neurons on the performance of MISO neuro-spike communication. Moreover, they provide guidelines for selecting the system parameters in a bio-inspired neuronal network according to the requirements of different applications.

Incidence of Anxiety and Depression Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and the Predicting Factors.

Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic, progressive metabolic illness which is commonly complicated by coexistence of depression and anxiety. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among diabetic patients and the factors predicting this coexistence. Methods It was a cross-sectional, observational study which included patients of type 2 DM admitted in the hospital due to diabetes-related condition - diabetic foot infections/ulcers, hyperosmotic hyperglycaemic state (HHS), and hypoglycaemic coma/seizure. Anxiety and depression were measured by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data was entered and analysed using SPSS version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results Mean anxiety score of the participants was 10.88 ± 4.075 and mean depression score was 11.82 ± 4.049. There were 72 (50.7%) patients who had anxiety and 70 (49.2%) patients who had depression. Higher scores of anxiety and depression were statistically significant in female gender, older participants, individuals with longer duration of diabetes, those taking non-insulin treatment, and individuals with painful neuropathy, nephropathy, and foot ulcers. Conclusion The incidence of depression and anxiety among hospitalized patients of diabetes mellitus is high. The coexistence of these two chronic debilitating illnesses is worsening the overall quality of life. It is very important to diagnose and manage anxiety and depression in patients with type 2 DM to ensure higher quality of life and life expectancy.

Recalibrating the molecular clock for Arctic marine invertebrates based on DNA barcodes 1.

Divergence times for species assemblages of Arctic marine invertebrates have often been estimated using a standard rate (1.4%/MY) of molecular evolution calibrated using a single sister pair of tropical crustaceans. Because rates of molecular evolution vary among taxa and environments, it is essential to obtain clock calibrations from northern lineages. The recurrent opening and closure of the Bering Strait provide an exceptional opportunity for clock calibration. Here, we apply the iterative calibration approach to investigate patterns of molecular divergence among lineages of northern marine molluscs and arthropods using publicly available sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and compare these results with previous estimates of trans-Bering divergences for echinoderms and polychaetes. The wide range of Kimura two-parameter (K2P) divergences among 73 trans-Bering sister pairs (0.12%-16.89%) supports multiple pulses of migration through the Strait. Overall, the results indicate a rate of K2P divergence of 3.2%/MY in molluscs, 5%-5.2%/MY in arthropods, and 3.5%-4.7%/MY in polychaetes. While these rates are considerably higher than the often-adopted 1.4%/MY rate, they are similar to calibrations (3%-5%/MY) in several other studies of marine invertebrates. This upward revision in rates means there is a need both to reevaluate the evolutionary history of marine lineages and to reexamine the impact of prior climatic changes upon the diversification of marine life.

A survey on gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions of Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide combination therapy.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are very common with anticancer drugs. The objectives of the survey are to evaluate ADRs of AC (Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) and Cyclophosphamide) combination therapy with special reference to GIT (Gastrointestinal system). It was a prospective, descriptive, observational study which included 90 female patients receiving AC combination therapy for their treatment through a purposive sampling and from 01-01-2016 to 31-12-2016 at Cancer Hospital Jamshoro Pakistan. Patients were interviewed during follow up session with a consultant, their response was recorded in a questionnaire and verified through British National formulary (BNF), Hartwig & Siegel scale (ADR severity assessment scale). The survey results shows that AC anticancer combination therapy can result in various disturbances in gastrointestinal tract among which nausea, vomiting decreased appetite and hyperacidity were most common. These must be taken into account and managed with supportive treatment in order to maintain better quality of life during the cancer treatment.

Sum Rate of MISO Neuro-Spike Communication Channel With Constant Spiking Threshold.

Communication among neurons, known as neuro-spike communication, is the most promising technique for realization of a bio-inspired nanoscale communication paradigm to achieve biocompatible nanonetworks. In neuro-spike communication, the information, encoded into spike trains, is communicated to various brain regions through neuronal network. An output neuron needs to receive signal from multiple input neurons to generate a spike. Hence, in this paper, we aim to quantify the information transmitted through the multiple-input single-output (MISO) neuro-spike communication channel by considering models for axonal propagation, synaptic transmission, and spike generation. Moreover, the spike generation and propagation in each neuron requires opening and closing of numerous ionic channels on the cell membrane, which consumes considerable amount of ATP molecules called metabolic energy. Thus, we evaluate how applying a constraint on available metabolic energy affects the maximum achievable mutual information of this system. To this aim, we derive a closed form equation for the sum rate of the MISO neuro-spike communication channel and analyze it under the metabolic cost constraints. Finally, we discuss the impacts of changes in number of pre-synaptic neurons on the achievable rate and quantify the tradeoff between maximum achievable sum rate and the consumed metabolic energy.