Esomeprazole and apixaban pharmacokinetic interactions in healthy rats.

Esomeprazole is used in various clinical settings where a decrease in gastric acid production is desired since it is a proton pump inhibitor. Apixaban, an anticoagulant, is used to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with certain cardiovascular diseases. This research aims to examine the effects of giving esomeprazole and apixaban to rats simultaneously, as well as to measure their pharmacokinetics and look for statistical differences or interactions. A method for the simultaneous determination of esomeprazole and apixaban in rat plasma was developed using HPLC/MS and validated by ICH guidelines. Five groups of Wistar rats were created, and the drugs were administered as follows: esomeprazole (5 mg/kg) intravenously, apixaban (125 mcg/Kg) intravenously, esomeprazole (5 mg/kg) orally, apixaban (250 mcg/kg) orally, and esomeprazole (5 mg/kg) and apixaban (250 mcg/kg) both orally. Both drugs' concentrations were measured in plasma samples collected on a predetermined schedule. The pharmacokinetics of both drugs were calculated and statistically analyzed using a 90% confidence interval and non-compartmental analysis. When the two drugs were combined, apixaban's Cmax and AUC increased while esomeprazole's Cmax and AUC decreased. On the other hand, Apixaban's Tmax decreased with an increase in esomeprazole's Tmax, indicating a possible interaction between the two drugs. When both drugs were taken together, their bioavailability was reduced, implying that less esomeprazole was absorbed over time.

On Smart Geometric Non-Destructive Evaluation: Inspection Methods, Overview, and Challenges.

Inspection methods, also known as non-destructive evaluation (NDE), is a process for inspecting materials, products, and facilities to identify flaws, imperfections, and malfunctions without destruction or changing the integrity of materials, structures, and mechanisms. However, detecting those defects requires test conducting and results inferring, which is highly demanding in terms of analysis, performance, and time. New technologies are therefore needed to increase the efficiency, probability of detection, and interpretability of NDE methods to establish smart inspection. In this context, Artificial intelligence (AI), as a fundamental component of the Industry 4.0, is a well-suited tool to address downsides associated with the current NDE methods for analysis and interpretation of inspection results, where methods integrating AI into their inspection process become automated and are known as smart inspection methods. This article sheds a light on the conventional methods and the smart techniques used in defects detection. Subsequently, a comparison between the two notions is presented. Furthermore, it investigates opportunities for the integration of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods and Industry 4.0 technologies. In addition, the challenges hindering the progress of the domain are mentioned as the potential solutions. To this end, along with Industry 4.0 technologies, a virtual inspection system has been proposed to deploy smart inspection.

Smoking status and SARS-CoV-2 infection severity among Lebanese adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: A paradoxical hypothesis about the effect of smoking on patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrom 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection still exists. Furthermore, gender-discrepancy in the impact of smoking on COVID-19 severity was given little attention. Thus, the aims of the present study were to evaluate the prevalence of smoking and the COVID-19 infection severity in a sample of adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and to explore the relationship between smoking status and SARS-CoV-2 infection severity in the overall sample and stratified by gender. METHODS: A retrospective analytical study was conducted on patients diagnosed with COVID-19 cases between December, 2020 and April, 2021 from three leading laboratories in Lebanon. Sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status and clinical symptoms were collected. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between smoking status and SARS-CoV-2 infection severity. RESULTS: A total of 901 confirmed COVID-19 cases participated in the study, 50.8% were females. The mean age of patients was 38.4 years (SD = 15.3). Of the total sample, 521(57.8%) were current smokers. Regarding infection severity, 14.8% were asymptomatic, 69.9% had mild symptoms, while 15.3% had severe infection. In the overall sample, smoking status, smoking types and dose-response were not significantly associated with infection severity. Upon stratifying the entire sample by gender, no association was found between all the considered variables with infection severity among females. However, a significant association was found among male with mild infection compared to their asymptomatic counterparts (OR = 1.78 95% CI (1.01-3.13)). Waterpipe smoking was found to be associated with infection severity among male with mild infection (OR 2.64 (95% CI 1.32-5.27)) and severe infection 2.79, 95% CI (1.19-6.53) compared to their asymptomatic counterparts. CONCLUSION: Our fundings highlight sex differences in the association between tobacco smoking and COVID-19 severity. Current tobacco smoking was not associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection severity among female patients, however, tobacco smoking, particularly waterpipe, was found to be associated with infection severity among male. Thus, the battle against smoking should continue by assisting smokers to successfully and permanently quit.

Introducing artificial intelligence to the radiation early warning system.

Although radiation level is a serious concern which requires continuous monitoring, many existing systems are designed to perform this task. Radiation early warning system (REWS) is one of these systems which monitor the gamma radiation level in air. Such system requires high manual intervention, depends totally on experts' analysis, and has some shortcomings that can be risky sometimes. In this paper, the approach called RIMI (refining incoming monitored incidents) will be introduced which aims to improve this system while becoming more autonomous with keeping the final decision to the experts. A new method is presented which will help in changing this system to become more intelligent while learning from past incidents of each specific system.

Presenting the characteristics, smoking versus diabetes, and outcome among patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

METHODS: We designed a cross-sectional, observational follow-up for 284 COVID-19 patients involving healthy patients, smokers, diabetics, and diabetic plus smokers recruited from May 1, 2020 to June 25, 2020. The clinical features, severity, duration, and outcome of the disease were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 284 COVID-19 patients, the median age was 48 years (range, 18-80), and 33.80% were female. Common symptoms included fever (85.56%), shortness of breath (49.65%), cough (45.42%), and headache (40.86%). Patients with more than one comorbidity (diabetes and smoking) presented as severe-critical cases compared to healthy patients, diabetics, and smokers. Smokers presented with a lower rate of death in comparison to diabetic patients and diabetic + smoking, furthermore, smoking was less risky than diabetes. Although the mortality rate was high in patients with smokers compared to healthy patients (4.22%, the hazard ratio [HR], 1.358; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.542-1.100; p = .014), it was less than in diabetics (7.04%, HR 1.531, 95% CI: 1.668-1.337, p = .000), and diabetic plus smoker (10.00%, HR, 1.659; 95% CI, 1.763-1.510; p = .000). CONCLUSION: Multiple comorbidities are closely related to the severity of COVID-19 disease progression and the higher mortality rate. Smokers presented as mild cases compared to diabetic and diabetic + smoking patients, who presented as severe to critical cases. Although a higher death rate in smokers was seen compared with healthy patients, this was smaller when compared to diabetic and diabetic + smoking patients.

Bithiophenic MALDI matrices as valuable leads for the selective detection of alkaloids.

Alkaloids represent a group of biologically most interesting compounds commonly used in modern medicines but also known for exhibiting severe toxic effects. Therefore, the detection of alkaloids is an important issue in quality control of plants, dietary supplements, and herbal pharmaceutical and mostly facilitated by methods such as GC or LC-MS. However, benefitting from the development of selective matrices as well as requiring very little sample preparation, MALDI-MS may also provide a valuable supplement to these standard analytical methods. With this in mind, the present study highlights recent advances in the development of bithiophenic matrix molecules designed for the selective detection of alkaloids. Overall four new bithiophenic matrix molecules (BMs) were tested on different analytes belonging to various chemical families such as alkaloids, curcuminoids, benzopyrones, flavonoids, steroids, and peptides (I). All BMs were further compared to the commercial matrices α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) in terms of their signal response as well as their matrix noise formation (II). Based on these results the most promising candidate, 3-(5'-pentafluorophenylmethylsulfanyl-[2,2']bithiophenyl-5-ylsulfanyl)propionitrile (PFPT3P), was tested on highly complex samples such as the crude extracts of Colchicum autumnale, RYTMOPASC ® solution (a herbal pharmaceutical containing sparteine and rubijervine), as well as strychnine-spiked human plasma (III). For the latter, an evaluation of the limit of detection was performed. Eventually, a simplified protocol for the direct MALDI detection of major alkaloids from pulverized plant material of Atropa belladonna and Senecio vulgaris is presented (IV). Graphical abstract Selective MALDI MATRICES for Alkaloid Detection.

Metachronous Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Jejunum Presenting with Massive Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC) is a rare cause of massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). We report a 51-year man who underwent left nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) 6 years ago. presenting with massive LGIB. Preoperative abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed small bowel mass. Exploration of the abdomen revealed jejunal mass. Resection of the mass along with the jejunal segment with end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Histopathology of the jejunal mass confirmed MRCC. MRCC should be expected as a source of massive LGIB in a patient with history of RCC. Surgical intervention should not be delayed in a hemodynamically unstable patient and persistent bleeding.

First evidence of TRPV5 and TRPV6 channels in human parathyroid glands: possible involvement in neoplastic transformation.

The parathyroid glands play an overall regulatory role in the systemic calcium (Ca(2+)) homeostasis. The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the presence of the Ca(2+) channels transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 5 and TRPV6 in human parathyroid glands. Semi-quantitative and quantitative PCR was carried out to evaluate the presence of TRPV5 and TRPV6 mRNAs in sporadic parathyroid adenomas and normal parathyroid glands. Western blot and immunocytochemical assays were used to assess protein expression, cellular localization and time expression in primary cultures from human parathyroid adenoma. TRPV5 and TRPV6 transcripts were then identified both in normal and pathological tissues. Predominant immunoreactive bands were detected at 75-80 kD for both vanilloid channels. These channels co-localized with the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) on the membrane surface, but immunoreactivity was also detected in the cytosol and around the nuclei. Our data showed that western blotting recorded an increase of protein expression of both channels in adenoma samples compared with normal glands suggesting a potential relation with the cell calcium signalling pathway and the pathological processes of these glands.

Psicoterapia breve operacionalizada na crise adaptativa por perda: um estudo exploratório / Operational brief psychotherapy in adaptative crisis by loss: an exploratory study

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo o estudo de alguns aspectos metodológicos da Psicoterapia Breve Operacionalizada (PBO) em pacientes em situação de crise adaptativa por perda. A pesquisa foi realizada a partir de uma metodologia qualitativa clínica, e participaram deste estudo seis pacientes que procuraram a Clínica Psicológica Durval Marcondes IPUSP e que preencheram os requisitos pretendidos para o estudo. Instrumentos: Escala Diagnóstica Adaptativa Operacionalizada EDAO e Psicoterapia Breve Operacionalizada PBO. Observou-se que a PBO ofereceu contribuições importantes para a solução das crises. Quanto aos aspectos metodológicos, foi verificado que tanto as interpretações teorizadas como as intervenções suportivas se mostraram eficientes para a adoção de soluções mais adequadas. Analisando os resultados das entrevistas de acompanhamento nesta pesquisa, tem-se que a manutenção dos ganhos por meio da PBO foi observada em todos os casos atendidos, de diferentes formas, a saber: aceitação de perdas; evitação do deterioramento do nível adaptativo e enfrentamento de problemas buscando uma postura mais adequada

This research aims to study some methodological aspects of Operational Brief Psychotherapy (PBO) in patients in adaptative crisis by loss. The survey was conducted from a clinic qualitative methodology and six patients, who went to the Psychological Clinic Durval Marcondes IPUSP - and met the desired requirements for the study, participated in it. Research instruments: Operationalized Adaptive Diagnostic Scale - EDAO and Operational Brief Psychotherapy - PBO. It was observed that PBO has offered important contributions to the solution of the crisis. Regarding methodological aspects, it was verified that both theorized interpretations and supportive interventions were efficient to help pacients to choose more appropriate solutions. The results of follow-up interviews in this research shows that the maintenance of gains through PBO was found in all cases treated in different ways, namely: acceptance of loss, avoidance of deterioration in the adaptative level, the ability of facing problems with a proper posture

Psicoterapia breve operacionalizada e crise por expectativa de perda: um estudo de caso / Operationalized short term therapy and crisis by expectation of loss: a case study

O presente artigo propõe ilustrar o tratamento de um paciente em situação de crise por expectativa de perda com a utilização do método da Psicoterapia Breve Operacionalizada (PBO). A partir de um estudo de caso, aplicou-se a Escala Diagnóstica Adaptativa Operacionalizada (EDAO) como instrumento diagnóstico, no início e no fim da PBO de uma paciente. O arsenal conceitual e instrumental constitutivos da EDAO e da PBO demonstrou relevante importância na prática da psicoterapia breve, uma vez que oferece meios de identificar e atuar com eficiência em situações em que a paciente experimentava crise por expectativa de perda. A técnica utilizada possibilitou o atendimento em suas necessidades emergenciais, o que resultou na redução da intensidade da crise. A ajuda pontual e focada na situação de crise permitiu que a paciente pudesse fazer uso de seus recursos elaborativos, sem se precipitar numa atuação destrutiva que poderia colocar em risco a realização de seu desejo.

This article proposes to illustrate the treatment procedure within a case of expectation of loss, based on theoretical reference of Operationalized Short Term Therapy (OSTT). From a case study, Operationalized Adaptative Diagnostic Scale (OADS) was applied as a diagnostic tool at the beginning and at the end of patient’s treatment. The conceptual and instrumental arsenal that constitutes OADS and OSTT showed relevant importance on the practice of short term psychotherapy, since it provides means to identify and act effectively in situations where the patient is experiencing crisis by expectation of loss. This technique allowed the care in her emergency needs, resulting in the reduction of the crisis intensity. The aid focused on the crisis allowed the patient to make use of its elaborative resources, without rushing into a destructive action that could endanger the accomplishment of its desire.

Psicoterapia breve operacionalizada e crise por expectativa de perda: um estudo de caso

O presente artigo propõe ilustrar o tratamento de um paciente em situação de crise por expectativa de perda com a utilização do método da Psicoterapia Breve Operacionalizada (PBO). A partir de um estudo de caso, aplicou-se a Escala Diagnóstica Adaptativa Operacionalizada (EDAO) como instrumento diagnóstico, no início e no fim da PBO de uma paciente. O arsenal conceitual e instrumental constitutivos da EDAO e da PBO demonstrou relevante importância na prática da psicoterapia breve, uma vez que oferece meios de identificar e atuar com eficiência em situações em que a paciente experimentava crise por expectativa de perda. A técnica utilizada possibilitou o atendimento em suas necessidades emergenciais, o que resultou na redução da intensidade da crise. A ajuda pontual e focada na situação de crise permitiu que a paciente pudesse fazer uso de seus recursos elaborativos, sem se precipitar numa atuação destrutiva que poderia colocar em risco a realização de seu desejo(AU)

This article proposes to illustrate the treatment procedure within a case of expectation of loss, based on theoretical reference of Operationalized Short Term Therapy (OSTT). From a case study, Operationalized Adaptative Diagnostic Scale (OADS) was applied as a diagnostic tool at the beginning and at the end of patient’s treatment. The conceptual and instrumental arsenal that constitutes OADS and OSTT showed relevant importance on the practice of short term psychotherapy, since it provides means to identify and act effectively in situations where the patient is experiencing crisis by expectation of loss. This technique allowed the care in her emergency needs, resulting in the reduction of the crisis intensity. The aid focused on the crisis allowed the patient to make use ofits elaborative resources, without rushing into a destructive action that could endanger the accomplishment ofits desire(AU)

Reactivity of homoallylic substituted adamantylideneadamantanes with bromine. Substituent effects on the stability of the ionic and nonionic intermediates.

Sterically congested adamantylideneadamantanes (1b-g) (X = Br, Cl, F, OH, OEt, OCOCH(3)), homoallylically substituted with equatorial groups (X), react with bromine in 1,2-dichloroethane to give a stable bromonium ion intermediate or a substitution product depending on the nature of the substituent and on the bromine concentration. The nature of the substituent markedly affects the formation constant of the 1:1 pi-complexes, as well as of the formation constant and reactivity of bromonium ion intermediates. The different reactivity of the ionic intermediates, which depends on the nature of substituents, is attributed to bromonium or bromocarbenium character of the intermediate, with the support of theoretical investigations. Ab initio calculations on 1:1 adamatylideneadamantane-Br(2) complexes (2a-f) show that the substituent affects the stability of these species through electrostatic and dispersion effects. Solvent effects may also contribute to modulate the relative stability of these species.