Axial stress versus strain responses of CFRP confined concrete containing electronic waste aggregates.

This research work investigates the axial stress versus strain responses of un-strengthened and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites strengthened concrete specimens made with electronic waste coarse aggregates. For this purpose, 36 circular and non-circular 300 mm high concrete specimens constrained with CFRP sheets and partially replaced with E-waste coarse aggregates were prepared. The effect of cross-sectional geometry, 20% partial substitution of natural coarse aggregates with E-waste aggregates, corner effect of non-circular concrete specimens, confinement of specimens with CFRP sheets, and effect of the number of confinement sheets were also studied. In control concrete specimens, the coarse aggregates were 848 kg/m3 and E-waste aggregates were 212 kg/m3. The cement was 475 kg/m3 and fine aggregates were 655 kg/m3. Test results indicated that compressive strength is reduced by substituting natural coarse aggregates with E-waste aggregates. At the same time, compressive strength increased to 71%, 33%, and 25% for circular, square, and rectangular concrete specimens, respectively, by CFRP confinement. Whereas the axial strain increased to 1100%, 250%, and 133%, for circular, square, and rectangular concrete specimens, respectively, by CFRP confinement. CFRP sheets also enhanced the Poisson's ratio. Because of the greater confinement given by a double CFRP layer, it is more effective than a single layer. Furthermore, results also indicated that strength reduction in non-circular concrete specimens was greater than in circular concrete specimens for all studied cases. In the end, for theoretical calculations, strength and strain models for confined concrete suggested by different researchers were applied and compared with experimental results. In comparison to the experimental findings, theoretical data showed that most of the models were either on the higher or on the lower side, while only some model results matched well with the experimental data.

The effectiveness of hyaluronic acid in reducing adverse effects associated with inhaled hypertonic saline therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Inhaled hypertonic saline (HS) is an effective mucolytic agent in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, adverse events can impair the clinical utility of hypertonic saline (HS) in this patient population. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid (HA) in reducing these adverse events. Methods: A literature search was conducted across three electronic databases (Medline, Cochrane Central, and EMBASE) from inception through February 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the impact of hyaluronic acid (HA) in reducing adverse events in patients taking hypertonic saline (HS) for CF were included in the analysis. Outcomes of interest included cough, throat irritation, unpleasant taste, and FEV1. Evaluations were reported as risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (CRBT) was employed to assess the quality of RCTs. The New Castle Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of observational studies. Results: From the 1960 articles retrieved from the initial search, five relevant studies (n=236 patients) were included in the final analysis. Compared with patients only on HS, patients with HS and HA were significantly less likely to experience cough (RR: 0.45; 95% CI, 0.28-0.72, p=0.001), throat irritation (RR: 0.43; 95% CI, 0.22-0.81, p= 0.009), and unpleasant smell (RR: 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23 - 0.80, p=0.09). In addition, patients with HS with HA had significantly less forced expiratory volume (FEV1) (MD: -2.97; 95% CI, -3.79-2.15, p=0.52) compared to patients only on HS. Discussion: The addition of HA to HS was linked to a better tolerability profile. When HS was coupled with HA, there was a reduction in all side effects. This may permit tolerance of the medication in otherwise difficult patients, improve adherence to patients receiving frequent inhalations, and improve therapeutic outcomes. Conclusion: The addition of HA is advantageous in CF patients who require continuous HS therapy and have previously shown poor tolerance to therapy.

Efficacy of ablation therapy on clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Optimal treatment regimen for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. Therefore, the authors sought to compare the outcomes of ablation therapy versus pharmacological regimens in patients with AF. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases were searched for randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing clinical outcomes between of ablation and pharmacological therapy in patients with AF. Stroke, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular hospitalization, heart failure (HF), and bleeding were among outcomes of interest. Mantel-Haenszel weighted random-effects model was used to calculate relative risks (RRs) with 95 % CIs. Results: The analysis included ~200 000 patients from 4 randomized controlled trials and 7 observational studies. Meta-analysis showed statistically significant reduction in stroke among patients on ablation therapy [hazard ratio (HR) 0.51, 95% CI (0.43, 0.60), P<0.00001, I2=10%], all-cause mortality [HR 0.64, 95% CI (0.45, 0.93), P=0.02, I2=58%], cardiovascular mortality [HR 0.35, 95% CI (0.25, 0.50), P<0.0001, I2=0%], and HF [HR 0.40, 95% CI (0.31, 0.53), P<0.00001, I2=30%]. However, no significant difference was revealed in the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization [HR 1.04, 95% CI (0.88, 1.23), P=0.66, I2=89%] and bleeding [HR 1.11, 95% CI (0.97, 1.27), P=0.13, I2=0%]. Conclusion: Ablation significantly reduces the risk of stroke, cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, and HF in AF patients, compared with medical therapy alone, supporting its use in clinical practice.

Efficacy of hypertonic saline versus isotonic saline among children with cystic fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Inhaled hypertonic saline (HS) reduces pulmonary exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) aged 6 or more years. However, the effectiveness of HS in improving clinical outcomes in younger children aged 6 or less years is not established. This study examines the efficacy of HS in younger CF patients. Methods: Searches were conducted across three databases (Medline, Cochrane Central and EMBASE) from inception through July 2022. Randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of HS in younger CF patients were included. Trials involving only patients greater than 6 years or control group other than isotonic saline (IS) were excluded. Outcomes measured included lung clearance index (LCI), cystic fibrosis questionnaire (CFQ-R) score, spirometry measures, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, height and weight. Outcomes were reported as mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Seven studies (n = 390 patients) were included in this review. HS significantly reduced the LCI (MD: -0.67; 95%CI, -1.05 to 0.29, P = 0.0006) compared to IS. In addition, HS was associated with significant improvements in height (MD: 2.23; 95%CI, -0.00 to 4.46, P = 0.05) and CFQ-R (MD: 4.30; 95%CI, 0.65-7.95, P = 0.02), but not in oxygen saturation (MD: -0.15; 95%CI, -0.54 to 0.25, P = 0.47), respiratory rate (MD: -0.21; 95%CI, -2.19 to 1.77, P = 0.83) or weight (MD: 0.70; 95%CI, -0.47 to 1.87, P = 0.24). Furthermore, HS did not significantly improve spirometry measures, including FEV1 (MD: -0.11; 95%CI, -0.21 to 0.43, P = 0.51) and forced vital capacity (MD: 0.27; 95%CI, -0.49 to 1.04, P = 0.48), but significantly improved FEF25-75 (MD: 0.12; 95% CI, 0.05-0.20; P = 0.002). Discussion: Treatment with HS in younger children with CF improves lung clearance, symptoms and quality of life. FEF25-75 may prove a more sensitive measure for assessing intervention related improvements in pediatric CF trials. Conclusion: The findings support HS as a therapeutic method in CF-affected children.

Beta-Blocker-Induced Erythrodermic Psoriasis: A Case Report.

Beta-blockers are well-known for their wide range of therapeutic applications, particularly in patients with cardiac diseases. Physicians worldwide are aware of their potential side effects, including hypoglycemia, dizziness, slow heart rate, fatigue, and heart block. We report a case of erythrodermic psoriasis caused by beta-blockers in a 61-year-old woman with no prior history of the skin condition. The diagnosis was made based on the characteristic histopathological picture and a Naranjo score of 6. She was administered 15 mg of methotrexate weekly and received supportive care. She recovered completely within two months and exhibited no recurrence of symptoms.

Chloroquine-Induced Psychosis: A Case Report.

The use of antimalarial drugs for prophylaxis is a widespread practice while traveling to underdeveloped nations, particularly those with a high malaria prevalence. Chloroquine is still one of the most commonly recommended antimalarials, either alone or in combination with others, for prophylaxis. However, its increased use over the past few decades has been associated with many adverse effects, including headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms such as psychosis. Here, we discuss the case of a 30-year-old Asian man who, after starting a 500-milligram (mg) prophylactic dosage of chloroquine per week, developed psychotic symptoms. This case highlights the need to use chloroquine and other antimalarials with care, especially when beginning as a prophylactic measure with the lowest suggested dosage.

Comparison of Interrupted and Uninterrupted Anticoagulation Therapy for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Catheter Ablation: A Meta-Analysis.

Adequate periprocedural anticoagulation is important to prevent complications like transient ischemic attack, stroke, severe esophageal injury, and pulmonary vein stenosis. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare uninterrupted anticoagulation therapy with interrupted anticoagulation therapy for patients with arrhythmias undergoing catheter ablation. The current meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Several online databases were searched, such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase, to search for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome included thromboembolic events. Secondary outcomes included major bleeding events and minor bleeding events. A total of eight RCTs were included in the current meta-analysis, encompassing a total of 3893 patients. No significant differences were reported in relation to thromboembolic events (RR: 2.39, 95% CI: 0.41-13.97, p-value: 0.33), major bleeding events (RR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.50-1.96, p-value: 0.98) and minor bleeding events (RR: 1.55, 95% CI: 0.56-4.30, p-value: 0.40) between the two study groups. This meta-analysis did not find any conclusive evidence for the absence of any difference between the two strategies.

BrCNGC gene family in field mustard: genome-wide identification, characterization, comparative synteny, evolution and expression profiling.

CNGCs are ligand-gated calcium signaling channels, which participate in important biological processes in eukaryotes. However, the CNGC gene family is not well-investigated in Brassica rapa L. (i.e., field mustard) that is economically important and evolutionary model crop. In this study, we systematically identified 29 member genes in BrCNGC gene family, and studied their physico-chemical properties. The BrCNGC family was classified into four major and two sub phylogenetic groups. These genes were randomly localized on nine chromosomes, and dispersed into three sub-genomes of B. rapa L. Both whole-genome triplication and gene duplication (i.e., segmental/tandem) events participated in the expansion of the BrCNGC family. Using in-silico bioinformatics approaches, we determined the gene structures, conserved motif compositions, protein interaction networks, and revealed that most BrCNGCs can be regulated by phosphorylation and microRNAs of diverse functionality. The differential expression patterns of BrCNGC genes in different plant tissues, and in response to different biotic, abiotic and hormonal stress types, suggest their strong role in plant growth, development and stress tolerance. Notably, BrCNGC-9, 27, 18 and 11 exhibited highest responses in terms of fold-changes against club-root pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae, Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola, methyl-jasmonate, and trace elements. These results provide foundation for the selection of candidate BrCNGC genes for future breeding of field mustard.

Physicochemical, antidiarrheal and antidiabetic potential of super food (Moringa oleifera Lam.).

There is a long history of natural products for the treatment of infections and diseases. The objective of present study was to investigate the organoleptic, microscopic, physico-chemical, phytochemical, antidiarrheal and antidiabetic potential of leaf, flowering bud and stem bark of Moringa oleifera L. Macroscopic, microscopic, physico-chemical parameters and phytochemical screening were carried out. Diarrhea was induced with castor oil (10ml/kg), verapamil (3, 10 and 30mg/kg) were used as standard antidiarrheal drug and extract of Moringa oleifera at (100, 300 and 1000mg/kg) was used for treatment. Alpha glucosidase inhibitory assay was carried out by using acarbose (0.5mM) and extracts (5.0 mg/Ml). Diabetes was induced by alloxan (150mg/kg), while glibenclamide (10mg/kg) was used as standard drug, and extracts (at the doses of 500mg/kg) were used to determine the antidiabetic activity. Results showed the presence of primary and secondary metabolites, treatment at the dose of 1.0g/kg of leaf, flowering bud and stem bark showed 94 ±2.527, 85.42±5.460 and 84.58±6.138% protection respectively whereas verapamil (10mg/kg) showed 94.84±3.27% protection. Alpha glucosidase inhibition of stem bark (0.5mg/ml) was 95.43±1.47 and flowering bud 94.78±1.25 whereas acarbose (5mM) inhibition was 92.23±0.14%. Stem bark and flowering bud extract (500mg/kg) decreases the blood glucose level from 388.5±35.83 to 226.3±47.10 and 322.5±48.35 to 173.8±29.5 respectively whereas glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) decreases the blood glucose level from 320.7±22.9 to 146.3±17.7 and increases the body weight of the experimental animal. It was concluded from the results that stem bark has strong antidiabetic potential while leaves of the plant have promising antidiarrheal effect.

Assessing the impact of a combined nutrition counselling and cash transfer intervention on women's empowerment in rural Bangladesh: a randomised control trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: There is growing interest in assessing the impact of health interventions, particularly when women are the focus of the intervention, on women's empowerment. Globally, research has shown that interventions targeting nutrition, health and economic development can affect women's empowerment. Evidence suggests that women's empowerment is also an underlying determinant of nutrition outcomes. Depending on the focus of the intervention, different domains of women's empowerment will be influenced, for example, an increase in nutritional knowledge, or greater control over income and access to resources. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the impact of the Shonjibon Cash and Counselling (SCC) Trial that combines nutrition counselling and an unconditional cash transfer, delivered on a mobile platform, on women's empowerment in rural Bangladesh. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will use a mixed-methods approach, combining statistical analysis of quantitative data from 2840 women in a cluster randomised controlled trial examining the impact of nutrition behaviour change communications (BCCs) and cash transfers on child undernutrition. Pregnant participants will be given a smartphone with a customised app, delivering nutrition BCC messages, and will receive nutrition counselling via a call centre and an unconditional cash transfer. This study is a component of the SCC Trial and will measure women's empowerment using a composite indicator based on the Project-Level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index, with quantitative data collection at baseline and endline. Thematic analysis of qualitative data, collected through longitudinal interviews with women, husbands and mothers-in-law, will elicit a local understanding of women's empowerment and the linkages between the intervention and women's empowerment outcomes. This paper describes the study protocol to evaluate women's empowerment in a nutrition-specific and sensitive intervention using internationally validated, innovative tools and will help fill the evidence gap on pathways of impact, highlighting areas to target for future programming. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (Ref. PR 17106) and The University of Sydney (Ref: 2019/840). Findings from this study will be shared in Bangladesh with dissemination sessions in-country and internationally at conferences, and will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Colonization of Staphylococcus aureus in nasal cavities of healthy individuals from district Swabi, KP, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of staphylococcus aureus in nasal carriers of healthy individuals and to evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Swabi, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, from October 2016 to April 2017, and comprised samples collected from nasal cavities of healthy students aged 19-26 years with the help of a sterile swab. For antibiotic susceptibility test, Kirby-Bauerdisc diffusion test was performed according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards and Institute. RESULTS: Of the 200 samples, staphylococcus aureus was detected in 41(20.5%). Among them, 27(65.85%) strains were isolated from male samples and 14(34.14%) from female samples. All (100%) strains were found to be sensitive to Cefoxitin and Linezolid, while all (100%) were resistant to Penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization was found more in male than female isolates. Cefoxitin and Linezolid were the most effective drugs against the isolates, which were all resistant to Penicillin.

Pulmonary Blastomycosis: A case series and review of unique radiological findings.

Blastomycosis is a systemic fungal infection which primarily involves the lungs but can disseminate to involve extrapulmonary sites. Current testing that exists includes sputum, urine, serum, and pathological tissue analysis. Radiological testing is often non-specific and highly variable. Here we present five cases of pulmonary blastomycosis with challenging radiographic presentations.

P-ANCA negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Vasculitis refers to inflammation of the systemic vessels. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a medium and small vessel vasculitis characterized by hypereosinophilia, pulmonary infiltrates, difficult to treat asthma and polyneuropathies. Diagnosis can often be challenging. In this article, we present a case of a young lady who was diagnosed ANCA negative EGPA.

Rare Primary Pulmonary Marginal Zone Lymphoma Presenting with Incidental Pulmonary Nodules.

Pulmonary malignancies carry a significant morbidity and mortality and are one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Primary pulmonary lymphoma is a rare malignancy which should be considered in the differential of solitary pulmonary nodule or lung mass especially in a low-risk patient presenting with constitutional symptoms. Here, we describe a case of an elderly male who presented to our clinic with incidental pulmonary nodules and subsequent workup revealed low grade B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma consistent with diagnosis of primary pulmonary marginal zone lymphoma.

Sinking Skin Flap Syndrome: Phenomenon of Neurological Deterioration after Decompressive Craniectomy.

Sinking skin flap syndrome is rare phenomenon that occurs in patients with large craniectomies. Alteration in normal anatomy and pathophysiology can result in wide variety of symptoms including altered mental status, hemodynamic instability, and dysautonomias. Management is largely conservative. We here present a case of a patient with large craniectomy who was admitted to our hospital with pneumonia. Later on, he developed worsening mental status and CT head revealed sinking skin flap with significant midline shift. This is a very rare case of neurological deterioration after craniectomies, commonly known as sinking skin flap syndrome. To our knowledge, only few cases have been reported so far.

Slipping Rib Syndrome in a Female Adult with Longstanding Intractable Upper Abdominal Pain.

Slipping rib syndrome is a rare cause of abdominal or lower chest pain that can remain undiagnosed for many years. Awareness among health care personnel of this rare but significant disorder is necessary for early recognition. Prompt treatment can avoid unnecessary testing, radiographic exposure, and years of debilitating pain. A 52-year-old female was evaluated for a 3-year history of recurrent abdominal and lower chest pain. Pain was sharp, primarily located in the lower chest and subcostal region left more than right, waxing and waning, nonradiating, and aggravates with specific movements. She underwent frequent physical therapies, treated with multiple muscle relaxants and analgesics with minimal improvement. Imaging modalities including CT scan, MRI, and X-rays performed on multiple occasions failed to signify any underlying abnormality. Complete physical examination was unremarkable except for positive hooking maneuver. Dynamic flow ultrasound of lower chest was performed which showed slipping of the lowest rib over the next lowest rib bilaterally left worse than right, findings consistent with slipping rib syndrome. Slipping rib syndrome is caused by hypermobility of the floating ribs (8 to 12) which are not connected to the sternum but attached to each other with ligaments. Diagnosis is mostly clinical, and radiographic tests are rarely necessary. Hooking maneuver is a simple clinical test to reproduce pain and can aid in the diagnosis. Reassurance and avoiding postures that worsen pain are usually helpful. In refractory cases, nerve block and surgical intervention may be required.

Shewanella putrefaciens: An Emerging Cause of Nosocomial Pneumonia.

Gram-negative infections are a rising concern faced by the medical community. Approximately 30% of nosocomial bloodstream infections in intensive care units in the United States are caused by these gram-negative species. Emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms further complicate this issue. In this article, we report a case of an 84-year-old Caucasian male who was diagnosed with Shewanella pneumonia treated with cefepime with minimal to no improvement in his symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third reported case of Shewanella putrefaciens nosocomial pneumonia and first case of bacteremia secondary to pneumonia by Shewanella putrefaciens.

A Rare Case of Sphingomonas paucimobilis Meningitis in the Absence of Cerebrospinal Fluid Pleocytosis.

Sphingomonas paucimobilis is a nonfermentative gram-negative bacillus of low pathogenicity. The organism has been involved in causing a wide range of infections in community and hospital settings. Only 3 cases of meningitis caused by this organism have been reported so far. We report a rare case of S paucimobilis meningitis who presented with atypical symptoms. A 50-year-old female presented with headache, dizziness, chills, shakiness, and neck pain along with nuchal rigidity. On physical examination, severe neck rigidity along with decreased range of motion was noticed. Her cerebrospinal fluid showed gram-negative rods, and she was started on meropenem. The cerebrospinal fluid grew S paucimobilis sensitive to meropenem. She subsequently showed significant improvement and was discharged home on intravenous meropenem for 21 days and showed complete recovering in 5 weeks.

Oxymorphone Induced Thrombotic Microangiopathy Mimicking Atypical Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Atypical Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) is a rare life threatening entity characterized by thrombocytopenia, haemolytic anaemia and renal dysfunction. It is a thrombotic microangiopathy related to genetic mutations in the alternate complement pathway and has a distinct pathophysiology which makes it harder to distinguish from other microangiopathies. We present a case of a 25-year-old male patient with history of polysubstance abuse who presented with chest pain and dyspnoea. He admitted to using injectable oxymorphone (Opana) two weeks before presentation. Patient's vital signs were stable except for tachycardia and high blood pressure. On physical examination, epigastric tenderness and mild splenomegaly was appreciated. Urine Drug Screen was positive for oxycodone and opiates. Laboratory work up revealed haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia and acute kidney injury. Extensive evaluation resulted in our impression of the disease being atypical haemolytic-uremic syndrome. He was managed with dialysis, intravenous steroids and plasmapheresis with improvement in his hematologic parameters.