Understanding the Pathophysiology of Ischemic Stroke: The Basis of Current Therapies and Opportunity for New Ones.

The majority of approved therapies for many diseases are developed to target their underlying pathophysiology. Understanding disease pathophysiology has thus proven vital to the successful development of clinically useful medications. Stroke is generally accepted as the leading cause of adult disability globally and ischemic stroke accounts for the most common form of the two main stroke types. Despite its health and socioeconomic burden, there is still minimal availability of effective pharmacological therapies for its treatment. In this review, we take an in-depth look at the etiology and pathophysiology of ischemic stroke, including molecular and cellular changes. This is followed by a highlight of drugs, cellular therapies, and complementary medicines that are approved or undergoing clinical trials for the treatment and management of ischemic stroke. We also identify unexplored potential targets in stroke pathogenesis that can be exploited to increase the pool of effective anti-stroke and neuroprotective agents through de novo drug development and drug repurposing.

A management framework for sudden water pollution: A systematic review output.

Numerous sudden water pollution (SWP) incidents have occurred frequently in recent years, constituting a potential risk to human, socio-economic, and ecological health. This paper systematically reviews the current literature, with the view to establishing a management framework for SWP incidents. Only 39 of the 327 downloaded articles were selected, and the ROSES protocol was utilized in this review. The results indicated industries, mining sites, and sewage treatment plants as key SWP contributors through accidental leakages, traffic accidents, illegal discharge, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks. These processes also presented five consequences, including the contamination of drinking water sources, disruption of drinking water supply, ecological damage, loss of human life, and agricultural water pollution. Meanwhile, five mitigation strategies included reservoir operation, real-time monitoring, early warning, and chemical and biological treatments. Although an advancement in mitigation strategies against SWP was observed in this review, previous studies reported only a few prevention strategies. Considering that this review provided an SWP-based management framework and a hydrodynamic model selection guideline, which provide a foundation for implementing proactive measures against the SWP. These guidelines and the SWP-based management framework require practical field trials for future studies. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Sudden water pollution increases with industrial growth but decrease with awareness. Human and ecosystem health and social economy are the endpoint receptacles. Mitigation strategies include reservoir dispatch, early warning, and treatments. DPSIR model forms the basis for proving proactive measures against sudden pollution. This review provides a guideline for the selection hydrodynamic models application.

Distal tibial trabecular morphometry in a Sprague Dawley rat model of fetal alcohol syndrome: a micro focus X-ray computed tomography case-control study.

Introduction: intrauterine alcohol exposure has adverse health effects on the offspring, which may result in fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The neurological and craniofacial aspects have been well studied; however, long bones have received limited attention despite the short stature reported in FASD children. Methods: time-mated (n=13) pregnant Sprague Dawley dams were assigned to either the ethanol (n=5), saline control (n=5) or untreated group (n=3) which received no treatment. The ethanol and saline control dams were treated with 0.015ml/g of 25.2% ethanol or 0.9% saline, respectively. Treatment was for the first 19 days of gestation. Two pups from each dam were used and terminated at 21 days of age. Paired tibiae were harvested. Each bone was scanned using a Nikon XTH 225L 3D-µCT to investigate trabeculae morphometry. Results: the ethanol group had less bone to total volume (BT/TV), thinnest trabeculae (TbTh) which were less spaced (TbSp) compared to the controls. However, number of trabecular (TbN) remained unaffected in all three groups. Tibial length was similar in all three groups; however, the distal metaphysis volume was smallest in the ethanol group. Logistic regression showed that the distal medullary canal area and trabecular separation were the main parameters affected the most in gestational alcohol. The negative correlation of trabecular thickness and spacing in the ethanol group may be a contributor to bone weakness. Conclusion: gestational alcohol exposure affects bone internal morphology in addition to the bone size. Overall, this study supports the findings of clinical observation of small stature in FAS children.

Evaluation of job satisfaction among pharmacists working in public health facilities.

Background: The decline in healthcare workforce is a global trend that is alarming in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) in LMIC and many countries worldwide, pharmacists plays critical role in healthcare, many of which are not limited to patient care, research and development, health promotion. However, growing dissatisfaction among pharmacists working in public health facilities has become increasingly common and can have severe public health consequence. Job dissatisfaction ranks among the most significant factors influencing healthcare employees to seek career changes, reduce productivity, and possibly migrate to more promising opportunities, thereby posing a public health threat in the region.' Furthermore, healthcare professionals are crucial to the functionality of a healthcare system, with human resources standing as a critical element ensuring organizational success vis-a-vis other dependent factors to optimize efficiency and effectiveness. Objectives: To examine the job satisfaction of pharmacists working in public health facilities in Nigeria. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study on pharmacists' job satisfaction was carried out between march and July 2023, to determine the job satisfaction of pharmacists working in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities in Nigeria. Data were gathered using an anonymous online validated questionnaire adapted from the Minnesota questionnaire short form and the Job Description Index (JDI) (Measuring Job Satisfaction - Tools, Scales, and Methods). Results: The study identified an overall low job satisfaction level of 65%. Major influencers included facility conditions, co-worker relations, and remuneration. The demographic data revealed a dominance of female pharmacists in general hospital settings, with a significant proportion aged between 23 and 36 years. Remuneration emerged as a universal concern across different age groups, reflecting Nigeria's prevailing economic challenges. Interestingly, satisfaction with the working facility decreased with age, suggesting that enthusiasm and optimism wane over time. Relationship dynamics with co-workers showed positive progression with age, whereas satisfaction with pay remained universally low. Conclusion: The study underscores the need for a comprehensive strategic review in the health sector, focusing on remuneration, working conditions, and inter-personal relationships to boost job satisfaction and retention. Further research might delve deeper into specific allowances and the impact of home ownership on satisfaction.