Cancer drug therapy and stochastic modelling of “nano-motors”

Controlled inhibition of kinesin motor proteins is highly desired in the field of oncology. Among other interventions, the selective Eg5 competitive and allosteric inhibitors is the most successful targeted chemotherapeutic regime/options, inducing cancer cell apoptosis and tumor regression with improved safety profile. Though promising, this approach is under clinical trials, for the discovery of efficient and least harmful Eg5 inhibitors. The aim of present research is to bridge the computational modelling approach with drug design and therapy of cancer cells. Thus a computational model, interfaced with the clinical data of “Eg5 dynamics” and “inhibitors” via special functions is presented in this article. Comparisons are made for the drug efficacy and the threshold values are predicted through numerical simulations

The Polygraph and Lie Detection: A Case Study

There are many cases in which physical evidence is missing. In such instances, a polygraph is a useful technique to determine the examinee’s truthfulness or deception. A polygraph is an instrument that monitors the changes inside the body. The present study was conducted to determine the truthfulness of the victim and suspects in a hand chopping case. In the present study, integrated zone comparison technique (IZCT) and forensic assessment interview (FAINT) were used to test the suspects and the victim. Computerized ASIT Algorithm and weighted scoring systems were used in IZCT and FAINT, respectively. Two suspects and one victim were referred for polygraph examination. Electro-dermal activity sensors were placed on the victim’s forehead as he did not have arms, and a cardio cuff was placed on his left leg. During the initial interview, the victim alleged that his hands were put forcibly into a machine. All the suspects were also tested, and the victim was found to be deceptive. He later confessed that his hands were not put forcibly into machine. After testing, it was found that all the suspects were truthful

Series solution to fractional contact problem using Caputo's derivative

Abstract In this article, contact problem with fractional derivatives is studied. We use fractional derivative in the sense of Caputo. We deploy penalty function method to degenerate the obstacle problem into a system of fractional boundary value problems (FBVPs). The series solution of this system of FBVPs is acquired by using the variational iteration method (VIM). The performance as well as precision of the applied method is gauged by means of significant numerical tests. We further study the convergence and residual errors of the solutions by giving variation to the fractional parameter, and graphically present the solutions and residual errors accordingly. The outcomes thus obtained witness the high effectiveness of VIM for solving FBVPs

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Impact of female education on the decision to use contraceptives in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Objective: To determine the impact of female education on the decision to use contraceptives in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Methodology: This cross section study was carried out at Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit, PESSI Hospital, Rawalpindi, from January, 2014 to April, 2014. Eighty-one patients were selected by consecutive sampling after informed written consent and acquiring Hospital ethical committee approval. The survey interview tool was a semi structured questionnaire. The FP methods used included condoms, lUCDs, oral contraceptive hormonal pills or injections. Results: Husband's education level shows that there were 14% primary, 40% secondary, 14% FSc, 19% graduate and 15% post graduate participants in the study. In comparison, the women's education distribution was 27% primary, 17% secondary, 19% FSc, 14% graduate and 23% post graduate. There was no significant association of husband's education level with the decision of not using the contraceptive method. The access to knowledge about contraceptives was directly proportional to the level of education (p0.05). Similarly, the opposition from husband or in laws and beliefs in religious prohibition were also found to be independent of the wife's educational level (p>0.05). Conclusions: Health related concerns or fear of side effects regarding contraceptives sometimes tend to increase as educational level of wife increases. There is a need to holistically approach this gap between awareness and application of contraceptive agents, by concurrently imparting knowledge as well as ownership, so the deep rooted fears of side effects could be allayed. (Rawal Med J 201;40:71-74)

Cancer drug therapy and stochastic modeling of “nano-motors”

Lubna Sherin,1 Shabieh Farwa,2 Ayesha Sohail,3 Zhiwu Li,4,5 O Anwar Bég6 1Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; 2Department of Mathematics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Wah Cantt, Pakistan; 3Department of Mathematics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; 4Institute of Systems Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau; 5School of Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Xidian University, Xi’an 710071, China; 6Fluid Mechanics, Spray Research Group, Mechanical and Petroleum Engineering, School of Computing, Science and Engineering, G77, University of Salford, Manchester M54WT, UK Background: Controlled inhibition of kinesin motor proteins is highly desired in the field of oncology. Among other interventions, there exists “targeted chemotherapeutic regime/options” of selective Eg5 competitive and allosteric inhibitors, inducing cancer cell apoptosis and tumor regression with improved safety profiles. Research question: Though promising, such studies are still under clinical trials, for the discovery of efficient and least harmful Eg5 inhibitors. The aim of this research was to bridge the computational modeling approach with drug design and therapy of cancer cells. Methods: A computational model, interfaced with the clinical data of “Eg5 dynamics” and “inhibitors” via special functions, is presented in this article. Comparisons are made for the drug efficacy, and the threshold values are predicted through numerical simulations. Results: Results are obtained to depict the dynamics induced by ispinesib, when used as an inhibitor of kinesin Eg5, on cancer cell lines. Keywords: drug efficient model, bipolar spindle, Eg5, cancer, mitotic arrest, Eg5 inhibitor

Patient satisfaction for levonorgestrel intrauterine system and norethisterone for treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) is a common problem with complex management. It can be quite harrowing for the physicians as in most instances they are unable to pinpoint the cause of abnormal bleeding even after a thorough history and physical examination. Aim was to compare patient satisfaction for Levonorgestrel intra uterine system (LNG-IUS) and Norethisterone for the treatment of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB). It is Descriptive case series conducted in Department Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad from September, 2011 to September, 2012. One hundred and nineteen (119) female patients of reproductive age Group with DUB were selected by consecutive sampling. Informed written consent was obtained. A structural patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ) was used to collect information regarding age of patients, type of method used for treatment of DUB (Levonorgestrel or Norethisterone), treatment outcome in terms of patient satisfaction scale, and decrease in bleeding after 6 months. The mean age of the patients was 41.03 +/- 4.415 year ranging from 28-60 years. The mean parity of women in the study was 3.22 +/- 1.188 with a range of 1-7. The satisfaction level was significantly (p < 0.05) greater (90% versus 20%) in Group A (levonorgesterol-releasing intrauterine system) as compared with Group B (Norethisterone). The blood loss was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in Group A (98%) as compared with Group B (80%). The preference of continuing the method as well as recommendation to a friend was significantly greater in Group A as compared to Group B. The levonorgesterol-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is a better choice as compared to Norethisterone, for treatment of DUB with 90% patients highly satisfied

Recent Applications of the Diels-Alder Reaction in the Synthesis of Natural Products (2017-2020)

The Diels-Alder reaction has long been established as an extremely useful procedure in the toolbox of natural product chemists. It tolerates a wide spectrum of building blocks of different complexity and degrees of derivatization, and enables the formation of six-membered rings with well-defined stereochemistry. In recent years, many total syntheses of natural products have been reported that rely, at some point, on the use of a [4+2]-cycloaddition step. Among classic approaches, several modifications of the Diels-Alder reaction, such as hetero-Diels-Alder reactions, dehydro-Diels-Alder reactions and domino-Diels-Alder reactions, have been employed to extend the scope of this process in the synthesis of natural products. Our short review covers applications of the Diels-Alder reaction in natural product syntheses between 2017 and 2020, as well as selected methodologies which are inspired by, or that can be used to access natural products. 1 Introduction 2 Syntheses from 2017 3 Syntheses from 2018 4 Syntheses from 2019 5 Syntheses from 2020 6 Conclusion. © 2021 Georg Thieme Verlag. All rights reserve

The novel approach of catalytic interesterification, hydrolysis and transesterification of Pongamia pinnata oil

The properties of biodiesel are completely dependent on the fatty acid profile of feedstock oils. Several feedstocks are not in use for biodiesel production because of the presence of unsuitable fatty acids in their oils. The present study was conducted to overcome this problem by the utilization of interesterification and hydrolysis processes. The present study reports biodiesel with much better cold flow properties than previous studies. Fatty acids present in Pongamia pinnata oil were optimized via interesterification and hydrolysis treatment of feedstock prior to alkali-catalyzed transesterification. The physiochemical properties of fuel were evaluated by standard test methods and the results were compared with EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 standards. Biodiesel composition was analyzed by a gas chromatographic analysis. The density, saponification and iodine values of the biodiesel derived from treated and non-treated oil were found to be within the range recommended by the international fuel standards. The acid values of biodiesel produced from non-treated and treated fractions were high (0.7–0.8 mg of KOH/g of oil), as compared to the biodiesel produced from non-treated and treated pure oil. The cloud points and pour points of biodiesel produced from hydrolyzed and interesterified oil were in the range of (8.1 to −9.6 °C) and (2.03 to −12.5 °C), respectively, while those of non-treated oil were in the range of (13.37 to −1.53 °C). These results indicate that treatments of oil specifically improved the low-temperature properties of biodiesel