Time and Dose Dependent Antipyretic Investigations of Ethanolic Leaves and Fruits Extracts of Prosopis cineraria L. (Druce)

The aim of this Study was to establish a comparative investigation of Antipyretic activity of ethanolic extract of leaves and fruits of the Prosopis cineraria and phytochemical evaluation of ethanolic extracts of these parts. Crude ethanolic plant extracts of leaves and fruits of Prosopis cineraria at a dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg of body weight were used to evaluate the antipyretic activity. These extracts were evaluated by inducing brewer’s-yeast induced pyrexia in albino rats. Results were presented as Mean ± SEM by using SPSS 12.0. Leaves and fruit extracts of Prosopis cineraria decreases hyperpyrexia to a significant level when these results were compared to standard control. The leaves extract shows significant effects in lowering the rectal temperature of rats than fruits extract at 200mg/kg while at dose of 300 mg/kg both leaves and fruit extract reduce pyrexia significantly. The phytochemical evaluation shows that both parts of plant contain saponins, tannins, pholobatannins, flavanoids, alkaloids, steroids and cardiac glycosides. Results indicate that ethanolic leaves and fruit extract of Prosopis cineraria possess significant antipyretic activity at different doses which establishes scientific basis for its traditional uses i.e. in rheumatism. Keywords: Prosopis cineraria, Pyrexia, Paracetamol, brewer’s-yeast, albino rat

PEMANTAUAN KONSENTRASI GAS (CO2, NO2) DAN PARTIKULAT (PM2.5) PADA STRUKTUR HORIZONTAL DI KAWASAN DAYEUHKOLOT, CEKUNGAN UDARA BANDUNG RAYA

Salah satu sumber polusi lokal yang terjadi di Bandung Raya berasal dari kendaraan bermotor. Dari penelitian sebelumnya terindikasi bahwa konsentrasi organic carbon (OC) lebih tinggi dari elemental carbon (EC), konsentrasi OC primer lebih tinggi dari OC sekunder, dan konsentrasi char-EC lebih tinggi dari soot-EC. Penelitian tersebut menggunakan metode dry sampling dengan perangkat cascade impactor dan teridentifikasi bahwa OC, OC primer, dan char-EC berasal dari kendaraan bermotor khususnya mesin diesel, asap pabrik, dan debu jalan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memantau dan menganalisis persebaran polusi lokal secara horizontal di daerah Dayeuhkolot, cekungan udara Bandung Raya. Pemantauan kualitas udara (CO2, NO2 , dan PM2.5 ) dengan menggunakan sepeda dilakukan pada tiga tipe lintasan: (1) jalur hijau, (2) lalu lintas rendah, dan (3) jalan raya. Ketiga lintasan memiliki karakteristik yang unik sesuai dengan estimasi sumber pencemar dan faktor lingkungan seperti pepohonan. Alat ukur yang digunakan berbasis low-cost sensors (CO2, NO2, dan PM2.5 ), serta dilengkapi dengan sensor temperatur (T), kelembapan relatif (RH), dan data logger. Pengukuran dilakukan selama 15 kali pada Februari-Maret 2019. Rata-rata pengamatan dilakukan setiap ~2 jam dengan kecepatan rata-rata sepeda ~10 km jam -1 . Hasil pengukuran menunjukkan bahwa alat dapat mendeteksi fluktuasi konsentrasi emisi gas/partikulat, yang dipengaruhi oleh konsentrasi polutan di udara sesaat yaitu dari kendaraan bermotor, pembakaran sampah, aktivitas pasar minggu, dan pengaruh hujan. Pada saat lampu merah di persimpangan jalan, tampak bahwa emisi langsung dari kendaraan bermotor dapat meningkatkan konsentrasi PM 2.5 dan NO2 menjadi 110 μg m-3 dan ~0,15 ppm pada selang waktu pengukuran ~10 menit. Faktor lainnya yang dapat meningkatkan nilai konsentrasi PM 2.5 sebesar ~163 μg m-3 dari kondisi udara ambien (77-86 μg m-3) adalah pembakaran sampah (~4 menit). Sedangkan kegiatan rutin di pasar minggu pagi dapat meningkatkan konsentrasi CO2 dan NO2 menjadi ~931 ppm dan ~0,13 ppm (~8 menit). Air hujan yang biasa terjadi pada sore hari dapat menurunkan konsentrasi gas dan PM 2.5 . Tingkat pembilasan partikulat (r) akibat hujan adalah ~30%

Perspective of Pakistani physicians towards hospital antimicrobial stewardship programs: A multisite exploratory qualitative study

© 2019 Raha Orfali et al. Plicosepalus is an important genus of the Loranthaceae family, and it is a semiparasitic plant grown in Saudi Arabia, traditionally used as a cure for diabetes and cancer in human and for increasing lactation in cattle. A flavonoid quercetin (P1), (-)-catechin (P2), and a flavane gallate 2S,3R-3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavane-5-O-gallate (P3) were isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of P. curviflorus (PCME). The PCME and the isolated compounds were subjected to pharmacological assays to estimate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors PPARα and PPARγ agonistic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities. Results proved for the first time the dual PPAR activation effect of the PCME and catechin (P2), in addition to the promising anti-inflammatory activity of the flavonoid quercetin (P1). Interestingly, both PCME and isolated compounds showed potent antioxidant activities while no antimicrobial effect against certain microbial strains had been reported from the extract and the isolated compounds. Based on the pharmacological importance of these compounds, an HPTLC validated method was developed for the simultaneous estimation of these compounds in PCME. It was found to furnish a compact and sharp band of compounds P1, P2, and P3 at Rf = 0.34, 0.47, and 0.65, respectively, using dichloromethane, methanol, and formic acid (90: 9.5: 0.5, (v/v/v)) as the mobile phase. Compounds P1, P2, and P3 were found to be 11.06, 10.9, 6.96 μg/mg, respectively, in PCME. The proposed HPTLC method offers a sensitive, precise, and specific analytical tool for the quantification of quercetin, catechin, and flavane gallates in P. curviflorus

Comparison of Recurrence Rate of Wrist Ganglion Between Seton and Open Surgical Excision in Military Hospitals of Pakistan

Objective: To evaluate the recurrence following open surgical excision and Seton placement in treating symptomatic wrist ganglions in Military Hospitals in a six-month follow-up study. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study Place and Duration of Study: Department of General Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Bahawalpur Pakistan, Combined Military Hospital, Dera Nawab Sahib Pakistan and Pakistan Airforce Force Hospital, Shorkot Pakistan, from Jun 2015 to Dec 2020. Methodology: The patients were divided into two groups after informed consent. A consultant general surgeon carried out every procedure. The findings were recorded on a uniform proforma, and recurrence was recorded at ten days, six weeks and six months for both groups. Results: The mean age of the patients was 29.45±8.13 years in Group-A (Seton-Group) and 28.56±8.32 years in Group-B (OpenSurgery). There was no difference in the recurrence rates between the Seton-Group (n=7, 4.35%) and Open Surgery-Group (n=2, 4.65%, p=0.931). Conclusion: Seton insertion for treating Ganglions of the wrist is a simple, economical and cosmetic procedure which can be done in the outpatient department. It is a safe alternative to open resection for successful treatment of the wrist Ganglion. Keywords: Ganglion, Open surgery, Recurrence, Seton, Wrist

A study about terrestrial laser scanning for reconstruction of precast concrete to support QCLASSIC assessment

Nowadays, terrestrial laser scanning shows the potential to improve construction productivity by measuring the objects changes using real-time applications. This paper presents the process of implementation of an efficient framework for precast concrete using terrestrial laser scanning that enables contractors to acquire accurate data and support Quality Assessment System in Construction (QLASSIC). Leica Scanstation C10, black/white target, Autodesk Revit and Cyclone software were used in this study. The results were compared with the dimensional of based model precast concrete given by the company as a reference with the AutoDesk Revit model from the terrestrial laser scanning data and conventional method (measuring tape). To support QLASSIC, the tolerance dimensions of cast in-situ & precast elements is +10 mm /-5 mm. The results showed that the root mean square error for a Revit model is 2.972 mm while using measuring tape is 13.687 mm. The accuracy showed that terrestrial laser scanning has an advantage in construction jobs to support QLASSIC

Enhancement of Solar PV Hosting Capacity in a Remote Industrial Microgrid: A Methodical Techno-Economic Approach

To meet the zero-carbon electricity generation target as part of the sustainable development goals (SDG7), remote industrial microgrids worldwide are considering the uptake of more and more renewable energy resources, especially solar PV systems. Estimating the grid PV hosting capacity plays an essential role in designing and planning such microgrids. PV hosting capacity assessment determines the maximum PV capacity suitable for the grid and the appropriate electrical location for PV placement. This research reveals that conventional static criteria to assess the PV hosting capacity fail to ensure the grid’s operational robustness. It hence demands a reduction in the theoretical hosting capacity estimation to ensure grid compatible post-fault voltage and frequency recovery. Energy storage technologies, particularly fast-responsive batteries, can potentially prevent such undesirable scenarios; nevertheless, careful integration is required to ensure an affordable cost of energy. This study proposes a novel methodical techno-economic approach for an off-grid remote industrial microgrid to enhance the PV hosting capacity by integrating battery energy storage considering grid disturbance and recovery scenarios. The method has been validated in an industrial microgrid with a 2.6 MW peak demand in a ready-made garment (RMG) factory having a distinctive demand pattern and unique constraints in remote Bangladesh. According to the analysis, integrating 2.5 MW of PV capacity and a 1.2 MVA battery bank to offset existing diesel and grid consumption would result in an energy cost of BDT 14.60 per kWh (USD 0.1719 per kWh). For high PV penetration scenarios, the application of this method offers higher system robustness, and the financial analysis indicates that the industries would not only benefit from positive environmental impact but also make an economic profit

Multiple anthelmintic resistance among dorper sheep detected with phenotypic markers against parasitic gastroenteritis

Parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) is a significant disease that affects small ruminant production. PGE is controlled exclusively by chemical anthelmintics but restricted by anthelmintic resistance. Hence, dependence on anthelmintics needs to be reduced. This study aimed to investigate the anthelmintic resistance status of a Dorper sheep farm while determining the phenotypic markers of resistance to PGE. Sheep that met the criteria of the Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT) were divided into a control and four treatment groups of 11 to 13 animals per group. Faecal and blood samples at pre- and post-treatments were subjected to faecal egg counts (FEC), faecal culture, packed cell volume (PCV) and peripheral eosinophil counts (PEC). The data were analysed by Spearman rank correlation and two-way ANOVA. FECRT showed resistance towards albendazole, levamisole, fenbendazole and ivermectin which was predominated by Haemonchus contortus. Significant negative correlations were observed between FEC and PCV in control (r=-0.88, p<0.01), fenbendazole (r=-0.58, p<0.01) and ivermectin (r=-0.69, p<0.01) groups. Significant positive correlations were detected between FEC and PEC in control (r=0.95, p<0.01) and levamisole (r=0.56, p<0.01) groups. This study shows multiple anthelmintic resistance with promising resistant characteristics against PGE among sheep

Combined chemo-magnetic field-photothermal breast cancer therapy based on porous magnetite nanospheres

The efficacy of different modalities of treating breast cancer is inhibited by several limitations such as off-targeted drug distribution, rapid drug clearance, and drug resistance. To overcome these limitations, we developed Lf-Doxo-PMNSs for combined chemo-MF-PTT. The PMNSs were synthesized by hydrothermal method and their physicochemical properties were examined by FE-SEM, TEM, DLS, TGA, XRD investigations. The cytotoxicity of as-synthesized NPs against 4T1 cells was carried out by MTT and flow cytometry assays. Afterwards, the anti-cancer activities of as-synthesized Lf-Doxo-PMNSs on the tumor status, drug distribution and apoptosis mechanism were evaluated. The anti-cancer assays showed that Lf-Doxo-PMNSs significantly suppressed the cancer cell proliferation and tumor weight by prolonging drug availability and potential drug loading in tumor cells; whereas they showed a minimum cytotoxicity against non-cancerous cells. Likewise, combined chemo-MF-PTT using Lf-Doxo-PMNSs displayed the highest anti-cancer activity followed by combined chemo-PTT and combined chemo-MF therapy based on altering the apoptosis mechanism. Therefore, these results showed that combined chemo-MF-PTT based on Lf-Doxo-PMNSs can be used as a promising therapeutic platform with potential targeted drug delivery and high loading capacity features as well as reducing cancer drug resistance

A conceptual framework of the way forward to a community pharmacist- general practitioner collaborative medication therapy management model for chronic diseases in Malaysian primary care: a qualitative study

Background There is a growing global interest in interprofessional collaboration between community pharmacist (CP) and general practitioner (GP) in primary care. Objective To conceptualize a stakeholder driven framework to improve collaboration between the CP and the GP in Malaysian primary care to effectively manage medicines in chronic diseases. Design and Setting A qualitative study that involved individual semi structured interviews of the leadership of various associations, guilds, and societies representing CPs, GPs, and Nurses in Malaysia. Method This study collected and reported data in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting of Qualitative Studies guidelines. Key informants were recruited based on purposive (expert) sampling. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and data were coded in NVivo based on the principles of thematic analysis. Result A total of twelve interviews (5 CPs, 5 GPs and 2 Nurses) were conducted. Five themes emerged: Theme-1 highlighted comparison of community pharmacy practice in Malaysia and developed countries; Theme-2 involved the current practices in Malaysian primary care; Theme- 3 encompassed the advantages of CP-GP collaboration in chronic diseases; Theme-4 highlighted the barriers which impede collaboration in Malaysian primary care; and, Theme-5 delineated the way forward for CP-GP collaboration in Malaysia. Conclusion The actionable insights obtained from the Malaysian stakeholders offered an outline of a framework to enhance collaboration between CP and GP in primary care. Generally, stakeholders were interested in CP-GP collaboration in primary care and viewed many positive roles of CPs including prescription review, adherence support and patient education. The framework of the way forward includes: separation of roles of the CP and the GP through a holistic revision of relevant legislation to grant an active role to the CPs in chronic care; definition of protocols for collaborative practices; incentivization of both stakeholders (CP and GP) and, Design and implementation of an effective regulatory mechanism where the Malaysian Ministry of Health may take a leading role

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London